episode_0108

Episode 108: Trial (6)

6 AM. The time when the academy’s day was just about to begin.

Someone came to visit Ariel, who was organizing materials for the trial that would be held shortly.

“Lana, where have you been? I was worried.”

“Princess, hello?”

The person was none other than Lana Heytald. She had been out of sight for the past few days.

“Oh, come in first. It’s cold.”

Ariel led Lana into the room. And the two women faced each other. Ariel was the first to speak.

“You haven’t been to lectures all this time, and what’s wrong with your face? Have you been sleeping?”

“Hehe, I couldn’t sleep.”

Lana answered with a bright face. Ariel asked with a frustrated heart.

“How many days have you been up all night?”

“Maybe 4 days?”

“Haa…”

Ariel sighed deeply. Even if they could handle mana, not sleeping for 4 days straight was something they couldn’t do.

“More than that, Princess. Here, this.”

“This is….”

Then, Lana suddenly handed something to Ariel. It was a bead-shaped magic tool.

Could this be the reason why she hadn’t shown herself all this time?

Afterwards, Ariel examined the magic tool in detail and realized that it was a recording magic tool. Generally, such shapes were mostly for that purpose.

“What’s contained in it?”

“Proof that Kyle is innocent.”

At that, Ariel immediately used the magic tool. And her eyes shone intensely after confirming it.

“Will it help Kyle?”

“Yes. It will. Definitely.”

She was short of one piece to reverse the situation anyway. But Lana brought that one, making Ariel’s plan even more perfect.

Of course, it can’t be said to be absolute. But with this, the judge….

Ariel carefully put the recording magic tool in her bosom. If she broke this, everything would be in vain.

“Princess… save Kyle. Okay?”

Lana’s face looked like she was about to cry. Ariel could tell how much mental anguish she had been through.

So Ariel answered in a confident voice.

“Lana, I will save your lover.”

Lana, who blushed at the princess’s words, shyly opened her mouth to her.

“Th-that. Princess.”

“What is it, Lana? Do you have more to give?”

“No, it’s not that… Kyle and I aren’t like that yet.”

At that moment, a question mark floated above the princess’s head. Ariel, who belatedly realized the meaning of the words, asked in an incredulous tone.

“You’re not lovers yet, after showing that kind of behavior at the academy?”

“Yeah.”

Ariel was dumbfounded at the answer.

Like other couples, they didn’t openly display affection, but their outward appearance was that of lovers.

You can tell just by looking at the pink atmosphere that flows when they are together. Not to mention what happened at the party.

So, she naturally thought they were lovers. All the students, professors, and staff at the academy thought so.

But they’re not lovers? What the hell is this….

Even Ariel couldn’t close her mouth at the absurd story. So, she said words that she wouldn’t normally say.

“Is that guy impotent?”

“Princess, you’re saying the same thing as Evan. But no. Kyle is a healthy man. Even at the festival a few months ago….”

Ariel was even more dumbfounded at what happened between the two. Just listening to the situation, Lana and his relationship was one where it wouldn’t be strange to cross the line right away.

“So, Kyle to me…”

Ariel had a blank expression at the following words.

How should she save this poor woman?

“Tada! Kyle gave me this bracelet too….”

Of course, whether she knew the inside or not. Lana was just telling her what she had experienced with an excited face.

“Haa….”

***

“Judge. I would like to submit evidence to prove Kyle Arden’s innocence for the last time.”

The princess’s voice echoed in the space. She took out a magic tool from her bosom. At first glance, it was a recording magic tool.

“Evidence to prove innocence…. If student Ariel says so, it must be certain, right?”

“Yes.”

The princess answered with confidence. The judges talked among themselves and nodded in agreement. Seeing that, Ariel channeled mana to activate the magic tool.

A video floats in the air. It shows the inside of an unknown room and shows some people.

They were ten students wearing the Trianis uniforms, and then a voice flowed out.

-Haa, how long do we have to stay here? I’m tired of staying for more than a week.

-Stop talking nonsense. When else would we enjoy such luxury if not at this time?

