I’d run out of things to do.
It had been four days since our return to the Holy City. I’d finished reporting in to my acquaintances, Shannon and Master had reconciled, I’d received my reward at the Cathedral, and I’d even seen Ruerie and Shiarie in high spirits. Consequently, the list of immediate tasks we needed to handle had dwindled to nothing. I realized we were at a complete loose end, left wondering what to do with ourselves.
Normally, I would have had two options: take the rare opportunity to focus on my sword training, or head out to earn some living expenses through requests or monster subjugation. However, with my body in its current state, neither was feasible. Anze was currently scouting for a craftsman to upgrade my prosthetic leg, but it looked like it would be a few more days before we saw any progress on that front.
So… what was I supposed to do today?
"Master, is there anything you want to do?"
"Hm? Anything is fine by me, so long as I am with Wolka."
The scene was my room on the second floor of the inn, Le Bouquet. The time was mid-morning, just as the sun had climbed to a comfortable height after I’d finished my morning routine. I tried asking Master, who was currently lying on my bed kicking her legs back and forth, but the reply I got was, in a sense, the most difficult one to navigate.
When a girl says "anything is fine," it is one of those high-caution phrases you must never take at face value. You know the pattern—you take them at their word and do what you want, only for them to look at you with exasperation and say, "I know I said anything was fine, but I didn't mean that." A woman’s heart is a complex thing.
As I sat there brooding, Yulitia offered a lifeline from beside me.
"In that case, why don't you two just take it easy today? You could go shopping, or eat out… you’ve finally made it back to the Holy City, after all."
That was a wonderful idea. Come to think of it, a day with absolutely nothing on the agenda was a true rarity. Ever since I’d gotten this prosthetic, I’d done nothing but rehabilitation—first for walking, then for the sword. Even the journey back hadn't been a relaxing carriage ride due to the situation with Ruerie and her sister.
"What about you and Atri, Yulitia?"
"We… actually have something we want to do."
"Mm."
Atri, sitting on the bed and fiddling with my pillow in her arms, added, "Training. We promised we’d do it together once we had the time."
"There are plenty of wide-open spaces in the Fertility District," Yulitia said. "I want to really put my heart into it today."
The Fertility District was a lush agricultural zone with many vast fields. It wasn't uncommon for adventurers to use them as training grounds since swinging weapons around in the middle of the city was a no-go.
"—Because I have to become even stronger."
Was it just my imagination? For a moment, Yulitia’s eyes looked as though they were on the verge of slipping into some dark obsession. I hoped she wasn't pushing herself too hard. In this world, there was a sense that men were expected to sustain injuries, but girls needed to take proper care of their bodies.
Before I could say anything, Yulitia had returned to her usual self.
"So, don't worry about us. Please, just rest and relax!"
Still, training in the Fertility District sounded nice. My morning routine was just a light warm-up, so I was feeling a bit unfulfilled myself. I’d mostly figured out the limits of this prosthetic, so I thought I might try a little—
Master gave me a sharp, sideways glare.
"Wolka, you mustn't. What will we do if that prosthetic breaks again?"
"I… I know."
She was absolutely right. If I shamelessly broke this thing again, I’d go right back to a pathetic life of being cared for, unable to do anything without someone pushing my wheelchair. At Le Bouquet, I had to navigate stairs every day. This stick-like prosthetic was quite literally the lifeline of my dignity.
The thought of being carried up and down the stairs by the others every single time—no, I had to avoid that at all costs.
"Fine. I guess we’ll just go out for some street food today."
"Umu!"
And so, it was decided that I would spend a relaxing holiday with Master. We agreed to meet in the lobby later, and Master and the others headed up to their rooms on the third floor to get ready. I decided to do a little light tidying before heading out.
"Wait… Master left her hat behind. And this comb is hers too… Ah, when did even this get here?"
Starting with the pillow that sat on my bed as if it belonged there, Master’s personal belongings had been steadily expanding their territory in my room over the last four days.
Was she planning to stage a full takeover? I hoped she’d go back to living in her own room once I was back on my feet.
—You can't, okay? Absolutely not.
For some reason, Master’s smile from our first night back—that innocent, hauntingly beautiful, almost spectral smile—flickered through my mind.
A chill ran down my spine. I found myself praying quite seriously that Anze would find that craftsman as soon as humanly possible.
