episode_0006

“Fuck…”

Belle, trapped in the dungeon, muttered quietly. How did this happen?

No, actually it wasn’t difficult to know.

A few days ago, when I was on a date with Mr. Smith as usual, I saw that annoying guy Leon… and…? When I came to my senses, there were meat skeletons stuck all over the alley and the guards dragged the two of us away.

If this continues, my life will be ruined, what should I do? Unlike other girls, I’m just a commoner…!

How did it turn out like this? I couldn’t know because I didn’t remember. But one thing was certain: I had to somehow overcome this situation.

But how? Mr. Smith was a nobleman, and if the murder was committed against me…

-Crack… Crack…

I absentmindedly tore at my palm in fear. I can’t do that. Why did I come all this way…

It was a shame that Mr. Smith died. He really did have some emotions. But just like with Leon, most of it was an act for a change of circumstances. The so-called NTR act with Leon was just to give Mr. Smith confidence. … But even if I think about it like this, why waste your emotions on someone who is already dead? You should think about getting out first.

-Clang.

“It’s an interview. Follow me.”

The guard roughly grabbed me and threw me into the interview room. And what was there was an unexpected face.

“Gabriel…?”

“Bell. Thank you for your hard work.”

That was the moment when the smile that had seemed fake really seemed like the smile of a saint. Yes, there was at least one person who understood my hardships. For a moment, I even thought that.

“You want to get out of here, right? You don’t want to be thrown into the abyss like this. If this continues, you’ll be sentenced to death or slavery for murdering a noble.”

“…What are you trying to say? Gabriel.”

“I’ll help you. In return, can you do as I say?”

“I guess I should listen to what you want me to do first and then decide.”

-Hehehe.

The saint continued speaking with a smile.

“Nothing much. Just, there will be a public trial soon. You and Anna will be there.”

“…!”

“You don’t have to be so scared. All you have to do is testify there like this.

‘Leon, a former warrior, sold his body to summon the Demon King because he couldn’t overcome his inferiority complex, and you, Mr. Smith, and Ms. Ena, who were doing relief work in the slums, quickly fought against the Demon King, but were unable to win. After killing Mr. Smith, the Demon King knocked you and Ms. Ena unconscious, and took Leon away. You did your best, but it wasn’t enough.’

…he said. Oh, and it would be better if you added tears. And you must also testify that Mr. Smith did not accept the power of the warrior. I have prepared all the details, so just say this and keep your mouth shut. If you do that, you will be able to join another warrior party. I have already dealt with or persuaded the witnesses who witnessed the scene at that time. ”

“Why on earth…?”

Why did you give me this opportunity, even manipulating the scene? Externally, they were not on good terms because of their fight over Leon’s first wife, and privately, they were both snarling at each other because of their positions as a priest and a magician.

“Does the reason matter? What matters more is that if you follow my words, you can get out of this prison. The plans of the higher-ups, that doesn’t matter to you. What matters is… your life, and your wealth. ”

The saint continued to laugh. It was clearly a benevolent laugh, but it seemed more like a devilish smile enticing a contract.

“…Good.”

Of course, the smile I made would be no different, because everything Gabriel said was true.

Leon, you said you liked me, right?

Then please sacrifice yourself for me this time too. You’re a good person, so you can do that, right? We’re childhood friends.

Leon’s answer would be, of course, “I know,” Bell muttered, rationalizing.

Now, let’s think about what to do when we leave here and join another warrior party. Since we’ll definitely be taking Smith’s place, let’s start by seducing that person. If we’re going to do that, it’d be even better if we could mix bodies…

“…Everything is according to the will of the Goddess.”

The saintess smiled quietly as she looked at the bell. Now, only the elf and the thief were left.

*****

As I continued to plan in prison, the day of the trial soon arrived.

On the day of the public trial, Anna and Belle were held in the same place, and exchanged nervous glances. Perhaps it was the mutual self-satisfaction of those in the same situation.

“It’s okay, Ena… I’m sure Gabriel said that if you do as he says, you’ll be allowed back into the warrior party… It was an accident…!”

“…Bell, do you really think that the Demon King entered the capital city, which is protected by the Imperial Army and constantly operating defensive magic from the Magic Tower? If he really has that much power, the Empire would already be…”

-Tsk!

