A room with breathtaking architecture. Every piece of furniture is adorned with intricate carvings that are pleasing to the eye. A chair resembling curved steps forms a half-circle, with a circular stage in the center. A large flag is also displayed behind the main judges' seats, serving as the backdrop of the place.
A massive chandelier with candles at every tip hangs from the ceiling, which is decorated with paintings of the gods.
Dim light filters through the windows, illuminating the space and creating an aesthetic atmosphere.
However, the courtroom is currently filled with heated debates among two factions. Each side defends their opinions while attempting to dismantle the arguments of their opponents.
Their voices echo and overlap with one another. They shout, deny, and belittle the opposing side while hiding behind their own convictions.
One man raises his hand and speaks with authority. The veins on his forehead and arms bulge. His eyes widen, and his mouth opens as he speaks, exuding charisma and influence that overwhelm his opponents.
"Their argument is just as strange as they are."
The witnesses are shocked by such a direct insult. However, instead of being outraged, they appear impressed by the man's boldness.
An offended representative from the opposition furrows his brows before responding,
"What do you mean?! We know that freedom is something everyone deserves."
Some people whisper among themselves, but they don't seem as interested in his words as they were in the other speaker.
Seeing himself in the lead, the man becomes even more confident. He puffs out his chest slightly, raises both hands, and speaks in a mocking tone.
"Narrow-minded fool. Do you really think their kind deserves to be called 'people' like us?"
The judge raises his right hand, signaling his agreement, while resting his head on the other. His eyes are half-closed, and he appears bored—whether from exhaustion or because he had already chosen the winner from the start.
Despite the heavy blows from their opponent, the losing side is still searching for a reason to fight back. They whisper among themselves, strategizing and preparing their words.
After a moment, one of them steps forward to replace the previous speaker. He appears younger than the others in the room.
Even so, he stands no less tall and proud. His muscular build and noble attire give him an air of authority, further accentuated by the large book he holds in his hands.
The spectators lean forward with curiosity, some even moving closer to the stage to observe him better.
Those who were on the verge of defeat find a glimmer of hope as their representative manages to draw the audience's attention. Meanwhile, the once-dominant faction can do nothing but bite their lips, hoping their opponent's argument won't sway the crowd.
Stepping forward, the young man points at the opposition and declares,
"The way you planed to seized that land was utterly immoral."
The opposing side flinches back as the people around them begin to waver. Fearing their imminent loss, their representative quickly speaks up.
"It was for our nation."
The young man locks eyes with his opponent and replies,
"We want this nation to be a safe place. Your statement just now will only bring ruin because the price to be paid far outweighs the benefits."
His approach has some effect, causing the previously indifferent judge to start pondering.
Not willing to lose, the dominant side immediately sends another representative to step forward.
The audience grows even more eager to see what happens next—until suddenly.
"BANG!"
The courtroom doors burst open with a loud crash, slamming against the walls.
All eyes shift toward the entrance. The judge does the same, but unlike the others, he looks furious. His eyes widen, and his hand trembles with rage as he watches a guard enter the room, dragging a prisoner without his permission—disrupting the trial.
"You fool! Who gave you the right to barge in?!"
His voice is so loud that it makes ears ring.
Yet, the guard strides in with unwavering composure, dragging Kagayama along. He appears unshaken by the judge's wrath and authority. His steps are firm, and his presence exudes an iron will—so much so that the witnesses can't help but be in awe.
On the other hand, Kagayama looks exhausted and confused about what fate awaits him. His face bears the weariness of a man who has been emotionally battered all day. His emotions are adrift in a sea of uncertainty, carrying him to destinations unknown.
His mind still lingers on the elf who once accompanied him. And the fact that he is now gone only deepens his despair.
His body is stained with blood, made worse by the dust clinging to him. He has cried too much—his eyes are red from the tears. His appearance is disheveled, a stark contrast to the others in the room.
The judge continues to glare as the two figures advance.
Once they reach the center, where everyone can see him, the guard turns Kagayama around and announces in a loud, resolute voice,
"I present to you—the Envoy of Adersl!"
The judge, seated on his throne, furrows his brows and widens his eyes in shock as he sees a familiar mark on Kagayama's back.
The hand holding his pen trembles violently as he realizes the symbol is exactly as he remembers it.
The mark was black and shaped like the head of Adersl's bird. Its eyes emitted a blue glow, reinforcing its authenticity, and on its neck, there was an inscription from an ancient manuscript. The meaning of the manuscript itself was unknown, but it was identical to one that had been recorded before.
