The Ultimate Lie Detector
The door to the parlor clicked shut, and for the first time in a while, I activated my skill.
Lies that Deceive Even High Elves
On its own, this skill wasn't particularly powerful compared to my other abilities, like my poker face, acting, or silver tongue. But there was one specific situation where it transformed into an absolute cheat code.
Here's a hint: Which race is an absolute must-have for any merchant guild of a decent scale? The beastmen, with their brute strength? No. The dwarves, with their knack for calculation? No. It's the elves.
Their entire race functions as a fantasy-world lie detector. Unlike real-world polygraphs, which have a decent margin of error, elves are flawless. If someone speaks a lie, there is no evading their detection. They perceive the falsehood instantly. Naturally, this is considered a cheat-level ability. It's the sole reason merchant guilds scramble to recruit elves by any means necessary. They never have to worry about employment, their salaries are astronomical, and their benefits are beyond imagination.
On top of that, because elves live for hundreds of years, their casual hobby-level training easily matches the martial arts a human spends a lifetime perfecting. With time, they naturally acquire formidable combat prowess. The "elf slaves" you read about in fantasy novels? They don't exist here. If you tried to enslave one, your life would turn into a dark fantasy real quick.
Therefore, as long as an elf is present at a negotiation table, no one doubts the truth of the words spoken. Even if I'm blatantly spinning a web of lies right in front of them.
"Let me begin by stating this: there is a limit to the amount of Holy Water our Church can produce. In other words, you should consider this a limited-edition commodity."
Limited edition? Hardly. As long as I have divine power, I can mass-produce it infinitely.
"We have completed not only clinical trials but also rigorous safety testing."
Clinical trials? As if I'd bother. Safety testing? I haven't even tasted the stuff.
"This Holy Water is a blessing in itself, developed by our Church over several decades."
Decades of research? It took me exactly ten minutes and a single click.
Yet, I didn't so much as bat an eye. I didn't present a single shred of physical evidence to back up my claims. Why? Because even though I was lying through my teeth, the dozens of elves in this room were about to validate every single word.
"It is the truth."
"...Affirmative."
"Truth."
"...Potion, positive."
"Guild Master. Everything he said is true."
Rapid-fire confirmation. Every time their clear, melodic voices rang out, the tense expressions on the guild masters' faces began to soften.
The first to speak was the middle-aged Guild Master of the Golden Gear Merchant Guild.
"It seems... I vastly underestimated the potential of Elium. And this potion..." He blinked, muttering in a hushed, tentative tone. "Is it true that... it is also good for... down there?"
His voice trailed off so much I could barely make it out.
"Pardon? Down where? What is good for what? I can't hear you."
His head bowed in embarrassment.
Yet, as if this was a matter of life and death that absolutely had to be clarified, a look of profound agony crossed the middle-aged man's face before he finally blurted it out.
"They say it clears the mind and... revitalizes a man's vigor. That vigor. In the novel, after Camelot drank it, the lights in the inn didn't go out for three days and three nights..."
Ah! That story. He should have just said so from the start. Did he actually believe that? It was obviously just marketing copy. How could a human possibly keep going for three days and three nights? Even a wild beast couldn't manage that.
Nevertheless, I nodded without a shred of hesitation.
"It is true."
"Confirmed."
The elves chimed in with absolute certainty.
In that instant, the middle-aged guild master's face flushed bright red.
"!!! Our Golden Gear Guild will purchase the entire stock of this Holy Water!"
The moment he finished speaking, the Guild Master of the Laurel Crown Gold Exchange, who was sitting next to him, leaped to his feet and roared, "Who said you could?! Our exchange will buy it for double!"
The remaining two merchant tycoons—from the Blue Creek Trading Association and the West Wind Trading Guild—didn't react nearly as wildly. They were a young man and the sole woman in the room, respectively, and they both watched the two older men with looks of sheer bewilderment.
"Is it really worth getting that worked up over...? I mean, the efficacy is outstanding, but you two seem a bit too excited."
"...Please, calm down. You're making a scene."
As the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, I slowly shook my head. I had no intention of monopolizing the supply to one side just because they offered a higher price. First, I needed to cool them down.
"Regrettably, the product the Golden Gear Guild Master just referred to is our Upper-grade Holy Water, which has different effects from the Lower-grade Holy Water I am offering today."
I calmly but firmly drove the nail in.
"To be clear, the Lower-grade Holy Water does not possess that level of potency. Furthermore, we have no intention of selling the Upper-grade Holy Water through standard trade. It will only be sold to those who personally visit the Elium Kingdom."