-That’s true.

They talked among themselves. Some students did not participate in the conversation while taking a nap.

-But when you think about it, it’s okay. They give us this room under the pretext of protection.

-And they let us skip lectures and give us separate scores. They do everything they can to prevent our identities from being exposed.

-I know, right. If I had known it would be like this, I would have tried it on other guys too. I never knew it would be so easy to send someone to hell.

-Think of it as a reward for your hard work. I was so frustrated for months. Even though I received help, I don’t think I can do it again.

-Hey.

Then a student joined their conversation.

-Talk quietly. Don’t you know that everything will be in vain if it’s heard outside?

-Would they hear it? It’s protected by a triple barrier. They said it would be difficult for professors to break through.

-Still, shut up just in case. Barriers aren’t omnipotent, and if that Kyle guy….

-Hey, don’t be scared. How would that Kyle Arden guy come here? And what if he came? Don’t you know what’s going on outside? They’re tearing him apart. The professors and students are so stupid that they fall for fake evidence….

At that moment, the video is cut off. Ariel cut it off on purpose.

But no one could open their mouths. The courtroom, engulfed in silence, only echoed with small breaths.

“Judge?”

“…Speak, student Ariel.”

“I believe the three of you know who the students appearing there are.”

“……”

The three judges answered with silence. Their faces darkened in an instant. It seemed that the ten people who appeared there were the victims.

Immediately afterwards, one of the judges asked.

“…Did student Ariel obtain that video directly?”

“No. This video was obtained by a student who likes him after spending several nights trying.”

“That student is….”

“It’s Lana Heytald.”

So that’s why Lana wasn’t seen. It must have been difficult to break through that barrier….

“Check it out once….”

“Yes, it would be good to take a closer look.”

“Then….”

The three judges discuss. They declared a recess with the evidence presented by the princess. They are trying to confirm whether it is true.

If that video is real, the judges will just let it go. In modern times, such videos are treated as illegal and are not recognized as evidence, but this place is different.

If the evidence is not fabricated, they will accept it without denying what they obtained with their abilities.

20 minutes later.

“We acknowledge that student Ariel’s evidence is true. Continue your argument.”

“Thank you, Judge.”

The princess bowed her head in gratitude and continued to speak.

“There were too many strange things about this case. There were impossible flaws in each piece of evidence, and as you can see, those flaws were fake, created by manipulation.”

She continued.

“Judges, and everyone here. This is a plot planned with only one intention.”

She looked at the judges once more, then turned around and scanned the onlookers.

“Kyle Arden, to frame him and erase him from the world. That must have been the idea. Because various rumors still cover him. But.”

A low voice spreads throughout the space.

“As you saw in the witness’s testimony, he has changed. Enough for the victim to forgive him.”

Ariel turned her body again and looked at the judges.

“So, Judge. Please acknowledge that Kyle Arden’s student assault allegations are innocent, and at the same time, I request a more detailed investigation into the collusion with black magicians.”

With those words, the princess closed her mouth.

A moment of silence. Then the judge opened his mouth.

“This judge deeply sympathizes with student Ariel’s words. The first charge was a matter that led to trial due to malice. I think it’s definitely innocent. But.”

The moment he raises his voice.

“Collusion with black magicians is a completely different story. There is evidence that he is related to those guys and suspicious behavior that proves it. And according to investigator Sophia, he didn’t answer anything.”

The judge said, looking at the princess.

“Do you have anything to say about this? Student Ariel.”

“……”

The princess bit her lip silently.

The fact that the black magic stone and the incident in the Free City were involved left no room for escape.

So, they combined the two charges. Since they fabricated the evidence, they must have fabricated other things as well.

So, if they planted just that one suspicion, the princess’s plan would have ended successfully, and this trial would have been over.

But the professors were not people who would fall for such a fact.

Of course, the princess didn’t stand still. She had prepared other witnesses in preparation for this.

“In other words, the witness’s words mean that you can use black magic if you have a black magic stone?”

“That’s right. It’s the essence of black magic. If you know how to handle mana, you can use most of it.”

