"Good morning, Alexei-sama!"
A pair of maids greeted the nobleman as he slowly made his way down the steps of his mansion.
Alderp glanced at the women, eyeing them up and down as they bowed before him. Not bad.
It was unfortunate that his one-way magic mirror had been destroyed. He had already reached out to his contacts in the black market to keep an eye out for another pair.
They were expensive, but it wasn't like money was a problem for his family.
Speaking of money, today was the day that pathetic Hero Candidate would grovel before him after failing to secure the promised one-billion Eris. He had been scared at first, especially after receiving the guild reports from the capital the other day.
But it was child's play for an experienced noble such as Alderp to come up with a counterplay on the spot.
'That fool… this will teach him not to mess with his superiors.'
An up and coming name in the world of nobility, true. But Naruto Uzumaki had flown too close to the sun, and for what?
One woman that he never had a chance with to begin with?
The only way a lowborn man would ever had the chance to marry into a high ranking family like the Dustiness was if he defeated the Demon King.
But everyone knew that wasn't going to be happening anytime soon. Not with the kingdom's current financial state.
By Alderp's estimation, the royal family would run out of money within a decade.
But that was something he could easily fix.
Shaking his head, Alderp entered the dining room where a platter lay waiting for him at the end of the long table. Taking a seat, a servant raised the dish to reveal a recreation of his favorite foreign dish.
Ramen.
It was by no means anywhere close to the original, but it would suffice for now.
'Perhaps I'll hire the boy as my personal chef after he learns his place! Hah!'
But before the noble could take his first bite, a young man entered the room.
Walter Bernes Alexei bowed upon meeting eyes with his father.
Just seeing the boy's handsome features made him want to gag. All he saw was another failed attempt at getting Lalatina. His original plan was to marry his good for nothing son off to the Dustiness family, then he'd use the body-swapping amulet to take his place the night before the wedding.
It was full proof! That is, until the ungrateful brat called off the arranged marriage. Walter had said something about Lalatina seeming to be on the fence about something, but he was too annoyed to care about the details.
In the end, he ended up giving the Divine Relic to Prince Jatis in hopes of swapping bodies with him.
'But those accursed Chivalrous Thieves ruined everything!'
Alderp thought and gripped his fork.
"Excuse me, father. Is this a bad time?"
Walter asked with a flash of concern on his face, which further irked the head of the house.
But Alderp hid his emotions behind a mask and simply waved his hand dismissively.
"Nonsense, my boy. What is it?"
"Father, I bring wonderful news! The royal family has invited you to the royal castle. It seems they wish to officially recognize you for your recent achievements with this land!"
Walter beamed with excitement as he spoke.
What was with that brat? Why did he always stare at him with such admiration? It wasn't like he was his real father. It was common knowledge that nobles adopted orphans for publicity purposes.
'I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Give an orphan everything they want, and they'll worship you like a god.'
Alderp smirked and started slurping his noodles.
The Hero Candidate was likely wasting his time running around the city looking for that guild receptionist.
It was time to show him just how unfair the world was to some people.
'...Eh?'
Alderp blinked.
He had traveled to the capital with the utmost confidence that he had won.
Which was why he was shocked to find himself in cuffs standing behind a judge's bench, facing a room packed with nobles, officials, and commoners alike, all eagerly awaiting the verdict for his alleged crimes.
What was going on? Why had they arrested him the moment he'd set foot in the castle!?
Who-
Alderp's eyes landed on a certain man sitting at the witness's bench.
The Hero Candidate, Naruto Uzumaki, was staring at him with an unreadable expression.
'So… The mut finally bares his fangs, huh?'
Resisting the urge to sneer, Alderp looked up at the judge's stand, who was accompanied by Princess Iris, Claire Symphonia, and the mage whose name he didn't bother to remember due to her social ranking. Lain, was it?
Also, what was that smell permeating the room? Honey?
"Your Majesty... I must admit, I am perplexed. I was led to believe that I was summoned here today to be honored. Why, if I may ask, was I detained upon my arrival?"
"Alderp Barnes Alexei, you have been summoned to answer for the numerous allegations leveled against you."
The judge declared, his stern gaze fixed on the noble. His expression left no doubt that Alderp would not be addressing Her Highness directly.
"Very well. But I can assure you that whatever the Hero Candidate told you was-"
"Naruto Uzumaki is not the claimant."
The judge stated curtly.
Alderp frowned. It wasn't the hero brat? Who else would dare…
Darkness, aka Lalatina Ford Dustiness, silently walked up to the opposing podium to his. Instead of a lavish dress, she adorned her adventurer's attire that consisted of her manatite armor.
Alderp's mask finally cracked, his eyes widening as he looked at the object of his every desire.
It was Lalatina!? Did she not understand the gravity of the situation her family was in!?
"L-Lady Dustiness... Surely, you are aware of the many times my house has come to your family's aid! What is the meaning of this?"
Even as he said this, the noblewoman kept her focus ahead of her.
That wench…!
"Sena, if you would."
The judge said, and another woman stepped forward, a prosecutor from the looks of it.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the court, today we stand before you to bring to light the despicable actions of Alderp Barnes Alexei, a man who has been accused of long abusing his wealth, status, and influence for personal gain. The crimes against him are extensive, from fraud, extortion, and perversion to outright conspiracy and kidnapping. Today, we will lay bare the undeniable truth, and by the end of this trial, there will be no doubt of his guilt."
A wave of murmurs spread throughout the grand courtroom, and Alderp felt the color draining from his face.
But he retained his neutral expression. After all, there was no way they could prove anything. He made sure of it.
"Heed this warning, Alexei-sama… This magic item was designed to ring when a lie is told in its presence. You must swear to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth in front of Her Highness, Iris Stylish-Sword Belzerg. Do you understand this?"
Sena continued, her sharp gaze almost piercing through him.
"...I understand."
Alderp muttered, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. The appearance of that dreadful magic item was troublesome, but it had one key flaw. Any noble with half a brain knew that so long as what you said was true, you could work around any question that was thrown at you without setting it off.
What made the man truly nervous was the brat's Kitsune. He couldn't see it, but the beast could be hidden somewhere in the audience.
"Your honor… Before we begin, I must inform you that the Hero Candidate is in possession of a rare specimen. A Kitsune, one that I have confirmed has the ability to shapeshift. It can also use its Telepathy to share sensitive information with its owner. If I am not mistaken, is there not a rule that prohibits the presence of this mythical beast during a trial?"
The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder at Alderp's claim, but the judge quickly raised a hand to silence them.
"It is true. There is an old law that prohibits the use of Telepathy in royal trials, as it was deemed an unfair advantage."
The judge said, his deep voice carrying through the chamber. His eyes then flicked toward Naruto.
"Hero Candidate, is your Kitsune currently present?"
"No, your honor. Kiki will be with my party member during the duration of this trial."
The court fell silent, all ears waiting for the inevitable chime from the lie-detecting magic item.
But it never came.
Unfortunately, that didn't do much to ease Alderp's uneasiness. That response was suspicious… But surely the brat wasn't smart enough to realize the magic item's weakness, was he?
The judge nodded in satisfaction.
"The lie detector remains silent. We will proceed under the assumption that the Kitsune's abilities will not interfere with this trial. However, should there be any suspicion of deception, the consequences will be severe."
"Understood."
Naruto acknowledged with a nod of his own. While he would have loved to have Kiki here for support, they couldn't risk Alderp using her as an excuse when things inevitably went south for him.
After all, this was going to be a trial to end all trials.
Sena had retrieved a handful of papers from her desk before walking back to the center podium. After briefly glancing at the first page, she looked at Alderp.
