Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: New Phase #7
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Several days had passed since the night Elga and I read letters together.
A few days after Aira had her promotion match against Windmill Knight Verdonas, and was ambushed by the hunter from the protagonist's party.
I was called in as a witness for the trial.
"Under my authority as Chairman of the Continental Sages' Council, Hainax, I hereby convene the second official trial regarding the assassination attempt on the King of Angmar."
The king of a nation.
Even if the victim forgave it, an attack on the queen of a major power like Angmar couldn't just be brushed aside.
To put it in perspective, it was like the emperor of the Roman Empire getting shot. Or the U.S. president taking a bullet.
After heated discussions on disciplining the villain-hunting party.
The Sages' Council, renowned across the continent for their wisdom, seemed to have reached this conclusion.
"Hee hee, execution!!!"
At the black mage's words, everyone in the auditorium watching the proceedings erupted in murmurs.
—Execution, huh.
—Can't cover up assaulting royalty, I guess.
—Obviously. In an era where snatching a nymph candy gets you jail time...!
But Hainax, the white-hooded mage, just shook his head and gestured for black mage Peltor to sit.
"Sir Peltor. The verdict hasn't been handed down yet. Please take your seat."
"Hee hee, urine blast!"
"Ahem, Sir Peltor, what are you doing in this sacred courtroom?"
Black mage Peltor was a man whose mind had snapped after surpassing the 6th Circle.
They said everything from his mouth was a string of negative, gloomy, horrific words and tales.
"However, in this case, I must admit Sir Peltor's opinion might be correct. Even a broken clock is right twice a day."
For once, Chairman Hainax seemed to affirm Sir Peltor's words.
"Angmar, with its ancient traditions and deep history. Its monarch, the highest member of the Magic Academy, ruler of the western wilderness, northern great forest, eastern rugged mountains, and southern plains—Aira von Tarantara—"
The elder mage, muttering something under his breath, scanned the packed auditorium.
Aira herself, sitting in the witness and plaintiff seat, was boredly inspecting her manicured nails.
"Theo, how long is this trial gonna take?"
She was practically the star of this trial, yet so nonchalant.
"It should wrap up soon."
"I've got lunch plans with Elga today. Hope it ends quick."
Fortunately or unfortunately, Hainax couldn't hear our casual chat and continued.
"The crime of loosing an arrow at Queen Tarantara is grave. A barbaric provocation against nation and order. Thus, the utmost punishment is fitting. However—"
However.
I knew well that the real meat came after words like however, but, etc.
Just then, Aira, who had been admiring her nails, turned to me beside her.
"Theo."
"Yes. Shall I tell Hainax you have something to say about the trial?"
"No need. Theo, what do you think their verdict will be?"
"The verdict..."
He said utmost punishment was right, but with however tacked on, maybe some mercy for the protagonist hunter.
Aira deciding to let the incident slide would likely lighten the punishment a lot.
However.
Crime demands a price.
Actions require accountability.
"......"
I glanced at the empty defendant's seat.
The out-of-control hunter who attacked the queen was locked in Ark's heavily guarded underground prison.
His party member—the priestess Miriam, who could be seen as his proxy—was there instead.
Her face was full of resentment and complaint.
Dragged to trial for someone else's crime, finger-pointed by crowds—naturally, Miriam felt wronged.
But a party member's crime can become your own. Protagonist parties move as one.
"Theo, what punishment do you think that guy will get?"
Snapped from my thoughts by Aira's urging, I decided to share my prediction moderately.
"In my view, probably a posting to the Wall."
"Hmm, the Wall, huh."
The massive wall holding back the shadow hordes. Heading there was as good as death.
But not outright execution.
More humane than execution, yet effectively the same—a Wall posting let me avoid the unease of directly ordering death. I used it often.
"Confiscate the defendant's status and assets, and sentence him to the Wall—!"
See? Just as I thought.
Priestess Miriam from the hunter party objected vehemently.
"Sage, sir, isn't that the same as a death sentence? The Wall? That's too harsh! Can't you reconsider?"
"The verdict cannot be withdrawn, Sister Miriam."
"Then can I request a trial by combat? It's a righteous right granted by the gods!"
—Trial by combat?
—For real?
Miriam's words made people exchange glances and buzz.
Trial by combat is proposed by defendant or plaintiff when evidence is lacking or injustice suspected.
