Not Guilty

I sat on the chair, with my ankles bound to its legs. A handful of guards surrounds me—their weapons at the ready in case I try to escape—not like I could even if I try.

A judge asks me a question.

“First of all, what is your name?

I should just introduce myself normally.

“My name is Naoki Kusunoki.”

“What house do you belong to? Judging by your clothing, you must belong to one.” A follow-up question is asked.

House? What does that mean? Like House of something-something like in those medieval tv shows? And also, my clothes? I guess Arin really got me expensive clothing if wearing this suggests I am an aristocrat or something.

“Forgive me, but I am part of no house. The clothing on my person is gifted to me by Lord Arin.”

“What do you mean exactly by your statement earlier, “I have only been to these lands recently””? Asked another judge.

I can’t tell them that I came from another world. Not like they’d believe me anyway. I think I have to stretch the truth a bit.

“I hail from a nation located in the far east—Japan is its name.”

Saying this is a huge gamble. During my studies, I’ve read a book. In it is a map of the entire world. There weren’t any major nations or countries to the east of Eldergrove but, the book seemed quite old though so it may be outdated.

For all I know, every nook and crevice of this world have already been explored and mapped since then.

“Hmm… Where is that located exactly? This is the first time I’m hearing of it.” A judge says—the others asks the same question.

It seems I can use this to my advantage.

“There is nothing near it. This is due to it being an island nation located so far east that it sits at the world’s end.” I proudly lied through my teeth.

“Describe to us what this “Japan” nation is. Us elves have walked this world for several millennia and we have never heard of such a place.”

They’re on to me… I have to go all out on this next one.

“Us Japanese people are very conservative and tend to distance ourselves from the issues outside. As the nation’s newly ordained king, I set out to the lands west of us—the central lands—to make alliances with the other races. That was my mission until I stumbled upon Eldergrove forest where my chance encounter with Princess Rhiannon and Elzara left me within an inch of my life. Thankfully, Lord Arin saved me and nursed me back to health.”

The latter half of my speech is mostly the truth. I’ve heard from someone in the internet that to become a good liar, you have to mix the truth with the lies. That way, it muddies the waters and it makes it significantly harder to discern the facts.

“I see… We were told by Advisor Elzara that you are part of the Knights of the Sacred Flame—the group that kidnapped Princess Thalia.”

“He is! He’s lying, I tell you!” Elzara squeaked pathetically.

To think that he’s an advisor to the king and yet, knowledge and wisdom escapes him.

“How come you are alone? Where are your brethren? I have never heard of a king with no subjects.” Another question is casted.

It’s a fair question. No sane monarch would traverse dangerous waters and lands all alone. I have to come up with something…

“As I said earlier, we Japanese are conservative people. My petition to form alliances is rejected by my court of wisemen—saying that nothing good would come out of it, and that I’m young and immature to know the repercussions. I set to travel alone in the hopes to prove to them that I am dependable and worthy of my status as King.”

Hopefully, this suffices as an answer. It still feels way too out there to be believable.

“Hmm… well then, let me ask you a question.” Another judge joins the fray.

“If you are a Japanese, then how come you look just like these humans.”

A Japanese? Crap. They must think that Japanese is another race. But would that be to my advantage? Maybe their contempt towards me would lessen if that’s the case. I should just leave that as is.

“Yes, I was surprised as well when I saw humans for the first time but that is merely coincidence. Much like how humans look like elves as well—just without the pointy ears.”

“How dare you! You dare compare us esteemed elves to the likes of these… humans?! Heresy! Guards, execute this charlatan!” Elzara screamed—his face red from rage.

The guards doesn’t seem to respond to his order this time. I guess he doesn’t have the authority to order something like that.

“Advisor Elzara, please calm yourself. We are speaking with a king here. I think it’s best if we make good relations with them.” A judge cut in.

Fantastic! It seems they’ve accepted my lie. If I get out of this, I’ll just try to make some excuse like how Elzara’s treatment of me made me not want to form an alliance with elves… or something like that.

Elzara starts whispering to the king again—everybody else in the room, especially those clearing the bodies, have stopped whatever it is they’re doing. Just what is he plotting now.

After a while of back and forth whispering from the two at the top, the king slowly stands up from his throne.

“I have… made my judge…ment. I sentence… Naoki Kusu…noki to… death!”

What?! What’s the point of all this if the king is just going to make his own decisions. I look at the judges and I notice a trace of melancholy on their faces. It seems, they can’t say no to their king.

The guards who have been clearing out the bodies immediately approach me, completely passing the still-alive and current person in the chopping block, the captain. Quite unfair if you ask me.

I struggle out of my bindings—trying to wriggle my legs around hoping to loosen the rope. Unfortunately, all my erratic moving led to the chair falling over and me along with it.

“Goddamnit!” I could only curse in my current predicament. I’m so close in getting myself free!

At the other end of the room, near the door, a loud boom echoed—an explosion of some sorts.

Several men entered the room—swords on their hands. They immediately strike at the stunned elven guards that are protecting the room.

