Chapter 79: A Clean Resolution

As far as half-demons went, I knew roughly three.

The one I was closest to was Shugle.

The second was Feltron, with whom I apparently shared a nasty past.

And the last was Lilliana, standing right in front of me.

As a group, these beings had… unconventional aesthetic sensibilities.

Come to think of it, Shugle was basically a monster when I first met him.

Now he seemed quite fond of that black squirrel-like form.

People even found him cute.

In any case, from a human perspective, Lilliana’s appearance was something that made you tilt your head in doubt.

Her skin, a dark brown base dotted with white spots, triggered an instinctive sense of rejection.

Her eyes were small, and her head was disproportionately large.

If there was anything passable about her, it would be her voluptuous figure.

But doesn’t a face have to support that before you can call someone beautiful?

“What did you just… say?”

“My apologies. I happened to see your true form.”

“I came here in my capacity as Countess. Mind your words.”

Lilliana expressed quiet anger.

My attitude, however, didn’t change.

I had no intention of showing courtesy to a half-demon who went around bewitching people.

“Do you really think you could keep that position once Count Antonio’s charm is lifted?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Your identity has already been exposed. Half-succubus.”

TZZZZZ!

I immediately pulled out the communication rod.

Crimson flames flared violently, pushing away all lingering energies in the room.

At once, the dazed look in Prosecutor Anderson Cantrell’s eyes vanished.

“Huh? W-What? What just happened? That thing isn’t human!”

“It’s a half-succubus’s charm. Everyone mistook her for an unparalleled beauty.”

“Good heavens! To think such a thing could happen!”

As expected, Lilliana’s true appearance didn’t earn human affection.

Naturally so.

Unless someone had extremely unusual tastes.

“Something like an overwhelming halo is gone now, but even so, she doesn’t feel that bad.”

“Excuse me?”

At Cantrell’s muttering, I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

She looked far closer to a monster than anything else—what was he even talking about?

Seeing my reaction, Cantrell scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Ahem! I didn’t mean she’s good. It’s just… I’m not exactly in a position to be picky.”

“You’re saying that in the middle of witness examination?”

“Better to die a lonely old bachelor than not at all—even if it’s with a half-succubus… ah, no, forget I said that.”

Apparently sensing the chill in my gaze, Anderson Cantrell wiped sweat from his forehead.

I had expected someone as passionate as Corbin Sears, but this one wasn’t exactly normal either.

In any case, by now, Count Antonio’s mind should have returned to him.

“Prosecutor Cantrell, bring in both the defendant and the victim.”

“Understood.”

Soon, Count Antonio and Grady entered the conference room.

They were glaring at each other, bristling with tension.

Then they noticed me and hurriedly straightened their posture.

“Your Honor, what became of Lilliana’s examination?”

“It’s finished.”

When I gestured toward her, Count Antonio rushed over.

“Oh! My dear, are you unh— what? What happened to your face?”

“Honey!”

“Who are you? No, Your Honor! Where did Lilliana go, and why is there a monster standing here?”

“Damn it. I was this close, and that cursed judge ruined everything.”

“W-What did you say?”

As expected, the reaction unfolded exactly as predicted.

Count Antonio staggered back, his face drained of all color.

The defendant, Grady, looked equally horrified.

Seeing Lilliana’s true form had clearly dealt them a heavy shock.

I motioned for both men to stand before me.

“Let’s put an end to this pointless chaos. Wasn’t all of it the result of this half-succubus’s scheming?”

“Y-Your Grace…”

“What is it? Do you still feel attached to that being?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Count Antonio’s expression was utterly dejected.

Now that he had come to his senses, the blow to his pride must have been immense.

Understandable.

Fighting your own son over a woman—anyone would find that humiliating.

Given that, there was only one clean way to end this.

I called the defendant over and spoke quietly.

“This incident carries responsibility on all sides. You acknowledge that, yes?”

“Y-Yes.”

“There may still be resentment in your heart, but it will fade soon. You share a deep blood bond, do you not?”

“Yes.”

“Go and apologize to your father first. He will accept your hand without hesitation.”

“But the one who filed the lawsuit was—”

“And why does that matter? Do you still see that half-demon as your lover?”

Regardless of who filed the charges, everything stemmed from the half-succubus.

In my view, restoring the father’s dignity was essential here.

“And you want your heir position back, don’t you?”

“I understand.”

Grady nodded with a resolute expression.

It seemed he had made up his mind.

“Father, I was foolish and brought a vile thing into our household. I bow my head and beg your forgiveness.”

“Ah…”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected such a swift apology—Count Antonio couldn’t find his words.

Sensing the atmosphere turning awkward, I stepped in.

“Count Antonio.”

“A-Ah! Yes, Your Grace.”

“A sincere apology is an act only the courageous can perform. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“O-Of course. When did he grow up so much? I nearly didn’t recognize him. H-Hahaha!”

Letting out a hearty laugh, Count Antonio patted his son on the back.

