Chapter 5: A trial

The tiger beastmen began to lead me back to the tribe. I did not struggle or try to respond with them because I knew it was no use.

How many times did Arinya try to get words through to them but still failed?

It’ll be faster and easier to see what’s going on.

Just look at the way they were glaring at me with hate in their eyes.

It was as if I ate their last piece of meat without asking.

I suddenly miss the civilization that comes with the modern world, dammit. If this were the 21st century, you wouldn’t be able to drag someone off like this with no explanation whatsoever or even a fair hearing.

But strangely, I wasn’t feeling the fact that I had left my mundane and wallflower life behind. My studies were the only thing going for me, but even if I was good at it, I didn’t exactly like going to school.

It was exhausting rather than fulfilling.

So, if I were asked if I wanted to go back to my world, then… I stopped walking and looked at what they claimed to be a fortress made of wood with pointed tips.

This? This is what they think will save them from an invasion?

How… Caveman-like.

And you know what? We indeed lived in caves. Not all of us. Just the single ones.

Those with a spouse or spouses could live in huts made of wood and dried leaves as a roof. Ah, I think the cave is better than that unstable hut.

I wasn’t given the luxury of finishing that thought.

One of the tiger beastmen pushed my back lightly—well, ’lightly’ for them, which meant I stumbled like a baby deer seeing snow for the first time.

“Move,” he growled.

Wow. What. A. Polite. Charming. Truly peak customer service.

I swallowed my sarcasm and kept walking. No point provoking people who could literally throw me across the village like a sack of potatoes.

As we passed through the so-called fortress gate, I could already feel eyes turning toward us. Curious ones. Annoyed ones. A few that were outright hostile.

Perfect.

Just what my emotionally exhausted self needed—an audience.

And just as we walked, they followed from behind like they were sem kind of unorganized entourage.

The beastman holding the rope around my wrists yanked slightly, guiding me toward the chief’s cave, and reality finally clicked.

Oh.

Oh no.

This wasn’t ’a talking-to’ or ’Arinya got lost’ situation.

This was a trial.

I mean, it was already pretty clear that they were taking me for some questioning when they tied my hands but an actual hearing?

My stomach plummeted.

Couldn’t I have a normal moment for once?

I feel like the only peaceful moment I’ve had since I possessed Arinya’s body was when I stared at the setting sun in the yellow flower field.

What did Veyra tell them this time?

That I tried to steal her mate candidates?

That I poisoned her food?

That I breathed too close to her and tainted the air?

Honestly, with her… any of these were plausible.

The beastmen shoved me forward, as if I wasn’t already walking.

Wearing no panties felt uncomfortable, and that was why the thought of falling felt dreadful. I’ll be exposing my privates to the entire tribe if I fall and my skirt lifts up even a little.

When will they invent pants? If they don’t, I guess I’ll have to take matters into my own hands. That is… as soon as I get out of whatever situation I was getting dragged into.

My feet scraped the dirt, and for a moment, I felt Arinya’s bitterness, her fear, her exhaustion, mixing with my own.

I inhaled shakily.

Right. Fine. Let’s get it over with.

If this is going to be a false accusation trial, at least I’ll listen to the charges first before planning my emotional meltdown.

I was no lawyer, and not even a law student but I knew for sure that these idiots were going to throw accusations with no facts.

And I have to make sure I don’t get locked up. If I do, Damar might come and rescue me.

I paused.

Ah, actually, never mind. The last thing I need is him showing up, sniffing me, and declaring his mating claim in front of the entire tribe.

I’m trying to survive here, not audition for their village scandal of the decade.

As we entered the cave hall, I found the scene familiar.

It’s no news that Arinya is always getting dragged into situations like this.

I stepped inside and let my gaze sweep across the multiple faces, not because I was anxious, but because I needed to see what expression Veyra would be wearing today.

Fear, smugness, fake weakness, fake asthma attack, well… She changed it like jewelry. So maybe he could wear them all at once.

From Arinya’s memory, Veyra was such a bitch when they were alone, but she couldn’t even do anything to her because it would be giving her father, as well as the rest of the tribe to act against her favor.

And because she did not do anything, Veyra put it upon herself to create such scandals.

But she wasn’t there today.

I narrowed my eyes and scanned again, slower this time, but still nothing. Just a sea of faces turning toward me with varying degrees of disgust.

Huh.

So it was either that she was late, hiding, or planning a grand entrance.

Typical Veyra.

Before I could look a third time, a voice cut through the noise.

“Silence.” It was my father’s voice. Rakan.

Sharp, deep, chilling… The kind that’s filled with authority.

He stood in front, wearing a brown bear’s hide. The bear’s head acted like a hood, and the bear’s hands fell flat on his bare chest across both his shoulders.

That was the symbol of a chieftain.

A few beastmen wore animal skin over their shoulders, barely since there was still a lot of skin exposed, while the others left their upper body bare, some to show off their packs and the others, because they couldn’t catch an animal worthy enough to show they possessed strength.

The bigger the animal, the bigger the pride.

And that was why the bear belonged to the chief.

“Bring the accused forward.” Another voice spoke. It was an elder.

I didn’t resist when the guards flanked me. There was no need. I simply walked to the center, with my spine straight, and my chin level.

The elder, claiming I was the accused, stood next to my father, his expression carved into something that was supposed to look stern and wise but only managed pompous.

I mean, I’d laugh if this were a drama I was watching but let’s not try to make them angry and listen.

“Since Veyra, the victim, is in no condition to attend this hearing,” he announced, “…the trial will proceed without her testimony.”

I blinked once.

Victim?

Another elder jabbed a finger in my direction.

“You are hereby accused of poisoning Veyra and attempting to flee the settlement afterward. You shall be punished, Arinya.”

The room exploded in gasps, mutters, and someone even choked dramatically.

And me?

I just sighed internally.

Ah. So it was the poisoning scheme again.

Why was I so unlucky?

The universe really had no imagination.

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