At noon, Abel went to the knights’ headquarters, where a sort of outdoor courtroom had been set up.
It was nothing more than some chairs and desks arranged in rows.
For some reason, the girl named Kashe from the Highwand family also showed up later.
Perhaps her lessons had ended and she was free.
Lopez was seated in the position of a judge.
To his right was Monke.
There were also senior members of the knight order and the ceremonial chief knight, Stalfon.
Ise sat in a chair that had been prepared at the far end.
Il Hyden, the knight who had fought earlier, was also there, looking utterly bored.
And it was no wonder… in the actual robbery incident, all he did was help clean up the corpses.
He had almost nothing to testify about.
It seemed his attendance was merely formal.
Since there was no chair for Abel, he decided to stand off to the side.
Around two hundred knights and squires had gathered to watch.
They seemed to have come out of curiosity, creating a slightly festive atmosphere.
Eventually, the four captured bandits were brought in.
Perhaps they had been tortured. Their faces were deformed, swollen red and black.
Their faces were smeared with things like nosebleeds.
The male werewolf was seriously wounded and could barely walk. He kept stumbling with every step.
Abel was actually impressed that he could even walk in that condition.
Once preparations were complete, Lopez made a booming announcement.
“We will now begin the trial. As Lord Barth Highwand and his son Lord Berle are absent, I, Lopez Highwand, will preside in their place.”
From what Abel could see, even though they called it a trial, there were no lawyers present.
An elderly knight named Pourette Wise, the head of the criminal investigation unit, read aloud the confessions.
The leader of the bandits was a man named Gordo, who had a brutal, savage face just as one would expect.
Now thirty years old, he confessed to committing thirteen armed robberies within the Highwand territory. Or at least, these were the ones he could remember.
He had also killed six people.
From the way Gordo spoke, it seemed he had killed more than ten others as well.
He had also kidnapped five people and sold them to slave traders.
The total amount of money stolen was about twenty gold coins.
He was more than enough of a villain.
Even the human accomplices had committed murder.
Surprisingly, the werewolf claimed that this robbery had been his first job.
He said he had never killed anyone and that he had joined the bandit group out of sheer hunger and desperation.
There was no proof of his innocence, but at the same time, no confirmed harm caused by him either.
Gordo was hurling foul insults at the werewolf.
According to him, “We got caught because that guy lost!”….that was his logic.
The trial proceeded matter-of-factly.
The names and hometowns of the accomplices were read aloud.
Once the formalities were completed, Lopez promptly delivered the verdict.
“Gordo and the three human accomplices are sentenced to death. The werewolf will be sentenced to slavery.”
It was a death sentence handed down with almost shocking ease.
And there was no second or third trial. This single session sealed their fates.
Though it was called a verdict, it seemed the records knight had simply looked up similar past cases and copied the precedent.
Gordo suddenly panicked and screamed desperately.
“Wait! I was told that if I cooperated when I got caught, I wouldn’t be executed! You’re a knight…don’t lie! Keep your promise!”
Lopez frowned.
“Ise! Did you say something like that?”
“It was my squire, Abel, who gave him that advice. It’s true that he persuaded him by saying he might avoid execution. However, he never said he wouldn’t be executed. His response was appropriate.”
Lopez and Monke began whispering to each other.
Surprisingly, it took a while.
As Abel narrowed his eyes to observe them, Monke’s sly-looking face twisted into an evil grin.
Lopez nodded several times.
Then, turning toward Abel, he spoke in a stern, commanding tone.
“Squire Abel. Step forward.”
— Ugh!
Me…? What the hell…?
Feeling quite anxious inside, Abel hurried forward in a fluster.
“What do you believe is the essence of a knight’s code?”
He was suddenly asked something completely incomprehensible.
Still, he had to answer quickly.
Thinking of Walter, he decided to give a suitable response.
“Yes. To possess virtue, aid the weak, and act with fairness.”
Several of the senior knights nodded.
Stalfon was among them.
However, Lopez replied coldly.
“A reasonable answer, but I’ll ask again. Then why would you say something like ‘you might not be executed’ to a criminal? A knight is a being of martial resolve. Matters are not settled with mere words. Making vague promises is not an act of fairness.”
