Quietly Hiding that I am a Man chapter 160- fake world

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After being subdued by Karen, I lost consciousness and slipped back into the dream I’d left unfinished.

It was the one where I lost my father on the bridge.

Young and exhausted from sobbing, I clung to his back as he carried me.

Having found what I thought was lost, I drifted into a light doze, reassured.

But suddenly, my father stopped as we followed the river and exclaimed in delight.

“Eunsoo, wake up and look at that.”

I opened my eyes reluctantly, annoyed at being disturbed.

My sleep-clouded vision soon widened in amazement at what I saw. It was unmistakable…

“Stifling…”

A crushing weight dragged me back to consciousness.

Gasping for air, I felt as if I’d been pinned under heavy machinery.

The moment I saw the face of the one holding me, I froze.

Jerome’s usual calm was gone; he looked pale and drawn.

Judging by the cave surroundings, he must’ve carried me here before collapsing.

Feeling his feverish skin, I stopped my inspection abruptly.

“You’re burning up,” I muttered.

Despite usually enduring hardships with ease, he was drenched in cold sweat and barely breathing.

His shirt was stained with blood, as though he’d vomited it earlier.

Alarmed by his state, I shook his limp shoulders.

“Jerome, wake up! Jerome!”

He didn’t respond, his body growing colder.

Panic threatened to overwhelm me as tears welled in my eyes.

But just as I choked them back, Jerome chuckled weakly.

“Idiot, you thought I was dead.”

“Don’t joke around looking like that!”

“Sorry, but I really did pass out.”

Jerome sat up with effort, allowing me to breathe easier as air returned to my compressed lungs.

When I asked why he’d clung to me, his response was matter-of-fact.

“It was the only way to protect you while we were both vulnerable.”

“And why were you unconscious in the first place?”

“Honestly, my condition isn’t great,” he admitted.

My heart sank at his blunt words.

Jerome casually began wrapping a bandage around his arm as he added, “But I’m not dying yet. I’ll keep Oberon occupied for now—”

Attempting to stand, he stumbled to his knees, fresh blood dripping from his nose.

Wiping it away with the back of his hand, he looked utterly drained.

It finally hit me—Jerome was dying.

I knelt in front of him and grasped his shoulders, speaking firmly.

“Stay here. If you push yourself any further, you’ll die.”

“……”

“You promised we’d visit Sacre together. That we’d travel the South again. You proposed to me, remember? Don’t make Chloe grow up without a father!”

I held up the ring on my left hand, imploring him.

Jerome, watching me quietly, gave a faint smile before reaching out to smooth my disheveled hair.

“If I die, Chloe will probably relish having you all to herself. She takes after me in that way.”

“Jerome.”

At the sound of his name, his smile vanished.

I pleaded earnestly, “Please. Stay here. I’ll handle things outside. Until I call for you, don’t leave. Understand?”

Fighting tears, I braced myself.

If I cried, it felt like Jerome would truly die.

My trembling hands pressed against the ground as he clasped them gently, leaning in close.

Pausing near my lips, Jerome instead bumped his forehead against mine—a surprising gesture that knocked the tears right out of me.

Groaning at the sudden sting, I glared at him as he laughed.

“Alright. I’ll wait patiently.”

“Really?”

“I told you, didn’t I? You made me want to live longer. If I were to say that and then just die, wouldn’t it be awkward for both of us?”

“Fine, if you get it, hurry up and go. Don’t look back.” With a dismissive wave of his hand, Jerome added those words. Watching him, relief came belatedly. Leaving Jerome behind, I hurried out of the cave.

Boom!

A bone-shaking roar echoed, freezing me in my tracks.

I turned to see Oberon, now dangerously close to the World Tree.

The wind raged, forcing trees to bow. The cries of wild animals echoed from all directions.

‘No. If I can’t stop Oberon, the gates to the Otherworld will open.’

With my breath quickening, I dashed down the steep slope, hastily tying my hair back as it whipped in the wind. The bow slung over one shoulder clattered with every step.

