Chapter 368: The Start of the Trial
“Heh, that might indeed wrap things up faster,” Rio remarked, her expression one of understanding.
“Forced Summoning, huh…”
As I explained the situation to Rio and the others at the entrance of the Audience Chamber, I noticed Ivan wearing a sympathetic expression. Once we stepped into the chamber and moved aside, I took a moment to survey the room. It seemed the king was issuing various commands, as several nobles were entering and exiting the Audience Chamber while avoiding our gaze. The minister, restrained by the TYPE Series, was left unattended, but since no one was addressing him, I decided to let him stew in his thoughts for a while.
“I wonder if we could have all the knights released. We’ve received word that an intruder has infiltrated the castle. I’d like to put them on guard duty.”
Despite the fact that no one was approaching us, the king broke through the surrounding chatter and made his way over.
“If that’s the case…”
Could it be that some of those who took advantage of our intrusion were already inside? Now that I think about it, there were indeed criminal organizations lurking about. It’s possible there might even be a resistance group, but that was of no concern to us. Ah, it seems the first Bird TYPE is about to arrive.
“Excuse me, but it’s a bit dangerous over there, so I’ll just squeeze past.”
As I released the knights, I used magic to pull the king aside.
“Mm?”
The king, taken aback, reacted just as the wall on the opposite side of the corridor was shattered and sent flying. I quickly erected a barrier to contain the debris. As the Bird TYPE landed in the corridor, a groan escaped from the man it had firmly pinned down with its talons.
“Well, it seems the Chief Councilor has arrived already.”
The Chief Councilor’s residence was the closest to the Royal Castle. At this rate, the next to arrive would likely be a baron. I noticed the king’s face contorting in disbelief.
“Wha—what have you done…?”
“Ahhahahaha!”
Ivan’s expression mirrored the king’s shock, though he managed to inject a bit of humor into the situation. While Rio found it amusing, Phonia seemed confused, simply exclaiming, “The birdie has come!” in delight.
“Hey, Nil, stop poking the Chief Councilor. It’s rude. He looks unconscious, but if he wakes up, it could get noisy.”
“I believe the other two will be arriving shortly as well.”
“Wh-what?! Is that so?”
The king, who had been frozen in place, regained his composure and hurriedly began issuing orders to the other ministers. It seemed he was also rushing the creation of the Summons. If it could be done quickly, that would be for the best. The individuals we had captured were being escorted outside by the knights, but among those caught by the TYPE Series, some were crying out for help. I had no intention of releasing them, and the knights were ignoring their pleas.
“Haah… If they’re really coming soon, I need to confirm something first.”
After finishing his orders, the king approached me with a heavy sigh. It appeared he wanted me to explain the circumstances that led to the accusations against me. The Chancellor had apparently provided false reports, so he likely didn’t know the full truth. Moreover, this was a rare opportunity to speak without interruption.
As I briefly recounted the events that had transpired, a deep sigh escaped the king.
“I remembered you as an S Rank Adventurer from long ago, but I can’t believe this is happening.”
It seemed that, according to him, the actions I had taken did not warrant punishment. Since I was not a citizen of this kingdom, I had no obligation to heed the orders of the nobles. I had suspected as much, and it turned out my intuition was correct.
“I truly apologize for the trouble caused. As king, I offer my sincerest apologies. …I will ensure that the Chancellor and the other three are properly judged as criminals, so I ask that you allow this to be resolved peacefully.”
It felt like things had already spiraled beyond peaceful resolution, but perhaps he was simply urging us not to escalate the situation further. After all, I had already sent people and parts of the castle flying on our way here, so I was somewhat satisfied. However, I also began to feel that the ensuing discussions might become increasingly tedious.
“Well, if you’re saying that much, I suppose I’ll have to see how things unfold from here.”
“Of course.”
Before long, it seemed the Summons had been prepared. The king took his seat on the throne, signing the Summons on a small pedestal beside him. The remaining baron and the Chief Councilor were also being forcibly summoned by the Bird TYPE, standing dazed just outside the Audience Chamber. They looked pale as they took in the sight of the shattered wall and the imposing TYPE Series.
“They’re already there, so please deliver this.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As the king called out, one of the knights took the Summons and rushed to hand it to the three who stood there in shock. They would soon be joining us.
With the king seated on the throne, several ministers and knights positioned themselves nearby. On one side of the Audience Chamber, we stood, while on the opposite side were the TYPE Series and the subdued ministers. The three who had received the Summons entered through the broken door.
“W-what in the world is going on here…?”
The three halted in their tracks upon catching sight of us, but as they observed the silent king, they slowly made their way to the center of the room.
“Y-yes! We thought we were suddenly attacked…!”
“The castle has been overtaken by monsters, hasn’t it?!”
While we remained calm, the TYPE Series appeared unfazed, which seemed odd to them. After all, they had been the ones attacked, so it was understandable. With the king saying nothing, the silence must have become unbearable, prompting the three to start raising their voices.
“Silence!”
A minister standing beside the king shouted at the three, veins bulging on his forehead. Realizing that this was not the time for chaos, the atmosphere quickly shifted to one of quiet tension.
“We will now commence an emergency trial!”
“““Huh?”””
The king’s declaration echoed throughout the Audience Chamber, met with the bewildered exclamations of the three.