I do not own or maintain any rights to Rising of The Shield Hero. They belong to One Piece Books and Aneko Yusagi. I am just playing in their sandbox for a minute.
Chapter 15: Face Of The Enemy
"This is less than ideal," I said, trying to scratch my back with my hands chained behind me.
"I don't think we did too bad given the circumstances," Naofumi countered, leaning against the side of the wagon the guard had loaded us and their casualties into.
"We got seven of them," I said, finally getting the sweet spot I had been trying to scratch for a while now. "Finally," I sighed, contented that I wasn't itchy.
"We could have talked this out if it wasn't for this idiot," Naofumi said, gesturing at Motoyasu with his head.
"Yeah, his performance was totally subpar, wasn't it?" I asked rhetorically, trying to get a raise out of the spear wielder who was trying to pull a porcupine spike out of his face.
"Just you two, wait! Once your trial is over, you won't be in such a hurry to talk smack," Motoyasu snarled, jarring the spine in what must have been an agonizing way.
"Man, the army hasn't been able to break me of smack-talking ways in over a decade. You're not making that happen in a day," I said, watching him almost stab himself in the eye. "Do you want help with that before you blind yourself?" I asked him, watching him struggle.
"How could you possibly help me?" He asked incredulously.
I leaned over into his face, but the end of the quill, and sat back upright, pulling it out of his face and spitting it onto the floor while he screeched. "Like that. It's a lot better just to pull them out and not act like a baby about it."
Naofumi watched him roll around on the floor for a moment, "And the king had the nerve to call you redundant," He said as we crossed the bridge into the castle.
"Everyone still on standby," I asked the team.
"We are keeping watch for anything unusual. Nothing so far," Larry reported.
"I am about to set the hook for the two thieves following me," Bill added.
"I am waiting with Coal to catch sight of the convoy," Junoir said, staged outside of the town.
"Good deal. I am going to stay off the link until I know what calls to make," I informed the group.
A guard walked around to the back of the caged wagon and opened the door, "Get out," He snarled at us.
Naofumi and the guards near him shimmied their way back before being able to jump down. "You know your mama really should have taught you to say please," I antagonized him on my way out. He sneered at me and whacked me in the back with a cudgel. "Ow! Police brutality!" I exaggerated, "What's your badge number?" I said, swiveling around to look at him.
He went to hit me again before Ren stopped him, "You cannot beat the prisoners while they are chained," He stated, letting go of the cudgel. Naofumi just let out a snort at my antics. "And you," He pointed at me, "Stop antagonizing them. You're the oldest out of us; act like it." He finished turning to walk away.
The guard shoved my back, "March prisoner!" He instructed. I flipped him the bird where Ren couldn't see. He whacked me on the noggin.
I took a couple of big steps and caught up to Naofumi, "Can you believe the customer service around here? One star, man."
He choked down a laugh for a second: " You're being a little cavalier about this, aren't we worried?"
"No, we both know that we are not guilty of what we are being accused of. Why should I be worried? My biggest concern is getting out of here soon enough to keep schedule," I said, walking next to him.
"What have you got to do that's so important!?" Motoyasu snapped at us.
"Yo, mama," I snapped back at him. Murder crossed his eyes, and he went for his spear only to be forcibly stopped by Ren.
"I'm out; you got any good ones," I quipped at Naofumi with a smile.
He pondered the ways of the universe for a second before speaking, "Hey, Itsuki," He prompted.
"Not interested," Itsuki said, trying to disengage.
"Nah, man, it's okay, I swear, I just have a question," Naofumi said.
Itsuki sighed, "What," He said, turning to look back at us.
"In your universe," Naofumi started and then paused for a second, "Did you like e-girls or i-ladies more?"
"I-ladies?" Itsuki questioned.
"Well, you're gonna love it when I lay deez nuts in your mouth," Naofumi said, taking the kill shot. Itsuki's mouth dropped before he snarled and turned to keep walking. We both cackled like lunatics for a good minute. I even heard Ren snort. We walked up the final flight of stone steps and arrived at the throne room we started out in.
The large room was sparsely populated with the parties of the other heroes and what looked like a small selection of nobles and their servants. I surveyed the room, but I could not see a single visible demihuman in the crowd. Aultcray was poised on his throne near the end of the room. We were led up to the throne, and Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu went to stand in front of the king. Motoyasu wrapped one of his arms around the redhead from his party.
