A week has passed since then.
　I can't say I've been able to relax...
　It's been a busy, stormy week.

　First, the reopening of a murder case during a promotion exam.
　I helped with that.

　Thanks to Arios's suicide bombing and Sarya-sama, I was completely exonerated.
　However, I had to re-investigate the case in order to finalize the details of the case, and I had to cooperate with that.

　The investigation was to be conducted again and of course, Arios was not involved.
　I was interviewed again, and I was present at the scene of the crime, etc.

　However, since I was completely cleared of all charges, I won't be treated as a criminal.
　As a collaborator, I contributed to solving the case.
　Rather, the knights regretted that they had obeyed Arios' order and turned their swords on him, and they were treated well incessantly.

　Some called for severe punishment of the knights who had joined Arios.
　However, since they were soldiers, it was difficult for them to disobey the orders of their superiors.
　I understand their position, so I didn't say anything more than necessary.
　This was a decision we all made together.

　That's why I was spared the harshest punishment, but.....
　He's been punished in various ways.
　You'll just have to accept that.

　Anyway....

　Once the re-investigation is done, we'll already have a complete set of evidence.
　The investigation won't take long, it will only take a few days.

　And.........Arios will be found guilty.



----------



　The audience room of the royal castle.

　Kneeling in front of King Argus and bowing before him are Arios and his companions.
　Everyone is uniformly pale and sweating unpleasantly.

'Face up,'

　Argus says, but none of them respond.

'Face it,'

　Once again, when Argus said it, only Arios slowly raised his face.
　The expression on his face was........very painful.

''We will now begin the trial, albeit briefly.

　Shot by Argus' stern gaze, Arios gave a small shudder.

''Brave Arios. You killed an innocent adventurer despite your position as a brave man. You have a very selfish motive for killing an innocent adventurer in order to bring down a former member of your party. What do you have to say about this?
'Well I don't remember doing anything like that. It must be some kind of mistake.
The third princess, Sarya, has a magical tool in her possession, and many people have heard your confession. That's not all. We have analyzed the mages that monitor the examination room and they have recorded you murdering someone else. And yet, you don't remember anything about it?
Yes, no.

　Arios turned blue in the face but....
　And yet, he said it flatly.

　I suppose this is what is meant by having no shame.
　With all this evidence, he could still claim that he had nothing to do with it.
　Sarya, who had been standing next to the king, almost sighed in deep disgust.

'That I have done something to bring down my former comrades I will admit to that. But that was only for the sake of the country. He's a dangerous man with several of the most powerful species in the world. If he turns against his country, what kind of damage can be done?
'And you dare to use dastardly means to do so?　Is that what you mean?
Yes, that's right.

　Argus listened quietly to what Arios was saying without changing his complexion.
　It was difficult to detect any emotion from his expression and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

''Then how do you explain the matter of killing the adventurer?''
'That was probably deliberately created by someone to trick me. I suggest that the analysis of the magic tool is not yet fully completed. If the investigation is truly complete, I am sure my innocence will be cleared.
'I see. And your record of murder is also false?
Yes, sir.

　Argus' words stop.

　Here.
　Arios decides it's time to fold up and adds more words.

''It's my fault for bringing about an incident like this one. I feel unworthy of my own inadequacies, pity... and resentment towards the despicable criminal.
Hmm... so?
Can you give me a chance?　I'm going to exonerate myself of the charges brought against me with my own hands.
Does that mean you're going to investigate this case?
Yes, sir. I will find the real culprit and make him pay for his crimes.

　The flow of the scene was tilted towards Arios.
　The surrounding dignitaries were listening intently to Arios' talk, occasionally giving him a phase.

　Lean, Mina also saw that the atmosphere of the place was flowing in their favor, and her complexion was brightening.
　There was no way Arios was going to murder.
　This is some kind of mistake.
　The two seemed to think so, and the tension was less than it was at the beginning.

　It's just........Aggus kept a blank expression on his face.
　He turned his gaze somewhat harshly on Arios.

''I see, I understand what you're saying. These are the words of Arios, a brave man. I suppose that your words do not lie.''
Now....!
Did you really think I was going to say that I was going to allow you to reopen the investigation into this case?

　Argus has always maintained a blank expression on his face, but...
　His expression changed drastically.
　He stared at Arios tightly with anger as fierce as a fierce fire.
　He put so much strength into his hands that the armrest of the throne was about to break.

''You ... you ... fool!
What?

　Arios's body jolted under the fierce reprimand like a lightning strike.

''To refuse to admit guilt at this point in time and pile on unseemly excuses... the height of folly!　You are still a hero!
But I'm not going to lie...
The evidence is complete. I've examined it in every possible way and I've come to the conclusion that you are the only culprit. And yet you took advantage of my absence to make a move in my absence.
Ggh...!
Do you think I simply left King's Landing to do official business?　Don't you think there was another purpose?
Well, you're not gonna...
''The real purpose was to find out about you. When you're in King's Landing, you'll inevitably miss the details that happen in the provinces. In King's Landing, I would miss the details of what happened in the countryside, and it would be a message game, and the correctness of the report would be distorted. That's why I went there myself to confirm the truth. And the result was ... much worse than I could have imagined.
Ugh, cuh...
''As for this matter, you wielded your power as a brave man and moved the knights around on your own. Not only that, you've been brainwashing some knights with authority with magic in order to keep them under complete control, right?　Would it be Lean or Mina?

　Lean shuddered.
　It was apparently Lean's doing.

''... enough.''

　Argus let out a tired breath and...
　Then he turned his eyes like a bug to Arios.

'I've tolerated your actions so far because you are a brave man but it was a mistake. It was a mistake.
What do you mean...
Fortunately, that mistake can be righted.

　Argus rises from his throne and pronounces his sentence on Arios.

'Arios Orlando!　As of this moment, I'm going to disqualify you from being a hero!
What...?
"And you are hereby imprisoned for the murder of an adventurer!　My people are just as guilty!

　Leanne and Mina shuddered and paled.

'The treatment will be notified in due course. For now, you can stay in prison, cool your head and reflect on it!
How can this be possible?　I'm a hero!　I can't believe you don't want this me..........and you're suicidal by doing that!　Do you want to die against a demon race!

　Forgetting that the other party was the king, Arios shouted loudly.
　Immediately, the surrounding knights rushed over and restrained Arios' body.

''Wait, why........stop!　Don't touch me!
How could you let this... oh, God...!

　Leanne and Mina were also restrained.
　Aggus was also restrained but he didn't lash out and remained meek.

'Stop!　Don't touch it!　I'm a brave man, I'm a brave man!　It's the chosen one!　And yet, this.... this can't be happening!　It shouldn't have been... what the hell is this!
"Shut up, you fools who call yourselves heroes!　It is unpleasant just to hear your voice. O knight, let those men be locked up in prison!

　Thus....
　Arios was stripped of his bravery and imprisoned.