My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 40

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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 40

 

“Excuse me, little miss. When making a request, there should be appropriate compensation to match it.”

 

Some might say this.

 

Isn’t that too harsh for a child?

 

“It’s been ages since the world became cold-hearted, so why use such nice-sounding words like ‘request’? That’s no different from admitting you’re ‘weak.'”

 

But this was my own way of giving advice.

 

“When you’re weak, you must never let that fact be discovered. Especially not in front of strangers.”

 

At my casually added words, the child’s eyes wavered.

 

“Then what should I—”

 

“Think carefully. What would be the best approach?”

 

I watched the child with an amused heart, waiting.

 

Then a young voice interrupted.

 

“Compensation… As you said, we should pay a price that matches what this side demands.”

 

It wasn’t the young boy in front of me.

 

The owner of the voice appeared from behind a nearby tree trunk.

 

“Chase! Why are you here!”

 

Appearing at this timing, there was only one boy who could be called Chase.

 

‘Chase Eggmund.’

 

It was a jackpot.

 

“I told you to stay hidden!”

 

“I couldn’t run away alone and leave you behind, Camela.”

 

I knew this would happen. I waited quietly while watching the two children’s tearful reunion.

 

“Y-you—! You idiot!”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

However, there was something peculiar.

 

‘What’s with that mask?’

 

The Young Master before my eyes was wearing some strange white mask.

 

As I quietly examined the mask, the Young Master who had been consoling the girl with an affectionate tone began glaring at me with contrasting eyes.

 

“How did you know I was here?”

 

“I have my ways of knowing.”

 

Of course, this wasn’t something I’d done based on mere speculation.

 

‘Thanks to Azel, really.’

 

I had seen Azel’s gaze briefly touch the tree trunk.

 

“What do you want.”

 

“The side that’s desperate should state the terms of the deal first, Young Master.”

 

I boldly declared the first move.

 

“You sound like you’re ready to bargain.”

 

“I don’t like doing business at a loss.”

 

A nobleman is a nobleman indeed. The young one knew how to speak quite authoritatively.

 

“Did you approach Camela targeting me from the beginning?”

 

“Let’s speak correctly. We were just crossing the path when you people suddenly appeared before us and blocked our way.”

 

The path between cliffs had already disappeared by then.

 

However, the Young Master had also witnessed that scene earlier, so he briefly glanced in that direction.

 

“I don’t have much I can give.”

 

A voice filled with tension spoke.

 

“I’m someone who can’t be presented to the outside world. Since I’m a disgrace to the family, I can’t promise you a position as the family’s benefactor.”

 

“Chase!”

 

“However, if you help me, you could become ‘my benefactor.'”

 

It seemed my thoughts were wrong.

 

That Young Master was even more reckless than the girl before my eyes.

 

“Those are quite bold words.”

 

‘Though I’m merely a family disgrace now, the future will be different—is that it?’

 

The Young Master had offered his future as a condition. But from this side’s perspective, it was just amusing.

 

“A family disgrace, you say. You’re the one and only heir, yet you seem to be quite hated?”

 

This premise was wrong from the start.

 

‘The Duke personally locked down the northern passages just to save one child, so what nonsense is this.’

 

Of course, the publicly known Young Master was an illegitimate child.

 

But the Young Master was the Duke’s biological child, and according to Azel’s hints, the Duke definitely cherished her child.

 

‘Could it be he doesn’t know?’

 

But seeing that gloomy reaction, it seemed the Young Master was unaware of that fact.

 

“Well, that’s fine. Anyway, what are the conditions you want?”

 

Of course, their circumstances weren’t my problem to worry about.

 

“We haven’t heard yet what you want us to help with?”

 

“I’m looking for something called evening primrose.”

 

Evening primrose?

 

“It’s a flower that only blooms in the northern snow mountains, and I need that flower. Will you help me find it?”

 

I had already guessed it wouldn’t be a request to safely escort them home, but quite an interesting topic had emerged.

 

“So you originally snuck out to find that.”