"Lord Alderp, to repeat your charges, you stand accused of numerous crimes against the kingdom, including but not limited to fraud, extortion, perversion, conspiracy, and kidnapping. For the record, you deny these charges?"
Alderp's eye twitched at the "perversion" charge, but he sighed dramatically while shaking his head.
"I must say, I am deeply disappointed that such wild accusations have been brought against me. Everything I have done has been in service to this great kingdom's success."
There was silence in the courtroom, and no chime.
Alderp smirked. It wasn't a lie. He would one day rule this kingdom, whether it be from the throne or as the backbone within the shadows. Of course he wanted his kingdom to be successful.
Darkness's lips twitched, but held her composure. Showing any form of weakness would only give Alderp the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten under her skin. She refused to let him see her waver, not when so much was at stake.
Especially not after the wonderful plan her comrades had concocted.
Last Night…
"Alright, here's the plan!"
Naruto declared, pointing toward the ceiling with a confidence that immediately commanded the room's attention.
"I think we already have enough evidence to expose Alderp. First, we've got Darkness's family's debt, which he's been using as leverage over her house."
Darkness's expression hardened, but she didn't interrupt.
"Then, we have the bet I made with him to pay off the debt in a week. He never expected me to come close, but now that I have with all your help, he obviously started getting desperate."
Naruto said with a look of amusement, and Kazuma sighed.
"Which is where the new guild rule comes in, huh?"
"Eh? New guild rule?"
Darkness looked back and forth between the two boys, clearly lost.
"The day after I completed all the quests in the capital, we learned that the lord of the land in Axel instilled a new rule that limits adventurers to only one quest per day."
Naruto explained while shaking his head. Not that there were a lot of high paying quests back in Axel, but it definitely would have helped them reach their goal a day earlier.
"I-I see…"
Darkness's face fell. To think Alderp would go that far… No, it honestly didn't surprise her. But what else did she miss?
"Yeah, the timing was way too convenient. He was trying to cripple our ability to make money before the deadline. Just think of all the Explosions I could have fired…"
Megumin crossed her arms and muttered the last bit under her breath, and Naruto felt a bead of sweat roll down his cheek.
"Right… but then there's Luna's kidnapping-"
"W-what!? Luna was kidnapped!?"
Darkness looked ready to bolt for the door, but Naruto quickly grabbed her arm.
"It's fine, I already found her. She's under protective custody at the police station with Sena. But it just happens to take place the day before the bet's deadline?"
He scoffed, shaking his head. It was almost insulting how obvious it was.
Darkness gritted her teeth. On one hand, this was exactly what she had warned Naruto about when he got involved with Alderp. But on the other hand… if she had involved her friends sooner…
"Hey, it's no use worrying about the past. Instead, let's just focus on taking that guy down."
Naruto said, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"R-right…"
Darkness felt her cheeks warming up, but she nodded and straightened herself.
Kazuma's eyebrow twitched.
"Come to think of it, why did you suddenly decide to let us help? Did you and Naruto have a secret love affair or something?"
"!?"
Darkness's jaw dropped and she turned to see Naruto awkwardly averting his gaze.
He was going to make her defend herself!?
"I-it was not a love affair! If anything, that man has developed the ultimate form of sexual harassment! Day after day, he would stop by my room and spout some nonsense to the guards! All I could do was sit there and take it… It was… It was…"
"H-hey! You're making it sound like I was torturing you! Also, stop saying that with a smile on your face, Weirdness!"
Naruto barked, and "Weirdness" gripped her dress and made a strange noise.
"...You know what? I was thinking about teasing you both with talk about a night raid or something, but I don't want to put Naruto through any more trouble than you probably already put him through."
Kazuma stated while rubbing the back of his head, earning an appreciative look from the shinobi.
"What were some of the things Naruto said, Darkness-san?"
Yunyun suddenly asked with a neutral expression.
"Naruto the Player…"
Megumin muttered under her breath.
"N-nothing strange! A-anyways, we should get back to the plan! To start, we're splitting up tomorrow. Kazuma, Megumin, and Yunyun, you three are gonna be in charge of selling the toad perfume."
Naruto quickly said to avoid the mage's wrath. Also, he was seriously going to make Megumin suffer a prank when they got home!
Yunyun looked like she wanted to say more, but ultimately decided to let it go for the sake of keeping the conversation going.
For now, anyway.
Darkness blinked when she realized the shinobi had said something strange.
"Toad perfume…?"
"Yeah… that's a long story. One that you completely missed while you were locking yourself up."
Kazuma sighed dramatically, and Darkness was about to argue but Naruto pressed forward before she could.
"While you guys handle that, I'll go talk to Claire and try to get her support in making an official accusation against Alderp with Sena."
The room fell silent, and it seemed they were all in alignment with that decision.
"…No."
Darkness's voice was soft, but resolute.
"No? What do you mean?"
Naruto tilted his head. Was this girl really going to start another argument?
Darkness stepped forward, meeting his gaze without hesitation.
"Naruto, your standing in this kingdom has improved a lot, but it's not strong enough to rally the nobility against Alderp. He still has too much influence, too much history. Even if Claire backs you, it won't be enough."
"I…"
Naruto frowned slightly, considering her words. He could see her point. The way he looked at it, he and Alderp were evenly matched in the noble world. While he was just a Hero Candidate, Alderp had a questionable reputation.
Without Maxwell to cover his tracks with memory manipulation, it leveled the playing field.
But he might have been underestimating Alderp's influence. Even if Naruto had dirt on the man, Alderp could easily fire back with dirt of his own. While there wasn't much dirt on Naruto, the other nobles were a completely different story.
Darkness took a deep breath.
"I will make the official accusation."
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly, but he could see it. The unwavering determination in Darkness's stance, the fire in her gaze.
This wasn't Lalatina Ford Dustiness, the noblewoman.
This was Darkness, the fearless Crusader.
And she was ready to fight.
Present…
Sena flipped to the next paper before continuing.
"In recent times, the lands surrounding the Town of Axel were devastated on two separate occasions. A great flood destroyed a portion of the town's wall, as well as when the Mobile Fortress Destroyer razed a good portion of the crop fields in the surrounding lands. Is it true that you loaned the Dustiness family two-billion Eris to pay for the repairs?"
"...Yes, the honorable House Dustiness is indeed indebted to me. But I assure you, it was a mutually agreed upon arrangement. I merely extended my generosity to assist them in their time of need."
Alderp said after a pause, and then there was silence in the room.
No chime.
Despite the surprised murmurs in the audience, Sena didn't react. She flipped through her notes before speaking again.
"And before today's trial, was anyone else aware of this debt?"
"To my knowledge, no one outside of Lady Dustiness, Lord Ignis, and the Hero Candidate, Naruto Uzumaki."
Alderp replied, seemingly growing bored from the questioning.
Sena's eyes gleamed behind her glasses, seeing an opportunity presenting itself.
"I see. And how did Naruto Uzumaki come to learn about this debt?"
"Ah, well… we were simply having a business discussion, and the topic happened to come up."
"A business discussion?"
"Yes, of course. I was merely discussing a potential arrangement with the Hero Candidate, and the matter of the Dustiness family's financial state arose during our conversation."
Alderp nodded sagely, and Sena wasted no time with her follow up question.
"And what kind of business arrangement was this?"
"Why, I was offering employment to Naruto Uzumaki."
Alderp said and let out a deep chuckle, shaking his head as though the answer was obvious.
