---

As soon as I stepped out of the tent prepared for the participants of the trial lit up by the Great Plaza, the surroundings buzzed with excitement.

“Finally, they’ve come out!”

“That’s them…!”

A cacophony of a thousand voices blended together, all focused on Shione.

The heavy pressure of their gazes weighed down on me. Too much attention can sometimes sap a person’s confidence. Still, I tried my best to maintain an air of composure as I moved gracefully, paying attention to my demeanor.

As I walked with dignity, each step firm yet measured, I checked on my trembling superior.

“Hoo—”

Fortunately, Shione also took a deep breath, slowly moving one step at a time.

Was her expression a sign that she had successfully controlled her emotions, or was she merely overwhelmed by the large crowd? Her flawless neutrality gave me no reason to pick at her, allowing me to enter the courtroom calmly.

‘The atmosphere is quite heavy, isn’t it?’

While the crowd’s eyes sparkled as they stared at the courtroom, those leading the trial exhaled heavy breaths, exuding a grim aura. Shione and I could simply ignore the many elves watching us and blend into the ominous atmosphere of the trial.

“The two heroes have entered the courtroom—”

Edelin’s deep voice resonated as she quietly observed us.

“Let’s call the defendant, the Ianette.”

The tone was entirely different from when the three of us, Shione, and I spoke in private.

‘Looks like she’s sharpened her blades.’

Did my previous account of events significantly disturb her? Edelin appeared transformed since our last meeting.

Gone was the benevolent priest figure; in her place sat a queen infused with the ruthless essence of a strong woman native to this world. Her absolute authority made even the surrounding elders reluctant to raise their heads.

‘Well, after all, a High Elf is still a High Elf.’

High Elves, those arrogant little brats born with an aura that has them overshadow others from the moment of their birth. Even if Edelin’s prime might have faded after thousands of years, she still brought her experience reigning over the Great Forest into this trial.

The main actors in this drama were Shione and me. As instructed by Friel and Fletta, we approached the two empty seats prepared before Chelness and the Arielte family. Soon, our opponents slowly walked in.

Amidst this, Shione quietly murmured.

“…Here they come.”

“Are you still tense?”

“Not a chance.”

Shione awkwardly lifted the corners of her lips.

“I’m just doing my best to prepare for what we’ve rehearsed.”

I nodded quietly at her words.

Her blue eyes no longer trembled, so there was no need for further scolding.

I turned my gaze to the Ianette personnel who faced us.

‘Aina Ianette, and Cenya.’

An old warrior with orange hair and her shadow, Cenya.

The elf who commanded the Ianette in the recent hunt and the mastermind who had set everything in motion stood before us.

‘They must be rotting with anxiety.’

I could catch glimpses of their suppressed emotions through their tense expressions.

I heard that this grand trial hadn’t happened in hundreds of years. Being on the defense rather than the prosecution in such a significant trial carried its own shame. Along with the recent scandalous rumors swirling around the city, the disgrace they bore loomed large.

Moreover, I heard the Grand Elder, who had previously provided little influence over the three families, had subtly pressured the Ianette.

From their standpoint, it was natural that Shione and I would be a thorn in their side. To them, we probably appeared as nothing more than worthless hybrids from their darkened perspectives.

As I observed them, I couldn’t help but smile inwardly.

‘So, who’s the one who made such a mad move?’

Not only did they contract with a demon, but they also stirred trouble in the hunting party I belonged to. Even if they wanted to deceive, they should have been more cautious about their opponents.

I purposefully lifted my chin.

“…!”

And suddenly, Cenya’s eyebrows raised, seemingly unsatisfied with something.

Managing to suppress a laugh, I readied myself as the real trial was about to begin.

“Before we start the trial, let me say this. You all must swear before the spirits and the World Tree that your answers will hold no lies. Understood?”

“I swear.”

“I swear under the name of Ianette.”

Swearing with just words isn’t difficult.

But will the weight of Ianette’s oath carry the same heft as our vow to speak only the truth?

“Now, we shall commence the trial regarding the defendant Ianette’s alleged betrayal as claimed by the prosecution.”

“Let the advocates for both prosecution and defense step forward.”

As decreed by multiple elders, our advocates took their places; Friel Arielte stepped forward for us, while an elf provided by the Ianette came forth to set the scene.

