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“This way, Saintess.”
The courtroom was a place that stood in stark contrast to the opulence found throughout the rest of the Great Cathedral. Seeing the shabby, almost pitiful chandelier illuminating the room, a sense of suffocation washed over me the moment I stepped inside. The gloomy exterior played its part, but the air itself felt heavy and carried a faint, metallic scent—much like an execution ground.
As I lowered my gaze from the ceiling and surveyed the interior, numerous members of the audience offered their greetings. At the center sat the clergymen from the Ministry of Doctrine, along with an elderly man dressed in purple robes.
‘That’s the one.’
It was the Inquisitor in charge of Edelina’s case, the one I had seen before. He would likely be leading the trial today. When I’d seen him separately, he looked like a typical middle-aged man next door, but seeing him here, he exuded an inexplicable sense of intimidation. As the reality that the trial was truly beginning sank in, I suddenly started to worry if this plan—put together as fast as parching beans in a lightning strike—would actually flow smoothly.
…Stay calm.
‘No matter what, this is just a dating sim game set in a medieval-inspired world.’
Given the era, this trial would be far more disorganized, illogical, and full of loopholes than a modern one. It would be prone to emotional whims and the general atmosphere of the room. I had to take full advantage of that fact today.
“Over here.”
Ilian guided me to the seating reserved for high-ranking officials.
Creak—Thud!
As I took my seat, the central doors of the courtroom swung open with a dismal sound. Shortly after, Edelina walked in, her hands bound by iron chains.
Ding!
-The trial is starting already.
-Whoa, scary.
-The Saintess is there too!
The Omniscient Viewer Perspective had activated. The screen showed the protagonist wearing a hood, and using the background on the screen as a reference, I glanced through the audience. It didn’t take long to find them. Even with half their face hidden, their tension was palpable. While I was distracted by the protagonist, the Inquisitor announced the start of the trial. He approached Edelina and paced slowly around her, clearly intending to apply psychological pressure.
“Edelina Peyers. Do you admit to conducting research that clearly violates the doctrines of Ralphicanism?”
Edelina spoke, doing her best to steady her trembling voice.
“I only conducted my research for the sake of Ralphican’s subjects.”
“Ha!”
The Inquisitor snorted openly and nodded toward the guards. A moment later, Brandon entered through the open doors. For a split second as Brandon passed Edelina, their eyes met. Edelina’s eyebrows twitched slightly, but Brandon didn’t react as he headed toward the witness stand. Then, with an unwavering voice, he began to pour out his testimony…
“…While doing so, Edelina made dangerous remarks equating Holy Relics to Magic Stones. She probably didn’t know I was listening…”
-Well, it’s not perjury, lol.
-This guy knows way more details than I thought?
-Edelina, just how much did you let slip?
Muttering broke out among the audience as they listened to Brandon’s testimony.
“Then the Peyers lady is an undeniable heretic. How could she fall into such wicked delusions?”
“It’s a pity. I heard she was a talented individual.”
As expected of primitive medieval people, they branded a perfectly sane person a heretic based on a single testimony.
-Is it time?
-Do the declaration!
-Now’s the time!
Subtitles for the audience’s dialogue appeared in the stream as well. Seeing this, the viewers posted chats saying it was time for the Oath. Naturally, Edelina didn’t show any reaction.
“Is this one witness all you have?”
The Minister of the Ministry of Doctrine, who was sitting behind me, spoke up.
“No, there is also evidence.”
The Inquisitor carefully picked up a small stone fragment with tweezers and held it up for the audience to see.
-What’s that?
-Isn’t it a Magic Stone?
-No way.
“This is what Edelina Peyers was carrying when she was apprehended. And its true identity is, indeed, a Magic Stone!”
-???
-Edelina, what were you doing carrying a Magic Stone?!
…Something was wrong. She was carrying a Magic Stone when she was caught? In the original story, Brandon was supposed to submit a Magic Stone as evidence, claiming he found it in Edelina’s private lab. They never mentioned it like this in the trial.
