TFWSDW 36

~Chapter 36~

• “Why must the lord be captured?”

• “State your reason.”

“Because, naturally… the lord must be tried for dereliction of duty.”

I spoke clearly, and one of the three heads tilted as if puzzled, while another fixed me with an unwavering stare.

• “This trial concerns theft.”

• “Indeed!”

• “But we will accept your request.”

I hid a smirk as the Judge obediently followed the script I’d predicted.

Damn execution-hounds.

I’d make them whimper before I was through.

“So… you’re refusing to try the lord, then?”

• “We cannot judge crimes we have not formally received.”

“No, this case’s root cause must be judged as well. Or… is it because the accused is a lord that you refuse? If not, then I respectfully request you process the charge immediately. Unless, of course, you’d rather consider it part of this same case.”

• “…!”

Got you.

To pass judgment and mete out punishment upon humans, one must know humans well.

Lore-wise, this creature had studied humanity in order to judge them, only to become tainted by their selfishness and hubris.

And though these so-called “Execution Parrots” seemed obsessed with capital punishment, they’d also grown sensitive—almost painfully so—to fairness and appearances, from mimicking human judges.

“In that case, I shall spread the word once I leave this place: that the great Judge who boasts of his authority is… not truly impartial at all.”

• “…”

Oh, how I longed for the days when the game gave me a neat list of dialogue options. Talking my way through this was exhausting.

But I had to.

“Whether it is a human court or a monster’s court, the foundation of law is ‘equity’ and ‘impartiality,’ is it not?”

This mutt believed himself the very embodiment of justice.

“And yet… you have just admitted aloud that your rulings are not fair to all parties.”

I gestured to the floor beneath my feet.

These trial-type anomalies were always built upon a certain set of rules.

In this case: that a trial must be fair.

Thus…

“This space is a flawed space, violating its own rules.”

The deadliest error of any anomaly.

And, as expected—

Rumble!

Crash!

“W-wait… the ground?”

“N-Nemesia!”

The floor trembled, stones tumbling from the ceiling. My father’s voice called from behind, but I could not look back.

I couldn’t retreat now.

This tremor meant the Judge had heard and acknowledged my words.

As with the challenge I’d solved alongside Usher before, I had to dig up the contradiction to find the way forward.

Boom!

The floor cracked apart as the Judge’s furious voice thundered.

• “Our rules demand proper submission!”

• “We judge only those formally accused!”

Feigning fear for the benefit of my teammates—especially that damn Usher—I deliberately let my shoulders tremble, while my face remained calm.

“You think that excuse will work?”

“If you refuse to judge the lord,” I said, “then you yourself become complicit in shrinking the territory’s coffers. That makes you just as unfair as the accused.”

At first, I’d doubted whether this approach would work.

But it did.

These monsters existed to torment humans.

And ironically, they were also heavily swayed by the same rules and appearances they claimed to disdain.

I pointed at the Judge.

“Therefore, you too must stand trial according to your own rules—on the charge of an unfair trial.”

Call me arrogant, but I was finished playing nice.

“I know another Judge who will gladly hear the case.”

I smiled sharply.

Boom!

• “Insolent human!”

• “Wretched brat, how dare you shake our foundation?”

The Judge’s dais cracked apart, and massive clawed hands braced against the desk as the enormous body loomed toward me.

“N-Nemesia!”

I wanted to turn back, but couldn’t. My father must have been restrained somehow, unable to come to me.

The beast’s foul breath washed over me as its head drew close. Half of its form was shrouded in shadow, wavering ominously.

‘That’s the true body…’

I’d faced this thing’s real form in a past run.

At my current level, I wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight.

• “You have made a mockery of our trial.”

• “And for that… you will suffer the same fate.”

“I didn’t mock it.”

With the beast’s snout practically at my face, I kept my voice low but firm.

Those three jaws bristled with razor-sharp fangs, but I hid the sweat slicking my palms.

“I simply ask for a fair trial that considers the crime itself—not one that shouts for death without reason.”

I did not avert my gaze from the abyss in those eyes, dark and fathomless.

“Isn’t that the very purpose of both trial and Judge?”

• “Do not jest. A crime is a crime.”

• “Guilt cannot be erased!”

“Of course not. How could it?”

I nodded obediently.

“And that is why… I hereby indict the lord.”

• “What nonsense is this?”

Listen carefully, mutts.

“As you yourselves said, the crime has not been formally submitted… so I am formally submitting it now.”

In truth, I was demanding a change in the indictment.

My gaze flicked toward the Judge.

The three heads glanced at one another, visibly uneasy for the briefest moment—and I pounced.

“This is the only way to ensure that enduring sins are punished, and this trial remains fair.”

Go ahead. Drag them all down with you.

You can’t punish some and ignore others. That would make this trial unjust.

And that left the Judge speechless.

“Am I wrong, Your Honorable Judge?”

I let my words hang just so.

“If you do this, you will become renowned even among humans as a truly impartial Judge.”

I knew what they liked to hear.

I smiled brightly.

“All the insignificant humans will come to revere you.”

It had taken everything I had to enunciate clearly with my child’s voice, but I made it.

• “…”

• “…”

A long silence stretched before I knew it had worked.

The Judge returned to its seat, once more the image of grim authority.

All three heads bore grave expressions as they spoke.

• “Defense, state the punishment you seek.”

• “Speak.”

I allowed myself a slightly impish smile.

“I trust Your Honorable Judge will pass a fair and just sentence.”

I had to finish this carefully.

This monster despised being told what to do.

‘A reflection of reality, perhaps.’

My hands ached from how tightly I’d been clenching them.

• “The verdict is given!”

• “The criminal shall bear a three-year branding sentence! If she approaches her victim while bearing the mark, she will suffer pain. Should she commit the same crime within three years, she will fall into an unending nightmare of hell each night. If she commits a major crime such as robbery or murder during this time, she shall be executed immediately!”

• “Bring the lord who caused this crime here to stand trial as well!”

• “Kill them all!”

• “Yes, kill them!”

‘Whew… it’s done.’

The sentence was harsh, but it was better than death.

‘The lord’s life will be miserable now, but what of it?’

I knew from the lore that the lords of the regions where these hostages came from were utterly vile.

This was the limit of what I could do to rescue hostages who had committed actual crimes.

I couldn’t justify erasing their guilt entirely.

But the problem was… this wasn’t over.

I finally turned around.

Our team’s hostages were staring at me with wide, pleading eyes, like they were looking at a savior.

‘Ahahaha… I’m going to die from this.’