There used to be a high-bounty target feared by people all over the world. No one knows who came up with the name, but it's known as the...
Mobile Fortress Destroyer.
Thanks to my brilliant command, we took down that infamous bounty target not too long ago.
And now, I've come to the Adventurer's Guild to collect the bounty reward for bringing down the Destroyer.
But...
"Adventurer Satou Kazuma! You're under suspicion of committing subversion of the nation! Please come along with us!"
The situation took a strange turn.
"Uh... Can I ask who you are? And, um, what does 'subversion of the nation' even mean? I just came here to get my payout."
I asked the stern-looking woman before me with a hint of trepidation.
The rowdy guild fell into an eerie silence upon hearing the words of the woman accompanied by knights.
"I'm Sena, a prosecutor of the Kingdom. 'Subversion of the nation' refers to committing an act that undermines the authority of the nation. We suspect you might be a terrorist or a minion of the Demon King's army."
Sena, the woman with long brown hair, said, her gaze unyielding.
She had the air of an intelligent beauty, akin to that of a secretary.
Upon hearing Sena's accusation, Aqua chimed in.
"Eh? Hey, Kazuma, what trouble have you caused this time? What crimes did you commit when I wasn't looking? You better apologize right now! I'll apologize alongside you, so make it quick!"
"Are you kidding me? I would never commit such crimes! Besides, we spend most of our time together! You'd definitely know if I did anything!"
As I rebuked Aqua, Megumin interjected:
"Wait a minute, could there be some mistake here? Kazuma may engage in minor infractions, like occasional sexual harassment, but he lacks the audacity to commit a major crime."
"Are you trying to help or provoke me?"
I retorted, and Darkness followed up with her own take:
"Yeah, I don't believe this man would commit such a grave offense. If he had the guts, he'd do more than just ogle at me with creepy eyes when I walk around the house in my skimpy nightgown. He's a loser who wouldn't even dare enter my room, even with consent."
This girl...!
If you want to bring up something like that to try and embarrass me, then I'll give you a taste of your own medicine!"
"N-N-No one is watching you?! Aren't you the one who's also a loser for being tempted to wash my back? Should I tell everyone that even with a sexy body, you're just an inexperienced woman who falls for the 'loser' and his soothing words of temptation?"
My words turned Darkness's face beet red.
"Bastard... Why bring that up here and now...! And just who are you calling 'inexperienced'?! I should be saying that about you!"
"I was being manipulated by a succubus back then, so maybe she added some pickup lines to seduce you, I don't know! And you're the one with the issue, being so docile and scrubbing my back because of the mood! What do you want now? Are you expecting something? How naive and gullible can you be?"
"I-I-I know you still have memories of that...! And as a crusader serving the Goddess Eris, my body is still pure! Calling me gullible and open? I'll kill you!"
As Darkness threatened me, she attempted to strangle me, and we got into a scuffle. One of the knights standing beside Sena had to break up the fight.
Sena, who remained unfazed by the commotion, spoke coldly:
"The teleportation of the Destroyer's core, the Coronatite, was carried out under this man's instructions. The destination for the ore's teleportation was the Governor's mansion."
Her words cast a chilling silence over the entire guild.
Coronatite.
During the battle against the Destroyer, I had asked Wiz to teleport that stone, which was about to explode.
And the place she had teleported it to was the Governor's mansion.
"To be honest, I'm surprised the Governor survived the explosion."
"He's not dead, so don't just write him off! By coincidence, the Governor had sent all his household staff away and was in the basement by himself, so there were no casualties. But the mansion was completely destroyed."
Hearing that there were no casualties, I let out a sigh of relief.
Though, deep down, a part of me might have secretly wished for it to happen.
Though considering the situation I now found myself in, maybe this was the best outcome my luck could produce.
"So, no one died in the fight against the Destroyer? That's great."
"It's not great! Do you understand the situation now? You sent an explosive device into the Governor's mansion and destroyed the whole thing! As I mentioned earlier, you're under suspicion of being either a terrorist or a minion of the Demon King's army. Anyway, I'll hear your side of the story back at the station."
Sena's words caused the guild to erupt in chaos once again.
This was expected. All the adventurers present knew what kind of person I was.
They also knew the pivotal role I played during the battle against the Destroyer.
"Ku, I thought it was something terrible... Kazuma was the most valuable player during the battle against the Destroyer. He might be the one who ordered the teleportation of the Coronatite, but he had no choice in that situation. If not for Kazuma's quick thinking, people might have died when the Coronatite exploded. He should be commended, not prosecuted."
The guild was filled with sounds of people voicing agreement with Megumin.
You guys...!
While I was touched by their support, Sena spoke coldly:
"By the way, the charge of subversion could be brought against suspects other than the mastermind. I would advise everyone to watch their words and actions before the trial concludes. If there are people who wish to join him in jail, I won't object."
The guild fell into another heavy silence after her statement.
Afterward –
"'Don't worry! The world is huge! Compared to a place with lots of people, the chance of it ending up somewhere with nobody around is higher! Don't worry, I'll take all the responsibility! I might look this way, but my luck is incredibly good!'... I remember that's what Kazuma said during that moment..."
Aqua suddenly recalled and mentioned that.
I did say that, but how did she remember it so clearly? She's usually quite scatterbrained.
Could it be...?
"Aqua, don't tell me...? You're thinking of shifting all the blame onto me...?"
Aqua merely shifted her gaze awkwardly without answering the question.
While I hadn't directly asked her if she was using me to live in the mansion, my suspicions might have been justified...
"By the way, I never made it inside the Destroyer. If I was there, I would've stopped Kazuma from making that decision. Unfortunately, I wasn't there, so it can't be helped. That's right, how unfortunate."
Megumin started a monologue out of nowhere, although no one had asked her for her thoughts.
"Hey, hold it. Aqua, Megumin, you two... Could it be...?"
The thought crossed my mind, but before I could ask, Darkness, the only one who was still defending me, stepped forward and addressed Sena:
"Wait a minute, I'm the mastermind, and I was the one giving the instructions. I can provide proof that I was capable of such leadership."
Darkness seemed about to retrieve something, but Sena interrupted her.
"I heard that you only stood in front of the Destroyer and were totally useless against the golems, correct?"
Darkness fell silent, her eyes tearing up as she glanced at me.
However, in this situation, there was no denying that she had been somewhat ineffective, apart from lifting the golem's head.
I couldn't afford to get involved in this right now.
Wiz, who had been quiet until this point, timidly raised her hand.
"Um... the one who cast the teleportation spell was me. If you want to arrest Kazuma-san, then I..."
Aqua quickly grabbed Wiz's raised hand.
"Don't do it, Wiz! If sacrificing one person is enough, it's for the best! I know you feel bad, but you need to endure this...! Kazuma isn't leaving us forever. We'll have to wait patiently for his return from prison, okay?"
Aqua's words made it sound as if my prison sentence was already confirmed. However, I couldn't allow Wiz to take the fall for my actions.
"Forget it. Even if you're not with me, I can still count on the people in the guild."
I looked around at the other adventurers in the guild, but they all averted their eyes.
Even you guys...?
"Hey, what kind of joke is this?! Put in more effort, you guys! At least resist a little!"
But amid my protest, a young mage spoke softly, her words laden with a certain distress.
