My Illusion Is Survival - Chapter 67

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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 67

 

“Do you remember the day you collapsed?”

 

Of course I remember.

 

I was quite flustered when I suddenly opened my eyes at Boras’ Spring and saw Azel completely soaked.

 

“That day, we thought you had passed away.”

 

“I thought you were going to die.”

 

Azel, who had been terrified at the time, had said something similar.

 

“Was the situation really that serious?”

 

“You had vomited so much blood and were lying there motionless, and we couldn’t hear your breathing or even your heartbeat.”

 

As I perked up my ears at this story I was hearing for the first time, Linoa Marigold gently patted the back of my hand.

 

“At that time, Master seemed like he wanted to destroy everything. But then you started breathing again, and from that point everyone frantically headed to Boras’ Spring.”

 

“Why Boras’ Spring specifically?”

 

“Master said that physicians and priests would be of no use.”

 

It seemed he had taken to heart the previous incident when he brought a healing priest who couldn’t find anything wrong.

 

Azel’s particular obsession with my health was still a mystery.

 

“Boras’ Spring is also called the Spring of Life. Master jumped into it without a moment’s hesitation while holding you.”

 

As the scene from that day I had never witnessed began to form in my mind, Linoa Marigold shared a surprising story.

 

“Master’s hands, which held your cold body, kept trembling.”

 

It certainly wasn’t because of the cold.

 

“With those trembling hands, he curled up his body as if afraid he might lose you, and he looked just like a frightened child.”

 

I could understand what he had been so afraid of without having to ask.

 

“I can say with certainty that none of us had ever seen Master like that before.”

 

Yet I still stubbornly resisted.

 

“…I don’t know. What’s right. What exactly should I have done and how.”

 

“That doesn’t seem like a question I can answer.”

 

However, even Linoa Marigold shook her head at this.

 

“It’s late at night. I should be going as well, so please rest now.”

 

In Linoa Marigold’s departing figure as she left without lingering, I saw Azel from earlier.

 

Once again, I could only watch that retreating figure without being able to bring myself to stop her.

 

Right now, I just wanted to sleep.

 

*

 

“You came?”

 

“This place is.”

 

When I opened my eyes again, I was standing in front of a glass greenhouse I had never seen before.

 

Even though it was definitely a space I was seeing for the first time, I could tell. This was Azel’s greenhouse that was expected to take time to complete.

 

“Is this already finished?”

 

“I hurried. I wanted to show it to you as soon as possible.”

 

…Ah, that’s right.

 

My head felt foggy as I nodded automatically.

 

Unable to wait even a moment for me to look around, a sweet voice quickly captured my attention.

 

The gaze directed at me was affectionate, and the atmosphere surrounding us was utterly peaceful.

 

It was a perfect moment that felt like being in a dream, so now it was my turn to ask a reasonable question according to the sequence.

 

‘What were you doing here alone?’

 

But my mouth moved on its own.

 

“Do you like me? Is that why you want me to stay by your side forever?”

 

These were the things I had been thinking about before falling asleep. But I never intended to voice them, yet my mouth had long since escaped my control.

 

By the time I realized my mistake, it was already too late, and I needed to find some way to salvage the situation.

 

But.

 

For some reason, Azel in front of me was just smiling as if he found me amusing.

 

“Of course. Elpis, you are my one and only lover.”

 

He even added such words.

 

“…Lover?”

 

Us?

 

I unconsciously lifted my head quickly, but Azel’s face looking at me remained as calm as ever.

 

That was when I first felt something was strange.

 

‘How could the greenhouse be completed so quickly?’

 

Then everything surrounding me began to feel strange.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“Just because you’re handsome.”

 

“How bland.”

 

Still, I couldn’t let my confusion show. I tried to compose my expression.

 

“What were you doing here?”

 

“Waiting for you.”

 

“What about Simoer?”

 

“I asked him to step aside. I wanted to be alone with you.”

 

As expected, everything was perfect like a dream. I almost let out a hollow laugh but held it back.

 

Meanwhile, when I didn’t say anything, Azel rested his chin on the back of his hand and looked up at me, asking.