“What the?!” Cried one of the elven guards.

“How did they get here?!” Whined the other.

A bloody battle ensues, with both sides suffering heavy casualties—a byproduct of war.

I look closely at the assailants and notice an insignia plastered on their armors. It’s one of the first things that I’ve seen when I arrived to this world.

It’s the Knights of the Sacred Flame!

It seems that the captain wasn’t lying. Luckily for him, that Elzara delayed his execution. His men still have someone to bring back home.

The elven guards are at a disadvantage. I’m no expert on the matter but I remember my lessons with Felaris vividly. He mentioned that elves tend to support close quarters combat with offensive magic from the back. Since they’re in an enclosed space, they can’t cast any supporting magic at all without damaging their own structures.

It’s understandable for the elves to lay their lives here though. They have a vow to protect their king, after all.

I look up towards the king just to see him and that snake already gone. There must be some kind of hidden door that they escaped to.

The judges are still there though—they have nowhere else to run.

The battle merely lasted about ten minutes to a human victory. Some of the knights went past me to get to the captain who’s still lackadaisical in his position.

“Captain Lipton! Am I glad to see you.” A knight uttered as he removes the captain from his binds.

So his name is Lipton. He must be a big deal within the knights’ order if he’s getting this whole rescue operation.

I finally got out of my bindings but, unfortunately, I seem to have gotten the attention of everybody else in the room. A couple of soldiers come close to me—swords at the ready.

Why are they coming after me now? Don’t they see I’m human like them?

I raise my hand in surrender but it doesn’t seem like it means the same thing here as it did back home since they still crept up to me.

“Uhm, hey there boys… Mind putting down that sword of yours? It’s making me really nervous.” I clumsily said as if I’m imitating somebody.

It had little to no effect as they kept moving towards me. I step back without breaking eye contact until I hit the wall. This might be it. This might be the end for me.

But then…

“Leave him. He is harmless.” Captain Lipton sternly ordered his men.

They comply willingly—Captain Lipton must be highly regarded within his peers.

I still find something about him off-putting though. Like how he fortunately survived being decapitated when Elzara ordered the guards to remove the piles of dead bodies.

Wait… Don’t tell me!

Is Elzara in cahoots with Captain Lipton? It might seem like something he’d do, but what would his ultimate goal be?

I racked my head trying to think of my conspiracy that I did not realize the person standing before me.

It’s Captain Lipton.

“King Naoki Kusunoki of Japan, if that’s even your real name. You are free to go now.” It was hard to read his face—it barely showed any emotion.

It seems he was listening to my speech earlier. Kind of scary to think about. He was at death’s door and yet he can focus at the ramblings of a stranger.

“I have nowhere to go.” I answered.

“Why not go back to your Lord Arin?” He replied.

He’s right in that regard, only I do not know where he is at—on top of that, I think it would be dangerous to run around aimlessly with humans attacking the elven capital.

Also, he mentioned Arin again—the first time was at the prison cells.

“I’d rather stay with you and your men, if you’d permit it. I’m afraid I’d run into the elven army if I run around by myself.”

“…” Is that a no?

“Very well.” Captain Lipton responded.

He looks at the elven judges, who are still stuck at their seats. He does a hand signal and his men went up to where the judges are.

He’s going to have them killed, isn’t he? I’ve no connection with them, but judging from their reactions earlier when the king ordered for my execution, they seem to detest the king’s actions. I’d rather not see them be killed.

“Wait!” My voice echoes throughout the room.

Everyone’s eyes are fixated on me now—even Captain Lipton’s.

“Their blood doesn’t need to be spilled. Spare them.” I addressed to the room but my eyes are locked onto Captain Lipton’s.

“And why should we do that, king? Do you plan to make an alliance with elves?” He said sarcastically—yet no sarcasm in his tone.

Some of his men laughed, at least the ones who were here while I was performing my speech.

My hands and other areas of my body are starting to sweat, not because of the heat but due to me being afraid of who I’m talking to.

Maybe because of the fact he wasn’t responding to me earlier that I didn’t have this realization already, but he’s very enigmatic. His eyes are so fierce that I could feel his stare tear a hole straight through my head.

“I-if I say yes, w-will you spare them?” I said awkwardly.

“…” He stares at my eyes. Is he trying to discern whether I’m lying?

“Hmph.” He makes another hand signal and the knights withdrew with him out of the court.

It seems he spared them but why? Just because I said so—a stranger? Nonetheless, the elder judges are saved. I gave them a nod as I left to follow them.

I grab a sword from a fallen warrior. It would serve me better in life than it would him in death.

I tail the knights from the distance—not too close to engage in combat when they do but also not too far to lose sight of them.

I must find out more about Captain Lipton and whether my hypothesis has any basis. I truly think that Elzara has a hand in this rescue, and maybe even an involvement in the abduction and enslavement of Princess Thalia all those years ago.

Perhaps I can even clear my name with the princess in the process.

Sword in hand, I find the courage within me to seek out the truth.

“Just you wait, princess. I’ll get to the bottom of this.”