Chapter 6

“…That’s why I love Phil. From now on, forever and always, I will stay by his side.”

Rize continued speaking in a flowing tone. 

Everyone in the courtroom simply listened silently to her words. 

Even Rynus, who had been presiding over this trial, could only remain silent with a face as if he had bitten into something bitter. 

That’s how much emotion was conveyed in Rize’s words. 

“So, are you saying… that man, Phil or whatever his name is, is a saint?” 

“…At the very least, I’ve never heard anything about Phil doing strange things to orphans.” 

Well, obviously. 

He hasn’t done anything like that. 

I mean, seriously, come on? 

Anyone who lays a hand on children must be out of their mind. 

And especially someone like me, who has taken in orphans—using my position to harm them? No way. I’m not *that* scum of a human being. 

Even if I’m going to be judged, I’d at least hope it’s for some crime with a little more honor. 

“How can the words of someone so close to him count as evidence?!” 

Rynus suddenly shouted. 

Just moments ago, he had seemed so composed, but when cornered, this is what happens… 

“Well then, do you have any evidence that I actually laid a hand on anyone?” 

“That’s… the testimony…” 

“Testimony? You mean just now?” 

“…! Th-That…” 

With that, Rynus fell silent. 

I don’t know what he was basing his case on, but apparently, Rize’s testimony was the only evidence they had. 

Honestly, wasn’t that recklessly overconfident? 

“Lord Rynus, at this rate, continuing this trial seems…” 

The judge, who had been silent until now, spoke up awkwardly. 

The audience of over a hundred people sighed in exasperation. 

Oh boy, this is messing up my plans… 

“N-No! We still have evidence!!” 

“Oh? And does this pertain to the matter at hand?” 

“A-Ah, no, it doesn’t… But this man has committed other grave crimes!!!” 

Rynus declared loudly. 

A faint murmur of anticipation spread among the disheartened audience. 

There were clearly many people hoping for another scandalous story from my family’s endless rumors. 

Well, whatever. It’s fine, I guess! 

It works in my favor, but isn’t this a bit too blatant? 

It’s starting to get on my nerves just a little. 

“…So, can I go back now?” 

“Yes, please do.” 

With that, Rize stood up and returned to sit next to me. 

Her expression practically screamed, “Praise me!” 

Well, I guess I’ll pat her head for now. 

“Rize, why did you…?” 

“…Because Phil saved me twice. That’s why ‘we’ are all going to help Phil.” 

“We?” 

“…Yes, and…” 

“Hmm?” 

Rize exhaled deeply, as if she were carrying some sort of resolve… 

“…I want a child soon.” 

“…Huh?” 

Child? 

What do you mean, child? 

“…I need to have a child with Phil.” 

“No, wait, you’re—” 

“…I know. I’ll follow the proper order. I’ve decided.” 

What? With whom? 

Give me the subject here, the subject!!! 

And honestly, that’s not even what I’m worried about right now! 

Since when did I earn this level of affection from her?! 

“Hey, instead of talking nonsense, shouldn’t we focus?” 

“Ah, yeah.” 

Reina interrupted with a slightly irritated tone. 

Yeah, it’s understandable to get mad when we’re having this kind of conversation during a trial… 

“So, what’s this other crime you’re talking about?” 

“Murder. He killed one of our military commanders on the battlefield.” 

Rynus and the judge moved the discussion forward. 

Killing… commander… 

Hmm. 

I do have an idea about that… 

“May I hear more details?” 

The judge, who had been somewhat uninterested, suddenly became serious. 

Of course, a military commander is essentially nobility. 

Nobleslaying is incomparably worse than the previous charges. 

“Yes, of course. This man participated in a bandit-hunting mission and killed the commander from behind.” 

“If that’s true, it’s a serious crime… but do you have any evidence?” 

The stern-faced judge pressed further. 

The earlier blunder must have affected their credibility, which seems to have dropped. 

“We have witnesses ready.” 

“…This time, they’re reliable, yes?” 

“Yes, absolutely.” 

With that, Rynus glanced toward the door. 

Presumably, he had brought in soldiers who were present at the scene. 

What he’s referring to is indeed true. 

I definitely killed that commander. 

So there’s no way the same situation as before will happen again. 

Well, this should be enough to get me exiled. 

“…It’s okay, don’t worry.” 

“Huh? What do you mean?” 

Rize whispered softly. 

“You’re someone we’ll definitely protect.” 

“What do you mean by…” 

“Lord Rynus, forgive me!” 

Before I could finish asking, guards rushed in through the door, looking panicked. 

…What happened? 

“What’s going on?” 

“Well, the witnesses… they all said, ‘That’s a lie, we didn’t see anything!’” 

“Huh!?” 

What? 

What’s going on?? 

“Lord Rynus, what is the meaning of this?” 

“N-No! Until yesterday, they definitely…” 

“It’s meaningless unless they testify here today. If lies are proven, it becomes a crime. Testimony outside this courtroom holds no value.” 

The judge raised his voice. 

The audience collectively sighed in disappointment. 

“W-We still have evidence even without testimony! Hey, bring me the records of the body!” 

“Y-Yes!” 

The guard hurried over to Rynus and handed him several documents. 

Without even looking at the contents, Rynus immediately passed them to the judge. 

“Fools…” 

Reina, standing to my left, let out a deep sigh. 

Was she bothered by her childhood friend’s actions? 

“What’s foolish about it?” 

“Just watch. You’ll understand.” 

“…?” 

What does she mean? 

When I looked to my right, Rize was also glaring down at Rynus. 

“…Lord Rynus, where exactly is the evidence in this?” 

“Huh? No, no, it’s clearly written here!” 

“Hmm… what’s this?” 

As he spoke, the judge handed the documents back to Rynus. 

“It says exactly what it’s supposed to! ‘Traces of magic found on the wound’s cut suggest it belongs to the bandits…’ Huh?” 

Rynus kept rereading the document, sweat pouring down his forehead, his face growing paler with each glance. 

“W-What’s going on here!?” 

“That’s what I’d like to ask you.” 

The judge, and the entire audience, shifted from exasperation to anger, shouting in outrage. 

What’s happening? What’s going on? 

I definitely killed that commander! 

“T-This is fabrication! I saw it clearly! The magic traces belonged to Phil Cullrich!” 

Rynus, his face now red after turning pale, shouted. 

Gone was the composure he had at the start of the trial. 

I have no idea what’s going on anymore. 

“Fabrication is a serious accusation.” 

One of the audience members spoke up loudly. 

Though part of the audience, this person wasn’t seated with the general public but closer to the courtroom—a VIP, so to speak. 

One of the highest authorities in this country’s military. 

And the main heroine of the original story. 

General Luise Knef approached Rynus with a cold, icy expression. 

“Lady Luise…” 

“Lord Rynus, you are a hero of this nation… but accusing military documents of being fabricated is problematic.” 

“…My apologies, but!” 

“And furthermore!” 

Luise raised her voice, cutting off Rynus. 

In the original story, she’s usually quite soft-spoken and gentle, but now she’s fully in work mode. 

This contrast is part of what makes her such a popular character. 

“I was on that battlefield myself. And with my own eyes, I saw it clearly… That commander was killed by bandits.” 

“That’s impossible!” 

Rynus shouted. 

Frankly, I almost shouted too. 

Wait, because… 

I killed that commander right in front of Luise’s eyes!