A wave of deep disappointment washed over the guild masters' faces.
"However, as for the Lower-grade Holy Water, we can offer up to one hundred bottles per guild. Naturally, this is the absolute maximum we can supply at this time. What is your decision?"
"One hundred bottles is far too few..."
"Then it cannot be helped. I will take that as a refusal and offer your share to the other guilds."
There was no room for negotiation. I held all the cards here.
At my threat to call off the deal, the guild masters frantically raised their hands.
"Ah, understood! We will purchase the full allotment of one hundred bottles!"
"And... what is the price?"
I nodded calmly.
"The Lower-grade Holy Water contains rare and precious ingredients, such as drake claws and dragon horns. As such, the unit price is forty silver coins per bottle, and I have no intention of lowering it."
Their expressions screamed that it was highway robbery, but not a single person dared to object.
"We have a deal."
"The West Wind Guild will sign as well."
"Golden Gear agrees."
"The Laurel Crown Gold Exchange will also participate."
Just as the draft of the contract was nearing completion, I casually tossed out another remark.
"Ah, and one more thing."
The guild masters' attention snapped back to me. I tapped the paper in front of me as I continued.
"Our Church is currently distributing a book of our own publication."
"...A book?"
"Yes. The Sword of Selection and Miracles. It is a collection of stories based on real-life accounts."
I paused briefly, setting my pen down on the contract.
"Right now, it is being serialized as a newspaper, but it will soon be compiled and published as a novel."
"Are you... asking us to take charge of its distribution?"
"Precisely. This is a task that can only be accomplished by merchant guilds like yours, which possess distribution networks spanning multiple nations."
Then, with a thin smile, I got to the heart of the matter.
"Of course, there will be a suitable reward for your efforts."
I kept my tone smooth and even.
"Earlier, I only mentioned the Upper-grade Holy Water. But in truth, there exists a grade of Holy Water even higher than that within our Church."
Every eye in the room locked onto me.
"The Special-grade Holy Water. It is a substance strictly controlled even within the inner sanctum of our Church. Its efficacy is ten times more potent than that of the Upper-grade Holy Water."
The air in the room instantly grew heavy. The look in the guild masters' eyes shifted. They had fully grasped the implications of my words.
"We plan to award Contribution Points issued by our Church to the guilds that assist in the distribution of this book."
"Contribution Points?"
"This is not some abstract concept of 'spiritual merit' like other religions preach. It is a system tied directly to tangible rewards. By participating in the distribution, you will be granted a set amount of contribution. These points can later be used to purchase the strictly rationed Special-grade Holy Water."
Not mere devotion, but a system of rewards and controlled access. Only then did several of the guild masters nod in understanding. It was a condition tailor-made for merchants: exclusivity.
I wrapped up my explanation, driving home the final nail.
"However, there is one condition. This book is an official publication of the Ifrit Church, and copyright management is absolute. If any unauthorized copying, editing, or illegal distribution is detected—"
"—that guild will be permanently barred from all future transactions with the Church. Furthermore, the supply of potions to their entire home kingdom will be put under review."
The people gathered here were merchant tycoons. They were quick-witted and sharp with calculations. They understood perfectly that this wasn't just a warning—it was a unilateral decree.
'Handle it yourselves.'
'We only care about results.'
If illegal copying or distribution occurred, the supply of Holy Water to their entire kingdom would suffer. Tragically so.
Therefore, if they wanted to prevent such a tragedy, they would have to police the black market themselves.
The actual signing of the contracts was conducted one-on-one. As each transaction concluded, I quietly pulled a luxurious box from my desk and slid it across to them.
Even a layman could tell at a glance that the box was an antique of extraordinary quality. It naturally commanded attention. Crafted from dark red ebony, it featured intricate metal filigree, with corners sealed in elegant curves and patterns reminiscent of a royal crest. Even the lock was extraordinary. The brass rotary clasp bore the emblem of the Ifrit Church, and the top lid featured an engraving so deep and lifelike that the box seemed almost alive when touched.
"What is this...?"
"To be frank, I have a personal fondness for the Golden Gear Guild. Consider this a small token of my goodwill. You seemed quite intrigued by the story of Camelot earlier. I believe I need say no more."
"C-Could it be...?"
"See the effects for yourself."
Next guild. Once the contract was signed, I pulled another box from the drawer.
"What is this...?"
"To be frank, I have a personal fondness for the Laurel Crown Gold Exchange. You know of it, yes? The night of Camelot."
"...I heard he lasted three days and three nights."
"You will experience the effects firsthand."
