It’s Not My Fault, So I Have No Reason to Suffer (4)

It was an entirely white building.

The interior was very high but not divided into floors, and three judgment seats were arranged at the front of the first floor.

In the middle, tables were arranged so that the scribes could sit facing each other,

And in front of that, audience seats were densely arranged.

The courtroom was very quiet.

The courtroom, where silence prevailed to the point that even small sounds could be heard clearly, was packed with people,

Because it was the day of a heresy trial being held for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Because it was a place where shameful acts to the Celestial God occurred, trials were always held at night.

Even now, in the deep night, with the moon high in the sky, the trial was being held.

And the criminal is—

An adventurer from Evian, Alec.

An adventurer with no surname, only a name, Alec.

However, his true identity was Johannes Spillbane.

He was the youngest cathedral knight in history,

And also the strongest cathedral knight in history.

But now his charge was apostasy.

Also, concealing an apostate.

Only a few people knew his identity, including the Pope and some elders— those who had placed the interdiction on him,

And most of those who knew him wouldn’t recognize him due to being under a perception inhibition mantra.

The ornately patterned wooden door behind the judgment seats opened silently.

Because it was a courtroom watched over by the Celestial God, a small door, though ornate, opened and three figures appeared through the gap.

The 1st Judge, Pope Arczel IV.

The 2nd Judge, Elder Ceres Alkamain.

The 3rd Judge, Chief Inquisitor Abigail.

Wearing black robes and black hoods covering their heads, they slowly ascended to the judgment seats in order of rank,

And from Arczel IV in order, they took their seats at the judgment seats.

“I express my deep regret that this courtroom, watched over by the Celestial God, has to be convened again.”

Arczel IV’s weighty voice echoed.

The gazes of those attending the courtroom, enveloped in deep silence, all turned towards the Pope.

“As you all know, just two days ago, a tragic incident occurred in this church territory.”

The apostate incident that occurred at the banquet welcoming the return of the Hero and the Saint.

That incident, where the banquet hall collapsed and many were injured, had put the entire church territory in a state of extreme tension.

“And today in this courtroom, a trial will be held for an accomplice of the apostate who led that incident. And before that, I wish to offer repentance and apology to the Celestial God for everything that occurs in this courtroom.”

With Arczel IV’s words, the curtain concealing the right side of the judgment seats was slowly drawn.

A choir composed of children around ten years old.

The girls wore pure white dresses,

The boys wore pure white shirts with black shorts.

The children, dressed like this, were waiting for the accompaniment with tense faces.

“To apologize to the Celestial God, as these foolish creations have shown such lacking appearance to the Celestial God due to our insufficient faith, may the choir sing their faith towards the Celestial God with their beautiful voices.”

With Arczel IV’s words, the melody of an organ flowed.

Along with that soft and calm melody, Rubina, standing at the very front of the choir, also began to sing slowly to the accompaniment with a tense face.

The hymn was not very long.

After singing three songs in succession according to custom, the sound of the choir hurriedly retreating was heard as soon as the curtain was drawn back.

“Then, let us now begin the trial.”

Arczel IV closed his mouth.

Then, the 2nd Judge, Ceres, opened her mouth with an expressionless face.

“Bring in the criminal.”

The rusty iron door at the front of the judgment seats opened with a creaking sound.

The one who appeared from beyond that door was a cathedral knight in silver armor and helmet— Scarlet.

Scarlet was grasping an iron chain in her hand, which was taut as if pulling something, not dragging on the floor.

As Scarlet approached inside the courtroom, the chain became even tauter.

At the end of that chain—

Alec was being dragged, with both hands bound by the iron chain.

Although blood wasn’t flowing from his thigh where the stake had been driven, it was clearly not in a state that anyone could walk on, and his blood-covered face had no uninjured spot. His bald head was full of wounds with no trace of its usual shine, and there were clear signs of scratches and abrasions all over his body from being dragged here from the interrogation room.

And watching this scene, Bigrind, sitting in the front row of the audience seats, unconsciously took a sharp breath.

Rudvik too was at a loss for words at Alec’s terrible appearance.

“I have escorted the criminal.”

Scarlet, who had come to the center of the courtroom, pulled the chain hard.

Alec, who had been rolling on the floor, made an “ugh” sound as he was forcefully dragged and practically thrown into the criminal’s seat in the courtroom, and Scarlet, still grasping the chain, sat down on the chair behind the criminal’s seat with a cold face.

“Criminal, Alec.”

Alec, who had his eyes closed, raised his head with difficulty.

He could barely see in front of him with his swollen eyes, but even so, he could tell that this was the courtroom.

‘…To think that I would stand here one day in my life.’

He inwardly smiles bitterly.

How much more twisted could Alec’s life get, that he— who was once Johannes Spillbane, a promising cathedral knight— would now stand in a heresy trial.

“Do you admit to the charges of betraying the Celestial God, apostatizing from this Celestine Church to follow a demon, and attempting to protect that demon follower?”

A voice from an unknown source was heard.

With barely visible sight and hearing that could barely understand words.

Even in this situation, Alec smiled faintly.

It was clearly a sneer.

“Whether I… admit it or not… does it matter?”

