Tonight, the atmosphere was quiet, Svetislav sat on the couch in the living room. The girls had gone to wherever, to save Kazuma. Truly needless...
Worst case scenario they would have to fight the judge, but as of now there was no way to prevent the trial, which has been set on a date a few days from now, without causing any more trouble.
Svetislav knew that, he did try to stop them, but they didn't listen.
The fire in the fireplace had gone cold, now replaced with fireless heat, by his will.
He didn't have a reason to try anything, he simply sat there, and thought of the whole situation. He feared no one, except the One above, for this power wasn't his... but what he created - was.
If he had to, he would just intimidate the jury, the prosecutor and the judge.
In his mind rolled memories of corruption, of injustice.
He didn't like thinking negatively - what good did it bring him?
He needed peace, and peace was within mind's reach, he laid down one leg dangling over, his clothes still clinging to him except for the edge of his coat. Closed eyes, spell ready, he just needed to fall asleep and get a dream going... Imperfect... If he did that again he wouldn't wake up in good condition.
His eyes snapped open and he decided to make a rule for himself: Engineer's wet dream would be usable only during afternoon naps. A vow to oneself.
Without them to bother, he just went to take a shower, before going to sleep.
This night he achieved lucid dream, or at least something similar, his mind faded occasionally.
He had to frequently check his hand and tell himself that this is a dream to maintain it.
The dream was of a village, one similar to the ones back home... It brought him peace... In one way he did gain the peace he wanted. He sat under a tree with a blanket underneath him, which he pulled out of nowhere.
But then it all came crashing down, he woke up, his vision within the dream went black, while he held desperately, hoping to recover the dream, but no, when he opened his eyes he saw the ceiling of his room.
He closed his eyes again and rested for a little while longer, till the effect of the sleep wears off, if not - might as well fall asleep again.
But it didn't happen, so he stood up and prepared for the day. Which held nothing but free time, one of such unfulfillment.
So he decided to try something out: make a steam engine. He had the materials and the idea.
This day was spent in doing just that, a little steam engine, heat, water, motion. It was lovely... He felt fulfillment... For today that was enough. That night the girls attempted to save Kazuma again.
The next day came by, and so did his attempt to make the steam engine's kinetic output into a machine, like a press, or a mixer, or a mill. He did just that, the process was simple, he dropped it in, the mill spins and because of friction and the forces it goes to the sides. He tossed in a bit of charcoal, grinding it into a black powder, he then mixed it with water, making black paint...
He took a deep breath, remembering the days spent in nature, when he spent time next to a river grinding charcoal in the rocks...
After this he took another break. The time passed by and he achieved nothing new, he just solidified his knowledge.
A few days later, the time for trial came, the jury gathered, adventurers with him or against him. Kazuma stood in the middle behind what seemed to be a fence installed in the ground, his hands locked in a crude version of handcuffs. The court room was more of a court court, as it was an open space. The jury was separated from the important side by another wooden railing.
The judge, of course, at his stand. The stern looking woman was also there, she was the prosecutor.
"The trial of Kazuma Satou will now come to order."
Kazuma was breathing heavily, Svetislav went to him. "Don't worry about it. I got this."
Svetislav had a serious expression, eyes of the hunter, and the voice of some who is ready for everything. Kazuma calmed himself down.
There was a fat and ugly blonde man, sitting and twirling his mustache. He seemed to be grinning as he looked at them. Svetislav stared him down.
And so the trial officially began.
"Madam prosecutor, you may begin."
The prosecutor held a clipboard, reading into it. "Endangering the life of a lord is a threat to the stability of the land and it's people. The accused, Kazuma Satou, is hereby charged with sedition. First witness."
Chris came out of the crowd and came to the stand where Kazuma was, Svetislav still stood to the side, giving her a look.
"Now then, Chris. Is it true that the defendant used steal to remove your undergarments in a public place without your permission?"
"Well, yeah. That's what happened. But i was teaching him how to-"
Suddenly a girl's voice rung out from the crowd. "I saw the whole thing. He was swinging her panties around and cackling about it."
"Who was swinging them?"
