They headed out for breakfast.
When Abel greeted Head Cook Pierre in the kitchen, the man responded with a smile.
It seemed he had successfully gotten on his good side.
They sat at their usual two-person table.
Breakfast was barley porridge with beans, stir-fried pork and vegetables, and a boiled egg.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but the portions felt unusually large.
Abel felt more stares than usual.
When he listened closely, he could hear bits of conversation. Stuff about the bandits, about a trial happening today, about how gruesome the bodies were, and so on.
“Ise, what’s the plan for today?”
“There’s probably going to be a trial for the bandits starting around noon.”
“Are we attending as well?”
“Of course.”
Abel realized how completely ignorant he was of the Empire’s legal system.
It had never even occurred to him to ask Walter about it.
Tenana had been so rural that there was hardly any crime…
Or if there was, it was probably dealt with within the village.
“How are trials conducted?”
“The Imperial code is the foundation, but the local lord’s discretion also plays a role. Crimes committed in a noble’s domain are judged by that lord, who has the right to do so fairly.”
“It’s a right, not an obligation?”
“Territorial authority is a right, not a duty. Judicial authority is one part of that.”
“What’s the punishment for theft?”
“Stealing goods worth ten gold coins or more can result in the death penalty. If someone kills to steal, it’s a capital crime.”
“Regardless of how many were killed?”
“That’s right. Even killing just one person means you’re sentenced to death in the end.”
“What if they didn’t mean to kill, but someone died anyway?”
“I’m not a records knight, so I don’t know all the case law. But things like horse accidents and robbery wouldn’t be treated the same. There’s no such thing as an ‘accidental robbery’. If you excuse every robber who says they killed by mistake, there’d be no end to it.”
Abel nodded.
“Yeah, that makes sense. In a country I know of, killing one person doesn’t automatically mean the death penalty. In fact, even if they kill two or three, they might still get away with it.”
“Even for robbery?”
“That’s right. Even if they stab someone with a knife, they can still use the excuse that they didn’t mean to kill them.”
“What a barbaric place. I used to think the Empire was the only real country, but I guess such terrible nations do exist. A land of bad laws.”
Abel thought the conversation had gone off track.
“What happens if a criminal isn’t given the death penalty?”
“If it’s a serious crime, the usual punishment is slavery. The criminal is sold to a slave trader, and the money is divided between the victim and the lord.”
“So the victim doesn’t get all of it?”
“That’s right. Catching them costs money too, after all.”
After that exchange, Abel and Ise left the dining hall.
They noticed a crowd of knights and squires gathered in the courtyard and went closer to see what was going on.
It was nothing unusual.
They were the corpses of the bandits.
Stripped of everything, they lay completely naked on the ground.
By examining the wounds, one could tell what had happened and what kinds of attacks had been used.
To the knights, corpses were valuable sources of information.
They debated over things like how a particular sword was used here, or what kind of slash was made there.
Among them was a girl Abel recognized.
A girl named Kashe from the count’s family.
Her dark blue hair came down just above her shoulders.
Her bangs were cut straight across her forehead.
Her eyes were a deep, clear purple, slightly upturned.
Her small lips were rose-pink.
Her nose was slender and well-shaped.
She looked about twelve years old.
She was a beautiful girl, already mature for her age. Almost frighteningly so.
Kashe was questioning a knight.
Abel realized he knew the knight. He had been in the commander’s office.
“This body split clean in half…amazing, isn’t it? What kind of weapon could do this?”
“Most likely the sword of Knight Ise Ark. Remarkable, or rather, terrifying power.”
“That non-human female knight …! She killed all five by herself?”
“Ise is technically mixed blood, so not entirely non-human. And according to yesterday’s report, Squire Abel also took down two of them.”
“What! Which bodies?”
“Well… unless we ask him directly—”
Just then, the knight’s eyes met Abel’s.
“Oh! Lady Kashe. The very man himself is right there.”
The girl named Kashe glared straight at Abel.
—What’s with this kid?
“Hey, Abel!”
She suddenly called him without honorifics.
“Which ones did you kill? Tell me.”
“…That one with the split skull, and the one missing an arm.”
“Hmm. Hey, ceremonial knight, what do you think? Is that impressive?”
“Yes. At a glance, neither body has any other wounds. That means each was struck down with a single decisive blow. Such corpses are rare. Normally, in fierce sword fights, fingers get cut off, faces are scarred, things like that.”
“…Right. That’s what I thought too. Abel!”
“Yes?”
