WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 99 - Three Calamities (6)

The trial proceeded quickly.

There was no one to defend me, and I had no intention of offering a proper defense anyway.

"Do you have anything to say in your defense?”

"..."

"If not, then the verdict will be finalized.”

-Bang.

As I watched the judge’s gavel come down, I steeled myself.

Still, I needed to show at least some defiance.

Scarlet Abyss would be monitoring the movements of the nobles in one way or another. If I accepted the outcome too easily, they might grow suspicious.

And that was the most important part of this entire plan. Making sure they didn’t doubt it.

I had to make it look as if I had really been abandoned, leaving me desperate enough to reach out to them.

I had to make them believe that.

"I have something to say.”

When I spoke up, the judge, who had been about to strike his gavel a second time, frowned.

"Something to say? Are you claiming you wish to make a defense?”

"That’s not it. No matter what I say, isn’t the outcome of this trial already decided?”

I quietly glanced behind me. Sharmia wasn’t there, but standing by the rear entrance was a Knight clad in full armor.

It was Carose. Through the visor, her small eyes carried an emotion that was hard to put into words.

If I had to describe it, it was something like, ‘You’re really going through with this?’

For the record, I was.

“Since Her Highness the princess is behind all this.”

"...Please refrain from making statements unrelated to the trial.”

As I opened my mouth, those I knew each reacted differently.

Dercia lowered her head and pressed her fingers against her temples.

Ciel looked at me with a faint smile, then sighed.

Aletus—he couldn’t bear to watch, so he opted to close his eyes instead.

This was all agreed upon beforehand. However, actually witnessing it happen seemed to feel different.

"It is related. After all, the reason I’m standing here today is entirely thanks to Her Highness, isn’t it?”

"Enough. The court will now—”

"Truly remarkable. Is this the Empire Her Highness seeks to build? One where a child like me is dragged before the court? Has Imperial Law always existed for the sake of just one person?”

I hurried my words before the judge could bring his gavel down and close the court.

"At this rate, it’s hard to tell who the real sovereign here really is.”

The moment those barbed words left my mouth, the previously noisy courtroom fell deathly silent.

"..."

"...Hiccup."

Even the judge froze in place, still holding his gavel.

In the silence, where even the sound of breathing would feel deafening, a single voice clearly echoed inside my head.

[...Jern. Perhaps it would have been wiser to soften those words a little.]

I was about to write a reply on Dercia’s back using the currents but decided against it, realizing that touching my master’s back like that seemed to be rather inappropriate. So instead, I wrote my response on the back of my own hand.

[Why? Look how quiet it got. That means it was effective, right?]

[Her Highness explicitly asked you to dilute that line as much as possible or at least add nuance. Saying it raw like that is far too shocking for these nobles.]

[Was it really that harsh?]

If anything, I’d been worried that it was too mild, making it look like a staged performance.

However, there wasn’t any time for me to unpack every implication these words contained. As if she’d expected this, Derica sighed and replied.

[Princess Sharmia is currently in a very unusual position. She is freely wielding powers that should belong to His Majesty, the Emperor. Under normal circumstances, that alone would constitute treason, but the Emperor himself sanctioned it…which makes the situation extremely complicated.]

[I don’t see the problem. She’s borrowing authority with the Emperor’s approval, right? She’s not some random noble, but a princess. What’s there to find fault with?]

[If I explained all of it, it’d take too long, so let me simplify it for you. The Emperor’s sanction effectively transfers all authority, which means the princess can do the same thing the Emperor can.]

[...Huh?]

[It means the current princess can transfer imperial authority to someone who is not her child. Someone not of her blood.]

[Isn’t that something the Emperor can do as well?]

[No. The Emperor may only pass power to his own bloodline. But Sharmia, having inherited the Emperor’s authority without becoming Emperor herself, is free from that restriction. In other words, she can grant her power to anyone.]

[Hmm…That’s complicated. I still don’t see why that’s such a problem.]

[Then let me make it even simpler. If Sharmia were to marry and transfer her authority to her spouse, then, for the first time in imperial history, someone with no imperial blood would stand above all others.]

Someone not born of the Emperor’s line would become the Emperor.

The weight of those words was so heavy that even Dercia hesitated to utter them.

[...Would she actually do something like that?]

[Absolutely not. Not even if it killed her. But the problem is that she could. The fact that she holds the hilt of a blade capable of such absurdity is the taboo the nobles whisper about but never dare mention aloud. And you just tore that taboo wide open and exposed it to everyone.]

[Hmm…]

After thinking about it for a moment, I shrugged.

[Even better then.]

[Huh?]

