Episode 151
[The Third Trial]
[From now on, you will experience the greatest truth you had forgotten.]
[Among the countless events that occurred from the first iteration to the most recent one, it will be the saddest and most heartbreaking event.]
[When the trial ends, a choice will appear.]
[A choice regarding whether you will forgive or not forgive those who tormented you in the past.]
'...What?'
My body bound by ropes, I was being escorted by soldiers when suddenly a system window appeared in my vision.
'From the first iteration to the recent iteration... the saddest and most heartbreaking event among countless things that happened?'
Most of it makes sense, but one part doesn't.
I'm only on my second iteration now, so what is this about countless iterations?
[From now on, I will apply it.]
But before I could even resolve my questions, the system window vanished from before my eyes.
"Huh? Huh?"
At that moment, my entire body becoming transparent, I was ejected from my body and fell flat on my bottom.
"...What is this?"
Rubbing my aching buttocks, I examined my body that had become a soul form with an absurd expression.
'Young master?'
"Frey!"
'...What's going on here?'
I discovered the main heroines who had approached from behind, also in a transparent state like me.
'I was nursing the fallen young master when suddenly a message appeared telling me to receive the third trial...'
'M-me too. And when I came to my senses, my body was transparent. And another me is over there glaring at you...'
'It's the same for me.'
Frey looked blankly at Cania and Clana speaking in great confusion, and Serena with a stiff expression.
'Perouche, you did return from there, right?'
'...Yes.'
Then, he discovered Irina and Perouche who had been wearing serious expressions.
'Hey, guys? What is all this...'
'Everyone, follow me.'
Frey was about to urgently ask them questions.
'You must engrave everything that happens from now on into your eyes without missing a single thing.'
'...Perouche?'
He began to stare blankly at Perouche who was gesturing for the others to follow as she headed toward Frey, who was being pushed by guards and boarding a carriage in the distance.
'Hurry.'
"........"
After watching her for a moment, Frey and the other heroines cautiously followed behind Perouche.
'...What in the world is happening?'
Carrying a mountain of curiosity.
.
"I will now announce the Academy's decision regarding the treatment of Frey Raon Starlight."
Next to Frey, who was still bound by ropes and being transported in an open-sided carriage, an Academy official approached.
"Sunrise Academy has decided to expel Frey Raon Starlight and simultaneously permanently dismiss him."
"...Hmm."
"However, please understand that this decision may be overturned depending on the results of the trial."
Soon, the official who had spoken in a soulless voice while unfolding documents glanced at Frey, and he lifted his head with a sigh.
"Haa..."
On the way to the courtroom that would judge his crimes, countless people lined up to stare at Frey.
'...That trash finally got caught? What exactly did he do wrong?'
Of course, the people's gazes were cold.
The Empire's greatest villain who had been committing atrocities for years was being dragged away in a miserable state, so there was no way good gazes would be directed at him.
'Don't even mention it. He's accused of attempted hero murder.'
'Crazy bastard.'
And those gazes grew even colder as people who knew his crimes began to whisper.
'...Stones are actually flying. I thought that only happened in novels or plays.'
As word of Frey's deeds spread among the public, eventually all kinds of stones and garbage began flying toward the carriage.
Of course, since it was an open-sided carriage designed for exactly that purpose, Frey, whose entire body was bound, had no choice but to take all those attacks.
"..........."
However, contrary to people's expectations that he would scream and thrash about, Frey simply closed his eyes and silently let his body sway with the carriage.
'...What? Why is he like that?'
'Probably became dignified now that death is near.'
'Tch tch, should have behaved from the start.'
Thanks to that, Frey listened to the murmurs of people who had become awkward and stopped their attacks.
'...I want to rest quickly.'
He muttered to himself with genuine sincerity for the first time.
-Creeeaak...
Thus, after twists and turns, when the carriage finally arrived at the courtroom, the guards roughly grabbed Frey and dragged him down from the carriage.
'...Don't say things like "I'll walk on my own." It's urgent, so I'll drag you myself.'
'Do as you please.'
Then, the guards who had given that notice began dragging Frey into the courtroom.
-Thud!
'Ugh...'
Frey, thrown onto the defendant's seat by the guards as soon as he entered the courtroom, winced and twitched.
"Then, I will now begin the trial regarding the punishment of Frey Raon Starlight."
Without any consideration for Frey, the trial began.
"The criminal Frey has used cunning schemes over the past several months to..."
The judge sitting in the judgment seat began to speak, coldly glaring at Frey.
"........"
And many people, including the five main heroines and sub-heroines who had come to the courtroom in advance, and Academy students, were watching that sight.
"The hero 'Ruby' recognized by the Imperial Family and the Church..."
Among them, there was no one who wasn't looking at Frey with cold eyes.
Everyone truly hated Frey.
'I-it was scary...'
'D-don't worry, Hero! I'm here!'
Looking around at them, Frey discovered Ruby shedding tears next to Rosewin.
'...I admit everything.'
Clenching his fist tightly, he answered thus.
"What did you just say?"
The judge who had been reciting the charges looked at him with round eyes and asked.
"Did you not hear?"
Then, Frey smirked.
"Then, I'll say it again."
Looking around at everyone who had been staring at him with cold eyes until now, he quietly opened his mouth.
"I admit to all the charges applied to me."