Across the room, Naruto nearly choked as his mind instantly flicked back to the events at Alderp's mansion. The same night he was forced to endure the noble's disgusting behavior while trying not to burn the place down.
"Your honor, I call Naruto Uzumaki to the stand."
Sena's voice rang through the courtroom.
Iris watched as Naruto rose from his seat without a word, stepping forward with measured confidence. She knew there had been a reason as to why the boy had been acting so distant these past few days, and she was finally going to find out why.
As Naruto passed by Darkness, he flashed her a small grin. She stiffened, her cheeks betraying a faint hint of color.
Alderp noticed this little interaction and seethed.
His fingers clenched, jealousy bubbling beneath the surface. But he forced it down. It didn't matter. None of this mattered.
He just had to endure this farce. Soon enough, he would walk free, the hero would lose the bet… and Lalatina would be his.
Alderp regained his air of confidence.
That's right, what was he so worried about? No matter what kind of questions were asked today, it was nothing he couldn't handle.
As soon as the shinobi was settled in, Sena walked up to him.
"Naruto Uzumaki, is it true that Alderp identified you as a woman?"
"!?"
Alderp nearly choked on his spit. But he quickly recovered and slammed his cuffed hands on the podium.
"Y-your honor, what does this have to do with-"
"Silence, Lord Alderp. The prosecution may continue."
The judge stated coldly and barely spared Alderp a glance.
Alderp gritted his teeth, his face turning red as murmurs spread through the courtroom.
"Yes, your honor. It is true. Lord Alderp presumed that I was related to Lady Dustiness by blood, and that I was using the power of the Kitsune to present myself as a man. I can assure the court that I am, in fact, a man."
Naruto confirmed, his expression somber.
The judge looked at the bell, and seeing as it remained silent, he nodded his head and wrote something down.
"A-a simple misunderstanding! Hardly worth mentioning in a trial of this magnitude!"
Alderp stuttered when he felt a collection of cold stares coming from the crowd. Even the Princess and her bodyguards were-
The Symphonia heiress is glaring rather hard.
It was then Alderp remembered the recent rumors circulating in the noble world. The "Forbidden Love Triangle" involving Naruto Uzumaki, Lalatina, and Claire Symphonia.
While his house wasn't on the greatest terms with the Symphonia family, he was sure any means of business was just thrown out the window as of now.
"A misunderstanding, you say? Then was it also a misunderstanding when you offered me employment?"
Naruto asked, pulling the nobleman out of his thoughts.
"What was the nature of this employment, Naruto Uzumaki?"
Sena adjusted her glasses, already knowing the answer.
Naruto closed his eyes briefly, composing himself. When he spoke again, his voice was laced with the weight of deep emotional turmoil.
"Yes… Lord Alderp graciously offered to allow me to assist in repaying the Dustiness family debt. He affectionately called me Naruko Ford Dustiness while expressing… great enthusiasm in the idea that I could pay off the debt in Lady Dustiness's stead… with my body."
. . .
When the bell didn't ring, the courtroom fell into stunned silence.
Darkness went rigid. Naruto hadn't told her about that!
Alderp turned pale as the temperature in the room turned even colder.
Naruto exhaled shakily, lowering his head just enough to make his discomfort clear. Now for the sinker.
"It was a most harrowing evening, your honor. The way Lord Alderp looked at me… I could feel his gaze lingering upon me, undressing me with his eyes… I even found out he owned magic mirrors in which he used to peep on his female staff while they bathed. From the way he excused himself from the room after Lady Dustiness had just left to use the bath at his villa…"
Gasps erupted throughout the courtroom. A noblewoman fainted, collapsing into their husband's arms. Someone in the back dropped their cane in complete and utter shock.
"LIES! THIS IS ABSURD! I-"
DING!
The lie detector rang.
The courtroom descended further into chaos.
"W-wait! I misspoke! I-"
Alderp's words died in his mouth when a flare of killing intent hit him like a brick to the head. Looking up, he found Claire's eyes were glowering at him with a hatred so pure, even the judge shuffled in his seat to move away from the noblewoman.
"Disgusting…"
The Symphonia heiress muttered, fingers twitching toward her sword.
'Naruto-nii… So that's what you and Kazuma onii-sama have been fighting…'
Iris thought while holding a hand over her mouth. She was too preoccupied with her own thoughts to notice her caretaker's malice.
Alderp began to panic. He messed up. The absurd question had completely thrown him off. He needed to be extra careful moving forward, or he might just lose his head.
But if the brat was willing to go this far to humiliate him, would he actually be insane enough to accuse him of treason?
Did he have Maxwell with him?
'No… There's no way he would be foolish enough to summon that creature in the presence of the princess.'
Alderp thought, which gave him enough solace to calm down. Their strategy was obvious now. Throw him off with blasphemous accusations, then reveal the bet while his guard was down to make him slip and admit to his corruption.
But he would not be caught by surprise again.
"O-order! I demand order in this court!"
As the judge regained his composure and silenced the audience, Sena remained completely unfazed as she flipped to the next page in her notes.
"You have my condolences, Naruto Uzumaki. If I may ask another question, is it true that you proposed a wager with Lord Alderp?"
"Yes. To defend my comrade's honor, I wagered that I could collect the remaining debt of one-billion Eris in a week. If I succeeded, then Lord Alderp would have to leave the Dustiness family alone for good. He is quite obsessed with Lady Dustiness, you see."
Naruto responded, which earned various murmurs of praise from the crowd.
Alderp glared at the lying detector. Just one slip up, and his name would be clear! He needed to throw them off balance, and quickly!
Sena nodded and was about to ask her next question when Alderp spoke.
"Your honor, I believe it would only be fair if I were allowed to ask the witness some questions. I am allowed to defend myself, no?"
"...I will allow it. Sena, you may have a seat for now."
The judge ruled, and the prosecutor bowed before stepping off of the floor.
Alderp centered his gaze on Naruto, who stared back with defiance. The brat probably thought he'd won… But that confidence would soon shatter.
"Naruto Uzumaki, tell me… Is it not possible that you are merely attempting to slander my reputation to gain the favor of Lady Dustiness?"
"...!"
Darkness's eyes widened. She had a sinking feeling she knew where this was headed.
"I find it rather convenient that you, a foreigner, suddenly appear in our kingdom, weave your way into the circles of nobility, and then proceed to discredit me. All while keeping close company with Lady Dustiness. Isn't it rather obvious that this is nothing more than a ploy to win her affections?"
Gasps rippled through the audience as Alderp pressed forward, and all eyes fell on the shinobi in question.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, looking almost amused.
"I assure you, Lord Alderp, I have no need for such underhanded tactics. My actions were to defend my comrade's honor by exposing your corruption."
The lie detector remained silent.
Alderp clicked his tongue. So the brat was telling the truth…
But he wasn't done yet.
"Of course... But then, I suppose the rumors are just that. Rumors. The whole capital has been buzzing about the 'Forbidden Love Triangle' between you, Lady Dustiness, and Lady Symphonia."
The murmurs in the room instantly multiplied.
"T-that's just…!"
Darkness fumbled, unsure of how to respond. She had only just come to terms with her own feelings, and now they were about to be dragged into the open in front of the entire court!?
Alderp smirked at her reaction. Perfect. A flustered noblewoman would be less likely to support the case against him.
But before Darkness could say anything further, Claire stepped forward.
The courtroom fell silent.
Iris's eyes widened. Somehow, she got the feeling they were about to witness something amazing.
"I am not afraid to admit that I am courting Naruto Uzumaki."
The Symphonia heiress boldly declared.
Alderp's smirk vanished.
Naruto and Darkness's jaws dropped.
