STM 160

“Absolutely not!!”

After he left the party building, Haas regained his senses and dropped me off at the Adeye residence. The acrid smell of the fire still didn’t dissipate. Many people were busy cleaning up the mess.

I told him that I’d check Doctor Kim’s condition first, then go to Crystal Lake immediately. Haas was horrified and refused.

“You absolutely can’t! You shouldn’t go to Crystal Lake!!”

I walked toward the clinic where Doctor Kim was lying. I looked back with a questioning expression. Why can’t I go?

“I can’t send Lord Lu to that dangerous place.”

“Grand Duke Tairok is there too.”

“Oh, the Grand Duke can take care of himself!”

Does Kun not pay overtime? I wondered if his labor’s value was properly reflected in his wages. I nodded.

“Exactly. He’ll handle it, and I’ll handle things well too.”

“No. I can’t be at peace if even a little danger remains. Where do you think you’re going? You shouldn’t move a single finger now that you’re in a safe place!”

“What exactly do you see me as?”

“What else? You’re Salvation!!!”

Hey, don’t shout that ridiculous title so loudly… Just as I feared, several people were huddled around us since Haas first shouted. I unconsciously looked at their faces to check their reactions. As soon as our eyes met, they knelt like dominoes.

“Lord Salvation!”

“You really were Salvation!”

“To think Lord Lu was Salvation… sob.”

Someone even choked up. Oh, shit. I couldn’t argue that I wasn’t Salvation here because I didn’t want the news to reach Tairok’s ears.

I couldn’t escape this uncomfortable situation, so I looked at the culprit. Haas lifted his chin. He looked proud of the people’s respect toward me.

“Please rest in a safe place, Salvation. All of Tubain will wail if even a hair on your head gets hurt.”

“…Hey, stop it.”

I gritted my teeth and gave a small warning. “You heard it at the party. I made a bet with Hoiga. I have to go to the lake to close the rift.”

“Yes, after I check the safety.”

Haas was determined to not to let me go. He suddenly opened a portal in front of me. “Come, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“You said you’d go to the clinic to see the Adeye family’s head.”

“It’s right in front of us.”

“Salvation’s precious feet might wear out while you walk that short distance.”

“…Haas.”

“Yes!”

“Get out of my sight.”

I spoke as coldly as I could, but this alone wouldn’t cause Haas’s loyalty to waver.

“Oh, you mean I should go to Crystal Lake first to check the situation! Yes, I’ll follow Salvation’s command!”

He moved me to the clinic’s front through the portal before he finally disappeared.

I wondered if I could see the situation inside when the portal to Crystal Lake opened. It was impossible because black whirlwinds covered everything. Should I just jump in? The portal closed while I hesitated. So, I had to enter the clinic and check Doctor Kim’s condition quickly, but I couldn’t move my feet.

I told Hoiga that Tairok would wipe everything out, but it was mostly a bluff. I felt anxious because I couldn’t see it for myself.

However, I wasn’t nervous. The blue snake flew in front of me. It drew gentle S-curves as it swam through the air. Its five tails even swayed. I heard the reason through its tails earlier.

‘I’m excited! Excited!’

‘My energy finally broke free!’

‘It’s refreshing! I feel great!’

The snake even spun in the air like a Ferris wheel because it felt so good.

“Are you that happy? Do you like that Tairok is using the Divine Beast’s power?”

The five tails moved dazzlingly.

[Excited! That’s bussin!]

…That’s bussin? The language made me cringe, but I couldn’t criticize the divine beast’s way of talking right now.

“Is Tairok doing that well?”

[That Kun fellow is just getting a free ride.]

What? You give him power, but you haven’t given him your heart yet?

“Isn’t he better than Zav?”

[Much better. Way better.]

I thought so. Then, the tails moved quickly again. They appeared and disappeared so fast that I couldn’t read them without Mo’s interpretation. However, this was a hundred times better than that bear.

[But that Kun jerk.]

The divine beast held a long grudge.

[He doesn’t have a single charming point.]

Well, his eyes and his smile are a bit pretty. I took Tairok’s side. Then, I remembered that the divine beast likes blue. Should I put blue dots on Tairok’s body?

“Anyway, Tairok is clearing out the monsters properly, right?”

[Totally.]

“I heard the monsters were bursting out in waves?”

[It’s a piece of cake.]

