Livorden (L·wonder), one of the three great nations of the Spirit Continent.
During the Spirit Continent's century of peace, its economy and national power experienced rapid development.
It rose to become a superpower on par with the militarily renowned Varian Empire and the scientifically advanced Accelerate.
Within Livorden lies Fusion Academy, one of the three major Duel Academies, continuously supplying the nation with duelists and sustaining its prosperity.
And now, in the capital of Livorden, the Supreme Order Court's "Order Council" was presiding over an exceedingly rare case.
"Luca Slint. You stand accused of involvement in Shadow Games, inflicting harm through dueling and card theft, violating Articles 5.26, 7.12, and 9.22 of the Continental Unified Law. Do you plead guilty?"
Under the spotlight, the blonde girl, Luca, stood at the defendant's podium, far removed from her usual innocent and adorable appearance.
In its place was a gray-white prison uniform revealing her frail frame, cold iron shackles binding her slender wrists, and even her Spirit Eyes had been confiscated.
"Not guilty. I'm innocent."
Luca's dry lips barely moved. Her voice was low, yet amplified by magic to be clearly heard throughout the courtroom.
"Luca looks so pitiful now."
The duel with the Millennium Ring had happened days ago. Aisha Carlos, summoned as a witness to the Supreme Order Court, was seeing this kind of place for the first time in her life.
Miles said, "Aisha, you're not starting to pity her, are you? With Luca's personality, I seriously suspect this is just an act!"
"You might be right, Miles, but..."
That moment when the Millennium Ring turned to ash… Luca's look of despair couldn't have been faked.
As the Millennium Item's host, perhaps she really had been deceived and betrayed by it. Whether she had truly used a Shadow Game to harm innocent duelists, neither Aisha nor Miles could say for sure.
In truth, Luca had never initiated a Shadow Game—hosts of the Items can't activate Shadow Games themselves.
"Innocent? That's your defense, Luca Slint?"
The presiding judge of the Order Council was an aged man over fifty. Yet time had not diminished his dignity or fairness as the Archbishop of Livorden.
"I don't know what a Shadow Game even is."
Still clinging to her claim, Luca's frail voice and pitiful appearance stirred sympathy among the other clergy at the bench. Could such a young girl really be a Shadow Duelist?
"I never took part in any Shadow Game. I'm innocent. I've been framed..."
Tears the size of pearls welled up in her vacant eyes, rolling down her grimy cheeks, making her look even more pitiable.
Everyone, that is, except the Archbishop.
In his role, he had to ensure the council's judgment wouldn't be swayed by emotion.
"We've gathered testimony from witnesses. But as you all know, testimony alone can't serve as evidence. Therefore, we ask the Seth family to present the key evidence."
"Key evidence?"
Both Aisha and Irena, summoned as witnesses, had no idea such a thing existed.
Especially after the Millennium Ring had crumbled into dust, all evidence of the Shadow Duel should've vanished.
And yet, the Seth family was the one presenting the evidence.
As expected, under the spotlight of the courtroom, the tall and elegant Kaima Seth entered slowly.
In her hand was an item Miles had never seen before.
Visually, it resembled the "Beaconbugs" Aisha often used.
"That's a Recorder Bug!"
Aisha recognized it instantly.
"A what now?"
"It records a period of time, then plays back the footage using magic. A magical recording tool."
"So basically, a camcorder?!"
"Camcorder? What's that, Miles?"
"Erm… just an old nickname we had for Recorder Bugs back home."
In this world, even devices for video messaging and recordings were bug-based. The magical tech tree of this world was... peculiar.
Aisha asked curiously, "So what exactly did Kaima-senpai's Recorder Bug capture?"
Kaima handed it to the court staff, who confirmed its authenticity, then passed it to the judge.
The Archbishop channeled magic into it, projecting the recording onto the white floor of the courtroom.
—
"Since no one feels like hiding it anymore, let's settle this with a Duel. A Shadow Game, of course!"
"Heheheh, hahahahahaha! I'll crush you completely with my invincible Sacred Beasts!"
"No way! My Sacred Beasts... my Archfiends... how could this happen?!"
"Y-you, stay away from me! St-Stop!"
—
The Recorder Bug played what was essentially a highlight reel of a villainous anime girl.
Whether Kaima had cherry-picked the footage or not, the short two-minute clip showcased Luca's arrogance and bloodlust during the Shadow Game.
It was, without exaggeration, a public execution.
Especially the crucial part… after the game ended, when the Millennium Ring lost the stolen soul from Irena, the white-haired girl reverted to the form of Luca Slint.
To the audience, this was conclusive.
Miles gasped. "Kaima Seth... Even while outside the Shadow Game, she thought to record the whole duel?"
That... was impressive. Very much a CEO move.
"No! That wasn't me! You've been tricked!"
Now, under public execution, Luca knew the pitiful act wouldn't work anymore. She screamed hysterically.