Then, a heavy silence began to swirl in the courtroom.
"Over the past several months, no... for several years, I used cunning and evil schemes to try to kill the hero Ruby."
In that situation, Frey spoke.
"That's not all. I stole the scholarships that would have been given to numerous Academy students, kidnapped children from the market and sold them as slaves, and above all..."
With his gaze fixed on the five heroines sitting in the front row of the audience.
"I tried to sell the Empire to the Demon King."
"You despicable bastard!!"
Then, someone from the audience stood up and shouted.
'I... I should have killed you with my own hands. With my own hands... I should have cut you down...'
She was Isollet, who had been Frey's homeroom teacher for the past several years.
'Sister, I don't quite understand what you're saying... could you speak clearly...'
'Don't call me sister with those filthy lips!!'
When Frey made a pleased expression and called her sister, Isollet shouted with an expression of disgust.
'You bastard who deserves to be torn apart! When you receive the death sentence, I will personally cut your throat!'
'...Your Honor, aren't you going to intervene when a spectator is disrupting the trial?'
Looking at her for a moment, Frey, whose fist had trembled slightly, soon spoke to the judge with a calm expression.
'Please call the guards and have her removed.'
'Criminal, do you even realize what position you're in...'
'Until the trial is confirmed, I have no reason to be called a criminal by you.'
Hearing those words, the judge raised an eyebrow and spoke in a low voice.
'I ask all spectators to remain quiet until the trial is over.'
'What good will saying that do? "Professor" is likely to run wild again.'
When Frey frowned and answered thus, the judge tilted his head.
'I said I will admit to the facts regarding all charges against me. Do you not understand what this means?'
'...Defendant.'
'I'm telling you to hand down the verdict quickly. I have absolutely no intention of becoming a clown.'
"........."
Frey, speaking like that, exuded an atmosphere that was somehow exhausted and weary, not the ridiculous and annoying appearance he usually showed.
'Then, um... since the criminal has admitted to all charges, I will hand down the verdict.'
Thanks to that, the judge who felt chills down his spine unknowingly began to read the prepared verdict in a trembling voice.
"This court sentences the defendant Frey Raon Starlight to the maximum penalty of 'death'..."
At the word 'death,' everyone's eyes lit up.
'...My victory, Frey.'
And Ruby, who was similarly shining her ruby eyes, muttered while receiving a shoulder massage from Rosewin behind her.
'In the end, you couldn't satisfy me either.'
As soon as her words ended, the judge raised the gavel.
"Wait."
".....?"
But right at that moment, Frey, wearing a despicable expression he hadn't shown for a while.
"The death penalty isn't it."
He began to smile and head somewhere.
"Miss Clana."
'...Get lost.'
Soon, the place Frey arrived at was in front of Clana, who had been sitting in the audience seats.
'Back then, you refused the oath I proposed... didn't you?'
'You withdrew it yourself. Get lost. I don't want to see your face even for a moment...'
'Then, I still have a chance to use the oath, don't I?'
'...What?'
At those words, Clana frowned.
'Here is the Empire's ancient law.'
Leaving Clana behind and heading back to the center of the courtroom, Frey pulled out an old book from his clothes, no one knew when he had taken it.
'It's a law that was lost very long ago, so only some of its contents have been handed down even within the Imperial Family, but anyway, the main point is...'
Mocking the judge and audience who were quietly glaring at that book, Frey declared.
"According to Article 200, Clause 7, if one accepts a royal figure's request and withdraws the oath... the oath user is given one more chance to use the oath."
Then, people's expressions began to harden.
"Therefore, I will use the oath once again before the royal family right here and now."
Among those people, Frey, who had been wearing a weary smile.
'Please minimize my sentence.'
"...What did you say?"
'By the authority of the royal family, minimize the sentence I will receive in this trial.'
Turning around to look at Clana, he declared thus.
'This is not a proposal but an order. Since the oath is intertwined with ancient magic, you cannot refuse.'
'W-wait...!'
'Don't think about canceling it with another oath. The Moonlight family and the Imperial family have already used the oath.'
When Frey finished speaking, silence fell over the courtroom.
'I... will do as he says.'
In that situation, Clana declared so with an expression of humiliation.
'Then... I will hand down the verdict again...'
In that silence, the judge who had been gritting his teeth pronounced a new verdict in a low voice.
"I sentence the criminal Frey Raon Starlight to... indefinite house arrest..."
Having finished the verdict, the judge began grinding his teeth so hard they creaked.
"That's nonsense!!!"
"This is rigged!!"
"Let go! Let me go!!"
Among the audience, a commotion broke out.
[Villainy Point Investment System Notification!]
[The Hero's artifact awakening rate has reached 100 percent!]
[The final scenario will be unlocked!]
"Huu..."
In that situation, Frey looked at the system window that had finally appeared before him.
"Finally."
Then, looking at the people he loved who would soon meet their end, some cursing at him from the audience seats or even drawing weapons and rushing at him.
[Main Quest: The Final Battle]
- Defeat the Demon King and perish together.
Reward: One wish ticket to pray to the Sun God, world peace.
"Finally, I've made it here."
Then, turning his gaze to Ruby who had a slightly flustered expression.
"After giving everyone a happy ending..."
He quietly muttered in a soulless voice.
"...I will rest in peace."
The sun that had been shining on him was gradually setting.