Chapter 361: Chapter 361: Interrogation (3)

In a way, it was like a cliche from a detective novel.

All circumstantial evidence pointed to the culprit, but the most crucial physical evidence was missing.

That was my situation.

‘What kind of gift is this?!’

It might have worked before the prejudice against evil spirits set in.

But now, I needed solid evidence to prove my innocence.

Otherwise, it would only make me look more suspicious.

Like this.

“Say this: I am a woman.”

Raven’s request after ‘Distorted Trust’ malfunctioned.

Her goal was clear.

Although she didn’t know why it was happening, she wanted to figure it out by changing the conditions and experimenting.

Therefore, there was only one thing I could do.

“I…! Ugh, my voice…! It seems like I can’t speak because it’s a lie—”

“Stop messing around!!”

Uh… I wasn’t messing around, I was trying my best.

Is it really this difficult to get past this?

“Just say anything.”

“…I’m really not an evil spirit. Believe me, Raven.”

The second hand stopped again as I repeated the same thing.

But this time, Raven didn’t miss the opportunity.

“I’m a man. What the… it really works.”

Right, so when it malfunctions, it affects everyone, not just me.

Another thing I learned.

Damn it.

Tick, tock.

The disc resumed working as soon as the second hand started moving again.

“I’m a man… hmm, it’s not working now.”

“…….”

“You’re doing something, aren’t you?”

Why is she looking at me so suspiciously?

Well, it was true that I was the cause…

But I had to deny it.

“This is unfair! You brought a defective product and you’re blaming me?!”

“Defective product? Is it normal for it to stop working when you speak?”

It was definitely suspicious.

I would have also been skeptical if I were in her shoes.

But I couldn’t just admit it, could I?

I raised my voice.

“I didn’t do anything!! It’s true! Believe me!!”

If ‘Distorted Trust’ couldn’t distinguish between truth and lies, it meant that the one who shouted the loudest was more likely to win the argument—

“…Just shut up, you’re being loud.”

…but why is she glaring at me?

This is scary.

“…….”

I instinctively shut my mouth, and Raven also stopped talking, lost in thought.

And then…

“…Tell me.”

“Huh?”

“You were about to say something. Just say it.”

“Ah…”

It was like the primordial era, when there was no magic or science.

A time when words were enough to build trust.

‘What a wonderful world.’

“What do you mean you ‘returned’? What were you doing before that?”

“I’ll tell you everything.”

I then explained what had happened on Parune Island after the two of us were left alone.

How we defeated ‘Stormgush’ together.

How the essence dropped.

“So you used that to pull the Lighthouse Keeper towards you…”

“Yes, I combined it with Bion’s [Transcendence].”

“That’s probably true. Continue.”

I also told her about the ‘Fragment of Records’, the treasure the Lord of Noark had, before moving on to the next incident, and Raven surprisingly accepted it easily.

“I’ve heard of it. I didn’t know that was the treasure Drowus stole. The legend says it can change the past, right?”

“It’s not a legend, it’s true. Well, I couldn’t change history, but…”

“……?”

“You’ll understand if you listen.”

How the Fragment of Records activated.

How I woke up in the past twenty years ago.

“…It’s unbelievable, but it does explain why only your equipment was left on the island.”

It seemed like she was starting to get suspicious, but she didn’t interrupt.

And…

“Nibels… Enche?”

Raven tilted her head when I told her about borrowing the identity of ‘Nibels Enche’, whose ID card I obtained after killing the looters on the island.

‘Oh, does she remember?’

I briefly had a glimmer of hope, but reality is reality.

“…That name sounds familiar.”

Well, she was only five back then.

How could she remember?

‘Okay, then next…’

It was time for Dwarkey to make his appearance.

I then told her about how I tried to change his fate, but realized that history would always flow in its original direction, no matter what I did.

“The things I did… they had already happened in the original timeline.”

“There has been research on time since ancient times. It’s the single-dimensional timeline theory.”

“……?”

“Never mind, please continue.”

“Alright.”

I then explained in detail about going down to Noark, spending six months there, and my efforts to save Amelia’s sister.

Ah, of course, I left out anything related to evil spirits.

And…

“I was in Noark when I returned. It was a month before the present. I met Amelia and Erwen, and Erwen believed me.”

“And the reason you didn’t reveal your identity was because you found the royal family’s announcement suspicious… right?”

“Yes. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, though.”

That was the end of my story.

Then what would Raven’s judgment be?

I watched her with a mixture of anticipation and worry, and she said firmly,

“That’s a ridiculous story, like something a child would believe.”

It was a somewhat expected reaction.

She was a mage, not an ordinary person. She was knowledgeable, so it was only natural for her to find my story unbelievable.

But…

“Do you have any proof?”

…I had prepared for this.

Why do you think I haven’t told you about our encounter yet?

This kind of thing works better in a dramatic situation.

“Proof… of course.”

“…?”

“You said the name Nibels Enche sounded familiar, right?”

“Yes, but?”

“Of course it would. We met twenty years ago.”

“…?”

I explained in detail, watching Raven’s confused expression.

Our first meeting at the library.

How I saved her when she was about to get beaten up for electrocuting people.

And how we met every day at the same time and talked about various things.

“That person… was you…?”

Raven’s eyes widened in shock.

“It seems like you finally remember who Nibels Enche was.”

I was relieved.

She might have forgotten his name, but she still remembered him.

_____________________

Raven didn’t say anything for a while.

She just stared at me with confused eyes.

“This is impossible… How can this be…”

“I understand how you feel. But it really happened. You must also remember our conversations.”

“Vaguely. Just that there was someone like that… I was really busy after entering the Magic Tower. And then ‘that incident’ happened…”

“…What incident?”