The nobility erupted in shocked whispers.
Claire stood tall, her posture perfectly composed, her voice clear and unwavering.
"As a woman of noble birth, I do not take such matters lightly. Naruto Uzumaki is a man of honor. A man whom I have personally entrusted with my father's battle suit."
Gasps filled the air once more as several nobles glanced at Naruto's formal attire.
Naruto himself was speechless. While they had more or less filled Claire in with their strategy, he wasn't expecting the noblewoman to defend him like this.
"The very suit he wears now is a priceless heirloom, valued at millions of Eris, and is only to be given to the man I choose to court. Knowing this, to question his character is ludicrous."
The lie detector remained silent.
Alderp bristled. His entire strategy had been ruined in an instant.
Claire turned her gaze toward Naruto, her eyes filled with undeniable conviction.
"I-I… I am honored by your faith in me, Claire-san."
The shinobi said after clearing his throat, his heart pounding in his chest.
Darkness, still stunned, looked between Naruto and Claire, her mind reeling. What… just happened?
Alderp gritted his teeth. He had lost control of the conversation. He needed to regain the advantage fast.
Taking a deep breath, he tried one last move.
"Then tell me this, Hero Candidate. If you are so noble, then why did you make a fool's bet over one-billion Eris?"
"...In my home country, I was taught that those who abandoned their missions were scum. But those who abandoned their comrades were bigger scum."
Naruto began before he gazed into the crowd, making sure to meet the eyes of those eagerly watching.
"My mission is to defeat the Demon King. But Lady Dustiness is my comrade, and I refuse to abandon her to the clutches of a corrupt man who seeks to use her as nothing more than a bargaining chip."
The murmurs in the courtroom grew louder. Some nobles nodded in approval, while others exchanged uncertain glances.
Naruto kept his posture straight and unwavering.
"I took that bet not out of recklessness, nor out of personal gain, but because it was the right thing to do. Because no warrior, no friend, should ever be forced to shoulder such a burden alone."
His gaze flickered to Darkness, and she sucked in a breath.
Naruto turned back toward the judge, his voice steady and clear.
"And if that makes me a fool, then so be it."
The bell remained silent.
The judge studied him for a long moment before nodding and writing something else down in his notes.
Alderp began to sweat. His carefully laid plans were falling apart. He could feel the weight of the room shifting against him again.
Curse this hero brat! How was he telling the truth!? No one in the world was this noble! Everyone was in it for themselves! It's just how the world worked! There had to be a way to make him slip!
"...I have but one more question, your honor."
Alderp said, his voice low. The man pointed a pudgy finger towards Darkness.
"How does that make you feel, Lady Dustiness? To have a commoner take on your responsibilities? Does it not sting your pride as a noble? Does your father even approve?"
Darkness flinched as all eyes turned to her. She had expected Alderp to throw something her way, but she was already beginning to feel overwhelmed.
"I… Of course, I-"
She hesitated, and Alderp's smirk returned in full.
It irked him to no end, but he had been right on the money. Lalatina had fallen for the peasant, and he would exploit that weakness.
'Come on, Darkness… Whatever you're thinking, just say it!'
Naruto, who had been watching her carefully, began to grow nervous as his friend fumbled with the podium.
"Come now, Lady Dustiness. Aren't you at least a little ashamed? A warrior of your status, reduced to being rescued by a mere commoner?"
Alderp sneered, causing Darkness to bristle.
"T-that's not-"
"Then tell us. Tell the court exactly what Naruto Uzumaki means to you."
The courtroom fell into silence once more, causing Darkness's face to turn beet red.
'Oh no.'
Naruto stiffened, a grave feeling washing over him.
Darkness opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She looked to Naruto, then to the crowd, then back to Naruto.
"I, uh… well, you see, Naruto is… he's…"
She was struggling.
Alderp's smirk widened. He had them cornered.
"Darkness… Just say it."
Naruto suddenly said, his eyes closed as if accepting something.
"Say what!?"
Darkness snapped and whipped her head around to face him with teary eyes. Did he know!? If so, then why was he trying to force her to say something so embarrassing in front of all of these people!?
"I-is this some sort of sick new play!? Even I have my limits, you know!"
"N-no! Just say whatever it is that's making you act all weird right now!"
"I am not being weird!"
"Yes, you are!"
"I am not!"
"Then just say what I mean to you!"
The audience turned back and forth as the two bickered.
The judge awkwardly cleared his throat.
"Lady Dustiness, if you would, please answer the question."
"H-he's… "
Darkness inhaled sharply and squoze her eyes shut.
"He's a dear friend!"
Ding!
The lie detector rang, and the courtroom fell into a flurry of rumors.
Darkness felt her soul leave her body.
Naruto nearly choked. Why hadn't that worked!? Did she secretly hate him or something!?
Darkness panic, her eyes spinning.
"I-I meant close companion!"
DING!
'K-kill me…!'
The Crusader slammed her head on the podium.
The judge raised a brow.
"Lady Dustiness, the magic item detects even partial falsehoods. Please answer truthfully."
"N-no, it's broken!"
Darkness's hands covered her head in pure embarrassment.
"Really? Because it was working just fine a second ago."
Naruto retorted with a flat expression, and Darkness shot a glare at him.
"T-then you answer the question!"
"Fine."
Naruto turned to the judge, who nodded in approval.
"Darkness is…"
He paused, and everyone leaned in.
Iris and Claire watched in anticipation, eager to see where the Hero Candidate stood with his feelings regarding the Dustiness heiress.
"She's… One of my precious people."
Naruto stated with a sagely nod, and the lie detector stayed silent.
The courtroom was visibly disappointed with his answer.
Darkness froze, her eyes still spinning as she tried to process what the shinobi had said.
Naruto looked at the silent magic item and grinned.
"See? That wasn't so hard-"
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!?"
Darkness slammed her hands on the podium, causing the ninja to flinch. The audience cried out to support her.
"There must be more to it!"
"Ask a better question, prosecutor!"
"How pure… Ah! To be young again!"
The judge pounded his gavel repeatedly while demanding order, but the crowd was too rowdy.
Alderp revelled in the chaos he'd started. Now that they were all riled up, he could get things back on track.
'What is that girl thinking!? We were about to move on!'
Naruto glared at the Crusader, who was staring at him with such defiance… No, curiosity?
But he had told the absolute truth. What else could she possibly be looking for at a time like this?
As the courtroom finally began to settle down, Sena adjusted her glasses.
"Your honor, may I proceed with the case?"
"Please do."
The judge sighed and rubbed his temples. This trial was getting out of hand.
"Understood. Now then, I would like to ask-"
"Please wait, your honor. I believe Lady Dustiness has a point. Naruto Uzumaki needs to be more specific in his response. It could hold significant importance in this case."
Claire interjected, causing both Sena and Naruto to gape at the noblewoman. She sent Darkness a pointed look, and the Crusader nodded her head in understanding.
'Claire too!? What is with these two!?'
Naruto wanted to scream, but the judge nodded his head.
"Very well. Naruto Uzumaki, please elaborate further in your response to the question."
The spotlight was back on the shinobi, who was trembling with frustration.
This wasn't even his question to begin with!? Why didn't they ask Darkness for her answer!?
Taking a long breath, the shinobi faced his friend.
She wanted the truth? Fine.
"I find Lalatina to be an attractive woman."
"!?"
Darkness blushed, but she didn't look away. She wanted to hear more. Just what did Naruto truly think of her?
"A commoner daring to covet a noble lady? How disgraceful."
Alderp scoffed, but Naruto ignored him.
