Chapter 98

I was able to return safely with a little help from Ferdiel.

I was genuinely scared I’d get caught. But in the end, we swapped out successfully, didn’t we?

Let’s have a drink~

“Inquisitor—”

The judge, clearing his throat lightly, glanced around with a troubled expression before slowly continuing.

“We have been receiving daily submissions claiming that this trial is proceeding in a manner unilaterally disadvantageous to the defendant.

We ask that you pay special attention to this matter.”

“Understood.”

Benaya accepted the judge’s reprimand more easily than I expected.

Not the reaction I was expecting. Is he the type to say, ‘I can take insults to myself, but not to His Holiness’? Should I aim for that?

No, but the judge would have to filter out those kinds of submissions himself if he wanted to live.

I’ll put that plan on hold.

“The witness requested by the prosecution has expressed their intention to withdraw their testimony. Is the prosecution aware of this fact?”

“Yes, I am well aware.”

“When questioning the witness regarding circumstantial evidence, the prosecution is urged to exercise caution.”

So complaining a few times actually works.

Still, it was just a light reprimand with no actual penalty for Benaya, but at this point, I’m grateful for even that.

“Understood.”

“Then, let us begin the trial. Witness, please come forward.”

The door opened, and the person I had met at the Viscount’s mansion last time entered the courtroom.

“Witness, introduce yourself.”

“I am Alfred, the butler who worked for the Belmir Viscount family.”

Alfred, who introduced himself, openly showed his anxiety.

Well, Benaya wasn’t the type to show consideration to anyone other than the Pope, so he must have been treated quite harshly.

In any case, heresy was one of the few crimes to which guilt by association applied, so he was probably afraid of getting involved.

“You may question him.”

As soon as the judge’s permission was granted, the questioning began.

“How long have you worked for the Belmir Viscount family, witness?”

“For 38 years. My father was the butler of the Belmir Viscount family, and I inherited his position.”

As the butler’s gaze turned to the Pope, who was observing the whole situation from above, his hunched body seemed to relax a little, as if he was finally at ease.

Honestly, if he’s too blatant about that, he’ll fall out of favor with the Pope.

Does he only know one thing, or is he too nervous to even think about such things?

“Was there anything that made you notice Viscount Belmir’s strangeness?”

“Usually, he was a lord who took good care of his employees and was generous with their salaries.

Everyone was proud to work in the Belmir Viscount’s fief.”

“And then?”

“Starting 8 years ago, the Viscount’s personality started to become a bit eccentric.

However, 3 years ago, when the Corridor of Light was completed, he seemed to have regained his composure, so I thought the collapse of the Corridor of Light might have been the cause.”

There were no lies in his words. However, the absence of lies did not mean it was the truth.

“Relieved, I brought him tea late at night since some good tea leaves had just come in, and I saw a man cloaked in a black robe.”

“What did that man do?”

“He gave the Viscount something.”

“What exactly did he give him?”

“I don’t remember clearly, but I do remember vividly that after waiting for the man to leave and going inside, the Viscount seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood.”

The butler glanced at me. Was this the part where he started mixing truth with lies?

“What age did he look to be?”

“He looked like a boy in his mid-teens.”

A scaffold for my execution was being prepared. As if possessed, I looked at the Pope.

The Pope smiled at me and mouthed his words.

“Have you considered admitting to your heresy?”

The Pope probably hadn’t had the slightest expectation that Ignatz would be a decisive witness from the beginning.

He only wanted one thing from Ignatz: to plant suspicion in the minds of the cardinals.

The suspicion that the heretic ‘Theo Lisitoel’ might have faked his coma for 10 years, deceiving everyone.

“It really makes me want to be petty with Ignatz.”

You’ve already been sucked dry. Swallowing a curse, I calmly questioned the butler.

“Are you saying he was my age? Please be specific.”

“It was 3 years ago, so I don’t remember exactly….”

“Even if you don’t remember exactly, please speak clearly.”

“The defendant will cease unnecessary pressure on the witness.”

He’s so damn fair.

“I have a witness who can prove my innocence. Please allow their testimony.”

My lips twisted into a smirk. I looked straight at Benaya and said mockingly.

“In a situation where two of Sir Benaya’s witnesses have been accepted without clear evidence, I hope that an unbalanced disposition where not a single witness for the defendant is accepted will not occur.”

What I was saying was, if you don’t accept this, it’s going to look like this whole thing is a fixed game.

The inquisitor, while glancing at the Pope, briefly said he would accept it.

If this boring interrogation process dragged on for several more episodes, all the readers would drop it. I’ll solve this today!

“The witness is Mrs. Marta, who has worked as my nanny ever since I was born in the Lisitoel family.”

“This is a witness who is unilaterally favorable to the Lisitoel family.”

