The Trial [Third Ordeal]
"...What?"
Bound in ropes and being escorted by soldiers, a system window suddenly appeared in my vision.
'Out of the countless events from the first regression to the most recent... the saddest and most heartbreaking one?'
I could understand most of it, but there was one part that didn't make sense.
I'm barely on my second regression—what did it mean by 'countless regressions'?
Applying now.
But before I could even resolve my doubts, the system window vanished from sight.
"Huh? Wh-what?"
In that instant, my entire body turned transparent and I was ejected from it, landing hard on my butt.
"...What the hell?"
Rubbing my throbbing backside, I looked up in bewilderment at my now-soul form.
"Young master?"
"Frey!"
"...What is going on here?"
I spotted the main heroines, also transparent like me, approaching from behind.
"We were tending to you after you collapsed when suddenly a message appeared about the third ordeal..."
"M-me too. And when I came to, my body was transparent... and another me over there is glaring at you..."
"The same for me."
Frey stared blankly at the flustered Kania and Clana, and at Serena with her hardened expression.
"Perloché, you're back from there, right?"
"...Yes."
Soon, he noticed Irina and Perloché, both wearing grave looks.
"Hey, girls? What the hell is—"
"Everyone, follow."
As Frey urgently tried to question them,
"You must engrave everything that's about to happen into your eyes, without missing a thing."
".....Perloché?"
He began staring blankly at Perloché, who gestured for the others to follow while heading toward Frey, who was being shoved onto a cart by the guards in the distance.
"Hurry."
""........""
Frey and the rest of the heroines watched her for a moment before cautiously following behind.
"...What in the world is going on?"
Brimming with a mountain of questions.
.
.
.
.
.
"We will now announce Sunrise Academy's decision regarding the disposition of Frey Raon Starlight."
An academy official approached Frey, who was still bound in ropes on an open cart being transported.
"Sunrise Academy has decided to expel and permanently ban Frey Raon Starlight."
"...Hmph."
"However, depending on the trial's outcome, this decision may be overturned, so please understand."
The official glanced at Frey after reciting in a soulless voice from the document, and Frey sighed, lifting his head.
"Haa..."
The path to the courtroom, where his crimes would be judged, was lined with crowds staring at him.
"...That scumbag's finally getting hauled off? What the hell did he do?"
Of course, their gazes were ice-cold.
The empire's top delinquent, who had rampaged for years, was now in pathetic chains—no one could look favorably on him.
"Don't even ask. Attempted murder of the hero."
"Fucking psycho."
And as those who knew his crimes began whispering, the stares grew even colder.
"...Stones are really flying. Thought that only happened in novels or plays."
As word of Frey's deeds spread through the crowd, stones and trash soon pelted the cart.
Designed that way on purpose, Frey—bound hand and foot—took every hit.
"..........."
But contrary to expectations of screams or thrashing, Frey simply closed his eyes and let the shaking cart carry him.
"...What? Why's he like that?"
"Facing death, he's finally acting dignified."
"Tsk tsk, shoulda done that from the start."
Listening to the awkward murmurs as the attacks stopped, Frey muttered for the first time in a voice laced with genuine feeling.
"...I just want to rest."
- Screeech...
After a bumpy ride, the cart arrived at the courtroom, and the guards roughly dragged Frey off.
"...Don't say crap like 'I'll walk myself.' This is urgent—we're dragging you."
"Do whatever."
The guards notified him curtly and began hauling him to the courtroom.
- Thud!
"Ugh..."
Tossed into the defendant's seat the moment they entered, Frey winced and shuddered.
"We will now begin the trial for the punishment of Frey Raon Starlight."
Ignoring him entirely, the trial commenced.
"The criminal Frey has, over the past few months, used cunning schemes to..."
The judge on the bench glared coldly at Frey and began.
""........""
The five main heroines and sub-heroines already present, along with academy students and others, watched.
"The hero 'Ruby,' recognized by the imperial family and church..."
Not one among them looked at Frey without cold disdain.
They all truly hated him.
"I-it was scary..."
"D-don't worry, hero! I've got you!"
Scanning them, Frey spotted Ruby crying beside Roswin.
"...I admit to everything."
He clenched his fist and replied.
"What did you say?"
The judge reciting the charges widened his eyes.
"Didn't hear me?"
Frey smirked faintly.
"Then I'll say it again."
Surveying everyone who had stared at him coldly until now, he quietly opened his mouth.
"I admit to all the charges against me."
