Rumel’s Messed-Up Trial

This may come as a surprise to you, but I wasn’t stupid enough to go in there without back-up.

I knew I had a slim chance at achieving my goal already, but I had to improve what I could before making a move.

What I needed now was a little time, which was a tall order.

Luckily, though, I beat the riders. While they were still passing through the coastal part of the city, I was already near the castle’s bridge, in the lookout of a nearby church steeple.

I had to manage my time wisely or it would be too late to do anything.

As soon as I got there, I opened the menu. I had to tell Mineruva what had happened. I wat ashamed this was already happening again and I wasn't enough to fix it alone.

But maybe it was okay to not to try doing everything myself.

«Bad things have happened... Rumel’s life is at stake, she’s being falsely accused»

No sooner had I looked at my sent message nervously had I received a reply.

«For the murders, right?»

It surprised me that she knew about it too, asking it so casually. It would’ve felt unfair if I hadn’t known she had definitely gotten those Events notifications that I did, and probably made her own research too.

There was no point in quibbling about our abilities now, it was enough for me to worry about improving my own Master Profile abilities, particularly Voice Access.

«Yes. It’s not even an hour since I found out about this and they're already arresting her! I can’t let her die... She, Adiel, Tara, Lupa, you, this whole world is important to me»

I was too wrapped up in desperation to realize how much of a weight it had taken off my back to finally say that.

And yes, two days ago I didn't feel that way.

Two days ago, I was just a hobby gamedev who was sick of bad game design. But now I had something worth fighting for.

The world that evolved from my NPC System.

«It’s an honor to have you say that. Don’t worry about a thing…»

I then heard a voice behind me.

“Hello, Michio-sama!”

Aahh!

I turned the camera and straight away I saw Mineruva hovering over my head. Same cosplay, same chaotic but helpful energy. She was amazingly fast, but this unexpectedness came at the perfect time.

“Did you find out anything about the murders?”

“I’m afraid so. They really think she did it. They gave a description that matches hers.”

“But we both know that can’t be true.”

“Yep. And I know why,” she explained. “The witnesses were manipulated. Either they were forced to give this description, or it’s something more complicated.”

“What do you mean ‘more complicated’?”

“That the real culprit didn’t force aanyone, but made them think they were seeing Rumel when they looked at them.”

Perception altering…

But then I suddenly stopped to think, and a dark, ominous feeling came over me, giving me shivers. I knew what she was going to say now, and I was hoping that I was wrong.

“Both of these could only be achieved with dark magic.”

My fist clenched.

She said it, and I knew it.

The way Rumel and Adiel realized that the Comfrey was missing was more than enough. From that moment on, the picture of the thief / murderer in my mind was complete, and now I had one hundred percent proof of the Birdman.

What’s more, he was out to destroy Rumel himself, to use her to cover his tracks.

I’d bet anything that if someone else had the same medicine, the Birdman would’ve stolen it and framed them too.

I just needed to know why.

“This is just one more reason to clear her name and find out who’s behind this. It’s not the Empire protecting you guys, it's me, and I won’t let them hurt you.”

Mineruva let out an eager, slightly mischievous smile. “Can’t agree more. Let’s hear your plan.”

I told her idea after idea what I’d come up with. I calculated our weaknesses and strengths. But what Mineruva understood clearly though, was that she was our trump card—what that meant was that we had to play her abilities carefully.

Mine too, as I couldn’t imagine what would happen if the levels of my Voice Access skyrocketed and I could control anybody like zombies or something. It was just that with only my words, I was in a bigger disadvantage than her.

“So ultimately there are several ideas at play,” I summed up. “I need to talk to the people there, convince them. Hopefully I can brush up on my skills in the process. Even if only a few people ask to hold off on the verdict, the plan would succeed.”

“And then, wherever they’ll take her, I’ll be able to get her out and cover our tracks so no one knows where she's gone,” Mineruva said. “I’ll enhance Ente & Ovia with shielding runes to keep dark magic and malign forces away."

Contrary to all those plans made in action movies or anime, we had to give up on ideal success, meaning the court deeming Rumel innocent against those ‘real’ evidences.

We would succeed already if we could buy time to avoid having to rescue her in front of hundreds of people.

That would be a true divine revelation. Believe me, as a distinguished deity myself, I’d love nothing more than to strike fear to those who did this to her.

This was nice and all, but it would make things more serious if something went wrong.

If no one listens and Rumel is sentenced, she’ll be executed on the spot.

My voice shook just thinking about it.

“If... Nothing will work, we’ll have to get her out of there right away.”

Mineruva stepped closer, her voice quieter.

“You’re afraid of putting me in danger by letting people see me? That of who I am?”

I nodded. She then sat up next to me on the railing of the lookout, unfazed.

“I’m thankful that you think of everything first, no matter how little chance or assets we have, rather than expose me to even a small danger. That’s how you think of Rumel and everyone else too. But don’t you worry…”

Okay, she definitely had a plan on her own.