“However, it’s hard to get, right? Professor Ray.”

“That’s right. Black magic stones are valuable items even among those guys.”

However, despite her efforts, the suspicion did not improve. Rather, it only raised suspicion about how she obtained the black magic stone.

In the end, the reversed atmosphere was reversed again, and the situation worsened. In the end, the judge asked me a question.

“Kyle Arden. I will ask you one last time. How did you get the black magic stone, and what happened in the Free City?”

“……”

When I didn’t open my mouth, the princess whispered next to me.

“What are you hiding…? If we continue like this….”

‘Tsk.’

I never thought things would turn out like this.

“Hoo….”

I sighed and looked at the judge.

“I’m sorry, Judge. I cannot reveal the acquisition facts.”

“Kyle, what are you saying…!”

Ariel was surprised and made a fuss, and the onlookers gasped.

“Does that mean you admit the collusion charges?”

“Of course, that’s not it either.”

“…Then what do you want to say?”

At his question, I stood up from my seat.

And I said.

“Judge. I, Kyle Arden, request the Judgment of Yellow.”

A way to receive innocence without having to unnecessarily reveal the truth in this world.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The hall became quiet. This time, no sound was heard.

“You’re saying that knowing what dangers are involved, right?”

“Yes, I know enough.”

“Then….”

“Wait a minute, Judge! Kyle, are you crazy?!”

Then the princess intervened and stopped the proceedings from progressing.

“You shouldn’t look at the Judgment of Yellow simply. If you make a mistake, you can lose everything!”

“I know.”

I know better than anyone else in this world. But that’s why it’s the best way to prove my innocence. There’s no need to spout this and that like in a trial.

“So don’t worry. You don’t trust me, do you?”

“No, that’s not it….”

The princess is flustered. I took advantage of the gap and said to the judge.

“Then call him.”

“I hope you’re safe.”

Even the judge gave me a word.

‘There’s no need to be so scared.’

Well, I think it could be because of the rumors.

A little later.

A priest belonging to the Yustia Holy Kingdom brought the scales, the sacred object of Yellow.

“Let’s begin.”

And he breathed divine power into the scales and called Yellow.

***

Yellow is a notorious god in the continent. The reason is because of the existence of the Judgment of Yellow.

What should I say about this. Should I say it’s merciless….

First of all, the Judgment of Yellow is a ritual in which the subject stands on the judgment seat and Yellow judges the sin.

But this is not as fair as you might think.

Yellow catches even the slightest lie, and if he judges that even a small lie is mixed in, he immediately recovers the soul and body without giving a chance to defend himself.

The ratio is over 99.9%. It’s almost “certain” that they don’t come back intact.

So, it’s notorious in many ways. So much so that even in the Holy Kingdom, which worships the god, they don’t receive the Judgment of Yellow.

But the discrimination power is very accurate, so you can trust it.

Shoooooooo─

Divine power swirls around the scales. The priest chanted divine magic and controlled it.

Chwaja jajajak─!

At some point, the scales fluctuated. Immediately after, a huge sphere of divine power was created and an object jumped out.

“Yellow is here! Hello hello~!”

A child waved his hand and expressed his delight. Yellow was in the form of a child as I knew him, and his voice was also like that.

“Wow~ isn’t this Trianis? It’s been a while. How many hundreds of years has it been? 100 years? No, was it 200 years ago?”

Of course, his behavior is the same. As soon as he came out, he flew around noisily.

The priest bowed to him.

“The paper of White meets Yellow.”

“Okay okay, hello to you too~! So, why did you call me? Is it something I can mediate?”

“Yes, it is.”

As if excited by those words, Yellow nodded his head.

“Now, tell me who it is. I have to go quickly because I’m on my way to tease Blue!”

Yellow shook his arms and legs here and there like a nagging child. The priest immediately answered Yellow’s question.

“It’s that student over there.”

When the priest pointed, Yellow moved along the direction of the finger.

And Yellow, the god of contracts and order, who saw me.

“Ah! It’s you? The child Green wanted to make a saint.”

Dropped a bombshell.