 

“You’re unusually quiet today?”

 

“Just. There’s a lot to look at.”

 

“True. It’s quite pretty, isn’t it? That’s why I wanted to show it to you sooner. Do you like it?”

 

The angle of his smile was natural, and the smile I’d been seeing often lately had no awkwardness.

 

If I hadn’t just had that argument with Azel, I might have been unconsciously enchanted.

 

“I’m not sure. It seems more disappointing than I thought.”

 

“Really? That’s unexpected. I thought you liked flowers.”

 

“I do like them. I naturally like real flowers.”

 

As I just shrugged and sat down, a plate piled with cookies was immediately pushed in front of me.

 

“Try some. You like sweet things.”

 

“When did I ever tell Azel that I like sweet things?”

 

“Didn’t you?”

 

“Hmm, you’re right though. Since I’m not picky, I actually like anything edible.”

 

As I picked up a piece of cookie from the plate, Azel leaned back against his chair and lifted his teacup. Even his elegant gestures that showed good breeding were utterly perfect.

 

Everything was the Azel I knew.

 

But precisely because of that.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

Paradoxically, I couldn’t help but know.

 

“You’re staring at me like that again. Am I that handsome?”

 

“No. This time I’m just curious.”

 

“About what?”

 

Since perfectly imitating someone was originally my specialty.

 

That thing in front of me was just a perfect ‘imitation,’ not Azel.

 

“There’s something. I’m really curious, so could you tell me?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“Why did you even take Arachne’s Thread? You don’t believe in fate or promises anyway.”

 

“What?”

 

“Don’t tell me you’re really planning to give it to Yulia as a gift?”

 

And I knew exactly one person, the only individual in This Place who could pull off something like this.

 

“Stop copying that person. How about we have a real conversation with our true faces, Shane. I’m starting to get a bit annoyed.”

 

Shane MacLauren.

 

The imitator before me was definitely him.

 

Soon, the corners of his eyes that had been feigning confusion crumbled. His calm lips twisted into a fierce angle, and a strange voice flowed through the gap.

 

“…Well, look at that?”

 

In an instant, the person before me had completely changed.

 

“What’s this now. How did you figure it out?”

 

He was looking at me with a face that was openly dying of curiosity.

 

“I wondered why. What a rare occasion to have such a pleasant dream.”

 

“Dream?”

 

“Why are you pretending to be surprised? This is inside my dream.”

 

At that moment, cheerful laughter burst out right in front of me.

 

It was Shane’s, naturally.

 

“What? You’re sharper than I thought? Usually people don’t even notice the dissonance.”

 

“Unfortunately for me, I’m pretty quick to catch on.”

 

“Is that really unfortunate?”

 

“Looking at my situation these days, it is unfortunate. If I hadn’t known, it wouldn’t have been this difficult.”

 

Thinking I was saying something completely incomprehensible, Shane just shrugged his shoulders.

 

Even under the artificial light illuminating the glass greenhouse, his golden eyes watching me glittered like those of a predator.

 

It seemed like tonight would be a restless night of dreams.

 

*

 

‘Of all the timing.’

 

Right now I was already overwhelmed just thinking about Azel, but as expected, this damn life was unpredictable even one step ahead.

 

“I’ll ask again. How did you know it was me?”

 

“Is there anyone else here besides you who would pull this kind of stunt?”

 

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

 

“Half and half?”

 

“Hmm, it’s strange how much you dislike me considering how long we’ve known each other.”

 

“You snuck into someone else’s dream without permission, so you can’t expect to hear anything nice.”

 

Shane could invade other people’s dreams through artifacts.

 

Intruding into others’ dreams without permission, rummaging through their unconscious to read their thoughts and subtly manipulating people.

 

That was Shane MacLauren’s secret that others didn’t know about.

 

‘So all those times when “predetermined questions” kept popping into my head, it was all this bastard’s doing.’

 

That’s why I hated this person. Being manipulated by someone without my consent was absolutely disgusting.

 

“Interesting.”

 

At that moment, Shane’s lips twisted viciously.

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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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