Ch. 303
– “…is it? What… can… do…”
But whether it was because Theatrazen’s mental fortitude was strong, or because he was extremely wary of me, reading his thoughts wasn’t as easy as it had been with Ash.
Slowly tightening my grip on his trembling neck, I met his fearful eyes.
Theatrazen’s mind was a mess, filled with anxiety over his impending death.
A human mind holds far too many thoughts, and finding the one you want among them is like searching for a star in the night sky.
You can only find it by making that thought shine.
“Now, I’m going to ask you a few questions. If you answer well, I might let you live.”
“…Who do you think would be toyed with by the likes of you!”
“First, were you the one who damaged Bemurim’s book on non-attribute spirits? The only copy in the world.”
Even if he didn’t answer—even if he looked away—I got my answer. It was at times like this that the greatness of the Tears of Truth became clear.
“Second, where did you hide the Space Spirit’s magic circle?”
“…”
“And the Illusion Spirit Formation?”
The only thing that came out of the stubborn old man’s mouth was a wet gurgle of dark red blood, but it was useless.
‘Even if I die, I will never tell her.’
No matter how firmly he resolved himself, the mere act of him faintly recalling the location was enough for me to grasp the complete answer.
He might think he hadn’t yielded to my threats, but there was no harm in letting him keep that delusion. That way, he wouldn’t hide it somewhere else.
“What was the content you tore out of the book?”
I smiled in satisfaction and peered into his interesting mind.
Right. If I killed him, I couldn’t read his thoughts. It was a good thing I’d kept him alive.
He hadn’t said it with his own mouth, but since he’d given me a sufficient answer, I felt I should keep my promise and let him live.
[Master, the knights are swarming back in.]
[Grufain? Put up a wall and block them.]
[Two hundred… no, almost three hundred? There are a lot of guys who look like they can use sword energy mixed in. I think you need to stop playing around, Master.]
[Right, I’ll just knock this old geezer out and start bounc—]
‘Blond hair, blue eyes. A Water Spirit Mage…’
The thought came through clearly, traveling up the palm that was choking the old man’s throat.
The familiar name filling his mind.
‘Geenie Crowell…?’
It seemed today was just one of those days where every single plan went straight to hell.
‘The genius of Dmitri who summoned a Spirit at the age of ten and contracted a mid-level Water Spirit before even becoming an adult? But this woman is a high-level Spirit Mage… more importantly, there’s no reason for Geenie Crowell to do something like this.’
Theatrazen couldn’t be sure, but he couldn’t stop his suspicions.
[What is it? Did he figure out your identity, Master?]
[Looks like it.]
The blood he coughed up soaked the back of my hand.
[But… why are you in a better mood?]
[…Look, Rovenin! Even Theatrazen knows me!]
[Is this the time for that?! This is a huge problem, Master!]
The reason I couldn’t take my eyes off the old man—whose complexion was already corpse-pale—was simple.
I was choking him, and taking his life was easier than lifting a finger.
“You… you’re the type to hasten your own death.”
If he knew I was looking into his mind, he wouldn’t keep thinking such life-shortening thoughts.
“As if I would answer…! I have no wisdom to share with a twisted person like you!”
“Ah, you don’t have to tell me anymore.”
“You! Go to hell!”
“Hell, sounds nice. But I wonder if there’ll be a spot for me? I’ve already sent a whole bunch of people there.”
‘If I go to hell, I’ll pile up the slavers’ necks like a mountain and sit on top.’
‘I’ll have to smile, just like now.’
[We’re definitely the villains today!]
[From their perspective, maybe.]
Even for me, I wanted to avoid—if possible—the irrational, dangerous act of invading the royal castle and killing the nation’s hero. It would blow things way out of proportion, and if my identity were revealed, it would be beyond what I could handle.
But since it had come to this, I had no choice.
I had to take responsibility for what I’d done. And it was also my job to eliminate anyone who could become a future problem.
– “Geenie, I’m begging you. Please don’t try to solve everything with death.”
A tearful voice unexpectedly brushed past my mind.
The memory of the small forest on the day he’d said those words—and the desperate expression on his face as he held onto me and pleaded—made my body stiffen without me realizing it.