“So you admit it. The crime of protecting and even helping escape the apostate, Yona, knowing that she had turned to a demon. It is truly heavy.”

“Your Holiness the Pope. The situation is already beyond the need for interrogation. Everyone at the banquet hall witnessed that the apostate named Yona harbored a demon, and clearly saw this lowly adventurer help her escape.”

Arczel IV silently looked around the courtroom.

Everyone’s expressions were pointing to a single fact.

Proper faith for one who has betrayed the Celestial God.

Death so that they may keep the proper faith.

To prove their faith through death.

To be able to die honorably for proof.

Everything was pointing towards the death of Alec— Johannes Spillbane.

“…Even confession, seems unnecessary.”

It truly was so.

Death that everything points to.

The only thing needed now was the judge’s gavel to determine that death.

Arczel IV slowly picked up the judge’s gavel.

Now here, after pronouncing the death sentence and striking the gavel three times, everything will be over.

The cathedral knight who was once named Johannes Spillbane will meet his death under the name Alec, having disappeared from everyone’s memories like this.

Ceres’s gaze turned towards the ceiling.

But that gaze was so quick that even Arczel IV, sitting right next to her, didn’t notice.

“…Wait, wait. I have… something to… say…”

A thin voice.

A voice that wouldn’t have been heard at any other time.

At that voice coming from Alec, Arczel IV hesitated and stopped the gavel.

“Are you going to confess?”

“…It’s not… a confession… but.”

Alec crawled up to the chair of the criminal’s seat with his elbows.

At least at a time like this, he didn’t want to crawl miserably on the floor.

Alec barely managed to sit on the chair by supporting himself on it.

“Apostate, apostate… whatever. It’s all… fine… I’ll, I’ll— accept it all—”

“But… one thing, just one thing…”

“Yona… is…”

Arczel IV’s eyebrows twitched.

He didn’t expect to hear that name again at this point.

“Yona—”

A very small sound of swallowing with dry lips and a dry throat.

“Never… committed apostasy… she is… innocent… This alone, is the… truth…”

And at that moment, the ceiling collapsed.

Rocks flew through the air, and a thick cloud of dust rose.

With dust rising as if to completely obscure the view, the packed courtroom became a scene of chaos.

The screams of people filled the courtroom with its ceiling blown open, becoming like an orchestra.

“Saint—!”

Rudvik had already sensed the suspicious energy rapidly growing.

Similarly, Bigrind, who had felt the same energy, turned to look at him, and at the same time, Rudvik had somehow embraced Bigrind and thrown himself far away, rolling.

“Saint, are you alr—”

Bigrind, tightly embraced, was shaking like an aspen leaf.

Not only that. Rudvik too felt a chilling sensation as if his skin was being sliced by a knife, pressing down on his entire body.

“…What on earth is this…”

Rudvik slowly tried to turn towards the source of that energy.

But his body wouldn’t listen.

His instinct was screaming that he shouldn’t look at that.

That it was something he couldn’t handle,

That he should never look at it,

That it was something unbearable,

His instinct was screaming with all its might.

“———!!!”

Struggling to suppress his whole body trembling like an aspen leaf from fear, Rudvik turned towards it.

And even faster than him, Bigrind stood up first.

“—I’ve come to take back what’s mine.”

Orange eyes emitting an ominous light.

Dull, gray hair without a trace of luster.

On her burst left arm, a snake tattoo was clearly visible,

Speaking in a low voice, she—

“Yona. You, what is this.”

At Bigrind’s feet, a golden formation was drawn.

Golden radiance gushing from bottom to top.

Bigrind’s gaze turned towards Yona.

Yona also looked straight at Bigrind.

No longer able to be seen as human, already no longer human, but even more so because of that.

Black demonic energy was rising from the corners of her mouth.

Without even trying to hide that demonic energy scattering into the air, Yona spoke to Bigrind while standing on the ruins of the banquet hall.

“—Give back… what’s mine… Alec, give Alec back… Give Alec back…”

“Yona.”

Bigrind slowly opened her mouth.

She could no longer deny it.

That appearance right now was proof itself that Yona was no longer a nun of the Celestine Church.

Even the doubt Bigrind had— that maybe, maybe she had done something wrong— was burning away.

“You, really. To a demon…”

Yona’s gaze was empty.

With that empty gaze, Yona looked quietly at Bigrind and said.

“Give Alec back— Bigrind. Then… I’ll quietly… disappear.”

“Yona.”

The golden radiance was growing even fiercer.

The golden radiance that could be called the blessing of the Celestial God itself was intensifying, and a storm of holy power was raging, blowing Bigrind’s hair.

“You, really, really.”

“I said give Alec back, Bigrind.”

Hollow eyes.

Yona’s eyes, no longer able to be called golden, now turned an ominous orange color.

Black demonic energy constantly rising from the corners of her mouth.

Bigrind clenched her lips.

Suppressing a scream that seemed about to burst out, Bigrind began to emit holy power one after another.

Yona— even if she tried to deny it, was now an enemy.

Yona, who had become a demon itself.

Then at least, she must end her life here.

A clear cross appeared in Bigrind’s eyes.

And Yona was just quietly watching that sight.