“Yes, Sir Lopez. That was because there was a hostage at the scene. I was trying to resolve things peacefully and avoid casualties.”
Lopez shouted, with veins bulging on his forehead.
“A knight is defined by his actions!”
“Um, I’m a squire, though.”
“You may be a squire, but your behavior has brought shame to the knighthood. If you keep making excuses, I’ll beat honor into you myself!”
Abel couldn’t make sense of it, but Lopez was getting increasingly fired up for some reason.
Far more terrifying than the criminal, Lopez’s furious presence left Abel speechless.
If this brute hit him seriously, it wouldn’t just end in serious injury.
He might actually get killed…
It was the same with the Kashe incident. These nobles of the Highwand family were utterly deranged and knew nothing of holding back.
“Therefore, I hereby order the accused Gordo and squire Abel to duel.”
—Huh? This is a totally out-of-nowhere twist…
A calm voice came from Ise.
“Vice-Captain Lopez Highwand. I, Knight Ise Ark, have a request.”
“What is it?”
“The failure of Squire Abel is my failure. Please allow me to carry out the punishment.”
“I refuse. A squire must answer for a squire’s actions. Besides, Abel is employed by the castle. The authority lies with us. Prepare yourself.”
The surrounding knights and squires murmured in shock.
When Abel glanced at their faces, some were clearly amused, while others looked suspicious.
—Yeah… this is basically bullying.
A surge of intense irritation began rising within him.
He felt like he was on the verge of snapping.
No matter was the circumstances were, why did he have to fight a criminal like this?
Abel had no choice but to speak to Lopez.
“Sir Lopez. I accept the duel. However, it makes no sense for me to fight on equal terms with a criminal. He’s not even worth facing properly. I ask that you not permit him to be armed.”
“How many times must I tell you! A knight must always let arms decide! Do not concern yourself with your opponent’s weaponry!”
The ropes binding the bandit called Gordo were untied.
He twisted his lips into a vicious grin at the unexpected turn of events.
At a command from Monke, a greatsword was thrown down before Gordo.
He snatched it up quickly.
Then, with seething hatred, he fixed his glare on Abel.
At once, Lopez declared,
“The duel begins!”
A sharp voice rang out from Kashe.
“Abel! Don’t you dare lose to such a criminal!”
Like a cornered beast launching one final, ferocious strike, Gordo swung his blade and charged with a roar.
“Oaaahhhhhh!”
Killing intent and rage ignited in Abel’s mind, burning like fire.
He focused intensely on the image of the water spell “Ice Spear”.
Right before his eyes, a sharp spear of ice, about the size of a forearm, formed.
He immediately launched it.
The ice spear pierced Gordo squarely in the gut.
“Ghh…!”
Gordo staggered as he ran and kept wobbling unsteadily.
Blood dripped from the icy spear.
Abel drew his sword, rushed forward, and without hesitation brought it down from overhead.
Offensive Sword Style. Direct Downward Cut.
He aligned the blade at a perfect right angle to his enemy’s body and cut straight down.
That alone produced immense power.
A wet splatter, like water thrown across the ground.
The blade bit in from the shoulder, severed an arm, and then split down through half the torso.
It was a terrifyingly precise strike that froze those who witnessed it.
The lifeless body collapsed.
A chorus of voices rose.
Abel, who was still in a state of high tension, panted heavily.
Ise rose from her seat, then swiftly decapitated the condemned criminal who had been sentenced and was still bound.
The head spun through the air.
Blood sprayed in a fine mist.
When the Knight Stalfon shouted, “Squire Abel, your martial prowess is splendid!” applause broke out.
The trial had ended.
***
The corpse was quickly cleared away by the squires.
It was roughly placed onto a wooden board and taken away somewhere.
Lopez and Monke, who had orchestrated this whole affair with more than just a hint of malice, said nothing and quickly left.
Kashe seemed reluctant to go, but was forcibly taken back to the main castle.
Abel noticed something that caught his attention.
A dying werewolf was being crammed into a small box.
Several men were trying to carry it off, treating it like luggage.
“Um, excuse me.”
“What is it? Oh, you’re that squire from earlier.”
“What are you going to do with that werewolf?”
“This one? He’s mine. The slave trader Bonds bought him.”
