STM 99

The building and garden were clean but minimally decorated. Only one thought came to my mind as I looked at Grand Duke Kun’s capital residence: Doctor Kim would love this.

Most buildings in Tubain were adorned with ornate decorations and marble, and the Adeye residence was no exception.

On the other hand, Doctor Kim’s room was remarkably plain for the Adeye family head.

The reason was simple: Doctor Kim didn’t like flashy decorations.

But why was the exterior of the mansion so ornate? Doctor Kim’s explanation was simple:

‘I just plastered it with whatever was the most expensive.’

It was practical, befitting a wealthy woman. As I stood briefly admiring the exterior of the Grand Duke’s residence, Rick, who was guiding me, asked disapprovingly.

“Is there something you don’t like?”

“The opposite. Since there’s hardly any decoration outside, even if monsters attack, falling debris won’t cause damage. It’s good.”

I answered absentmindedly, but then realized it sounded so typical of Team Leader Kim. As expected, Rick, Tairok’s aide, looked at me strangely.

It was inconvenient having no hair to hide behind at times like this. But if it’s someone I’ll be seeing often, there’s no need to put on a show. It’s not like I’m going to sweep between his legs. Instead, I pretended it wasn’t a big deal and urged him on.

“What are you doing? Hurry, Let’s go in quickly.”

“Yes, hurry… No, I mean…”

Rick started to say something but fell silent. What? With the kind of fiery Korean blood that can’t stand frustration, I immediately asked.

“What?”

“Everyone in Adeye’s circle always says ‘hurry hurry’.” He said, a little dissatisfied.

I smiled at him.

“That’s not true. My sister and I have been keeping our tempers down for so long… ahem, we are very calm.”

“Ms. Solongo uses ‘hurry hurry’ a lot, too.”

Of course. Anyone who works with a Korean is bound to get influenced. Just look at her now. Solongo left me behind, insisting she needed to see the matriarch as soon as possible.

“That’s why she suddenly left Lord Lu with us? … She didn’t even say a proper goodbye to me.”

I had a feeling that last part was the real issue, I stared at him. Rick flinched and awkwardly turned his head away.

“Well, that’s all.”

“Right.”

He didn’t say anything, but Rick blushed, as if he’d been caught. It was probably just one-sided interest, so I pretended not to notice and looked away.

If he were my teammate, I might’ve scolded him to stop paying attention to things like that. In battle, a surprising factor that hinders teamwork is romantic relationships between teammates.

Even rational action can be a life-or-death struggle, but letting emotions control you can lead to immediate death. Of course, this isn’t a war zone, nor is it Earth.

But I was still someone who belonged to that world, still locked in a brutal war with monsters. In that sense, I can’t date until I achieve my goal. I absolutely cannot allow such feelings.

I urged Rick, who was still dithering.

“Ah, come on, hurry up!”

That’s how I herded someone else’s aide like cattle and entered someone else’s house.

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Pale face, faint breathing. High Priest Cheki, lying on the bed, had her eyes closed, but she didn’t appear to be simply asleep.

“Master hasn’t woken up.”

Ariona reported tearfully, but Hoiga, standing beside him, just stared down, his mouth tightly shut. A mixture of guilt and rage swirled in his eyes like a hurricane.

The one who had done this to High Priest Cheki was Duke Kilu. After the meeting, he shamelessly smiled and told him where High Priest Cheki was.

And that wasn’t all. He even drove him there himself. He was so courteous that he even opened the door himself.

“Take your time and talk. I’ll wait outside.”

Talk? He must have said that deliberately, knowing that High Priest Cheki was in such a state. His abhorrent behavior infuriated him, but strangely, Hoiga’s greatest anger was directed at someone else.

“If only Adeye Lu hadn’t interrupted at that moment…”

Ariona muttered indignantly beside him. He had been helping Hoiga decipher the documents for a long time alongside High Priest Cheki.

But the spark that lit their rapid friendship was one person: Tairok, whom they had both been interested in.

‘I have absolutely no intention of approaching Grand Duke Kun first.’

Ariona, well aware of his situation, was content with simply admiring him from a distance, but Hoiga was different. He had a feasible goal: to become his partner, and Ariona had been there to support him.