 

I nodded toward the Young Master who was looking up at me with tense eyes.

 

“Very well.”

 

“You’ll help!”

 

“You’ve even offered the position of Young Master’s ‘benefactor,’ so I should gladly help.”

 

Actually, I wasn’t the decision-maker for this party, but seeing how Azel had remained quiet so far, it seemed fine.

 

I added one last thing to the innocent faces quickly filled with anticipation.

 

“But may I give you one piece of advice?”

 

“…What?”

 

“The word ‘benefactor’ isn’t something you should use carelessly.”

 

“…!”

 

I naturally hadn’t agreed to this deal expecting something from that child.

 

‘I should be able to collect quite handsomely.’

 

I was only expecting compensation from the guardian who would be behind that child.

 

“Well then, is our deal established now?”

 

I was already beginning to anticipate the ‘sincerity’ the Duke would show us.

 

*

 

Before climbing the snow mountains to find that evening primrose or whatever it was.

 

“What are you thinking?”

 

Azel asked me.

 

“About what?”

 

“Don’t play dumb. As soon as you noticed Chase Eggmund was here, you deliberately stirred up trouble.”

 

“Azel noticed too. If we help those two, we’ll be able to gain the Duke’s favor.”

 

“I’m asking because I can’t understand why you’d cause such trouble for that insignificant ‘favor.'”

 

I wondered why he was staying quiet for once, but sure enough, Azel was still Azel.

 

He seemed unable to understand my intention of accepting troublesome work just to gain the Duke’s favor.

 

But I had my reasons too.

 

“Azel.”

 

“What.”

 

“When the regression ends and I leave, what will you do?”

 

“…What do you mean?”

 

Azel’s voice immediately dropped lower.

 

“You are strong.”

 

“So?”

 

“But the world is too vast, and people can’t live alone.”

 

His red eyes were filled with instinctive wariness.

 

“The regression ending means your life will continue on from now. Or perhaps, even if the regression ends, do you hope for the world’s destruction?”

 

Of course, that might be possible.

 

But I was going through all this trouble to prevent that damn ‘destruction.’

 

“I hope the world won’t be destroyed.”

 

“….”

 

“And I hope Azel will be happy in his new life. For that, I thought you’d need people willing to help you.”

 

Faint ripples appeared in his eyes that had been filled with wariness.

 

“…And that’s the Duke?”

 

“Of course, we can’t be certain yet.”

 

“Then why….”

 

“But if it’s the Duke who becomes hostile to the Imperial Court over this matter, she’ll be helpful enough.”

 

In fact, I orchestrated this whole thing for these two reasons.

 

First, as I mentioned earlier, to gain the Duke’s favor and make her our ally.

 

‘That way, there’ll be someone to stop the Empire if they try to pull something stupid against Azel later. Of course, I don’t think Azel would lose even if that happened.’

 

However, it was to prevent someone already in a mentally unstable state from being provoked into returning to a ‘I should just destroy this damn world!’ mindset.

 

And second, it was to show Azel that I was considering even things like this.

 

I’m even thinking about your future after the regression ends!

 

So won’t you look at me a little more fondly?

 

‘Even if it seems trivial, these small details are quite helpful for image building.’

 

Trust is built through the accumulation of such actions, after all.

 

‘So don’t even think about destruction and just trust me and wait like you’re doing now.’

 

When I stared at him intently with my intentions clear, Azel eventually averted his gaze.

 

And as expected,

 

Azel didn’t argue any further.

 

But there was something I hadn’t considered.

 

How my preparations for a ‘future without me’ would appear to him.

 

“Preparations complete!”

 

Just then, Dekan approached, carrying someone rolled up like a mat over his shoulder.

 

It was that very nobleman who had attacked us earlier and gotten his jaw broken.

 

“He resisted more than expected, so it took a bit longer. My apologies!”

 

Since we thought he might be useful somehow, we decided to take him along.

 

“It’s fine. Well then, shall we get going now?”

 

It was time to depart.

—————
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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