[At this point, the nobles will definitely spread rumors. By the end of today, Scarlet Abyss will conclude that I’ve crossed the line of no return with the princess.]

[You’ve crossed it, alright. If you ever wish to return to the Empire, you’ll need more than the title of imperial envoy. You’ll need a proper noble rank, a period of public reconciliation with the princess, and for every noble to acknowledge it. Are you capable of handling this?]

[I’m prepared for it. But Aletus won’t suffer any repercussions from this, right?]

[...We framed it as Aletus having filed a report against you, so he should be fine.]

Then there was nothing left for me to worry about.

Despite the lengthy exchange with Dercia, the judge, who had remained frozen the entire time, finally came back to his senses and slammed the gavel down repeatedly.

"L-Life imprisonment! Life imprisonment, and this court is adjourned! Take that traitor away at once!”

It was a rushed, sloppy decision, but no one objected.

The soldiers, clearly eager to get me out of there as quickly as possible, moved fast. I was escorted away before I could even say my goodbyes to the rest of the group.

Dercia sent me one final message as she watched my back.

[Jern. You already know this, but remember. No matter what happens, nothing is more important than your life.]

I didn’t bother replying.

I completely agreed with that statement after all.

* * *

The day the verdict was handed down. Dawn, when the moon hung highest in the sky.

I looked around my prison cell, which had become far more dreadful than before.

A solitary cell so cramped that even an 11-year-old child would hit the wall after taking just two steps.

A tiny barred window several meters overhead, letting in the dim light of a torch, and a prison located so deep underground that not even footsteps could be heard.

If I had to compare it to something, it felt like being locked inside a roadside sewer.

I suppose they’d decided I was no longer worth treating decently. With even the key taken away and nothing left but my robe, I stared up at the ceiling, the only entrance, before pulling the red collar from inside my clothes.

No one else could see it. Dercia had said she’d placed the highest-tier perception-obscuring spell on it.

A concealment spell cast by a 9-star mage.

"Hmm."

But how was I supposed to use this thing?

Dercia had examined it, commenting that it looked less like a magical tool and more like living tissue, before concluding that it was outside her field of expertise.

Since it was a collar, I figured I’d just try wearing it. Maybe if I spoke while wearing it, the message would get through.

And then...

-Psshk...

"?"

The collar turned to ash and vanished.

For a moment I just stared at it blankly, wondering if this was some kind of Scarlet Abyss-style prank. Then the ashes suddenly rose into the air as if they were alive.

So this was how it worked. It probably sent some sort of signal so they would come and retrieve me or something.

Which meant—all that was left to do was wait.

Leaning against the prison wall, I revisited the question that had bothered me the most ever since I had come up with this plan.

'How are they going to pull this off?'

Decay wouldn’t miss this opportunity. That much was certain.

If he’d gone so far as to seek me out and hand me this collar to recruit me, then now that a rift had opened between me and the princess, he’d absolutely exploit it.

What I was curious about was…

What method would he use to do it?

This was the heart of the capital and one of the most heavily guarded prisons.

A frontal assault was impossible as long as Dercia was around. They’d have to somehow approach me if they wanted to extract me—and I was extremely curious how they would manage that.

Judging by the fact that Decay had appeared in the library before, it wasn’t as if they lacked the means.

As I leaned against the wall, letting my imagination run wild, I heard the sound of footsteps coming closer.

"...Wow, that was fast.”

The collar had just turned to ashes moments ago. Not even three minutes had passed yet. I was absolutely certain that it wasn’t time for the guards’ patrol either.

They sure were terrifying. Awestruck by Scarlet Abyss’ speed and precision, I looked up and was confronted with an unexpected sight.

Red hair.

"Wow. So you’re actually locked up.”

"...Princess Lumia?”

That face looking down at me belonged to someone I knew.

Princess Lumia was with Scarlet Abyss?

No, that couldn’t be. Staring at Lumia as she looked down at me with clear amusement, I asked,

"What brings you here?”

"I heard you’d been imprisoned, so I thought I’d come take a look.”

"What?"

She came to see me?

I hadn’t had much contact with Princess Lumia, so I tilted my head in confusion. She added, almost apologetically,

"I merely wished to see what became of you after ignoring my warning.”

"Your warning?”

"I clearly told you…that associating yourself with my sister would bring you misfortune.”

"Ah."

She hadn’t actually used those words. She never really bothered to hide her dislike for Sharmia. Sharmia, on the other hand, seemed rather fond of Lumia.

I’d brushed it off at the time, but thinking back, perhaps it wasn’t because she desired power. Maybe it was the unease of living alongside a prophet, feeling that unsettling atmosphere unique to such people.

