Ch.299Trial (1)

In this world, trials are usually entrusted to local leaders or religious orders. However, cases that reach religious orders are truly those without “answers,” so leaders typically handle most matters.

The current situation is no different. Since this is an unprecedented case where a princess was slapped, the judge is naturally the king.

There are no separate attorneys or prosecutors; instead, the audience serves as both, offering their various opinions.

In other words, I have no allies except for Rina. There might be people defending me to check the king’s power, but I shouldn’t trust them rashly.

It’s no wonder Rina advised me that keeping quiet would be the best strategy. If I open my mouth, they’ll pour insults on me by the bucketful.

Moreover, while the Teres royal family may have messy family affairs, they’re politically very stable.

Even though the Jeiros Revolution happened just a few decades ago, it was King Fredrick who quelled that chaos.

Even if there are forces opposing him, like Count Kamar, they’re not strong enough to become my allies. He would only use me to achieve his own goals.

So at first, I followed Rina’s advice and kept my mouth shut…

“How dare you slap the noble face of a princess?! He should be executed immediately!”

“That’s right! What was he thinking, when he hasn’t even inherited his title yet!!”

“Looking at him, I can see the quality of the Empire of Minerva!”

As soon as I took my seat, numerous nobles hurled verbal abuse at me. Though they refrained from outright cursing, it was enough to leave one dazed.

I hadn’t said a word yet, but they were already calling for my execution, saying things like “who do you think you are to slap Hyria’s cheek” and so on.

It feels like I’m hearing every insult I could possibly hear in my lifetime. Even if I want to let it go in one ear and out the other, they’re all sticking firmly in my mind.

‘It’s not like I committed murder.’

I almost let out a hollow laugh out of disbelief. The nobles currently hurling insults at me are mostly closely connected to the royal family or trying to establish connections through this opportunity.

I wonder if they know what atrocities Hyria committed. I’m curious to see their reactions after hearing about her misdeeds.

‘What about Sister Adel…’

I tried to ignore the stream of insults entering my ears and turned my head to the side. Adelia, attending as my personal maid, was standing behind me.

Since this situation is new to her as well, her sky-blue eyes are trembling slightly. Though she’s pretending to be calm on the outside, she’s even breaking into a cold sweat.

Finally, Rina, who is attending as my defense, is sitting next to me. She’s also frowning in displeasure at the barrage of verbal abuse.

“Enough!!”

A powerful shout silenced the already noisy courtroom(?). The echo-inducing command instantly quieted everyone down.

The source of that shout was the middle-aged man sitting opposite me. He was seated not in a chair at my eye level, but in one placed at a higher position.

His sky-blue eyes were gleaming fiercely, and his moderately grown sky-blue beard added to his dignified appearance.

King Fredrick of the Kingdom of Teres, the biological father of Hyria and Adelia.

He would be the judge in the trial about to take place, and was publicly known as a romantic and faithful man.

However, from my perspective, he was the worst father—one who not only failed to take responsibility for Adelia, his illegitimate daughter, but abandoned her and tried to pretend she didn’t exist.

Naturally, my first impression of him couldn’t be good, and I anticipated that the upcoming trial would be arduous.

After all, before being the king of Teres, Fredrick was Hyria’s father.

“State your name.”

Fredrick addressed me in a solemn voice. The fact that he didn’t call me a “criminal” suggests that he’s at least maintaining neutrality for now.

I stood up according to his command. As I rose, I didn’t forget to check a few key figures.

First, Hyria, whom I had slapped, was sitting to my side at some distance, and her older brother, Crown Prince Laos, was sitting with her.

Lara wasn’t present, suggesting they didn’t feel the need to show her. Or perhaps they were raising her with excessive indulgence and didn’t want to expose her to this dark side.

‘If only you had thought of Adelia that way.’

If he had given even a little thought to Adelia, this situation wouldn’t have happened. Though, if that were the case, I probably wouldn’t have met her either.

I stood up proudly while grumbling inwardly and looked around. The audience’s gazes were uniformly piercing, as if they had all been hand-picked.

Eventually, I faced King Fredrick directly while enduring their stares. His fierce blue eyes gave me the feeling of being frozen solid.

“Your Majesty of the illustrious Kingdom of Teres…”

“No need for flattery. Just state your name.”

Well, that’s helpful. I didn’t want to do it either.

I bowed my head in appreciation of Fredrick’s consideration and stated my name.

