As the other party members came into view, Serengeti chuckled first.
"Looks like Demigod has really set up quite a trial for us. We might be able to clear it faster than expected."
He sneered as if it were nothing.
After all, it was a level that wouldn't take more than five minutes to answer.
"Compared to the reputation, it's definitely... "
"..."
Isaac and Isabella also had calm expressions.
After all, they were only asking one question each.
He wouldn't have written down any questions that would be too awkward to answer.
Soon, a delicate woman's voice echoed in their ears.
"The first question assigned to Serengeti."
"‘Do you truly love Hudson?’"
Serengeti looked at me.
Does he think I asked this question?
"Of course, I truly love him."
Serengeti answered with a slight hint of embarrassment.
There was no room for doubt, whether from his answer or his attitude.
"According to the oath, the judgment is true."
"The first question assigned to Isaac."
"‘Why were you crying in the city square?’"
Isaac's eyes wavered.
He clearly hadn't expected anyone to see him crying so pitifully.
It was a bit awkward, but not so much that he couldn't answer.
"...... Lord Randolph forgave my sins. Because my sin value was high, children never approached me. But when a child came up to me that day and asked why I was crying, I ended up crying even more."
He provided a more detailed answer.
After all, this was a party dungeon. Isaac knew that mutual trust was important in a party dungeon.
Especially in this place, which had a notorious reputation. Isaac, who had traveled all over the continent, had heard countless stories about this place.
"According to the oath, the judgment is true."
"The first question assigned to Isabella."
"‘Your accent is unique. Which city are you from?’"
Which city are you from?
Isabella looked back and forth between Isaac and Serengeti.
At least, she didn't think it was me.
Since I was the one who first met and brought her here, if anyone were to ask about her origin, it would have to be Isaac or Serengeti.
"...... The desert city, Faisalmere."
The worst starting point.
The notorious desert city of Faisalmere.
A city ruled by a queen, which all continentals avoid.
Many people would look at her with prejudice if they knew she was from the desert city.
However, Isabella was confident.
Her skin color was different from that of the people of the desert city.
Moreover, she had no idea how people from other cities viewed Faisalmere.
"According to the oath, the judgment is true."
That's how the questions for the first three ended.
Now it was my turn.
The previous questions were quite ordinary.
They were questions that anyone could be curious about and ask.
Although I didn't know who asked whom, it seemed they had only asked appropriate questions, considering each other's positions.
If that was the case, the question assigned to me was likely to be nothing major.
"The first question assigned to Randolph."
"‘Are you a Star Seer?’"
Game changer (Game changer)
...... Are you a Star Seer?
I was taken aback when I saw the question.
Who would ask such a question?
Is it because someone doesn't believe I'm a Star Seer?
Or did they ask because they believe I am one and think it's obvious?
‘Star Seer.’
What is a Star Seer?
A guide for those who have the right to possess a star.
A gamer who reaches level 10 and all stats of 100 must find a Star Seer to learn the location of the star.
In that sense, I am not a Star Seer.
I have never been a Star Seer from the beginning.
It was just a lie I told to protect myself and the situation.
However, if I said no, it would be admitting the lie.
It would be the same as admitting that I had been deceiving them from the beginning.
At least, it would be a significant blow to Isabella and Isaac.
‘I approached them from the beginning, claiming to be a Star Seer.’
A seeker of the star.
One who believes in the star and worships it.
The unknown becomes even more significant.
The mystery and sanctity serve as a good mask for me.
Isabella saved me because I claimed to be a Star Seer, and Isaac couldn't help but treat me as something extraordinary.
If it weren't for that lie, I would already be dead.
I would have died at Isabella's hands right from the start.
‘A lie I told to survive, but...’
I have been consistently upholding that lie.
I recall when I entered the Chamber of Truth.
...Answer only the truth according to the oath.
I signed the 'Oath of Truth' etched in my heart and soul of my own will.
"I am-"
But no matter what answer I give, the truth will be revealed.
In that case, it's better to tell the truth.
If I lie, I will fail the challenge and be expelled.
Since re-challenges are impossible, it might be better to tell the truth and try to smooth things over.
Then I can continue to 'challenge.'
"Star Seer-"
If I say I am not a Star Seer, it will be difficult to regain the trust once broken.
I might have to carry the fact that I lied to myself forever.
Once a seed of doubt is sown, it grows a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times, eroding trust.
So, I spoke the truth.
"Yes."
...I am a Star Seer.
Literally, one who has realized the star.
One who knows what the star is.
One who has delved deeper into the star than anyone and has been chosen by it.
If I am not a Star Seer, who is?
"According to the oath, the judgment is true."
I felt a sense of relief.
And I realized.
‘Demigod has distorted the questions.’
During the questioning, I carefully observed everyone's expressions.
Thanks to my Observation talent, I could focus and perceive even the slightest movement of a hair, and judge their emotions based on their expressions and reactions.
The subtle changes that appeared with each question.
‘The questions are correct, but the tone is different.’
The first question to Serengeti, "Do you truly love Hudson?" was indeed what I wrote.
It's correct, but different.
‘I never used the word "truly."’
Do you love Hudson?
Do you truly love Hudson?
The tone and weight are completely different.
Demigod is slightly distorting the questions to make them awkward to answer.
However, there's no need to give the correct answer to a distorted question.
Whether it's a Star Seer in the dictionary sense or a Star Seer according to the questioner's definition is a matter for each person to judge.
‘Distortion is met with distortion.’
If I were my former self, I would have chosen to say I am not a Star Seer.
At that time, this world was just a 'game' to me.
A game world where everything is predetermined by data and numbers.
But this is reality.
A real world where emotions come alive and interact with each other.
And the truth is something that interacts.
If we all believe it's true, then it is true.
Besides, it's not exactly a wrong statement, is it?
A distorted question can be met with a distorted answer.
‘Now I understand why the Oath of Truth states that no discussion about the questions is allowed.’
No discussion.
It not only forbids verbal discussion but also sharing expressions.
However, there was no discussion.
It was just something I observed on my own.
Their expressions.
Isaac, Isabella, Serengeti.
They don't hide their expressions in front of me.
"Hmm."
Upon hearing my answer, everyone nodded as if it was expected.
They had believed it from the beginning.
Since they didn't doubt me from the beginning, my answer was the truth.
It's completely different from the previous strategy where we came in hiding our intentions.
Trust relationship.
It won't be easily broken by Demigod's tricks.
*
Once I understood Demigod's intention to distort the questions, the rest was too easy.
There was no need to panic or doubt.
We quickly cleared the level and moved to the next one, and the world turned dark again.
Soon, a sign appeared in front of me.
"The next level's trial is 'Blocking the Entrance.'"
"To block the entrance and clear the level, you need one ranged attacker, two shield bearers, and one healer."
"Choose one of the three roles."
"The trial will begin once all party members have chosen."
The three roles needed to block the entrance.
Ranged attacker, shield bearer, healer.
Three symbols appeared in front of me, representing an arrow, a shield, and a floating green aura.
‘They’re not giving us time to discuss.’
This level requires us to know each other's capabilities and choices.
If one role is missing or there are too many, the challenge will fail.
‘Serengeti will choose the shield bearer.’
He already demonstrated his role in the first level. With fixed stats, he should have a good grasp of his role.
‘The rest is difficult.’
I rubbed my chin.
If I choose the ranged attacker like in the first level, who will be the healer?
Isaac, Isabella.
Will they choose the shield bearer and healer?
Then, should I be the healer?
Isaac is especially specialized in attack. He might choose