“Elma, how could you side with those brats…?” Laman cast her an angry look. “I knew Fiona was lying! That the medicine wasn’t working… Yet still, I let her…”
“Fiona once told me ‘Laman is everyone’s Hero. And he’s already saved me many times over. Please, remind him that his people need him.’ She wanted me to tell you that, after she died. So turn around and see for yourself.”
“What? What do you…?” Laman faced the gallery. “You all…”
The people of the Hero’s Village were gathered there—older folks, children, and slimes.
“Please, forgive yourself.”
“We heard everything from Grammy Elma.”
“Slorp.”
They all offered their encouragement.
Elma had hired wyvern taxis to ferry them to the courthouse.
“…I’d finally convinced everyone that I ruled you like a tyrant, and now you’ve put that effort to waste.” Laman dropped to all fours. “If only it could be like it was before…,” he whispered, his face downturned. “In the old days, we just had to worry about defeating the enemy—and then the stronger one beyond them. Our only goal was reaching the Demon King’s castle. We marched with our hearts as one and our eyes on the road… Why couldn’t it remain so simple?”
He seemed to lose himself in thought for a while before gazing up at the Scales of Judgment.
“I don’t know…how to live in this world… My story…has already ended. Everyone is dead. My beloved wife is gone. How can I possibly…continue…?”
Perhaps that was how the old hero had felt all along.
“There you go again. The Meadow of Beginnings you kept isolated will become a part of the Chiyodaku Kingdom again, you know. Do you understand what that means?” Tsukasa’s tone was strong.
“…I don’t.”
“You’ve illegally filled the place with a mountain of trash. We’ll need you to get rid of it.” The judge crouched down next to the man. “This is only the beginning. Come now, Hero. Stand up once more and show us your courage.”
Tsukasa offered Laman her hand.
“Let me get this straight, girl. You want me to use my fire magic again?”
“If you have any other ideas on how you may contribute to the kingdom, by all means, tell me. Or would you prefer we bill you for the damage you’ve done to the skylight and tapestries?”
I walked over to them, to Laman. “If you don’t want to, at least teach me how to use fire magic. I’ll burn it instead.”
The Hero’s old golden eyes stared back at me, taking in my words. “You brats sure have some nerve to order me around.” I spied a bit of vigor return to his gaze.
Tsukasa and I had discussed what we thought Laman’s future might look like after the trial.
For all that had transpired, he still had mastery over fire magic. He would put that immense power he’d honed over half a century to good use, and we’d pave the way for him to do so. Our intent was to encourage him to wield his spells for the greater good once more.
“This is ridiculous,” Laman said. “Is this what you call a real judgment from a Japanese court?”
“That’s right. This is the real thing,” Tsukasa replied.
The old hero broke into a smile. “Pfft. Ga-ha-ha.” He started to laugh heartily like the time in the tavern. But…
“Ha, ah, ugh…”
…he quickly turned to sobbing.
“Guh, ugh… I—I…”
His arrogant attitude had been a front to conceal his weakness.
Tears held for so long flowed out, like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
“If only…” Laman faced the sky and closed his eyes. “If only I’d been judged by you sooner.”
Bwonnng.
Laman’s words triggered a sound that seemed to herald the end of an era. “Look, the scales,” someone said.
The huge Scales of Judgment had begun to tip. The side of the judged sunk with the weight of his statement. The image of the Hero sitting on the pan disappeared. In its place was a Shard of Judgment, which slowly fell from the air to float toward its owner, the innocent Laman the Hero.
◎ JUDGMENT COMPLETE ◎
A line of text appeared under the scales to signify the end of the trial.
Applause filled the room.
Dozens, hundreds of hands clapped together. The people of the gallery all stood in ovation.
Then…
Fwoosh. A bluish-white light filled my vision.
This light…
I squinted my eyes. The glow came from the people in the gallery, but it also streamed in from outside, through the two entrances. It poured in with such force that it burned tapestries on the wall as they flowed toward the judge’s bench.
They gathered together and spiraled upward.
<<Akky, are those…?>>
<<They’re from the people watching the trial outside. Grains of Trust… No, they’re more like…>> “Grains” no longer accurately described them. <<…Stars.>>
The orbs of light were absorbed into the Scales of Judgment.
After the trial at the Slime Store, they’d resembled fireflies. Yet this time, each light sparkled more powerfully than before.
Their radiance made the courtroom resemble a planetarium. The motes swirled and glittered, blocking out the midday sun.
People really were watching from all over the kingdom.
These Grains of Trust represented the level of trust we’d gained from the trial’s spectators.
Their size and amount was automatically calculated based on each viewer’s assessment.
How much could these add up to?
I opened up the trust-level window to check. The number had passed a million. My eyes widened in disbelief as the total continued to rise. It soared higher and higher.
<<Akky…>> While basking in this incredible feeling, I heard a voice in the back of my head. <<Give me your hand…>>
That’s right… We’ve still got something important left to do.
I took my sister’s soft hand in my right. Then grabbed the old hero’s with my left.
“Laman, please rise,” my sister said.
Together, Tsukasa and I pulled him up.
In this magical place, bathed in the blue-white light…
…I felt his wrinkled hand squeeze mine.
It was full of warmth.