“Weren’t you attacked?”
“I was, but I blocked it.”
“So you were that strong? When you sparred with Brother Lopez, you didn’t seem nearly as strong.”
“It was just luck. I’m weak.”
Kashe’s expression changed instantly.
Suspicion flashed across her face.
“Really? There are plenty of guys who brag all the time, saying how strong they are, even when no one asks. They always come boasting to me. So why don’t you brag, Abel?”
“Because I’m honestly weak.”
“You’ve got kind of a gloomy look. Are you lying to me?”
“Huh? Gloomy look?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a harsh thing to say.”
A man in his fifties, balding at the crown and addressed as the Ceremonial Knight, spoke in a stern tone.
“Squire Abel! That tone is unacceptable when speaking to Lady Kashe Highwand! Correct yourself!”
“Ah. Yes. Sorry.”
Abel hastily bowed his head.
Squires were the lowest rank in the knight order.
But Kashe interjected.
“Stalfon, Abel is a distant relative of our count’s house. That’s what my grandfather said. I’ll let this much slide.”
“What! This Ceremonial Knight Stalfon has heard no such thing!”
“Abel, show him the seal you received with the family crest.”
Abel who was now clearly flustered pulled out the necklace from under his clothes.
The Ceremonial Knight looked at the medal. His face twisted in confusion.
He shook his head.
As if he’d seen something he didn’t want to.
“Abel! You and I are going to spar with swords now!”
Kashe declared it.
She puffed up with pride as she gave the order.
—What is this girl saying now?!
Abel furrowed his brow deeply.
The Ceremonial Knight shouted in protest.
“That will not do, Lady Kashe! You have writing practice now!”
“I did that yesterday! I like swordplay and magic better!”
Kashe was oddly fired up.
“Abel! Let’s go!”
“Squire Abel! Stop Lady Kashe!”
This was that common workplace nightmare: being caught between conflicting orders.
Abel sighed. No matter which side he chose, he’d end up resented by the other.
He’d have to handle this carefully.
“Then let’s do this: we’ll have sword practice and writing practice. Let’s start with the sword now.”
Ceremonial Knight Stalfon reluctantly agreed.
“Ladu Ise. I’m sorry. Things turned out this way.”
“It can’t be helped. There’s a trial at noon. Be at the knights’ headquarters before then. I’ll take care of the paperwork for the trial.”
“Yes.”
Abel, Kashe, and Ceremonial Knight Stalfon left the area.
The many knights and squires who had witnessed the exchange now knew that Abel was a distant relative of a noble house. The news spread instantly.
The place they moved to was one of the several training grounds.
It was outdoors; the ground was packed dirt.
Kashe picked up a wooden sword. Abel decided to use one too.
Facing each other, Kashe took a side stance with her wooden sword.
Her posture was surprisingly solid.
“Here I come!”
With a spirited shout, she lunged with the wooden blade.
Abel twisted his body and knocked the sword aside from the side.
Kashe’s strike was shockingly heavy.
He could feel the magical power burning intensely inside her.
She was enhancing her body with magic.
Which meant, even with a wooden sword, her blows carried enough power to break bones.
Strike after strike followed.
Despite appearances, Kashe was strong.
Each thrust and sweep targeted precisely the most troublesome spots.
Abel forcefully closed the distance and brought it into a sword lock.
He accelerated the whirlpool of magic swirling in his core and poured it into strengthening his body.
Although Kashe was about half a head taller than him, Abel lowered his stance and used brute strength to fling her back in one swift motion.
Kashe who was thrown off balance landed on her rear.
With her purple eyes, she glared up at him in frustration.
“You really are strong, Abel!”
“No, I’m not. I’ve never once beaten my parents.”
“…Magic’s actually my specialty, you know.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
For some reason, Kashe quickly stood up and put some distance between them.
“I’m not losing to some gloomy-looking liar like you!”
Kashe chanted a short spell and conjured a Fire Bullet in her palm.
Stalfon turned pale and shouted in alarm.
“Lady Kashe! You shouldn’t!”
A chill ran down Abel’s spine.
—If that hits, I’ll die!
He remembered Walter’s words about neutralization.
To counter fire magic, one must use either water magic or weather magic.
Abel instantly conjured a Water Wall and poured magic into it.
The Fire Bullet came flying.
It hit the Water Wall and burst into a violent boil.
Steam billowed into the air, but that was all.
The Fire Bullet had been extinguished.
Abel’s Water Wall was thick, and a large amount of water still remained.
