Chapter 50 (2/2)
“...... I’m afraid I have to respectfully decline.”
According to Claura, who I had never seen this vexed, and her younger brother, their grandfather was a typical power grabber who had been at odds with the Council Chairman for long years. Well, as long as it’s not related to Demonists or a.s.sa.s.sins or the like, then he can do as he likes.
The younger brother was a handsome young man who resembled Claura more, but even he displayed a strangely friendly att.i.tude towards me.
“Margils-sama, did my sister also pull your ear? My sister doesn’t do that to people that she doesn’t care about at all, so……”
He whispered lots of similar such things to me.
Does that mean that in Claura’s eyes, I’m unreliable like a younger brother? Even though age-wise, she’s young enough to be my daughter……
♥♦♣♠
One more important thing happened: I visited the Ma.n.u.scriptor’s Guild.
In this world without a papermaking industry, almost all written records are on sheepskin (though they do use leather from other creatures).
Of course, the printing industry also does not exist, so all books have to be handmade, and all ma.n.u.scripts have to be written by hand.
In modern j.a.pan, it is almost impossible to lay eyes on a sheepskin ma.n.u.script. Here, though…... the several hundred variations of dyes and leathers, the delicate cover and page decorations utilizing combinations with metals, and the writing techniques with full consideration for ink viscosity and the font of each and every letter…… I was completely fascinated by every aspect of the process of production.
But of course, it’s not like a pa.s.sion for traditional crafts awoke in me. It’s for making my backup spellbook.
The ingredients list, which figuratively dripped with chuunibyou with item descriptions like “ink mixed with the shattered fragments of a jewel exposed to the light of a full moon” and “sheepskin cut with a knife blessed by the G.o.ddess of fire,” made me seriously want to wring the necks of my younger self and my game master. However, everything was successfully gathered, and my request for the production of a blank book was accepted without much issue.
The guildmaster himself took on my job, so it would apparently be finished 3 months later.
He didn’t want to charge ‘the city’s savior’ for the job, but I still made sure to pay some remuneration as an expression of my respect for his skills.
♥♦♣♠
While spending my days so, the investigation into the remaining Demonists in Lelis made steady progress.
Naturally, Baron Koval wasn’t the only Demonist in town. 2 other n.o.bles, 5 merchants, and several tens of citizens were apprehended.
Also, almost every village under the Koval House had been completely converted to Demonisn. With the guards and adventurers cooperating together, almost every single villager was also successfully apprehended.
From the interrogations of the Demonists and the doc.u.ments found from the n.o.bles’ mansion, more facts about the Demonists came to light.
The man who got cut up by the gigantic Shadow Demon was indeed a priest, and even a leader among them. He had come to the village from somewhere several decades ago, then steadily increased the number of adherents, before finally involving even Baron Koval.
The priest had called the skull that had turned into the gigantic Shadow Demon a ‘Vessel of G.o.d,’ and had apparently been offering living sacrifices to it from a long while ago.
The brainwas.h.i.+ng of the dark elves and Baron Koval were more due to the power of this Vessel of G.o.d rather than the priest, apparently.
Aside from him, there were a few other brainwashed Demonists, but because they would die from [Dispel Magic], they were all thrown into jail instead.
I felt pity for the brainwashed people, but those who turned to Demonism wors.h.i.+p on their own accord were merely reaping what they had sowed. I aided the investigation with [Psycometry], so I believe no one was falsely charged.
Thanks to even the Thieves’ Guild having partic.i.p.ated in the Demonist hunt, it can probably be said with confidence that their presence in the region has been completely erased.
♥♦♣♠
Ten days after failing to apprehend Baron Koval.
I am attending the trial, which is being held at the large plaza before the Council Hall.
Right in front is the judge. The members of the jury are seated both left and right. To the right is the Garrison Commander as the public prosecutor, and to the left are the 5 dark elf defendants and their counsel.