Or maybe the rage of betrayal had finally snapped her.
"Miles, this evidence... doesn't look good."
"Yeah, kinda."
To be fair, that really wasn't Luca. It was just the spirit inside the Millennium Ring using her form.
But if Aisha, Irena, and Kaima didn't reveal the truth, who would believe Luca?
False evidence. A planted frame-up.
Kaima Seth had just dropped the ultimate trap card.
"Aisha, it's better if you don't say anything."
Irena, also on the witness stand, advised calmly.
"Why, Irena-senpai?"
"The Seths are a ducal family of Livorden. The Slints? One of the top three noble houses in the Varian Empire. That's all you need to know."
A subtle reminder of the dirtier, darker power struggles between nobles… something Irena didn't want staining her dear kouhai.
The judge said, "The evidence is overwhelming. Luca Slint, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
"What evidence?! Where is it?!"
Signs of mental breakdown were surfacing. Her once-clear eyes now muddied, her chained hands pointed frantically at the projection.
"Can't you see?! That's not me! I was framed, I was tricked! I'm the victim too!"
"Silence, Luca Slint."
Kaima's voice cut cold and clear across the courtroom, silencing Luca in an instant.
"You're pathetic now. A clown in the court. The Slint family will feel nothing but shame because of you."
Kaima looked down at Luca like trash to be discarded after use.
"Kaima Seth! You... you set me up!"
Realizing the truth behind the trial, Luca gritted her teeth, forcing the words out from clenched jaws.
"Order!"
The judge struck the gavel. The courtroom returned to silence.
"There is no longer room for debate. Luca Slint, guilty of involvement in Shadow Games, multiple counts of law violations, and exhibiting no remorse. I, on behalf of the Order Council, pronounce the final judgment."
"Verdict: Guilty."
"Sentence: Fifteen years imprisonment."
"F-fifteen years..."
Drained of resistance, Luca collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
"Why is this happening to me? This isn't right... There must be a mistake. You're joking, right? Fifteen years in some dirty, dark prison? I'm a noblewoman! This isn't funny!"
"Even royalty is equal under the law. Nobility doesn't shield you from Shadow Game crimes. Take her away."
Two women clergy moved in, one on each side, lifting Luca by the shoulders as her limp legs dragged across the floor.
"Let go of me! I'm innocent! I didn't do anything! Let me go!"
In one final desperate glance, Luca locked eyes with Aisha Carlos in the witness seat, as if grasping for a last lifeline.
"Aisha, help me! We're roommates! You know I'm innocent! Please, say something!"
"Luca..." Aisha's eyes trembled.
"I'll even give you my favorite bunny plushie! Please, save me, Aisha..."
"You better not do anything foolish, Aisha Carlos."
Kaima, now back at the witness bench, pierced straight through Aisha's wavering heart.
"You have family, too. If you don't want the Carlos family dragged into this, stay quiet and walk away. This isn't a war you can afford to join, Aisha Yuna Carlos."
A war of power—fought without smoke or gunfire.
"Aisha... Aisha..."
With Aisha unresponsive, Luca's last screams died with her hope.
The heavy iron doors closed. From that moment, Aisha would no longer see or hear anything about Luca Slint.
"...Miles, I don't know why, but I feel awful. If Luca really didn't start that Shadow Game and was tricked by the Ring, did we do the right thing?"
"We didn't do anything wrong, Aisha."
Miles offered comfort, then glanced at the quietly sullen Dark Aisha beside him.
"Or maybe, once nations and nobles are involved, there is no right or wrong… only power and profit."
Even if Luca deserved punishment, Miles hated this feudalistic process.
He wanted a more just system. Anyhow, that was just a dream… Miles was too powerless to change society now.
On the way back to Fusion Academy, riding Irena's witch broom with arms wrapped around her waist, Aisha asked softly:
"Irena-senpai, will Luca really be imprisoned for fifteen years?"
That would be unbearably cruel for someone her age.
"She won't."
Under the blue sky, Irena flew on and smiled.
"The Slints are one of the Varian Empire's three noble houses. Their current head won't just sit back and let his granddaughter rot. Besides, keeping a noble girl in prison would be a disgrace to the family."
"So what will happen to her?"
"She might be locked up for two years at most. Then the Slints will use their connections to bail her out. That said, with the Seths involved this time, they'll pay dearly for it."
That cost could be vast wealth… or a seat in the national council.
One thing was certain: the Seth family would squeeze them for all they were worth.
Playing with fire, abandoned by the Millennium Ring, Luca ultimately became just another casualty of noble power games. Overwhelmed by forces she couldn't fight, the girl who once dreamed of changing the rules was swallowed whole.
Luca Slint, believing she could create a paradise on her own strength… There could be no more ironic ending.
Regardless, at least, today, the sky was still blue. The breeze swept through Aisha's white hair, leaving her with a sense of release.
...
If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!
[Patreon.com/RedZTL]