Meanwhile, on the third floor…
"Senpai… as I thought, he really wants to be swinging his sword, doesn't he?"
"Mm… of course. For Wolka, that’s everything."
"…………"
The three of them were engaged in a conversation far more serious than I could have imagined, their words heavy with intense emotion.
"Liesel-san… please, look after him. Do whatever you can to distract him from his pain, even if only a little."
"We will become much, much stronger."
"…Mm. I’ll do my best."
Of course, as I busied myself tidying up Master's things, I had no way of knowing any of this.
The Cathedral was known to everyone as the largest and most magnificent structure in the Holy City, but its majesty was not limited to what could be seen from the surface. The prime example was the space known as the Tribunal, which sprawled beneath the building.
Many perceived the Chryscles Holy Church simply as an organization that doubled as a religious and medical institution. While that was accurate—faith and medicine were indeed the pillars that supported the Church—it fulfilled many other roles within the country. The Cathedral, in particular, had handled the autonomy of the Holy City since ancient times, overseeing various operations beyond just healing and prayer. It was no exaggeration to say that every person in the Holy City had interacted with the Cathedral in some way.
One of its most vital roles was Judgment.
This was the process of bringing a person’s crimes to light and meting out punishment according to the law. Even in a country with world-class public safety, criminals were a constant, and sometimes troublesome offenders were escorted all the way from the Royal Capital or other cities to be dealt with here.
And the stage for that execution of justice was this Tribunal.
"Haaa… This is depressing. Why does an old man like me have to be in a place like this?"
In a corner of the Tribunal, a man sat grumbling, looking as though he’d had all the motivation drained out of him. It was Fyuji, the lazy instructor from the Adventurer’s Guild.
The Tribunal was divided into three main areas. At the center, in the lowest position, was where Fyuji sat along with the defendants and other witnesses. Behind them, at a higher elevation, were the spectator seats. Finally, at the front and highest point, sat the Dais—the solemn seats for the high-ranking clergy who executed the judgment, including the Cardinal and the Clerk.
From that Dais, the cheerful chatter of young girls drifted down, sounding entirely out of place for such a somber setting.
"Hehe, it’s been quite a while since all four of us have been in this room together. I was always lonely on my own, so I’m quite happy."
"Well, it’s still Yuli’s show. We’re counting on you, Saint of Star Eyes."
"Honestly, Dia-sama? We need to compose ourselves."
"So dull… Haaa, let’s just get this over with…"
In order, they were Yulirius, the Saint of Star Eyes; Restardia, the Saint of Hakua; Anjesheit, the Saint of the Heavenly Sword; and Arcasiel, the Saint of Fortune and Woe.
They were the primary reason for Fyuji’s constant sighing. It was the first time since the recent change in leadership that all the Saintesses who stood at the peak of the Church had gathered in one place.
Normally, judgment was a domain entirely entrusted to Yulirius. There was rarely a need for the other three to interfere. Her Star Eyes could strip away every lie and crime a person had committed throughout their life; with that power, she only needed a Cardinal versed in the law and a Clerk to record the proceedings.
Furthermore, though it was difficult to see from Fyuji’s position, three Holy Knights stood in the shadows of the Dais to guard the Saintesses. In the spectator seats sat the Church’s Cardinals—the Saintesses' close aides and experts in the urban management of the Holy City.
The Saintesses, the Holy Knights, and the Cardinals—the entire top brass of the Holy City’s leadership was gathered here. Consequently, the only ones with the leisure to enjoy small talk were the Saintesses themselves. For everyone else, the air in the Tribunal was so heavy with solemnity that they hesitated to even move. All five exits were guarded by knights standing at attention, as if an execution were about to take place.
And in a way, it was. For the defendants—the A-rank party Flamberge—this judgment would likely be equivalent to a death sentence for their careers.
Being dragged into such a mess as a witness was why Fyuji was slumped in his seat, exhaling one weary sigh after another.
"—Fyuji."
"Whoa!"
Fyuji jumped as a voice drifted down from right beside him. The Old Butler, who had been waiting at the corner of the Dais just a moment ago, was now standing at his shoulder.
"Good grief, old man. You’re going to give me a heart attack."
"Oh? You say that, yet your heart seems quite steady."
