STM 94

The Borhumi representative interrupted again.

“The rift appeared because of that evil dark mage Dorgo.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But he only opened a rift that had been blocked by the divine beast’s power. Originally, the rift was there.”

Hoiga sighed and explained the facts he had discovered.

Long ago, Tubain became a land of death due to monsters because of five rifts.

Then, miraculously, four divine beasts descended, and four knights who inherited the divine beasts’ power drove out the monsters.

After that, it’s said the divine beasts sealed the rifts in each region. Of the five rifts, four were sealed and one remained.

This one was so large and powerful that it couldn’t be sealed by any divine beast’s power. However, since there was only one, the four knights could overcome each crisis by joining forces.

Those knights were the founders of the four divine beast families.

Hoiga’s story continued smoothly without interruption. His usually frivolous and noisy voice was calm and low, completely different, drawing everyone’s attention. This made his conclusion all the more weighty.

“For the rift to reappear, the divine beast’s power must disappear.”

Everyone could understand the hidden meaning in Hoiga’s words. So Borhumi’s divine beast had perished.

Surprised murmurs erupted from various places. I was the only one frowning. Because I still had the divine beast’s key in my pocket. The lake water that had shrunk to fit perfectly in my hand.

“Dorgo seems to have trapped the divine beast to slowly extinguish it in order to eliminate it. Moreover, he knew the rift was beneath Borhumi’s lake. The reason Borhumi’s lake never dried up was because it was a place holding the divine beast’s power.”

But as the divine beast’s power weakened, the lake water completely dried up. Only then did I understand why the future Hoiga knew had been moved up.

If I hadn’t appeared, that small puddle of water might have completely dried up in six months. With the divine beast perishing while trapped.

But I brought away that water, that key. Thanks to that, the divine beast’s power blocking the rift disappeared and caused problems, but anyway, the divine beast safely returned home.

Then the divine beast… did it recover its power at home? It would probably take a long time, right?

As I recalled the divine beast working hard to make consonants with its tail, I inadvertently glanced at Tairok. He was also staring at me. But it didn’t seem like he wanted to tease me.

I could tell what his serious gaze wanted to say. Since he and I were the only ones who knew the truth about the divine beast. However, the humorless golden light soon turned elsewhere due to the noise.

Clang!

With the sound of a chair falling, a middle-aged man jumped up from his seat. It was the Grand Duke Sarne family, whose divine beast had supposedly disappeared long ago.

“Does that mean Sarne’s divine beast didn’t perish?”

“Yes.”

When Hoiga nodded, Grand Duke Sarne closed his eyes and suppressed his emotions. He seemed quite pleased to confirm there was still a chance to receive the divine beast’s power.

Conversely, Duke Kilu’s expression turned cold. And his cold gaze headed to one place. To Tairok, who was smirking.

If Hoiga’s words were true, there was one more place where the divine beast hadn’t perished. The Kun family.

Now the atmosphere had completely reversed from the beginning. The triumphant Montaine side had all stiffened, while Sarne looked excited as if they’d gained hope. Tairok was relaxed like a spectator, as if all this were someone else’s business.

“Since Salvation says so, it’s certainly reassuring.”

When Grand Duke Sarne bowed in greeting, Hoiga bowed back. And he intentionally didn’t turn his gaze toward the Montaine side.

It would be difficult to face them with Kilu glaring at him. It was surprising that he decided to drop this information now.

Wasn’t Montaine the one who had believed without doubt they would ascend to emperor as the only divine beast family?

What was the reason the Grand Duke Montaine showed the hypocritical behavior of going to Borhumi to hunt monsters? She must have been hoping they’d place the emperor’s crown on her head in her absence.

However, the side with the most complaints was Borhumi.

“I can’t believe it! To confirm Borhumi’s divine beast’s extinction with just one line of some record!”

The Borhumi representative pointed at Hoiga.