“Where on earth did you learn such words… Ha, never mind.”

I felt relieved and turned around. The divine beast still couldn’t contain its joy. It flew toward the sky like a dragon.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

[To brag.]

It left a single word and vanished. …It just left like that? I was speechless, but I understood its excitement. I turned around. Yes, at least one being should feel good in this mess.

‎

‎

Regardless of how much he drew it out, power never ran out. Tairok’s hands were like an endless sea of power. The surge was too great for a human to withstand. But Tairok let go of it as though he wanted to test his limits.

Honestly, he felt a bit excited. No, he didn’t want to admit it, but he felt very thrilled. He used a divine beast’s power properly for the first time since his childhood. He felt like his self, which had been trapped in a box, finally broke free.

Tairok jumped into the sky as if he took flight. He unleashed his power toward the monsters. Water streams burst from his hands. They attacked only the monsters accurately, as if invisible strings controlled them.

The sky was dark. Many monsters still crawled out from the ground. However, Tairok smirked in joy.

The increase in monsters meant he could use even more power. His gold eyes were full of excitement. They glowed alone in the darkness like a predator’s eyes.

‎

‎

The party ended abruptly because of the unknown incident Adeye Lu caused. People scattered, but they couldn’t shake off their fear. However, Hoiga was the one who suffered the biggest blow.

His face was a mess because he had bled a lot from his nose. He didn’t even think to wipe it properly. He just clasped his trembling hands. Kilu brought him to a quiet room and asked in a low voice.

“Hoiga. Tell me again. Was it really a divine beast’s light?”

However, Hoiga couldn’t open his mouth. He looked like a man who lost his soul. Kilu clicked his tongue and grabbed Hoiga’s shoulder tightly. Only then did Hoiga look up in surprise.

“I saw a blue… a blue light.”

“Have you seen the divine beast’s light before?”

“No. But… I can’t explain that feeling if it isn’t the divine beast.”

“Well, I think it’s a mistake. A divine beast only gives its heart to its contractor. Did it look like Lu used the divine beast’s power to your eyes?”

Hoiga didn’t answer and shook his head. Kilu gave a slight smile, as if he expected that.

“The divine beast wouldn’t stay by Adeye Lu’s side unless it had a special purpose. So, you’ve misunderstood.”

Kilu spoke gently, as if it were nothing. However, Hoiga’s expression became serious.

“What if… they’re connected for a special purpose?”

Hoiga’s eyes widened. He thought of something. “The door. What if Lu is the door?”

“The divine beast’s door is a person?”

“Yes. Then, that explains the Montaine divine beast’s door, too. The location wasn’t fixed because it was a person. The door kept moving.”

“…”

Hoiga continued to ramble. “If the divine beast opens its heart to a contractor, couldn’t it open its heart to another human, too? If Lu can really communicate with divine beasts, he would’ve known. He would’ve known he was the door. However, others couldn’t feel divine beasts, so they could never know.”

Hoiga didn’t see Kilu’s reaction because he was busy sharing his hypothesis. If the door was truly a person, it could explain things about Montaine. However, the divine beast’s criteria for choosing a door remained unknown.

“But why Lu? And who is it in Montaine?”

“I don’t know about Lu, but I have a guess for Montaine. It’s obvious who the divine veast would open its heart to. It’s the same Montaine bloodline.”

“Ah, then maybe the Duke could be the door…”

Hoiga froze when he accidentally saw Kilu’s face. Kilu was laughing with his mouth open, but he made no sound. He didn’t look happy because he might be the divine beast’s door.

Instead, greed filled his eyes. He looked like a man who had found treasure. His usual appearance vanished. A chill ran through Hoiga’s entire body, as if he was facing a strange monster.

“Duke, why are you… laughing like that?”

“I’m laughing? I’m just amazed by the Salvation’s insight.”

No, that’s not it. Hoiga almost rebuked without thinking. If someone might be the door connected to the divine beast, the usual reaction should be fear mixed with awe. It shouldn’t be that greedy laugh. Kilu noticed Hoiga’s expression. He comforted Hoiga in a kind voice.

“Don’t worry about Adeye Lu. His identity doesn’t matter. He’s still a person who must die.”

Kilu knelt on one knee in front of Hoiga. He kissed Hoiga’s hand.

“I’ll definitely eliminate them for you, the true Salvation. Both Lu and Tairok.”