Raven hesitated at my question and then snapped at me coldly.

“You don’t need to know.”

Damn it, I was so nice to her when she was young.

How did she turn out like this?

Ah, but she was even more rude back then.

At least she was using honorifics now…

“Anyway, do you believe me now?”

Raven didn’t answer and just pursed her lips.

And…

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The ticking of the disc’s second hand echoed in the silence.

It seemed like less than two minutes were left.

Well, even though it stopped working whenever I spoke, I hadn’t been talking non-stop.

Tick, tock.

As the pointless time passed…

“It doesn’t matter what I want to believe.”

“……?”

“Amelia Rainwales, you answer me. Is his story true?”

Raven, as if belatedly realizing that she could verify it through a third party, shifted her gaze to Amelia.

And…

Tick, tock.

…Amelia’s answer was flawless, even though ‘Distorted Trust’ was active.

“Everything Yandel said is true.”

Right, although I had left out a few truths, the experiences themselves were facts.

“The fact that he and I went to the past twenty years ago, and the things we experienced there, they all happened.”

It was the final blow.

Even if it was hard to believe, there was no way she could deny it now.

‘Okay, I think she’s convinced…’

I was feeling relieved when…

“But…”

…Raven spoke in a strained voice.

“That… doesn’t prove that you’re not an evil spirit…”

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t understand.

Why? Wasn’t this enough to convince her?

Why was she still so persistent?

‘Don’t tell me… there’s another reason why she suspects me, besides the royal family’s announcement…?’

My mouth went dry at that thought.

“Amelia Rainwales.”

“…….”

“I’ll ask you one last question.”

“…Ask away.”

Amelia nodded, and after a brief pause, Raven spoke.

Her voice was firm and unwavering.

“If there’s anything you’re unsure about, or if you don’t know for sure, please just say you don’t know.”

“…….”

“Is Bjorn Yandel an evil spirit?”

Damn it.

______________________

Amelia didn’t answer Raven’s question.

Or rather, she couldn’t.

After all, how could she?

She couldn’t lie in front of that damn Numbered Item.

The only option was silence.

“…….”

A heavy silence fell.

And in that silence…

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

The second hand ticked away.

But it didn’t last long.

Tick.

The second hand stopped, and the light emanating from the disc faded.

The effect of ‘Distorted Trust’ had ended.

But…

“…….”

“…….”

…the suffocating silence continued.

It happened sometimes.

A moment of silence could be a more powerful answer than a thousand words.

“…It doesn’t matter what I say now.”

Amelia finally muttered, but Raven didn’t speak. And she didn’t reactivate ‘Distorted Trust’ and ask the same question again.

She probably didn’t have enough charges.

“Raven…”

“Just… don’t say anything. Please… not now…”

“…….”

Raven looked at me for a long time, standing in front of the cage.

She seemed to be organizing her thoughts.

But could it be that she couldn’t?

“…I’m the Vice-Captain of the 3rd Magic Corps, and I have pride and a sense of responsibility for my role. I would never betray or deceive those who trust and follow me…”

Raven started muttering to herself.

“So… I have to report this. It’s not just treason against the nation, it’s betrayal and deception against those who believe in me…”

It was clear who she was talking to.

Not me, Amelia, or Erwen.

“I, I…”

Herself.

“I can’t do that. No, I can’t…”

Raven clenched her fists as if trying to organize her tangled thoughts.

And then she turned around and walked towards the stairs.

Thud, thud.

She looked precarious.

“Yandel, this is going to be a big problem if you let her go like that.”

Amelia advised me, but I couldn’t hear her.

Of course, I knew.

She would come back with reinforcements next time.

But…

Crack.

What could I say to stop her?

My companion, who had tried to believe me, had finally realized the truth and turned away.

Thump.

My heart ached.

And I had a thought.

If I wasn’t an evil spirit, if I had been born in Bjorn Yandel’s body and met them as an ordinary person…

What would have happened?

‘…That’s bullshit. We wouldn’t have even become companions.’

I dismissed the meaningless thought.

And the guilt I felt towards Raven.

This wasn’t the time for that.

‘I guess we have no choice but to go with Plan B.’

Now that the situation had become this dire, I had to focus on surviving, regardless of my reputation.

It wasn’t just my life that was on the line.

Amelia and Erwen were also my responsibility.

Therefore…

When the troops arrived and the cage opened, I would block their path with [Gigantification] and buy time. And then I would break through the floor and escape into the lake instead of going to the deck.

I could use the water spirit to breathe...

‘And then…’

I was finalizing Plan B when...

Thud.

Raven stopped, and then she slowly turned around.

And…

“Why… did you save me…?”

…she asked, looking at me.

As if she couldn’t understand that one thing.

“…If you hadn’t used [Gigantification], your identity wouldn’t have been revealed. Why… did you still save me? Even at the cost of… that injury.”

‘Right, that’s what she was curious about.’

I couldn’t blame her for asking, but I felt a pang of bitterness.

The old Raven wouldn’t have asked that question.

But it was probably…

‘…because I’m an evil spirit.’

Because I’m an evil spirit.

My sincerity was being doubted, and the time we spent together was being denied.

‘Lee Baekho must have felt this way too.’

I could feel the emotions he must have felt.

A wall around his heart.

A suspicion that words were meaningless.

But…

“Yes, there’s a reason.”

…I still spoke.

“…I knew there was something else—”

I might seem like a monster who stole another person’s body…

Even if everything seemed like a lie…

Even though I shouldn’t be saying this…

“You were in danger, Raven.”

“…?”

“So I saved you.”

That was the only reason.