My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 52

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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 52

 

“Only this far?”

 

“You already know. If you kill even Chase Eggmund, your madness will only get worse.”

 

“Is that a threat?”

 

“It’s compassion. So don’t forget. This is my last compassion for you.”

 

As I added the final words like driving in a nail, Ragnear’s eyes darkened deeply.

 

I was trying to calm my anxious heart while waiting for his reaction when suddenly laughter burst out before my eyes.

 

“Ha! Haha, hahahaha!”

 

“…?”

 

Ragnear, who had started laughing like a madman, clearly wasn’t in his right mind.

 

‘Is that bastard okay?’

 

Just as I was getting worried, Ragnear’s voice continued again.

 

“Compassion, compassion! Was it Elpis? A name meaning ‘hope’ – how utterly arrogant! Compassion, ah- compassion for me.”

 

At the monologue that continued dramatically like theatrical dialogue, I quietly rolled my eyes.

 

‘Crazy. Why is he acting like that.’

 

Not just me, but that side was quite formidable too.

 

“I heard there was a noble person in the North, and it seems that was true. You must be that noble person. Right?”

 

Noble person? What’s this about a noble person all of a sudden?

 

“Since you show such compassion for me, I should listen to the noble person’s words. Capture them all alive for now. Especially that woman – I’ll take her myself.”

 

“That cannot be done.”

 

Just as I was confused by the sudden talk of noble persons, Bellode interjected for the first time.

 

“Are you defying my words right now?”

 

“All those tainted by dark magic must be eliminated. That is the Temple’s will.”

 

Then they suddenly started fighting among themselves.

 

“The Temple, which has remained silent despite knowing the state of Chase Eggmund and Vanessa Eggmund all this time, doesn’t seem qualified to say such things.”

 

“We temporarily overlooked it because of the High Priest’s profound intentions. However, now that we know they cannot escape the dark magic, they must be eliminated.”

 

“Ha! It’s not that they can’t escape it, but that it can’t be purified. Because that precious Holy Maiden’s power only goes so far.”

 

“Please refrain from such words. Anything more would be blasphemy!”

 

I didn’t know what was what, but at least it wasn’t a bad situation.

 

I watched their confrontation and slowly approached the Duke.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“…!”

 

Flinch.

 

Meanwhile, though I had merely called out, the Duke flinched and trembled her shoulders.

 

“Sp, speak.”

 

“Listen carefully. Belrod Christian’s weakness is his left shoulder. Attack by penetrating as far left as possible.”

 

When I pointed out Bellode’s condition from when he injured his left shoulder during the southern expedition in the past, confusion immediately appeared on the Duke’s face.

 

“What?”

 

“He usually hides it well, but when mentally shaken, the weakness becomes more pronounced. If you keep attacking from the left, he’ll panic and his stance will crumble.”

 

“What are you suddenly-”

 

“Among the other four, the blonde one values family honor like his life, so insult his family name. Then he’ll get excited and charge straight at you without thinking.”

 

“What, what should I insult?”

 

“Are you being cowardly? Is this the time to worry about being cowardly?”

 

“No, that’s not the problem-”

 

“Enough. Listen properly and remember.”

 

‘After all, we can’t really survive just by setting the mood.’

 

It would be nice if the Duke could defeat them using the weaknesses I told her about, but looking at the Duke’s current state, hoping for that much would be greedy.

 

Then what should I do?

 

‘I need to buy time.’

 

Then they’ll come somehow.

 

I believed in Azel,

 

I believed in our powerful mastermind friends.

 

“How do you know such things…”

 

Meanwhile, the Duke, who didn’t know the detailed circumstances, seemed more afraid of me than the enemies before her eyes, but that was fine.

 

“You are, no. You really are-”

 

“That’s not what’s important right now.”

 

When I met the Duke’s gaze directly, her eyes wavered momentarily.

 

“I told you. That I would show you the way.”

 

“…!”

 

“Buy as much time as possible. Then he’ll come soon.

 

“…Come?”

 

“Azel.”

 

I added the final words as if making a declaration.

 

“That person will never abandon me.”

 

Because I still have use left.

 

A way to escape.

 

A way to survive.

 

Right now, I had told her the path to survival that the Duke desired most, so regardless of my identity, she would now do her best.

 

“If I should die, please at least take Camela with you.”

 

“You knew that child was here?”

 

“What parent wouldn’t recognize their own child’s head.”