So, while he was grateful that Ariona was as angry as if it were his own, his pride was also hurt.

He had been brutally trampled by Adeye Lu right before his eyes. Why Adeye Lu of all people?

“Haa.”

Hoiga sighed, but then clenched his jaw. He’d thought he’d changed, but it turns out it was because he’d regained his power.

While Lu’s power was impressive, seeing non-human beings wasn’t everything.

They possessed thoughts and standards beyond human comprehension, so if communication wasn’t working properly, they were highly likely to attack or curse you. And the Adeye family had never communicated with non-human beings.

So, this was absurd.

Hoiga shook his head. It was known that even the Adeye ability couldn’t perceive divine beasts. So even if Lu’s power had reawakened, there was no way he could communicate with or summon one. But back then, none of that crossed his mind.

He was so frozen, like an idiot.

Hoiga gritted his teeth, reproaching himself. He trembled like an idiot while watching Adeye Lu, who had been shouting so confidently. He was frightened by the thought that Lu might really be Salvation.

Only after his rational mind returned did he realize Adeye Lu had deceived everyone, but it was already too late. It was obvious why he had lied.

Ha, while he was romping around with men so promiscuously, was he still holding Tairok in his heart?

Everyone who saw Tairok fell for him, but Lu had been afraid of him all this time. And the important thing wasn’t Lu’s feelings.

Tairok hadn’t chosen anyone all this time. Until today.

“Lord Hoiga could have proposed to Grand Duke Kun first, if only…”

Hoiga held his breath at Ariona’s mutter. Thinking back, his anxiety grew again. An ominous feeling had told him that Tairok would reject him.

But what if he was mistaken? What if Tairok had intended to accept him?

Hoiga forced aside his regret. What use was it now? He had already declared in front of everyone that he would take Adeye Lu as his wife. Hoiga turned away without a word.

“Lo-Lord Hoiga.”

Ariona called out to him from behind, but he closed the door and faced Duke Kilu, who was waiting.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

He asked casually. Hoiga looked directly at him and demanded.

“She won’t wake up. Please give her the antidote.”

“Antidote? Why? Is High Priest Cheki feeling unwell? Then I’ll send for a healer.”

“Duke Kilu.”

“High Priest Cheki is probably anxious. She wanted her precious nephew and disciple to connect with Montaine, but that hasn’t happened. So, if her wish is granted, won’t she surely open her eyes?”

His warning was clear. Take my hand. Duke Kilu was popular for his handsome looks and gentlemanly demeanor, but in Hoiga’s eyes, he looked more uglier than anyone else in the world.

At this moment, he hated Tairok, who hadn’t chosen him, but at the same time, he missed him terribly. And then another person came to mind. There was someone he hated even more than Duke Kilu.

Adeye Lu.

The thought of the name made him want to vomit.

“…How could I accept your proposal when I’m not the only Salvation?”

Hoiga muttered softly and lowered his gaze. He didn’t look at Duke Kilu, but he felt his stinging gaze. He was a shrewd man, so he knew he would find a solution to the problem he had raised. This is how it was.

“Well, it would be problematic to have two Salvations in the world. Just as there can’t be two emperors in a country. If you really wish to be the Salvation, Hoiga, I will make you the only Salvation.”

Hoiga’s gaze remained lowered, but his eyes lit up at Duke Kilu’s subsequent words.

“All it takes is for the other Salvation to disappear.”

Hoiga remained silent, but Duke Kilu’s answer was clear. He smiled briefly at him, then made a brazen, if polite, request.

“But for that, Hoiga, you must demonstrate your abilities more clearly.”

“…Are you referring to the prophecy?”

“You are such a articulate person. I don’t understand how you managed to act so ridiculously.”

Hoiga’s jaw clenched at Duke Kilu’s exclamation. Yes, he’d managed to disguise himself with that horrific appearance all this time.

But now that his abilities had been revealed, it was unnecessary. He needed to be worthy of being Salvation.

“There’s going to be a major incident at the upcoming hunting competition.”

Just saying this brought a look of satisfaction to Kilu’s face.

“A major accident? So it wouldn’t be surprising if someone died. It’s very good.”