Chapter 95
Chapter 95
Episode 95.
Five days from the Imperial Capital to the Giant's Forest. Except for eating and sleeping, Aiden drove his horse relentlessly, finally reaching the eastern woodlands in four days.
Not being stopped at any checkpoint also contributed to his early arrival. The Gray Barrier opened its gates the moment it saw Aiden, and every territory he passed through never obstructed his path.
Because the eastern nobles genuinely respected him. Ever since Aiden purged the demons and cults from the east a year ago, the people—whether noble or commoner—had shown him boundless goodwill.
The apples tumbling from his saddlebag were one such gesture of affection, though Aiden had no time to gather them.
Half a day after entering the Giant's Forest, he sensed a faint demonic aura.
Aiden spurred his horse at full speed, closing the distance to the lingering traces of the demon.
Passing through the labyrinthine woods and climbing the valley, he finally arrived at the dense foothills.
There, an odd spectacle unfolded before his eyes.
Yuron, Deril, Sein, and Yona—the four of them stood facing each other warily, as if confronting enemies.
Their gazes shifted toward Aiden in unison, each pair of eyes filled with hostility and suspicion.
Aiden dismounted. As he approached with a puzzled expression, they stepped back slightly, gripping their weapons tightly.
Yuron muttered with a pained face.
"What in the world is this...?"
Deril glanced between Yuron and Aiden before speaking.
"That Gusian bastard—heard he's some sick torturer. Doesn't this feel off?"
Gusian? The name from Deril's lips threw Aiden off momentarily.
Aiden looked at Deril and spoke.
"Did you say Gusian?"
Deril grimaced.
"Damn it, even your speech patterns match. Are you really His Highness? No, wait—you're like Taegwang Seongha... This isn't an illusion, is it?"
Sein interjected in the calmest voice he could muster.
"I don't think so either. Remember what we talked about at 'Mermaid's Tears'?"
"Mermaid's Tears" referred to the inn they stayed at while liberating Atlantis.
All the members from that time were gathered here now.
But that wasn't the issue. Why were they gathered here having this conversation? This wasn't some nostalgic campfire reminiscence.
Tension hung thick in the air.
Aiden briefly pondered their words before speaking.
"Has Gusian possessed Siron?"
Yuron replied warily.
"N-no, that's not it."
Deril cut in.
"Your Highness—no, Taegwang Seongha. We've all seen Gusian. We're suspecting this might be an illusion."
They'd seen Gusian? It was hard to believe, but it explained the current situation.
In short, each of them thought they were trapped in an illusion, suspecting their comrades were figments created by Gusian.
The reason they were discussing past events was likely to distinguish illusion from reality.
Deril spoke again.
"If you don't mind, may I ask you something?"
It seemed he had a question only Aiden could answer.
Aiden shook his head. Then, scanning them quickly, he said:
"Even if this is Gusian's illusion, that method won't help you see through it."
Gusian's illusions replicated even the depths of the subconscious. Thus, the phantoms he created were indistinguishable from reality—they could answer any question.
This made the Source of Despair an exceptionally troublesome foe. Victims had no way to discern whether what they saw was real or fake, often leading to chaotic bloodshed among allies.
During the Holy Land Recapture War, he was the top-priority demon to eliminate.
Yet, that monster had crossed over to the continent. An unprecedented variable—though not yet confirmed—Aiden decided to act as if it were true.
He continued immediately.
"Remember this: when facing Gusian, act as if this is reality, whether it's an illusion or not."
At Aiden's words, the group exchanged glances.
Deril nodded.
"That makes sense. If we dismiss it as an illusion only to find out it's real, we're screwed. The reverse doesn't cost us much."
Assuming it was real when it was an illusion would drain their emotions, but there'd be no tangible loss. Without overcoming the Trial of Despair or external help, there was no way to wake up anyway.
Acceptance was the better option.
In that context, facing Gusian always required utmost vigilance.
Yona murmured hesitantly.
"But what if he overlays other identities? Like making Yuron appear as a demon, or a demon appear as Yuron...?"
Aiden replied calmly.
"That rarely happens, but even if it does, the response remains unchanged."
What Yona described was Gusian's Authority. Normally, those trapped in illusions remained stationary, seeing only phantoms. In simpler terms, if they were under Gusian's illusion, their real bodies would be standing dumbly in place.
But Gusian's Authority was different.
As Yona said, it implanted phantasms into the eyes, allowing interference with reality. Its application was simple: use it on the strongest human in the group and make them slaughter their comrades.
Thus, it was a single-target Authority, and the chances of these four being selected were slim—they were far too weak.
If Gusian had truly manifested, he would've chosen Gyeran as his pawn. Saya was completely immune to mental attacks, so she didn't count.
Reaching that conclusion, Aiden asked:
"Did Gusian emphasize anything? Like 'This is reality' or 'This is real'—that sort of thing."
Yuron recalled Gusian's words: "Thus, common sense always crumbles. Accept the present in that context. I exist here in truth. Now, remember—I have revealed reality." The others nodded too.
At that moment, it was confirmed. Gusian had truly crossed over to the continent and used his Authority. His emphasis was a binding rule for activating "Marionette"—he had to declare the present as reality to those destined to die by Gyeran's hand.