“My name is Issac Dukar Mayshall, the heir of the Mayshall baronial family of the Empire of Minerva.”

“Issac Dukar Mayshall… I see. Your red hair is quite striking.”

I hear that often. Normally, I would have added such a comment, but remembering Rina’s advice, I refrained from elaborating.

Following Fredrick’s order to sit down, I had just placed my backside on the chair when he addressed me in his characteristically solemn voice.

“You must know why you are here, in the royal palace of Teres.”

“Yes.”

“Then let me ask you. Was it truly you who struck the cheek of my beloved ‘second’ daughter, Princess Hyria of Teres?”

As expected. Despite Adelia’s presence, he deliberately emphasized “second,” indicating that he’s treating her as if she doesn’t exist.

In the past, she might have fled due to trauma, but now Adelia was steadfastly standing behind me.

I couldn’t betray her feelings. I pretended to hesitate slightly before answering his question.

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Your Majesty, there’s no need to hear more!”

“The criminal has admitted his guilt, what more do we need?”

As soon as I admitted my guilt, the hyenas pounced eagerly.

I wanted to remember each face, but their appearances were too diverse to recall in detail.

Still, I could identify a few who had been raising their voices from the beginning. Especially that man with the mustache—I must remember him.

“Order! Order! We haven’t heard the full story yet!”

One of the audience members intervened with a deep voice. A man with dark blue hair rather than pitch-black like demons.

That must be Count Kamar. The center of the forces currently opposing King Fredrick.

Just as he will use me, I must also use him in this situation.

“It seems there are complex circumstances involved. Wouldn’t it be better to hear them out?”

“Count Kamar. Do you think the princess is at fault?”

“That depends on what we hear. Logically, unless there’s a mental issue, no one would slap someone’s face without reason, would they?”

Thanks to Count Kamar, the courtroom that was about to erupt into chaos quieted down again. However, the nobles’ sharp gazes toward me remained.

If I were a noble of the Kingdom of Teres, it might be different, but unfortunately, I’m a citizen of the Empire of Minerva, which explains their aggressive attitude.

Even if there are internal enemies, nothing unites people more than an external threat, especially one that could pose a real danger.

Fortunately, Count Kamar is intervening with common sense; otherwise, I might have been dragged away without a chance to defend myself.

“Count Kamar has a point. So let me ask you. Why did you slap my daughter?”

King Fredrick calmly posed the question. He surely knows the circumstances, but he’s asking because the other nobles don’t.

Before answering, I shifted my gaze toward where Hyria was sitting. By coincidence, whether good or bad, Hyria was also looking at me.

She quickly averted her eyes when our faces met, but I could see the dark circles under her eyes that makeup couldn’t fully conceal.

Her previously arrogant attitude had completely disappeared, replaced by trembling fear.

I’m not sure how her attitude will affect this trial, but for now, I need to focus on explaining the circumstances.

“I’ll explain that on his behalf. The truth is…”

But now is the time for Rina to step in. It would be better for her to speak directly than for me, as it would not only add credibility but also carry more weight, and furthermore, other nobles wouldn’t be able to treat her disrespectfully.

If someone were to shout at her words? That would only give us justification, and even Fredrick would have to remain silent.

Rina’s presence itself signifies that she’s here to represent the Empire of Minerva’s position.

Moreover, her very existence indicates that this isn’t simply about cutting off a tail.

“…What? Is that statement true?”

“Princess Hyria tried to take a man who has a fiancée…?”

“For what reason?”

As soon as Rina finished her defense, the courtroom filled not with uproar but with murmurs. The nobles’ faces showed confusion and bewilderment.

That’s understandable, as Hyria’s attempt to steal a man who already had a fiancée was clearly wrong by anyone’s standards. They must have realized that Hyria was the one who provided the initial cause.

Of course, slapping her face is still unacceptable. However, it’s important to note that this world is like the medieval era.

It’s a world where “honor” is valued above all else, and even a small rumor can significantly damage one’s reputation.

What if the subject is not just an ordinary noble but a princess? Typically, such rumors spread among nobles, but if they were to reach the common people, they could grow uncontrollably.

Well, with some distortion, Hyria could be portrayed as a pitiful woman. I doubt Fredrick would do such a thing.

“Hmm… Hyria.”

“…Yes.”

“Is Princess Rina’s statement true?”

After hearing Rina’s defense, Fredrick questioned Hyria. Hyria, who had been hanging her head in fear, quickly looked up at his words.

