The Four Courts
"Marquis Iolid."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty!"
Daisy bit back her anger and went on, "Didn’t Your Lordship assure me of this? That Joren Tamer could be brought before my very eyes."
"I-I most certainly did, Your Majesty."
Marquis Ashk Iolid could not quite hide his bewilderment.
The situation, in short, was this. Frustrated by the lack of further word from the Border Count, Daisy had been offered a way to forcibly summon him by the Marquis of Iolid.
Of course, no matter how formidable a mage might be, they could not simply call someone from a distant place the way one fished an object from a pocket. Summoning a living being required a complicated process: precise coordinate setting, magical synchronization with the target, and more besides.
"And so I graciously permitted the use of the statue of Her Majesty, the Founding Queen."
Marquis Iolid had proposed using the Ancient Mana Stone. The brooches granted to nobles of baronial rank and above were ornamented with Ancient Mana Stones, and the plan was to use that stone as a medium to activate the statue of the Founding Queen, which was fitted with a powerful teleportation spell.
"And yet what is this? All I can see in my eyes is some iron tub sitting alone where Joren Tamer ought to be."
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty. Even I do not understand it. The brooch should be worn on the Border Count’s person at all times...."
But the Border Count had not wanted to waste such a precious relic on mere decoration, and so he had used the mana stone in the construction of his mortar. That was why the Ancient Mana Stone had come to the palace along with the Bakgyeokpo.
Neither of them knew that, of course.
"You do not understand? Hah. If the very man who cast the spell—moreover, the head of one of the continent’s foremost magical houses—doesn’t know, then who could possibly know?"
Daisy’s eyebrow twitched.
"I-I shall investigate at once!"
Marquis Iolid planted his staff as if to brace himself and stepped forward.
For an old man whose frail body could not move without support, the great audience hall was far too vast.
It was a pity he could not even think to ask for help.
"Your Majesty. It appears the Ancient Mana Stone has been welded into this vessel. I surmise this vessel is some tool fashioned by Joren Tamer using the mana stone."
"A tool? What on earth is that bucket supposed to be, that it would have an Ancient Mana Stone set into it?"
"I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, but I cannot begin to guess."
"Enough. Leave the bucket where it is and step back."
For the old man, walking backward while leaning on his staff was an arduous task. But even so, he could not simply turn his back on the king.
It would have been easier if he could use magic, but in the palace, using magic without the king’s permission was strictly forbidden by both law and the royal secret arts.
Daisy let out a displeased sigh and ordered the palace guard, "Help the Marquis to his feet. And summon Duonoraong. If anyone knows anything, it will be him."
Dragged away from his rest, Duonoraong was on edge from the moment he arrived. There were so many important-looking figures lined up before him.
The one standing at the highest place of all asked, "Chief Administrator of Tamer Territory. Do you know this vessel?"
"That is a cannon, a weapon for firing projectiles, though my lord calls it a Bakgyeokpo. The principle is to load stones or metal shot into the barrel, fix them in place, and launch them with the power of the mana stone."
He had been given a rough explanation when he was summoned, so the chief administrator had prepared an answer of sorts.
"A weapon? A cannon? Come to think of it, I heard Tamer Territory repelled a goblin horde not long ago. Was this what they used?"
"Yes, Your Ma—"
Duonoraong’s reply never reached its end.
"Then is that a sort of siege catapult?"
"Now that I look closely, that vessel doesn’t seem to be ordinary iron at all. It looks as though it was made from dandanum—and not just any dandanum, but high-grade dandanum. Is it true that dandanum actually fell from the sky?"
Some of the retainers could not suppress their curiosity and began to murmur among themselves.
"Be silent."
Daisy lifted a hand and restored the quiet.
"Duonoraong. I ask again: have you ever seen the Border Count use that object?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. As you said, I witnessed our lord use it in the goblin defense battle. To explain in detail...."
Like the capable administrator he was, he gave a detailed yet concise account.
"Your explanation is thorough. But merely hearing it does not make it easy to picture."
Daisy still seemed unable to get a proper grasp on it. That was only natural, since this world had no concept of cannons at all.
A palace mage stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, why not attempt Memory Extraction?"
The term sounded alarmingly sinister, and Duonoraong flinched.
Memory extraction? What on earth was that? Was he going to open up my head and pull something out?
"Your Majesty. If I may speak."
At that moment, someone stepped forward: Archbishop Gabriel.
Even in his old age, he retained a massive, powerful frame. The embroidered grape patterns on his splendid priestly robes glittered, though the gleam from his bald crown made them hard to see clearly.
"Speak, Archbishop."
Daisy did not like being interrupted, but she granted him the floor. Gabriel was the head of the Religious Court—a high-ranking cleric whom even the king could not treat lightly.
"I humbly request that you withdraw the order for Memory Extraction."
"What? Why?"
The queen showed her displeasure, but the archbishop did not flinch.
"The man called Duonoraong is not currently on trial, and even if he were to be brought to trial, I do not believe it should be referred to the Criminal Court. Rather than resorting to Memory Extraction, let him speak the truth before the Cross of Haliad."
The Kain Kingdom had four courts.
"What are you talking about? This matter began as a dispute between Tamer Border Territory and Kihara Barony. So why should it be handled only by the Religious Court? Moreover, Joren Tamer illegally released prisoners who had been confined under the severe law, yet he has not reported a single word about their current status. Aren’t you worried about what those felons might be doing now?!"
The first was the Criminal Court.
It governed major crimes and punishments, and by custom its head was a mage belonging to the noble council. The judges had the authority and ability to extract human memories, making them ideal for gathering evidence and determining the truth of a matter.