Friel Arielte. Though I worried whether she could suffice as a serious attorney… I was adamant that for this trial, we needed to rely entirely on her to ensure success… For some reason, Fletta had also approved of this arrangement. Still, a hint of unease lingered, but a little trust might do no harm.

“Let’s start discussing the first point. We request the prosecution and defense to present their perspectives regarding the unfortunate events within the hunting party concerning Ianette.”

The Grand Trial of the Great Forest engaged the prosecution and defense in open disputes, allowing the elders and relevant judges to intervene and question freely.

Fundamentally, the Grand Trial followed free rules. The laxity of such a trial style brought potential pitfalls but also highlighted crucial aspects worthy of attention.

The rationality and intelligence of the judges, and the key questions penetrating the subjects at hand would reveal how they navigated the possibly unraveling scenario, ensuring the debates between advocates, the prosecution, and the defense didn’t spiral into violence.

All this served as proof of how far the elves had come in this era—a perfect opportunity to win the favor of their Grand Elder.

Whether the trial felt sloppy or not, ultimately, the loose style would likely benefit us—nothing negative could come from it.

“In that case, we shall begin our argument.”

Our side’s Friel Arielte declared loudly, her voice echoing in the room.

“Cenya, you deliberately made a move that forced me to intervene unprotected during my fight with a half-demon, leading to my serious injury and near-fatal condition. How can you possibly—”

“That’s a misunderstanding and a slander. In the chaotic battlefield where we shared a common enemy, how could such a scheme be plotted? The tragedy stemmed from a failure in situation assessment by the Forest Guardian Cenya, with no malicious intent whatsoever.”

The advocate for Ianette countered sharply.

“Rather, what you exhibit now seems like an injury sustained while trying to shield Cenya. I suspect whether the advocate, responsible for rational judgment, isn’t driven instead by personal vindictiveness.”

That was pretty rude.

Nevertheless, Friel continued her questions with a perfectly composed expression, as if she expected such a response.

And then—

“Hmm—”

Knowing that the Grand Elder behind me had already heard the most crucial evidence, I didn’t have to hold back in questioning Ianette outright.

“How would you explain retreating while staying back in combat, endangering allies from other families?”

“That’s slander. This is—”

“When everyone retreated to plan for the future, isn’t it true that you insisted on advancing alone?”

“This came from Ianette’s stronger rejection of demons than that of other families—”

But Ianette continued to wiggle out with no meaningful explanations. Meanwhile, Friel Arielte maintained her position, recounting the experiences fraught with emotional weight and lacking enough evidence and logic.

As the populace listening on our side began to shift little by little toward Ianette’s innocence, a whisper of unrest began to grow among our ranks.

“Then I will ask in reverse.”

Ianette’s advocate, seemingly waiting for the public’s opinion to start turning, raised an eyebrow leisurely.

“What evidence and logic do you possess to voice discontent about Ianette?”

“Evidence, you say?”

“Yes, surely it’s not well-founded to accuse her without solid proof or witnesses.”

The judges and the assembled crowd nodded their heads instinctively.

Friel seemed to be expecting this moment, twisting her lips into a smile.

“If you seek evidence, then I shall present supporting evidence and a witness for my assertion. Firstly, I would like to summon a witness regarding the unfortunate events that befell me during the demon hunt and subsequent matters—”

Friel Arielte smiled ominously.

If this was perceived as bravado, Ianette’s advocate raised her head with evident arrogance, while Aina and Cenya sat quietly, simply observing their own cohort’s statements.

“Is this alright?”

“Of course, provided they can undoubtedly demonstrate their weight as witnesses.”

In that moment, as the advocate granted simple but definitive permission, Aina nodded.

“Now then, we shall call upon our witness.”

Under the radiant sun, brushing back her shining golden hair, she spoke.

“Witness, Airine Ianette. Please come forward.”

With that explosive declaration landing in the courtroom, the previously bustling crowd fell silent, and the judges furrowed their brows.

All gazes turned toward the audience seats, closer than ever, particularly aimed at Ianette’s supporters.

“Airine Ianette.”

A woman with orange hair, akin to the head of the defendant, stood and slowly walked to the witness stand, softly intoning.

“As a witness to support the opinions of the two heroes who have come to the Great Forest.”

With her eyes tightly shut,

“Furthermore, I step into this sacred courtroom as one who condemns the inappropriate choices and actions of the current Ianette family.”

And when she opened her eyes again, it seemed she had finally found resolution, concluding her internal turmoil.

Not a hint of doubt crossed her demeanor.

 

---