I Became the Dark Knight in the Game World - Chapter 42

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

◈ I Became the Dark Knight in the Game World ◈

Chapter 42: Marriage Scam (4)

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"What kind of insane nonsense is that?!"

Having grasped the situation, Mazhar shouted. A Trial by Combat? What age was this?

A Trial by Combat was held when right and wrong could not easily be determined, based on the belief that the gods would lend their strength to the righteous.

It might be called a trial, but by now it was nothing more than the arbitrary demands of sword-carrying thugs. This was precisely why Imperial law had gradually tightened the conditions for Trials by Combat before ultimately rendering them obsolete.

"Under Imperial law, a Trial by Combat is only possible in matters worthy of the gods' attention, that is, matters concerning religion or the Abyss!"

Mazhar brought up the most basic prerequisite for a Trial by Combat.

"Hm. What was the official title of the judge presiding here?"

Religious Judge.

Considering that marriage was a sacred rite overseen by the gods, it could, depending on interpretation, be considered a religious matter that met the requirements for a Trial by Combat.

Mazhar took a deep breath. Even if his first objection had been blocked, he had a second one prepared.

"Marriage is certainly a sacred union blessed by the Six Principles. Yet to prevent the abuse of settling every dispute through duels, the Empire has imposed many conditions on Trials by Combat."

The Empire, which had continually narrowed the scope of Trials by Combat, had eventually placed restrictions even on who was qualified to request one.

A Trial by Combat rested on the premise that the gods would choose the righteous. Therefore, anyone wishing to request one, someone who considered themselves righteous, needed proof of that righteousness.

"Do the gods have any reason to take notice of you? Have you completed priestly training and earned the qualifications of a priest? Or has a miracle occurred here and filled you with Divine Power?"

The easiest condition to satisfy was possessing Divine Power, which was practically proof that the gods watched over someone. Even without it, one could request a Trial by Combat by meeting more difficult conditions, such as possessing a reputation widely recognized throughout society. But that mere Wandering Knight had no fame worthy of such consideration.

The only matter in which someone could request a Trial by Combat without meeting those qualifications involved the Abyss. Every human had the right to defend themselves when suspected of being connected to it.

Kriel nodded at Mazhar's powerful argument.

"Priest, please."

Priest Daucrius, who had been standing quietly behind him until then, stepped forward.

"By the wings of the Raven Goddess and the divine mandate bestowed by her, I swear that Sir Kriel is the Champion of our Church."

"Champion?"

Mazhar rolled the unfamiliar word around in his mouth. He knew what it meant. But what effect could claiming to be the Champion of a religious order have in this case?

If he intended to intimidate him with the title of Champion, then he had chosen the wrong...

"Wait. The Champion of which order did you say?"

"Eve Kaha. The goddess with raven wings who guides the dead."

Kriel declared it calmly. He was the Champion chosen by a god, or more precisely, by the Saintess, though that was not something that mattered right now.

"If I have not acted honorably, the goddess will make me pay the price. Mazhar Gabi, accept the Trial by Combat."

His intent was unmistakable. Everyone present could feel the true meaning Kriel conveyed silently with his entire body.

Kriel knows nothing about law. Let's talk with swords.

* * *

"This actually worked."

Armede muttered, looking stunned. When Kriel brought up that utterly outdated law, saying, "An eye for an eye, law for law," she had wondered whether it would really work.

After clutching his head and agonizing over it for more than ten minutes, the Religious Judge said, "...These are legitimate grounds for a Trial by Combat," then notified Mazhar Gabi to either prepare for battle or find a Champion within the designated period.

Armede glanced at Kriel, who was speaking with Priest Daucrius.

'You told me all you'd done was serve in the Western Army?'

He was a Champion of the Church. That made him someone who would be treated as an honored guest almost anywhere. She let out a sigh.

Without the backing of the Kett Family, she was only a fairly ordinary mage. Yet Kriel had become Eve Kaha's Champion. She suddenly felt shabby.

Armede was curious about what a Champion and a priest would talk about, but she suppressed her curiosity.