After raising her head, she glanced at me once, but as soon as our eyes met, she immediately lowered her gaze.

Then, beating her chest and taking deep breaths, she answered in a trembling but audible voice.

“…Yes. That’s correct.”

As soon as Hyria admitted it, the courtroom began to stir again. The moment she acknowledged it, the atmosphere would tilt in my favor…

“Father. May I say something?”

Then Laos, sitting next to Hyria, raised his hand slightly and requested to speak.

With that single request, the stirring in the courtroom instantly diminished, and all eyes focused on him.

Rina and I also turned our heads toward him. With his dignified appearance resembling Fredrick and his upturned corners of the mouth.

On the surface, he projected the image of a handsome young man like Leort, but his smile seemed slightly uneasy.

“Speak.”

“Thank you. As we heard from Princess Rina, Hyria showed deep interest in the Mayshall heir and even courted him. However, I think it’s excessive to slap a woman’s face for that. Do you all think this is right? Don’t you think Mayshall’s response was too extreme?”

This bastard? I opened my eyes wide in astonishment at Laos’s explanation.

The image of my common sense waving goodbye and running away played vividly in my mind. From my perspective, Laos’s sophistry made no sense at all.

Who was the one who first insulted Adelia? He’s telling the story while conveniently omitting the most important part, which is incredibly frustrating.

“Wait a moment. At that point…”

Just as I urgently tried to open my mouth, Rina grabbed my wrist under the table and stopped me.

I looked at her with an expression that asked what she was doing, and she stared back at me with a rigid face.

Then, after looking around, she whispered so that only I could hear.

“I know what you’re trying to say. But try not to bring up Lady Cross if possible.”

“Why?”

“Because the Teres royal family will inevitably treat Lady Cross as if she ‘doesn’t exist.’ That’s probably why they gathered an audience instead of resolving this privately.”

After hearing Rina’s explanation, I understand. Even if I reveal Adelia’s origins now, those people won’t believe it.

Moreover, King Fredrick is known as a faithful man who doesn’t even keep concubines and only looks at one woman.

For a king of a country, the importance of producing heirs is well-known, making this quite exceptional.

So if I reveal here that Adelia is Fredrick’s hidden daughter? That would mean my head could roll for insulting the king, and I’d have no grounds to complain.

‘These bastards?’

That’s why I’m even more furious. They’re not only pushing a person into the abyss but trying to erase her very existence.

“It was indeed excessive. No matter what, slapping her face…”

“To strike a lady’s face, his character must not be good.”

“He must have been that kind of person all along.”

Due to Laos’s political maneuvering, the perception began to shift toward me being trash from the beginning.

While there’s some protection around Hyria, Laos’s words seemed flawless at first glance.

“Ahem. Ahem. Everyone, please listen to me…”

“Rina.”

“Let me… Huh?”

I stopped Rina just before she could defend me. She looked at me with wide eyes.

I gave her a smile of uncertain meaning and shrugged, and she closed her mouth firmly. She must have guessed what decision I had made.

As she stepped back slightly, I slowly rose from my seat. As I stood up, countless gazes poured toward me.

Under all those stares, I slowly surveyed the audience, including King Fredrick, and then turned to Laos.

Laos maintained a relaxed attitude, even crossing his arms, as if saying “go ahead and speak if you dare.”

In contrast, Hyria, afraid of something, kept alternating her gaze between me and Laos, with her previous arrogant attitude completely gone.

“… …”

Finally, looking at Adelia, she only gave me an apologetic smile, and her nod suggested that she respected my decision.

‘Is this the crossroads?’

Should I remain as the trash who slapped a cheek due to momentary anger, or should I handle the aftermath myself?

It coincides perfectly with the timing Mora mentioned. It hasn’t even been a month since I slapped Hyria’s cheek.

But now it’s been a month. I took a deep breath and looked straight at King Fredrick.

“King Fredrick, and to others and the gods, I swear. What I’m about to say will contain not a shred of falsehood, and I will speak only the truth.”

“There’s no need to go as far as Luminus. We’ll resolve this before that.”

Fredrick retorted in a blunt tone. Those words probably mean I could vanish like dew on the execution ground even before I reveal the truth.

That’s what I want. If I disappear like dew on the execution ground, the Kingdom of Teres will immediately step onto the path of destruction.

I smiled inwardly and began to reveal the “core” that Laos had omitted, one by one.