“If everything fails and there are no more ideas, I’ll do it gladly. Fly in, get her, and if people won’t like it, we’ll deal with it. But I do have ideas up my sleeve that we could use before that. I’ll cause a few unwanted surprises while you’re in there.”

She was now holding something in her hand that wasn’t there before—a strange, pendant-like jewel, definitely something magical. It consisted of rings of gold and jade, enclosing a pearl glowing bright blue.

“What’s—”

I couldn’t even began asking questions when she already was talking about it happily, reading my thoughts.

“A nice little artifact from Mido. I’ve been testing out what it could do, but now’s the time for the first big test. Don’t be surprised if you see something unbelievable in there, it’s all part of the performance.”

“Uh, okay?”

◆ ◆ ◆

I held my breath as we finally reached the Imperial Court’s chamber. Rumel was still in the knights’ grip, while I took a few seconds to survey what we were up against from a slightly higher view.

The courtroom had a wide, mostly empty floor and four balconies above. We were on the floor along with all the knights—including Lupa. The rest of the spectators were above us.

In front, on high and ornate pedestals, were empty chairs. Just then, the judges and jurors who had been outside filed in and took their seats there.

Okay, this is no longer a debate, but a full-on show, and the audience is on pins and needles to see it unfold.

Magne stood out from the crowd. His expression was that of someone who calmly watches chaos, waiting to see what would happen next. He was one of the few who didn’t speak to anyone.

The thought of trying to convince him too made my patience fall apart.

Before the chamber went silent, I gave Rumel one last surge of strength. She was very brave, but even with the large room and the attention, it was hard not to shake.

“I’ll stay here with you. It will be hard, but they will ask you many questions. Answer them honestly, even if they don’t like it!”

She clenched her fists and gave me a barely visible nod, but I could still see the tremor in her shoulders.

“W-Who are you? Why d-do I hear you?”

Well, I’m in trouble now.

I couldn’t tell her that I was supposed to be a divine being. I may have had higher abilities, but it hadn’t gone to my head.

I was using it to help others, not to be a god.

“My name is Michio Hiroki. You might not see me yet, but I’m just like you. I use magic, that’s how I’m talking to you. A friend and I are working to find out who committed the murders. And we know it wasn’t you.”

“M-Michio... You...”

“Please, don’t make them think you’re talking to yourself. They’ll only think worse of you. I promise we’ll explain everything in a due time, but this really isn't a good one to do that.”

“Understood, sorry.”

“All right.”

I flew back up just as the crowd’s whispers and remarks finally stopped. I had about a minute to report to Mineruva.

«I’m in. Rumel’s here too. I could talk to her, calm her down a bit»

«Great. I’m in position as well»

«Okay, I’ll write as soon as this first part of the plan fails or succeeds»

«Good luck!»

«Thanks»

◆ ◆ ◆

As I closed the menu and messages, a judge stood up to speak.

He was a tall, long-faced man with black hair and a tired expression. Beside him, the others passed a carefully wrapped and sealed scroll from one to the other until it reached his hand.

He carefully opened the seal and read the scroll.

“Our Imperial Court is assembled this day to deliver judgment upon a serious and unprecedented crime. Though, in the presence of our credible evidence, we shall be brief.”

That’s what I feared. I had some hope that the evidence would be discussed.

This made it crystal clear what was the first step I had to make.

Also, I barely remembered most of my history lessons back in school, but I knew the defendants didn’t really have lawyers thousands of years ago when castles and Senates existed.

Nobody here seemed to stand up for Rumel besides us.

“Present at this meeting are highest-ranking body of the Senate—the Consuls and Senators. And from the court, myself the Judge Supreme and my associate judges, and the Areopagus—the jury. We shall begin.”

The man, finishing the read-aloud, put the scroll down and turned to address the knights who were guarding the culprit.

“You two were the ones lucky enough to capture the girl, for which you will be rewarded.”

I didn't even need to look, I knew the redhead and silver-haired one were all smiles of gratitude and pride.

“And you, girl, shall speak your name before the Imperial Court!”

She looked up cautiously, and, in a soft voice, said her name.

“Rumel Da Rue.”

The judge nodded and sat back down, continuing.

“Right, Rumel. Your charges are as follows: murder of three important members of the Senate, conspiracy with our nation’s enemy, the North, espionage, and incitement to war. All in all, the charge is the utmost betrayal of the Tessalian Empire.”

There was a part where I couldn’t follow.

What war with the North was he even talking about? How was any of this relevant?

Wait... am I missing something?!

“In the presence of the judges, jury, and witnesses, do you acknowledge your crimes, whereby we may impose upon you the highest sentence?”

I held my breath. What Rumel said and how she said it were very important.

Let’s face it, I was her best chance for a lawyer. However, I couldn’t put every word in her mouth.

I couldn’t manipulate her, only plant thoughts in her head with Voice Access.

She had to stand her ground, and I knew very well she could.

“I won’t,” Rumel replied, her voice trembling but honest.

A few whispers and chuckles stirred through the audience. But on the pedestals, the other judges were given permission to speak.

“What do you mean? What’s the point of denying it when everything points to you?”

