Chapter 38: The Taste of Lies
Looking at Rast’s response on the tablet, Mr. Silver couldn’t help but glance meaningfully at Hiltina beside him.
The moonlight reflected again in his eyes: “This time, it’s also the truth.”
Mr. Silver flicked his tail: “Alright, he’s passed my test.”
Upon hearing this, Hiltina breathed a sigh of relief.
She wasn’t worried that Rast would be unable to control his mental state; after all, Hiltina had witnessed him stubbornly resisting the Iron Cross Plague.
However, how Rast would view Starry University and the Granville nation, which the academy belonged to, was something Hiltina didn’t have a definite answer for in her heart.
Mr. Silver had a certain ability to discern lies from truths, and since Rast had passed this test, there shouldn’t be any issues with the academy or the board of directors.
In other words, Rast wouldn’t need to be sent to a rehabilitative facility on an uninhabited island but would be able to smoothly enroll in Starry University.
Ding—
At that moment, a crisp bell tone rang, bringing Hiltina back to reality.
She took out something resembling a mobile phone from her pocket, and the screen automatically unlocked.
Upon seeing the new message displayed on the screen, Hiltina’s expression slightly tightened.
“Mr. Silver, I need to head to Scarlet Frost Territory immediately.”
“A new ‘Calamity Echo’ has appeared in the Night World passage there, restricting Night Travelers above the third tier from entering.”
Hiltina paused for a moment: “Additionally, the nature of this newly appeared Calamity Echo seems to be related to Chariots, and I’m preparing to advance to the fourth tier in that Night World.”
“You, my dear.”
Mr. Silver’s lazy gaze suddenly disappeared: “If I remember correctly, your task quota for this year should already be far exceeded.”
“Advancing to the fourth tier is not at all as easy as the first three tiers; it’s a significant watershed. According to the statistics from the Granville nation, the d*ath rate for fourth-tier Night World advancement tasks… exceeds 60%.”
“You should know that being fully prepared, maximizing all states, and entering in the best condition is the most prudent choice.”
Listening to Mr. Silver’s warning, Hiltina smiled slightly.
“I know, Mr. Silver.”
“But recently, the only member of the Twelve Seats of the Round Table who can move and meets the third-tier restriction is me.”
“Although there are quite a few extraordinary individuals in the royal capital… unless the calamity of the Calamity Echo truly spreads around the royal capital and affects the personal interests of those nobles, they absolutely won’t send anyone for support.”
Hiltina said softly: “I don’t want the tragedy of my hometown to replay elsewhere.”
Mr. Silver squinted his eyes, scrutinizing Hiltina, and she held his gaze without flinching.
After a long while, Mr. Silver finally relented and flicked his tail.
“Alright, I understand. I’ll explain it to the university on your behalf.”
He returned to his previous lazy demeanor: “Anyway, even if I don’t represent Starry University to approve, you would definitely sneak over anyway.”
Hiltina smiled slightly: “Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Silver. When I get back, I’ll treat you to grilled fish cake.”
“Don’t say those useless things. If you can avoid causing me trouble, that would be the biggest help.”
Mr. Silver lay back down, disinterested, and continued to nibble on his dried fish: “Remember to come back in one piece.”
“Of course,” Hiltina replied with a smile.
She stood up and softly said: “By the way, Mr. Silver, I also want to ask you for one more thing.”
“What is it?”
Mr. Silver remained sprawled on the sofa and did not move: “Just to clarify in advance, the power I built up from eating two bags of dried fish has just been exhausted from activating ‘The Moon of True Words,’ so I can’t help you with anything that requires my abilities.”
“While I’m away from the academy, heading to the Night World to resolve the Calamity Echo, could you please look after Rast for me?”
Hiltina looked at the screen on the tablet: “He has been trapped in the historical echoes of the Night World for a long time, where the level of civilization still lingers from over a hundred years ago…”
“Rast is very unfamiliar with the current era. I’m a bit worried that he might struggle to integrate into today’s society.”
“Oh?”
Hearing Hiltina’s words, Mr. Silver squinted his eyes, regaining interest: “First using the privilege of the Twelve Seats to help him apply for special procedures, and now you’re willing to spend your favor to have me take care of him.”
“If I remember correctly, this is your first time being so concerned about a student, isn’t it, Young Tina?”
“Is this Rast really that special?”
“Yes,” Hiltina nodded earnestly: “If it weren’t for Rast, I wouldn’t have been able to survive and leave Deep Blue Harbor.”
A hint of skepticism passed through Mr. Silver’s ruby-like eyes.
“Even you, such an arrogant little girl, think you wouldn’t have made it out alive…”
“I understand. During your absence, I will keep an eye on him for you.”
He flicked his fluffy white tail.
“But as you know, magical creatures’ patience isn’t too great, so you must remember to hurry back to take over for me.”
“I got it, Mr. Silver.”
“Then, please allow me to take my leave.”
Hiltina stood up, placed her right hand over her left chest, bowed to Mr. Silver, and turned to leave.
This time, she performed not the noble salute but the knight’s salute.
“These guys, none of them are easy to deal with.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking back then, actually being sweet-talked into Starry University with the conditions of being housed and fed by the principal.”
Mr. Silver mumbled a few words and looked back at the monitoring scene in the psychological measurement room on the tablet. He activated the microphone: “I’ve inspected it thoroughly; we can finish the next question and almost conclude.”
In the psychological measurement room on the other side, Isda nodded heavily.
As a psychologist of the Hermit Sequence, she has always been accustomed to dominating the psychological inquiries and controlling the situation.
But for some reason, in front of Rast, Isda felt as awkward as a new student just starting out.
However, looking at the form, she still prepared to ask the last question she had on hand.
“You know the Night World is very dangerous, right? Why would you still want to join Starry University and continue entering the Night World as a Night Traveler?”
“Very simple. If I want to live well in this world, I need an identity and money.”
Rast replied: “But I also understand that there are no rewards without sacrifices.”
“The greater the storm, the higher the price. Since the Night World is so dangerous, surely your country’s government wouldn’t hesitate to provide compensation and benefits, right?”
Isda nodded; this was indeed a reason many people chose to join Starry University and become Night Travelers.
But according to procedure, she still habitually asked, “Is that all?”
“Of course, what else would it be?”
Rast shrugged and laughed.
“It can’t be that I dream of becoming a partner of justice and want to use the power of the Night World to become stronger and achieve my ideals, right?”
…
In another room, Mr. Silver’s motion of curling a dried fish with his tail froze mid-air.
He looked at the surveillance footage of Rast answering his last question, his expression holding a hint of doubt.
The remnants of ‘The Moon of True Words’ had not yet dissipated in those ruby-like beast eyes.
(End of Chapter)
