Hellbents
Chapter 55: Truth or Dare

As a form of gratitude or just an action that maintains their dignity and face, the nobility treat dinner all passengers, relief squads, and ship staff. Perhaps a smart move considering they feel a great need to protect, and by making this dinner a form of bribe, when there are more monsters attacking their lives will be prioritized.

Because they are simple creatures.

And for Rai, a free dinner provided by a noble family he considered an invitation to party. He challenges Ava in a game of "truth or challenge".

"The rules are easy, the appointed party will choose to answer honestly or do a challenge, if they can't then they have to drink a glass of alcohol" Rai said.

Oh, truth or dare.

Effortlessly.

"So, who wants to come? Rina can't resign."

It was obvious that Rai's target was actually that girl. But Ava felt there was no harm in following the flow of Rai's game for a moment.

"Me! Me!" Hao automatically entered when Rina was coming along.

"I." Dom doesn't want to lose or be called a coward.

"It looks exciting" River looks excited to play with new people.

Ib had already returned to his room after his meal ran out, still needing to take care of the documents regarding his sponsor. The man's introductory session with the Canthan guild's top brass was also short and dense. Been busy.

Yong on the other hand nodded despite putting on a suspicious face.

"Me, let me come!" Everyone agreed to include Lorah just that the little girl's punishment was to drink vegetable juice.

"Let me choose a target first," Rai had already started without waiting for the readiness of others.

"Rina." Right, guys? The target of the man is himself.

"The truth." Even if Ava was lying, no one would know.

"Ah, boring," although Rai tried to sigh disappointed, the ignorant smile that he hid made Ava worried. "But that's why I have this!" A purple ring glittered under the lighting of the lamp. "Honesty certificate! This item will know who is honest and who is lying, if you are caught lying, a little lightning will hit your hand."

... Is that true?

In a fantasy world, such a thing is likely to exist. But how does it work? Measuring his heart rate, amount of sweat, and movement as he has seen in online videos? Does the item have the power to read minds or memory to know the truth of the answer? Or how?

"Rina, do you really not like Hao?" An easy question, maybe because it's still an opener, a warm-up before another interesting question, or Rai just wants to spread salt to Hao's wounds that have been staring sharply at Rai.

Probably the last reason.

Ava wears a purple ring that magically adjusts to the size of her finger. "I'm not interested in Hao as a man." There was no reaction. Is correct. He immediately released the item.

"My turn. River's? What will you choose?"

"Just the truth first." The purple ring has changed hands.

"Well, what is your dream for the next ten years?"

Ava's question was plain, but River timidly replied, "Building a monster farm that doesn't like to hurt other living things."

"Oh, I've always wanted to ride a pegasus!" Lorah exclaimed from the end of the table. Everyone nodded in agreement, seeming to be amused by the thought as well.

Ava should have guessed that the real pegasus was here.

"Good, good. Now choose someone else."

"Anu," the pause dragged on for a bit longer, River was confused because he was actually still awkward with the people at the brand's desk, maybe just his roommate, the youngest, "Lorah."

"The truth!"

"Okay, what were your big dreams?"

"Rankers!"

"Sister, choose what?"

"Challenge." The first challenge in this game.

"Oh! Spend one glass of vegetable juice!" Dom immediately frowned in disdain to hear that. It seemed like it was not only Lorah who did not like vegetables.

" ... All right, bring it!"

Hao called out to the waiter who passed by, "One glass of vegetable juice!" They are still hostile.

A glass of cold, green viscous liquid sat menacingly in front of Dom, but he had to exhaust it, or else this would be the black history he wanted to forget. He drank even though his lips trembled, every stand felt sticky and as if it was stuck in the throat. Dom knows his own body refuses, but he forces it.

A minute passed, the contents of the glass were gone, leaving only Dom sweating despite the cold weather and drinking.

"Yes!" Although what made him repulsive was not Hao, Dom remained annoyed when talking to him.

"Challenge!" As expected, this game turned into a battle of honor.

"It's hard for you to make false arguments with anyone at this table until the waiter stops you!"

That's an unusual challenge.

Rai raised his hand, offering himself, "Just do it with me."

From the first sight, Ava understands that Hao and Rai do not have a good relationship. The positive side of their acting will feel natural, while the bad side of what they are talking about can quickly creep into personal problems. But Ava is not willing to replace Rai. Dom, River, or Lorah will not realize how quickly this will be a real fight. Only Yong looked worried, the vice-captain and his younger brother would immediately make a fuss, naturally he would be anxious.

"The correct way to eat fried chicken is to poke it with sauce, not pour the sauce into the chicken container!"

"Wrong! Pouring the sauce will add to the rich flavor of the chicken!"

... Whahuh?

What kind of topic is this?

"Adding to the taste of what?! If poured only chicken on top that is full of sauce, the bottom is dry!"

"That's because you suck when you pour the sauce!"

Dom and Lorah were already giggling in their seats. River and Ava reacted similarly, confused. Yong was still watching the scene before him closely, if only there were signs of excessive aggression, he would instantly break up.

"Daddy?! I suck?! How to eat like that is strange! Finish the meal, sauce all over the hand!"

"What's the difference with poking the sauce then? Oil coated palms!"

"At least when eating more neatly!"

"You said I was a barbarian?!"

"Have known for yourself, I see!"

"Hey, the important thing is I don't sigh every time I chew!"

Dom's urat almost burst into laughter after that statement. Even now Yong added busy with hiding the smile behind his hands.

"I'm not sighing!"

""Ah, it's delicious, "Hmm, delicious,", "Again, add more"."

Ava understood that what Rai did was hyperbole from the original version, but gosh, that was ridiculous, he pinched hard on his thigh just to try not to smile. River did the right thing by closing Lorah's ears before the silly demonstration, the little girl was just pouting because she did not understand what the adults were laughing about.

They were not even aware of a servant awkwardly standing near them. "Anu, sorry, can you guys not make a fuss inside the restaurant?"

The challenge for Hao was successful, but either the reputation of the man even went up or down with the performance.