The court announcer stepped forward, stomped his foot loudly, and then spoke, "The Sheild Hero and Richard Williamson are brought here today to stand trial for the crime of sexual assault against Myne Sophia," He announced with an echo. "The accused will now enter a plea to the court."
"Innocent," I said clearly.
"Innocent," Naofumi copied the words echoing in the mostly empty room.
The announcer nodded curtly before turning to address the court, "The accused have entered a plea of innocent. The accuser may now present evidence of their guilt for the court."
Aultcray held up his hand, signaling the court, "Normally, I am to serve as an impartial judge to the guilt of the accused. However, let it be known that Myne Sophia is actually Malty S, Melromarc second princess to the crown. As such, this heinous crime is upgraded to a crime against the crown. Fitting such circumstances, I shall present evidence of the guilt of the accused!" He said, putting his hand down.
"One moment!" I cut him off, "Don't we at least have the right to face our accuser? Can someone identify them?"
"How dare you!" Motoyasu yelled, "She is right here, you savage!" He continued pulling the redhead tighter.
"Her?!" Both Naofumi and I said in unison. "We haven't seen her since the day we all chose our parties." I finished.
Malty glanced at me and then tried to drag Motoyasu down to her, "No, don't make me face them again!" She overacted, "It is too horrible." She wailed.
"Silence!" Aultcray yelled, "How dare you proclaim your innocence! I expected this from that horrid Sheild Hero, but I expected better from you!" He said, pointing at me, "For a man such as yourself to commit the gravest crime in this kingdom is an atrocity. I should have you both put to death right now for even being accused of the crime of assaulting a woman."
"Seems like you have made up your mind already, Aultcray; present whatever evidence you have, and I will tear it to shreds. We are innocent whether you like it or not." I said.
"Malty told me that you both attacked her at the Victory Inn the night of the selection ceremony; Sir Motoyasu verified this and agreed that she nearly beat down his door that night trying to escape from you." He finished with a deep scowl.
"Objection!" I said, doing my best, ace attorney. "You are not a substantive witness to this. Your statement is hearsay!" The king stood to yell before I cut him off, "I demand that the parties who are witnesses present their own testimony!" I challenged him.
"How dare you order me!" He hollered, "Very well, Motoyasu will testify to your guilt."
Motoyasu stepped forward with Malty still clinging to him, "You don't deserve my words scum. But fine! It happened after I went to sleep. Myne says the you,"
I cut him off, "Objection! Once again, by your own admission, you did not see anything happen. Testify about what you saw, not what someone told you." I instructed him.
He snarled at me, "Fine! I was at the Inn. I went to go to sleep and Myne said she was going to stay downstairs for a while longer. After I went to bed I awoke to her pounding on the door. I got out of bed and opened the door to find Myne wrapped in only a bedsheet." He seemed to be done.
"That's it?" I asked him.
"Yes!" He responded.
"But then you did not see anything!" Naofumi said. "Do you even know where we were at the time of the attack?" He asked on a roll.
"You were at the inn!" He snapped.
"We weren't! Did any of you actually see us at this inn?" He asked the room.
Ren and Itsuki perked up for a moment and looked at each other, having a side conversation. "No! But I don't need to have seen you. Myne said you were there, and that should be good enough." Motoyasu snarled.
"Ren, Itsuki, did you see the attack or us at this inn?" I asked.
"No," Ren said simply.
"I was in the dining room long after Motoyasu retired. I do not recall seeing you that night." Isuki responded.
"You want to know why you did not see us? Because we were not in Castle Town when the attack happened. We left town after stopping at a blacksmith and a general store. We were in Lute at the inn there. We have been there ever since; you can ask the mayor and Yohan Redbelly. We cleared out the mine from a monster invasion and were awarded this," I said, pulling out the tax-exempt marker we were rewarded. "This is a tax-exempt pass signed by the mayor of Lute Village! Explain this if you claim we were here." I tossed the marker to the king, who caught it out of the air.
He skeptically examined the marker before speaking, "This stamp is indeed marked by the hand of Mayor Hughes of Lute Village." He tossed the marker at me, and it landed at my feet. "However, that doesn't prove anything!" He thundered.