“Embezzling a Magic Stone, which should be strictly supervised at the state level! This is the decisive evidence that Edelina Peyers was secretly conducting Magic Stone experiments!”
-What do we do now?
-Let’s just hurry up and take the Oath.
‘Why did it change?’
Edelina had indeed fled to the Great Cathedral with a Magic Stone. That was how she was able to study it in the lab I had prepared. But the lab hadn’t been discovered—the arrest happened in her room. However, if she hadn’t left the stone anywhere and had been carrying it on her person… then the probability of that evidence being the real deal was high. This was bad.
“The defendant denied God and committed wicked experiments, thereby insulting our god, Ralphican.”
“…”
“Do you have any final words?”
The Inquisitor waited for Edelina’s answer. However, even after a long silence, Edelina showed no sign of opening her mouth. It was a relief that she was following my instruction to never say anything affirmative, but…
-What are you doing?
-Hurry up and declare it!
-Why isn’t she taking the Oath?
“Is there really nothing, defendant?”
The Inquisitor asked again as if granting a final mercy. The chat grew increasingly urgent.
-Edel, Edel, what are you thinking?
-No, seriously, what is she doing?
“In that case, I sentence the defendant, Edelina Peyers, as a heretic. May you repent through death!”
“For Ralphican!”
“Death to the heretic!”
‘Dammit.’
Now, I really had to say something.
“Wait, those clothes and that veil… isn’t that the Saintess?”
“I can’t see her face. What a shame.”
“Why did she suddenly stand up?”
As I rose from my seat, excited whispers erupted from the spectators. After quieting the noisy courtroom, the Inquisitor asked me what the matter was. I couldn’t press him on whether the Magic Stone was authentic.
‘Because it’s highly likely that it is.’
And naturally, if I went that route, it would all end with them simply replying that they had investigated it thoroughly. If that was the case, I’d rather…
“I heard that Professor Edelina was granted the authority to research Magic Stones due to the recent magic beast terror incident. I have even collected and given her a few myself. It wouldn’t be strange if she had one on her by mistake, would it?”
“A mistake? Is that true, Professor Edelina?”
“Ah, y-yes. Since so many fragmented Magic Stones were coming in… I-I think I might have accidentally left one in my gown pocket on occasion.”
Perhaps because she wasn’t skilled at lying, Edelina spoke while breaking into a cold sweat. However, for her, it was a magnificent defense.
“Are you claiming it was negligence? Then why did you run?”
“When one is suddenly branded a heretic, panic can cloud one’s judgment. Don’t we all make mistakes we shouldn’t when we’re busy beyond belief?”
The Inquisitor turned a suspicious gaze toward me. Still, the reactions trickling in from the crowd weren’t bad.
“Oh, come on! No matter the circumstances, how do you just ‘accidentally’ carry out a Magic Stone of all things?”
“It could happen. Since when has there been an ‘absolute’ in human affairs?”
“And honestly, branding someone a heretic just for having a tiny fragment the size of a gnat’s eye is a bit…”
“But there is the testimony…”
-Is this actually working?
-Go Saintess, go!
-Save her! T_T
“Silence, everyone! The Saintess’s words have merit, but according to the testimony, there is a high probability that this fragment was not a mistake, but a deliberately embezzled experimental material. We cannot overturn the result…”
“Wait a minute!”
A clear shout rang through the courtroom. Following everyone’s gaze, a familiar face came into view.
‘That’s definitely…’
It was the male student named Finn… the one who had been next to Oscar!
“I’d like to apply to be a witness!”
…!!!
In an instant, the courtroom froze. As all eyes fixed on him, Finn scratched the back of his head, looking a bit awkward.
“I have a very important t-testimony, haha…”
“…”
“W-Would that be okay?”
“Ahem! It is difficult to accept a witness who has not received prior authorization…”
“I authorize it.”
I didn’t know what it was, but I believed there was a reason for him to be saying this. I spoke firmly.
-Wow, so forceful.