"Not only is she beautiful, but she's also incredibly strong and determined. There's a reason I trust her to watch my back in battle. She has a will of steel, a sense of justice that can't be swayed, and she'll fight for what's right no matter the cost."
"..."
Darkness's expression wavered. He was being too genuine. Too sincere. If he kept saying such things, she-
"Of course, she's also one of the biggest weirdos I've ever met."
The sincerity shattered in an instant.
"W-what!?"
Darkness balked, but Naruto raised an eyebrow.
"Don't act surprised. You purposely jump in front of attacks, you get all weirdly excited when things get dangerous, and you keep acting like noble dignity matters when you're hopeless a-"
"DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE!"
Darkness slammed a fist against the podium, her face burning. Cheeky bastard! He knew exactly what he was doing!
"Oh? But I thought you wanted me to be honest, Lalatina?"
Naruto asked, tilting his head in mock confusion.
The courtroom was filled with hushed whispers and poorly concealed laughter.
"Ahem… Naruto Uzumaki, please maintain a level of decorum."
The judge said, and the shinobi put a hand to his chest, looking almost apologetic.
"Of course, your honor. I'll keep it formal."
He turned back to Darkness, eyes shining with mischief.
"Lady Dustiness is a reckless, battle-crazed beauty with no sense of self-preservation and a very, very concerning set of preferences."
"..."
Darkness twitched violently, her eyes seeing red.
Alderp grinned, sensing an opportunity.
"Then it is safe to assume that Lady Dustiness means nothing to you beyond that of an odd companion?"
"I never said that."
Naruto replied flatly.
"T-then tell us plainly what she means to you!"
Alderp's eye twitched in annoyance. He was the one who started this fiasco, but he was completely regretting it now.
"Like I said. She's one of my precious people. Weirdness and all."
Naruto simply said with a shrug.
Silence.
Darkness gripped the podium, her gauntleted fingers leaving small indents in the polished wood.
How could something be so heartwarming and infuriating all at once!? She couldn't decide whether she wanted to embrace him or throttle him on the spot!
The audience began murmuring louder, whispers of speculation filling the room.
Alderp clenched his teeth. Whatever the hell that was, it was clearly working on Lalatina. He needed to move away from this topic.
But someone beat him to the punch.
"Prosecutor, I believe this line of questioning is actually quite relevant."
It was Claire, and the female knight had an unreadable expression before sitting back down.
Sena looked at the Symphonia heiress before her eyes widened. She quickly turned toward the court.
"Indeed. Lord Alderp's earlier claim was that Naruto Uzumaki was slandering his name in an attempt to secure Lady Dustiness' affections. However, given his detailed elaboration, this is clearly not the case."
Alderp muttered a curse under his breath. It was true, and he had been hoping to push the trial forward before anyone took notice.
But why had Claire drawn attention to it? Didn't she resent Lalatina for developing feelings for the same man?
'Claire…'
Iris stole a glance at her bodyguard. Claire's expression remained neutral, but her clenched fists told another story. But upon noticing the princess's worried glance, the female knight straightened herself and smiled.
While Iris was thrilled that Lalatina's feelings were all but confirmed, a sense of unease crept in.
The drama had seemed fun at first, a whirlwind of excitement straight out of a romance novel. But she had never stopped to consider the inevitable outcome.
What would happen when Naruto finally chose between them?
"The idea that Naruto Uzumaki would need to fabricate such elaborate lies for personal gain no longer holds any weight. His motivations are not driven by desire, but by genuine concern for his comrade. So, let us move on."
Sena stated before referring back to her notes. She had a feeling if she didn't keep things on track, they would be here for quite some time.
"Naruto Uzumaki, can you tell the court what it is you have done so far to gather the funds for the Dustiness family's debt?"
"Yes. I started by completing every quest that was available at the Adventurer's Guild in the capital."
This earned a rise out of the audience. There had been rumors of the Hero Candidate's amazing feat, but any reasonable person would be skeptical if they hadn't witnessed it first-hand.
But seeing as the lie detector didn't ring, it must be true.
"I can see that such a thing might be hard to believe, but I possess a skill to perfectly copy myself. This allowed me to complete multiple quests all in one day."
Naruto explained and created a couple Shadow Clones by his side, which solidified their belief.
"Unfortunately, there was a new rule that prohibited adventurers from accepting more than one quest each day. Due to this sudden limitation, I was only able to earn a little over four-hundred million Eris. Luckily, my party member and I were able to make a business deal with a friend here in the capital making Intermediate Magic Scrolls. This brought our earnings up to about seven-hundred million Eris."
The shinobi continued while glancing up at Rain, who winked.
Alderp's eye twitched, but he quickly masked his irritation behind a thin smile. So that was the brat's secret ally… Another miscalculation. He would make sure her family fell when this was all over.
Sena, meanwhile, continued her line of questioning.
"A new rule, you say? Lord Alderp, as the one who oversees the Adventurer's Guild in Axel, you were the one who instated the policy limiting adventurers to one quest per day, correct?"
"Why, of course, Prosecutor Sena. It was a matter of fairness. As I am sure you are aware, there were numerous complaints from adventurers here in the capital. Many expressed frustration at the fact that high-reward quests were being taken by a select few, leaving others with little opportunity to make important payments."
Alderp finished with a chuckle, but his smile was showing signs of strain.
"A fair chance… And yet, this rule was enacted right as Naruto Uzumaki began making considerable progress toward his one-billion Eris goal."
Sena echoed as she slowly paced back and forth, her stern eyes never leaving the large man.
"Why, I merely responded to the concerns of the people. The policy ensures that all adventurers are given a fair chance at success, does it not?"
Alderp spread his arms with mock innocence.
Naruto's eyes narrowed on the lie detector, but it remained silent. Sly bastard.
Sena, however, did not falter. She flipped to the next page in her notes.
"Very well. Then let us move on to another matter. It was gathered that you personally recommended that Luna, the head receptionist of Axel's Adventurer's Guild, be invited to the capital's guild to give a speech to the local staff, did you not?"
"Indeed, I did. Luna is one of Axel's most exemplary staff members. She is beloved by the adventurers there, and her insight into guild management is invaluable. I learned that the capital's guild had recently hired new staff, so I thought it only proper to recognize her dedication by offering such a prominent opportunity. One might say it was… Perfect timing."
Alderp finished, his eyes briefly flicking to the shinobi.
Naruto clenched his fists beneath the podium. The way this man could stretch the truth made his blood boil.
Sena, on the other hand, smirked.
"How interesting."
"...What do you mean by that?"
Alderp asked, his expression darkening.
"It is quite the coincidence, is it not?"
Sena turned toward the courtroom, addressing both the nobles and the judge.
"A prominent member of the Axel guild, someone close to Naruto Uzumaki, conveniently disappears just as he was nearing his financial goal. A ransom note was left in Naruto's name, demanding an absurd sum of money."
Gasps spread throughout the courtroom.
"What a remarkable coincidence that someone associated with Naruto would be targeted right before his bet's deadline. Which, if I'm not mistaken…"
Sena looked directly at the nobleman.
"Is today, is it not?"
"...It is, but I fail to see what this has to do with-"
"Tell me, Lord Alderp, do you know who could have orchestrated this well-placed crime?"
"I-"
"Because here's how I see it. Naruto Uzumaki found out about the debt and made a wager with you to pay it off, but you underestimated his ability. So when you caught wind of his achievements in the capital, you panicked."
"Like I said, I was merely-"
"You instilled that policy to cripple his ability to earn money, and arranged for someone to get kidnapped! That someone had to be close to Naruto Uzumaki, but not close enough to arouse suspicion!"
