TEB Ch 78

“……”  

Then, without a word, he shook his head. It was such a brief moment that only Liev could notice the signal. Why? What did he see at the top of the tower? While Liev was taken aback, the situation began to settle down.

In the chaotic atmosphere, it was decided to put one servant at the watchtower and rotate them every hour, as it seemed unlikely that the ghost would appear again if they waited here any longer. After waiting in the drawing room for about three more hours with no further signs, people began to slowly return to their rooms one by one.

“Then call me if anything happens. I need to rest my eyes.”  

Rowena, who was exhausted from scanning the entire castle’s magic, was the first to stand up. Then Albert and Katrice left the reception room, and Palvin told the rest of his colleagues to go rest and come back refreshed. Naturally, Renard, Liev, and finally Sigrid also stood up from the sofa.  

I have some questions to ask. 

There were more than one or two things I wanted to ask Renard about, but it seemed better to use this opportunity first now that it arose. Just before parting ways with Sigrid in front of the reception room, Liev said to Renard.  

“You go up first. I have something to talk to Sigrid about.”  

Sigrid and Renard simultaneously raised their eyebrows in confusion.  

“Me?”  

“Why? What do you want to talk about?”  

At the same time as their questioning, Liev told him the sentence he heard from Renard earlier today.  

“It’s a secret from you.”  

“What? Why is it a secret from me?”  

“That’s just how it is. Anyway, go up quickly. It won’t take long!”  

Then, Liev pushed Renard’s back, and Sigrid tilted his head as if he didn’t know what was going on. At least he was good at pretending not to know anything. Liev looked at Sigrid with a disapproving expression and sent Renard up.  

“What are you trying to talk about that you can’t say in front of me?” Renard, who grumbled like a grumpy husband, obediently went up when Liev used the same tone and said, “Then tell me your secret too.”  

Strangely, I am starting to worry about why he didn’t show any more stubbornness and left the place without any resistance. After a fierce struggle, I finally managed to get rid of Renard, but Sigrid, who was still looking at me with a puzzled face, asked with a smile,  

“Do you have any business with me?”  

It seemed that he still remembered the tone in which I had told him not to talk to me if he had no business. It’s not that long ago, so it’s natural to remember, but I can’t help but feel that he has kept it in mind. Sigrid replied, his lips curving up slightly.  

“It’s about what we talked about last time. How do you think I know what is going to happen in this world? ” 

Since there was no eye watching anyway, looking around and asking, Sid slightly lifted the corner of his mouth and spoke.  

“I said I would only answer that question after everything is over.”  

It was a valid point, but logic was unnecessary in this situation, where I had come to make a fuss. What I needed now was an iron plate on my face. It was embarrassing to be caught off guard, but I didn’t show it and replied,  

“After this is over, you said you would definitely answer any question I had, right? This is a separate question.”  

Sigrid’s expression twisted slightly, like a wall that couldn’t be penetrated by words. Rather than feeling bad, he seemed to be enjoying the fact that I had come out so boldly without expecting him to. I don’t know why he finds it amusing, but, ahem, when Sigrid looked back at me as I cleared my throat, his lips twitched.  

“Wait, Mr. Liev, I don’t think I ever said that.”  

Either way, Liev was in a position where he had nothing to lose, even if all his secrets were revealed. Even if he were to reveal that everything that happened in this world was a story in a novel and that he was a person who had been possessed outside the story, the response would be something like “Wow, that’s amazing!” or “Is your mind okay?” or “That’s an interesting setting.”  

Even if it’s the worst, it’s unlikely he would be handed over to a mental hospital or a church. After all, it’s not even worth mentioning that someone who claims that reality is a novel can’t even mention the absurdity of flying reptiles weighing hundreds or thousands of tons. Liev tried to speak without showing any signs of being intimidated.  

“I don’t know how much you know, but I have something I want to ask, so I’ll just confess it and talk about it. I’m not originally from here, I came from a world where the events happening here are like stories in a novel. I changed the fate of Renard, who was supposed to become a berserk dragon, and many things have changed because of my choices, but there are also things that haven’t changed.”  

Sigrid’s eyes widened for a moment at the calm confession, then returned to their original size. His pupils were slightly dilated, but it seemed more like a reaction from observing the person in front of him than shock or surprise. Liev couldn’t help but ask, looking at Sigrid’s slightly raised mouth.  

“I think I’ve introduced myself simply, so let me ask again. What exactly are you? Are you the “hero” of the story that I know?”  

It was a deliberate action to engage in meaningless conversation, judging that there was no point in just exchanging superficial words. If Sigrid didn’t know his true identity, it would be a disaster. But it was just a risk (in fact, it wasn’t even a risk because there was nothing to lose), but he continued to keep up appearances. Sigrid let out a short laugh after a moment of hesitation, as if he had something in mind.  

Laughing? 

It wasn’t impossible for him to laugh, but his overly relaxed attitude suddenly bothered Liev. It was clear from his reaction that Sigrid had known all along that Liev was from outside the novel. Sigrid looked at Liev with a transparent gaze that seemed to see through his thoughts, and he spoke.  

“I didn’t know you would reveal it so easily. I thought you would think about it a little longer, but I made the wrong judgment.”  

As he smiled sweetly and had an arc shape with his lips, I couldn’t help but feel a cool sensation.  

“There is no obligation to always honestly answer a straightforward question, but since I am quite fond of you, Mr. Liev, I will tell you the answer. I am Sigrid, the protagonist, you know. But I am not a traveler like you, that’s from a different world.”  

Traveler? Liev was immediately questioned and seemed to be referring to himself.  

“What is a traveler? Could there be someone else like me?”  

Startled by the possibility he had never considered, Sigrid simply smiled politely and shrugged his shoulders.  

“That is difficult to explain. But it is not an impossible thing.”  

Not impossible. That means it is possible. Or not, if it’s impossible. Liev was confused by his cryptic response. He had initially thought he was talking about Renard, but his unexpected topic completely caught him off guard.  

“But is that important to you? Isn’t Renard important to you?”  

That was correct. Of course, anything other than Renard was fine. Sort of. He may have been just an extra, but he still felt responsible for changing the main plot of the story. He didn’t regret his actions now, but he couldn’t help but worry about the consequences. 

Yes, you’re right, but…”  

Unfortunately, Liev couldn’t finish his sentence. Sigrid interrupted him with a bright smile.  

“It’s nerve-wracking, and I can’t believe it. I know you can’t help but have doubts, but you, Liev, think too much. You can’t even trust people or dragons. But by pushing them away defensively, you will only end up being the loneliest person, and you already know that, right? You’ve already experienced it enough to get sick of it.”  

Liev was at a loss for words when his words hit the nail on the head. How do you know that? If you know that I am someone from outside the novel, do you also know about “Suhyuk”? In an instant, Liev felt a shiver for a moment, and goosebumps appeared on the back of his arms.