"The first time I met Kazuma-san... That's right, I saw it that time. At the alley behind the guild, Kazuma-san stripped a female thief of her panties. Yes, his expression back then left a deep scar on me."
Wait...!
Another voice chimed in:
"That's right, I always thought Kazuma would get into big trouble one day..."
"Yeah, me too. I heard a rumor that he locked the priestess in his party inside a cage and used her as bait for crocodiles."
"There's more; I heard that when someone challenged him to a duel, Kazuma stole the challenger's magic sword and sold it."
Hey, wait! Someone did saw the duel!
Why didn't I get any recognition from defeating Mitsurugi?!
"Oh, you guys are turning on me now?! I'll remember your faces, loudmouths! Better watch your back after I prove my innocence...!"
However, as I was giving them a piece of my mind, two knights suddenly grabbed my arms, their actions anything but gentle.
"I won't forget this!"
...
"First let's start by stripping you."
Rena said all of a sudden.
"Is this a custom of this world? Is the prosecutor allowed to strip any man they see? Maybe being imprisoned isn't actually that bad."
"Just how quickly does your mood change?! First, you were angry about everyone betraying you, and now you're as calm as the wind."
Sheesh, does she always have to raise her voice so loudly?
She reminds me of those strict tsunderes who either yell at you or hit you for pissing them off.
"Yeah I'm a bit mad. But there's nothing I can do because if I act upon it, I'll just get into more trouble."
"You've finally said some very promising words..."
After all, these were just charges; I hadn't actually been convicted yet.
If I were convicted, that would be a different story.
Because if they do try to execute me...
"Hey, grab his sword from him..."
Sena ordered one of the knights.
He tried to pull it out, but to no avail.
"What is the problem? He doesn't seem to be resisting."
"T-The sword won't budge!"
Another knight assisted and their combined efforts were fruitless.
"Is this some sort of Lock spell that you casted on your sword?"
Sena asked.
This gave me an idea...!
"The sword only allows those who are innocent and pure-hearted to wield it... Observe..."
I also couldn't pull the sword out.
"Very convincing... But seeing that you also can't use it as a weapon, then we'll just let you keep it since you're not convicted yet. Though I'm not sure if the other prisoners would react the same... Fufu..."
Sena's words carried a subtle undertone of intimidation.
I couldn't help but feel an increasing sense of dread.
Great, now I'm genuinely afraid of what might transpire if other prisoners decide to harm me in an attempt to steal Kiritsu from me.
The knights grabbed my arms once again and forcefully led me toward a large, seemingly empty prison cell.
Its emptiness was only an illusion, concealed by the impenetrable darkness that emanated from within.
I couldn't shake the feeling that there were some truly deranged criminals lurking in there.
They were going to gut me alive...!
"Hey, I'm the hero who saved this town, right? Are you for real? Are you really going to lock me inside a cell? Are you serious?"
I implored, my voice quivering with fear and desperation, as the cell's chilling ambiance sank in.
I became increasingly anxious after seeing the grim interior.
I directed my questions to Sena, attempting to gain her favor, but...
"I'll question you thoroughly in the next few days. Just rest here for today."
Sena replied, ignoring my queries.
With that, the knights gave me a forceful push, and I found myself inside the cell.
Afterward, Sena turned and walked away with the knights.
"Hey! Wait!... Hey!... Hey!... Really...?"
I called out futilely, my pleas echoing through the dark and cold cell.
Within the shadowy confines, I gripped the iron bars tightly, my composure slipping away amidst the sudden turn of events.
Only this morning, I had been lounging in my mansion.
How had things taken such a dark and unexpected turn?
"Well. Well. Well... Looks like Sena has brought in a new customer..."
A menacing, deep voice emerged from the depths of the cell.
"I've been dying to wait for someone to provide me some 'intense' service..."
The voice sent a shiver down my spine.
C-Customer...?!
Service...?!
They believed I was some kind of succubus provider...?!
"Come here, young and pure child... Boy, do we have some exciting memories to make with you..."
The sinister voice continued.
That last sentence sealed my fate.
Kiritsu, I knew you'd protect me from death, but could you also shield me from nonconsensual...
...
"And that's why I ended up in this place..."
I explained to the three prisoners who had gathered around in a circle.
Somehow, campfires were allowed in prison cells but it made sense for warmth and other reasons.
"Wow, that must really suck. At least I have the guts to do it deliberately."
The skinny old man with numerous cuts chimed in.
I'll refer to him as The Old One.
Apparently, he was serving a few years for drugging his customers with tea and cutting off all their hair to make wigs to cover up his 'unprofessional' balding head.
"To have all those people who betrayed you like that. At least you had the restraint to not hold any vengeance towards them."
The large and obese man remarked.
I'll call him The Large One.
He mentioned he was serving five years for stabbing a popular local animal in his town because it didn't remember him, even though he was the one who provided the service of cleaning its litter box.
Surprisingly, the animal survived.
"A very saddening story. I would like to tell you my story. But I only say it once to every new prisoner I meet. These other two have already heard it, so I can't say it until they're asleep."
In a clichéd prison trope, I half-expected to meet an overly muscular and buffed prisoner, but I had yet to come across such a person.
The individual in front of me was a man in his 40s, not skinny, but not particularly muscular.
He had the physique of an average hard-working man, but his eyes held a hidden danger.
I'll call him The Menacing One.
"Aw man, I thought he would forget it by now, but he still remembers..."
The Large One grumbled.
"I don't remember at all. What was it? Say it again! Who are you people?!"
The Old One protested, and their bickering continued.
"Old man, your age is getting to you. Just relax and make up for the time you have left in this world."
"As if I care if I die in this place. Everyone has already seen my bald head, so it's too late."
The Old One replied with a resigned sigh.
He cared more about what people thought of the top of his head than his reputation as the owner who drugged his customers...
"Boy, there's something I want to say if it comforts you."
I turned my attention to the menacing man in his 40s.
"Even though it is scary to be imprisoned in the cell, part of being a man is living in fear for some time. It helps you learn a lot of things."
That's great.
But how is living in prison going to help me learn?
"Yeah, your situation doesn't even sound too bad. You'll get through it. And when you get back home, you'll be happily reunited with your three girlfriends."
The large one spoke to me.
"They're not my girlfriends. They're traitors. Except the blonde one."
"Oh, right. Well hey, at least you and the blonde one have the most compatibility. She seems like such a beauty by the way you described her. Especially that bath event. Tell me she isn't throwing any signs at you without telling me."
"The bath event was probably just my luck and her inexperience playing into it. She's also a noble. And she already has her heart set on the Prince. You know how those romance stories work."
"Sounds like a cover-up to me. But I won't interfere with your love story. Best to let the both of you learn to love together."
"What love story? We're not in love with each other. You've got it completely wrong."
"Young boy... I remember my first time confessing to my now-deceased wife. It was a lovely memory for me... Don't be afraid to tell her how you feel... Sniff..."
The old man, who couldn't remember anything, now suddenly remembered, and his eyes welled up with tears.
"I just said it wasn't like that. We're just party members."
"My ass. Don't be discouraged just because the guy you're competing against is the Prince of this Kingdom. There's a lot more than just looks and strength. You need a loving personality."
The man in his 40s said.
