Bad Born Blood Chapter 336

336
Let’s think about the relationship between me and Ilay from an outside perspective.

‘Lukaus Custoria was betrayed by Iley Kartika.’

It would seem so.

‘I was a sacrificial lamb for the purpose of establishing the Republic of Illei, and was fortunately rescued thanks to a past connection.’

Of course, reality is different. Illei thought of a way to get me out and handed it over to Kinuan.

Even without the help of Regional Investigation Team Leader Michael, Illei would have used other connections and means to save me.

‘Anyway, the important thing is that on the surface it looks like I’ve been betrayed.’

I was betrayed by Ilay, whom I trusted. That’s enough reason for me to become a vengeful spirit.

‘I’m going to find Ivan with Illei’s head and mind transfer device.’

Detailed plans can be made from now on.

… … After hearing my suggestion, Ilay smiled as if it was interesting.

“Illei, if you’ve done something like this, you should be prepared to not be able to return to the main body.”

Illai rubbed the back of her neck as if it was cold for no reason.

“That’s a bold decision. I don’t mind having my head cut off. The problem is you. It’s hard to ensure your safety as the assassin. Whether you succeed or fail.”

“You can start preparing for that now. I’ve already thought about it. Ivan will die after he escapes the palace. If I take the Emperor as a hostage, he won’t be able to touch me.”

“Are you really going to do this? Ivan is not that easy. Even if you take my head and mind, I will be wary of you.”

I bit my lower lip as if flicking it. You can’t be sure of everything in the world.

“Ivan wants the mind teleportation device and how to use it more than anyone else. Moreover, Ivan… … has lost his rational judgment about me. If Ivan had been cold-hearted toward me, I would have died long ago.”

“Hmm, it’s true that when you fall in love, you deny reality and believe what you want to believe. Is Your Majesty just a human being with emotions?”

Illai giggled, putting his fist to his chin.

“It’s not love, it’s abnormal possessiveness.”

I’m not stupid. Ivan wouldn’t be wearing a shapeshifter or revealing his female form to me just for fun. I’m not so naive as to say I don’t know the signals.

“Abnormal possessiveness? How is that different from love?”

Ilay said it as if it was no big deal. But I know differently.

“Possessiveness does not sacrifice itself. If it can’t have it, it tries to destroy it. Ivan planted a bomb around my neck to prepare for my escape.”

“Let me ask you one thing, Luca. Can you kill Ivan with your own hands?”

“You call that talking? Are you looking at me like I’m some kind of idiot?”

“You are cold to people you have never met, but you are soft to those you have a relationship with. Ivan is someone who has shown interest in you anyway. It won’t be easy to kill Ivan with your own hands. If you feel hesitation, just bring him to me. I can kill Ivan without any feelings.”

“You’ve been worrying about useless things and falling asleep. How long will it take to prepare your body and mind?”

“About two days.”

I rummaged through my belongings and took out a note with a list of names on it.

Illei tilted her head with a puzzled expression. I opened my note and opened my mouth.

“These are the powerful and noble people who initially supported the Empire’s Sword. I’ve also written down the method of contact. Try to attract as many forces as possible.”

Ilay’s gaze stopped at the note. He blinked as if he remembered.

“Giselle handed it over. She’s definitely a helper. Hmm, I have my own problems, but Giselle has also become paranoid since the storm. She doesn’t want to trust anyone.”

“Don’t blame Giselle. You probably didn’t do anything to make her trust you either.”

“I told you I had my problems too. I’m not denying that. I just regret it. If Giselle had cooperated with me earlier, you wouldn’t have been wasting your time floating around Border City.”

“… … That’s what I’m saying, Illei.”

I said it coolly. I’ll say it again, Ilay has no right to blame Giselle.

Who would trust Kartika’s fox so easily? He doesn’t even reveal his true feelings to his only friend and sometimes deceives her.

Ilay looked straight into my eyes and nodded just enough to make her chin move slightly.

“You’re right. I just wanted to blame Giselle. I guess I developed a lot of ill feelings without realizing it.”

Illei also admitted it obediently. He stood there for a moment with empty eyes, as if looking back at his inner self objectively.

I woke up from Ilay’s thoughts.

“Let’s put Giselle’s story aside and make a plan.”

Illei’s eyes lit up. He chuckled and looked at the door.

Outside the door, Carilmanda will be standing guard.

Shudder.

Inside me, memories of past events slowly came back to me with a sense of unease. If it were necessary to silence someone, Illei would not hesitate to kill even his own close associates.

“You don’t need to use your special talents here, Ilay.”

I said it as a warning. By the way, the specialty of Ilay that I mentioned is ‘summoning subordinates’.

Ilay laughed for a long time, finding my warning so funny that her shoulders and the hem of her clothes were shaking.

“Ha, damn it, I can’t deny it. But Karilmanda is tight-lipped and loyal. She won’t go around telling everyone she saw you. But… … .”

Ilay stood next to me. He looked at the door with a sly smile and then turned around. He paused and moved his chiseled jaw as he continued to speak.

“… …Luka, if you weren’t here, I would have killed Carilmanda. It’s my way of reducing the risk of variables. I don’t want to deceive you anymore, so I’m being honest.”