“It’s true that I slapped Princess Hyria’s cheek. However, she not only insulted my knight but also hurled unbearable insults at her mother, calling her a prostitute.”

“What?”

“Is that true?”

“Why?”

The audience fell into confusion at this additional testimony. However, Fredrick and Laos maintained their composure.

As Rina said, they seem intent on treating Adelia as if she doesn’t exist.

“You probably don’t understand. Why Princess Hyria and my knight, Lady Cross, had a conflict that led to such insults. But if you knew who my knight is, the story would be different.”

“Oh? That’s an interesting story. Can you tell us who that woman is?”

Laos provoked me with a sarcastic tone. I gave him a fierce glare before facing Fredrick again.

He extended his hand as if urging me to speak, with an expression suggesting he had already guessed what I was about to say.

In response, I initially reacted as they wanted.

“My knight, Adelia Cross, is the child of King Fredrick Ducard von Curtures of the Kingdom of Teres, and…”

Then, shifting my gaze to where Laos and Hyria were sitting, I completed my statement.

“She is the half-sibling of Crown Prince Laos, Princess Hyria, and finally Princess Lara.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a deathly silence fell over the courtroom. This is actually the expected reaction.

After all, Fredrick is known as a faithful man, and as if to prove it, he has four children.

But suddenly, without any warning, an illegitimate child appears?

“Hahahahaha!! I was wondering what he was going to say!!”

“Say something that makes sense! What nonsense is this?”

“Now I see he’s not violent, just mentally disturbed!”

Of course, they wouldn’t believe it. Even if they weren’t part of the Teres royal family, it would be hard to believe.

I ignored the laughter filling the courtroom and stared directly at Fredrick. He was raising one corner of his mouth, showing confidence that he had won.

If I were to be dragged away as an example with the charge of insulting the king, it would be my defeat. But I have an ace up my sleeve.

“Silence!!”

At Fredrick’s command, the room that had been filled with laughter immediately quieted down. However, I could still hear occasional chuckles.

Eventually, Fredrick rested his chin on his hand, displaying a dignified posture, and after alternately looking at me and Adelia, he spoke quietly.

“So. That knight is my child?”

“Yes.”

“I’m seeing that woman for the first time? Do you have any evidence that she is my child? Resemblance in appearance won’t be enough.”

Fredrick had preemptively blocked even the only evidence, the sky-blue eyes. I could only sigh at his brazenness.

But I had to endure. Revealing everything now would be somewhat abrupt, and even if I were to make a sudden move, this wouldn’t be the right timing.

I needed to build up gradually and be patient until Fredrick and Laos created a suitable pretext.

“Do you really intend to deny it?”

“I do.”

“I understand. Then may I ask what you think about the part where she insulted my knight?”

“Hmm…”

Fredrick stroked his well-groomed beard and pondered. While Adelia’s origins might be dismissed, Hyria’s insult, especially the family insult, is an issue that can’t be overlooked.

Throughout history, family insults are unforgivable verbal violence. Unless they’re mortal enemies, such insults often escalate to murder.

In that sense, Hyria’s family insult is at a level where getting slapped is justified. However, a problem arises here.

“I should hear Hyria’s side on this. Hyria.”

“Yes, yes, Father.”

Hyria, who had been sitting hunched like a mouse, slowly raised her head.

As she raised it, she glanced at me, but as soon as our eyes met, she immediately lowered her gaze. Why is she acting like this?

Anyway, she rose slightly from her seat and faced Fredrick. Her face, though covered with makeup, showed signs of haggardness over the past few days.

“Oh my… what happened to the princess…”

“She was rejected and even slapped…”

“It’s so unfortunate.”

Her appearance seemed like that of a tragic heroine from a drama, as the nobles, especially the ladies, showed sympathetic reactions.

And they’re giving me malicious glances as a bonus. I’m already numb to such gazes.

But to call it rejection? I can’t help but laugh at such nonsensical talk.

“Is what he says true? That you insulted his knight?”

“That, that’s…”

Hyria keeps glancing at me nervously as she tries to speak. She’s probably concerned about the fact that I revealed myself as Xenon when I slapped her cheek.

I wonder whether she will follow the script prepared by the Teres royal family or show unexpected behavior.

I, and everyone else, waited for her answer. After a few seconds passed, she seemed to gather her courage and opened her mouth.

“I, I didn’t insult her. There was just an argument…”

“An argument? What kind of argument?”