"You-! You're misinformed!"
Alderp's heart pounded in his chest as Sena's voice rose, his face heating up from frustration.
This little wench was backing him into a corner? Him!?
"I am a man of nobility! I do not personally associate with scum!"
Ding!
Alderp froze. He had messed up again! How!?
"Thank you very much!"
Sena chirped, turning on her heel and strolling back to her seat.
The room remained silent as everyone processed what had just happened.
Alderp frantically went over his words. He had just lied. But how? He didn't physically associate with criminals! He-
His eyes widened.
Wait.
He associated with Jiraiya.
A widely known scumbag to the women of the kingdom due to the man's genius literature.
"Ah… I see. That must have been referring to the old sage."
Alderp nearly collapsed with relief.
Naruto stiffened. Old sage? Was he referring to…
"Yes, that must be it! The bell rang because I failed to account for my acquaintance with Jiraiya, the retired Hero Candidate. We may disagree on certain topics, but he is an esteemed warrior and tactician, so I value his insight during trying times."
Alderp continued while nodding his head.
Naruto crossed his arms indignantly. Did Alderp really think that was going to excuse his blunder? It was over-
"Pui!"
Sena, along with a majority of the women in the court, spat on the ground all at once.
Naruto's face paled.
Oh no.
"I see. Then that line of evidence will not be considered."
Sena said, and the shinobi's eyes bulged.
"What!? Why not!?"
"...We can no longer use that statement as Lord Alexei has clearly defined why the lie detector went off by admitting his association with that thing."
"That…!"
Naruto wanted to argue more, but he needed to calm down first.
Alderp, though frustrated by his near-loss, saw this as an opportunity.
They were flustered, so he might be able to shift attention away from his own blunder.
"If I am not mistaken… The Hero Candidate is Ero-senin's pupil, no?"
"I am. Despite his quirks, he is a respectable mentor!"
Naruto responded without hesitation.
Ding!
"..."
A bead of sweat rolled down the shinobi's cheek. That damn magic item.
"...Ero-senin did leave me behind a lot during our training trip to flirt with women and work on his book."
"Yes… Quite."
Alderp mused, satisfied with his successful deflection.
The judge sighed deeply.
"Sena, do not let your opinions dictate your decisions. Regardless of how the former Hero Candidate is viewed, Lord Alderp's own admission of associating with questionable individuals is now on record. Also, there will be no spitting in this courtroom as that is a law of the Crimson Demons. Let us move forward with the next matter."
"Y-yes, your honor…"
Sena stuttered and shuffled through her notes, doing her best to avoid the shinobi's gaze.
Naruto sighed in relief. That had been close… But seriously, just what did Jiraiya do to all of these women? He was going to have a serious conversation with his mentor when this was all over.
Alderp gritted his teeth. While he hadn't fully recovered, he at least derailed the prosecutor.
He still had his trump card… But he wanted to avoid using it in case the brat really did have the balls to use Maxwell against him.
"We will now move onto our next set of questions… Lord Alexei, can you tell the court what this is?"
Sena asked and placed a beautiful necklace onto the man's podium.
Alderp's eyes widened ever so slightly, but he smiled and nodded his head.
"Yes, that is the necklace that I gifted to His Highness, Prince Jatice. Unfortunately, the first Prince has been unable to wear it due to being on the frontlines. But it can't be helped when a man is putting his life on the line for his kingdom."
"Indeed… Tell us, is there anything special about this necklace?"
Sena asked, her eyes watching him like a hawk for any sort of reaction. But the man simply smiled coolly.
"Indeed… It was quite expensive. I had originally planned on gifting it to my son as a wedding gift, but plans changed, and thus I gifted it to the prince."
"Are you saying that you were not aware that this necklace was a Divine Relic? You are not aware of its capabilities?"
Sena pressed as she paced back and forth with her arms crossed behind her back.
"I was told by the man who sold it to me that it was extraordinary… A fitting gift for the First Prince of our fine kingdom, wouldn't you agree?"
Alderp replied, his eyes following the woman until she stopped in front of him again.
"Are you denying that you were aware that this necklace was a Divine Relic?"
"I was well aware that this piece was worth its price."
"I see… Your reluctance to directly answer my question gives me confidence that you knew. But just what is this ability, you ask?"
Sena picked up the Divine Relic and held it up to the courtroom.
"I think a demonstration is in order. Any volunteers?"
"I will."
Darkness stepped forward without hesitation, her eyes shining with determination. Murmurs of admiration could be heard amongst the crowd.
But Naruto knew better. She knew full well what that thing's effect was, and was probably hoping to swap bodies with a man or something.
His suspicions were proven right when Darkness stole a glance back at him.
This girl…
"Thank you, Lady Dustiness. I will need one more volunteer for this demonstration."
Sena asked while looking around the courtroom.
What was this, an advertisement?
Darkness fidgeted as she kept glancing back at Naruto.
The shinobi sighed and was about to raise his hand when someone spoke up.
"I will volunteer."
Claire declared and stepped down from the upper podiums.
Naruto swore he could hear things like "the battle begins!" and "she doesn't want her rival to get ahead!" amongst other troublesome things in the audience.
They were definitely not beating the allegations. Not after this trial.
But it was fine, because bringing Alderp to justice was more important.
With Darkness and Claire standing in front of her, Sena held out the necklace to them.
Their hands brushed against each other when they both reached out to take it.
"A-ah, sorry… Go ahead, Claire."
"..."
The Symphonia heiress wordlessly accepted the necklace, causing her fellow noblewoman to wince.
'She is definitely upset…'
Darkness thought with a solemn expression. After all, she might as well have stabbed the woman in the back.
I consider you a friend…
Thinking back to their initial conversation about Naruto made her heart sting.
"Claire, I-"
"I hold no resentment towards you, Lady Dustiness."
Claire interrupted her as Sena wrote something down on a piece of paper.
"What I have learned today only dictates that I must work harder towards my goal."
"Claire…"
Darkness frowned as she watched her friend read the note. Things were going to be very complicated from now on, weren't they?
"My things are yours, your things are mine. I'll turn into you… What a strange spell."
Claire muttered, her eyebrow rising. The necklace then began to glow.
The courtroom was then consumed in a flash of light.
When the brightness died down, all eyes returned to the pair of noblewomen.
"Now, please tell the court who you are."
Sena instructed while gesturing towards Claire.
"My name is Darkness-"
Ding!
Claire(Darkness) stiffened when the lie detector rang.
"You gotta tell us what your real name is, Lalatina."
Naruto whispered to his fellow blonde, a mischievous grin on his face.
"M-my name is La-Lalatina Ford Dustiness…!"
Claire(Darkness) stuttered, her face turning crimson red.
Luckily, the bell remained silent. But Darkness vowed she was going to make that man suffer later.
"I am Claire Field Symphonia… Hm. This is a bizarre development."
Darkness(Claire) said while looking at her gauntleted hands. She then blinked in realization.
If it was true that the necklace was a Divine Relic that could swap bodies, and Iris had been wearing it this entire time…
"Y-you treacherous pig! Were you planning on swapping bodies with Her Highness!? I'll cut you down!"
Darkness(Claire) roared and reached for her sword, only to find it wasn't at her side. Checking her person, she found a broadsword sheathed on her back and started reaching for it, but she struggled.
"L-Lady Dustiness!? I thought you strategically removed pieces of your armor to increase your mobility? Why is it so difficult to grab your weapon!?"
"Y-you must be imagining things, Claire! You're just not used to heavy armor!"
