Ch.208[Chapter 208] Truth and Lies

“This is absurd! That evidence is fabricated!”

“Hmph. Unless you bring evidence that the evidence was fabricated, your words are merely empty.”

“T-that’s!”

The witnesses and evidence presented just now clearly showed signs of fabrication.

The evidence was so poorly fabricated that everyone except Senator Muscleman could tell it was fake, yet no one dared to raise an objection.

Senator Muscleman slammed his fist on the defense table in frustration.

This trial was a fraud in itself, a rigged gambling game.

No one held any goodwill toward Sir Dominic.

Someone must have bribed them all.

Though Senator Muscleman thought this, he still did his best to defend Sir Dominic.

“Your Honor! Please allow us to check the system logs! So that Sir Dominic can testify to his own innocence—”

“Wait! Sir Dominic is currently charged with murder, property damage, as well as cheating and data manipulation! The system logs you mention could very well have been manipulated too!”

“Kuh!”

Senator Muscleman’s words were cut off by Prosecutor Daruma’s counterattack.

“So that’s why they added cheating and data manipulation charges?” Senator Muscleman muttered.

“But Sir Dominic is ignorant about data! There’s no way he could cheat or manipulate—”

“In the past, Sir Dominic has experience catching bugs. Right next to a coder! He could have easily learned by watching!”

“Enough. Silence!”

As the trial began to heat up, the judge banged his gavel to focus attention.

Then, perhaps deeming further debate meaningless, he prepared to deliver his ruling.

“The witnesses’ testimonies are consistent, and all evidence clearly points to Sir Dominic’s guilt.”

“However, Sir Dominic’s statements also show consistency, and I feel further investigation is needed.”

“Therefore, I’m suspending this trial. One week. We will resume the trial in one week. In the meantime, to prevent any possibility of Sir Dominic fleeing, he will temporarily reside in the underground prison (Dungeon).”

“Of course, if Sir Dominic is found innocent, he will be compensated for his week in the dungeon. However, if found guilty…”

The judge looked down at Sir Dominic with a solemn expression.

“Be aware that it will become your permanent residence.”

Sir Dominic looked straight into the judge’s eyes.

His eye showed no anxiety or guilt whatsoever.

Looking at Sir Dominic, the judge thought:

A person with eyes like that is one of two things: innocent or a psychopath.

The judge turned away from Sir Dominic’s gaze.

Then he banged his gavel three times.

“That is all. Further arguments will be heard in one week. Dismissed!”

At the judge’s words, Prosecutor Daruma smiled while Senator Muscleman gritted his teeth.

It was clear which side had the advantage during this one-week period.

…

“I’m sorry.”

Senator Muscleman bowed his head to Sir Dominic.

“I never expected them to so blatantly fabricate evidence. And…”

Senator Muscleman raised his head and glared at Prosecutor Daruma’s side as they passed by triumphantly.

“I never thought they would have recruited the jury.”

Senator Muscleman growled.

Seeing this, Prosecutor Daruma gave a vile smirk before disappearing.

Senator Muscleman repeatedly bowed to Sir Dominic with a gloomy expression, apologizing.

However, Sir Dominic couldn’t understand Senator Muscleman’s behavior.

“The verdict isn’t final yet, it’s just suspended.”

Sir Dominic asked Senator Muscleman with confusion.

“Won’t a week be enough time to prepare?”

“Of course. With a week, I could certainly prove your innocence.”

Senator Muscleman agreed with Sir Dominic’s words.

However, his expression remained grim.

“But what concerns me is that you’ll be confined to the dungeon for a week.”

“Dungeon.”

Sir Dominic echoed Senator Muscleman’s words.

“What exactly is this dungeon?”

“It’s an underground prison. Usually, it’s where the most vicious criminals in Gacharland are imprisoned, but…”

Senator Muscleman’s voice trailed off.

The hands of Senator Muscleman, one of the top-ranked tanks, were trembling.

“It’s filled with all kinds of monsters and traps. It’s so brutal that there’s even a law stating that if you survive in the dungeon for a year, you’re automatically considered a 5-tier.”

But so far, only three people have become 5-tier that way, Senator Muscleman added.

“You have to survive there for a week, Sir Dominic. This is absurd. No matter what heinous crime you’re suspected of, this is an unreasonable measure.”

“I see.”

Unlike Senator Muscleman who was filled with anger, Sir Dominic remained rather calm.