“I just said let’s get along well, that the person she serves might change…”

“Wow…”

I can only express admiration. She’s still clueless, but she’s transforming herself into a woman blinded by love.

Moreover, she’s directly denying Adelia’s existence, and since the audience believes her, it’s enough to incite them.

“Princess Hyria. Do you swear to Luminus that this is true?”

Rina, also astonished, pressed Hyria with a somewhat agitated tone. Hyria flinched at the pressure, either as an act or because she genuinely felt guilty.

Then, Rina looked at Adelia, who was standing behind, and asked in an elegant yet forceful voice.

“Lady Cross. Is Princess Hyria’s statement true? Please speak only the truth without feeling pressured.”

“… …”

At Rina’s urging, Adelia looked at me with a slightly stiff face. I nodded in response to her expression filled with concern.

After all, she has nothing to fear. Having been denied her existence once again, she should feel not regret but anger boiling up.

“Absolutely not. Princess Hyria said to me: ‘How is a woman with no roots standing by his side?’ She called my mother a prostitute and said I had no right to be by his side.”

“She said such harsh things?”

“It doesn’t seem like she’s lying…”

“Nonsense! That must be another fabricated story!”

The reaction suggests that the Teres royal family has built quite a good image, as they don’t readily believe Adelia’s testimony.

If they were to believe Adelia’s birth here, I would understand, but they won’t. This is also thanks to the image King Fredrick has built.

Even though we swore to God, oaths are only effective in sanctuaries or temples, not in trials like this.

It’s just like the oath that defendants or witnesses make to judges in any trial.

“Silence! We need to hear what this knight has to say. Let me ask the questions this time.”

Once again, someone calmed the noisy courtroom—Count Kamar, whom I had been observing.

Count Kamar must have significant influence among the nobles, as his single word instantly silenced the audience.

Then, after exhaling a long breath through his nose, he asked Adelia in a solemn voice.

“Adelia Cross, was it? Let me ask you. Are you certain that there is not a single lie in what you just said?”

“I swear to Luminus, I am certain.”

“Hmm… Were there any minor conflicts before that?”

Unfortunately, Count Kamar also doesn’t seem to believe Adelia’s birth. Still, it’s understandable; believing hastily could lead to severe backlash.

Adelia glanced at Hyria at the question about minor conflicts. Then, after exhaling a troubled breath, she answered in a complex voice.

“…We had a duel before. And I won.”

“How did you win?”

“I believe that not giving my all would be the real insult to royalty.”

Her testimony contained various implications. She subtly belittled Hyria’s skills while portraying her as narrow-minded.

It was the best answer Adelia could give under the circumstances, and excluding her birth, it added some plausibility.

“Such arrogance… She must have used some trick!”

“How embarrassed Princess Hyria must have been. She surely wanted to show her best in front of the man she liked.”

“And for just that, she claims insult? This doesn’t sound like the Princess Hyria we know.”

“Is there something more to this?”

Blood is thicker than water, and crabs stick together; the audience didn’t readily believe Adelia’s reasonable words. Instead, they were busy belittling her or comforting Hyria.

Rina was also vigorously defending, but due to the absence of one crucial “evidence,” it was like treading water. Indeed, it would be risky for Rina to directly mention Adelia’s birth.

This was like an implicit rule formed between royal families. Moreover, worsening relations between the two countries wouldn’t benefit anyone.

“But if that knight is truly King Fredrick’s child…”

“That’s nonsense, though it would make sense. Do you not know how much the two love each other?”

“True, he’s been so restrained since Princess Lara.”

“But if that’s not the case, there’s no reason for all of this…”

Fortunately, the bait I had previously dropped started to grow. The audience also seemed to suspect that the entire incident was deeply connected to Adelia’s birth.

But the Teres royal family wouldn’t just watch. As suspicions about the relationship between him and Adelia began to circulate, Fredrick shouted angrily.

“Silence! I can’t listen anymore! How dare you slander me and the queen!”

At that outburst, the stirring courtroom instantly fell into silence. Insulting the king is a serious crime that can lead to execution.

In that sense, Fredrick has gained another card to pressure me. He glared at me with fierce eyes and spoke in a cold voice.

“Your loose tongue is tarnishing my honor. While there might be a reason for slapping Hyria’s cheek, I cannot tolerate the slander that that knight is my bloodline.”

“… …”

“I’d like to hear on what basis you uttered such words. This might be the last thing you can say.”