“In the first place, there’s no certainty that person is Salvation. Just because he got the weather right once…”

“It’s not just the weather. We’ve already heard prophecies about the future several times and they were all correct.”

At Grand Duke Sarne’s words, the Borhumi representative’s expression contorted. Seeing that Duke Kilu didn’t raise any objections either, it seemed they too had heard the same prophecies.

Anyone could speculate without asking that ancient documents had been handed over in exchange for the prophecies.

But unlike the two families that had already built trust, Borhumi, where a bomb had suddenly dropped, still looked unconvinced. The Borhumi representative looked at Hoiga again.

“Salvation is the being that summoned the divine beasts to this land. Then can Lord Hoiga also summon divine beasts?”

“If the records are correct, I can.”

What? Even I couldn’t help but be surprised by this answer. The method to summon divine beasts is also in the records? This time Grand Duke Sarne jumped up from his seat.

“How?”

“You go directly and bring them back.”

Go directly… Ah, the Forest of the Crimson Tide. Well, anyone can go there if they have the key.

Moreover, seeing that Tairok could hear the words of otherworldly beings there, communication seemed to be no problem either.

The interior buzzed again. Then Hoiga turned to look at Tairok. The desperate emotion contained in his eyes toward Tairok was so intense that even I, far away, could perceive it.

I suddenly felt nauseated. I don’t know what kind of life he lived here or what he experienced.

Everyone has their own circumstances, and I know that not everyone can be like Doctor Kim.

However, no matter how desperate the traitor’s story was, no matter what reasons accompanied it, to me it was all garbage excuses.

Ah, right. Killing him here right away would be a waste.

That would be too easy. If he chose life in this world, it’s only fair that he should also accept suffering in this world. So I couldn’t just calmly watch Hoiga’s current appearance.

The sooner Hoiga made an oath with Montaine, even by a minute or second, the sooner his real suffering would begin. While he suffered long with that desperate love that couldn’t be fulfilled.

So when Tairok’s name came from his mouth, I felt something ominous.

“Of course, Kun’s divine beast too. Tairok… Grand Duke.”

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Hoiga thought this was his last chance. No, should it be called a last desperate struggle? He only said Tairok’s name, but he could feel a murderous gaze.

He could tell without looking back. It must be Duke Kilu. He must already be angry about not being told in advance about the information on the divine beast’s extinction.

Perhaps even his family might be looking at him with disappointed eyes. And what about High Priest Cheki who was being held?

Before being a family elder, she was the person who recognized his ability and led him to the path of decoding precious ancient documents.

Thanks to her, Hoiga was able to find his value. So this current decision was tantamount to betraying her.

Ha, if she finds out, she’ll definitely be disappointed.

However, no matter how much his heart ached thinking of his precious ones, he wanted to be greedy just this once.

There was nothing wrong with trying. Because Tairok might choose him. Even if those quiet golden eyes gave no signal now.

“For Tubain’s sake, I hope Kun family’s divine beast returns. Please let me help.”

Now he could feel Sarne’s displeased gaze too. But he rather hoped Tairok would notice that reaction from the other divine beast families.

That way he’d know what a big decision it was for him to openly offer to help Kun. As if that weren’t enough, Hoiga pressed Tairok’s switch.

“Of course, we’d have to break the curse on the Kun family first.”

Curse. At this word, his gaze that had been observing changed.

I’m the only one who can break that curse. Please, choose me.

Hoiga’s silent plea headed toward Tairok. However, before there was time to wait for his reaction, Kilu interrupted.

“The curse is certainly a regrettable matter. If the curse that struck Kun is broken and the lost divine beast returns, it would certainly be a blessing for Tubain. Our Montaine also desperately hopes for this.”

With a loud voice that drew people’s attention, he walked out to the center where Hoiga stood.

Hoiga stepped back in surprise, but Kilu stood in front of him, seemingly unconcerned. Precisely in a position that blocked the view of Tairok.

“I’m glad that Salvation and I seem to be of one mind on this point.“