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.

and unpermitted loitering within and outside

other things were

stealing the Monster Cores." Was also

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

about it. What legitimate way could I have obtained that many

get even more than the amount he was being accused

was none other

preferred to maintain that than whatever

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

"Not guilty."

he was pleading, so he was not exactly making a claim. Therefore,

that was concluded,

evidence and testimonies were

Rey already knew, with a few extra

Nothing too surprising, though.

also brought out,

hundred and

meant that whoever set

probably thought that this meager amount of Magic Cores wouldn't mean

Rey sighed internally.

really can't wait till I figure

Stuff like;

found his signature on the

And

"He has no alibi."

Were constantly mentioned.

case against him, but Rey already knew all

it was

"It's not true."

the first words he uttered. The Truthseeker did

I'm hearing sounds strange and absurd. I would never

I'm not that stupid!'

again, the Truthseeker

are you saying the evidence and testimonies are all

confused as you are. You can imagine my surprise when I was

good way to skirt around the issue so far, but he

worst was yet to

saying you didn't have that sack of Monster Cores in your

moment Rey heard this,

couldn't lie that he didn't have the

the question, Rey

being given

considerations and calculations, so if he took too long to answer, he