Chapter 50 - Price for Freedom [3]
“What... what the hell did you just say—"
"Are your ears not working? I said to fix your deteriorating hairline before you spout any more rubbish with your rancid breath~."
I stuck my tongue out at Vincent and mocked him at every opportunity.
Before he could even respond—ignoring his fuming expression—I turned to the judge and spoke immediately.
“To spare you the details, the Cubes are still functioning. I even got to use the Knowledge Cube myself, Your Honour.”
“...What?” The judge asked, his surprise evident at my bold claim.
—Murmur!
Everyone in the Judgemall hall seemed taken aback, not expecting that from me.
The honour of using the Knowledge Cube was so highly sought after that people would do anything to obtain it.
Camellia, aware that I used the Knowledge Cube, nodded in response.
The Cube that was as valuable as an entire nation—a library containing the knowledge of everything—wasn't lost shocked everyone, including the judge.
"That's impossible!" Vincent exclaimed, clenching his fists in a turmoil of emotions.
"Do you have any proof of using the Knowledge Cube?" The judge asked, placing his hands on his chin and stroking his beard.
"...I’m unable to do that right now."
—Rattle, rattle!
I moved around the chains that bound me. With these chains on, I couldn’t use magic at all.
"Bah! Do you think we’ll allow that?" Vincent scoffed, revolted at the thought of freeing me from my restraints.
His eyes were bloodshot, which made me think he had anger issues when a few taunts were enough to provoke him.
“Your Honour! This vixen is trying to trick us!” He heavily objected to the idea.
"Hmm~? Were you so offended that I am worthy when you aren't? Is that why you ordered someone to beat up a cute girl like me~?"
I inserted the word 'cute' for no particular reason, which I think I am.
However, sensing Camellia's stern gaze behind me... it kind of hurt.
"K-Kgh... you...!" He gritted his teeth, looking back and forth between the judge and me, struggling to tolerate my behaviour.
"...Hmm." The judge took a moment to contemplate the situation.
He faced a dilemma: should he listen to Vincent or to a potential cultist in exchange for critical information?
In a world on the brink of collapse, things had to be done for humanity's sake.
There was only one correct answer.
“Take her chains off.” The judge declared, choosing to trust me.
“W-What...?!” Vincent shrieked in horror.
Unable to contain myself, a grin spread across my face, as if daring him to capitalize on this opportunity.
"Puhuhu♡, see what I told you? Maybe you should rip that mustache off so you could actually do something meaningful instead of just stroking that thing~."
"M-MGAAH!!!!" Vincent roared, nearly tearing out his remaining hair.
Yet, being in a court setting forced him to hold back his frustration.
As I teased him, two guards approached and removed my shackles. One of them was Scarlett, while the other was a blonde man clad in shining armour.
They looked like extravagant knights straight out of a fantasy tale.
—Clack!
"...Don’t try to do anything stupid.” Scarlett whispered in my ear.
She was still suspicious of me, even after being used as a chess piece to kill me.
Given her deep-seated hatred for Morze in the past, it’s understandable.
However, the reason she probably hated me was that I mentioned Kuro Historia during our fight.
Well, that's likely how things unfolded after I disappeared.
“Mwaaah~! Finally!" I stretched my arms and groaned like a cat.
The magic within me began to circulate again, allowing me to move more flexibly.
I didn't actually need magic for what I was about to do, but I had to be careful not to reveal that Ichor was a secondary power source inside me.
That was the reason they decided to accuse me of being a Morzen Cultist in the first place.
“…Hey, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Camellia whispered to me, looking a bit conflicted given my behaviour until now.
...Which I agree with every fibre of my being.
Would she believe the person in front of her was a middle-aged man, who also appeared to be her brother—who also turned into a girl, was acting like a bona fide brat for no apparent reason?
I mean, it's either I viscerally scream at Vincent with the unfiltered rage that's accumulated over the years... or make the most of it and ragebait Vincent as much as I can.
—I think the latter is more fun.
“I know you can, but these horrible examples of human beings wouldn't be able to learn the truth they keep avoiding.”
Despite my cheeky expression as I decided to speak for myself, it softened when I looked at Camellia, forming a smile.
Camellia, who had been uncertain the whole time, seemed flustered when she looked at me.
“I… I understand.” She said, nodding her head.
Maybe it was because we risked our lives for each other that when things changed, our relationship was deeper than before.
"Now..." I turned my gaze toward the crowd around me.
They were all in an uproar, eager to make a mess of me.
However, thanks to Camellia's help, they couldn't throw things at me. They could only glare at me with intense hatred.
Hah—there we go, the gaze I'm more familiar with.
I truly thought becoming a cute, beautiful girl would solve this problem, but I guess it didn’t.
“Alright, please step back away from me.” I told everyone nearby.
If I wanted to fully convince them, despite my already grim reputation, I needed to present absolute, irrefutable evidence with every single detail documented.
"..." Scarlett and the blonde guard hesitated.
But after receiving confirmation from someone, they stepped back.
—Vooom…!
Delicate threads spun from my fingertips, weaving themselves into something coherent, their production quickening with each passing second.