‘I have to stop Oberon, no matter what. But… how can I do it alone, without Jerome?’

Panting hard, I skidded to a halt.

Twisted, grotesque fairies with unnatural limbs were crawling toward me.

The memory of hollow-eyed corpses I’d seen in Temtera Village resurfaced, paralyzing me.

There were far too many to handle alone.

As I instinctively reached for my bow, one fairy lunged at me, letting out a chilling screech.

Clang!

A sword cleaved the fairy in two, reducing it to ashes.

A firm hand gripped my shoulder.

I turned, startled, and my eyes widened at the sight of the unexpected figure.

“You… What are you doing here?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Had a bad feeling,” Carlisle replied.

He should have been back at the Empire for his coronation.

His sunken eyes and hasty arrival suggested he hadn’t rested.

Seeing my bewildered expression, he gave a curt nod.

“Explain the situation as we move. What on earth happened?”

Carlisle grabbed my arm and began to pull me along.

As I stumbled after him, I summarized the events.

“Keren’s body was possessed by a demon. He used the World Tree as a sacrifice to summon the corrupted Oberon. Maybe, just maybe, Maya’s Bow can purify his soul, like it did with Parak.”

“No. This time is different. There’s nothing around to leverage,” Carlisle said, his tone firm.

He was right. Back then, we had the tower in the village to subdue Parak.

Here, we were surrounded by nothing but forest. After a moment’s thought, I answered.

“In that case, there’s a way.”

Carlisle raised a skeptical eyebrow but didn’t press further.

Silently, I recited the incantation.

[Sacred Beast of Maya, Bermut, respond to your master’s call.]

Moments later, with a puff of smoke, Bermut appeared.

A cigar dangled from his mouth, and cards were fanned in his hand as though I’d interrupted a game of chance.

He spotted me and hastily spat out the cigar.

“M-Master! This is… I needed some quick cash, so…”

What kind of sacred beast gambles for cash?

I didn’t have time to lecture Bermut about his addiction.

His gaze shifted to Oberon’s grotesque form, and his expression turned grim.

After a moment of stunned silence, he shouted.

“What in the world is that? Don’t tell me that’s Oberon!”

“It is. That’s why I need your help.”

“That arrogant creature ended up like this? How troublesome. Wait here!”

With a sigh of exasperation, Bermut scratched his head and sprinted toward a nearby cliff.

Without hesitation, he leapt off the edge.

Carlisle stared in shock.

“What’s he doing? Why didn’t you stop him?”

“Oh? Right, I didn’t tell you. It’s faster if you see for yourself.”

Seconds later, a majestic dragon rose from the cliffside, its enormous wings unfurling as it soared upward.

Its regal form was as awe-inspiring as ever.

Carlisle followed it with wide eyes.

“You tamed a divine dragon?”

“Not tamed—contracted.”

I bit back the urge to mention that he should have been the one to subdue Bermut.

The dragon landed gracefully beside me, lowering its head as if to be petted.

Its sheer size made the gesture overwhelming, and I stumbled under its weight.

Stroking Bermut’s scaled head, I gave instructions.

“Carlisle, your job is to keep Oberon from reaching the World Tree. I’ll do whatever it takes to hit his heart with an arrow.”

“…”

“Carlisle?”

He opened his mouth as if to say something but then closed it again.

Pulling his hood over his head, he strode toward Oberon but stopped briefly to look back.

“Jeanne, promise me one thing.”

“…”

“No matter what happens, don’t resent me.”

His cryptic words left me staring after him, speechless.

He didn’t wait for a reply and resumed walking.

I couldn’t shake the memory of his pained expression when he’d once said that love alone couldn’t save anything.

‘No. It’s just my imagination.’

Bermut lowered his body for me to mount.

Once I climbed on, he rose swiftly, and my stomach lurched as my perspective soared.

The darkening sky released a torrential downpour, flooding the jungle below.

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