66: Chapter 53 Returning to the Rightful Owner_3 66: Chapter 53 Returning to the Rightful Owner_3 He wasn’t foolish, he could tell that although the old noble had some doubts about his origins, he was still intent on protecting him.
This old noble wasn’t afraid that he was some fugitive or escaped slave, he just feared that he might continue spinning some “lie” about crossing the Nightmare Forest.
What these people in power hated most was being deceived and kept in the dark.
…But, in good conscience.
I actually did cross the damn Nightmare Forest.
Am I supposed to invent some lie to make you think I’m not lying to you?
Leon couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly to himself.
Nevertheless, he was brimming with doubts.
The Cursed Land within the Nightmare Forest was indeed dangerous.
But was it truly so frightful for these bigwigs of the kingdoms?
After all, though he had nearly lost his life several times within, once he successfully made the guide instrument using Miss Lora’s method, the process of getting out wasn’t impossibly difficult, was it?
His companions were merely three young fugitives.
If it had been a group of martially adept warriors, along with a mage who knew how to create those Spirit Lamps, wouldn’t getting out be even easier?
Leon recalled Miss Lora’s calm demeanor while in the Cursed Land.
It seemed to him that for Miss Mage, there was more than one way to escape the Cursed Land.
If Miss Lora weren’t trapped within his body, without a physical form, it seemed to him that escaping that so-called “Spirit-like Field” would have been no difficult task for her in life.
they couldn’t possibly afford a mage’s help, could they?
Or could it be that the mages of this world had all died out?
That wasn’t the case, as the Rune Crossbow Arrow that had nearly killed the Griffin clearly came from the hands of a mage.
And the large knight beside the old noble held a Rune Axe Spear, its blade having glowed before, it surely wasn’t some LED decoration bought from the Yiwu Market, right?
He sighed, casting aside the endless wild thoughts in his mind, and after much deliberation, Leon decided to continue being truthful.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to avoid trouble by spinning a lie, but…
how could he possibly make up a convincing story?
He couldn’t even come up with a plausible lie.
The original owner of this body was simply the son of a Seryan hunter, completely ignorant of the geography and roads of the Northern Kingdom.
All he knew about directions, he had learned from Olivia’s conversations—the east was embroiled in war, and further east there was an area called “Klonia Kingdom.”
Leon didn’t even know the name of the nearest town.
How could he concoct a detailed and verifiable “true” story about not crossing the forest?
If he spoke nonsense, these noble masters would not be like the common people lacking knowledge of the kingdom’s geography.
Moreover, when faced with Boris’s provocation by the river and Olivia’s inquiries, if he had chosen a different option then and responded with a fabricated lie instead of the truth.
Now, when faced with doubt, whether he continued to come up with a lie that local nobles could see through at a glance, or instead told the truth, both would only make him seem more suspicious.
Now, the only thing he could do, the only thing he should do, was maintain the honesty he had shown to Olivia and continue telling the truth…
“Young man, how you came to Serwa, just tell the truth.
As long as you haven’t committed some unpardonable crime like regicide, I will likewise ensure that you won’t be pursued within my domain.”
Baron Eriv obviously didn’t believe that the youth could truly cross the Nightmare Forest.
Even with a Griffin, it was impossible; in the history of the Farolis Family, there had been no lack of people trying to navigate the forest by flying mounts.
However, records showed they all failed, and no one witnessed the moment they vanished.
Leon could only nod in acknowledgment of the nobles’ admonition.
This time, he raised his right hand and placed it over his heart.
This was the oath-taking gesture of the Seryan people who followed the Holy Sun Church.
Although he had no faith in the Holy Sun or the prophets, by doing this, he hoped to lend credibility and solemnity to his words in the eyes of others, since this body was, after all, seen as that of a youth from the Divine Right Kingdom.
“In the presence of the Holy Sun and Prophet Illaril, I, Leon, swear to you all that every word I speak is true, and should there be even half a lie, may my soul fall into the abyss and be eternally damned,” Leon swore unabashedly.
He wasn’t worried about whether there were real gods in this world; after all, he was telling the truth.
“Due to good fortune, perhaps favored by the gods, I truly did pass through the southern forest with my companions, arriving here.
This is no lie, it’s just that the process is too complicated to explain briefly in a few words.
We are not suspicious fugitives burdened with crimes; we are merely three wanderers who, after losing everything in Rolannar City, fell into the captivity of the Kantadar people, escaped their shackles, and were forced to flee.”
Amidst the astonished and still disbelieving gazes of the surrounding nobles, Leon sighed.
He couldn’t come up with a falsehood that would deceive these people without angering them.
And now, having sworn an oath on the truth, if they still didn’t believe him, he was helpless; so be it.
However, constantly being questioned, Leon didn’t want to remain passive; just as he had finished explaining his truth, he turned to look at the village ruffian.
Couldn’t curse out these nobles, but couldn’t he at least put this scumbag in his place?