"Has the Border Count not brazenly impersonated Haliad’s Revelator? He must be brought before the Religious Court at once!"
The second was the Religious Court.
It was headed by a bishop or higher-ranking cleric.
Despite its intimidating name, it did not hang people from winged crosses and burn them alive. Its chief duties were not punishments of a religious nature, but rather the temple’s welfare work—education, medicine, brewing-related affairs—as well as civil disputes, marriage and divorce, and other domestic matters.
Clerics could discern truth and sincerity, so miscarriages of justice were rare.
"Neither of you need intervene. What matters here are the signs that the wicked Joren Tamer and his band were plotting rebellion. How can you quibble over such trivial details? And though that man has been granted a title by Her Majesty, he still holds the rank of Upper Knight. He should therefore be dealt with under military law!"
The third was the Military Court.
Its head was a high-ranking knight. As the name suggested, it handled military law. The militias guarding territories and cities across the realm were not part of the royal army, but they were still military organizations in the fullest sense, and thus subject to military law as well.
"All three of you make fair points. Still, it may be argued that the Border Count also violated the law by sending people into unsettled lands without authorization to obtain supplies."
The fourth was the Foreign Court.
It was headed by a civil servant of diplomatic rank. The Kain Kingdom was a landlocked nation, and because trade with the five neighboring countries—Malia, Salia, Gallia, Thalia, and the Abel Principality—was so extensive, disputes arose often. The Foreign Court existed to resolve such matters, and since it belonged to the department of the Western Continent’s strongest kingdom, it functioned in practice as an international court.
Then those are the heads of the so-called Two Laws and Two Religions?
The four courts—Criminal, Military, Religious, and Foreign—were collectively known as the Two Laws, Two Religions. Seeing all of their heads gathered in one place was more than Duonoraong, a mere civil official, could comfortably endure.
They’re talking about the lord as if this is a religious trial, a rebellion, or what have you. Just what in the world is going on?
The reason the judiciary had been split into four parts was to keep each branch in check.
"To establish the facts, extracting the memories of those involved is essential!"
"Have you no shame? The world is already in such a state of disarray, and yet you still want to throw the nation’s foundations into confusion by invoking the River God’s prophecy!"
"If the country is overturned by rebellion, then what use are foundations at all!"
"We must also consider the possibility that foreigners or other races exploring unsettled lands may have spread false rumors...."
Though each court oversaw a different sphere, depending on the case two or more could join forces and hold a joint trial.
For instance, imagine Berneval Luntin of Gallia crossing the border at night without permission, getting drunk on dragon-egg liquor, sprawling out in the middle of the road, and then fighting a post guard who tried to stop him.
The Kain Kingdom upheld territorial jurisdiction, so even if Berneval Luntin were a Gallian dwarf, he would still have to answer to the kingdom’s laws without exception. In this example, he would have violated no fewer than four laws.
(1) Crossing the border at night without permission: violation of immigration control law. (Foreign)
(2) Drinking liquor made from a prohibited ingredient—dragon eggs: violation of liquor law. (Religious)
(3) Falling asleep on a public road: violation of roadway traffic law. (Criminal)
(4) Assaulting the guard who tried to admonish him: violation of military law. (Military)
In such a case, it was customary for all the courts to cooperate and handle the matter together.
In other words, if Berneval Luntin got drunk on foreign liquor in the dead of night and caused a disturbance, his life would become truly, profoundly dark.
"All of you, shut up!"
At the queen’s thunderous roar, the air of the great hall shuddered—quietly, and yet with violent force.
Daisy glared at the heads of the judiciary one by one.
"Archbishop of the Religious Court, I have not yet ordered Memory Extraction. So why are you calling for the withdrawal of a command I haven’t even given? Have you been peering into my mind? Or has the Archbishop himself received a revelation from Haliad and gained the power of foresight?"
"N-no, Your Majesty. I overstepped."
Gabriel folded his hands politely.
"Head of the Criminal Court. Did you say Joren Tamer 'privately' released the prisoners? The release was granted by my own royal decree. Are you then saying that I, too, made a private decision?"
"I misspoke, Your Majesty. Please forgive my rudeness and show your great mercy."
Navni, Duke and head of the Criminal Court, lowered his eyes.
"Head of the Military Court. At this point, when the true intent of Joren Tamer has not yet been properly revealed, do not speak of rebellion so lightly. And as for your phrase 'wicked band'—are you referring to the people of Tamer Territory? You heard Duonoraong’s account as well. Even after their homes were trampled into mud by monster raids, they refused to abandon their homeland. Why do you think that was? They were waiting because they believed in my promise. To brand such loyal subjects as a band of rebels!"
"My thoughts were too shallow, Your Majesty. I shall correct my mistaken attitude at once."
Knight Commander Hemsley Hunterhurst let the five-star helmet slip from his hands.
In the meantime, the head of the Foreign Court was not scolded. Perhaps it was because he had spoken so cautiously, merely adding water to the mix.
"You yourselves called this matter one of the kingdom’s gravest concerns, and yet you dare squabble over whose jurisdiction it is and whose it isn’t! What was the meaning of the late King Halert’s establishment of the Two Laws and Two Religions? It was to let the talented concentrate their strength in their own fields while joining forces for great affairs. And what is this disgraceful behavior now? Can you still call yourselves the heads of the judiciary?"
At the sovereign’s sharp rebuke, the exalted figures all lowered themselves and bowed.
"There is no need to wrangle over jurisdiction. I shall personally conduct this investigation!"
An audience with the king. The king himself questioning a grave criminal.
In such a case, the Supreme Court would be convened temporarily as the superior body over all four courts, with the king taking the seat of chief magistrate.
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