"That's what I've been saying! Personality seals the deal! She doesn't have to be too beautiful or too busty to my liking. As long as she was normal and sweet, then I would propose to her. If a woman like that would ever show up in my life..."
"You've already found her. But it'll take time for her to realize. I know from experience. Don't worry, young man. She'll come around."
The menacing man offered his reassurance.
The large one chimed in, adding to the conversation:
"Yeah, what he said. You're smart, funny, not to mention, you defeated a Demon King general, the Destroyer, and she even invited you to her room to tell her all her 'secrets'. There's no way she hasn't fallen in love with you for completing such feats. You're also decent looking, not too skinny, but not too obese. You have the perfect physique to start growing muscles."
That's great to hear from you, large one... Even though your physique lacks both skinny and muscular...
"I appreciate you guys giving me love advice, but I'll handle it on my own accord. First, I want to make tons of money and give it to my family. Then I'll worry about marriage."
I had originally planned to give my family half of the rewards from defeating the Destroyer, but now I have another adversary to deal with.
"By the rate of how your business is growing and with your mindset, you'll be rich in no time."
"Indeed. I used to own a tea shop, and from my experience, you'll be dancing all over your riches."
"Maybe you can bail me out when you've achieved your goal. I still have four more years to go..."
Man, I thought prison was going to be a terrifying experience, but I've bonded more with these three guys than with those three girls.
...
The next day...
"How are you hanging up in there?"
Darkness inquired, her eyes filled with concern.
"Doing well."
I replied nonchalantly.
"R-Really?"
A magical barrier now separated me from the three girls who had come to visit me.
It resembled one of those rooms where a prisoner converses with loved ones through a phone, separated by a bulletproof window.
"You two certainly have guts to show up after yesterday's incident..."
I glared at the other two girls, who immediately averted their gazes and started whistling.
"We totally didn't visit you out of fear of what Kazuma would do to us after you get out, definitely not."
"Yeah, I definitely wasn't haunted from my sleep by what you're capable of, considering what kind of man you are, escaping prison easily and kidnapping one of us to get your way."
"What kind of man do you think I am, anyway? Besides, breaking out of this prison is the least of my concerns, and it would only make matters worse if I attempted it."
Darkness then added:
"That's indeed correct. You're merely incarcerated on accusations, not yet convicted. But don't worry, the three of us will become your esteemed lawyers."
How delightful...
"Megumin, check out this magic trick."
Aqua was holding a lockpick for some reason, and putting it up against the magic barrier.
"Hey, Darkness, you were about to pull out something from yesterday. What was it?"
Yesterday, she was about to pull out something that could've potentially save me from sleeping in the cell but her pride as a female crusader was completely shattered by Sena.
"Hm? Oh... It was something that I wanted to show you when I told you I was going to tell you all about myself."
So she didn't invite me to her room for 'other' purposes?
I should really have my expectations lowered so I won't be disappointed.
"Huah...!"
Aqua was performing some bizarre stunt with the lockpick.
"Does it have anything to do with your nobility?"
"P-Perhaps."
Bingo.
"Don't pull it out. Save it for a last resort."
"Is there any particular reasons why?"
"The last thing I want is to be saved by a girl."
"But I just saved you from that golem's head."
"T-That was a life-threatening situation."
"You do realize that if you're found guilty, you're going to be executed."
"E-Executed! N-Never mind that, just use your noble powers or whatever it is inside your chest!"
Aqua and Megumin paid no attention to our banter, more focused on the lockpick pressed against the magic barrier.
"Wow, Aqua, how did you do that?!"
"A magician never reveals her tricks!"
For some reason, Darkness turned 90 degrees and covered her chest.
"F-For a moment, you sounded cool, but now you're lame again. But you're right. I should save it for a last resort. No more 'buts.'"
"But I didn't even say it—"
"No more 'buts!'"
I groaned in frustration and noticed the lockpick next to my hand.
"What the...?"
I seized the lockpick that Aqua had once held.
The lockpick that had been on the other side of the magic barrier...
... bypassed by this girl...
"What do you think of my new magic trick, Kazuma?"
I know I had mentioned that I didn't want to escape, but...
"I think I might want to have an amazing prison escape sequence tonight..."
Darkness panicked at my words and protested:
"But you just said it was the least of your concerns!"
"No more 'buts'!"
"If you wanted to escape, why not have Chunchunmaru do all the work?"
Megumin suggested.
At this point, I gave up trying to convince her that it wasn't his name.
"He doesn't want to come out for some reason."
Of course, the moment I mentioned that, Kiritsu pulled himself out of my sheath.
Then he cut down the magic barrier to greet Darkness, Aqua, and Megumin, filling the air with his happy chirping noises.
One of the knights noticed the magic barrier being sliced open and rushed to report to higher authorities.
As the magic barrier reformed itself, Kiritsu cut it down once more and returned to my sword belt.
"P-Prosecutor Rena! I just saw the prisoner pull out his sword and cut through the magic barrier...!"
"What? Everything seems fine to me. And the sword is still sheathed in there. Do you perhaps need a few more hours of sleep, young knight?"
The girls said their goodbyes, promising that they would find a reasonable explanation for my innocence.
But I couldn't rely on them to save me.
That would hurt my pride as a man.
Tonight, I would escape this prison by myself...
With the help of my three closest friends...!
...
"So, one of your girlfriends managed to sneak in a lockpick...? Amazing!"
"She's not my girlfriend!"
The four of us gathered in our circle around the campfire in the middle, just like last night.
I discreetly hid the lockpick inside my sleeves and showed it to the rest of my cellmates.
The old man closed his eyes, chuckled with his arms crossed, and said:
"That woman is a sly one... Makes me jealous of her talents."
"Trust me, you wouldn't want to be her."
Unless you're talking about immortality, then I guess you could since you're at a very old age to want that...?
"Anyway, even if we do escape, where the hell do we even go? It's not like we're going to conveniently avoid running into a single knight on our way out."
Such scenarios were typically crafted for the convenience of the main protagonist.
In reality, we'd likely be discovered and would have to escape with our lives.
We'd become Wanted Men forever with a bounty on our head.
Then everyday is a life-threatening situation with people wanting to cut our heads off.
And then I'll get my head on a pike and then...!
I started to contemplate laying low and waiting for my trial, realizing the severe consequences of escaping a prison.
I had a lot to lose.
My family would probably hate me forever, and I'd forfeit the mansion, what was left of my already-tarnished reputation, and more...
I felt like I was forgetting about three important people.
Oh right, my family...!
However, all my doubts were washed away when a menacing man in his 40s rose from his seat and approached me.
"Kazuma..."
He took the lockpick from my hands with a confident smug on his expression.
"Every journey begins with a single step..."
And he raised it high above all of us.
"This is step one...!"
"Secure the keys!"
"Secure the keys!"
It was a lockpick, but if it made them happy, so be it.
The chant, which was probably loud enough for the knights to hear, filled me with determination.
"I want to escape as well...!"
"Now... we take over this prison...!"
We all stood up with our fists raised above our heads.
"OORAH!"
"OORAH!"
"OORAH!"
Whatever happened to just escaping...?
As we all rushed toward the door that blocked us from the path of freedom.
It was secured with an eight-digit combination lock.
"Alright, gentlemen, time to sleep."
