NOVEL WEB Chapter 539: Fucked Up...
*Screech*
That's when the dragon Gu starts screeching. What is up with that?! I can see the expression of everyone around me hardening. They are all looking at me warily.
"This shouldn't be possible. Why is the Gu sensing a lie but not our god?!" (leader)
He looks pensive as he looks at me with wariness.
"This is clear proof that he's working with the enemy! I knew it!" (red asshole)
"Wait for a second! What if the Gu was mistaken? I saw the enemy try to kill him with my own eyes. The fight was way too intense to be simple acting!" (friend)
"Is that so? I have a better theory, you see." (red)
"What? *growling*" (friend)
"Isn't it rather peculiar that there simply happened to be an attack from a very powerful sun mage and that this man right here just happened to manage to intimidate him away? This in itself should be close to impossible and yet he did it so easily? I doubt it!" (red)
[I wouldn't say easily, have you seen how scary his attacks were and…]
"Shut up! Somehow, this man managed to make the enemy flee and was welcomed without an afterthought in our domain. But as soon as he did calamity struck us, leaving our sect vulnerable!" (red)
[Um, guys. Can't we try to find a solution to the current lack of a barrier instead of this?]
"No, we need to find the culprit to get more information on how this was done and know if there aren't any other devious plans in store." (leader)
Fiding me won't help at all, however. Meanwhile, my friend and the red dude are still fighting.
"What are you insinuating? That I have betrayed the sect!" (friend)
"I'm not sure about you, but I am calling it right now. This man right there was sent by our enemies to destroy us from the inside!" (red)
[Look, guys. I have no motive whatsoever to go through all that trouble in the first place. This is a next-level conspiracy theory. You guys can train Gus here all you want and I won't care.]
"I rest my case! The man does not care about our sect! I suggest we bind him and feed him to the Gus in the Rearing land!" (red)
"*Sigh* No motive, is it? That seems to be true." (leader)
[Then we are all good?]
I can't help but look at him in expectation. He has finally realized that I gain absolutely nothing by fighting them. In fact, they are the ones that have the most to lose.
"Then again, it wouldn't be the first time someone attacks our Gu Meadow without any motive. So what exactly is your relationship with the sun sect? Say it all."(leader)
[As far as I'm concerned just enemies...]
*Screech*
Oh god, I seriously hate this lie-detecting bug right now.
"See! He's lying once more!" (red)
[Well, there is that one guy I know that used to be in it. I'm pretty sure he has quit by now, but I have no way to be certain.]
"That's as good as an admission of guilt. Fraternising with an enemy. Also, on does not just change sect on a whim." (red)
[I know many people that changed sects in their lives.]
"He knows turncoats to boot. Talk about traitorous!"
[That's not what I meant at all!]
"I've heard enough. Something seems fishy. Seize him!" (leader)
[Wait a second I...]
Many sect members are gathering around me. They show clear hostility. This is bad. What do I do? Run for it? I'll just grab my friend and dash away. This should be good enough.
It's fine even if his army of Gus is not ready yet. I should be able to face the water sect alone if I take them out one by one somehow. I can't believe this is happening.
"Wait! I'm still convinced there is some sort of mistake here. How about this? I'm ready to put my Champion's identity on the line to vouch for him!" (friend)
Damn! That's so cool. He shouts that loudly and with confidence. So impressive! He looks at me and gives me a glance that says he's got my back. This is what friends are for, really.
Everyone around stops. They all look at him in shock. It seems a Champion is still worth something around here. Good. They all lower their Gus. That is when the leader looks our way, extremely seriously.
"Are you sure? There will be no coming back from this." (leader)
"Totally. He has saved my life many times already. If he wanted to cause us harm, I believe he would have acted in a more destructive and efficient way." (friend)
"Are you crazy?! A way more efficient than effectively taking down our very last line of defense?!" (red)
"Enough! You have made your choice. For now, the both of you will be kept in house arrest while we investigate the situation some more." (leader)
"Of course!" (friend)
That's it? Nothing else? This feels like we could have done that from the start. Oh well. The guy that I met at the temple looks happy beyond belief.
I'm not sure if he's relieved because I'll be fine or because there won't be a god rampaging in their base. Either way, it doesn't matter.
That red-clothed guy is giving us a very mean look that says he will be watching us while plotting to cause my demise. Whatever.
That is when they start concentrating their efforts on the cave itself to find clues and we are escorted back under heavy guard.
So, they are using Gus to hold us hostage. I'm literally immune to these things. I can't help but wonder how anyone hasn't annihilated their entire faction yet.
I'm just saying that it would probably be extremely easy. It would only be a matter of bringing enough insect poison and bam, job well done! Can you picture all Gus in the sect falling like flies? That would be so devastating.
[So, what do we do now?]
"We wait, that's it, nothing else." (friend)
[Alright, what's up with the red-clothed guy? Why does he hate you so much?]
"Because I'm too easy-going and simple. He feels shame being compared to me. Plus, I don't look up to him, and he took that personally."
[This gotta be the worst reason ever.]
"HAHA Perhaps, but that's his."
[Say, why are you even with them if there are people hating you so much? Couldn't you just quietly wander the world in search of adventure or something? You could carry delicious fruits with you.]
"Thinking of it and doing it are two things. For now, I will remain here."
[What about going to the water sect? You are still coming, right?]
"Of course! I wasn't kidding when I said earlier that I owed you one for saving my life. Without you I would have been burned to oblivion and so would he."
I can't help but smile as I see the head of the little fruit fly peak out of my friend's clothes. Except, that's the moment the little insect I picked up decides to go out too.
As soon as my friend sees it he starts freaking out. His eyes are bulging and he starts frantically pointing at it.
"Wait?! What the hell is that?!"
[Eh, just an insect I picked up along the way.]
"Wait, that's no insect that's a very powerful Gu ancestor!"
[Wait, what?! Seriously?!]
"Don't tell me you....?!"
The way he glances at me has suddenly changed. His gaze has hardened and he seems lost.
[Wait, I can explain!]...