Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 124
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 124
“Pfft, a fairy?”
Someone’s blatant sneer echoed openly through the courtroom precisely because the courtroom was so quiet.
Soon people began to murmur mockingly one by one.
“She must have lost her mind before execution.”
“Ha, a fairy. To tell such a shameless lie that even my son wouldn’t believe.”
However, the commotion didn’t last long and stopped instantly like turning a page.
“Suga, prove your existence.”
That single monotone whisper from Belinda brought about a miracle.
Though no wind was blowing, her red hair fluttered softly once, and soon something peeked out between her hair like parting curtains.
The size of a finger with pointed ears.
With a lovely appearance as if it had jumped out of a fairy tale illustration, it began circling above Belinda’s head, fluttering its three pairs of translucent wings.
“…A, a fairy!”
Though people had never seen a fairy with their own eyes, they couldn’t help but realize upon encountering Suga’s presence.
That fairies truly existed.
Belinda smiled leisurely as she seated Suga on her finger.
“A fairy that shuns evil and darkness would never associate with a wicked person who uses black magic or commands demons. If you still have doubts, then ask whether I have contracted with this fairy.”
Since Belinda had proven her innocence by revealing even the fairy before everyone, as a judge he couldn’t simply pass without asking anything.
‘They clearly said it was an ability to control demons!’
He gritted his teeth toward Schubel and reluctantly used the Eye of Truth.
“Belinda Blanche… As God’s representative, I ask you. Have you contracted with a fairy?”
The High Priest’s eyes turned a brilliant gold as divine energy once again enveloped the courtroom.
Belinda answered without hesitation this time as well.
“Yes, I have.”
God’s power discerned the truth once again.
The judge conveyed God’s will with a groan.
“It is the truth.”
* * *
Even the seemingly flawless ‘Eye of Truth’ had its weaknesses.
The fact that the one wielding God’s power was ultimately human and needed to be quick-witted was precisely that weakness.
In that sense, the High Priest’s head was nothing more than a worthless ornament.
He had just made one mistake.
Like following breadcrumbs found in a lost forest, instead of asking ‘Have you contracted with a fairy?’ as I directed him to, he should have asked ‘Do you possess the ability to control demons?’
However, the High Priest was a foolish human, and like the siblings in some fairy tale, he fell beautifully into the trap disguised as a sweet candy house.
Then, someone sitting in the gallery shot up from their seat and protested.
“That’s false! Please use the Eye of Truth on me, Judge! Belinda definitely awakened the ability to control demons!”
“Quiet, quiet! Not only do you dare deny God’s power, but you presume to speak of using God’s power privately! If you cause any more disturbance, I’ll charge you with contempt of court and blasphemy against God.”
Fortunately, not all the magistrates had been swayed by Schubel.
I watched with cold eyes as Schubel bit his lips at the magistrate’s sharp words and sat back down.
‘As expected, he knew that Belinda had awakened the ability to control demons.’
The circus accident I had seen when inheriting her memories through Belinda’s second memory fragment.
From Belinda’s perspective, it seemed like Schubel had saved her.
But the exhaustion and fatigue that Belinda—no, that I who had become Belinda—felt that day was unusual.
Just like when magical power is poured out and the magical vessel becomes completely empty.
‘Belinda probably awakened her ability then.’
The judge, who had barely managed to settle the courtroom’s agitated atmosphere, looked down at me as if viewing a troublemaker.
The magistrate standing to the judge’s left asked me.
“Controlling demons is true, contracting with a fairy is also true. Does the defendant have any explanation regarding this?”
“Of course. Have you heard this saying, Magistrate? That fairies bestow one blessing upon humans they form bonds with.”
I deliberately gave people time to ponder my words before continuing.
“I received the blessing of charm from the fairy. What appears to be controlling demons is not the power of black magic, but the power of charm from the fairy’s blessing.”
“Controlling demons through a fairy’s blessing! What kind of sophistry is that! How do you intend to prove such words?”
The magistrate standing to the judge’s right, who had taken bribes from Schubel, hurriedly pressed me.
Contracting with demons to make them your servants versus subduing demons through a contract with a sacred being—these have different meanings.
The former could be argued to have its roots connected to black magic, but the latter would be no different from sacred power that opposes evil.
From his position of needing to frame me as a dark mage at all costs, this must be making his blood run dry.
“You’ve seen a sacred being with your own eyes, Magistrate. Is proof really necessary? Moreover, I don’t need to separately prove that I received the blessing of charm from a fairy.”
I looked straight up at the magistrate who had been nitpicking every word I said, proudly lifting my chin.
“Can’t you tell just by looking at me that the fairy’s blessing exists?”