Claire(Darkness) sputtered as she tried, and failed to restrain her friend due to the difference in physical strength.
"W-wait! I solemnly swear that it was never my intention to put the First Princess in harm's way! I would never wish for something to happen to her!"
Alderp, his face sheet white with fear, leaned as far back on his podium as he could.
This seemed to be enough to placate the swordswoman as she settled down. But her glare remained intact as she crossed her arms.
"As you can see, this magic item has the ability to swap bodies. Now… I wonder what would happen if one of them were to perish while under the effects of its magic?"
Sena pointed an accusatory finger at Alderp, who was beginning to sweat profusely.
"Admit it, Lord Alexei! You planned to take the place of His Highness, Prince Jatis by using this Divine Relic! You conspired against the crown for your own personal gain!"
"I-I…!"
Alderp looked back and forth as his mind raced. This whole thing had spun out of control, no one would meet his gaze. No one would dare to show him any support!
The whispers of the courtroom were growing louder, turning from hushed murmurs to open accusations.
"I heard he strong-armed lesser nobles into selling their estates for half their worth!"
"I had to pay a personal tax just to receive approval on a guild trade!"
"He threatened my father with exile unless we sided with him!"
The accusations flew faster than Alderp could process. His head snapped from one voice to another, his confidence evaporating with every passing second.
His gaze flickered toward the judge, toward the princess, toward anyone who might come to his defense. But not a single person met his eye.
No one but Naruto Uzumaki, the bane of his very existence.
Alderp's grip tightened. This was his court! His kingdom to manipulate! He would not be undone by this… this peasant!
His mouth twisted into a snarl.
"You all stand here and listen to this nonsense while ignoring the real threat! The so-called Hero Candidate probably isn't even human!"
The courtroom fell silent.
"T-that's right! He's been deceiving all of you! He carries the power of a demon fox! I've seen it myself! Who's to say he isn't just some monster in disguise!?"
Alderp's voice rang out, desperate and crazed.
All eyes turned to Naruto.
The shinobi remained completely still. Then, in a quiet, steady voice, he spoke.
"My friend, Kurama, is gone."
Naruto's expression was unreadable as he spoke.
"I lost my friend when I died during the Demon King Army's last invasion… I don't know where he is."
But one day, he would find his friend… and kick his ass.
"Naruto…"
Claire(Darkness) frowned as she stared at the boy.
As the silence stretched on, every gaze turned back toward Alderp. Their expressions were anything but friendly.
The nobleman's face was completely devoid of color.
The strategy he had hoped to use to turn the court against Naruto had backfired spectacularly.
How!? How did this keep happening!? What was with this brat that kept turning everyone against him!?
"You know, I was going to wait a little longer to bring this up. But now I feel like we've uncovered enough of your corruption."
Naruto said and reached into his coat. Out came a Scroll Ball as he placed it onto the podium.
The color returned to Alderp's face in full force, but not from relief. It was a sickly green that mirrored his sudden urge to vomit.
This was the worst possible timing for the wretch to bring that up!
Naruto tapped the sphere, watching as faint markings glowed along its surface. He had been surprised when Kazuma suddenly gave this to him last night, saying Vanir hinted that they would be able to use this as their final push during the trial with some weird prophecy.
That damned suspicious devil.
"Inside this Scroll Ball is a Devil. But you already knew that, huh, Lord Alexei? It's the Devil that you've been contracted with for quite some time now."
Gasps rang out across the courtroom.
Rain stepped protectively in front of Iris, her eyes narrowing on the shinobi. She had grown to trust the young man, but this was a reckless move. To accuse a noble of corruption was one thing, but claiming that they were contracted to a devil was nothing short of treason.
The only thing keeping everyone from devolving to a state of panic was the fact that the lie detector had yet to ring.
The nobles' murmurs shifted. This was no longer speculation. This was hard proof.
"Naruto Uzumaki. How did you come into possession of this Devil?"
Sena asked, and even she appeared to be nervous as a bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.
"The night Lord Alexei tried to… Employ me. I discovered a secret entrance in his bedchambers, one that contained a lot of incriminating documents. He released the Demon to erase my memories, but Kurama protected me."
Naruto replied with a sad smile on his face.
"After realizing your demon was outmatched by the Hero Candidate, you burned the documents, huh… The reason behind all of your recent success… All of it derived from a creature with the ability to manipulate memories. You didn't climb the ranks through political genius, did you, Lord Alexei?"
Sena stared the man down, her eyes piercing.
Alderp's mouth opened, but no sound came out.
This was it, wasn't it? His trump card didn't work… What else could he-
"T-that's right! He's one of the Chivalrous Thieves!"
Alderp blurted out in one last desperate attempt. All of the cards were on the table, so if he was going down, he would take this damned hero brat with him!
Naruto didn't seem the least bit worried, even as the judge turned his way for his response.
"The name that belongs to the face of the Chivalrous Thief I faced in your villa was Kakashi Hatake, an S-rank ninja from my home country that can give me a run for my money. Should any of you come across that face, I would recommend you flee on sight."
"Y-you…!"
Alderp glared at the lie detector, but the damned thing stayed silent.
Was the brat telling the truth!? How was that possible!?
"T-the Succubi! You're associated with Succubi!"
"Lord Alexei… Please, have some dignity. You've lost."
Naruto's expression morphed into something that made Alderp want to tear him limb from limb. It was not hatred, smugness, or even annoyance.
It was pity.
How dare that mongrel take pity on him!
"Answer my question! You're the one who is contracted with devils! That's the only way you could have turned everyone against me! I am Alderp Barnes Alexei! I never lose!"
Alderp roared, even as the guards began to approach him.
Naruto sighed, but did as he was requested.
"I am an adventurer, Lord Alexei. I've come across numerous Succubi. As a man, they are quite troublesome to deal with."
The lie detector remained silent, which was the final nail in the coffin.
Alderp's breathing grew ragged. He could feel the weight of the courtroom crushing him.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
He needed one last move.
One final gamble.
"...Prove it."
Alderp forced himself to stand tall, his expression twisting into a sneer.
Naruto looked at the nobleman whose eyes shone with desperation. Would he finally give up if he released the devil? Maxwell seemed harmless enough last time.
But… Without Kurama…
"What's the matter, Hero Candidate? Don't have the guts to put your money where your mouth is? I bet there isn't even a Devil inside that magic item."
Alderp mocked as the guards grabbed his arms. There was no way the brat would risk putting the Princess in danger, nor would the Symphonia heiress.
"...Claire-san, do you trust me?"
Naruto's gaze flickered toward Darkness(Claire).
"...Yes."
The Symphonia heiress said after a short pause.
Naruto positioned himself in front of Iris's podium and tossed the Scroll Ball to the center of the room.
The moment it opened, a wave of dread washed over the court.
The air turned thick, like a suffocating miasma was pressing down on everyone's chest. Nobles instinctively flinched, and even the royal guards reached for their weapons in preparation for what was coming.
A dark mist spilled out from the Scroll Ball, twisting and swirling before it morphed into the shape of a man with blonde hair wearing a disheveled suit.
The Arch Devil and Duke of Hell, Maxwell.
The creature sat on the floor, his expression blank. Then he tilted his head, as if registering his surroundings for the first time.
A strange, warbling sound left his throat.
"Kee kee kee…!"
Maxwell's eyes wandered across the courtroom. He slowly turned his head, as if tasting the air.
Then he saw Alderp.
And the moment he did, his mouth stretched into a twisted grin. It was unnerving.
"Alderp… You're suffering…"
Maxwell breathed, his voice dripped with delight.
"So much suffering…"
"..."