The bearded man, around forty and overweight, spoke with pride.
Despite being a slave trader, he looked like an ordinary merchant.
“He’s on the verge of death, isn’t he?”
“Pretty much. That’s why I haggled him down and bought him. Ninety copper coins.”
“And after that?”
“Fur.”
The slave trader said it casually, as if it were nothing.
“Mister Merchant. That werewolf wasn’t sentenced to death, right? But this is basically a death sentence, isn’t it?”
For the first time, the middle-aged man gave a wicked smile, one that suited a true slave trader.
Abel realized this must be his true nature.
“Well, yeah. Just a damned marked non-human. What else would you expect?”
“…Then how about selling him to me for two silver coins?”
Two silver coins were equivalent to two hundred copper coins. It was double the price.
Bonds twisted his beard and thought it over.
“Five silver coins.”
Without hesitation, Abel pulled five silver coins from his pocket.
He handed them over silently.
“You’re a strange one.”
Bonds muttered as he left the dying werewolf behind.
Abel immediately placed his glowing white palm over the werewolf’s wound.
Before their eyes, the gash that was severed all the way to the collarbone closed up completely.
The hairy werewolf opened his eyes in surprise.
“Wh-Why’d ya go and save someone like me?”
The werewolf spoke with a heavy rural accent.
“A death sentence without any proof is too much. But if you were lying about what happened, I’ll be the one to kill you next time.”
“N-No, I ain’t lyin’! I swear, it was my first time doin’ anything bad! They gave me food, so I couldn’t say no!”
“Lady Ise. This is fine, right?”
“Whether it’s fine or not, that’s something you should decide for yourself.”
“…Yeah, fair point.”
Ise, who normally wore an emotionless expression, spoke with a strangely gentle tone.
“Abel. You’re surprisingly kind. I thought you were more of a cold-blooded type.”
“Not really… I’m not some good guy or anything. My father’s name is Walter. You met him once, right? Maybe it’s his influence.”
“I see. That makes sense. A parent is a big influence on a child. So, what do you plan to do with that werewolf slave now?”
“What do you mean, ‘do with him’?”
“He’s your property now, isn’t he?”
The werewolf had become a slave due to his crime.
Since Abel was now the owner, it was entirely up to him what happened next.
Abel addressed the werewolf bluntly.
“You’re free to go.”
“Can’t do that! I gotta repay the favor!”
There was something about the werewolf’s big, round eyes that were suddenly brimming with loyalty that made it hard to deal with him.
“I’m seriously just too tired today… I had a duel, I studied… What even is my life right now… Lady Ise, what’s next for today?”
“There’s nothing scheduled.”
“Then… can I rest in our room?”
Ise nodded quietly.
Abel headed straight for the room in the gloomy, sunless building.
He slipped into Ise’s bed.
It smelled strangely good.
A sweet, lingering scent. Like a girl’s.
—What the hell is going on?
Since becoming a squire, I’m just constantly exhausted.
This is a black company.
I’m gonna die from overwork again.
Ise watched over Abel as he slept soundly.
Her red eyes were softer than ever before…
***
Kashe returned to the castle, washed herself in the bath, and then sat down at the dining table for dinner.
She sat alone at a large table that could seat about twenty people.
Neither her father nor her grandfather was present.
Her two older brothers were always together and rarely ate meals with her.
Perhaps because they had different mothers, their relationship wasn’t good.
And with a significant age gap between them, they had nothing in common to talk about.
Even when eating a luxurious dinner alone, it didn’t taste particularly good.
What kept coming to mind was Abel.
He was a boy who carried a certain shadow about him.
His features weren’t bad, but there was a sense of gloom surrounding him.
He was polite, yet somehow gave the impression that he could see right through her.
Kache had a thought.
Abel wasn’t like a child.
That’s it.
He didn’t seem like a child at all.
He must’ve received quite an education.
His father was named Walter Ray, wasn’t he?
Who is that?
She was curious.
Come to think of it, he was apparently only ten years old…so where does that strength come from?
Someone older like her losing to him was simply unacceptable.
That’s right.
Tomorrow, she would invite him to train again!
With that thought in mind, Kache smiled brightly at the large, empty table.
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