My role is to stand guarantee for them.
Trials in Sedia are, of course, very different from those in modern j.a.pan.
The verdict is still determined by a vote of majority among the jurors, but the greatest influence on their decision is the guarantor.
Furthermore, what is given weight is ‘who the guarantor is’ much more than ‘what the guarantor says.’
I suppose it’s along the logic of “if an upright person that everyone trusts is standing guarantee, then that’s how trustworthy the defendant's testimony is.”
In this case, though I’m the one saying it, I am currently the most upright person that everybody trusts the most in all Lelis. The very instant that the Great Wizard Gio Margils had agreed to be their guarantor, the dark elves had already almost been guaranteed an acquittal.
Now I understand why the Garrison Commander and Council Chairman had acted the way they did when I handed the girls over to the city guards……
“I, wizard Gio Margils of Jiiteias, hereby swear that the judgment sword of Guras, the G.o.d of Justice, shall strike true today.”
The thought “I seriously shouldn’t have underestimated fantasy” flits through a corner of my mind as I stand up to fulfill my duty and my promise to the Council Chairman. While facing both the jurors and all of the gathered citizens, I speak up to testify and provide a synopsis of what had happened.
Incidentally, Count Andel was the one who had proactively instructed me in trial etiquette, even though I never even asked him to.
“...... The cowardly Baron Koval took advantage of these dark elves to kidnap an innocent young girl who had taken good care of me……”
Despite being in front of a fully packed plaza the size of several soccer courts, I don’t feel embarra.s.sed or fear like before.
It seems that I am steadily growing accustomed to Great Wizard persona.
“...... The beautiful female magician from the Magician’s Guild successfully managed to evade his evil grasp by her own strength. And then…… together with the gallant city guards who had sworn their loyalty to the Council, as well as the adventurers burning with righteous indignation who wanted to serve as a s.h.i.+eld for the citizens of the city, we all infiltrated the underground section of the Baron’s mansion…...”
Let’s not forget to give due mention to each and every source of help that we received.
“...... As a result of our investigation, we realized that the dark elves and a portion of the Demonists had actually been brainwashed by the priest. We know for sure that the terrible acts that they had committed were coerced, with zero regards to their personal will. With the name of the wizard Gio Margils on the line, here I a.s.sert that these girls are innocent.”
At the start, I did not know that the trial would be like this. But if this is the way of this world, then I feel no hesitation in abiding by — or using, actually — these rules.
In the first place, the Garrison Commander and Council Chairman didn’t even want the troublesome issue of the dark elves on their hands. Seeing this as an opportunity to buy a favor from me while was.h.i.+ng their hands in the same stroke, there was no chance for the verdict to have gone any other way from the start.
“I shall announce the verdict. Members of the jury have agreed unanimously that the defendants are innocent!”
“ “ “Our Oluri [Lord of Wanderers]!” ” ”
The moment the judge uttered the verdict, all of the dark elves shrugged off their handcuffs (like taking off a pair of gloves) and kneeled in a line before me.
…… Not that I didn’t expect this, but it seems that even Leiha’s subordinates are going to call me their ‘Master’……
“We have not the words to express our grat.i.tude for our Master personally testifying on our behalf.”
“From this moment on, we will be your s.h.i.+ [One Who Serves] alongside Leiha.n.a.luka-ane, dedicating the rest of our lives to repaying our debt to you.”
(T/N: Ane means ‘elder sister.’)
Amidst the floating confetti and the sounds of bugles and bells and cheers from the citizens, I feel a cold sweat coming over me.
As a man, I would be lying if I denied being happy about having these beautiful ladies in my service. If I let my guard down, my face might just crumble into a broad grin.
Being used to the confident att.i.tude of a Great Wizard? That’s fine, I suppose.
But having people kneel to me is going over the line, I think.
I sincerely pray with all my heart that these girls would not turn into a sweet poison for me.
<script>