"No, I’m seriously surprised…"
The old man was as elusive as ever. With his silver hair swept back, a sharp goatee, and a tailcoat so pristine it didn't have a single wrinkle, he was the model of a perfect butler. His raptor-like gaze saw through everything, and his powerful physique, which no suit could fully hide, only seemed to grow more imposing with age. Fyuji wondered if he was even the same species as everyone else.
But then, the man had always been something of an anomaly. Fyuji questioned him with his eyes, and the butler responded.
"I have heard it was you who apprehended those people."
"Well…"
In the center of the Tribunal, four men and women sat before the witness stands under the watchful eyes of the knights. As far as Fyuji knew, these were all the current members of Flamberge. They were roughly ten years older than the members of Silvery Grey, ranging from twenty-four to twenty-eight.
His eyes met with one of them—a woman with a beautiful, dark orange side-tail.
"…"
She gave a small nod, or perhaps she was merely looking away out of reflex. Her expression was one of helpless anger and remorse, a woman clearly being eaten away by self-reproach.
In better times, she was known for her strong sense of justice and boyish, spirited personality. Now, she looked broken. Fyuji looked away as well.
"I guess this is what I get for actually being motivated for once. If I knew I’d have to act as a witness in a place like this, I might have reconsidered—though I can't really say that."
"I heard Arcasiel-sama assisted you as well."
"Nah, that was just a whim of your princess."
Fyuji looked toward the Dais. The princess in question was the only one not seated; she was dazing off atop Getten, her floating cradle. She might have even been sleeping with her eyes open.
"It’s rare for her to leave her sanctuary."
"Indeed. Her mood has been quite stable lately. That young man, Wolka… perhaps he possesses some mysterious charm."
Fyuji blinked. "…That princess met Wol-kun?"
"Yes. She was present when we granted him his reward the other day. For His Holiness himself to step out just to meet a single adventurer… that is likely a first in the city’s history."
Fyuji gave a pained smile. The swordsman who had essentially soloed the Life Reaper had caught the eye of the other Saintesses as well. Poor kid, there's no escape for you now.
"Because of that, this judgment is of the utmost importance. Ensure your testimony is precise."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it."
He found the whole thing a chore. He preferred working in the shadows; being pushed into the spotlight wasn't his style. But despite his grumbling, he had no intention of slipping away. Beneath the sighs, he was actually quite committed.
A seventeen-year-old boy had been prepared to throw his life away to protect his companions. If the adults involved didn't fulfill their responsibilities, it would be the ultimate disgrace.
"—Fyuji-san."
"Hm?"
The woman with the side-tail was standing before him. She was flanked by two knights on high alert. Even though she was essentially innocent, seeing her treated like a criminal was hard to watch.
The Old Butler had vanished as silently as he had appeared. Fyuji scratched his head.
"Hey, Frixell. You look like you haven't slept a wink."
Frixell, the spear user of Flamberge, tried to manage a wry smile but failed. She wasn't quite as far gone as Shannon had been, but to anyone who knew her original personality, she was unrecognizably weakened.
"I can't help it. I keep thinking about how I’m supposed to apologize to the kids in Silvery Grey…"
"…"
Due to a rift within the party, she had been the only one who hadn't participated in the investigation of the dungeon, Gouzel. She had no direct fault in the accident; she was a victim of her companions’ blunders.
Yet, among the four of them, she was the one who felt the most responsibility for Wolka losing his eye and leg. She felt she should have stopped them, even if it meant knocking them out. While tracking down the members who had fled the city, she had done nothing but blame herself.
Born into a family of knights, her sense of justice was legendary. She hated dishonesty and firmly believed that adults were meant to protect children. Because of a petty dispute between adults, a boy years younger than her had had his life upended. For Frixell, that reality was far more painful than if she had lost her own limbs.
"Silvery Grey… Wol-kun is back in the city. From what I saw, he wasn't depressed at all. He seemed determined to get back to work as soon as possible."
"…I see."
Frixell briefly struggled to keep her emotions in check.
"…Once this is over, I have to meet him and apologize. I don't know if I even have the right to look him in the eye, though."
"Wol-kun won't care about that."
"But I have to. …What happened… it’s truly unforgivable."
Just then, the clear sound of a bell echoed from above.
"—It is time."
As the clock struck the hour, the Saintess's voice rang out, putting an end to the small talk. Yulirius, the Saint of Star Eyes—her voice was so delicate it seemed it might break, yet it reached the ears of every person in the room with perfect clarity.
