We arrived at the city guard post.
Without delay, I was thrown straight into a cell.
「Stay put here for a while」
The knight said curtly and turned to leave.
「Hey. I’m supposed to compete in the King Selection Tournament at ten tomorrow morning.」
「That won’t be happening,」
He replied bluntly.
But I knew that under special circumstances, bail could be granted.
So I said.
「I’m requesting bail. The King Selection Tournament should qualify as valid grounds.」
「I told you, that’s not happening.」
「Why not?」
「You’re going on trial tomorrow morning.」
「…Trial?」
「That’s right. It begins at 9 a.m. We’ll determine in court whether or not you’re guilty of murder.」
That was awfully fast.
Arrested one day and tried the next?
Way too sudden.
Clearly something was off.
「That’s a problem. Like I said, I need to be at the tournament by ten.」
I protested.
「Give it up. Trials last for hours. You won’t make it.」
the knight snapped dismissively, then left.
(So that’s the game. They’re dragging me into a courtroom to keep me from posting bail.)
I narrowed my eyes.
(Heh. First an assassination attempt, and now a sham trial… They really don’t care how dirty they play.)
I chuckled to myself.
Then I sat in the cell, thinking about how to crush Glaston’s scheme.
-0-
Time passed in the cell.
If I wanted to, I could break out anytime.
I could smash the bars wide open with brute force.
Or use teleportation magic and vanish in an instant.
But I didn’t.
Because I’d already decided to show up to the trial tomorrow.
(If they’re so eager to stage a trial, then I’ll play along.)
In the end, I decided to confront Glaston’s scheme head-on.
In other words.
wrap up the trial as quickly as possible and make it to the King Selection Tournament in time.
Of course, I couldn’t afford to be found guilty.
If I did, I’d be tossed right back in here as a convicted criminal.
I had to win a clean acquittal and walk out of court proudly,
ready to compete.
(The trial’s tomorrow morning, huh. Should be fun,)
I thought, smiling boldly.
-0-
The next morning.
Clear skies.
The same knight from yesterday arrived.
「Get up,」
He ordered.
「You’re being taken to court now. Don’t cause trouble, got it?」
「Yeah, I got it.」
Without resistance, I complied.
Led by the knight, I was taken to the courthouse located east of the central plaza.
A grand-looking building.
I stepped inside.
We walked down the corridor.
At a turn in the hallway, an old man was waiting.
Lord Hydra.
「So you’ve come… murderer.」
He sneered.
I replied calmly.
「I’m no murderer.」
「Oh no, you are,」
Hydra said with certainty.
Then he added.
「Let me make a prediction. The judge won’t forgive your crimes. Our country’s courts are fair and just, you see. Villains like you will be judged accordingly.」
…Right.
In other words, what he really meant was:
『I’ve already pulled the strings behind the scenes to get you convicted, so just give up. 』
He’d already bribed the judge.
No matter what alibi or proof of innocence I showed,
the verdict was already set.
At this rate, not only would I be found guilty,
I might even be sentenced to death.
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