Queen's Gambit (3)
I pulled out several more photographs. The tide had already turned in my favor, so all that remained was to drive the final nail home.
"Additionally, these are photographs of Yanis Dailer, Conrad Sus, and Gabriel Banks using drugs. As you can verify for yourselves, they are coated in mana, making any magical tampering impossible."
".......!"
"Ah, for reference, I will also submit the syringes used by Conrad and Gabriel as evidence. I request that they be examined."
The mana analysis, as expected, confirmed that the mana patterns matched. Louise's lawyer sprang to his feet in a panic.
"Your Honor, this evidence is insufficient! Even if the syringes and photographs are genuine and untampered, there is no way to prove that the syringes in the photos are the same ones submitted as evidence!"
Jeers erupted the moment he finished speaking.
"Yanis Dailer and the other three suffer from chronic illnesses that require regular medication. They must receive injections periodically, and these scenes were merely captured by chance! Eren Lopez is exploiting their medical conditions to brand innocent students as drug offenders!"
"...... So you're still going to brazen it out."
"I submit the medical examination records of the three individuals."
The lawyer finally wiped the cold sweat from his brow and allowed himself a small smile. The medical charts rested in Redona Leonhart's hands. He examined them carefully before nodding.
"Indeed… there are medical records. I acknowledge the lack of sufficient evidence linking the photographs, syringes, and circumstantial details."
"......"
The lawyer exhaled in relief. A vicious smile crept across Louise's lips, her expression having been sour throughout the trial. Watching her, I found it truly laughable. If one commits a crime, they should receive the appropriate punishment and reflect on their wrongdoing—that is what it means to be human. Yet these people were celebrating their success in covering up their own sins.
With that thought, I rose from my seat.
"If you're so confident, then searching the dormitories shouldn't be a problem."
"......"
"Your Honor, I request permission to search the dormitories of Yanis Dailer and the other three."
"That's impossible!"
Louise Violet shouted at the top of her lungs. Spectators were not supposed to interrupt proceedings, yet no one raised an objection. Her lawyer spoke first to restrain her.
"That's correct! According to Article 32, Clause 1 of the Imperial Code—the noble immunity privilege—heads of households holding the rank of count or higher, along with their family members, shall not have their privacy violated under any circumstances."
"Well, it seems you have something to hide after all."
I met Louise's eyes and curled one corner of my mouth upward. The lawyer immediately cried out.
"Your Honor! This man is disregarding the presumption of innocence!"
"Presumption of innocence… Heh."
A laugh slipped out. These people who loved the presumption of innocence so much had condemned me without evidence when they wanted me gone. I had known it would come to this. The law exists to serve the powerful and bends to the will of those who understand how to wield it. Not that it mattered. This trial would end in my victory regardless. Watching them struggle a little longer might even be entertaining.
"Let's say that for now. We'll treat the drug charges as lacking sufficient evidence…"
I drew another card.
"I will now submit evidence regarding the charges of assault and rape against Yanis Dailer and the other three."
Episode 3 Queen's Gambit
The trial was adjourned temporarily on the grounds of overheating. It was just as well. Even before I could present my evidence, Alicia's side had already turned the courtroom into chaos by demanding to testify. They must have had a great deal to say. I understood.
I lit a cigarette and headed for the rooftop. After striking a match and taking a long drag, smoke filled my lungs.
"Eden."
I exhaled slowly. The hazy smoke dispersed into the sky.
"What is it."
I didn't need to turn around to recognize the voice.
"I have something to say."
"I don't."
I took another drag. Before I knew it, Redona Leonhart was standing beside me. I deliberately stepped away and exhaled.
"Let's go back inside. Nothing good will come of being seen with me."
"The cigarettes… when did you start smoking?"
"A while ago."
"They're bad for you."
"What does it matter what other people do? You talk as if you're my father."
Redona simply gazed at my profile in silence.
"Did you come here just to lecture me?"
"No."
He scratched the back of his head, blinked, and cleared his throat. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, repeating the motion several times. I waited.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. The words just slipped out."