-The Saintess has no chill.
I didn’t need “chill” here. This was a public trial attended by commoners. If the Saintess gave a command that wasn’t immoral or unreasonable, ignoring it was practically the same as ignoring Ralphican. In other words, if you didn’t want to be summarily executed for blasphemy, you had to follow my lead. Realizing the situation, the Inquisitor finally yielded and spoke to Finn.
“Step forward and take the witness stand.”
Finn hurried to the center of the courtroom with quick, pattering steps. Brandon sent an incredibly intense, burning glare toward Finn as he stood beside him. Finn broke into a light sweat but didn’t back down, puffing out his chest confidently. Noticing Finn’s attire, the Inquisitor asked a question in a slightly softened voice.
“Ho. That is the uniform of the Kataten Academy.”
“That’s right! I am Finn Rosy, a student majoring under Professor Brandon here!”
Finn was in his uniform, just like yesterday. While he might just be a “one-suit gentleman”, clothing is the most basic symbol of status, so it was more likely he wore it intentionally. People tend to be naturally more lenient toward young students, after all.
“I see. Please be aware that you can be punished for even a small lie on the witness stand, and proceed with sincerity.”
“Yes! I understand!”
“That includes the fact that you are a student of Kataten Academy.”
“I know! Ah, that’s right! Student!”
-He’s so spirited, lol.
He certainly had guts, not shrinking back even in the solemn courtroom.
“I’ve been assisting Professor Brandon with his research and have been stuck to his side almost every day for the past few months…!”
Finn swallowed hard and began his testimony.
“Ten… no, twenty times, I’ve overheard Professor Brandon badmouthing Professor Edelina in secret! He probably didn’t know I was there! I know major students are supposed to be worked like slaves by their professors, but I really didn’t think he’d forget my existence entirely. Honestly, I thought he was doing it on purpose, but it was real…”
“Refrain from adding personal opinions to your testimony.”
“Ah, y-yes! Anyway, please keep in mind that Professor Brandon disliked Professor Edelina so much that he enjoyed badmouthing her regularly!”
The Inquisitor rubbed his throbbing temples at Finn, who was delivering his speech like a runaway train. Even while glancing at the Inquisitor, Finn finished what he had to say.
-He’s so sharp.
He spoke at length, but the core of the testimony was that Brandon disliked Edelina.
‘This will definitely be effective.’
“I see. So there is a high probability that Professor Brandon committed perjury out of a personal grudge.”
“It’s possible he was jealous, since Professor Edelina is so successful.”
“She is a high-ranking noble and possesses talent to boot.”
Just like that, Brandon’s testimony had been scratched.
“It-it’s not perjury! And I don’t dislike Professor Edelina! This student misunderstood some jokes I tossed out! There isn’t a single grain of a lie in my testimony! How could I utter a lie in a courtroom where so many people are gathered!”
Faced with the rapidly shifting public opinion, Brandon shouted desperately until the courtroom rang.
“Gasp.”
Finn let out a sharp breath. Did he feel that at this rate, it would just end as a lighthearted escapade of a thoughtless student? Finn recaptured the crowd’s attention.
“Actually, I have evidence too!”
“What? Student! Do you think this is a joke?!”
“Inquisitor. Surely you aren’t dismissing a statement made in a sacred trial as a mere joke just because the witness is young?”
“Gasp, n-no! Not at all, Saintess!”
In the midst of the chaos, the Inquisitor finally sighed and said he would accept the evidence.
“Score! Thank you, Saintess! My friend over there will bring out the evidence!”
Finn gestured toward somewhere in the audience, and a student holding a briefcase walked out leisurely. That student was…
-????
-Oscar???
-Why are you coming out from there?
It was Oscar.
-No, lol, I think he became calm because he’s so flustered.
-That really woke him up, didn’t it?
-I’m wide awake now too.
Oscar opened the bag and pulled out the so-called evidence.
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The Gloomy Maid in the Teen Romance Simulation Game is Actually A Guy
Chapter 87 / 112