"It proves that we have been in Lute! Can anyone here actually say that they have seen us after the parties were decided?" I turned to the room at large, "Anyone in this room willing to come up and say that you have seen us in town before today?" No one rose to my challenge.
"I think Malty should testify," Itsuki said, surprising everyone.
"Nooo!" Malty wailed, "Don't make me relive that horrid night."
"I agree with Itsuki," Ren added, stepping into the center of the conversation. "Has it stands now without any hard evidence or the testimony of the accuser I could not in good conscience condemn these two." He finished and stepped back beside Itsuki.
"Sir Ren, Sir Itsuki," King Aultcray tried before meeting their eyes. Seeing that his daughter was speaking for herself that they were going to maintain their position, he finally turned to the train wreck on Motoyasu's arm. "Malty, you would please speak your piece."
"Nooo! Don't make me!" Malty wailed again. She continued to wail and try to get out of having to speak for a while.
"How goes things on your side team lead?" Bill asked over the link.
"We are doing okay for now. Do you have an update?" I inquired.
"Mattter of fact I do, the thieves finaly made their move. They are escorting me to see Bartcly, I wanted to make sure I have the name you told me correct before we get there," He explained.
"I used the name, Digby," I told him, "I am going to have to go now; it looks like the bitch who lied about us is about to take the stand."
"Oh, we know," Sarah chimed in, "They are broadcasting the trial across the crystal network for everyone to see. You're doing a great job. Most people don't seem to be buying it, and no one will believe them once all of Lute comes to your defense. I'm sure Mayor Hughes is sending an urgent message right now." She explained.
Malty finally got to the point where she realized that she was going to have to testify and finally took the stage, "After Sir Motoyasu went to sleep, I decided that I would like to have another few drinks before turning in for the evening," She explained looking like she was trying not to cross herself. She wrung her hands and glanced around wildly before continuing, "After I finished my drinks for the evening, I went to retire into my room. I took off my armor and had started to drift off to sleep when the Sheild Hero and," she paused again trying to remember my name before giving up, "Him," She added lamely, "Forced their way into my room and pinned me down." She tried to cry crocodile tears.
"See," Motoyasu started up, "They attacked her! Do we really need to hear more?" He said, trying to spare the little liar.
"Yes," Ren said before I could, "We need to hear the entire incident from start to finish from Myne's point of view." He finished.
Malty sniffled pathetically before starting up again, "They pinned me down," She started to cry for real now that she knew the jig was up. She went to continue speaking before she was saved by the grace of god.
The doors of the throne room swung open with a deafening bang; everyone turned to stare at the group of people who entered.
"Who dares!" Began Aultcray, "It's you, what do you have Pope Balmus?" He asked confused.
"If I may address the court," The Pope said, showing deference to the king. He stayed bowed at the waist until Aultcray signaled him to speak. "Thank you, King Aultcray," He said, standing upright and pulling a roll of parchment from his gilded robes, "This is a message from Mayor Hughes of Lute village openly addressed to the court of his majesty Aultcray Melromarc XXXII. If it pleases the court, I would now like to read the message aloud for all to hear." He unrolled the message and waited for the king's approval.
"The crown recognizes this message. You may proceed," The king said through gritted teeth.
"To the crown court, In concern with the ongoing trial of the Sheild Hero and his party member Richard Williamson. I have investigated the claim that the accused resided inside the walls of Lute Village during the events of the sixteenth day of Firstsow this year. We have concluded that the claim is true and irrefutable. When interviewed, the owner of the Mainstreet Inn, one Clara Nightwillow, testified under oath that both of the accused rented a room that night and did not leave the grounds until late morning, where they entered the employee of Mr. Bill McLinter. A claim that his wife Martha McLinter also verified. The accused have been either within the walls of Lute Village proper or residing and working at the McLinter ranch. I can personally attest to both of these. The local merchant Lawrence, along with his assistant and the local mine operator Yohan Redbelly, also attest to the presence of the accused during the time the crime is stated to have taken place. All parties have volunteered to personally come to the castle and testify under the slave curse to the authenticity of their testimony. Penned and signed by my own hand, Alric Hughes, Mayor of Lute." When he ." When he finished reading the note, the pope rolled it once again and approached the throne. "You will be able to see by examination that all the proper seals are affixed to this note. I will also attest to it coming via church messenger directly to me." He said, handing the note to the king.
