Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Bennetsa Merchant 6
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Kazeros brought up something completely unexpected.
I felt a surge of embarrassment and spoke to her.
"What do you mean... Are you saying you'll defend Mr. Shylock, Kazeros?"
"Yes... I'm not entirely confident, but if no proper defense attorney can be found, I'll step in. Despite appearances, I'm still an active member of the clergy, and I believe I have every qualification to defend someone in court."
She was right— as a Holy Knight bearing the status of a cleric, there were no major legal obstacles to her taking on a defense role.
Moreover, since Shylock's indictment stemmed primarily from religious issues, church figures were inevitably going to be involved in the trial. Having a cleric like Kazeros step forward would actually lend even greater weight to the defense's voice.
That said, setting all that aside, I shook my head as I looked at her.
"Even so... it's far too dangerous."
"But..."
"This matter has to be resolved on my end. I can't let you, who has nothing to do with it, get hurt."
Though Kazeros had the authority to act as defense counsel, the fact that her client would be a Judaean like Shylock made it no simple decision.
Even ordinary churchgoers would frown on it, but for a cleric like Kazeros to defend a heretic like Shylock meant taking on enormous risks.
A cleric, duty-bound to reject heretics foremost, standing up in court to defend and protect one.
If word of that reached the Papal Court—or even just the high-ranking clergy overseeing this region—it would inevitably spark massive backlash, very likely leading to Kazeros's excommunication.
In other words, whether this trial succeeded or failed, the moment she took it on, Kazeros could end up exiled from the church's world forever, just like me.
Kazeros surely knew this full well, yet she spoke clearly to me, who was hesitating.
"I know. The moment I get involved, I'll probably never be able to return to the path of the clergy."
With those words, she slowly approached me.
Standing right before me, she looked up cautiously, locking eyes with mine as she continued.
"But as I said before, I've already placed my faith in you, Sir Santana, and abandoned everything. From that moment, I've effectively shed my status as a cleric. If I can use this hollow title to right an innocent man's wrongs, wouldn't that be for the best?"
"Kuh..."
Her words, filled with resolve, left me unable to find a rebuttal.
She was right—from the instant we'd left Milano together, Kazeros could be seen as having forsaken her Holy Knight status in practice.
Abandoning her assigned territory and traveling with an excommunicate was punishment enough on its own.
I couldn't refute her clear statement of facts, but at the very least, in this moment, I wanted to express the emotions stirring within me.
"Even so... I don't want you suffering any more harm because of me, Kazeros. Even if it's just a hollow title, depending on the situation, it might be your last shield."
"No... it won't."
"Pardon?"
Kazeros spoke in a careful tone to my words.
I felt a flicker of doubt, and as I looked at her, she turned her head slightly and murmured in a hesitant voice.
"You... you told me before, didn't you? That you'd protect me... and that I should trust you."
"...!"
Her sudden, deeply embarrassing words hit me.
I felt my face flush, and noticing this, Kazeros spoke in a voice laced with strange tension.
"I'll lose my clerical status, it's true. But I still have you as my shield, Sir Santana. Since I believe in your promise... you don't need to worry about that."
"...Kazeros..."
She gazed at me with flushed cheeks, her voice earnest.
Seeing her like this, I was seized by the impulse to pull this lovely woman—who trusted me so completely—into a tight embrace.
But no matter how much I wanted to, this wasn't the time or place, especially with the butlers watching us, their faces a mix of awkwardness.
Suppressing my emotions with great effort, I looked at Kazeros and spoke as calmly as I could.
"...All right. If you're set on it, then I'll ask you to do this."
"Yes, I'll do my utmost, Sir Santana."
And so, with Kazeros as defense counsel, I decided to proceed.
I then asked the butlers to bring the contract in question, along with all documents related to the incident.
'On the surface, this case is charged as attempted murder... but at its root, it's fueled by deep-seated hatred and discrimination against Judaeans. Anton and the Holy Empire are exploiting that to the fullest...'
But no matter what, I couldn't possibly eradicate all hatred toward Judaeans in this situation.
Such sentiments, woven into the church's history for centuries, couldn't vanish in a day or two.
'In that case, changing fundamental perceptions is off the table. I can nudge things a bit, but that'll have to come after the trial...'
Putting aside deep-seated biases for now, I pondered how to resolve this, then began carefully reviewing the contract Anton had brought—the one claiming provisions were involved.
'At first glance... nothing seems problematic. Except this phrase at the end... about Anton offering his heart to Shylock...'
The sentence that had sparked the whole incident.
Centering on that, I pored over the documents multiple times, devising the best plan I could muster.
On the surface, it might seem like mere loyalty to a friend, but far too much was at stake here.
It wasn't just Kazeros's Holy Knight position, already half-lost to excommunication from the start.
If we failed and Shylock ended up imprisoned, it would put us—who desperately needed transport and information—in a dire spot.
With our futures on the line, I had no choice but to rack my brains for a way through.
And moments later, as I pondered, a single ray of light pierced my vision.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A small yet luxuriously appointed building at the heart of Bennetsa.
Inside, at this very moment...
A woman in shrine maiden attire and a young man faced each other, both wearing sly smiles.
"With this, we can drag that Shylock down for good."
"Of course. What can that Judaean do, no matter how clever? No one will defend him, and even if he tries something himself, no judge will listen."
The woman took a satisfied sip of her tea.
Watching her, the man—the building's owner and the trial's 'victim,' Anton Basano—spoke with a smile.
"And to cover any contingencies, you've stepped in as prosecutor. This is our victory, plain and simple. Isn't it, Prosecutor Potion?"
She gave a small laugh at Anton's words.
Potion Nerisa, the young bishop prosecuting the trial, set down her teacup with a smug grin.
"Of course. We'll execute that wicked Judaean and claim everything he has for the Holy Empire. That day is almost here."
The two, convinced of their imminent triumph, exchanged smiles and began envisioning the rosy future after Shylock's downfall.