A heavy silence descended on the courtroom.
"Over the past few months—no, years—I used cunning and wicked schemes to try to kill the hero Ruby."
In that atmosphere, Frey continued.
"And that's not all. I stole scholarships meant for countless academy students, kidnapped market children and sold them into slavery, and above all..."
Fixing his gaze on the five heroines in the front row.
"I tried to sell the empire to the Demon King."
"You filthy bastard!!"
Someone in the gallery shot up, shouting.
"I... I should have killed you myself. With my own hands... I should have cut you down myself..."
It was Isolet, Frey's homeroom teacher for years.
"Sis, I don't get what you're saying... speak clearly..."
"D-don't call me sis with that filthy mouth!!"
As Frey smiled warmly and called her 'sis,' Isolet screamed in disgust.
"You deserve to be torn apart! When the death sentence comes down, I'll chop your head off myself!"
"...Your Honor, aren't you going to intervene with this gallery member disrupting the trial?"
Frey's fist trembled slightly as he glanced at her, but he soon composed himself and addressed the judge calmly.
"Call the guards and drag her out."
"Criminal, do you even realize your position...?"
"Until the verdict is final, I have no reason to be called a criminal."
The judge raised an eyebrow and spoke lowly.
"Gallery members, please remain silent until the trial concludes."
"What good does that do? 'Professor's' about to flip out again."
As Frey frowned in response, the judge tilted his head.
"I admit to all charges against me. Don't you understand?"
"...Defendant."
"Just hand down the verdict already. I have zero intention of playing the clown."
"........."
Frey exuded not his usual ridiculous, irritating vibe, but an air of exhaustion and fatigue.
"Then... uh... since the criminal admits all charges, we will issue the verdict."
The judge, chilled despite himself, read the prepared statement in a trembling voice.
"This court sentences defendant Frey Raon Starlight to the maximum penalty of death..."
At 'death,' everyone's eyes gleamed.
"...My victory, Frey."
Ruby, her ruby eyes shining similarly, muttered while getting a shoulder massage from Roswin behind her.
"In the end, you couldn't satisfy me either."
As her words ended, the judge raised the gavel.
"Hold on."
".....?"
But at that moment, Frey donned a vile smirk he hadn't shown in a while.
"Not death."
Smiling, he headed somewhere.
"Clana."
"...Get lost."
He stopped before Clana in the gallery.
"Back then, you rejected the oath I requested..."
"You withdrew it yourself. Get lost. I can't even stand the sight of your face for a second..."
"So I still have a chance to use an oath on you?"
"...What?"
Clana scowled.
"Here's the Imperial Ancient Code."
Passing her, Frey returned to the center, pulling a worn book from his pocket—uncertain when he'd grabbed it.
"Lost long ago, so even the imperial family only knows fragments, but anyway, the key point is..."
Sneering at the judge and gallery glaring at the book, Frey declared.
"Article 200, Clause 7 states that if an imperial accepts and then withdraws an oath request... the requester gets one more chance."
Expressions hardened.
"So right here, I'll use an oath on the imperial family once more."
Wearing a weary smile amid them,
"Minimize my sentence."
".....What did you say?"
"By imperial authority, minimize my sentence in this trial."
Turning to Clana, he declared.
"This isn't a suggestion—it's a command. Oaths are bound by ancient magic; you can't refuse."
"W-wait...!"
"Don't think of offsetting with another oath. Moonlight and imperial houses already used theirs."
Silence blanketed the courtroom as Frey finished.
"A-as he says... I will."
Clana declared with a humiliated expression.
"Then... we will reissue the verdict..."
In the hush, the judge—gnashing his teeth—spoke lowly.
"Criminal Frey Raon Starlight is sentenced to... indefinite house arrest."
The judge ground his teeth audibly after the verdict.
"This is bullshit!!!"
"Rigged!!"
"Let me go! Let go!!"
Chaos erupted in the gallery.
Hero's Armament awakening has reached 100%.
Final scenario unlocked!
"Hoo..."
Gazing at the long-awaited system window amid the uproar,
"Finally."
Frey eyed those in the gallery cursing him, even drawing weapons to charge—people he loved dearly.
Defeat the Demon King and perish together.
🎁 Reward: One wish to the Sun God, world peace.
"Finally made it this far."
Turning to Ruby, who looked slightly flustered,
"After giving everyone a happy ending..."
He muttered quietly in a hollow voice.
"...I'll rest easy."
The sun illuminating him was slowly setting.