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༺ Trial ༻
[The Third Ordeal]
[From this point forward, you will experience the truth that you have forgotten.]
[Among the countless events that have occurred from the first timeline to the present, it is both the saddest and most regrettable.]
[Upon the ordeal's conclusion, a choice will be presented to you.]
[Your choice will be whether to forgive the people who tormented you or not.]
'...What?'
Whilst being bound and escorted by a group of soldiers, a system window suddenly materialized before my eyes.
'Countless events from the first timeline to the present? The saddest and most regrettable event?'
I mostly understood the message, but there was one part that didn't make sense.
I was only on the second timeline, so what does it mean by countless?
[From now on, it will begin.]
Before I could even resolve my confusion, the system window vanished.
"Huh? What?"
At that moment, my entire body turned translucent, and I was ejected from my own body, landing on my butt.
"...What's going on?"
Rubbing my sore buttocks, I stared in disbelief at my now-transparent body.
"Young Master?"
"Frey!"
"...What happened?"
I suddenly discovered the other main heroines approaching me while in a similarly translucent state.
"We were taking care of the collapsed young master when suddenly a message for the third ordeal appeared..."
"M-Me too. And when I came to my senses, my body was translucent. And there was another me over there, glaring at you..."
"I'm in the same situation."
As I blankly stared at Kania, Clana, and Serena, who were all speaking with a flustered tone,
"Ferloche, you're returned."
"...I have."
I noticed Irina and Ferloche mumbling with serious expressions.
"Hey, guys? What's going on with all this..."
"Everyone, follow me."
Frey, who was trying to urgently ask them questions,
"Keep your eyes on everything that happens from now on."
".....Ferloche?"
I stared blankly as Ferloche gestured for the others to follow and led them toward my body, which was being pushed away by the guards and into a distant carriage.
"Hurry up."
"".....""
For a moment, Frey and the other heroines stared at her and then cautiously followed behind Ferloche.
"...What is going on?"
Filled with a mountain of curiosity.
"From now on, I will announce the Academy's decision on Frey Raon Starlight's fate.
Still bound by ropes, Frey was approached by an official from the academy while being transported in an open carriage.
"The Sunrise Academy has decided to expel Frey Raon Starlight and impose a permanent ban."
"...Hmm."
"However, please understand that this decision may be changed depending on the outcome of the ordeal."
As the official glanced at Frey, he maintained a monotonous voice with various documents spread out in front of him.
Sighing, Frey raised his head.
"Haah..."
On the way to the courthouse, many people lined the streets, observing.
"...That scumbag is finally being arrested? What in the world has he done now?"
Naturally, the gazes of the people were cold.
There was no way anyone would look kindly at the sight of the empire's greatest scumbag, who had been committing atrocities for years, being dragged away in such a miserable state.
"Don't even say it aloud. He's accused of attempting to murder the hero."
"Crazy bastard."
And their gazes became even colder when people who knew about his crime began to inform the others amongst the crowd.
"...I can't believe it's really happening. I thought it was something that would only happen in novels or plays."
As word of Frey's crimes spread, all sorts of stones and garbage was hurled towards the carriage.
Since the carriage was intentionally left open on all sides, Frey, who was tied up, had no choice but to endure these attacks.
"....."
However, contrary to people's expectations that he would scream or protest, Frey calmly closed his eyes and surrendered his body to the swaying carriage.
"...What's wrong with him? Why is he acting like that?"
"Maybe he's realizing he's about to die."
"Tsk tsk, if he had been like this from the start, he would have been alright."
Listening to the murmurs of the embarrassed crowd who ceased their attacks, Frey spoke.
"...I just want to rest soon."
For the first time, he was able to mutter sincerely.
- Squeak...
Eventually, the carriage reached the courthouse after a series of twists and turns, and the guards roughly pulled Frey out of it.
"...Don't say things like 'I'll walk on my own.' We're in a hurry, so we'll be dragging you."
"Suit yourself."
Without delay, the guards took hold of Frey and dragged him towards the courtroom.
- Swish!
"Ugh..."
As soon as he entered the courtroom, Frey was thrown into the defendant's seat by the guards, inducing a pain filled groan.
"Then, we will now begin the trial of Frey Raon Starlight."
Without any consideration for Frey, the trial began.
"The criminal Frey has been employing cunning schemes for the past few months..."
The judge, seated at his bench began explaining the situation whilst glaring coldly at Frey.
"".....""
And there, watching him, were the five main heroines and sub-heroines who had arrived earlier in the courtroom, accompanied by many others, including some academy students.
".....In order to kill the hero, 'Ruby,' who was recognized by both the imperial family and the order of knights..."
Not a single person present looked upon Frey with warmth.
Everyone felt a sincere hatred for Frey.
"I-I was scared..."
"Don't worry, Hero! I'm here!"
As Frey scanned the room, he discovered Ruby crying beside Rosewyn.
"...I admit to everything."
He clenched his fist tightly and answered.
"What did you just say?"
The judge, who had been reciting the charges, asked with wide eyes.
"Did you not hear me?"
Frey, with a smirk,
"Allow me to repeat myself."
He looked around at everyone who had been glaring at him coldly until then and reiterated his statement.
"I admit to all the charges against me."
A heavy silence descended upon the courtroom.
