I was getting ready to head to Duke Holomelâs estate when I noticed a large crowd of people in the square near the royal palace â I was curious, so I asked Linnecarlo about itâŠâŠ.
âWhat are they doing, Linnecarlo?â
ââŠâŠI donât want to explain too much, but itâs a public trial.â
âWhy donât you want to explain the trial?â
âBecause a trial is a public execution in all but name, one of the shames of our country, a vice that will be absolutely abolished when Yudin becomes king.â
âPublic ExecutionsâŠâŠâ
âThereâs a charge written down over there. I think youâll understand a little better if you read it.â
As Linnecarlo said this, Jean read out the charges.
âWhat is this?âŠâŠThese men are to be executed for spreading bad news about the first prince Mushym. Anyone who disagrees must prove it with a valid argumentâŠâŠ.I donât get it, what does prove it with a valid argument means?â
âIn the past, we had to prove it with arguments, but now we have to prove it with things.â
The magicraft was standing in front of Linnecarloâs gaze.
âHey, do you want me to fight with a magicraft and win?â
âThatâs what Iâm sayingâŠâŠ.Most of the people who are stuck there are people who canât even ride a magicraftâŠâŠThatâs not a trial by any means.â
âThe reasons and everything are absurdâŠâŠIs it only the person accused of the crime who is allowed to fight with the magicraft?â
âNo, youâre allowed to represent the accused as a defense attorney.â
âIf thatâs the case, why doesnât Linnecarlo just go poof and defend them?â
âSince Arthur and I are public figures who are supposed to be impartial, we are forbidden from being trial lawyers, otherwise we would go right ahead and destroy that executionerâs magicraftâŠâŠâ
âThere are some weird, fair-minded rules here â so how do I become a defense attorney?â
âYuta, are you really going to be a defense attorney?â
âAll I have to do is defeat that magicraft, right?â
âBut if the defense attorney loses, he will be executed for the same crime.â
âItâs too bad theyâre going to execute them just for badmouthing the prince, Iâll go defend them.â
Whether they trusted me or were angry at the unreasonable public execution, Jean and Alana didnât stop me.
I walked into the square and approached the enforcer â he had set up a platform in the middle of the square and was shouting to the crowd on it.
âHey, is there anyone here to defend them? Weâre about to have all these people hanged! Itâs okay if you donât have a magicraft, weâll give you one, so donât hesitate to defend them!â
I did not hesitate to raise my voice.
âYes, Iâll defend them!â
When I told the executioner that, the crowd all looked at me at once â some with curious expressions, others with pity and concern.
âYou canât be seriousâŠâŠ.Defending them means youâre guilty of the same thing.â
â Crime?âŠ..What kind of Crime have those people hanging there committed, they just told the truth.â
âNo! What the hell are you doing! Do you mock Prince Mushym!â
âNo one is making fun of Prince Mushym, or do you think itâs true what they say about him?â
âCome onâŠâŠIâll give you a chance to explain yourself as a defense attorney! You can take the magicraft over here if you want.â
âI donât need it because I have my own.â
âDonât regret itâŠâŠ. Prepare the executionerâs magicraft!!â
The defense attorneyâs testimony seemed to be unusual, and the crowd around us began to make noise. It was like a big event, and more and more people were gathering around.
As the executioner was preparing the magicraft, first prince Mushym appeared from the royal palace and saidâŠ
âWell, well, Prince Mushym, what can I do for you?â
âHey, youâre going to fight that defense attorney?â
âHa! I may look like this, but Iâm a mid-level rider with a Ludia value of 3800, so rest assured that I wonât fall behind those low-lifes!â
âHuh. Look closely at who that man is with.â
The executioner who was told this shakes his head when he sees Linnecarlo next to me.
ââŠâŠPrincess LinnecarloâŠâŠâ
âDo you think that a rider who is allowed to stay by the side of Linnecarlo, one of the Twelve Heavenly Masters, can be beaten by a mid-level rider, fool!â
âOh well, Iâll provide the rider to fight that defense attorney.â
âHey, defense attorney, one question, are you sure you want to take on the defense of all those criminals?â
âYes, I will defend them all!â
âHmmm, good, then Iâll get you the best executioner I can.â
As he said this, he rattled off instructions to the person at his side, which seemed to be preparing something for him.