Aultcray's jaw audibly ground as he examined the note. He rerolled the note and placed it on a table next to his throne. "After careful review," He began, paused, and resumed, "I can confirm that his note is, beyond a doubt, a genuine article. After careful consideration, I must dismiss all charges against the Sheild Hero and his retainer." He collapsed onto the throne and wiped a considerable amount of sweat from his face. "With that proclamation, they are free to go," He held up a hand as if it pained him, "I command you to release the prisoners and to return all confiscated property." He finished. The guards and a large number of us in the room just stared at him before he snapped. "Now!" He ushered the guard.
A moment later, the guard next to me grabbed my shackles and, with a small key, opened them so I might revoke my wrist. Naofumi was getting the same treatment next to me. His smile of relief was absolutely smug.
"If I might have a moment of your time," Itsuki prompted the two of us. He bowed low, arms tight to his side. "Please accept my deepest apologies for improperly accusing you both. I can see now that the perpetrator of this crime is still on the loose and needs to be brought to justice." He finished, remaining bowed.
Naofumi returned his bow, "I forgive you. I will not blame you for following the orders you were issued."
"We are okay, kid, although I would caution you that justice is very rarely as straightforward as you would like," I told him as he stood up.
"Thank you for forgiving me, I hope we may continue working towards the defeat of this evil." He said before gathering his party members and departing.
"I would like to apologize as well," Ren said, walking up to us both, "I am truly sorry for the way your arrest was handled. I did not wish to escalate to violence unless you left me no option," He bowed slightly, "I did not anticipate Motoyasu behaving the way he did."
"We are all good. I know you tried to stop that fight," I said.
"Yeah, man, you can't help Motoyasu being a bit of a nut," Naofumi added.
"Thank you," Ren said before he, too, left the throne room.
I walked up to Motoyasu, "I believe that you are holding onto something of mine; I will be taking it back now," I said, holding out my hand so he could give me my spear.
He unslung the spear from his back, looked me in the eyes, and snapped it over his knee, "I know that somehow you have everybody fooled. They can't see through your noble little hero act, but I can. You are not worthy to wield a spear. Fuck you," He snarled into my face.
"Do let that bad attitude of yours get you killed by another woman, Motoyasu. I would also advise you to be very careful what lines you cross, pretty soon, you're gonna run into someone that little spear of yours won't be able to keep away," I hissed back.
"You should grab your little friend and book it," Naofumi said, stepping up to him. "Here, I'm sorry. We should get a new one; a spear fits you," Naofumi said, handing me the broken pieces of my spear. "Let's get out of here," He said, turning to leave.
"Just one second, I will catch up with you in the hall," I said, stepping away from him before he could object. I walked right up next to the throne before leaning down to speak to Aultcray without being overheard. "I don't know what damn game your playing here, but I am going to tell you to stop now," He tried to interrupt me before I got his shoulder in a crushing lock, "This is your only warning. Back in my homeworld, my nation's military is the single most feared entity to ever walk upon the earth, you fuck around like this again, and you're going to find out why," I patted the shoulder I had squeezed to keep him quiet before standing. I put on my customer service face before speaking again. "Anyway, so sorry the attacker has gotten away for now. I hope you catch them soon."
I was walking out of the overly large stone room when the pope caught me right at the door, "I am glad that I was able to relay that letter in time. I find that the lords above always act right as we need them to. It would have been a shame if I had been any later," Pope Balmus said, resting one of his hands on my right shoulder. "Are you a religious man?" He asked me.
"I am not particularly religious. However, I find that God will always intervene on behalf of his righteous soldiers right as they need him most," I responded to the pope. "Now, if you excuse me, I have had a long day and must attend to a few things before I can rest.
"Certainly, I will never be an obstacle to a righteous man," Pope Balmus smiled and stepped aside.
"Bill, how are you doing? We just wrapped up over here," I said via the link.
"We have Bartcly. We are good to go. You got it handled just in time too," Bill awnsered.
"All right, everyone, get to your places; it's showtime," I said, cutting the link.
Authors Notes
Boom! Another day, another chapter. I hope you enjoy this one. It went down nothing like I was expecting it to, but I still would stand by it.
~Sobe James.