Abel used the weather spell Gust to blast the water from the wall straight at Kashe.
It hit with the force of a fire hose from his previous life.
Kashe was knocked off her feet by the powerful stream and tumbled across the ground.
When Abel approached, Kashe was covered in mud. Her once tidy appearance now a complete mess.
Abel smacked her on the head with a closed fist.
“Ow—owww!!”
“You idiot! Who the hell uses a Fire Bullet in training?!”
“How dare you strike me. Know your place!”
Without a word, he landed another punch.
But Kashe glared right back and slapped Abel across the face.
With a loud smack, Abel’s cheek started to sting.
In response, he punched her in the face again.
Kashe, with her face flushed red, lunged at him.
Stalfon shouted furiously as he pulled the two of them apart as they were now locked in a wild scuffle.
“This time, Lady Kashe is the one at fault!”
Stalfon scolded Kashe sternly.
Abel found himself seeing the bald-headed man in a new light; he did seem to have the makings of a teacher.
“If a Fire Bullet hits someone, it can kill. If Squire Abel had reacted even a little slower, he’d have been seriously injured at best. That’s not what we call training.”
“…But Abel wasn’t showing his full strength.”
Kashe pouted as if she was sulking.
Now completely calm, Abel spoke, trying to soothe her.
“For that, I apologize. But I have my reasons. Next time, I’ll face you seriously, so please let it go.”
“Hmph… Show me your face.”
When Abel raised his head, an unrestrained, full-force punch landed square on his cheek.
A brutal blow, enhanced with physical-strengthening magic.
Abel was knocked flat on his back.
“I’ll let you off for today.”
Kashe declared as she looked down at him, full of arrogance.
It was a haughty attitude, more than enough to overwhelm others.
Abel couldn’t help but wonder where she’d learned it.
This must be the noble blood, the makings of a future leader.
Truly terrifying…
Blood was pouring from a cut inside Abel’s mouth, so he healed himself with healing magic.
Kashe watched with a surprised look on her face.
She was also bleeding from the nose thanks to Abel’s punch, so he healed her too.
“Oh! The pain’s gone! Abel, you really can use healing magic!”
“Well, that’s the reason I was called here in the first place.”
While he was at it, he used a warm air-drying spell to quickly dry her soaking wet clothes.
The mud didn’t come off, though.
Her clothes that were probably quite expensive were completely filthy.
“So then, Sir Stalfon. Next is writing practice, right?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
Kashe made a face of deep displeasure.
The academic lesson took place in a room within the main castle.
When Abel who was interested asked to join, he wasn’t turned down.
The subject was the language and script of the human race.
Specifically, it focused on special phrasing used in letters sent to the imperial family.
Apparently, it was an advanced form of honorifics and ornamental language.
Abel recited the highest-level honorifics he had memorized from books, and Stalfon listened intently.
Stalfon’s expression shifted.
“Squire Abel… you may have a gift for languages.”
“Sir Stalfon, I have a question.”
“What is it, squire Abel?”
By now, Stalfon’s expression had softened… if only just a little.
“Rather than foreign countries… can we communicate with beastkin from distant regions?”
“Our language shares similarities with theirs. For the most part, meaning gets across, but the accent is extremely strong, and with clans from some remote borderlands, it may not be understood at all.”
“Can I study it here?”
“There are knights and teachers well-versed in beastkin dialects. If you wish to learn, get permission from your superior. With a proper reason, it should be allowed.
However, Abel, you show promise. First, you should build a broad foundation of learning. It’s too soon to dive straight into a specialty.”
“I understand…”
Kashe, seemingly fired up by rivalry, focused on her studies with unusual concentration that day.
Because of that, Stalfon seemed to form quite a good impression.
As Abel was leaving, he was even told, “You may come again.”
***
Leaving the castle, he headed toward the place where the trial was to be held.
The man within Abel’s core couldn’t help recalling the trial he had once faced in his previous life.
He had killed his father…and been judged by the law.
—In the end, the law never protected me.
One judge had said, “It’s unfortunate, but a crime is still a crime.”
They claimed there had been extenuating circumstances, but if so, shouldn’t I have been acquitted?
I never believed I had done wrong.
Law was nothing more than a tool to maintain society’s order.
It wasn’t something that could ease my suffering.
All it did was brand me a criminal, a failure.
The meaning and worth of my existence, of my actions,
were arrogantly dictated by others….by the standard of the law.
I felt not even a grain of acceptance.
That’s why, this time, I’ll decide my own worth.
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