At the knights' command, Frixell gave one last nod and returned to her seat. Her pained smile remained burned into Fyuji’s mind.
(…How did it even come to this?)
Liesel, Yulitia, Atri, Shannon, the Saint of the Heavenly Sword, and now Frixell. Everyone was drowning in guilt. It was incredible how complicated things had become. And while these women were being torn apart by their consciences, the remaining members of Flamberge—the ones actually responsible—were likely only thinking about how to save their own skins.
That was why the Saint of Star Eyes had to lay everything bare. No excuses. No mercy.
"This judgment is executed under the name of the Saintesses. No lie or slander shall find purchase here. We advise both the defendants and the witnesses to speak with reason and absolute honesty."
To any observer, she looked like a frail girl of barely ten years. But her words were woven with a profound depth that only a century of watching over the Holy City could produce. Despite her appearance, she was the second oldest member of the Cathedral’s hierarchy.
"Now—let the judgment begin."
What followed was not a mystery to be solved. It was a one-sided dismantling of lies, as the power of the Saintess laid the truth bare for all to see.
"Well then, Senpai, Liesel-san, we’re off!"
"Enjoy yourselves for us too, okay?"
"Yeah. Take care."
After seeing off Yulitia and Atri as they left for the Fertility District, Master and I headed out into the Holy Court District. I’d grown quite accustomed to this unreliable prosthetic by now. As long as the road wasn't too rough, I didn't even need my cane, but Master insisted on holding my hand the moment we stepped outside. Since many people in the area knew of our relationship, we were subject to far more warm, smiling gazes than we ever had been in Luther.
"Wolka, is there somewhere you want to go? I shall do my best to ensure you are entertained!"
Master was pulling me along with a look of pure determination. I remembered she’d said she didn't care where we went as long as we were together. That put me in a tough spot, because I felt the same way about her.
Just being able to spend an ordinary day with her made me realize, over and over again, that I really had avoided the "Total Annihilation End" of the original story. As long as she was happy, I didn't care if we were eating street food, dining at a fancy restaurant, hunting for grimoires in a crumbling junk shop, or marveling at the prices in the Commercial District.
But answering "anywhere is fine" to someone who had said the same would be useless. It would make me look like a boring, indecisive man. Hmm…
"It's a bit early for street food. Let’s walk along the canal toward the Cathedral. There are plenty of shops around there."
"Umu!"
If I wanted to make her happy, a sweets tour would be best, but it was too early for lunch. I wanted to work up an appetite first. We could find a place to play a board game, or go shopping, or even go fishing—a popular pastime in the Holy City.
Games in this world weren't digital, of course. They were analog—cards or boards—along with some unique sports that incorporated magic.
"—Woooooooool-kuuuuuuuuuuun!"
As I was walking and thinking, I heard a strange woman’s voice from somewhere nearby. It was a very familiar voice, coming from the direction of the canal.
"Wol-kuun! Liesel! Woooooool!"
I looked over and saw a girl on a small boat on the far side of the canal, waving her arms frantically. It was Shannon, the energetic clerk from the Guild. Whether she was on her way to a task or coming back from one, she was in her uniform and as lively as ever.
"Ah, they noticed! Wol-kuun! Liesel!"
"H-Hey, missy, don't stand up! It’s dangerous!" the boatman cried.
Shannon was hopping around regardless of the boat's swaying. Once she realized we’d seen her, she dialed it up even further.
"Mr. Boatman, stop the boat! Those are my friends!"
"What? But missy, there's no pier here—"
"Just pull over to the side! Or just get close, I’ll jump across!"
"No, no, no!"
The Holy City had strict rules for its canals, which were the primary mode of transport. Stopping anywhere but a pier was a violation. Shannon might be fine, but the boatman would be the one getting in trouble.
"I’ll pull over at the next stop ahead…"
"Ah—Wol-kun! Wol-kun, don't go! Wol-kuuuuuuuun!"
"…"
Shannon’s voice drifted away like a discarded puppy’s whimpering. Can I pretend I don't know her?
Master sighed in exasperation. "Honestly… Shannon needs to learn some adult modesty."
Coming from the woman who turned into a little girl at the slightest provocation, those words carried very little weight. I kept that thought to myself for the sake of her honor.
We waited by the canal for about five minutes. Eventually, Shannon was released from her "cage" and came sprinting across the bridge like a dog that had just seen its owner.