Defendant and plaintiff fight directly or hire champions. Victor wins the trial.
I'd seen a few at court—utterly barbaric.
A heinous criminal could buy innocence with a strong mercenary.
It maximized inherited innocence, guilt for the poor, destabilizing Angmar's politics. I could confidently call it one culprit.
Angmar passed a ban on trial by combat, but it remained popular and wouldn't die.
I got tons of hate from mercenaries who fought them and nobles who bet on them.
—Trial by combat. Been ages.
—That'll be fun. Trials should be like this.
—A fight?
"Quiet, quiet."
Hainax banged his gavel. He looked at Aira.
Of course, Aira was fixated on her nails, oblivious. So I spoke for her.
"Aira, ma'am. The defense requests trial by combat. What do you say? Shall we refuse?"
"Trial by combat? That sounds fun."
Aira, who'd been slouching boredly, finally showed interest. For her, personal amusement trumped facts and outcomes.
Her sleepy eyes sharpened as she looked around.
"Who fights who?"
This is your trial.
But without saying that, I replied calmly.
"Well, it's your trial, Queen Aira. You decide?"
Parties often fought directly, but as high royalty, Aira would likely field a champion.
Who would be her champion?
Surely not me.
I was getting a bit tense.
"Fine. I accept the trial by combat...!"
Aira shouted to the crowd. Cheers erupted here and there.
* * *
"I saw the whole thing. Trial by combat—things just got interesting."
After the trial, at lunch.
Elga approached Aira, who was eating at the premium buffet for gold-rank cadets and above.
Elga's plate was piled with veggies. Why only veggies? Herbivore?
"Aira, who're you picking as champion? Got someone in mind? You're not fighting yourself, right? I can step in if you want."
Bellicose Elga seemed itchy at the word combat. But Aira, munching carrot like a bunny, just went, "Hmm—."
"Haven't thought about it?"
Prodded by Elga, Aira swallowed her carrot and said.
"Maybe I'll fight myself—"
I pictured Aira in the trial by combat.
Hunter side would send Miriam, the greatsword warrior woman, or the hunter himself.
Aira vs. them would be legendary talk for ages. But the queen risking it herself?
If the protagonists' plot armor caused even a mishap, my plans would go up in smoke.
"Aira, ma'am. Not mercenaries, but fighting yourself? That's unprecedented."
"You're right."
Aira nodded, seeming a tad disappointed. As she speared a perfectly sliced steak piece—
"Everyone's here, I see?"
Mirna Draco appeared, plate in hand.
"Talking about the trial by combat, from the looks of it?"
"Mirna, you never show your face in the regular cafeteria—what's up?"
Elga growled at Mirna. But Mirna elegantly glided past, pulling out the chair beside me and sitting.
"Occasionally dining with everyone like this doesn't sound bad."
Elga, Mirna, and Aira together again. They lived in the same Ark building, but this was rare.
"......"
"......"
Elga and Mirna glared silently.
Then they broke eye contact and began eating gracefully. As noble ladies, even their utensils made no sound.
Their elegance looked more like a ritual than a meal.
Even hot-blooded Elga ate so refinedly.
She could act this ladylike, but usually found it a hassle?
Clink, clink.
Only I was scraping my knife on the plate against tough meat. Unable to watch, Elga snatched my plate and knife.
"You trying to cut the plate too?"
She expertly sliced it into perfect bites.
"There, done."
Her sisterly care made me a bit embarrassed—and confused at the sudden kindness.
Thud.
Mirna set her silver wine goblet down firmly on the table.
Unlike her silent poise before, it seemed deliberate to draw attention.
"Chatting between men and women mid-meal? Irreverent. Eating is a form of prayer—must be solemn. Didn't you know?"
"Pfft. Hey, Theo, you've got it all over here. So sloppy. Half-elf thing? Childish."
Ignoring Mirna's scolding, Elga wiped my mouth with a napkin.
No idea what was on my mouth, but "half-elf thing"? Sounded discriminatory—I nearly frowned.
Then I realized: Elga was provoking Mirna. They had a bet—winner takes my choice in a month.
"......"
Mirna continued eating calmly. But only above the table. Her leg below trembled faintly.
Like a swan paddling furiously underwater for grace. Matching colors too.
Finally, Mirna downed her wine. She slammed the goblet down again and addressed the group.
"So, have you decided on a champion for the trial by combat?"