“…”
Naturally, the answer came back as silence. He probably had no words to refute.
‘Well, even I think Belinda’s appearance is rather unfair.’
Especially imagining how beautiful I must look bathed in the sacred light streaming down from the stained glass makes me tingle with excitement.
“If you absolutely must confirm it, then ask through divine power. I am always truthful before God.”
My gaze ended at the judge, just as it had in the beginning.
“Then please ask the third and final question, Judge.”
“…”
I knew he wouldn’t open his mouth easily.
From the moment the first question of divine power asked whether I controlled demons rather than whether I was a dark mage, the ending of this crude play was essentially predetermined.
As the judge who should be leading the trial remained silent, everyone began watching his reaction.
Unable to bear the uncomfortable silence, the left magistrate cleared his throat to urge the judge, but still the judge stubbornly remained silent.
He had already wasted two of his three questions. He probably couldn’t easily ask the final question.
‘Then I’ll have to force him to speak, even if reluctantly.’
I spoke the words I had been preparing for a very long time.
“If you’re troubled, I’ll make my final rebuttal first. Dear Judge, to prove that I am not a dark mage, I wish to reveal here why Schubel Blanche accused me.”
At that moment, I could feel with my whole body that everyone in the courtroom was looking at me.
I hid my tension, straightened my back, and turned to look at Schubel Blanche sitting in the gallery.
“Schubel Blanche falsely accused me of being a dark mage because I know of his original sin.”
“Schubel Blanche’s original sin?”
The protagonist of the courtroom changed in an instant.
In the flood of pouring gazes, Schubel glared at me with a fierce expression familiar to me but strange to others.
I savored Schubel’s expression to my heart’s content and opened my mouth.
“He poisoned Jonas Blanche, who was both my uncle and father.”
Regardless of the truth, the courtroom became chaotic as if bombed.
“That’s a lie! She’s telling wicked lies!”
“How terrible!”
“Silence! Everyone be silent! This is a place to judge whether Belinda Blanche is a dark mage. Defendant, please refrain from rebuttals unrelated to the main issue!”
“It is related. As the defendant, I have the right to rebut why I was falsely accused of being a dark mage. So, Judge.”
I looked straight up at the judge, who no longer even tried to hide his expression of dismay.
“Please use God’s power to prove the innocence of a believer who trusts and follows God. Whether you ask if I’m a dark mage or…”
Something like elation resembling anger surged up, so I caught my breath.
And I raised my voice so everyone present could hear.
“Whether you ask if I clearly heard Schubel Blanche’s confession with these two ears that he poisoned Jonas Blanche, I am always ready to give a truthful answer.”
“Wait… give me time to think.”
The judge chose to step back.
However, I knew what choice he would make.
Because I trusted Schubel. More precisely, his obsession, meticulousness, and distrust toward humans.
He would have taken out insurance in case the judge betrayed him.
From Schubel’s perspective, the worst betrayal the judge could commit would be to ask me whether I was a dark mage using divine authority.
Since the ability to control monsters is different from dark magic, naturally the Eye of Truth would judge that I am not a dark mage. If that happened, all of Schubel’s plans would crumble like a sandcastle swept away by waves.
‘So he probably took measures to ensure that question alone couldn’t be asked.’
A few minutes later, the judge, who seemed to have aged ten years in that brief moment, declared divine authority.
“…As God’s representative, I shall ask.”
The judge’s gaze swept around the courtroom before fixing on Schubel. After he gave a short nod, the judge asked me.
“Belinda Blanche, did you hear Schubel Blanche confess to poisoning Jonas Blanche?”
Ah, finally.
A victorious smile graced my lips.
After savoring this moment fully, I gave the same answer as before.
“Yes.”
In an instant, a suffocating silence fell so complete you could hear a pin drop.
And then.
“…It is truth.”
“That’s impossible!”
“Good heavens, oh God!”
All three opportunities granted by God had been exhausted.
The excitement that gripped the courtroom did not easily subside.
The judge and magistrate also seemed to give up on calming the people and spoke among themselves.
And soon the results of the divine trial were announced.
“The Temple proves through the authority granted to us by our Lady Aria that Belinda Blanche is unrelated to dark magic and that her power to control monsters stems from a contract with a divine being.”
Submitting to that judgment, I gracefully bowed my waist.
“Merciful Aria granted me three opportunities to reveal the truth. What follows is not a matter for God to judge, but for human law to decide.”
Raising my head, I looked back at Schubel and asked.
“Isn’t that right, Schubel?”
Finally, I cast my gaze toward Rachel Dukoff, who had participated in the trial, as I concluded my words.
Pitifully, her face was pale white with betrayal.
“We’ll see each other next at the Royal Court.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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