Since I was creating a large amount of Ichor, I used both arms to speed up the process.
‘Urgh… this much still takes too much mana…’ I grunted in pain.
I already lost the amount of Ichor I can produce, using mana to make more.
My mana capacity had improved since then.
A month ago, I could form a cube of Ichor; now I could do three of them.
It’s a threefold increase, but it’s still about average for a magician in Demiurge.
Witnessing the Ichor being manipulated in real time, everyone fell silent. The two guards placed their hands on their sheaths, ready for anything.
“What is happening...”
“This can only be described as a miracle…”
"Whoa... so pretty..."
The crowd grew restless once again as they watched me manipulate and create something from nothing.
In case you’re wondering—that’s right, I'm not revealing the new ability I gained from the Knowledge Cube, [Memory], as proof.
Instead, I was using Ichor, as it was a more tangible way to demonstrate an ability that far surpasses [Alloy], the Magic Art that manipulates and creates a metal-like alloy.
Just like Scarlett's [Destruction], which goes beyond [Explosion], this concept is inherently the same.
This could be seen in two ways:
Understanding that I forcefully evolved my Magic Art to a new level with the help of the Knowledge Cube,
Or the ability to create something with extreme details that should be physically impossible through normal means.
“Interesting.” Orion commented, clearly enjoying the show.
With the combination of Camellia’s memories, I crafted a miniature version of Arcadia, primarily showcasing the surface for everyone to see.
This was the Arcadia before the Cardinal Sky happened, formed with Camellia's memories, who was there directly herself,
And mine, the former author of this world.
—Ving…!
“There... done.” I brushed my sweat from my forehead.
—Thud!
To relax, I also created a comfortable chair and sat down while I was at it.
“How is this… even possible?” Vincent’s eyes were amazed rather than furious, such a feat required an inhumane amount of mana control.
The Arcadia I created was nearly the size of the hall.
To make something this big, I ensured the insides were completely hollow, supported by pillars to prevent collapse.
“…What about the Pylon that plunged Arcadia? If the Cubes were functional, had Arcadia fallen from the sky?” The judge questioned.
Although this court was about me being convicted as a Morzen Cultist, to determine whether I should face execution...
This was now more of a report on the events that unfolded in the Capital of Demiurge and Arcadia.
With all prominent figures present in the court, no one addressed my behaviour; the gravity of the information at hand was deemed too significant.
What I presented was a revolutionary discovery that has the potential to change the course of Demiurge's future.
"No, Your Honour. There is a reason for that."
"...Continue." He nodded, allowing me to elaborate further.
—Vooom…!
This time, I absorbed all the Ichor back into myself, conjuring an entirely different scene within my imagination.
Like a work of art, I envisioned the Teleportation Room, where the Pylon's Core was situated.
In the middle, a giant pillar stood out, gathering energy from a power source.
Below this power source was the ominous lotus I had encountered earlier, which sent chills down my spine and seemed to nurture something within it.
Although I mentioned the Knowledge Cube before for its historical importance, I barely mentioned another one due to the situation at hand.
The Creation Cube.
Like the Knowledge Cube, this one acted as a power generator that Arcadia used to keep the structure stable, hard-coded with two Magic Arts that I have mentioned a couple of times.
[Construction] and [Transport].
By taking full control of the Creation Cube, the Pylon dramatically altered its core function, transforming Arcadia into a purgatory and causing it to expand exponentially in size.
The Teleporter Room truly embodied the term, ‘The Eye of the Storm’: a vast zone with blood-coloured mana crystals scattered everywhere.
“During the first Cardinal Sky, a Pylon penetrated the Creation Cube, drawn to its energy. This resulted in the merging of the Pylon and the Cube, granting it total control of the supermassive power source.”
I recalled the structures in the current Arcadia, which were hard to envision amid the chaos.
“It nearly got Camellia and me killed, but we used the remaining runes her sister provided back in Arcadia and managed to escape just in time, albeit barely.” I stated the truth.
If the other sisters were present, they could confirm this, but I hadn't met any other Historia members in Kleinford besides Camellia.
“…I see.” The judge nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this information.
Although I had brought forth significant news, it was still devastating.
The incident in Arcadia was Demiurge's greatest shame in history, and the knowledge that they had unintentionally strengthened humanity's enemy even further was repulsive.
“Then, the Knowledge Cube? Is it affected as well?”
“No, Your Honour. It remained untouched and is still operable to this day,” I conveyed the good news directly, without making it overly lengthy.
This information calmed everyone in the hall, even Vincent.
With that said, I nodded and finished conveying the information everyone has to know.
There wouldn't be another chance for all the Grand Council members to gather like this.
It had to be now, so I could inform everyone about what happened in Arcadia and let them decide how to proceed.
And now, regarding Vincent and the case...
I’ll make sure he never speaks in public again.
“But how does this prove that you aren’t a Morzen Cultist? All you’ve provided is information, or perhaps fabrication, to delay your sentence. Is that not what you did?” He caressed his mustache again, trying to calm himself.
Not on my watch.
When I caught him caressing his mustache and smirked in response, he flinched and stopped mid-act.