I don’t know whether to like Ilay’s honesty or not.

‘but…….’

I opened my eyes wide as I looked at Ilay’s back. My pupils probably dilated slightly as well.

Ilay walks to the chair.

Tsk tsk tsk.

The tentacles of my cognition, extending from my five senses and imagination, wrap around Ilay and cling to her. It was to make sure I didn’t miss any of the signals flowing out of her. It was like detecting lies.

‘I decided to trust Ilay. I actually trust him.’

So, Ilay Kartika believes in human nature.

Creak.

Illai sat down on the chair, crossed her legs in a stylish manner, and rested her chin on them. My senses also stopped as if they were ghosts.

“Come on, let’s make our mark on the history of the empire, Luca.”

Ilay laughed. I just smiled calmly as if I had never observed the guy before.

‘I trust Ilay Kartika. I don’t trust that guy to always lie… … .’

Ilay is a miserable person. He lies even to his only friend. So I will pity him.

* * *

I am now in a virtual reality simulation.

The surroundings were dark because the simulation information synthesis had not yet been completed.

I don’t like the digital world. It’s not my domain, and the strong in the digital world are hackers like Barbara and electronic warfare experts.

Regardless of my dislikes, virtual reality simulations are a useful tool. Simulation training was also an important curriculum in the training of guards.

OMG.

A grid of light descended from the center, synthesizing the space. The fake reality constructed with information spread like paint.

Warm.

There was the sound of footsteps hitting the sparkling marble. Illei was standing in the empty space.

‘Ilay.’

Ilay had just entered the virtual reality. He was rubbing his neck and temples as if his head was throbbing.

The appearance of the simulation’s Ilay was identical to that of the main body.

“Hmm, have I been in Frances’ body for too long? My face is starting to look unfamiliar.”

Illai conjured a full-length mirror out of thin air and examined her face from all sides.

“If you look closely at the original face, it’s a full-body prosthesis, so it’s fake.”

I said cynically. Naturally, Ilay didn’t care.

“The main body is a face created by guessing growth and aging based on my body. And the awareness of being the main body is important, and the distinction between a machine and a living body is meaningless. I understood this even better after becoming a full-body prosthesis. Why do full-body prosthesis nobles not change their appearance and body often? It becomes difficult to maintain one’s identity.”

I saw the simulation space where the synthesis and output were finished.

‘The Palace of Akbaran.’

Ile and I were standing inside the palace. This was the hall at the entrance to the palace that I had been to several times.

Looking up, the ceiling was so high that it made my neck stiff. The geometric patterns carved into the ceiling were simple yet magnificent, and when I slid my gaze down, I saw a mural idolizing the first emperor Dino Craccia, as well as portraits and busts of past emperors here and there.

Although the architecture is mostly achromatic, using black and white and gray, the occasional gold and red decorations really stand out.

Kiiing!

As the space construction was completed, the virtual palace guards began to appear one by one. I squinted my eyes when I saw the guards’ royal guard uniforms.

‘It is natural for the guards to guard the palace.’

They must have remained steadfast in their loyalty to Emperor Ivan through all the hardships of the past. Perhaps they are the true guards.

“There are not only enemies in the palace, but also spies on our side. They will open the way when the situation arises.”

As Ilay gestured, a long beam of light stretched down the hallway and staircase. It was the expected escape route.

We walked around the palace in the simulation, nesting plans to accommodate variables.

Rather than improvising, Ilay tried to respond to variables by making detailed plans in advance. The reason he could do so was because he had the resources and power to prepare for all situations.

“Luka, if something goes wrong, put your life first.”

“I intend to do so. I didn’t come here to die.”

“To others, you are no better than a moth to a flame. You threw yourself into the middle of this mad chaos.”

“As you said, I guess I’m just a scumbag who can’t stand boredom unless it’s an extreme situation.”

Elley smiled brightly after hearing what I said.

“You still care about that? I didn’t mean it. In fact, I know, the reason you came here was because you were kind. I know a fool who couldn’t swing a sword at a Corin boy.”

“… … That’s just a boring old story.”

“It’s not funny. Maybe because of that incident, I thought I could trust you. Because you were someone who could share my rebellious spirit. Even though you were offended by my seditious words and actions, you didn’t report it to your superiors.”

“Because a cadet from the lower classes with no background can’t be an enemy of the Kartika family.”

I replied calmly.

“You’re being cold to me again. Do you talk to Giselle like that?”

“Don’t meddle in other people’s love lives.”

“I’m worried. Giselle’s personality is not ordinary. Well, that’s okay. We don’t have much time, so let’s move on to the next part.”

Ilay snapped her fingers.

Woohoo!

The palace we were in shook. Soon, the palace split into two and disappeared into space.

Kirik, kkik.

Then, a quiet space in the form of a bookstore appeared, enveloping us. The walls and furniture were made of wood, creating a warm atmosphere.

Rattling.

On the table in the middle was the arcane relic, the ‘Mental Transmission Device’. The helmet-shaped relic had blue circuits entangled like brain wrinkles.

“… … From now on, I will teach you how to use the mind teleportation device. This is the gift that Ivan truly desires.”

Illai stood behind the mental battle and said.