Tia’s Smooth Life After Regression - Chapter 138

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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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Tiya’s Smooth Regression Life

Chapter 138

“Now that the examination is complete, we can continue with the trial.”

It was when Rodion, who had spoken politely, stepped away from the corpse and tried to exit the barrier.

Thud.

His fingertips hit the barrier and were blocked.

While he couldn’t be prevented from approaching the corpse, as Rodion tried to exit, the protective magic began to perform its role.

“W-wait! Just stay there for a moment and I’ll release the barrier right away.”

“Hey, priest! Call a priest first!”

It was when the guard knights protecting the courtroom were in chaos, rushing to find a priest who could treat the plague.

“There’s no need to go to such trouble.”

Rodion gently declined, then tapped the floor with the tip of his shoe as if knocking.

Immediately, a giant white snake emerged from his shadow. The shadow spirit with gleaming red eyes hissed disapprovingly at the barrier surrounding its master.

And the next moment.

Crack.

When Noir drove its fangs into the barrier, cracks appeared in the barrier.

“St-stop it!”

Starting with someone letting out a metallic groan, the cracks in the barrier began to grow uncontrollably.

Finally, when the pale-faced mage dropped his staff from both hands.

Crash!

With a sound like shattering glass, the protective magic was completely destroyed.

Immediately, the courtroom fell into chaos.

The nobles in the courtroom panicked and stumbled backward, pushing each other, while the guard knights drew their swords from their waists.

However, their sword tips wandered aimlessly through the air, having lost their target.

They couldn’t face the infection source that had escaped the barrier with swords.

“Outside! Get outside!”

“Open the doors!”

The courtroom instantly became pandemonium.

In the midst of it all, Count Montes’ face contorted upon spotting Rodion, who alone remained leisurely.

‘What a petty trick’

That Vladijef bloodline must have known in advance that a prisoner would be executed here as an infection source.

And he was using that to delay the trial even a little.

While everyone currently wanted Shurkha’s head, the longer it dragged on, the more likely circumstances that could turn public opinion might be discovered.

‘I had bribed people to rush the trial to prevent that.’

It was when the Count was grinding his teeth.

Rodion, who hadn’t lost his composure despite causing all that commotion, smiled broadly at Count Montes.

An obvious sneer.

‘That damn bastard!’

The moment rage surged to the top of his head and the Count abruptly rose from his seat.

Bang, bang, bang!

“Order! Order!”

The judge’s gavel cut through the courtroom’s commotion in an instant.

“We cannot let the infection source spread any further. Until a priest arrives, no one may leave this courtroom.”

It was a rational judgment, but the nobles’ faces all contorted. Someone even burst into tears from terror, but the judge did not bend his will.

Instead, he cast a stern gaze at Rodion, the cause of all this trouble.

“You must pay the price for this reckless action. Also, since we can no longer continue the proceedings, this trial ends here.”

It was the moment the gavel was about to declare the trial’s suspension.

“His Majesty wishes for this trial to be concluded swiftly.”

A low voice heard nearby stopped the judge’s intention. It was the voice of Count Montes, who was seated right below the judge’s bench.

He couldn’t ignore the wishes of someone attending as the imperial observer representing the Emperor without hearing him out.

Starting with the judge giving him attention, everyone’s eyes in the courtroom focused on the Count.

The Count was someone who knew how to effectively use people’s attention.

He rose from his seat and slowly descended from the upper seats to meet the eye level of everyone in the courtroom.

“If we suspend the proceedings in this situation, it will only increase unnecessary confusion. Also, everyone must not forget.”

The Count no longer spoke toward the judge. Before long, he was addressing not only the jury but everyone in the courtroom, cleverly stimulating their sense of justice.

“We are here by His Majesty’s command to uncover the crimes of the criminal who created and spread the worst plague currently sweeping the North.”

The Count’s target was clear.

He stood directly in front of Rodion, who stood alone like an isolated island.