“When it comes to my sincerity, I’d be sad if I were second to anyone in the Lisitoel fief, no, in the Empire.”

The nanny, who had appeared in the courtroom at some point, strode forward.

I never thought the place where I would see my nanny again would be such a brutal courtroom.

Seeing the nanny’s haggard face, as if she hadn’t slept for days, I felt a prick of guilt.

She was someone who had sincerely cared for me for a long time, and it didn’t feel good to betray that devotion in a way.

“Even if it is for the young master, I will not speak falsehoods before God.”

At the nanny’s firm attitude, the hesitant judge reluctantly nodded his head.

“The witness is accepted.”

Only then did the nanny stand at the witness stand, glaring at Belmir’s butler with slightly fierce eyes before looking at the judge as if she was about to eat him alive.

“The young master was bedridden for 10 years. I cannot understand why I have to prove that obvious fact.”

“You weren’t watching him 24 hours a day, so how can you be so sure?”

“I was watching the young master 24 hours a day.

If you ask the maids who worked at the Lisitoel County residence, they will give the same testimony.

The reason the young master fell into a coma was due to a sudden, unknown illness.

We didn’t know what dangers might arise, so we couldn’t leave his side for even a moment.”

The nanny placed several books she had brought with her onto the judge’s bench.

“We watched over the young master in six-hour shifts, and these are the records of that.

I have brought all 10 years’ worth of records, so please take a look.”

“The records are extensive.”

It was an obviously extensive amount.

It was enough to look at just that for not one or two days, but a whole week.

“If you cannot read them all, you can look for the records of the day in question. If that is difficult, you can randomly pick a day.”

“Isn’t it strange that these records are appearing as if you knew this moment would come?”

“This is about caring for the sick. Moreover, he is the only young master of the family.

It is a matter of course. Isn’t it more certain than a witness who is only making conjectures based on an uncertain memory from 3 years ago?”

“Making conjectures! I have evidence!!”

Finally, the irate butler threw the bomb.

There could be no such evidence.

Not unless some human had controlled Theo’s body and moved it before I possessed this body.

But that’s nearly impossible.

Who would dare to move the body of Evan Lisitoel’s only son, Theo Lisitoel, who would have been under the most stringent protection in the county residence?

“In the first place, if he had moved secretly, wouldn’t it have been possible to show hallucinations or cast suggestions on mere maids and a nanny to get past them?”

“Hah! Then your memory and evidence might be the evidence created by hallucinations and suggestions!!”

“My evidence is perfect, without a single flaw!!”

Emotions ran so high between the nanny and the butler that it seemed like a physical fight could break out at any moment.

“Enough!!!”

The judge, who wouldn’t just stand by and watch, finally shouted.

“The courtroom is not a place for arguments. We will adjourn today’s trial. Tomorrow, the butler of Belmir, Alfred, must bring the evidence he spoke of.”

The trial was finally suspended.

* * *

“My evidence is perfect, without a single flaw!!”

The moment he shouted this, Alfred felt that everything was over.

Alfred’s eyes went wild as evidence that could easily invalidate his testimony and more appeared.

What he needed right now was the Pope’s protection, and he would have to pay the price for losing his cool and messing things up.

“Excuse me, where are you going?”

According to procedure, a trial witness had to go to a room where contact with the outside world was prohibited.

However, no matter how he looked at it, this was not the way back to the room where Alfred was staying.

“……”

Was he really going to pay the price so soon? Alfred’s eyes trembled.

“Foolish thing. It would have been better if you hadn’t mentioned the evidence.”

It was a familiar voice.

The man who had dragged him like a dog before the Pope. The Pope’s guard dog, Benaya Ignos. He stood there imposingly, like the Grim Reaper.

“I-I….”

“Quietly accept your fate.”

Alfred’s death will become a piece of evidence.

A murder committed by Theo Lisitoel, who was afraid of his crimes being revealed.

If so, the justification, which might have been a little lacking, would now be filled.

“Do you have the evidence?”

“Even if I really had it and presented it, you would still kill me, wouldn’t you?”

Benaya smiled. He was right. It would be great if he had it, but even so, he would kill him.

“Your death will be a martyrdom. A holy sacrifice.”

Benaya’s sword surged towards Alfred.

“‘Holy sacrifice,’ my ass.”

Suddenly, a voice that shouldn’t have been heard in this vast forest was heard.

Amidst a raging gust of wind, Benaya’s sword clashed head-on with another sword.

A metallic sound erupted, splitting the very air.

“Why? Are you surprised, Sir Benaya Ignos?”

From the shadows of the forest, Theo revealed himself.

“Sorry, but it’ll be difficult to kill the witness.”

Standing behind the Hero, he wore a confident smile.

—————–

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