Judgment Without Escape

Kaminari and his partners went into the lead, but Sumire escaped towards the supreme court.

Sumire flew straight up. “Woah, where am I? Oh, I got lost?” she blinked, then noticed the large structure beneath her. “It’s a court-type thing. Now I think I can find them.”

She decided to fly westward, enjoying the peaceful and rich energy of the city, even from the air.

“Wow! It’s so big,” she said, stopping in front of a massive building flying the nation's flag. “It’s the biggest building after the castle. I’ve got to visit it.”

She flew fast, entered through a window between floors, and looked down.

“Huh!? The interior is huge. Is this really written in this?!” she gasped, sensing the courtroom. “I’m not supposed to be here. But if I return now, I’ll be noticed.”

She glanced around while flying inside.

“It is so huge!” She noticed a tremendous aura and turned toward the large table. “That must be the Supreme Judge Raizen told us about. He’s radiating faint yet dense aura!”

Near the Supreme Judge’s table, another woman—the assistant—suddenly reacted to Sumire’s holy aura.

The Judge turned his eyes calmly. “What’s the matter? To have your equilibrium so readily disrupted by a transient presence—clearly, your faculties of concentration are yet woefully untampered.”

“No, my lord,” the assistant replied. “It’s weird. I sensed something for a second. Sorry, it must be my vision.”

Sumire quickly hid behind a pillar, but the assistant caught a glimpse of her leg as she ducked.

“Hm?!” The assistant looked around sharply. Sumire quickly shifted position behind another pillar.

“That was close,” Sumire whispered to herself. “So she’s his assistant.”

“My lord, have mercy upon me,” the assistant said, “but I intend to investigate a matter. May I?”

“Affirmatively. Your demeanour borders on turbulent impropriety—excuse yourself from my presence at once,” the Judge replied. The assistant walked toward the hallway.

“Thank you, my lord,” she said and exited.

Sumire peeked again. “She’s gone. Let’s see… they’re the supreme judge and staff. It seems like it’s a visitor’s place when there’s no active case.” She landed and began to wander.

She came across two doors. The right one bore a sign: “Staff Only.”

“Hmm…” She folded her arms and pointed to both. “Now, which door should I choose? Maybe the ‘Staff Only’ one.”

As if on cue, the door opened by itself.

“Opened by itself?” Sumire frowned and stepped inside. The door closed behind her.

Golden light illuminated the hallway. She walked past two bookshelves and glanced at the darkness ahead.

“Are you really putting darkness in front of a light user?” She infused her fist with bright light. “Let’s see. A bookshelf… another bookshelf…” She passed two doors. “A cupboard.”

The cupboard’s door creaked open on its own.

“Huh? What was that?” Sumire peered inside. There were several pictures—one of a man with long red hair staring forward. A red ‘X’ mark was slashed over it.

“What is this? What does this red cross indicate?” The picture suddenly cracked on its own.

“Wait, what’s happening?!” She dropped it and bolted forward. “Something is definitely going wrong here.”

A book dropped from a shelf: Why is the Next Land Mostly Water?

“Is this paranormal activity?”

She heard a door creak open. Startled, she looked behind her—but saw nothing.

“I should go ahead, but stay on guard,” she whispered.

As she walked, she heard odd noises from above. She glanced at a lantern—it reflected her light.

“Hmm. I think there’s definitely someone there.”

She noticed a corridor to her left and turned in.

A faint light emanated from a door far ahead.

“This court sure is huge. It’s better if I don’t open unnecessary doors,” she muttered.

Approaching the door, she saw a jail near it—two skeletons chained to the wall.

The door read: Execution Room.

“What? Do they execute criminals here?”

She turned back and saw the skeletons—staring directly at her.

Startled, she ran full speed back out of the ‘Staff Only’ basement.

“That right door was a paranormal room,” she said breathlessly.

She quietly moved toward the left side, avoiding the Judge’s attention.

The Judge, deep in thought, murmured to himself, “The proliferation of aura users in recent times suggests, I presume, that Kuroshin-sama’s interpretation of justice has ultimately prevailed.”

Sumire opened the left-side door.

“Huh? A school?” she said, stepping in. “Let’s see… I think it’s a law school. Well, it’s a court, after all.”

“Welcome to the Kuroshima Central Law Academy,” a student greeted. “I can show you the whole school.”

“Ah, I’ll pass,” Sumire said politely, showing her palms. “You see, I want to meet someone. Bye!” She turned and left.

“Hello!” a teacher called. “Are you a new teacher?”

“Nope. I’m a visitor here from the Yellow Zone.”

“I see. Then you must explore the school,” the teacher replied. “We have two huge classes with eighty students, fourteen teachers, and of course the principal—Judge-sama.”

She pointed out various locations.

“You see that door? Only teachers and staff are allowed to pass there, so I can’t show you inside.”

“Now, now, don’t worry. I don’t want to see it,” Sumire smiled. “After all, I’m a visitor.”

During the teacher’s lunch break in the garden, Sumire slipped into the class unnoticed.

“Madam, will you have lunch?” a student asked.

“I already had lunch. Thanks for asking,” she said kindly, walking through as though she belonged.

Back in the basement again.

“Huh? It’s dark again,” she muttered. “Don’t tell me it’s that way again.”

She walked peacefully, climbing the stairs. Opening a door, she found herself back in the familiar room.

She sighed. “I’m going back.”

But then, she noticed a glowing red mark at the end of a hallway—the symbol of Kuroshin.

“Well, this got my interest,” she said, stepping toward it.

A footstep echoed behind her.

“Who’s there again? If you don’t respond, I’ll blow up this place.”

In an instant, tight threads bound her wrists.

“Whoever you are, intruder,” came a stern voice, “state your business here.”

Sumire remained silent, her expression turning serious.

“You have divine aura. Then I assume you wanted to raid Kuroshima Court,” the assistant said coldly. “Now you shall be presented before the Supreme Judge.”

She led Sumire forward.

“My lord,” the assistant announced, “she’s the reason I disturbed you. She’s a divine power user. I don’t know the reason for her presence.”

“Unbind her from those threads of constraint,” the Judge intoned, his voice cold and ceremonious as he reached for his hammer and the thick tome inscribed Laws.

Sumire was sweating. (What should I do now? He’s someone directly under Kuroshin.)

The Judge’s voice boomed with eloquent wrath.

“How dare you trespass into the domain of the Land of Justice with your fake horns? Your guilt shall not be forgiven.”

He opened his book—bright red aura flared out.

Sumire’s surroundings went pitch black. Her five senses disconnected.

Only one thing remained—

The glowing eyes of the Judge, floating in the dark.

Sumire shivered. Sweat beaded down her cheek.

—To be continued