The lockpick was tossed outside, and we all collectively headed to our respective bedsides.
...
"Get up! Come with me. It's time for your interrogation!"
Sena barked as she barged into the cell and roused me from my slumber.
Still wrapped in my blanket, I groggily protested:
"What is it, it's still early..."
"It's almost noon! Your cellmates are already out in the field! How do you normally spend your time?!" Sena retorted sharply.
Under the watchful eyes of the guards, I was led to a certain room.
"All right, get in. I'll listen to what you say, then decide if I'm going to prosecute you. You better think carefully before you speak!"
Sena warned as I cautiously entered the room. In the center, there was a table with two chairs.
There was also a small table and chair near the exit, reminiscent of a police interrogation room as seen in movies.
One of the knights who escorted me took a seat at the entrance, silently placing a piece of paper on the table.
This action was for taking a statement, right?
The other knight guided me to the middle seat in the room, standing quietly behind me, presumably ready to intervene if I became violent.
In this small room, two knights in full armor stood guard. Feeling the mounting pressure, Sena took her place on the other side, setting a small bell on the table.
"Do you know what this is? This is a magic item that can detect lies, used in court and places like this. This bell is synchronized with the magic caster in this room, and it will ring when lies are uttered. Please remember this... Well then, I'll begin my questioning now."
With that, Sena's expression turned serious, and the interrogation commenced in this tense atmosphere. She tapped her index fingers on the table, trying to exert pressure on me.
"Satou Kazuma. Age sixteen, working as an adventurer. Your job is also an adventurer... So, state your place of birth and what you were doing before you started adventuring."
A sudden high-difficulty question.
Where did I come from, and how should I explain that?
Sena had warned that the bell would ring if I told a lie.
"I'm from a farmhouse not far from here, and I was an esteemed farmer-."
Ring!
The bell chimed as I spoke.
Hey, I didn't lie okay.
Sena, who had been tapping the table, stopped and frowned.
"Write this down, falsifying place of birth and job history."
She instructed, and the knight in charge of taking minutes began writing.
"Wait! I didn't lie!"
Ring!
Why did that bell keep ringing?
I was genuinely giving my place of origin.
I had lived on a farmhouse and worked as a farmer for...
"I'm from Japan. I spent every day in my house, living a depraved life."
Sena stared at the bell, and I followed suit.
This time, it didn't ring.
"Why did you lie about being a farmer?"
"I didn't actually lie... It was like my second origin of life, perhaps..."
I cursed that troublesome magic item under my breath.
"I've never heard of a place called Japan before... But never mind. Next, state the reason why you wanted to become an adventurer."
"To save the citizens who were being terrorized by the Demon King's army and-"
Ring.
"...Because being an adventurer sounded cool. It felt like it would be easy to make big money and become popular with the girls."
"V-Very well. Next question. Do you bear any grudge against the Governor? I heard that you despise him for what he has done to you in the past."
"That's because the huge payout from successfully taking down the Dullahan was barely enough to cover the reparation fees for the damage done to the town; that's why I'm still an adventurer, scavenging for whatever quests are left. It was done to protect the town, but it would be meaningless if the town got destroyed in the process. I'm fine with this outcome."
Ring.
"I do hold somewhat of a grudge against him because the Destroyer destroyed my family's crops and changed our way of living. The compensation wasn't enough, and our family was practically starving every day because of him. I thought that I could finally change our way of life by defeating Beldia, but my dumbass decided not to think about the damage costs. Then the Destroyer came, and I thought I was finally going to do it, but once again, this piece of shit dropped on top of my head... And for him and everyone else to treat me like this... The man who saved his town not once but twice, and betray him without hesitation... It makes me want to cut all of their heads... especially him..."
Of course, I didn't want to cut off my party members' heads, and Wiz.
Sena, who had listened to my entire monologue, seemed perhaps intimidated by something.
"D-Does your weapon perhaps glow red when conflicted with specific emotions?"
What was she talking about?
I looked at Kiritsu to find him completely idle and normal.
"N-Never mind that. Next question..."
"Excuse me... Can I say something?"
I interrupted Sena, who seemed reluctant to continue the interrogation, and said:
"Would you like to just get straight to the point? Like 'Are you working for the Demon King's army?' or 'Did you give that order because you had a grudge against the Governor?' I've said this several times: I only asked someone to perform a random teleport. I wasn't targeting the Governor, and I never thought that things would've turned out this way. I gave that order because I wanted to save the town. I'm telling the truth."
Sena kept her eyes on the bell as she listened to me.
And, of course, the bell didn't ring.
After confirming my innocence, Sena sighed heavily and expressed remorse.
"I seem to have been mistaken. I've heard nothing but bad rumors about you, so that's why... I'm very sorry..."
Sena changed her attitude, becoming more humble and polite as she bowed to me.
It appeared that her earlier tone was reserved for suspected criminals, and this was her usual manner of speech.
Since I had been cleared of suspicion, I decided it was a good time to express my dissatisfaction.
"Really, believing rumors without investigating them first? Do you know how to do your job, prosecutor?"
"Ugh... Sorry, I apologize..."
As Sena lowered her head in apology, I continued.
"Do you know what my achievements are? I'm not just the one who contributed the most to the subjugation of Demon King's General Beldia; I was also in charge of directing the fight against the Destroyer. My stellar performance singlehandedly brought down the Mobile Fortress Destroyer, which no one else could defeat! And you didn't even offer a word of thanks, just endless accusations!"
I leaned back so far that the chair creaked, fueled by my frustration from being detained overnight, and I began to push my weight around Sena.
"I... I apologize; this is because of my job...! I know what Kazuma-san has done for the town, but..."
"But...? But what? Anyway, now that my suspicions have been cleared, why aren't you serving me tea? What's with this police station? Bringing out some Katsudon would be fine too!"
"Katsudon? Sorry, we don't have that here... I'll serve you some tea immediately..."
Sena rushed off and returned with a cup of freshly brewed tea.
I took a sip.
"It's too hot! Doesn't the prosecutor here know how to brew tea? And with your stern attitude, you probably don't have a boyfriend, right? Since there's a magic item here, it's my turn to ask questions. Do you have any close male friends?"
"No."
Sena looked at me expressionlessly and said firmly:
"No. Yes, because of my personality, I've never had a boyfriend even after living until this age. Are you happy now? I advise you not to go too far."
"Sorry."
Staring at the silent bell, I offered a hesitant apology, my fear palpable.
"Anyway, what about those unsavory rumors circulating about me? Are they solely the gossip generated by the adventurers yesterday?"
Sena hesitated for a moment, her gaze shifting uneasily.
"Um, well... Apart from those, I've heard you were involved in some other questionable incidents. Like, you allegedly removed a young girl's underwear in public within your party. There are stories that you once coerced a crusader who shared your dwelling to help you in the bath. And it's even said that you consider your party's priestess a nuisance and have contemplated abandoning her in a dungeon. All these whispers have painted you as a dubious character."
I could feel my body stiffen in response, and Sena regarded me with suspicion.
"Are they merely rumors?"
"Just rumors."
Ring.
Sena's cold poker face returned as she said:
"Those are just problems within your party, so I won't make any comments. But do you know what people call you in the streets? Kazujerk, Kazutrash–"
"How... How mean! Who's the one that gave me that sort of nickname?!"