He, too, apologized and expressed remorse for his own failings.

“I’m sorry as well. I showed too many shameful sides of myself.”

“No, Father.”

“Good. Let’s go home.”

“Yes.”

The two embraced, their expressions lighter than before.

Then they turned to me with solemn faces.

“Your Honor.”

“Yes?”

“We will withdraw the charges. But please punish that half-succubus, as you did with that doppelganger before.”

“I will.”

I had every intention of doing so.

Leaving such a creature roaming free would only create more victims.

I had to deal with her decisively.

Just like Theo, who was busy working as a blacksmith.

But what should I do with her?

A doppelganger absorbed countless experiences and possessed a wide range of skills.

A half-succubus, however, only knew how to seduce men.

Bringing her to the Duchy of Carius would be nothing but a headache.

Then again, throwing her in prison wouldn’t mean much either.

I’d be lucky if she didn’t start charming the guards.

“Shugle. Got any good ideas?”

You mean something that keeps her from causing trouble, right?

“Yeah.”

— Why overthink it? Just send her to the church.

“Oh?”

Surrounded by holy power, she’d probably suffer endlessly.

Of course, it wouldn’t actually kill her.

Half-divine and half-demonic beings were practically immortal.

“Gah! You think I’ll submit to the judgment of mere humans?!”

As things failed to go her way, Lilliana predictably turned violent.

Whenever her charm failed, she must have escaped crises like this.

A half-demon’s physical abilities far surpassed those of an average knight.

The problem was that her opponent was me.

BOOM!

I kicked off the dais, leapt into the air, and brought the communication rod down.

It was a movement as fast as lightning.

SHUAAAA—! THUD.

The hammer, wreathed in crimson energy, stopped right in front of Lilliana’s nose.

Then an overwhelming shockwave erupted.

Her hair whipped wildly, her cheeks trembling.

She stood there, stunned and speechless.

“The only reason I didn’t execute you on the spot is because the Empire follows due process.”

…

“Count Antonio and his heir Grady are loyal servants of His Majesty. The crime of driving a wedge between them is by no means light. If I wished, I could impose an even harsher punishment.”

Lilliana, who had been frozen in place, finally spoke in a trembling voice.

Any thought of resolving this through force had clearly vanished.

“T-Then what’s the original punishment? And the harsher one?”

“Ten years of community service. All of it in the church. Want to hear what comes after that?”

“No! Not at all!”

“I’d lock you beneath the chapel. You’d live in agony, steeped in holy power.”

The punishment was improvised, but it hit home perfectly.

Lilliana’s dark complexion turned deathly pale.

“After ten years, you’ll really let me go?”

“If you leave the Empire and live quietly, yes.”

“…Fine. I accept.”

Lilliana bowed her head deeply.

With that, the incident was neatly resolved.

Without even holding a proper trial.

I immediately resumed the court session.

In truth, there was no need for deliberation anymore.

The parties had reached an agreement, and Lilliana had accepted her punishment.

All that remained was to announce it.

“I hereby pronounce: due to the withdrawal of charges and an amicable settlement, all criminal proceedings are terminated.”

Buzz—!

The gallery erupted into chatter.

They had expected a gripping trial, only for it to end abruptly.

Still, the mood didn’t turn hostile.

“Wasn’t that practically the worst kind of parricide?”

“And he reconciled them in just an hour?”

“Ha! Is that even possible?”

“Or perhaps Duke of Carius uncovered a misunderstanding through incredible insight?”

“Oh! That seems the most plausible.”

“Yes. Otherwise, it would be impossible.”

Things were heading in a strange direction even without an official explanation.

Granted, I had played a major role.

“However, the crime of tearing a family apart cannot be ignored. Lilliana is sentenced to ten years of community service.”

All eyes turned to Lilliana, seated with her veil on.

People tilted their heads in confusion.

“Tearing a family apart? What does that mean?”

“That woman caused discord in House Antonio?”

“Then the father and son fighting makes sense.”

“Good grief. No matter how powerful love is, it shouldn’t separate parent and child.”

“Just how beautiful must she be for all this to happen? I kind of want to see—ow!”

A man leaning forward to peek at her face suddenly yelped.

It seemed his wife had stomped on his foot.

The Antonio father and son left the courtroom together, and Lilliana was dragged away somewhere else.

I’ve already informed the church. They’ll handle it properly.

Still, you never knew.

I planned to check on her situation from time to time.

If things weren’t going as expected, I’d correct them immediately.

“Well then, shall I finally sell some clothes?”

With the trial ending early, it was time to give some momentum to the stagnating business.

And replace these bulky, tasteless court robes while I was at it.

Then a sly voice spoke up beside me.

“Your Honor?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“There are still this many trials left. Where do you think you’re going?”

Josef Padiya was wearing a suspiciously wicked smile.

For a moment, a thought crossed my mind.

Honestly, this guy feels more half-demon than anyone else.

I ended up stuck there, preparing for the next trial.

Damn it.