Is he asking me to choose between losing my head or my tongue? It might seem like he’s using his royal authority, but the reality is different.

If this continues, the situation could become unfavorable for him, so he’s preemptively blocking it. Once rumors and suspicions bloom, they can grow uncontrollably.

After Fredrick’s words, most gazes were directed at me. I looked around the audience once. Curiosity, concern, anger, reproach, and more.

A variety of expressions were focused on me. I stood up and spoke in a voice that was small but audible to everyone.

“King Fredrick. I want to clarify that I have no intention of slandering you.”

“You spout such nonsense and then say you have no intention of slander? What a joke.”

Laos, not Fredrick, sneered. Not just him, but Fredrick also nodded in agreement.

The sight of them trying to erase not just one person’s identity but their very existence. Adelia doesn’t deserve such treatment.

She not only has exceptional physical prowess but also outstanding talent, and despite not taking good care of herself, she possesses remarkable beauty.

She’s a woman worthy of being loved by other men, not just me, and she’s my family.

I took a deep breath in and out, then faced King Fredrick directly and slowly opened my mouth.

“…King Fredrick. I repeat, I have no intention of slandering you. I’m only speaking the truth.”

“There’s no need to listen further. Guards, take this vicious man…”

“What if.”

I cut off Fredrick before he could finish, with a voice filled with strength.

Then, with sharp eyes, I spoke in a voice that seemed to be suppressing anger.

“What if the same story appears in the Biography of Xenon?”

“What?”

“If a similar story appears in the upcoming Biography of Xenon, will you still deny it?”

Fredrick looked at me with an expression half surprised, half bewildered. The same was true for others.

They’re probably bewildered by the sudden mention of the Biography of Xenon. But the Biography of Xenon is currently treated as a book of prophecy or scripture.

It’s especially known for showing situations that could become the “future.” In other words, I’m asking if he would still deny it even if a similar situation appears in the Biography of Xenon.

Coincidentally, I’ve written that content in volume 22 of the Biography of Xenon. There’s no bluffing to deceive the opponent.

“Even if someone in the Biography of Xenon is born as an illegitimate child of a royal family, endures harsh abuse and humiliation, steadfastly endures it, and finally meets a beloved companion only to have that companion taken away—would you really ignore such a tragic story?”

“Ha! How would you know that?”

“Who are you to dare speak as if you’re Xenon!”

“Do you not fear God! This man should be punished for blasphemy immediately!”

The expected reactions erupted one after another. Currently, the name Xenon is being deified by many people, including demons.

The nobles of the Kingdom of Teres are no different. With their pride as a cultural powerhouse, Xenon is an entity that must not be lost, and furthermore, must not be touched.

They’re naturally angry because I’m casually mentioning and using such an entity. They might think I’m crazy, or that I don’t know my place.

“Can you take responsibility for those words? Through them, not just you but your family, and even the empire, will be shaken.”

Fredrick also thought my statement was foolish, as he snorted and laughed heartily. From his perspective, it must look like I’m walking into a fiery hell of my own accord.

I took my eyes off him and looked at Rina and Adelia. Rina shrugged as if saying do as you please, and Adelia wore a sad smile.

“I’ve seen countless fools who risk their lives to protect a mere woman. You’re truly foolish to walk the path of destruction yourself.”

“Mere? Did you say ‘mere’? Lady Cross is like family to me. Unlike some, I can keep her by my side regardless of status because I trust her that much.”

“Say no more. If Xenon saw this situation directly, he would shout in anger. Do you truly not fear God? The world is far wider and crueler than you think.”

Fredrick offered sincere advice as a king and as an adult. It’s half mockery, but he might be saying such things out of pity.

“What is there to fear?”

But contrary to his expectations, I’m not afraid at all.

“Who would dare judge me?”

There is no “person” who can judge me.

“I haven’t told a single lie, so even God cannot punish me.”

The “gods” are giving me full support and sincerely cheering for my future.

“You probably won’t believe me even after hearing my words. No, you might even think I’m crazy.”

While easily withstanding the numerous gazes directed at me, I approach Laos with the draft I had prepared in advance.

“But at this moment, it’s not me but all of you who are wrong.”

Eventually, placing the draft on the desk where Laos and Hyria are sitting.

“I haven’t told a single lie.”

I declare proudly.

“As proof.”

No more.

“I will show you that I am Xenon.”

There’s no reason to hide it.