But deep down, I couldn't deny the incidents she had brought up.
Observing my reaction, Sena let out a weary sigh and pressed on.
Honestly, to be safe, I'll ask you once more. Do you have any connections with the Demon King's army? Are you, for instance, acquainted with a General of the Demon King's army, or anything like that..."
"No such thing, do you really think I'm a big sho–"
Ring.
My words were cut short before I could finish my sentence, and I knew I had made a grave error.
As the sound of the bell lingered in the interrogation room, a chilling realization washed over me:
Wiz was a General in the Demon King's army.
...
The next day, I explained everything to the girls in the same ol' room.
"I told you I should've purified that Lich. In fact, I might as well do it right now when we're done with this!"
Aqua seemed both determined and cheery at the same time.
"Don't kill her! Don't involve her in this! She's probably our best key witness to defend me."
"Alright, fine. But if you do get executed, I'll kill her and then secretly resurrect your body!"
I ignored Aqua's sentence the moment she said 'I'll kill her' and focused my attention on Darkness and Megumin.
"Do you have any ideas on how to defend me from these accusations?"
Megumin shrugged with a response:
"Well, we've tried, but we haven't come up with anything good about you."
That stung my pride a bit.
"Hey, that's a bit rude. You girls should really do better than that. If I die, what happens to the three of you?"
Their expressions all changed simultaneously.
"Oh dear, if Kazuma dies, my life of luxury in the mansion will be temporarily stalled!" complained Aqua.
Temporarily?!
"It would be bad for Kazuma to die because no one else will take me on my daily Explosion strolls. Darkness is already getting tired of it, even though it's only Day 3."
Am I just a human horse to you?
Darkness was about to speak, but Aqua interrupted her.
"Have no fear, Kazuma. I don't know why you didn't escape with the lockpick. Maybe your prisoners were too busy fooling around with you, but I have no say in that."
"Please, let's get back to the main topic. It's not a padlock, but a rotating number lock. And I have zero lock-picking skills, so I can't open it with just a lockpick.""
Aqua fell silent for a moment. "They really got me this time. I had no idea their prison was so secure."
"It's just a number lock. More importantly, what's our plan? If I don't break out today, I'll be in court tomorrow to face the charges."
Hearing my doubts, Aqua let out a couple of snorts, sounding surprisingly confident.
Where did this unfounded confidence of hers come from?
"The approach we tried yesterday was too convoluted. Today, I've got a saw file ready, and I'll perform my magic trick again to pass it to you."
"A saw file?" I questioned.
"You caught on. We're running out of time; we have until tomorrow. So, hurry up and get to work on those iron bars on the window!"
...
"Your girlfriend brought you a saw file this time?"
The Large One extended his hand to examine the tool.
"Indeed. Tonight is the night we break free from this wretched, decaying cell. I'd rather face death in our escape than submit to these unjust laws."
"That's the spirit, Kazuma. Let's not waste any more time. No more shouting, no more philosophical quotes, and so on. Every time we do that, something always goes out of plan..."
The menacing man in his 40s stood up and approached the window with its formidable iron bars.
"The window is quite high up."
It was indeed.
"It seems I'm going to have to climb on one of you guys."
"Not me!"
"Not me!"
The Old Man and I said in unison.
The only one among us strong enough to carry another person was the Large One.
I pointed at him.
"But wait, if he has to carry you to escape... who will carry him?"
Even the combined efforts of the Old Man and me might not be sufficient.
We could be crushed by his immense weight.
They both gave me confident smiles.
"Victory cannot be achieved without sacrifice, Kazuma."
The man in his 40s said to me.
I thought you said no more philosophical quotes. And you just raised a flag, sir.
"I'm willing to stay here for four more years if necessary. The Old Man doesn't have much time left, and this guy is in here for life. I'll carry all of you to victory, and then, when you've finally attained immense wealth, you'll bail me out. I know I can count on you to remember..."
Why are we all suddenly crying...?
"Sniff... Very well... I'll remember this until the day I die. To freedom...!"
With my fist raised high above my head, I urged the others to join me in shouting:
"Freedom!"
"Freedom!"
"Freedom!"
The man in his 40s leaped and perched on the Large One's shoulders, his determination evident as he began to saw through the iron bars with unwavering focus.
Snap!
"Ah, it broke."
"Really? How did it break?"
Saw files were renowned for their ability to cut through iron bars, albeit not easily.
With enough time and no one watching, we could have made it through in about 15 minutes.
Who in the world would sell a faulty product.
- Product Made By Wiz's Magic Shop.
"Alright, gentlemen, time to sleep."
The saw file was tossed outside, and we all collectively headed to our respective bedsides.
...
The justice system in this world was remarkably straightforward.
The prosecutor collected evidence, and the accused had a representative to defend them
If the judge deemed the charges to be true, they would pass judgment.
n this world, there were no lawyers, and the accused were defended by their friends.
Though I wonder how Darkness knew the term 'lawyers', most likely from Aqua.
The courtroom's structure closely resembled Japanese courts, with the accused in handcuffs and the representative standing at the center of the court.
The judge, prosecutor, and plaintiff sat opposite them at a distance.
At this moment, Megumin tried to reassure me as I was visibly nervous and tense, my entire body feeling stiff.
"That's right. No need to be so tense. Don't worry; we'll stand by your side."
Indeed, my defense representatives were the members of my party.
How had things come to this?
Sena, sitting in the prosecutor's seat, observed me with cold eyes, clearly noticing my nervousness.
"No problem; leave it to me. The Crimson Demons are highly intelligent; I'll make that prosecutor regret challenging us."
Megumin declared confidently from my right.
"Don't worry; if things go beyond redemption, I'll figure out a way to assist you. You're not at fault in this incident at all."
Darkness, standing to my left, reassured me.
I felt relieved by their support, but then...
"Just leave it to me! As a woman of the cloth, my words are very persuasive! You can trust me with everything!"
Aqua who stood beside me, declared.
However, the problem lay with Aqua. I leaned over and whispered in her ear:
"Listen carefully, Aqua. I'm begging you, please don't say anything during the trial. If you stay quiet obediently throughout the trial, I'll treat you to Snow Crimson Crab."
"What nonsense are you saying? If Kazuma is sentenced to jail or death, you won't be able to buy crab for me. Don't worry; I'm the one most familiar with being an attorney. Kazuma likes to play video games, right? Haven't you heard about people in Japan playing 'Based Attorney' and 'Manganronpa'? I've played both before."
"Okay, I get it now. Please, don't say a word."
Aqua, however, responded to my request by turning her head away unhappily.
This stubborn girl!
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the judge rapped the table with a mallet.
"Order in the court! We'll now begin the trial of Satou Kazuma for subversion of the nation! The plaintiff is Alexei Barnes Alderp!"
As the judge announced this, a stout man rose to his feet.
He was tall and heavily built, with a shiny bald head and a plethora of body hair.
That must be the Governor suing me.
Governor Alderp fixed me with a judgmental gaze and then shifted his lecherous eyes towards the three women standing beside me.
After scrutinizing every inch of Aqua and Megumin, he turned his attention to Darkness...
And he stood there stiffly, with a look of surprise.
"Hey, that fat old man kept staring at us. I sense evil, and I have the urge to poke his eyes out," Aqua commented.