Alderp's body locked up in a primal fear. He hated this creature more than anything in the world, but this was his last hope.
Maxwell trembled, his laughter bubbling out in warped, high-pitched bursts.
The courtroom had never been quieter.
Some nobles clutched their chests, struggling to breathe under the sheer malice radiating from the devil.
But while the room was frozen in terror, Alderp's mind raced.
He would have to start over, take a new identity, perhaps even leave the kingdom for a time. But this was his last chance.
"M-Maxwell! You must get me out of here!"
His life could NOT end here!
Maxwell blinked at him. Slowly.
"Escape…? The price…?"
"Yes! Get me out of here and I'll pay any price!"
Alderp pleaded, and in the blink of an eye, Maxwell was gone.
Before anyone could react, the demon was standing right next to Alderp. The royal guards reeled back in surprise, some falling on their butts out of pure horror.
"Shoot-!"
Naruto, Claire and Darkness sprang into action.
Weapons drawn, chakra flared.
But-
Maxwell simply tapped Alderp's shoulder, and they were gone.
. . .
Slam!
The large doors to the courtroom burst open as a young mage wearing a large wizard hat stepped inside. She flipped her cape in a dramatic fashion before bellowing.
"I am Megumin! My job is that of an Arch Mage, and wielder of the ultimate magic that is Explosion! Hear me, wretched lord of depravity! Your era of gluttonous greed and foul misdeeds has reached its twilight! The coffers of justice have been filled with the golden essence of calamity, and the hands of fate now claw at your wretched soul! With the power of the Amber Essence, distilled from the arcane nectar of a toad-born abyss, my comrades and I have amassed a fortune so great that not even the Demon King's treasury could compare! One billion Eris!"
Megumin raised her staff high, her crimson eyes blazing with unholy fire as she looked around to reap the reactions her grand declaration undoubtedly brought.
The crowd looked terrified, like they had just stared at the face of death itself. Good.
"And now, Alderp Barnes Alexei, the grand wheel of karmic reckoning turns at last! Your sins, stained in gluttony and lust, shall be scorched from this world by the divine fury of… Explosion… Huh?"
The mage trailed off when her eyes fell to the center of the room, where Naruto, Claire, and Darkness stood with their weapons drawn.
"M-Megumin! We were all supposed to enter together! Why do you always… Ah."
Yunyun complained as she ran up to her rival, but she fell silent upon seeing the expression on Naruto's face.
"I… I was going to reveal the name… Huff… Huff… Of the perfume!"
Finally, Kazuma and Kiki made it to the door. As the Adventurer caught his breath, he took in the scenery and immediately knew that something went wrong.
"Damn it… What happened?"
Alderp stumbled as his feet hit the dirt, his heart still pounding from the courtroom escape. He spun wildly, eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings.
A forest.
The towering trees loomed over him, the branches swaying in the light wind. The only sounds were the distant calls of creatures and the occasional rustling of leaves. The sun was setting, but there was just enough light left to see a set of familiar mountains in the distance.
He seemed to be just outside of Axel.
Alderp's breathing was ragged as he turned his fury on Maxwell.
"You useless vermin! This was the best you could do!? Drop me in the middle of nowhere!?"
He smacked the demon across the face with his binds.
Maxwell fell to the ground with a thump, but he made no attempt to stop the man. Instead, his lips curled into an eerily wide grin.
"Kee kee kee…"
"Damn it! Damn it all!"
Alderp snarled and began to mercilessly kick the devil.
"Erase their memories! All of them! I want that entire courtroom to forget everything!"
"I cannot."
"What…?"
What did that damned creature mean by that? The hero brat said it himself, the Nine Tailed Fox was gone! He should be able to do anything he wanted again!
Maxwell's grin didn't falter. If anything, it stretched wider. It was honestly terrifying.
"A very bright presence is in the capital. It keeps my abilities from working…"
"A what…?"
Alderp's fingers twitched. A bright presence? What a joke!
"Who!? Who is interfering!?"
Maxwell didn't answer. Instead, he let out another bout of dry laughter.
Alderp saw red.
"You worthless piece of-!"
A twig snapped nearby, causing Alderp to freeze.
That hadn't come from Maxwell.
There was a low rustling in the bushes, followed by several quiet murmurs.
Then they stepped into the clearing.
Green skin. Towering, muscular forms. Various animal parts were evident all throughout their bodies. Cat ears, leopard tails, tusks…
Orcs.
Alderp's face paled.
The orcs took a moment to scan him, their yellow eyes narrowing in intrigue. One of them, a particularly burly one, squinted before gasping dramatically.
"Oh, my goodness!"
Another orc clapped her hands together.
"Ladies, do you see what I see?"
"I do! A man! A real, human man!"
Alderp took a step back. This wasn't happening. This was not happening!
"Not just any man! A blonde-haired, blue-eyed man! We've been looking for one of these for quite some time now!"
The Orcs beamed, their beady eyes looking him up and down.
Alderp tried to swallow, but his throat was completely dry. He needed to get out of here. NOW.
They stepped forward, their faces lit with giddy excitement.
Alderp turned to Maxwell in sheer desperation.
"Get us out of-"
The words died in his throat.
Maxwell was gone.
Alderp began to hyperventilate. How dare that mongrel abandon his master!
A pair of hands locked onto his shoulders, and he could feel the beast's putrid breath on the back of his neck.
"There's no need to be so nervous… We're quite inviting."
"...!"
Tears formed in the corners of Alderp's eyes, and he now realized his legs were shaking uncontrollably.
"I-I-I'm afraid I'm not in any condition to entertain you ladies right now… So perhaps some other time?"
Alderp meekly said while raising his cuffed hands.
"Oh, you won't be needing your hands… But…"
The Orc's tongue slithered out of her mouth like a snake, and it was impossibly long as it twirled around his wrists and slipped into the lock.
Clink!
Alderp watched in horror as the cuffs clattered to the ground, completely unfastened.
"Just a little preview of my skills… Now, think you can handle us all, big boy?"
The Orc cooed, and it was then the fallen noble saw it.
There were more.
Dozens upon dozens of eyes that gleamed in the shadows of the brush.
"N-no…!"
He tried to run, but he couldn't even move. The brute's grip was leagues higher than his own.
"M-Maxwell! Help meeeeee!"
Alderp shouted as the Orcs pounced on him, his clothes instantly being torn to shreds.
Sitting on a nearby tree watched Maxwell, his expression the epitome of joy.
"Ah, there you are, moi dear friend."
The branch trembled as a masked man in a stylish suit materialized.
"...Friend?"
"Indeed! Though thy mind may be shrouded in fog, moi can assure thee, we share a most splendid bond! Moi am thy comrade and fellow Duke of Hell! Moi am Vanir, yes, the all-seeing, all-knowing Clairvoyant Vanir! Fuahaha!"
Vanir's booming laughter echoed through the forest, but Maxwell barely reacted. The devil was far too absorbed in his meal… and who could blame him?
After all, anguish and suffering were a delicacy for one of his kind.
And the screaming man below, currently ensnared in the grasp of a horde of ecstatic Orcs, was offering a feast of unrivaled quality.
Vanir's devilish grin widened.
"One might even call him the Orc King now, no? Fuahaha!"
Entrusting that brat with his dear friend had been the right call indeed.
But even this paled in comparison to what was to come.
A/N: Rest in peace, Alderp Barnes Alexei… You shall be cherished by your new companions.
But if you thought this arc was over, this was only part one of the grand finale! Care to take a guess? ;)
As always, review and let me know what you all thought of the chapter!
Spirit out.