“You’re a medicine maker, aren’t you? That’s practically a poisoner!”

They leaned closer to her as if she wasn’t even there, their eyes narrow.

“I work in a tavern... I make tea on the side for people who are sick. But a dangerous medicine was stolen from me... Comfrey, which is perfect for—”

One of the judges slammed his palm against his desk, cutting her off.

“Who would ever steal from the likes of you? This is ridiculous!”

The others chimed in with satisfaction.

“Stealing from a medicine maker! What’s next, should we hire the stable boys as Consuls? Interrogate the last cleaner working in your tavern?”

“You should!” she shouted back, though staggering with her feelings. “They know I don't tell lies!”

“Probably all of you there are good at telling the same lie!”

“The evidence doesn’t lie!”

That evidence again…

They continued on as I quickly moved over to the pedestals. If I couldn’t talk to everyone at once, it was best to start with these bunch.

“Perhaps you would all do better to take stock of that precious evidence. If she's telling the truth, then someone is fooling your beloved court right now.”

The judges then seemed to lose focus a little. They must’ve felt dizzy, just like when I tried to speak to one of the knights.

It was strange that it worked differently for everyone, but I think I figured out why.

Not only were people able to ignore what I was saying, but they could fight it on some level, unconsciously.

Someone had a higher resistance to it, especially the knights because they were trained to follow orders without question. Others had low resistance, like Rumel, Tara or any ordinary person.

As I guessed, my words weren’t ignored.

The laughs died down—there were questions now.

“Judge Supreme... shouldn’t we take a look at the letters?”

The letters?

Ugh, I meant witnesses, damn it!

How does a couple of threatening letters help Rumel?

Threatening... letters... war... Oh, hell no!

“Why yes, it may be of use to do so.”

Soon he had the three letters in his hand and was studying them. The words were written on torn parchment in a crude handwriting, in the language of the North, which I couldn't read.

“One less head on the stake that would’ve been the jewel of our tribes. The rest of the South won’t have this mercy. Their cities stand on our land without right. Our spies make sure we know what goes on inside. Their walls will burn to ash by our fires.”

It wasn’t a ruse, but a true war cry...

I tuned out as he rambled about where the letters were found, since I already knew and didn’t care.

An actual war was brewing in this world if this was true, and everyone I knew here was caught in the middle of it.

I couldn’t take this lightly. I’ve never thought I was going to solve anything so easily, which is why Mineruva and I gave up on convincing the Court of Rumel’s innocence completely. We couldn’t, we didn’t know enough to do it.

But even now, we didn’t know enough! If we had, it wouldn’t have been a cold shock that Rumel was falsely involved in a literal war crime, and won’t accomplish much by denying it!

“You placed these letters after you killed the three Consuls, enough with your little tales and lies!”

“I did not!”

We weren’t going anywhere.

This was nothing but a spectacle—a public thrill-show where the audience could gleefully see someone prosecuted without a chance to defend themselves.

A rigged game.

I felt myself shrinking at that point, and I knew Rumel felt the same way as people looked so down at her that she had no room to think.

Not only was the accusation unfair, but so was the treatment. The North may have declared war, yet these idiot NPCs couldn’t see that it’s not a falsely accused girl who should be punished for it!

It was that dark magic using Birdman!

«Mineruva, the charge isn’t just three murders. The North sent the letters as a declaration of war against the Empire»

Being directly above the pedestals, I had a good view of both floors in the room.

On the balconies, everyone was equally oblivious, but on the ground floor, a few meters behind Rumel, something caught my eyes.

It was Lupa.

The knights’ commander wasn’t doing well. Her hands were trembling, gripping her sword, never taking her eyes off the judges and the culprit.

Her cheeks were slightly red, sheding a few tears even.

“Lupa, you too?”

A look of shock came over her face, then she turned away and wiped her face so nobody would notice. But the worry remained,

She had doubts.

Mineruva had already replied. It was only a moment, and I had been looking at that face for what seemed like hours.

«We can stop any war if we have to, Michio-sama. What matters right now is how’s Rumel doing?»

«She’s defending herself, but can’t prove the truth and neither can we. This isn’t my world, the courts here are bloody clown college»

«Right. Any change of plans?»

Now that was a very good question.

My next move was to address everyone in this room. I would’ve had the chance now, as it wouldn’t have been hard to do so from up here, but I hesitated.

What if it wouldn't work?

Again, the possibilities crept into my mind. Maybe they won’t even hear me, but if they do, they might get suspicious and think that the North’s spies are trying to sabotage the trial.

It wasn’t worth the effort.

Yet I had to keep my focus. It was very ironic that the Leclaire World Navigator only ever gave me the full picture. I was seeing that full picture now too, thinking that I should try talking to everyone.

But what if I concentrated to one thing only? What if the solution was talking to one person alone?

«A minor change, but it won’t matter. I’ll let you know when you could use that jewel»

«Roger!»

With that, I launched forward, passing over the heads of the knights, and came face to face with Lupa.

“Can you hear me now?”