Lumia crossed her arms confidently and continued.

"Look at you now. Life imprisonment, your entire future stripped away. That is the fate of those who get involved with the first princess, Sharmia. It is inevitable.”

"Yes. As expected, you truly are the one most suited for the throne, Princess Lumia.”

"...! Watch your tongue!"

I figured she was hoping for some flattery, so I wanted to indulge her a little, but instead she panicked, glancing around to see if anyone overheard.

As I was starting to wonder why she even came here, Lumia sighed and said something I hadn’t expected at all.

"Haah… Talking to you gives me headaches, seriously. I’ll get to the point. If you wish, I can take you out of here.”

"Huh?"

"I won’t repeat myself. I mean that I’ll overturn your life sentence. Even if my authority is paltry compared to my sister’s, extracting a single prisoner is still within my reach.”

"No, I understand what you’re saying.”

Also, she did say it twice even though she said she wouldn’t repeat herself.

"It would certainly benefit me, but why are you doing this all of a sudden? I can’t see what motivates you to spare me, Princess Lumia.”

"Hmpf, I’m simply repaying a favor.”

She replied curtly, then raised a flame in her palm.

-Fwoosh!

The fire was bright enough to turn this dark cell into one touched by the sun in an instant.

"I heard you lend me your master. I don’t know how you managed to lend out that Dercia, but thanks to it, I’ve grown considerably.”

"My congratulations."

"Helping me is to deserve something of equal value in return. And since my slight growth is worth as much as your life, saving you is only appropriate.”

I glanced at Lumia, scanning her with Tide Sense.

Her heartbeat was slightly fast, but it didn’t seem like she was lying.

And at her waist, she wore the dagger I had gifted her—or rather Aletus had gifted her. She wore no other ornament. It seemed like she was quite fond of it.

In other words, she had no ulterior motive.

This rude, shameless princess had truly come here to save me.

Just as a warm feeling spread through my chest, a bolt of inspiration struck me.

I could use this.

"...Princess Lumia.”

"What is it? Ah, but don't misunderstand. I can’t get you out immediately. Your remarks were far too extreme. I personally found them rather refreshing and correct, even. Anyway, it will take some time to sort it out, but you’ll only need to stay here for about 2 weeks at most.”

"Would it be possible to receive a different kind of compensation for those lessons?”

To prepare a hidden dagger, just in case.

"...What?"

Lumia looked at me with a puzzled expression, tilting her head.

"Something else? If you don’t accept this offer, you’ll rot in here for the rest of your life. What use would you have for anything else?”

"Please. There’s something I truly wish to receive from you, Princess Lumia.”

"And what might that be?”

"From now on, whenever you see me, please ask me a question. Ask whether things are better now than before.”

"...??"

Lumia still didn’t understand.

Truthfully, neither did I. This was nothing more than a safeguard against an absurdly unlikely scenario.

Even I, the one setting it up, wondered whether it was truly necessary.

"Why would you want that?”

"Because I wish to speak with you for as long as possible, even just a little.”

That was why the reason itself was this flimsy and ridiculous.

"What...!"

Lumia’s face flushed as if in anger, her body trembling. Then she nodded slowly.

"T-that’s all? In addition to getting you out of here, I’ll grant you that special favor as well.”

"Thank you very much for your boundless mercy. As expected, Princess Lumia, you truly possess noble grace.”

"Ugh…You—”

"Yes?"

"...It’s nothing. I’m leaving.”

"Safe travels.”

She backed away and left the cell, and I was alone once again.

I let the silence settle for about 10 minutes.

Praying that what I had just done would amount to nothing at all.

As I swallowed dryly and rubbed my neck…

-Squeak, squeak.

A far less welcome guest than Lumia appeared at my feet.

A plump sewer rat. I frowned and shifted aside, but it didn’t stop at just one.

3 more, then 6,

Then there were 10. In the blink of an eye.

"Hmm."

With no room left to step, the rats suddenly began biting each other.

-Squeak!

-Squeak, squeak!

Blood splattered everywhere.

The rats, now soaked head to toe in blood, wiggled toward the cell wall and began carving letters into it.

It wasn’t a long message. Just two words.

[Get down.]

"..."

Before the final letter was even finished, I ducked.

-Screech, squeeeaak, squee…!

-Boom!

The rats exploded, giving off small popping sounds.

-Fsssh…

A small hole appeared beyond the melted wall.

A narrow, filthy passage, barely large enough for an 11-year-old child to crawl through, slick with rat blood and genuinely disgusting.

Without a word, I gathered the remains of the rats with the current and wrote new letters on the adjacent wall.

[Could you make it wider?]

Unfortunately, no reply came back.

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