STM 96

“Lu, you mean you can communicate with the divine beasts?”

“Yes. Because I can see non-human beings.”

The voices of the people suddenly stopped again. But this time, it wasn’t disbelief, but shock, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them. Perhaps, like Hoiga before me, they had belatedly remembered that the Adeyes had possessed this power for generations.

“But you… couldn’t use it.”

“I survived a near death experience and now I can.”

The green eyes fixed on me trembled slightly.

“You, are you… Adeye Lu?”

Hoiga muttered, squeezing out his breath. It was the funniest reaction I’d seen all day, but this time, I couldn’t laugh. I simply stared at him.

“And you, are you really Ma Hoiga?”

Hoiga gasped in surprise. He shouldn’t have looked that guilty over a simple question.

I took a step closer to him. Hoiga shuddered and stepped back. I wanted to push him further, but not yet. I pretended to be Lu again, flashing a mischievous smile.

“You can’t believe it, I was so surprised when you suddenly became Salvation. Your appearance has changed so suddenly, I doubt you’re really Ma Hoiga.”

“I, I…”

“You, get away from Salvation immediately.”

A cold warning suddenly sounded, and Duke Kilu stepped between me and Hoiga. He placed Hoiga behind his back, shielding him, and looked at me like I was some dirty piece of trash.

“Adeye Lu, you’re lying, using your lost power as an excuse to barge into this place. It’s obvious why you’re doing this, but you shouldn’t cross the line.”

“You know why I’m doing this?”

Duke Kilu quirked his lips and looked behind me.

“Of course I do. It must be because of someone who’s got every Tubain citizen under his spell.”

I knew who he was referring to without even turning around. There was only one person I’d ever heard mentioned about being popular. Just then, I heard footsteps approaching behind me.

“You’re right. I’m a bit like that.”

Tairok responded halfheartedly and stopped beside me. Duke Kilu’s eyes grew cold, but it had no effect. As if his halfhearted nod were not enough, Tairok seemed to have no interest in Duke Kilu.

His gaze was fixed solely on me. Only then did I turn to face him. Seeing him, the heat in my head, burning with anger, subsided. Perhaps because I was so focused on Hoiga, I’d momentarily forgotten his presence.

Ah, damn it.

Come to think of it, I wasn’t just interfering with Hoiga, I was interfering with him too. Perhaps he was hoping for Salvation, too.

But there was nothing I could do. Even if he killed me right here, there was only one way for me to go. I had to keep insisting on being Salvation.

“Your Grace. I…”

“Are you infatuated with me?”

I hesitated at the sudden question.

Why are you suddenly asking me this?

In my head, I knew I should immediately agree. I should admit I was so infatuated, even bewitched.

But strangely, the audacity I once felt when dealing with Hoiga wasn’t working properly now. Perhaps it was because of the eyes watching me hesitate.

Those golden eyes were so serious, almost burdensome, without a hint of mockery. That’s why it took a while for me to come up with a suitable answer.

“…Of course. Who wouldn’t fall for the Grand Duke?”

As soon as I spoke, my current situation suddenly dawned on me. I swallowed and preemptively struck before he could reject me.

“I’m Salvation. Of course, you might find it hard to believe, but…”

“I believe you.”

“Yes, you believe me. But… Huh? What?”

“You said you were Salvation.”

You just blindly believed that?

The question I wanted to ask back barely escaped my tongue. His gaze remained unwavering.

My goodness, you really believe that I’m Salvation!

I was so surprised I wanted to ask why, but at the same time, I felt relieved.

Perhaps he had faith because he had personally experienced me communicating with the divine beast and transmitting its power. He had no other reason to choose me as Salvation.

Even so, he really believed in me… …

“Hahaha, Salvation.”

Duke Kilu’s sudden laugh brought me back to reality. He pointed at me and smirked.

“Now that I think about it, he’s the perfect Salvation for the Kun family. What are you doing, Your Grace? He’s precious, so you should take him.”

“Of course I should.”

Duke Kilu spoke with sarcasm, but Tairok absentmindedly replied again, not even looking at him. If nothing else, Tairok seemed to have a special talent for ignoring others.