I couldn’t forget the look in Ash’s eyes when he looked at me.
– “Because it is an easy thing for you, please consider it more difficult.”
For a moment, I hesitated.
‘Wasn’t Theatrazen an innocent person to die because of a whim of mine?’
‘If I kill him like this, where do I draw the line next time?’
But if I let him live, I might be the one in trouble. He suspected my identity.
‘Then killing him is the right thing to do, isn’t it?’
Conflict made my throat twitch.
‘Ash, you really are… a pain in my ass. So lovely, and such a pain.’
My lapse in concentration was momentary, but the price was severe.
‘Even if I die, I will not die by this hand.’
I felt it through the ring as Theatrazen steeled himself for an honorable death.
There was no time to react. In an instant, my vision turned pitch black, and I found myself standing alone in a dark tunnel.
I was definitely holding him, but this place… this place…
‘No.’
I tried to deny it as I panted, but it was useless.
The dying lights hanging on the wall slowly dragged memories back to the surface. I couldn’t run from what was rising up.
‘I don’t want to…!’
The sensation of oil-slick ground under my feet made every hair on my body stand on end, and the smoke that filled and billowed through the darkness made me hold my breath against my will.
As terror seized my hands and feet, strength began draining from my entire body.
The shock—as if I’d been struck in the head—briefly prevented me from thinking straight.
The narrow tunnel lined with abandoned cars brought back terrible memories and made me flinch, but at some point, it also made me realize their existence was impossible.
‘Wait, cars?’
Everything was so vivid… that it was strange.
This couldn’t be real. I looked around again.
‘…A Illusion Spirit?’
Is it pulling this from my subconscious?
Not even a Dragon could look inside my head.
If all of this was just an illusion shown by a Illusion Spirit… then the one tormenting me was myself.
Because I was the only one who knew what I was afraid of.
In that case, I’m not afraid of that. Because it doesn’t exist anymore.
‘Get a grip, Geenie Crowell!’
‘How stupid to be scared by something meant to scare me!’
I almost flailed in a moment of panic, but I quickly came to my senses and focused only on the sensation in my hand.
I was still choking Theatrazen.
‘How do I get out of this illusion?’
I realized it was an illusion, but I didn’t know how to break it.
‘Rai! Can you hear me? Rai!’
What do I look like from the outside? Am I defenseless? Is my Shield broken?
Are Endairon and Grufain’s summons still active?
If they were summoned, I should be able to feel their presence.
Because we’re mentally connected. But right now, I couldn’t tell what state the Spirits were in.
All my senses felt distant, dulled to the point I couldn’t even tell whether I was standing or lying down.
Seeing as Rai wasn’t responding, it was clear that when I was trapped in the illusion, my mind was trapped inside it too.
I was cut off from everything but myself, and I couldn’t even read Theatrazen’s thoughts.
‘Is this similar to having a nightmare…’
My body wouldn’t listen, and my lips wouldn’t move, as if I were pinned down by terrible sleep paralysis.
My shouts only echoed inside my head, reaching nowhere.
Utterly futile.
The only thing I could feel was Theatrazen’s neck in my hand.
The moment I let my guard down in fear, he would escape.
‘As if I’d let you! Get me out of here!’
If you don’t let me go, I’ll choke you to death!
I squeezed my hand with all my might.
I wanted to shake him violently, but I could tell I wasn’t actually applying much force.
Still, my will to kill him was clear, and I focused all my senses on choking his neck.
Which comes first—me figuring out how to get out of here, or you suffocating to death?
If you don’t want to die of asphyxiation, you’d better stop this cheap trick!
“Jin-ah?”
In the illusion, I was just grabbing at thin air in a rage, but I couldn’t help lifting my head at the voice that came from somewhere.
The voice was unfamiliar, yet it had a power that made me realize how much I’d missed it the moment I heard it.
“Jin-ah.”
The voice, heard a second time, threw my mind into utter chaos.
Someone was standing in the middle of the tunnel, looking at me.
Just seeing that small silhouette made my heart pound and my stomach churn.
As I stared blankly with a foolish expression, that person began to approach me.
Watching that, I couldn’t help loosening my grip. All the strength left my body.
How could it not?
‘…Mom.’