Hiding his desire to mock this impudent youngster to his heart’s content, he put on the mask of a righteous person who cannot tolerate injustice.

“In contrast, the defense attorney’s actions appear to be nothing but schemes to delay the trial and prolong the life of a vicious criminal.”

The faces of people who had been terrified about possibly being infected with the Death’s Mark began to show increasing anger.

The moment the Count’s victory was confirmed by drawing the courtroom’s public opinion to his side.

Rodion gazed at the Count with a rarely seen expressionless face and asked.

“Are you not afraid of the Death’s Mark, Count?”

It was a somewhat unexpected question, but the Count did not let his guard down.

“Don’t you know the danger of that disease? If I were ignorant of the Death’s Mark’s severity, I wouldn’t have attended this trial.”

“I see. For someone who knows the disease’s severity well, you don’t seem to fear me.”

The Count’s brow furrowed.

Without Shurkha’s protection, what was there to fear from this mere youngster whose tongue he could cut off right now?

Nevertheless, Rodion looked around as if he couldn’t understand this situation, then asked quietly.

“Or did you know?”

At that moment, the Count felt a strange sense of unease.

It was like the sensation of stepping wrong in a forest full of traps.

“That the infection source completely loses its contagiousness after a week from its creation.”

In the Count’s field of vision, rolling only his eyes, he saw the frightened faces of guard knights who hesitated, unable to dare approach Rodion.

Only then did the Count realize his mistake.

He had gotten too close to Rodion. As if he wasn’t afraid of being infected with the disease.

Or as if he knew there was no chance of infection.

The courtroom, which had momentarily quieted at Rodion’s words, began to slowly boil over.

“…Would I fear such a disease when a cure has already been developed?”

He hastily added words, but people no longer listened to the Count’s words.

“The contagiousness disappears? Then we’re safe?”

“If what he says is true, then yes! It’s been quite a while since the infection source was discovered in the Count’s research lab.”

“It might be a lie. Didn’t everyone see the prisoner die instantly?”

“Whatever the case, the Count already knew, so that’s why he was so bold, right?”

“What exactly is going on here?”

Rodion paid no attention to people’s confusion. He walked past the Count and spoke to the judge.

“Honorable Judge. To prove the infection source’s contagiousness, I request to summon Lord Argon of Morningstar Tower as a witness. I’m confident no one knows more about the infection source than him.”

Then, turning his head, Rodion addressed everyone in the courtroom just as the Count had done earlier.

“Except for the real culprit, that is.”

Finally, a smile returned to Rodion’s face.

* * *

After the Mage Lord’s testimony and the priest’s infection check proved that infection sources lose their contagiousness after a week from creation.

The trial’s direction began heading toward a place no one had expected.

It was because seeds of suspicion toward Count Montes had sprouted.

“They said only the culprit would know that the contagiousness disappears.”

“Count Valoz aside, how does Count Montes know that fact?”

“Have you heard the news? All the Royal Investigative Bureau staff are being interrogated. Rumor has it that someone among them planted the infection source to frame the Count.”

“Count Valoz has many enemies… Perhaps Count Montes was also his enemy.”

Though only baseless rumors and suspicions were rampant, that was enough for Rodion.

“Yes, I couldn’t identify the other party, but I was told to deliver the item to Lady Valentina who was staying at the manor.”

This was because suspicions arose that Count Montes had tried to plant documents in Vladijef Manor that would frame him.

And those suspicions became fact when Valentina took the witness stand with a tear-stained face.

“I was threatened to place that item in my friend’s room. I didn’t know who the blackmailer was at the time, but hearing that voice, I’m certain now. It was Count Montes.”

Count Montes, who had remained silent throughout, raised his voice for the first time, calling it an outrageous lie, but it was useless.

“Count Montes is summoned as a new suspect.”

Bang. Bang.

It was the moment when the sluggishly proceeding trial entered a new phase.

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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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