Chapter 94

I ended up not finding anything remotely like a ring until five in the morning.

It would be dangerous once the morning sun rose and it got bright, so I quickly left the warehouse.

“Shouldn’t we get a hint?”

“What kind of hint?”

“Like which warehouse they usually keep accessories in.”

“Why? Do you want to advertise that we’re looking for a gold ring?”

No matter how urgent it was, we had to be discerning.

“Besides, we’re stealing a holy relic of the Church. Do you really think they’ll go, ‘Oh yes, please take it’?”

“Aren’t we just hiding it for a while?”

“No, we’re stealing it.”

I’m going to steal it and keep it for myself.

But if those two find out I stole the ring, I’ll have to return it to the Church, won’t I!

It’s not fair for the Church to monopolize such a cheat item!

“Hey, that’s theft.”

“This can barely be called being a righteous thief.”

“Can a righteous thief even exist in the first place?”

“Yes, it’s possible anyway.”

Because Angel Girl X-ty is a righteous thief everyone knows.

When I arrived at the prison, Hartain was waiting for me in the empty cell.

“Did you have a good trip?”

“See you later.”

With those words, Zephyros quickly abandoned me and fled.

That bastard, he abandoned me?!

No, what do I have to be ashamed of? I’m Fel’s collaborator, after all. No matter how reckless Hartain is, he won’t kill me.

“I know who you’re relying on, but please be careful.”

Hartain strode over and brushed off the dust on my shoulder, which I didn’t know when it got there.

For a moment, I was half-suffocated by a murderous aura that was suffocatingly brutal.

“If His Eminence’s plan fails because of your reckless actions, I will make you regret being alive.”

“Yes, you are more than capable of that.”

As I was cautiously observing him, Hartain finally stepped back and smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.

“I will escort you to the courtroom later!”

“Yes.”

“The lizard was cute.”

Whizz! Hartain threw Albedo, and I hastily caught him.

Albedo, who had been thrown by Hartain, couldn’t even reveal his true form and swished his tail in frustration.

His scales feel strangely dry after just one night, but it must be my imagination, right? I carefully put Albedo back in my pocket.

“So, may I ask what you’re thinking?”

“It’s not that I was thinking anything, I was just trying to help.”

“Theo, I will trust that you acted on your own.”

His gaze is really murderous.

From Hartain’s perspective, it’s a wonder he’s not killing me.

“If I were to become hostile to Fel—”

“Oh! If you have such a plan, please tell me quickly. I’ll take your neck in one go without any pain!”

I shut my mouth at his bright shout, as if nothing had happened.

Yeah, I guess so. I really shouldn’t betray Fel if I can help it. If I did, nine lives wouldn’t be enough, not at all.

* * *

Perhaps because I had protested so strongly yesterday, the second trial was certainly quite different from yesterday’s.

“Witness, can you take responsibility for that statement?”

Both the interrogator and the judge tried to maintain fairness by asking their own questions.

Although if you looked inside, the rampant injustice was still the same.

“Above all, there is certain evidence!”

“What is it?”

“That Theo Lisitoel defeated the Hero of the Holy Sword at the Academy’s Flowering Festival!”

“Is it a problem this time that I beat Lucian purely with my skills?”

“Is it possible for a mere mortal to defeat the Hero who wields the Holy Sword given by God!”

“Are you being serious, Ignatz Schreiden?”

Does he think everything he says is right just because it comes out of his mouth?

“Defendant, do not threaten the witness.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“God said when he bestowed the Holy Sword upon the Hero! ‘This sword being with you means that I am with you, and this is the victory I promise you.’!”

“In a theological interpretation, ‘you’ here may only refer to the first Hero!”

Even I, who am quite confident in sophistry, had to be a bit unreasonable with this one.

The reason I was able to beat Lucian was, no matter how I think about it, largely due to the demon’s help.

I really just want to shout, “Do your worst!” without having to waste my breath like this.

If you’re so displeased with me, then do your worst!!

“Furthermore, the current Hero, Lucian, has not wielded the Holy Sword for long.

To compare him to His Majesty the Emperor, the founding king and savior, would be a cruel thing.”

“Descendant of the Hero, Hero of the Holy Sword, what are your thoughts?”

All eyes, including the judge’s, turned to Lucian.

If I could, I would sincerely apologize to Lucian.

I didn’t mean for the attention to be on you, but this accident happened because Ignatz said something unnecessary.

“I am of the same opinion as the defendant.

I have not yet been able to draw out the sword’s power and am weak.”

Lucian fell silent.

The depression I could feel even from a distance was suffocating.

Damn it, just when I thought his pride was finally recovering, some random guy comes and shatters it!

“There was no foul play whatsoever in the process of the Flowering Festival. No one can tarnish that glory.”

I became the monkey covering its mouth at the words he declared, holding his head high.

Oh my god… did you all hear what Lucian just said?! Our Lucian declared it so clearly and confidently in front of everyone!

I felt like this is what doting parents feel like. Yes! This is the joy of raising a newbie!!

“Rather, I am displeased. Ignatz Schreiden was expelled from the Academy, and one of the reasons was intentional assault and verbal abuse towards a fellow student.

And the person he assaulted was Theo Lisitoel.”