I hit Ena hard on the cheek. When I saw her blank expression as if she hadn’t expected anything, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“Shut up, Ena. If not, what? What matters is not the truth, but our future!”

“And even though the previous warrior was a low-class commoner, he was not someone who was obsessed with inferiority complex enough to summon a demon in the middle of the street. Aside from his incompetence, it was degrading his own honor, let alone his basic honor as a human being… Huh…?!”

Belle stood up and grabbed Ena by the collar. Even the guards seemed to have been bribed, and they were trying to ignore her without even reacting.

“Honor, honor, honor. Don’t you understand yet that you and I are the same kind of bitches? A bitch like me who sold my body and my friendship with my childhood friend for pleasure and money, or you who threw away the person you loved because it was an imperial order.”

“That’s…”

“So if you want to save even a shred of honor, please, just do as Gabriel says. We’re already in the mud, so figure out the topic.”

“…ugh… …okay.”

“Sigh.”

Bell was annoyed. It was annoying that he had lost the guaranteed line called Smith, and now that it had come to this point, he was still full of innocence and couldn’t grasp reality – Oh, right. Since the bottom was already breached, is he not innocence but a delusion? – Why do I have to take care of the article?

“Defendants, come out.”

The good news is that this time wasn’t that long.

The guards took me to the square, and the citizens looked at me like I was a monkey in a cage. Anna looked nervous. Damn, I hope that knight doesn’t make a mistake.

“Then, now we will begin the trial for the murder of Smith Altheas, the eldest son of the Altheas family. Defendants, please stand.”

Standing in the dock, the floor felt like a thorn market. It’s okay, all the blame will be put on Leon and I can go back out into the open.

“First, please begin by stating the situation at the time.”

Now, let’s not be nervous, Belle. Try to look as pitiful as possible… almost like a widow, and also show some guilt about not being able to complete the mission.

“Me and… Smith, and Ena were doing relief work at that time. But… At that moment…! … Leon suddenly appeared and said, ‘I can’t die alone like this’ and summoned the Demon King, so Smith, Ena, and I tried to stop him, but Smith hadn’t accepted the power of the warrior yet, so it wasn’t enough… I tried to give him the power after preparing more thoroughly, but I never thought this disaster would happen…! ”

“It’s all my fault. I should have died instead.”

…Is that right? I stared at Gabriel with anxious eyes.

“Is it real…?”

“There’s also a strange rumor. In fact, it’s not that the warrior was disqualified due to lack of ability… Why, you know? The warrior protected commoners like us…”

“And if the Demon King really appeared, there’s no way the capital would be safe until now…”

I can hear the commoners muttering and raising suspicions. It’s annoying. Please resolve this quickly, Gabriel.

…It was ironic that even the person who thought that way was a commoner.

“What both of you said is true.”

And soon, as if living up to Belle’s expectations, Gabriel strode up onto the stage.

“Ohhh…!”

“If it’s the saint’s words, then isn’t it still believable…?”

“Maybe you’re protecting me because I’m your former colleague…”

“Hey! You bastard. Would the saint really say that? She must be saying it because there is clear evidence!”

“Witness, can you please testify in detail?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Gabriel continued to speak naturally, smiling, as if he were explaining that it had actually happened rather than reading from a script.

“First of all, it is true that the former hero Leon summoned the Demon King. However, due to the imperfect summoning circle and the church’s quick response, he did not last long and disappeared. And Mr. Smith… In order to more perfectly accept the hero’s power, he appointed two people as his guards and prepared a ritual at the church, which was a disaster. The church will vouch for this fact. ”

“Confirmed.”

Bell felt uneasy.

Isn’t it just too smooth? Even if it was all planned out in advance, no one in the audience raised a single question… and even the inspectors didn’t raise any objections.

“Then, I will pass judgment.”

No, in the first place, it was a trial held in the capital city, so it would be natural for there to be a higher proportion of intellectuals, but it is strange that there are people in the audience who are not even familiar with the format of the trial, like farmers or fishermen from a remote village.

“First, the defendant was found not guilty of the murder of Smith Altheas, who was indicted in this trial, but Belle and Ena were sentenced to slavery for failing to protect Smith Altheas, who was a prospective warrior.”

“…huh?”

Yeah, this is all a set-up.

“Cook cook.”

All in Gabriel’s hands.