In truth, Sir Dominic was somewhat accustomed to such situations.

Being of serf origin, noble knights looking down on him and framing him was as natural as breathing.

“God knows my innocence.”

Sir Dominic suddenly said.

“Is there perhaps another ‘trial’?”

Sir Dominic spoke as if following a stream of consciousness.

“…That’s right. You were a knight. I haven’t handled law books in quite some time so I can’t be certain, but… yes, there is.”

But Sir Dominic’s words weren’t from his unconscious; they were the result of firm deliberation.

Senator Muscleman recognized the implied meaning in Sir Dominic’s words and answered.

“If it’s a ‘Trial by Combat,’ it could certainly prove your innocence. The problem is if they choose a champion…”

“There’s no need to think about that now.”

Sir Dominic interrupted Senator Muscleman.

Senator Muscleman looked into Sir Dominic’s eyes.

His single eye burned with determination, but also contained a certain calm resignation.

“…One week. Yes. I had forgotten that fact.”

Senator Muscleman realized the thought behind that gaze.

Sir Dominic nodded as if confirming his words.

“Just tell me about the dungeon now. I need to survive there for the next week.”

“Very well. If you can’t survive for a week, there won’t be a not-guilty verdict.”

Senator Muscleman affirmed Sir Dominic’s words.

“I’ll tell you everything I know. First—”

Sir Dominic listened attentively to Senator Muscleman’s words.

Every single detail would be helpful to him.

…

Shortly after.

Sir Dominic followed the court guards toward the underground prison.

After descending a spiraling staircase for quite some time, Sir Dominic noticed old, rusty iron bars ahead.

“This is the entrance to the dungeon.”

One of the court guards took out a key to open the iron gate and spoke to Sir Dominic.

“Return here in a week. If you get lost, the system window will guide you back to this place.”

Sir Dominic followed the court guard’s lead and entered through the iron bars.

The dark space smelled of damp, disgusting, rotten mud.

It was a space that clearly showed a complete disregard for human rights.

“…Just to inform you, once you step in here, even if you die, you’ll respawn here, so please don’t do anything futile.”

The court guard corrected himself, saying “I hope you abandon futile hope,” then closed and locked the door.

Sir Dominic secretly tried to shake the old, rusty iron bars when the court guard wasn’t looking.

But the bars didn’t budge at all.

Sturdier than they look. Well, that’s what makes it a prison, Sir Dominic thought.

“…By the way, what about meals?”

Sir Dominic voiced a question that suddenly occurred to him.

“Well, you can buy them whenever you want.”

“Buy?”

Sir Dominic questioned the court guard’s words.

But the court guard spoke as if it were obvious.

“The dungeon has its own rules. You collect points that are valid here and exchange them.”

The court guard pointed behind Sir Dominic.

“You can earn points by catching things like that.”

Sir Dominic turned his head to look behind him.

His single eye widened.

Where Sir Dominic was looking, in the darkness, eight red eyes were glowing.

Each red eye was about the size of Sir Dominic’s head.

“Good luck to you.”

The court guard left Sir Dominic behind and climbed back up the stairs.

Now Sir Dominic was left alone in this dungeon.

No, not alone.

At least there was the creature with eight red eyes right in front of him.

In this dungeon, there was no telling how many more unknown creatures awaited Sir Dominic.

…

“Hahaha! This is a masterpiece!”

In the secret base at Mountain Bridge Marsh.

The Archer laughed heartily while looking into the crystal ball.

“I never thought such a clumsy scheme would succeed!”

The Archer hiccupped from laughing too hard and wiped away tears.

The one who came up with this flimsy plan hadn’t expected it to work, but it really did.

“At this rate, we won’t need the next plan, right?”

“Not a chance.”

The Swordsman objected to the Archer’s words.

“We’re dealing with Sir Dominic. The Sir Dominic. The one who has defeated us multiple times.”

“…That’s true.”

The Archer’s expression changed at the Swordsman’s words.

“But still.”

Yet the Archer’s expression remained playful.

“Even Sir Dominic won’t be able to handle the Mage’s plan, right?”

The Archer looked at Sir Dominic reflected in the crystal ball.

Sir Dominic was facing off against a giant spider with eight eyes.

“We know what happens when the master of summoning is given a week, don’t we?”

The Archer looked at the Swordsman again with a snicker.

The Swordsman silently stared at the crystal ball.

In the darkness of the crystal ball, numerous eyes began to appear.