What is this, why do I smell a hint of Zephyros from Lucian? Zephi! What did you do to Lucian!

Whether I was making a fuss inwardly or not, Cian calmly continued.

“Ignatz Schreiden should not be testifying as a witness in this trial.”

“I was unjustly expelled because of Theo Lisitoel!”

“Regardless of the truth, it’s clear that the witness holds a grudge against me.”

I couldn’t let the opportunity Lucian gave me go to waste like this.

I quickly snatched it up and looked at Ignatz.

I had hoped you wouldn’t appear here again. Even if you came out as a villain, it doesn’t mean you have to be a villain until the end.

“Please judge the witness’s qualifications, Your Honor.”

The judge looked at the Pope with a troubled expression.

What should I do? I follow the judge’s gaze and look at the Pope.

The Pope slightly shook his head.

“I accept the defendant’s claim that there is a problem with the witness’s qualifications. Please leave the court.”

“I, I!!!”

Ignatz’s eyes looked more desperate than ever before.

Perhaps Ignatz will really make his final exit like this.

“Your Honor. I ask for mercy and a private audience with Ignatz Schreiden.”

“Granted. The trial is adjourned. It will continue tomorrow.”

And so, the second trial finally ended.

* * *

Having stayed up all night and even gone through a trial, Theo wanted to go straight to prison and get some sleep.

However, Theo still had a schedule.

He couldn’t waste the rare opportunity the judge had granted him.

“It’s been a while, but we just fought in court until a moment ago, so I’ll skip that.”

He looked dispirited, as if all the poison had been drained from him, and kept his mouth shut.

He probably wouldn’t believe me if I said I didn’t mean to corner him.

Theo chose his words for a while, then finally gave up and sighed.

“Do you resent me?”

“Yes, no.”

“Which one is it?”

Theo asked lightly, with a smile.

“I did, but now I don’t know.”

“Why?”

“Because I am a son of a bitch.”

Ignatz let out a sigh.

“Is it because you bribed a student to attack me at the Flowering Festival?”

“…You knew about that too.”

“I suppose so.”

At Theo’s affirmation, Ignatz, who had been laughing awkwardly, tore at his hair.

“It’s what I deserve.”

“I know, I know… but I don’t know why I went that far.”

He acted on his emotions, blinded in the moment.

If he had stopped for even a moment, things wouldn’t have gotten so twisted.

“It’s just, that’s how it was. I was jealous of you.”

“Of what? You’re from a marquis family, and I’m from a count family.”

If you just look at the titles, Ignatz is higher.

“Are you kidding? The declining Schreiden versus Lisitoel led by Professor Evan?

If you ask which family’s son they’d rather be born into, 100 out of 100 would choose the latter.”

“Is it that bad?”

At the compliment to his father, Theo had to try hard to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.

“It was annoying enough that you had the highest grades, but then you were even reprimanded by the professor in front of everyone, so I lost my reason.”

“Still, hitting me was a bit much.”

“I have no intention of denying it. It was a cowardly and bad thing to do, just as you said.”

At the deep-seated regret, Theo answered only with his gaze.

“And yet I couldn’t admit it and caused all sorts of trouble, so it’s only right that I’m ruined like this.”

Haha, Ignatz let out a self-deprecating laugh.

At the voice, tinged with a hint of tears, Theo opened his firmly closed eyes.

“There’s a rule in the Academy that a student who has been expelled cannot re-enroll within 3 years.”

“So I can enroll after 3 years?

The family’s authority is gone, and I’ve caused this much trouble in the Church.

The professors will surely pass me.”

“I’ll persuade the professors.

The professors are fair people, so they definitely won’t fail you as long as your grades are good enough.”

“What’s in it for you?”

At Ignatz’s question, Theo’s lips curled into a grin.

“Because I saw you regret it.”

“Huh?”

Ignatz’s shoulders stiffened slightly, as if he didn’t understand.

“Usually, people don’t even regret such things. They’d just resent the other person.”

“I have a conscience, at least.”

“I’m not sure if you had one before, but you definitely do now, so don’t worry.”

Ignatz hunched over as if his solar plexus hurt from the ensuing fact-based assault.

“If you’re really uneasy about it, you can think positively about it next time I ask for your help.”

“Just that?”

“Is that too difficult?”

“It’s not that it’s difficult, I’m just wondering if that’s all. Like a territory or money. Or giving an order—”

As Ignatz listed various examples, Theo let out a light snort.

“It’s important that you help of your own free will. If I say give me your territory, will you give it to me?”

“That would be a bit difficult.”

“See. I thoroughly crush my enemies, but I’m not so bad-natured as to crush even those who regret.”

Theo’s lips curled into a grin as he extended his hand to Ignatz.

“Don’t squeeze too hard. As you know, I’m quite fragile.”

A hesitant Ignatz took his hand and stared blankly at their clasped hands.

“Are you forgiving me?”

“We’ll see how you do. Let’s be friends instead.”

“You haven’t forgiven me yet?”

“It will be much easier to forgive you if we become friends.”

“Alright, let’s be friends.”

Only then did Ignatz laugh freely. Seeing Ignatz’s laugh, Theo also smiled brightly, as if relieved.

—————–

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