"For the past few months, no... for years, I have been using cunning and evil schemes to try to kill Hero Ruby."
In such a situation, Frey spoke.
"Not only that, but I have also robbed countless academy students of their scholarship funds, kidnapped children from the market and sold them as slaves. And most importantly..."
While fixing his gaze on the five heroines sitting in the front row of the audience,
"I tried to sell the empire to the Demon King."
"You despicable bastard!"
At that moment, someone in the audience stood up and shouted.
"I... I should have killed you with my own hands. With my own hands... I should have slashed you with my own hands..."
It was Isolet, who had been Frey's homeroom teacher for the past few years.
"Sister, I don't quite understand what you're saying... Can you explain slowly…?"
"Don't you dare call me sister with that filthy mouth!"
When Frey pleasantly called her sister, Isolet shouted with a disgusted expression.
"I wouldn't even be satisfied with tearing you apart! When you receive the death penalty, I will personally slit your throat!"
"...Your Honor, aren't you going to intervene when a member of the audience is disrupting the trial?"
Frey briefly glanced at her before calmly addressing the judge.
"Please call the guards to remove her."
"You criminal, do you even realize the situation you're in now..."
"Until the trial is finalized, I have no reason to be called a criminal by you."
Hearing this, the judge raised his eyebrows and spoke in a low voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the audience, please remain silent until the ordeal is concluded."
"You shouldn't say that. 'Professor' Isolet will get agitated."
As Frey replied whilst frowning, the judge cocked his head.
"I admit to all charges against me. Do you not understand my confession?"
"...Defendant."
"I'm telling you to hurry up and make a decision. I have no intention of becoming a clown on display."
"..."
Frey was emitting an atmosphere of exhaustion and fatigue as he spoke, very unlike his usual magnificent yet annoying appearance.
"Then, uh... Since the criminal has admitted to all charges, I will deliver the verdict."
Strangely, the judge felt a shiver down his spine as he began to read the prepared verdict, stuttering.
"The court hereby sentences the defendant, Frey Raon Starlight, to the highest punishment of the law, 'death penalty'..."
Everyone's eyes lit up at the sound of 'death penalty.'
"...It's my victory, Frey."
Ruby, whose ruby-colored eyes were shining, muttered to herself while receiving a shoulder massage from Rosewyn, who was seated behind her.
"In the end, you couldn't satisfy me either."
As she finished speaking, the judge raised his gavel, ready to seal his verdict.
"Wait."
".....?"
But at that very moment, Frey, who had not been wearing a despicable expression for a while, smiled and began heading somewhere.
"It won't be the death penalty. Right, Clana?"
"...Get lost."
Soon, Frey arrived in front of Clana, who was seated in the audience.
"At that time, you rejected the covenant I had requested... correct?"
"You withdrew it yourself. Get lost. I don't want to see your face even for a moment..."
"So, I still have a chance to use the covenant?"
"...What?"
At those words, Clana frowned.
"I have a written copy of ancient imperial law."
Turning his back to Clana, Frey walked back to the center of the courtroom, pulling out an old book from his pocket, which he had clearly prepared in advance.
"It's a law that's so old, only some of its contents have been recorded and passed down the royal family, but there is a loophole."
Sneering at the judge and audience, who were quietly staring at the ragged book, Frey spoke.
"According to Article 200, Section 7, if a member of the royal family accepts the request and withdraws the covenant, the user of the covenant shall be given another chance to use the covenant."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present began to harden.
"Therefore, I will use my covenant with the royal family once more."
Frey, who had been smiling tiredly at those people, spoke.
"Reduce my sentence."
".....What?"
"Using the authority of the royal family, minimize the sentence I will receive in this ordeal."
Turning back to look at Clana, he declared his desire.
"This is not a suggestion, but an order. The covenant is bound with ancient magic, so you can't refuse."
"W-Wait...!"
"Don't even think about offsetting it with another covenant. Both the Moonlight family and the Imperial family have already used their respective covenants."
As soon as Frey finished speaking, silence enveloped the courtroom.
"I-I'll do as... he says."
In that situation, Clana spoke with a humiliated expression.
"Then... I will deliver the verdict once again..."
In the silence, the judge, who had been gritting his teeth, announced the new verdict in a low voice.
"The criminal, Frey Raon Starlight... will be sentenced to indefinite house arrest..."
Having finished the verdict, the judge began to grind his teeth so hard that it made a creaking noise.
"That's ridiculous!!!"
"This is a sham!!"
"Let go! Let me go!!"
A frenzy was brewing amongst the audience.
[System Notification for [Path of False Evil]!]
[The awakening of the Hero's Armament has reached 100 percent!]
[The Final Scenario is now open!]
"Phew..."
Frey, who was staring at the system window that had finally appeared, spoke.
"This is it."
He then glanced at the people surrounding him, all of which were either swearing at him or pulling out their weapons and charging at him.
Frey stared at the people whom he loved.
[Main Quest: The Final Battle]
- Defeat the Demon King and become the savior of the world
Reward: One wish from the Sun God, World Peace.
"Finally, I've made it."
He then turned his gaze to Ruby, who was slightly flustered.
"After giving everyone a happy ending..."
He then murmured quietly to himself in a soulless voice.
"...I can finally rest."
The sun that shone upon him was gradually setting.
You can read 505 episodes for $10. p.*atreon.com/Astrid02