Chapter 473: Proof of Existence (61)
Chapter 473: Proof of Existence (61)
The momentum of the Mountain Court, which had been surging like a wildfire, subsided in an instant.
Eyes filled with bewilderment and shock converged on a single man. The young man, having pulled back his hood, possessed a striking appearance—as did the skill he displayed by shattering a cliff with a single hand axe.
A black-haired, golden-eyed knight who wielded a hand axe.
Rumors of such a man had long since spread across the Continent, to the point where it was rarer to find someone who couldn't guess his identity. Only the sound of people swallowing hard echoed through the silence.
Ian Percus—the rising star who had recently shown the most impressive feats.
The Dark Cult’s consecutive appearances had plunged the Continent into terror. Monsters from myths thousands of years old had emerged in various regions, and terrifying beings, including the subordinates of the Evil God, had begun to spread their infamy.
And the one who had stepped forward to slay those horrific demons was none other than Ian Percus.
Trials always give birth to heroes. This was an eternal truth.
The more precarious reality became, the more humans yearned for the existence of a hero. A savior in times of crisis, a key that could break through this unstable situation.
No matter what anyone said, only one person had been chosen by this century.
Even if his raw strength did not yet match the most prominent powerhouses of the Continent, the achievements he had accumulated were the real deal. Whether it was through skill, mental fortitude, or luck did not matter.
Ian Percus had never once disappointed humanity.
Because of that, he had become a titan. His personal power and political influence were, at least in this place, irrelevant.
It was because tens of thousands were watching.
The Papacy was in the middle of establishing its authority against the Dark Cult. Even for the Holy Kingdom, there was no desire to antagonize the young knight who could be considered the vanguard of that struggle.
The fact that the Pope’s aura, which had looked ready to strike the man dead just moments ago, had quieted down was not unrelated to this.
A faint groan escaped the lips of the elderly priest as he calmed his agitation. Stroking his snow-white beard, he rebuked the youth’s recklessness in a deliberately solemn tone.
“Ian Percus! I have heard much of your fame. As one who personally executed a comrade of a sinner and a traitor to the Holy Kingdom, you are qualified to raise an objection.”
At first glance, it sounded as if he were acknowledging Ian. However, the true intent of a lecture always comes at the end, and the Pope was no exception.
“However, that barbaric act of insulting the authority of this sacred court!”
Thump. As the elderly priest stomped his foot, the mountain shrieked once more.
Several people in the crowd, overcome with fear, trembled and prostrated themselves. The sight of the entire mountain vibrating was just that overwhelming.
A mere human had simply stomped his foot once.
Yet, the mountain, so high its peak was lost to the clouds, trembled and groaned.
It could not be explained as anything other than a miracle of God. It was a phenomenon that served as the very root supporting the authority of the Mountain Court.
But the man facing this inexplicable miracle remained steadfast.
His golden eyes silently gazed up at the Pope standing in his high seat.
“Why do you seek to commit an unforgivable sin, young knight! The authority of this court has been protected by ancient covenants and sacrifices. I cannot permit any special privilege to liberate a sinner just because of stubbornness or persistence!”
“I am not seeking to ignore the law.”
The Pope’s expression, which had been tinged with fury at Ian’s remark, turned back to bewilderment.
The Holy Kingdom was a nation with over a thousand years of history. The laws and doctrines accumulated over those long years were complex, and their authority was respected accordingly.
There was no way they would grant a request for special privilege just because someone suddenly showed up.
To do so would be an act that shook the foundation of over a millennium of trust.
However, just as the Saintess’s guilt had been practically predetermined, there was always room for stubbornness or persistence if one could provide the right appearance and justification.
Humans were not perfect like God, and therefore, the systems created by humans inevitably had loopholes.
A faint glimmer of interest flickered in the old priest’s eyes.
If he’s going to set the stage, there’s no reason I can’t play along.
He was a politician, but he was also a clergyman. He did not wish to take the lives of two youths who would become the pillars of the future.
“Then speak, young knight! What more do you wish to say at this late hour?”
At that, Ian and the Saintess’s gazes met in midair.
The Saintess looked dazed. She was facing the man she loved at the edge of a precipice. It was a deeply romantic story, but unlike her pounding heart, her reason was sending a chilling warning.