Next guild.
"What is this...?"
"To be frank, I have a personal fondness for the Blue Creek Trading Association. It is exceptionally good for a man's... vitality, though I find myself lacking the words to describe just how miraculous it is."
"Does that mean...? No way! Is that why the Golden Gear and Laurel Crown guild masters acted like that?! Those underhanded bastards!"
I simply nodded.
Since the leader of the West Wind Guild was a woman, I had to alter my approach. Hwarin was quite famous, largely because she always wore a black veil. I had heard the reason why: a fire. It had left severe burn scars covering half her face. Even with the veil, it was clear she had once been a striking beauty. As she dispassionately reviewed the contract without a trace of emotion, I spoke up.
"This is a personal token of my favor for Guild Master Hwarin of the West Wind Guild. It is highly beneficial for the skin."
"Is that so?"
She didn't seem to fully grasp the weight of my words, so I rephrased it to make it crystal clear.
"It is a sacred relic of our Church. It can erase any wound—even permanent scars."
"...?!"
"You will not regret using it."
Inside the luxurious boxes I handed out were ornate glass vials containing premium Special-grade Holy Water. Of course, these weren't the "official retail" versions of the Special-grade Holy Water. They were miniature versions, created by dividing a single bottle into several smaller vials. The volume was small, but it was completely undiluted. The efficacy was virtually identical, though the duration was slightly shorter. In exchange, for that brief window, the user's physical recovery rate would skyrocket. They would become stronger, hardier, and experience senses sharper than anyone else.
In a... combative sense, that is.
And the reaction from the merchant tycoons came far faster than I had anticipated. That night, in the sleepless districts of the Elium Kingdom, went down in history as "The Night of the Tycoons."
A fleeting miracle. But once that miracle faded, what followed was a devastating sense of emptiness. Their bodies felt heavy and sluggish once more, and their senses dulled. The moment humans become acutely aware of a power they have lost, they develop an insatiable thirst for it.
Around sunrise, they returned. Luxurious carriages rattled to a halt as the anxious guild representatives rushed back. This time, they didn't bring any elves. They themselves were the living proof of the potion's efficacy. The guild masters swarmed the estate.
"Lord Doyunes... please, let us purchase more...!"
"Just a little more...! We will pay whatever price you ask!"
Standing hesitantly beside the men was Hwarin, the Guild Master of the West Wind Guild. The burn scars that had once covered half her face had visibly faded. The wounds she had thought were permanent were actually healing. She hesitated for a moment, then squeezed her eyes shut and cried out in a surprisingly endearing voice, "T-The West Wind Guild as well!"
I shook my head, gently but firmly.
"I am sorry, but what I gave you yesterday was merely a gift to celebrate the beginning of our relationship."
"..."
"If you desire more, you must request it through the official channels using Contribution Points."
With that, I took my leave. Now that they were properly motivated, they would move exactly how I wanted them to.
As Doyunes left the room, the guild masters stared after him, utterly dumbfounded. Just as despair was about to set in, a warm, gentle voice echoed from behind them.
"Are you all alright? Oh my! Look at all this dust."
It was Anna. An official priest of the Ifrit Church, she was the legendary figure who had recruited more followers than anyone else. Rumors were already circulating that she would soon be promoted to Senior Priest. A cozy, comforting aura, reminiscent of a holy maiden, enveloped her. Her smile was flawless and pure, instantly melting away the guild masters' wariness.
With a look of genuine pity and concern, she continued.
"Well... Ah, I really shouldn't be telling you this... but seeing how disheartened you all are, I will share this specially with you."
"What is it?!"
"Shh." She smiled softly, pressing a finger to her lips. "Please, keep your voices down. This is strictly confidential."
Taking a step closer, she glanced around the room before lowering her voice—though still loud enough for everyone present to hear.
"The truth is... our Ifrit Church is currently raising funds."
"...?!"
"But... we haven't quite met our target, so we are in a bit of a... difficult situation."
The moment the words left her mouth, a strange tension filled the parlor. Unspoken exclamation marks practically popped up over the heads of the merchant tycoons. Anna paused, waiting for the exact moment their breathing hitched before continuing.
"So... earning Contribution Points might not be entirely impossible to achieve in a short amount of time."
"?!"
"And... well. Especially for the one who shows the greatest devotion." She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, adding, "As someone who will soon become a Senior Priest, I could personally mention to the Prophet just how devoted that person was."
Her smile was angelic, her tone was warm, and her words sounded deeply pious.
"So... you must make sure to write my name down as your recommender when you donate. Understood?"