"I'm begging you not to do that... Besides, isn't he only looking at Darkness?"
"He's been fixated on her for a while now. His gaze is just like Kazuma's when he watches Darkness parading around the mansion in revealing attire."
"Hey, you've got it all wrong. I've never looked at Darkness that way..."
While I was frantically explaining myself and looking at Darkness, I noticed that she was also gazing at the Governor.
"What's the matter, Darkness? Is that old man's gaze bothering you?"
"No... I'm fine. It's not that... I'll tell you later."
Darkness didn't appear fine, but I had no time to press further because the judge struck the mallet again.
"Silence! I demand order in the court. Prosecutor, step forward! We have a magical item here, so any lie will be exposed in this court. Keep that in mind when you speak."
The judge rapped the table again, and Sena stood up as her cue.
"I will now read the charges... The accused, Satou Kazuma, participated with other adventurers in the battle against the Mobile Fortress Destroyer when it attacked. During the battle, he ordered the teleportation of the Coronatite, which was set to explode. However, the Coronatite detonated after being teleported and caused an explosion in the plaintiff's mansion. As a result, the plaintiff, Lord Alderp, lost his mansion and is currently residing in an inn within this town."
While Sena was reading the charges, the plaintiff, Governor Alderp, was still transfixed on Darkness.
"When it comes to transporting monsters, drugs, and hazardous items like explosives, the use of random teleportation is expressly prohibited by law. The instructions provided by the accused clearly violate this law. Furthermore, the act of potentially endangering the life of the Governor could undermine the foundation of the nation. Therefore, the prosecution requests that the accused be found guilty of subversion of the state!"
"Objection!"
Immediately after Sena finished reading the charges, Aqua, who was standing beside me, stepped forward, raising one arm as she shouted.
"It's not yet time for the defendant to speak. Please request permission before saying anything... Well, it's your first time in court, so I'll let it slide this time... Now, the defense may speak."
The judge reminded Aqua, but she merely shook her head with a satisfied look.
"I just wanted to try saying 'Objection.' It's fine."
"The defense may only speak in defense of the accused!"
I couldn't help but feel the urge to give her a good scolding.
Aqua, reprimanded by the judge right at the beginning of the trial, seemed content and returned to my side.
Sena, thrown off balance by Aqua's outburst, appeared somewhat flustered.
"Uh, that's all I have to say. In summary, we are seeking a guilty verdict for Satou Kazuma on charges of subversion of the nation..."
Once Sena finished and returned to her seat, the judge stated:
"Next, I grant permission for the accused and his defense to speak. You may present your case!"
"And so, it was my efforts that led to the defeat of the Demon King's General Beldia and the Destroyer. It's rather absurd to accuse me of subversion of the nation when I contributed to the town. If anything, I believe I deserve compliments!"
With the judge's permission, I made my statement at the center of the court.
I recounted the heroic aspects of my battle with Beldia, highlighting my skill and bravery.
During my description of the Mobile Fortress Destroyer encounter, the judge frequently glanced at the lie-exposing magic bell, but I paid no mind.
While I may have embellished some details, I hadn't fabricated anything.
"Enough... Enough, I understand what the defendant is trying to convey. Moving on, prosecutor, please present the evidence for why the accused should be found guilty of subversion of the nation."
The judge urged Sena to submit the evidence with a vexed expression. Sena signaled to a knight standing beside her.
Observing this, the knight walked toward the court's waiting room as Sena picked up a piece of paper and began to read:
"The prosecution will present evidence to demonstrate that the accused is a terrorist attempting to subvert the nation's authority or that he is connected to the Demon King's army. Will the witness please take the stand!"
Following Sena's instruction, the knight brought in the witnesses, primarily adventurers.
Or rather...
"Ahahaha... I was summoned..."
The first witness was Chris, who looked at me with a troubled expression while absentmindedly scratching the scar on her face.
All the witnesses summoned to court were people I knew, including the thief Chris.
...
The situation was taking a turn for the worse.
"Does this mean the accused used Steal in plain view of the public to remove your panties? Is that correct?" Sena inquired.
"Um... yes, but it was an accident!"
"You just need to confirm that this is true. Thank you for your testimony."
"Wait! I'm not bothered by that incident anymore...!"
Chris protested, but Sena hurriedly concluded the questioning and ushered her out of the court.
The other witnesses proved to be just as problematic...
Mitsurugi, who had arrived from Japan like me, appeared in court with his two subordinates right behind him.
Mitsurugi had lost his magic sword, which was stolen and later sold by me.
"Mitsurugi-san, it has been reported that the accused stole your magic sword and threatened these two ladies with panty-related actions when they tried to recover it. Is this true?"
Hey, why was she saying it was stolen?
I earned the right to keep his sword.
And why hadn't she mentioned that I had defeated him effortlessly and in a cool way? I also was heavily underequipped and underlevel at that time.
"Yes, that's correct. But I should clarify that the incident was started by me..."
"That's right, he threatened us! He said, 'I'm a man who believes in gender equality, who dares to use drop kicks against girls'!"
"Yeah! He also said, 'Since you are girls, I might humiliate you in public using my Steal skill or maybe cut off our clothes to strip you both naked'!"
Mitsurugi's two subordinates kept interjecting, using this opportunity to get back at me for the threats I had made to them earlier.
It was clear that these two girls held a deep grudge against me and stuck their tongues out whenever our eyes met.
The judgmental gazes of the judge and everyone else in the courtroom were weighing heavily on me...
"Kyouya, tell them more about the terrible things he did to you! You had to spend a lot of money to retrieve your sword from that blacksmith!"
"Yeah, I bet they were both in on it and shared the money!"
"B-But there really wasn't anything bad about him. The only scary part was the sensation of my head nearly being cut off-"
Sena then interrupted Mitsurugi:
"So the accused tried to kill you, even though it was just a friendly duel? Thank you very much!"
"N-No, it was just the air! In fact, I'm still alive and well!"
Mitsurugi and his harem were escorted out of the courtroom.
"We don't require the final witness to appear. The few witnesses we've heard from should be sufficient to establish that the accused has a flawed character and held a grudge against the plaintiff. Given these facts, it is highly plausible that the accused did not order a random teleportation but instead instructed for a standard teleportation to deliver the stone to the plaintiff's mansion, making it appear as an accident-"
Sena attempted to pin me down with circumstantial evidence.
"That's not evidence at all! I acknowledge that Kazuma has a twisted personality, but I cannot accept such a speculative accusation! This trial is too peculiar! Everything seems forced; don't you find it strange?"
"Defendants, mind your words. Speak only when granted permission!"
"You want evidence? Very well, I'll provide undeniable proof! It will unquestionably reveal that this man is a terrorist committed to destroying the town or is a minion of the Demon King's army!"
Observing Megumin becoming agitated, Sena picked up a piece of paper and began to read aloud.
"One! While the party led by adventurer Satou Kazuma may have defeated the Demon King's army general during the confrontation with Beldia, extensive damage was caused to the town due to his recklessness in provoking Beldia into attacking the town!"
I covered my ears with the cuffs I had on me.
"Two! Erecting a massive barrier in the public cemetery, causing the spirits to roam and create chaos in the town-"
Aqua quivered, covering her ears and turning her back to avoid hearing what the prosecutor was saying. She then...