"Wol-kuun! Liesel!"
"Haa… she’s as energetic as ever."
Master stepped in front of me with a "good grief" expression.
"Now, Shannon, calm down! Listen to me! Today is a holiday for just the two of us. I won't have you interfering—eh? You’ll buy me sweets? …W-Well, I suppose I can spare a few minutes."
Master…
So much for "adult modesty." Shannon bought some snacks at a nearby shop, and the three of us sat on a bench by the canal to chat.
"Are you sure you have time for this? Weren't you working?"
"It’s fine, it’s fine! This is part of the job!"
I highly doubted that. Knowing the status of an adventurer party might technically be work-related, but that was a reach.
"Old man Fyuji is going to have the last laugh if you get in trouble for slacking."
"Ugh. That actually hurts a bit because the old man is being serious today…"
I raised an eyebrow. "Really? Him?"
"…Wait, Wol-kun, you don't know?"
Shannon pointed toward the white towers of the Cathedral to the east.
"Do you remember Flamberge? Their judgment is being held at the Cathedral today. The old man was ordered to appear as a witness."
"Wolka… Anze told us about the judgment yesterday, didn't she?"
Master looked at me with a judgmental stare, cookie crumbs stuck to her cheek. O-Oh, right. I think Anze had mentioned something about it after I finished talking to Dia.
"Look, Liesel, you have crumbs on your face," Shannon said, reaching out to wipe them.
In my defense, the whole incident at Gouzel was over as far as I was concerned. It had been a "man-made calamity"—a scripted disaster that someone had to suffer through. I didn't want to spend my time looking for culprits or dwelling on guilt. As long as the city handled it according to the rules, I was satisfied.
I turned back to Shannon. "What kind of witness? What does the old man have to do with it?"
"…I guess I haven't told you the whole story, have I?"
Shannon’s cowlick wilted as she spoke.
"After the accident… while you were still in Luther, the Guild issued a summons advisory for Flamberge. They wanted to hear their side of the story."
A summons advisory was basically the Guild telling a party, "Get over here, we need to talk."
"They cooperated at first. They kept saying they’d investigated properly and didn't know anything was wrong. But then…" She sighed heavily. "They vanished from the Holy City."
"What?"
"They fled. Just like that. The Guild was already in chaos, and that just made everything worse."
What was Flamberge thinking? Even I could tell that was a terrible move.
"The old man was the one who tracked them down and brought them back. They’d made it almost to the border. He was complaining about how much work it was."
"Hoh…"
Impressive. In a world without digital tracking, catching someone who had fled that far was no small feat. Fyuji really was more than just a slacker.
So that was why Shannon had called it a man-made disaster. Fleeing while the Guild was in turmoil was basically a confession. But wait… if they were going to flee, why wait until after the hearings had started? It didn't quite add up.
Master looked equally baffled. "Is that party just stupid?"
"…They used to be so respectable. It’s horrible. They let everything go to ruin, and then they did this…"
Shannon looked like she was about to spiral again. I really hoped she wouldn't. I couldn't handle everyone being depressed.
"Oh! But the woman you were worried about, Wol-kun… Frixell-san is different!"
Shannon seemed to snap out of it, her cowlick popping back up.
"I mentioned she was fighting with her teammates, right?"
"Yeah."
I didn't quite remember her name, but I assumed she was the spirited warrior I’d noticed before.
"She didn't even go into the dungeon with them," Shannon continued. "She’d been acting on her own for a while. She was in the Royal Capital when the others fled. When she found out, she was furious."
I could see that. She’d left an impression. It was good to know at least one of them was decent.
But the whole thing was still bizarre. An A-rank party suddenly fleeing the city? That would only destroy their reputation and standing. What were they hoping to achieve?
"Frixell-san helped the old man catch them," Shannon said. "So please, don't hate her. She looked like she was in so much pain."
"I… I see."
I braced myself. Great, so she’s drowning in guilt too? I really hoped she wouldn't come find me and start crying. I’d had enough of that.
Unexpectedly, my list of worries had grown. If everyone was this messed up even though we’d all survived, what would have happened in the original story where everyone died? It probably wouldn't have even been shown since the protagonist wouldn't have been in the city, but it must have been a nightmare.
Just thinking about it made me shiver.
It was all the fault of this world's "God." This rotten dark fantasy world… I would never, ever acknowledge a god who enjoyed this kind of misery.