What came from Redona's mouth was no different from what he had said the day before. Pathetic man.
"I have no intention of accepting your apology."
"I want to talk."
"You're shameless beyond belief."
I flicked the cigarette butt to the ground. After exhaling the last of the smoke, I tried to leave, but my feet wouldn't move. I had tried so hard to be cold, yet why did I always falter in front of this man?
"...You must have had a hard time."
"......"
Because of you. Because you abandoned me.
"I don't know how you've been living since you were expelled from the academy, but I imagine it wasn't easy."
"While you were at peace, you mean."
"Eden…!"
Redona shouted. I lit another cigarette. He continued, his voice slightly agitated.
"It's true that I was a coward. It's true that even though I knew you were innocent, I lacked the power to save you. It's also true that I lacked courage. But…"
Redona's hands were trembling.
"Not once did I stop worrying about you."
"......"
Was that sincere? I recalled the distant past, as if by habit. What kind of father had Redona Leonhart been?
– From today onward, your name is Eden. Your surname… we'll use Rofas, after the holy name of Rofas.
– Eden Rofas?
– That's right. From today, your name is Eden Rofas.
– I don't like it.
– Haha, I hope you'll come to like it someday.
I shook my head. Why were these memories suddenly surfacing now? He was no longer my father. I had discarded the name he had given me. Eden Rofas was dead.
"After I learned you had been framed, I kept searching for your whereabouts. I tried to secure a place for you and worked to ensure that if you returned, you could live in hiding."
"And in the end, none of it amounted to anything."
"Eden, you are my son. Even though I didn't give birth to you, from the moment I took you from the orphanage, I never once thought of you as anything other than my son."
"I don't consider you my father."
"That's fine. Even if you don't think of me as a parent, it's all right."
Redona's voice now sounded almost like a wail.
"I'll do anything. What must I do for you to forgive me?"
Anything… What a ridiculous thing to say. If he had truly been willing to do anything to earn forgiveness, he should have been prepared to die for me. At the very least, he should have taken revenge on those who had expelled and betrayed me. It was hypocrisy of the most nauseating kind.
I lifted my head and looked Redona directly in the eyes. Then, slowly, I spoke.
"Even if I destroy you."
Show me your true self. Stop pretending to be a good person.
"Even if I use the children you love so much—your own flesh and blood, the wife you cherish above all else—as tools for my revenge."
I took a step closer. His face was now within arm's reach.
"Even if, for the sake of my revenge, I use and discard innocent people. Even if I become a monster who tramples lives like insects and ruins countless others—would you still…!"
I wanted his eyes to waver. I wanted whatever small kindness remained in that man to be sucked down the drain until nothing was left. I wanted these pointless memories of the past to stop holding back my revenge.
"Even if I am that hideous a human being, would you still do anything for me?"
Rather, despise me. Tell me you've never thought of a monster like me as your son.
"Even then, would you still be able to call me your son?"
Say it… Tell me I'm despicable. Tell me it wasn't your fault. Tell me I was foolish to believe in justice.
Betray me again, just like you did two years ago. That's the kind of man you are. You never truly thought of me as your son. You thought that because I grew up in an orphanage, I was the sort of person who would casually deal drugs for money. That's what you believed.
But his gaze did not waver. It was not the look of someone lying.
"Even then, you are my son."
Then why? Why didn't you believe me? When I left the academy with nothing but despair, why didn't you even spare me a glance?
"Bullshit."
I walked past him toward the stairs. My breath came unevenly, and my head spun. I was confused.
Then it happened.
Thud—
A heavy sound of something crashing to the floor reached my ears. It was a familiar sound. I had killed enough people who defied me to recognize it instantly.
"Kyaaak!!!"
"A healing mage! Bring a healing mage!"
The moment I reached the first floor, I heard someone screaming. People had gathered around the source of the screams.
"......"
My heart stirred uneasily. Surely not…
Leaning against the wall, I walked toward the crowd.