It was a choice she would regret. This had been a perfect opportunity to learn that the priest Kriel had initially wanted to ask for false testimony was the Saintess.

* * *

"I am surprised to hear that the Champion is engaged."

Priest Daucrius, who had helped in many ways, from sending a letter to Morgina to giving testimony today, made an unexpected remark.

I shrugged.

"I was protecting a friend's dream."

"I wonder whether the Saintess knows."

"You mean Morgina? The letter I asked you to send a few days ago was actually about this matter. If she had helped, I would not have needed to trouble you again."

Priest Daucrius's eyes widened for some reason. Then his expression turned puzzled.

"Hm. So that is what happened. I suppose I should say the Saintess is very broad-minded."

At the mention of Morgina being broad-minded, I almost argued without thinking. But as a young man steeped in Confucian values and a seeker of chivalry, I could not carelessly run my mouth to an elderly man who looked more than three times my age.

"Forgive an old man's concern, but now that you have invoked the Champion's name..."

I nodded. I had not intended to borrow the name of the Church of Eve Kaha for this matter from the beginning. It was simply that, no matter how I thought about it, using a Trial by Combat to render the legal process ineffective was the only way.

With the timeless justification of doing it for love, the Church's prestige would not be tarnished. If anything, it was something to encourage. What church would deny love? Perhaps only the Abyss.

Once the engagement was formally dissolved, if anyone questioned it, I would have no choice but to say I did it for a friend's dream. Looking at it that way, accepting dishonor for friendship was chivalrous enough, in other words, a situation full of fighting spirit. Eve Kaha would surely understand.

"Yes. I will make sure not to disgrace the Church's honor..."

"No, I was telling you to crush your opponent."

"...Pardon?"

"It concerns the Church's honor as well. Our Church is basically a group of brawlers, is it not? If our Champion loses in a one-on-one fight, it would be embarrassing."

"Priest?"

"Whoever comes out, beat them senseless... Ah, not to death. Please beat them as hard as you can, as long as they survive."

The old priest made his request with a kindly smile. Under that subtle pressure, I could do nothing but nod.

* * *

Mazhar pressed a hand to his forehead. He had gained a few days, but with things having come this far, the situation was almost certainly hopeless.

The Church of Eve Kaha was famous for being combative. To be appointed a Champion among them, one could not possibly have ordinary skill.

"Perhaps the Duke's knightly order might be up to it, but..."

Would a knightly order even entertain a request from the youngest son of the head of the Gabi Trading Company, rather than the head himself?

Mazhar felt lost. Should he give up now and seek another method?

'...No. If I try to contact another group, my brothers will surely learn of it first and make their move. The only group where I can fully wield my influence without their interference is the Abyss Eradication Society.'

Besides, he had already invested too much money in the Society. Along with the Gabi Trading Company's sponsorship funds, Mazhar Gabi had poured in his own personal funds to win Armede's favor. To properly recover the cost, he needed at least a noble title.

Of course, if the head of the Gabi Trading Company had been in Mazhar's position, he would likely have coolly written off the money already spent as a sunk cost and sought another method. Mazhar had not yet reached his father's level.

He searched everywhere for a Champion. A crowd of ragtag mercenaries came forward, but many failed to meet even Mazhar's minimum requirement, the ability to defeat a knight in a one-on-one fight.

When Mazhar conducted in-depth interviews with those who claimed to have defeated knights, he would ask them this.

"Then was the knight you defeated fully equipped with armor and weapons?"

"Haha, my lord. You do not know much, do you? People like that are living light tanks. Unless they are exhausted and sprawled on the ground, an ordinary mercenary cannot stand against them."

Mazhar clicked his tongue.

He had one week. If he could not choose a Champion by then, he would have to fight himself or admit defeat.

There was little time left. Just as Mazhar began leaning toward surrender, he received word.

"There's an applicant?"

"Yes, young master. But their appearance..."

His old servant's eyes said that the applicant did not look particularly skilled in a fight.

Mazhar headed for the interview room, figuring he might as well take a look.

Inside, a woman dressed in clerical robes waited, her black hair hanging down with a red tint at the ends.

Footnotes:

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