“That's what a simpleton would say~ Do you think I wasn't aware of you being a pawn to this whole ordeal, fufu~.”
I mocked him, even giggling at his response.
Since the beginning, his argument towards everything hasn't made sense.
Even if I'm not skilled in politics or the laws people abide by in this world... I created this world down to its very secrets, thus...
He chose the wrong opponent.
“Grr... will you just shut that damn mouth already—”
"Simply because everything has gone off-script, you're acting like an imbecile. So shut your mouth and let me finish."
—Crack...!
Ah, I think I heard something break from up there.
“Tide, a nation from another continent, regards these trees as sacred due to their origins.” I pointed at Camellia's choker.
It held a single blue petal, never wilting—a beautiful shade of blue.
“When an individual is respected, shrine maidens will grant them an Azure Blossom seed to plant. Only a select few have been given this opportunity." I smiled slightly, recalling that day.
"If the tree recognizes the owner's presence, it blooms beautifully, greeting them as if welcoming them home.”
"Aria...?" Camellia looked at me in confusion, wondering how I knew this.
But I didn't look at her. I kept going, even uttering a name forgotten by everyone.
"There were two people who planted that tree: Camellia Historia... and Kuro Historia, the only male heir of the Historia clan, who was ultimately abandoned."
To deliver the final blow, I turned to Penny, who was on the verge of tears.
Like a switch, my expression softened, hoping to stir her memory of that moment.
"Penny... was the tree beautiful, adorned with blue petals that danced delicately under a gentle breeze?"
Penny's eyes widened, leaving her at a loss for words.
She glanced at Vincent, who was staring at her with a cold glare.
Then she looked at me, wearing a bright smile.
...
...
...
"Yes... yes! It was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it!" Penny exclaimed, as if the sight was imprinted in her mind.
When the azure blossom tree bloomed and acknowledged me for the first time, it was a spectacle I remember as clearly as day.
For Vincent, who disregards everything except himself, failed to see the beauty that comes from others,
He was blinded by greed, unable to look past beyond it.
"P-PENNY!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING—"
"Silence! Vincent!" The judge exclaimed, as if my statement made perfect sense.
The crowd went wild, with many others recalling the scene just like Penny did.
Camellia looked at me, her eyes trembling as she heard a familiar name.
Scarlett's eyes also flickered with surprise, as if she hadn't expected me to know who they were.
And from one of the podiums... a Grand Council member stood up, visibly shocked by what I had just said.
At this point... the case had finally concluded.
"You... you...!" Vincent scowled, desperately trying to pull out his hair.
"Buhi~ buhi~! That’s how you sound, old man~♡."
—RIP!!!
"HOW DARE YOU! YOU REPULSIVE THING!!!"
—TUMBLE!!!
Overcome by emotion, Vincent jumped down from his podium but was quickly restrained by the guards.
"LET GO OF ME! I NEED TO TEACH THAT BRAT A LESSON!!!"
"Aw... if you’re so mad, then why not roll yourself in the mud instead? Isn’t that what you would do to protect your pride~?"
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
I didn’t stop, I kept berating him at every opportunity.
"Bahaha!!! Your Honour, what is your verdict on the case?" I asked, feeling the exhilaration of the moment I didn't enjoy.
...No, seriously, I should stop.
The crowd had gone silent, except for the sound of Vincent's squealing.
Although I couldn't see the judge's face, he looked visibly amused.
"Hmm, I shall deliver my final judgment." He proclaimed, his voice ringing with authority.
—Bang bang bang!
In one final standoff, the judge's gaze flickered toward Vincent, who was desperately attempting to concoct some scheme against me under desperate measures.
Nevertheless, I stood my ground, my resolve unyielding, confident that I was right in every way.
—Bang...!
"The convicted, Aria Cyth... is not guilty."
...
...
...
Silence engulfed the room, as if the crowd couldn't comprehend that I had won.
Not once had a 'heretic' been declared not guilty—what about all those times they cheered when a Cultist was executed?
Were they like me—truly innocent?
Were their cries genuine, or just elaborate acts fueled by the fear of death?
Now that Trestkania has the technology to determine who has truly fallen and with the Azure Blossom's significant influence... the era of terror is over.
"Everyone, how does it feel to be proved wrong?" I asked the crowd, weary of their rigid perspectives.
In a world on the brink of collapse, they clung to their values, unaware that those very principles were consuming them from within.
I had spent so long trying to avoid them as much as possible...
...But now, I want to destroy the system I despised so much, beginning with its very foundation.
"All of you are pathetic." I said with all my heart, not with the mockful tone I use in this whole farce,
But a cold glare, as if they were nothing more than trash.
From this point on, I'll be direct to those I treasure,
And those I detest.
"This can't be..." She looked at the black-and-white-haired individual, trembling in disbelief.
Camellia Historia... and Kuro Historia, the only male heir of the Historia clan, who was ultimately abandoned.
—Voom...!
Her right eye shimmered, revealing a more profound truth behind the bold statement she had made.
After observing her all this time—her personality, expressions, posture... everything.
Everything about her. Even her soul.
"Is that you...?" She murmured, her voice quivering as if she had grasped hope once more in this desolate world.
"Big brother?"
