At first, Gilbert found himself conflicted. ‘Why would he lie about coming across any monster with weird behavior since leaving the gate…’
Something felt off. Gilbert wanted to believe that Northern was not lying about anything.
But the fact that Terence deduced his answer to be a lie left him conflicted, so he had no choice but to believe his lie detector… for now.
He removed his gaze from Terence and focused on Northern with a stern look plastered on his face.
“Why would you lie about meeting a monster that is weird? Do you think we are here to joke?” His voice was growing sharp and thicker.
Northern, undisturbed by the thickness and sharpness, slowly shook his head.
“It’s not like that. I have come across something weird… but it’s in the gate.”
As he responded, he looked at Terence as Sage Gilbert also did the same.
She nodded and slowly reclined to her seat, nodding her head.
‘Ah, so that’s how this is…’
In this short moment, Northern had been able to quickly deduce a couple of things.
It was simple; while Terence’s ability or whatever it is worked to detect lies, but it seemed like it was not a perfect lie detector.
And Northern didn’t know if he could call that an ability. Perhaps, it was a kind of trick only she could pick up on.
Because Gilbert’s answer was definite, and his response was correct.
He had indeed seen a weird monster, but he had never seen a monster that would spare one’s life.
Not inside the rift, not outside. While Night Terror was a very close example of this kind of monster.
Night Terror did not behave too far-fetched than any other monster would.
But based on his opinion alone, Night Terror was a very perfect example of this kind of monster.
There was his truth, there was a general truth.
The general truth is the presence of a monster that spares people instead of killing them.
His truth was that Night Terror, the weird monster he encountered, didn’t spare him. Even though it didn’t kill him, it made his life a living hell.
And in the end, was bound to kill him.
These little discrepancies caused a fragment of inconsistency in both truths, and the moment he said “yes”,
That inconsistency was discovered to be a lie.
‘Which means… she really has a trick, and it’s not a talent ability.’
It could even be something related to her attribute.
It was difficult to tell.
But at the very least, Northern was certain. Another reason was that the moment he revealed his truth,
His truth became a general truth and therefore was designated as ‘the truth’.
Which means whatever trick Terence was using to discover lies…
‘…is trash.’
Trash of the trash! While it seemed good on the outside, it can be tricked easily by someone who is smart.
Even Northern, who wasn’t very smart, was able to detect its flaw in one go.
‘I’m sure this guy Erikson would have known the flaw in it already,’ Northern’s eyes went to Erik for a moment.
The timid boy shuddered the moment their eyes met and looked away.
“There’s a case about a strange monster that attacks but does not kill. It did severely injure someone, but the person is alive. What baffles me now, however, is the recent testimony.
The monster was fought by two party leaders; they were defeated, and it still walked away without killing them. This act alone contradicts millennia of experiences and studies about monsters.”
He paused to stare intensively at Northern, then continued:
“The entire safety of the stronghold depends on this. Please, if you know anything about this monster, help us.”
A smile eerily crept onto Northern’s lips, then his lips slowly ejected the words…
“Why should I?”
Gilbert sighed and looked down, almost as if he was expecting that response.
Northern looked at all of them, then lastly settled his gaze on Gilbert.
“I owe you nothing, you owe me nothing. If anything, I should be pissed for being arrested when I have done nothing wrong. I have never posed any sort of danger to your stronghold. If anything, I want it to be totally free of danger.”
Now, that was another general truth.
But his own truth could not be read…until it is said.
While his true intent is to cause discord in the stronghold by having the Dark Terror eliminate all the monsters around the castle.
He was also, in that action, ridding the people of every danger.
But by killing all the monsters, the safe system that Gilbert and the party leaders had constructed to make the people obey and submit to them will crumble.
However, that was, in this scenario, his truth.
And he had no intention of saying it out.
Gilbert looked at Terence, who nodded, and Northern was watching that happen, proud of his deductions and the fact that they were frighteningly true.
He grinned internally.
“Okay, I know you have true intentions for the stronghold. Will you be willing to help us with this situation, even if it is for a price?” Gilbert asked.
‘I’m sure there’s something he wants to get out of this situation, he’s just a fox after all…’ Gilbert said internally.
Meanwhile, his question was left hanging in the air for a couple of seconds.
Northern did not say anything, and everyone was staring in tense silence.
At last, the young white-haired drifter opened his mouth and gave his response.
“No.”
Northern’s response caused a moment of stunning shock to waft through the atmosphere of the hall.
All of them glared at him with different kinds of anger.
Braham, especially, was so furious; his face was red, his veins were looking like they were going to burst out of his head.
Even Gilbert could not understand why Northern was refusing, after all, they were offering to give him a price for it. freewёbnoνel.com
“Why? I said I was going to give you a price, didn’t I?”
Northern shook his head, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t know if I can defeat the monster in a battle; why should I jeopardize myself to help you?”
He breathed and continued.
“Also, there’s nothing you guys can offer me.”
Then he stretched forward his shackled hands, “Take these shackles away from my hands, or I will break them myself.”
Gilbert frowned, “There’s more… you have only answered to one. Don’t get too pompous about yourself.”
Northern’s brows drifted towards each other a little. He could tell.
‘Ah, I guess this is where the hard part comes…’
“Why was Ellis Ruthsworn with you?”
“I already told you we came to get items together.”
“Not that!” Gilbert interrupted fiercely.
‘Ah, this is beginning to get really annoying. He just shouted at me, didn’t he?’
Northern’s brows were now beginning to furrow darkly.
“Ellis Ruthsworn was not in this castle for three days. Where has he been?”
Northern raised a brow, “Shouldn’t that be obvious? He was at my place.”
“Why?”
“I stumbled upon him while I was hunting the area for monsters. He begged me that he had nowhere to go, and I had no intention to let him go, but after discovering what a gem he is, I decided to let him stay with me while I use him to achieve my goal.”
Gilbert looked at Terence, who responded:
“He’s telling the truth.”
He moved his gaze back to Northern, squinting his eyes as his next set of questions rang out:
“What is this gem you are talking about? What goal did you use him to achieve?”
Northern jerked his head back a little.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey, now that’s a boundary you shouldn’t be crossing. I mean, this is my business and is totally unrelated to the monster in any way.”
He gestured with the clanging of his shackles.
“Ellis and the monster matter are none of my cup of tea. Ellis’s usefulness to me is also none of your concern. And you definitely do not expect me to just tell you how useful a drifter he is. It’s all your fault for not discovering that.”
Gilbert leaned back into his chair and folded his arms.
Silence ensued for a while.
Then Raven raised her hand slightly.
“Can I ask him a question?”
Northern’s gaze rose, revealing skepticism in the tilt of his eyebrows.
‘What is this girl doing… what does she think she is doing? Why does she want to ask me a question…’
Based on what Raven had said to him, he thought she was his silent ally in this gathering.
But now, he couldn’t help but feel like he was foolish and mistaken to think that.
Because, why in the world is she standing up to ask him a question?
Oblivious to his thoughts, she stood up and looked at him, her eyes giving away not even the subtlest of emotion.
That cold look of hers made shivers run down Northern’s spine.
He had been doing well so far, but now, he couldn’t help but feel like everything was about to crumble with whatever she was going to utter.
Raven looked at him in silence for a few seconds, then she asked:
“Do you know this monster that we speak of? Have you ever met with it?”
‘…oh fuck, crap!’