The girl pointed at Kazuma warily, who screeched like his soul left his body.
"The eye witness confirms the actions of the accused. No further questions!"
Chris was left in shock while the prosecutor turned on her hills and walked away.
"Objection! Let Chris finish. Isn't this a court room? If you are unable of winning an argument without cutting the other person off then why are you even working as a lawyer. Your honor, may i proceed with the witness' testimony, because it seems the offensive side is using unfair tactics."
The blonde man had an annoyed expression as Svetislav took the lead. The prosecutor on the other hand was nervous.
"Fair enough, Proceed." The judge nodded once.
He turned to everyone. "Now, since i also was there, i will ask this," he spun to look at Chris. "You did challenge him, i will quote what you said then: 'I stole from you, now you steal from me. whatever you get - you keep.' Am i right about what you said?"
"Yes."
"Can you explain the context?"
"Yes. I was teaching Kazuma how to use Steal. I stole from him his coin pouch and was about to return it, but i got the idea of challenging him, which Svetislav quoted perfectly. In the end he did steal my panties, but everything is fine, because Svetislav took them back, returned them to me, took the pouch from me and returned it to Kazuma."
"Perfect. No further questions."
The prosecutor sighed, slightly
After this the next witness came.
The prosecutor began. "Mister Mitsurugi, did the defendant steal and then sell your magic sword?"
"Well, yes, he did. But i challenged him to a dual so it's not"
"No further que-"
Svetislav gave the prosecutor a judging gaze.
"Can i finish?"
"Yes." The prosecutor forced herself to say.
"It's not his fault. Because the terms of the duel were that if I wins Aqua becomes a member of my party, and if he wins he gets any wish. In term my sword was his wish."
"Great, now we can say 'no more questions.'" Svetislav said with a creepy smile, half-passive-aggressive. He looked at the prosecutor with that smile, which enerved her even more. "Context is important, don't you think?"
And so the third witnesses came, two ladies. "When the two of you asked the defendant to give back the magic sword, did he threaten to remove your undergarments in public?"
"YEAH! He totally threatened us! He said he thought guys and girls are equal and that he didn't have a problem throwing down on girls. Whatever that means, the coward." The pink-reddish haired girl said, pointing at Kazuma. Then the other one, who had a green, leaning towards cyan colored hair, added. "It's true. And then he said he'd use Steal to make things embarrassing and drafty for us."
"I was there, i saw. He was doing this weird gestures with his fingers. It made my skin crawl." - A man in the jury said.
Svetislav looked at Kazuma and whispered. "When the fuck did you do all of this?! I can't defend that."
Kazuma didn't have time to explain.
"I think we have heard enough, proceed with the hanging."
"On what basis?! His only crime is threats."
"On this basis. His party caused a flood to defeat one of the devil king's generals. The excessive amount of use of explosion magic in the proximity of the town has destroyed the land, habitat and peace of the people. Not only that but during questioning, when i asked if he had any connections with the devil king or his army - he said no, and the bell rung loud and clear. That proves that he is indeed guilty."
"Objection!" Svetislav said. "Your methods are proving inefficient. You said you asked if he had connection, not that he is allied. Lets say for example, i had a friend who had joined the devil kings army, does that make me a criminal?"
"Lets ask him now then." The prosecutor said, determined, grabbing the bell, which was in the middle of the court, and placing it in front of Kazuma. "Are you allied with the devil king?"
"No."
The bell did not ring.
"That does not matter, my mansion was blown up by his command. Now, Execute the terrorist!"
"I am not terrorist!" Kazuma yelled.
The bell didn't ring.
The prosecutor looked defeated, the blonde man inclined his head.
The judge looked on and said. "In the light of this new development, i see no reason to deem him guilty. Kazuma Satou, the charged have been revoked and you are fre-"
"I think not, your honor."
"Big pardon, milord."
"You don't wish to embarrass me, do you?"
The judge trembled, tilting his head down.
"The defendant is... guilty... I hereby sentence you to death."
"OBJECTION! This is a trial, not a measurement of status. If that's the case there is no justice." Svetislav went to the bell.
