| Author: Akashari | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
“…Sigh…”
“What… what was written in it…?”
Master, who had taken a long time to read the letter slowly, held her forehead and slumped. Her pale complexion wasn’t just due to the dim lighting in the room.
“You read it too. I’m too weary to explain.”
“Uh, let’s see…”
To summarize the contents of the letter I received from Master: it was a request to protect Stell. Apparently, her family only allowed those who excelled in magecraft to be successors, and Stell had many rivals. Some of them were quite extreme, even threatening her life, making it unsafe even within her own home, which is why she had been entrusted to Master.
“It’s a common successor feud. From now on, many will be after Stell to bring her down.”
“But Stell can’t use magic… Ah!”
“That’s right, Magic Crystallization Syndrome can be treated. Once healed, she’ll be left with the foundation of an excellent wizard, which would be highly bothersome for her rivals.”
“Bu-but, she’s just a small child! Who would…”
“Are you saying these assassins are some kind of joke?”
“That’s…”
“To begin with, it’s strange for someone born into a wizard family to suffer from Magic Crystallization Syndrome. It’s caused by the stagnation and solidification of the magical flow within the body.”
“I’m sorry, could you explain it in a way even I can understand?”
“Listen… what I’m saying is that this condition might have been orchestrated by someone.”
As she spoke, Master gently stroked Stell’s head as the girl slept soundly on the bed. There was no sign of her waking up; Master had said that this drowsiness was also a symptom of her illness.
“…Who did this horrible thing to Stell?”
“The Umravolf family practices polygamy. I don’t know who the perpetrator is, but this child has more enemies than you can count on both hands.”
“But we can’t just ignore this. I’ll definitely protect Stell!”
“Yeah, unwillingly, we’ve already repelled the assassins. To the ‘enemy,’ we’re now seen as being on Stell’s side. They won’t forgive us even if we retreat now.”
“But Master, despite everything, you’re going to be Stell’s ally, right?”
“…Hmph, unwillingly, yes. Absolutely unwillingly!”
Although Master turned away grumpily, I knew it was all just to hide her embarrassment. She wouldn’t abandon her, proving once again how kind she truly was. That’s why I could continue to follow her lead.
“Momo, hang those men outside the window along with this sign. I’m going to bed.”
“What is this? ‘These men intruded into a lady’s room without permission’…?”
“Wait a minute, are we being treated as perverts?!”
“Well, it’s better than being considered serial killers with a twisted fetish for murdering young girls, don’t you think?”
“Alright, we’re perverts…”
“Good, good, let me hang you now.”
I dragged the two men dressed in black, who were now utterly dejected, and hung them outside the window. Feeling sorry for them, I decided not to hang the sign. I hoped this experience would deter them from attempting murder ever again.
“You’re too soft, Momo. One day, that softness will come back to bite you.”
“You’re soft too, Master. Instead of waiting for tomorrow, shouldn’t we hand them over to the police… I mean, military police, right away?”
“Those two might not be the only assassins. That’s why it’s a warning. Seeing them will make others hesitate a bit.”
“Ah… I see.”
Although it pricked my conscience a little, I decided to hang the sign with them. This way, those observing the situation would be more likely to be deterred, and hopefully, they’d leave us alone.
“Tomorrow will be busy. If the Saint’s judgment is passed in the morning, we’ll get your arm healed right away. Rest up and regain your strength.”
“But is it alright for both of us to sleep? What about Stell…?”
“I’ll keep half of my consciousness awake. Besides, seeing the hung-up scarecrows outside will make them think twice before doing anything rash.”
“Keeping half of your consciousness awake, is that magecraft too?”
“Just a skill… Ah, and just in case, I’ll teach you a Magic spell.”
“Magic Spell…?”
Did I hear that wrong? No, Master definitely said “Magic” spell.
She lay down on the bed, turned her back to me, and raised her index finger.
“This is the basics of a spell known as the ‘Finger of Death.’ It’s a petty magic spell, but knowing it might come in handy someday.”
✦✧✦✧✦
“――Now, in the name of God of Arbitration, Astraea, we will commence the divine trial!”
The following day, we handed over the men in black to the military police without any incident and headed straight to the grand church where the trial was to be held.
The church was illuminated by stained glass depicting the deity, and the seats were nearly full. Even the second-floor corridors were packed with people. However, not everyone seemed devout; the atmosphere resembled that of onlookers eager to witness the upcoming trial.
“Haha, that Saint is quite popular. I’ve heard that bets are being placed on whether she’ll be found guilty or innocent.”
“Isn’t that blasphemous…?”
“Silence, silence! I’ll have everyone removed! Defendant Roche Hill, step forward!”
“Ms. Roche is coming. Let’s keep quiet.”
As the elderly man, who seemed to exude great virtue, struck his gavel, Ms. Roche slowly walked forward from behind him. Her golden hair glimmered in the sunlight, and her face, though her eyes were closed, exuded a sense of melancholy. She truly embodied the title of “Saint” with her divine presence.
With her appearance, the previously noisy church fell into a profound silence.
“Sigh… it’s you again, Roche.”
“I’m terribly sorry, Archbishop. Yes, it’s me again.”
“Sigh… Defendant Roche Hill, swear by the god you believe in that you will not utter any falsehoods in this court.”
“Yes, I swear by Ascles, the God of Healing, that I will not speak any falsehoods.”
“Very well, to the main issue: you are accused of attracting a large number of wyverns, putting many lives at risk.”
“Yes, but it wasn’t on purpose…”
“Silence! How many times has this happened? Last time, if I recall, you attempted to bake sweets and… invoked a divine miracle?”
“I… accidentally summoned a deity…”
“Master, I feel like I’m hearing something crazy.”
“You’re not alone, Momo. Just listening to this is giving me a headache.”
Even for Master, it seemed that the incidents Ms. Roche caused were quite significant. However, the people around us watched the trial with an air of “just another day,” as if this was a common occurrence.
Ms. Roche, just how many incidents have you caused, and how much trust have you built up…?
“Sigh… Roche Hill. Ordinarily, I would have to sentence you to a severe punishment.”
“I will humbly accept it, even if it means facing the flames of the stake.”
“However, you have a record of saving numerous lives. Can you swear that your goodwill will remain unchanged?”
“Yes, I swear to save lives without discrimination, by the grace of the gods.”
“….Sigh… Then, I pronounce the judgment. You are to pay a sincere amount of compensation to the victims and offer your heartfelt apologies. Understood?”
“Yes, I accept the judgment of the God of Arbitration, Astraea.”
“Does anyone have any objections? …It seems not. Then, this concludes the trial!”
With a very, very long sigh, the Archbishop banged his gavel multiple times. As a signal, someone released a flurry of confetti, and the church was filled with voices of joy.
“Wow… The trials in this world are incredibly lenient.”
“This is an exceptional case. I have deep sympathy for the Archbishop. If you want to see a typical judgment, watch what happens next.”
“What happens next…?”
As I tilted my head in curiosity, the gavel fell again to mark Ms. Roche’s exit. Of course, the trials weren’t just about Ms. Roche. There were still others to be judged today.
“――Next, we will conduct the divine trial for the bandit leader, Nova of Nuclear Heat!”