 

Following the Duke’s gaze, I could see an orange-colored crown slightly sticking out above the sofa.

 

“What about the Young Master?”

 

“That would be my greed. The mask that was suppressing the dark magic has broken. Since the dark magic has started leaking out, he’ll be hunted wherever he goes.”

 

“So the Young Master’s curse really was dark magic.”

 

People who didn’t know about the existence of dark magic had arbitrarily called it a curse.

 

“If I survive, I’ll take him and flee to the end, but if not, I plan to meet my end together with that child.”

 

I wanted to ask how Chase’s body came to be tainted with dark magic, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time.

 

Before I knew it, Ragnear’s gaze had reached me.

 

“Whatever the case, capture them first.”

 

At the same time, the Duke’s figure disappeared from before my eyes.

 

Ching- Clang!

 

The Duke, who launched a surprise attack targeting Bellode’s left shoulder, fiercely struck at the enemies just like when I had once called her a human weapon.

 

“Block her! Don’t let the Duke reach His Majesty!”

 

“By whose authority!”

 

Facing the scene that had instantly turned into pandemonium, I stepped back and approached Chase.

 

Chase’s condition was not good by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Gasp, wheeze-!

 

Chase’s face revealed beneath the broken mask was similar to the Duchess who had transformed into a monster. Black veins that had bulged out densely covered the small boy’s face.

 

‘Will Yulia be able to succeed in purification? No, even if she comes, she definitely won’t help.’

 

Since Yulia had already changed, hoping for her salvation like Bellode suggested was impossible.

 

“Urgh!”

 

At that moment, a bloody cough burst from the Duke’s mouth.

 

“Kheuk! Cough!”

 

“Pointless effort.”

 

It was Ragnear’s doing, who had been quietly observing the situation until now.

 

“Kheuk!”

 

Ragnear looked toward me instead of finishing off the Duke who had collapsed on the floor.

 

“How about you quietly let yourself be captured while I’m still treating you with courtesy.”

 

“….”

 

Now that even Ragnear, who would normally avoid participating in battle, had stepped forward, the situation had become that much more dire.

 

‘…Azel.’

 

Why aren’t you coming, you bastard.

 

I outwardly maintained an expressionless facade while inwardly desperately searching for Azel.

 

Then suddenly, rage surged within me.

 

…Grind.

 

‘What am I doing right now.’

 

I was infuriated to the point of being sick that I had to weakly pray for Azel’s arrival in this place.

 

‘That light! If only I knew how to use that thing, I could have at least tried something!’

 

But power without knowing how to use it is utterly useless.

 

I spoke fiercely like someone barely suppressing their anger.

 

“Ragnear.”

 

At this, Ragnear’s smooth forehead wrinkled. And following this, Ragnear’s lips parted.

 

“El-”

 

Probably,

 

He intended to call my name just as I had called his.

 

Kwaaaaaa-ang!

 

“…!”

 

But this was never completed.

 

“So you were here, Miss.”

 

Because my reliable reinforcement had finally arrived.

 

“…Mary?”

 

Though it wasn’t Azel whom I had been waiting for, it was already enough.

 

Linoa Marigold, she who had appeared by breaking through the wall, was now blocking my path.

 

*

 

“Mary!”

 

“I searched for quite a while. I’m glad you’re safe.”

 

Judging by the rapier in Mary’s hand, she had clearly already completed all preparations for serious battle.

 

‘Indeed, there’s no law saying I must die!’

 

Meanwhile, I wasn’t the only one who realized Mary’s presence.

 

“Linoa-!”

 

Bellode’s golden sword rushed toward her defenseless back.

 

Kuwung-! Clang!

 

“It’s been a while, Christian.”

 

“Linoa, how dare you appear before me!”

 

Having belonged to the same Temple, Bellode seemed sensitive to Mary’s presence. However, Bellode’s sword alone couldn’t cut down Mary.

 

“That seems like something I should be saying.”

 

“What?”

 

“How dare you point your sword at whom?”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting, traitor! Having betrayed the Temple, you are no longer our comrade, so this is only natural!”

 

But at that moment, unexpected words flowed from Mary’s lips.

 

“I’m not talking about me.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’m asking how dare someone who calls himself a Holy Knight serving God point his sword at whom.”

 

What is that supposed to mean?

 

As I dared to guess, this wasn’t the development I had expected.

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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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