Alderp clenched his jaw in annoyance.
"If you are planning to use your status, I might as well put this out on the table." Svetislav clasped his hands together, before pulling the apart, a cube of copper appeared in them. He held it high. It began melting, the liquid metal flowing down onto the stone ground.
"What is the meaning of this?" The judge asked.
"This will happen to him, if he uses his status... Does power overpower Might? I think it doesn't." Svetislav walked to the magic bell and said. "His's attempt to sway the judge's decision with his little words is corruption, and must be written somewhere, to prove that he is a fraud. A noble who isn't noble at all."
"Do you know who i am?"
"No, and i don't care. You have no might to contest me, you might send assassins, but they won't be able to do anything to me. If you want to measure who is better, i challenge you to come out. Duel me."
The blonde man began to sweat, Svetislav's confidence was too much for him to handle... He couldn't admit defeat, but he couldn't also accept the challenge.
All eyes were on the two, many watched in admiration as Svetislav stood unshakable.
"Judge, i give you permission to deem Kazuma innocent, he won't bother you while he is in shock." Svetislav turned and said gently.
The judge nodded, shacking slightly, "I hereby revoke Kazuma Satou of the charges. Innocent."
Cheers erupted.
"This can't be..." The fat man mumbled under his nose.
Svetislav smiled triumphantly, he has done it, Kazuma is free. Pure pressure. That's him... Consistency.
Aqua ran to him. "Svetislav, you did it."
"Truly impressive." Darkness commented.
"You were so cool!" Megumin said, admiring his methods.
"Don't follow in my steps. You don't have my type of god complex." Svetislav said, shaking his head.
Guards came and removed Kazuma's handcuffs. "Man... I don't know what to say."
"Thanks is enough, but i need no praise. That's my gift to you guys." And with that he was the first to leave. He gave Alderp one last deadly glare which made him twitch a little out of fear.
Chris who stood in the crowd, ran and matched his pace, once she reached him.
"You nearlyy scared half the court to death."
"Good. Fear works faster than reason, when reason's being ignored."
"Still... molten copper? Right on the floor? That wasn't a bluff, was it?"
"IF i wanted to bluff, I'd have picked gold. Coppre is common. Cheap. Forgettable. Exactly like the nobles who use their status. I made him see it melt. He won't forget it."
"You are insane, you know that? If Alderp had pushed harden, you'd probably be in chains right now."
"Do you think chains would hold me?"
"No. No, i don't think they would."
"You were part of the jury, how was the view?"
"Great... I witnessed you staring down a man who could have ruined you with a word. You didn't even blink."
"Because i knew i was right. And also because i know that i am stronger than all of them. Kazuma might be reckless, but he's no criminal. I don't let friends get trampled by someone's title."
She hesitated for a second, looking him in the eyes. "You're going to get yourself hurt, standing up to people like that."
"If that happens, then i'd rather fall knowing i didn't bow to them. Better that than live as a coward."
She looked away quickly. After a moment, she said "...You make it really hard for me, you know?"
"Hm?"
"You know... To stay detached... To... keep my walls up."
"You don't have to keep them up with me. I meant what i said before. I'll keep myself clear of everyone else. Because i want you."
"Ugh, you are impossible."
"Mhhm..." He nodded holding a prideful smile.
After a moment of silence she said. "You defended Kazuma like a brother. He probably doesn't even know how much he owes you."
"He'll figure it out. Or he won't. I didn't do it for gratitude. I did it because it was right."
She looked at him again, softer this time.
"And that's exactly why you scare me, Svetislav. You don't bend. Not for money, not for titles... not even for fear."
"And that scares you?" He raised an eyebrow.
She nodded faintly. "Because one day, that kind of resolve either saves the world... or breaks you apart."
"If i break, I'll break on my own terms. But until then..." He locked eyes with her, his voice lowering. "You will be there for me, won't you?"
She stopped walking, her heart beating rapidly at the question. She didn't answer right away, only gave a small, almost pained smile, before whispering: "...Always."
That's all he needed to hear, he gave her a kind, loving smile and so they continued walking.