"Casting an explosion spell outside the town day after day, altering the landscape of the area. Lately, it's been heard in the dead of night, disturbing the sleep of the town's inhabitants-"
Megumin, too, covered her ears and turned away.
"I told you that using Explosions in the middle of the night was a bad idea!"
Darkness scolded Megumin.
"But I just wanted to vent my frustration on the knights for locking up Kazuma!"
My defense team was utterly ineffective!
"Wait a minute, this is incredibly odd! It makes no sense, no matter how you look at it! The incidents you've listed have nothing to do with me! Well, they were problems caused by members of my team! You should present evidence directly related to me!"
In response to my outburst, Sena continued.
"Furthermore, we have reports that the accused has used Drain Touch, a skill only available to the undead. If you have no connections to the Demon King's army, please explain why you can use Drain Touch. You can't simply cover your ears and ignore this!"
Sena pointed at me, who was covering my ears just like Aqua and Megumin, and raised her voice.
Stay silent! I want to exercise my right to remain silent!
"Lastly, the most incriminating evidence... During the interrogation at the police station, I asked if you had any ties to a member of the Demon King's army. You denied any such connection, and the magical item detected a lie. This is the most compelling evidence!"
Oh no, oh no, oh no!
I was running out of ideas and was left speechless.
"Objection!"
Surprisingly, a confident voice came from Aqua.
I couldn't believe she held a trump card at this crucial moment...!
"Aqua, tell them! Present the conclusive evidence that proves my innocence!"
"Huh? I don't have anything like that. I just wanted to say that."
"Remove that person from the courtroom!"
"I'm sorry! I apologize on behalf of my client!"
"Ouch...! That hurts!"
I grabbed Aqua's temple and squeezed it tightly as I apologized.
Damn it, you idiot!
At that moment, someone seemed fed up with our antics.
"Enough! That guy is affiliated with the Demon King's army! He's their lackey! He sent explosives to my mansion! Execute him! Sentence him to death!"
The plaintiff, Governor Alderp, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up and bellowed angrily at me.
Well done, you old fat slob! This is my chance!
"No, I'm not connected to the Demon King's army! I'm not a terrorist! I do hold a grudge because he forced my family to live in harsh conditions, but I didn't intentionally send the Coronatite! Listen closely and examine the magic item closely! I'm going to say this again! I'm not a minion of the Demon King's army, and I have no ties to them!"
My words didn't trigger the bell, leaving the Governor speechless.
Sena frowned and bit her lower lip when she witnessed this.
If a statement made in the presence of the magic item could be treated as evidence, then my words, which didn't set off the alarm, should also be considered as evidence.
The plaintiff Governor's words had unintentionally worked in my favor.
The judge slowly shook his head.
"It's always like this when we use the magic item to detect lies, the results are inconclusive. The prosecution requested the magic item's reaction be recognized as evidence. However, based on the current results, I cannot accept it as valid evidence. The circumstantial evidence presented thus far is too weak. Therefore, I hereby declare the accused, Satou Kazuma, not guilty due to a lack of-"
During this pivotal moment when the judge was delivering his verdict.
"I'll say it again. That guy is affiliated with the Demon King's army, he's one of their lackeys. Sentence him to death."
The Governor, who was still standing, declared.
In response, Sena argued:
"No... No one was injured in this incident. It should not result in a death penalty..."
As she said this to the Governor, he simply stared at her.
"No, you're absolutely right. The death penalty is the most fitting... Isn't it?"
Huh?
"Hey, hey, wait a minute! This is getting really bizarre!"
"Yeah, what's going on here? Why did the prosecutor's argument suddenly change?!"
While Megumin and I were voicing our objections, Sena seemed to be reacting strangely as well.
She was the one who made that statement, yet her face bore a perplexed expression as she tilted her head.
Aqua suddenly pointed at the judge, Sena, and the Governor and declared:
"I sense an evil presence! Someone in this group is trying to manipulate the facts with dark powers!"
Aqua's unexpected statement left the courtroom in silence.
Perhaps due to her earlier foolish remarks, all eyes on Aqua were skeptical.
Everyone turned to look at the magic item, and the atmosphere shifted when it didn't trigger.
Aqua was an arch-priest, a class imbued with a holy nature, making her words more persuasive. This led to a change in the judge's expression.
"Dark powers... So, you're suggesting that someone is using nefarious methods to influence this sacred trial?"
"Yes, that's correct. My vision is sharper than that magic item's! Truth be told, I am Aqua, the Water Goddess, with ten million followers in this world!"
Ring.
Aqua's proclamation was met with a clear chiming sound in the hushed courtroom.
"Why—! Wait, I wasn't lying—!"
"Defendant, please choose your words carefully."
"My apologies. I'll seriously reflect on this."
Aqua, who had lost the trust of those present, continued to be noisy as Megumin attempted to console her.
Strangely, the Governor was biting his lip and staring at Aqua with a pale face.
"I understand. It's probably because I came across as too arrogant. The magic item likely detected me as a liar because of the number of followers I claimed! Saying ten million may have been a bit of an exaggeration; I should have said something around 9.8 million."
Hearing Aqua mumble behind me, I had the urge to retort that her followers probably numbered fewer than a thousand.
However, I couldn't do that now, as the judge was about to deliver his verdict.
The judge cleared his throat.
"Defendant Satou Kazuma, considering your inhumane actions and the disruption of peace and order in society..."
He began to say something that contradicted his previous ruling.
"I find the sentence proposed by the prosecutor to be appropriate. The accused is hereby found guilty and—"
Huh?
"—sentenced to death."
...
"This is bizarre—! No, wait a minute! What's with this hasty verdict?! Bring forth stronger evidence! It's utterly irresponsible to sentence someone to death so casually!"
"Defendant! Mind your conduct!"
"Kazuma's right, this is strange. Something is amiss. Yes, Kazuma may have harbored a grudge over shouldering the buildings repair costs, he's a complainer, and he doesn't like the Governor, which could potentially lead to issues. But despite all that, he wouldn't have the audacity to send the Coronatite!"
Hey, are you defending me or hindering me? Make it clear!
While I pondered how to silence Aqua, Megumin removed her eyepatch and said:
"Very well, if you insist on labeling Kazuma a terrorist, then I'll show you what a true terrorist looks like... Hey, what are you doing! Let me go!"
Seeing Megumin's crimson eyes glow, the guards rushed to restrain her.
"No—! This is strange! Too strange! My clear eyes can detect malevolence permeating the courtroom! Just wait a moment, I'll purify the air right now... Ah! I'm not using any suspicious magic, don't interfere!"
"Spells are strictly prohibited within the courtroom! They may interfere with the lie-detection magic device!"
"Enough, remove them both!"
Sena rose and instructed the guards to escort Megumin and Aqua out.
"Order! Order! I said order in the court!"
The judge finally lost his composure, bellowing as he hurled his gavel.
As the guards were escorting Megumin and Aqua away...
I felt hollow.
I felt lost.
There was no one coming to rescue me.
Holding onto hope was no longer an option.
Once again, this utter scoundrel of a human being had intruded into my life.
If I die, what will happen to my family? I can't bear to imagine the pain and suffering my father, mother, and little brother would endure.
