Chapter 179: Under What Condition?

  Night crawled over the fort like a patient predator.

  Lyra, Vaelis, and Seraphine had taken their shifts atop the walls, each stationed at different corners of the fortress.

  Ivaline’s shift came later.

  For now, she sat near a small campfire in the inner courtyard, resting.

  “I know you’re there.”

  “…Sorry. Survival habit.”

  The air shimmered faintly.

  A chameleon beastwoman stepped out from nothingness and appeared beside the fire.

  Selvara shrugged lightly and glanced at the empty wooden log opposite Ivaline.

  “May I?”

  “Un.”

  “…..?”

  She sat down obediently, almost like a well-behaved child.

  Almost.

  She lift a corn and send a glance asking for permission.

  Ivaline nod in silent.

  Deep inside, Chronicle’s voice echoed.

  ‘A convenient asset that appears exactly when needed.’

  ‘Her information aligns too cleanly.’

  ‘No matter how you look at it — this is a trap.’

  Ivaline’s expression remained deadpan.

  ‘I know,’ she replied inwardly. ‘She never lies… but she never tells the full truth either.’

  Her Perception caught details others missed.

  The faint flick of Selvara’s tail.

  A slight shift in her pupils.

  A barely perceptible rise in heartbeat.

  Micro-reactions.

  She was always calculating.

  But holding secrets did not automatically make someone evil.

  Ivaline herself concealed Chronicle’s existence absolutely.

  “Wow~? This grilled corn is sweet?”

  “…..”

  Selvara showed no killing intent.

  No hostility.

  For now.

  So Ivaline chose the simplest weapon.

  Conversation.

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  “Where did you come from?”

  “Didn’t I say I came from the west?”

  “You did. You didn’t say which country.”

  “Nom nom nom… Mmm~ Proper food at last.”

  She moaned in exaggerated delight while nibbling the corn.

  Ivaline waited.

  Unmoved.

  “If I told you, would you even recognize it?”

  “Don’t play tricks. Answer.”

  “Waaai~ even when you’re stern you’re still cute?”

  Silence.

  Selvara eventually sighed.

  “Alright, alright. I’m from a small region called Belslow. It’s within the United Kingdom of Corinth. Know it?”

  Ivaline stared.

  Blank.

  She might have read about it once.

  Maybe.

  But remember it?

  No.

  ‘Chronicle.’

  ‘That’s why I told you to read carefully.’

  ‘Sorry.’

  Chronicle nudged her patiently.

  ‘The United Kingdom of Corinth borders the western frontline. It’s the nation suffering most from the war with the Demon Lord’s armies.’

  He continued:

  ‘It isn’t one unified kingdom in practice. It’s a coalition of smaller states. Think of the corn in her hand — each kernel is a small kingdom. Together they form one ear.’

  Ivaline blinked slowly.

  ‘Your explanation makes me hungry.’

  ‘Focus.’

  He continued.

  ‘If one region falls during invasion, the coalition survives. When reclaimed, the fallen land is often absorbed by neighboring states instead of restored. Reviving a fallen kingdom requires surviving royalty, loyal populace, and enormous funding.’

  ‘They don’t revive it?’

  ‘If a ruler fails to protect their people, few will risk restoring them.’

  ‘I see.’

  Ivaline returned her gaze to Selvara.

  Selvara was already watching her.

  “You know, little Ivaline.”

  “…?”

  “You act like someone who’s speaking with another voice inside your head. Telepathy? Long-distance communication?”

  Silence.

  Selvara smiled faintly.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t pry. And I won’t tell.”

  Ivaline and Chronicle remained silent.

  Let her misunderstand.

  Half-wrong assumptions were sometimes safer than truth.

  Chronicle murmured:

  ‘Contact Seraphine. Briefly. Mask our truth’

  And Ivaline did.

  ‘Seraphine.’

  ‘Yes, love?’

  ‘She’s sharp.’

  ‘Selvara?’

  ‘She’s reading me.’

  ‘Dangerous?’

  ‘…Maybe.’

  Their bracelet allowed only short thoughts.

  But that was enough.

  ‘Need help?’

  ‘No. Just informing you.’

  ‘If you’re in danger, call me.’

  ‘Okay. Take care.’

  ‘Always.’

  Selvara’s eyes dipped subtly toward Ivaline’s bracelet.

  She nodded faintly.

  “To your lover then?”

  Silence.

  “You’re stiff. Afraid of me?”

  Ivaline decided to push back.

  “Because you’re hiding something.”

  Selvara smiled.

  “Aren’t you?”

  “My secrets won’t harm anyone. Yours?”

  “Oh. They might.”

  Her tone remained light.

  But Ivaline caught it.

  That line wasn’t random.

  It was deliberate.

  “Until you reveal the truth, I won’t trust you.”

  “Cute face. Brutal conduct.”

  “…..”

  Selvara suddenly clapped her hands.

  “Fine! Three questions. I’ll answer without lying. Deal?”

  Chronicle whispered.

  ‘Choose carefully.’

  Ivaline nodded faintly.

  “Are you our enemy?”

  Selvara lifted one finger.

  “That question has too many loopholes.”

  “…?”

  “You didn’t define ‘ours.’ Your small friend group? The entire kingdom? Humanity? And you didn’t define timeframe.”

  She leaned closer.

  “If I’m not your enemy now but become one later, your question means nothing.”

  Ivaline clenched her hands slightly.

  Selvara smiled.

  “You have lie-detection, don’t you? But interrogation isn’t your strong suit.”

  “Answer.”

  Selvara chuckled.

  “Currently I’m not, that waste one question. Refine it next time.”

  Ivaline clench her hand slightly.

  She consulted Chronicle.

  Then asked again.

  “Are you currently acting under orders from General Silva or any Demon Lord command structure?”

  Selvara tilted her head.

  “Suspecting infiltration?”

  “No lies. Answer.”

  Her tail flicked once.

  “Currently? Under their command structure? No.”

  No lie detected.

  But she didn’t deny past allegiance.

  Or future alignment.

  Chronicle spoke again.

  “One more.”

  Ivaline nodded.

  “Do you possess any current plan, intention, or preparation to sabotage this fort from within?”

  Selvara’s smile widened.

  “Oh~ that’s a good one.”

  She leaned back.

  “Plan? No. Intention? None at the moment. Preparation? No.”

  Truth.

  Clean.

  Chronicle clicked his tongue internally.

  One question wasted earlier.

  Selvara suddenly grinned.

  “For asking something clever, I’ll give you one bonus question.”

  Ivaline blinked.

  Chronicle went silent.

  Was she confident?

  Or testing them further?

  “Don’t want it?” Selvara teased. “I can take it back.”

  “I’ll ask.”

  They thought carefully.

  Longer this time.

  Then—

  “Under what condition would you turn against us?”

  Selvara paused.

  Her smile softened.

  For the first time that night—

  Her tail stopped moving.

  “Ah…”

  Her gaze shifted toward the walls.

  Toward the direction of the western horizon.

  “That,” she murmured quietly,

  “…is a dangerous question.”

  The fire crackled between them.

  And for the first time—

  Selvara did not look amused.