My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36

 

The Empire recently lost its former Crown Prince.

 

“The criminal Azel Viotz could not contain his arrogance and dared to assassinate the Empire’s star, so how could I, as his younger brother, possibly stand for this!”

 

The former Crown Prince had been murdered.

 

And the world believed the Second Prince’s claim that Azel was the culprit of that incident, but this was not true.

 

‘The real culprit is the Second Prince himself, who has now become the Crown Prince.’

 

The reason was, as always, to seize the Emperor’s throne.

 

Therefore, the existence of the Inquisition was nothing more than the Crown Prince’s showmanship to frame Azel as the culprit.

 

‘The Crown Prince is greedy but clever. He knows it would be dangerous to seriously attack Azel.’

 

In that sense, the Inquisition’s expedition to the North was clearly strange.

 

So what was the reason for this change?

 

‘Because Azel hasn’t awakened yet and has been staying quiet?’

 

No, that couldn’t be the reason.

 

‘Even in the game, Azel’s awakening timing varied slightly depending on the progression.’

 

The Inquisition always only guarded the Capital City and Imperial Palace regardless of Azel’s awakening, so it was hard to see a direct connection.

 

‘Besides, going specifically to Eggmund is also strange.’

 

Eggmund, located at the northern edge, was the territory of the Northern Grand Duke that inevitably appeared in romance fantasy.

 

‘At a time when the Capital City is in chaos due to the former Crown Prince’s death, would the Crown Prince, who doesn’t truly want revenge, leave the Imperial Palace and go all the way to that distant North?’

 

This itself made no sense.

 

Then, Azel, who had been quietly assessing the situation, spoke for the first time.

 

“How exactly has the Crown Prince gone mad?”

 

“At first, it was just talking while staring into empty space. But as days passed, his symptoms worsened, and he frequently showed strange behavior like suddenly screaming alone or getting angry.”

 

“No wonder rumors of his madness are spreading.”

 

Azel also seemed to find this situation unprecedented, his expression hardening.

 

“Do you have any idea about the Crown Prince’s rumors?”

 

“None at all. As far as I remember, the Crown Prince has never gone mad even once.”

 

Immediately, everyone’s gaze fixed on me. I pretended not to notice their stares and asked calmly.

 

“Are we going to check it out?”

 

‘I’d prefer to avoid it if possible, but it feels too unsettling to just ignore and move on.’

 

Like how the illusion necklace was found in the Red Forest instead of the Temple, things unrelated to my existence were happening.

 

If so, I needed to know the reason.

 

“If you’re okay with it, it would be good to confirm.”

 

“I think the same. However, it would be better to avoid direct confrontation with the Crown Prince.”

 

“Is there a reason?”

 

Of course, it’s because the Crown Prince shouldn’t mess with Azel carelessly.

 

If he wrongly provokes Azel, who’s like a sunfish, the one who’ll get tired is me.

 

“I just want to resolve things peacefully if possible.”

 

I advocated for a peaceful resolution, which might be the most difficult thing, and vaguely passed over the last question.

 

“Then, let’s depart immediately.”

 

Thus our destination was decided.

 

*

 

“The northern snowfields are just ahead.”

 

We were currently traveling north by carriage.

 

“Even with warming artifacts, there’s a risk of frostbite, so be careful.”

 

“Thank you, Mary.”

 

And beside me, as always, was Mary.

 

Moreover, today’s journey included not just the three of us, but someone new.

 

“Of all things, my first outing with Miss has to be a trip to the North! No matter how I think about it, this is too much!”

 

“Didn’t you say you were originally from the North, Dekan?”

 

That person was Dekan.

 

Instead of Simoer, who stayed to look after the manor and gather information about the Capital City’s situation, Dekan joined us because he was from the North.

 

“Yes, that’s right!”

 

“But you don’t like going to the North?”

 

“It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just too familiar so it’s boring. There’s nothing but snow there.”

 

“I see. More importantly, will those clothes be enough? No matter how strong northerners are against cold, you look too cold.”

 

“This much is no problem!”

 

I was worried about Dekan, who sat on the driver’s seat wearing the thinnest outfit, but our northern man seemed unfazed by this level of cold.

 

“Stop talking nonsense and dress properly. Can’t you see Miss is worried about you?”