They might lead long, agonizing lives, slowly wasting away from either hunger or old age, regretting the day they let me walk away from home.
Why is my life filled with nothing but hardship and failure...?!
An overwhelming urge to cut down the Governor right then and there surged through me!
Megumin was right.
The only path ahead of me seemed to be one of a criminal, although not a terrorist.
"Hey, look at Kazuma's weapon! It's glowing red!"
Aqua pointed out as she was being led away by the knights.
Megumin chimed in, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Fufu... I knew my hunch about that weapon was right. Pray to whatever god you believe in. Kazuma is about to break free any moment!"
Break free...?
I wasn't planning to break free just yet.
"Hey, you, fatso..."
I called out to the Governor.
"Hm? You dare speak to me with such insolence—"
I cut the Governor off, much like I intended to cut his head off in just a few seconds.
"Tell me... Which way do you prefer to be cut...?"
He appeared strangely intrigued and confident in response to my question.
"Even in the face of death, you continue to reveal your true nature. I knew you were a minion of the Demon King's Army."
Suddenly, Kiritsu awoke from its slumber, easily slicing through the cuffs that bound me and levitating toward my grasp.
The Governor, the prosecutor, the judge, and the witnesses panicked at the sight of the unsheathed weapon.
The knights who were busy dealing with Aqua and Megumin were too far away to stop me.
At this point, all I could see was...
Blood.
The Governor stood up, pulling out a strange magic item, prepared to use it if necessary.
Fine by me.
Bring out whatever you have to protect yourself.
I'll cut off everything you pull out...!
With everyone frozen in fear, it was the perfect moment to commit to it.
The body goes slack... and it begins to fall forward...
Push off your heel to increase your speed...
"– Your Honor, please look at this."
An unfamiliar hand grabbed my forearm, abruptly halting my acceleration.
All my intentions came to an immediate stop.
It was Darkness, who had remained silent, not uttering a word. She took something out from her chest.
It was a valuable-looking pendant with an insignia.
I wasn't sure what it was, but everyone in the courtroom recognized it.
"Th-That's... Y-You're..."
The judge stood up in shock, his eyes wide as he stared at the pendant.
Was this the secret weapon she had mentioned?
Now that I thought about it, she hadn't said a word, as if she knew that Megumin and Aqua were about to fail at protecting me.
Under the gaze of everyone present, Darkness spoke softly:
"Your Honor, may I request a suspension of the trial? I don't mean to have the prosecutor drop the charges. I just need time to prove that this man is not a minion of the Demon King's army and is innocent. Simultaneously, I will ask him to compensate the Governor for the mansion."
Sena and the judge stared in astonishment at the insignia presented by Darkness in this tense atmosphere.
In this precarious situation, only the Governor managed to voice a weak protest.
"But, even if you request this..."
"Alderp, as the victim in all of this, you can consider it a favor from me. If it's within my capacity, I can do anything for you. I'm not asking you to drop the charges; I just hope you can grant us a little more time."
Hearing Darkness's words, the Governor hesitated where he stood, and then gulped.
"Anything?! An... Anything...!"
"That's right, anything."
Darkness's words caused the Governor's eyes to gleam as he looked at Darkness with a lecherous expression.
He then sat back down in his chair.
"Very well, since you are the one making the request, I will allow more time for this man."
The judge announced, granting my case more time.
...
After being granted permission to leave the courtroom, Darkness and I walked together to retrieve Aqua and Megumin from their cells.
We had an interesting conversation nonetheless...
"You kept true to your words."
I looked at her as her eyes looked down below, almost troubled but it also looked like the expressions of a person coming up with a plan.
"And you clearly didn't. I thought you were smarter than Megumin and wouldn't cause such a scene for everyone to panic..."
Yeah... I probably went a bit overboard.
But it was their fault for suddenly sentencing me to death.
For a moment, I was a man with nothing to lose.
I remained silent, allowing her to continue speaking.
"Did you really intend to kill the Governor at that moment? If I hadn't stopped you, you would have become a wanted criminal for the rest of your life."
"To be fair, everyone had already betrayed me during the trial, except for the three of you. It seemed like all hope was lost, so I acted on instinct."
She sighed at my response.
"Promise me that you won't do something as reckless as that again."
"Nope."
"H-Hey, you were supposed to say 'Yes, I promise,' and our problem would be solved!"
She had just raised a flag just by suggesting I promised her I won't ever do something reckless and dangerous again.
If I did promised, it was bound to happen in the future.
I saved the both of us, Darkness.
Though if I explain it to her, I think she'll just call me an idiot.
"I gain nothing by promising you. Maybe if you tell me everything about you right now, I'll promise."
"Alright, fine. I'll tell you a little bit about myself."
She paused for a few seconds, figuring out how to explain it in just a single sentence.
"My real name is Dustiness Ford Lalatina..."
She held her chest with her hands, looking down, waiting for me to respond.
Snort...
"What's so funny?!"
Oh, she was mad.
"N-Nothing... Just your name... Snort... Lalatina..."
I covered my mouth to hold back my laughter.
"W-What about my name?! Shouldn't you be more surprised by my family name? Dustiness Ford...?"
"Dustiness-who? Never heard of it. But, Lalatina...? Snort... Definitely a new word in my dictionary."
"Grr... C'mere. I'll throw some words from my dictionary to clobber you to death...!"
"A-Alright, I'm sorry...!"
But she paid no attention to my words, blinded by rage, and started chasing me.
...
Aqua, Megumin, Darkness, and I went back to the mansion, and we were about to say our goodbyes to Darkness.
To fulfill her promise, Darkness had to take a small trip to wherever the Governor's new house was and agree to his wishes.
"Do you perhaps know that old man Alderp?"
"You could say that. Ever since I was young, he had an obsession towards me. Ever since his wife passed on, he asked for my hand in marriage several times. But my father rejected him due to our age difference."
How terrifying. How persistent is he?
Kinda reminds me of how my parents tried to get me to marry other little girls.
I was the same age as them, so it was moral. And it never worked out, so...
"Are you all right? Will it be fine to promise to do anything for that kind of old man? From the way he was checking you out, he'll probably ask for something horrible."
"Do not be so afraid. He had always been staring at me that way the moment I started growing up more exponentially."
Aqua then decided to add to the conversation:
"So that's why you're not bothered by Kazuma's perverted gaze on you every day. You were dealing with an even more insufferable and more perverted gaze from that old man..."
"Don't bring me into this again!"
After I ruffled Aqua's temples with my fingers, Darkness smiled and said:
"That is indeed true, Aqua. And after seeing that everything will be fine without me for a while... I'll be taking my leave now, guys."
Is this what people call a touching moment?
The four of us smiled together.
"Darkness, I don't regret the days we shared when we went on our 'Explosion strolls.' Especially when one of Beldia's minions almost captured the three of us if it weren't for you."
Hey, that's something I wasn't given news of.
"Darkness, I will forever miss the taste of your tea with you not being here."
I still haven't tried her tea as well.
"Thank you all. I'll be back in a few days."
She turned around, and we all watched her for a few more seconds.
"Take care, Darkness. I appreciate you saving my butt after all I've done to you that night."
She froze in shock, turned around, and ran towards me at Mach 5:
"Stop trying to remind me of that humiliating night!"