He mustn't.
It felt as if she could see right through to the intentions hidden behind those silent golden eyes.
Before the Saintess could cry out, No.
“……An Honor Trial.”
Silence struck the clearing once again.
Some in the crowd even covered their mouths. As shock spread like a ripple, the expressions of the priests, including the Pope, hardened.
An Honor Trial.
It was a term they hadn't heard in a very long time. At the very least, no one had uttered those four syllables in this court for quite a while.
Because it was synonymous with ‘suicide.’
“I request an Honor Trial.”
“……Think again.”
The suggestion was met with a gasp.
A bead of sweat had formed on the Pope’s forehead. The distorted skin of the old man’s face spoke for his state of mind.
“Is your future not still bright?”
“I request an Honor Trial!”
Despite the Pope’s dissuasion, the man raised his voice even higher.
His burning golden eyes turned toward one of the priests standing on the second tier. The Priest of Knowledge, wearing a mask modeled after the sun, flinched at that intense gaze.
“Is this not also a right guaranteed by the law? I heard that a doctrinal trial is the lowest priority trial. If there is a request, the trial must be conducted again according to that format!”
“T-That is true, but……”
While answering hesitantly, the Priest of Knowledge had to steal a glance behind him.
The distant summit was not even in his field of vision. However, the presence of the titan situated there was pressing down on everyone like a great mountain.
Even a mere fragment of that presence was enough to make the priest short of breath.
It was impossible.
As long as that person existed, an ‘Honor Trial’ could not be realized. It was a meaningless attempt from the very beginning.
The outcome was already decided.
How could he make such a foolish judgment?
Though he had come here alone, Ian Percus was not truly by himself. Numerous powers connected to him would be watching the Holy Kingdom.
A young rising star of the Empire being killed during a trial in the Holy Kingdom?
It had the potential to spark unnecessary diplomatic conflict. Moreover, hadn't he heard that this man was a confidant of the Emperor himself?
Then, the one who reached out with a helping hand was an unexpected person.
“……I refuse.”
It was a low declaration.
Once again, the attention of the assembly shifted. At the center stood the silver-haired woman.
Her voice, squeezed out through sobs, was as tattered as a dry rag. Yet, because her tone was so clear and pure, who could doubt the Heavenly God’s love for this woman?
Her pink eyes regained their light and burned fiercely.
“I refuse! Today, I am the only sinner referred to this religious trial! If I refuse the appointment of a representative, an Honor Trial cannot take place.”
“……Saintess.”
“No!”
Like a desperate struggle, the Saintess cried out.
Her tone seemed almost closer to a plea.
“I… I cannot lose you too. I’d rather just die alone and have it end……!”
“You are not the only sinner to be tried today.”
A moment of confusion appeared on the Saintess’s face, but Ian took a step forward without further explanation.
The gazes of those standing in high places poured down like a torrential rain.
“Have I not also been referred to a religious trial!”
“Your trial has been deferred. Unless you cause trouble again… oh.”
The Pope, who had been shaking his head with a solemn expression, saw his face crumble.
At the end of his gaze hung a hand axe. It was the weapon that had just destroyed a part of the historic Mountain Court.
An additional criminal act—had he not just committed one?
However, the Saintess did not seem inclined to back down easily either.
“That is impossible! Even if you were referred to a religious trial, it is a trial for a separate matter from mine! You cannot change the trial process without my permission!”
“Is there a specific regulation for that?”
With a surge of emotion, the Saintess, who had been slumped over, forced herself up with the strength of her anger.
She was a woman tattered by resentment and despair. Nevertheless, the sight of her forcing herself up and raising her voice was nothing short of desperate.
“Even if a specific regulation does not exist, it is a legal interpretation that can be applied comprehensively! The margins of the law books aren't wide enough to write down every obvious detail!”
“I understand that when no appropriate supplementary provision exists, the interpretation of the law must favor the sinner.”
“I’m telling you I don’t want to!”
Unable to overcome her frustration, the Saintess’s hand pounded her chest roughly. Tears she thought had run dry began to well up once more.
Hic, hic. Kneeling, the Saintess barely suppressed her crying, letting out sobbing sounds.
It was a heartbreaking appeal.