An Extra’s POV

Rey felt an itch at the back of his throat.

His stomach rumbled as a few beads of sweat fell from his face.

He had been preparing himself for this moment, but now that it had finally arrived, he couldn't help the nervousness that assailed him.

Right now, he was kneeling before the five members of the Royal Council.

Conrad Listrio, as always, sat at the center of the group. His yellow blond hair was long, and it trailed down his shoulders as he calmly stared at the one to be tried.

The woman beside him had a slightly feline smile as she gazed upon Rey.

It almost felt like she was a cougar who desired to devour his flesh.

The other three members of the Royal Council wore neutral expressions. They didn't seem particularly happy or sad.

… Just stern.

'Oof! Tough crowd…' Rey glanced around him and noticed the number of cold-faced guards that currently looked at him.

The pressure was overwhelming.

Rey could see his classmates seated on one end of the room—almost as if they were members of the jury.

Brutus and Lucielle stood right beneath the elevated platforms that the Royal Council occupied.

It was all so strange, but Rey took it all in as calmly as he could.

'I never thought I would get into this sort of trouble so I didn't bother to learn a lot about the judicial system of this world…'

Still, he knew they wouldn't be too hard on him about formality since he was an Otherworlder.

'I also know the punishment won't be too harsh. Not only will Adonis object, but I still have the label of an Otherworlder.'

As long as those two factors existed, he was at least certain of his safety.

"Let the trial begin." Conrad spoke up, and the murmurs instantly stopped.

Absolute decorum pervaded the Royal Court, and everyone stood still.

'Here goes…'

*******

The first thing that happened was the reading out of all Rey's potential crimes.

The fact that he had disobeyed the direct order of the Royal Council stood at the very top of the list.

trespass and unpermitted

Non-Compliance, among other

Cores." Was also added

when he heard that, even though he could see Adonis and a few

legitimate way could

enough to get even more than the amount he was being accused of, but none of these

was none other

would have preferred to maintain that than whatever this

all the list of potential offenses, he was asked how he pleaded to each of them, and he responded with

"Not guilty."

so he was not exactly making a claim. Therefore, the Truthseeker

that was concluded,

evidence and testimonies were presented to

was essentially a retelling of everything Rey already knew, with a

Nothing too surprising, though.

brought out, and the contents were properly accounted

of one hundred

knew there had to be a lot more Monster Cores, which meant that whoever set him

this meager amount of Magic Cores wouldn't mean

Rey sighed internally.

really can't wait till I figure out who this

Stuff like;

his signature on the

And

"He has no alibi."

Were constantly mentioned.

built up a strong case against him, but Rey already knew all

done with their side, it was finally Rey's

"It's not true."

words he uttered. The Truthseeker did not display any lies in his

believe I'm being set up by someone. A lot of what I'm hearing sounds strange and absurd.

without precautions. I'm not that stupid!' Rey's thoughts

again, the Truthseeker justified

the evidence and testimonies are all worthless?" Lord Conrad asked

as confused as you are. You can imagine my

skirt around the issue

worst was yet

are you saying you didn't have that sack of

Rey heard this,

lie that he didn't have

question,

again, he wasn't being given a chance to defend

of time for considerations and calculations, so if he took too