Immediately, Aiden turned his head toward the source of the demonic aura. It wasn't far ahead.
He spoke quickly.
"Where's Siron? Is he alone?"
Yuron answered.
"S-Saya went to him."
"How long ago?"
"About ten minutes."
Aiden nodded and looked at the group.
"Follow me immediately, but Gusian must not know I've arrived. Yona, stay here. There's no time to explain."
Then Aiden grabbed Yuron and Yuriel by their sides.
"Gusian can't use illusions on you two. Remember that—just buy us time."
While using Marionette, Gusian couldn't implant illusions in the others.
With that, Aiden kicked off the ground and soared. Darting between towering trees, he sprinted madly toward the demonic presence.
In dense woodlands like this, Aiden's feet were far faster than Petra's. The scenery blurred past as the stench grew thicker. Finally, the entrance of a massive cave came into view.
Faint spiritual energy dimly illuminated the interior. Concealing himself completely within the long grass, Aiden stared into the cave.
With his vision, even that faint light was enough to see inside clearly.
Yupe lay convulsing on the ground. Beside him, Saya and Siron crouched near an open coffin studded with iron nails. Gusian cackled as he loomed over Saya, while deeper in the cave, Gyeran walked toward them as if entranced.
Aiden immediately turned to Yuron. He pulled a necklace from his pocket and handed it over.
"The fang of the former Black Wolf leader."
A passkey from the Ice Prison that once confined spiritual beasts—an artifact Gyeran had given Aiden in the north.
Yuron looked at him blankly.
"Why...?"
"It's an artifact that defends against mental attacks."
The Black Wolf leaders possessed absolute immunity to mental abilities, and their fangs granted users some resistance to illusions.
Aiden glanced at Gyeran.
"Give it to him."
This Gusian wasn't the Archdemon's true form. At best, it was a clone with two or three hearts, so its Authority couldn't match the original's power.
The illusions that had tormented Aiden in the Demon Realm were incomparable to this. This time, the fang stood a good chance of working.
Of course, he couldn't be certain. That's why Aiden planned to observe.
"Go now."
"B-but Your Highness—"
"I have something to do. I'll leave once the situation stabilizes, so don't worry. Again—Gusian must not know I'm here."
Aiden had a rough idea of how Gusian had crossed over. It must've cost him dearly—an incredibly inefficient method. His reasons for choosing it remained unclear.
But this was a chance to capture him. That's also why Aiden couldn't reveal himself. The moment the Archdemon sensed Aiden, it would destroy its own heart and return to the Demon Realm.
Regardless.
If things went as planned, they could definitely seize him.
Aiden gave Yuron a light push.
Yuron gulped and steeled himself before darting out of the grass toward the cave.
At that moment—thud—Saya pierced Gusian's chest.
A single heart rested in her palm. In short, it was a worthless fraction, and Aiden grew somewhat confident in the fang's effectiveness.
But if that heart exploded in Saya's hand, it would be over. Gusian would return to the Demon Realm. A decent outcome, but not ideal.
Simultaneously, Gyeran severed Saya's wrist with a branch.
Aiden felt conflicted—worry for his lover, rage at Gusian, and relief that the demon was restrained.
He gritted his teeth.
Then Gyeran stabbed Saya. Yuriel paled in horror, and Aiden's face twisted like a vengeful spirit.
Just as Yuriel began to chant, Aiden restrained himself and stopped her.
"...She won't die from that."
Saya was a natural immortal. Moreover, Gusian couldn't have Gyeran kill her either.
As mentioned earlier, to kill someone with Marionette, Gusian had to declare the present as reality—a rule that couldn't apply to Saya, who was immune to mental attacks from the start.
Saya had always known this situation was real.
The killing blow had to come from Siron or Gusian himself.
Then Yuron reached the cave entrance.
"Master—!"
The thin branch digging into Saya's heart froze mid-motion.
Gyeran and Yuron's gazes locked in the air.
As Yuron kept running, Gyeran shouted.
"Stop! It's dangerous!"
For Gyeran, ensnared by the Authority, this was a frustrating situation.
Fenrir's heir was still breathing. His disciple was rushing in blindly, and strangely, his sword wouldn't budge.
That's how it appeared to him.
Yuron lunged at Gyeran, stabbed him with the fang, and whispered:
"Taegwang said to act as if you're still under the illusion."
Gyeran might not understand immediately. Aiden opened Gyeran's status window and sent a revelation: "Pretend." He lacked the strength to form more words as overwhelming exhaustion gripped him.
Gyeran paused. Then he suddenly slashed the branch upward.
Swish! The thin blade grazed Yuron's torso, tearing his shirt and drawing a trickle of blood.
Gyeran roared.
"You wretch! Daring to obstruct your master's wish!"
Gusian smirked, and Aiden allowed a faint smile. Only Yuron looked utterly confused.
Aiden knew the Sword Saint's wish well. One thing was certain—slaughtering Fenrir was never his desire.
Aiden turned to Yuriel.
"Stay here. Only move if someone's truly about to die. Don't reveal yourself unless absolutely necessary."
With that, Aiden turned away. While they bought time, he had work to do.