 

“But it’s hot?”

 

“If you want to get frostbite and have it cut off, I won’t stop you.”

 

“Frostbite? Haha! That’s all overcome with mental strength!”

 

I hadn’t had such a long conversation with Dekan since our introduction, so I didn’t know, but Dekan was like a cheerful large dog.

 

‘To put it nicely, a large dog, and to put it badly, a cheerful idio… no, a cheerful muscle-brain.’

 

Though the latter possibility seemed more likely, well, anyway.

 

“The North has so little entertainment that as a kid I just ran around catching wild boars.”

 

“A child caught wild boars, not rabbits?”

 

I stand corrected.

 

He was just a muscle-brain.

 

“Everyone in that area played like that. Oh! Since we’re going anyway, would you like to try wild boar hunting? I’ll teach you!”

 

“Could I do it? It seems dangerous.”

 

“Hunting is more about technique than strength! You’ll be able to do it right away.”

 

“Dekan, don’t put strange ideas in Miss’s head.”

 

“Strange ideas? I’m just trying to teach her fun ways to play in the North.”

 

Judging by Mary’s expression, the two seemed completely incompatible personality-wise.

 

Then Azel’s voice instantly silenced the noisy atmosphere.

 

“Go quietly.”

 

Even with the simple brown carriage that commoners or outlaws would use as background, Azel’s profile still looked like a pictorial.

 

“Dekan.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“I’m pretty sure I brought you to escort Elpis, but am I remembering wrong?”

 

“N-no! You’re right!”

 

Though the atmosphere was so menacing that I couldn’t even appreciate his good looks.

 

“This is your last warning. Don’t do useless things.”

 

“Understood! I’m sorry!”

 

Seeing Dekan quickly tense up and break into a cold sweat, I couldn’t help but intervene.

 

“I was the one who agreed with it, so don’t scold only Dekan, Azel.”

 

“…I wasn’t trying to scold him.”

 

“I was also too playful. I have no intention of doing anything dangerous, so don’t worry too much.”

 

Meanwhile, Dekan, who witnessed that scene, opened his mouth with a shocked face.

 

“M-Mary. W-what was that just now?”

 

“Don’t talk to me.”

 

“No, what exactly did I just see?”

 

“Stop talking and just drive the carriage properly.”

 

I eventually burst into quiet laughter watching the two of them start bickering again.

 

That’s when I felt a gaze from Azel sitting beside me.

 

“Azel?”

 

When I tilted my head at his obvious stare, his unusually dark and sunken eyes turned toward the carriage floor as if avoiding me.

 

“After you gather all three things you mentioned, what do you plan to do?”

 

“I’ll have to keep my promise.”

 

“…And after you keep your promise?”

 

“I’ll have to leave.”

 

For some reason, Azel’s attitude seemed suspicious.

 

“Do you have somewhere to go?”

 

“Well. Wherever my feet take me, wherever fate leads me – I suppose I’ll go anywhere.”

 

Since I had no intention of revealing specific plans, I gave a vague answer, and Azel’s gaze grew even deeper.

 

“Have you ever been to the North?”

 

“Are you changing the subject?”

 

“Just answer.”

 

“I’ve never been there with you.”

 

At my calm response, Azel’s head turned completely toward the window.

 

“Even if you travel far, don’t go to the North. It’s a barren place, so it would be difficult to survive there alone.”

 

“How do you know I’ll be alone?”

 

Even to my answer mixed with laughter like a joke, he stubbornly kept looking out the window.

 

“Is there really no place for you to return to?”

 

So this is what he wanted to ask all along.

 

At the question that finally came after going in circles, I let out a laugh like a sigh.

 

If I hadn’t realized Azel’s true feelings of still finding me detestable, I might have felt excited or bitter.

 

‘But not anymore.’

 

“The place I return to has always been by your side.”

 

Instead, when I answered by pressing meaningless words into my response, Azel’s shoulders stiffened.

 

“I’m joking. Should we just stop this conversation here?”

 

I spoke in a deliberately bright tone, when suddenly Azel’s head turned toward me.

 

That’s when he asked me.

 

“What exactly do you want to do with me?”

 

For a moment, I almost asked why he was acting crazy again.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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