The others present were visibly shocked by the mark's presence. Their expressions varied—some were afraid, some were curious, some were in awe, while the rest remained silent, observing the situation.
Kagayama still didn't understand what they were seeing in him, considering the mark was on his back, making it impossible for him to see. His curiosity grew as he turned to look at the guard, who appeared to be utterly certain.
Even though he was still in an unpleasant condition, Kagayama gathered all his strength and spoke to the guard.
"What... exactly is happening?"
His voice was still weak, but the guard in front of him could hear him and responded.
"You have something very interesting on your back."
His expression shifted slightly to one of surprise upon hearing the guard's words. He didn't know what it was, but Kagayama felt that it was something very important. Recalling that he was called Adersl's envoy, Kagayama realized that this was the work of the bird.
Now, he truly felt he owed the bird his gratitude. Adersl's bird had saved him from execution by beheading.
The judge, who had been seated all this time, stood up straight, his face filled with concern. Raising his right hand, he spoke.
"Since he is an envoy of Adersl, we must reconsider his punishment."
His relief turned into fear as the judge was about to impose another sentence. His hands trembled, his expression grew distressed, and his eyes widened. His breath became heavy and labored. Cold sweat trickled down his body before dripping onto the floor.
The crowd began speaking among themselves, discussing this sudden turn of events. Some suggested that Kagayama should be burned alive, others said he should be left to starve to death, and some proposed imprisoning him for life.
None of these punishments were any better than the original one. At least with beheading, he would die instantly without long suffering.
As the situation became increasingly chaotic, a nobleman stood up and clapped his hands to draw the crowd's attention. His plan worked, and he immediately spoke in a loud voice.
"According to Adersl's law, we are not allowed to interfere with his envoys unless they are our enemies. If we violate this, she will bring disaster upon this city."
A representative of the opposition, who was already at the front, looked at the nobleman with bewilderment and said,
"Adersl's envoys are dangerous. They have brought great changes in the past."
He sighed before continuing,
"That's why we must eliminate him before it's too late."
"Hold it right there!!"
A representative who had initially been held back by Kagayama's presence now spoke up. His face beamed with joy as if he had found gold. He slowly stepped forward and said,
"Are you all deaf? Let me make it clearer. Adersl's bird will bring calamity upon us if we harm his envoy—unless that envoy is our enemy."
Everyone, including Kagayama, looked confused, and the man quickly moved on to his second point.
"How can you claim that our previous views endangered this nation while at the same time suggesting we kill Adersl's envoy—a decision that carries far greater risk?"
The witnesses and the man's supporters exchanged understanding, strengthening his influence. The opposition could only remain silent as their power waned.
Meanwhile, Kagayama kept questioning the power Adersl had bestowed upon him, as it seemed to instill fear in the people of Asdrof. He began imagining various destructive forces in his mind.
A witness stood up, raised his left hand, and quickly lowered it. He observed both sides before speaking.
"Then what should we do about the envoy?"
The now seemingly arrogant man turned to the witnesses and said,
"For further decisions, we can leave it to the judge."
The judge nodded slowly, deep in thought. After a moment, he looked at the witnesses and said,
"We can keep him under surveillance in a secure place."
"I will watch over him."
The nobleman who had spoken earlier looked toward the judge.
His expression was serious, and his gaze was intimidating, making the judge curious about him.
"Henry of the Monsarth family, are you certain you will take responsibility for him?"
The nobleman stepped forward and replied,
"Yes, I am sure."
His voice showed no sign of anxiety or doubt. He seemed genuinely determined to monitor Kagayama, which made the judge slightly suspicious.
"First, may I know your reason for wanting to oversee him?"
The nobleman remained unshaken. He placed his right hand on his chest, exuding an air of authority.
"I want to study and observe the mark, considering we have never truly understood it and have only relied on unclear historical sources from the past."
The judge was still reluctant to release Kagayama to the nobleman, so he asked again,
"Are you sure you can keep him under watch?"
"I guarantee I will not take my eyes off him."
The judge seemed satisfied with this answer, so he raised his right hand and declared,
"Then I will entrust him to you, and all matters related to him will be your responsibility, Henry of the Monsarth family."
Kagayama continued to observe the proceedings while speculating about his fate. Deep inside, he felt relieved that he had not received a harsher punishment, but Henry's apparent agenda made him slightly uneasy.
With his mind still weary, he muttered to himself,
("Ughh, I hope this will get better.")