But no one cared if Duke Kilu’s pride was hurt or not, Tairok’s reaction was so confusing that they couldn’t see the people around him clearly. He accepted Duke Kilu’s suggestion and took my hand.

“Come to me.”

Normally, I might have been startled, wondering what kind of cheesy thing that was. But now was absolutely no time to tease me. Moreover, there was no twinkle in his eye, nor was his playful gaze.

His eyes, like his low, strong voice, were so serious that others were puzzled. Captivated by that intense golden light, I couldn’t see my surroundings.

“Lu.”

It wasn’t until he called out to me that my senses finally snapped back into focus. And then, as I remembered someone who must be watching this situation, I turned my head.

Next to Duke Kilu, who was laughing in amazement, I saw Hoiga, entranced. Unlike his frozen body, his eyes flickered like candlelight.

I couldn’t believe he was responding so enthusiastically. I couldn’t help but be so grateful.

A goal I’d momentarily forgotten rose like a lighthouse. I clenched my fist and nodded.

“Yes, wherever the Grand Duke is, I’ll go.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a strangled, cracking voice cut in.

“No, no. Lu is not Salvation.”

It was Hoiga. I turned to him as if I’d been waiting, and met his gaze. His green eyes, still wavering, glared at me with intense disgust.

Yes, you must hate me.

As I faced him unwaveringly, Hoiga sensed something strange and hesitated. Then, someone else stepped forward to help him.

“That’s right. Salvation is Lord Hoiga. Because he has the mark of Salvation.”

Mark?

The eyes of the onlookers, including me, turned to Ariona, who had risen from his seat. His face was as pale and embarrassed as Hoiga, but when he saw me, his eyes hardened as if he were determined to fight.

That’s right, he is a follower of Tairok, too. I understood why he suddenly regarded me as an enemy.

But would it be okay for Hoiga, a fellow follower, to marry Tairok?

The answer came to me as soon as I asked. Ah, because he really believes Hoiga is the true Salvation. So, is it acceptable?

Their loyalty was truly amusing. They were both concerned with saving Tubain, but they were both so focused on one man that they gritted their teeth and rushed at me.

“The proof that Lord Hoiga is Salvation is that the mark mentioned in the records is on Lord Hoiga’s person. This is from an ancient document that has been kept under strict surveillance in the temple for a long time.”

This must have been Hoiga’s hidden card. That’s why he’d dared to claim he was Salvation. Sure enough, the mention of temple documents seemed to be the final blow to the people.

As I stepped forward, those who had briefly harbored a twinge of doubt looked at Hoiga with awe, as if to say, “Well, then.” Meanwhile, I’d become a pathetic conman.

But what was that?

I smiled and looked at Ariona.

“What does the mark look like?”

“I-I can’t tell you that.”

“Tell me so I can carve it too.”

It was a blatant and brazen request, but anyone could see through it. How could Hoiga have made that mark on purpose? Ariona shook his head, looking at me with disgust.

“Lord Hoiga’s mark is real. How dare you…”

“Ariona.”

Hoiga stopped him, and looked at me calmly.

“Lu, I’m Salvation. This isn’t like you. Why are you doing this?”

“Why are you doing this? It’s the same reason you are. Because I’m Salvation.”

Hoiga sighed and tried to retort at my answer.

“No, Lu. You just…”

“So, Adeye Lu, you’re saying you are Salvation?”

Just then, Duke Kilu interrupted Hoiga and asked me. The smile on his face was clear enough to see what he was thinking. He even blocked Hoiga’s path, preventing him from advancing further. There was no more reliable ally.

“Yes. That’s right.”

I nodded and turned to the important figure. Tairok might doubt me because of the mark, but I believed there was still hope. Because he still held my hand.

Yes, even if no one else trusted me, I just needed to deceive this one.

I couldn’t bear to see Tairok accept a traitor as his mate. I steeled my resolve and knelt before Tairok.

A murmur of surprise erupted from my sudden action. But I ignored it and asked sincerely.

“Your Grace, will you be my mate? Then I will be your Salvation alone.”

Laughter and clicking of tongues could be heard here and there. But Tairok’s reply extinguished the small uproar.

“Gladly.”

He helped me up, bent down, and kissed the back of my hand. But his gaze remained fixed on me, radiating a strong light.

“I accept you as my partner.”