Peace Hunter

"Why are you all here?" I asked, slightly surprised.

All I saw were Uncle Bill, Uncle Dean, Uncle Isaac, Eric, and several Aston villagers. They were initially at the back of the crowd, but when they were about to call out to me, they all moved to the front to meet me.

"Of course, we all came here to cheer you on. I'm sure you're innocent in that incident, Rid. I've known you for a long time, even since you were little. So there's no way you would do something like that, because you're a good kid," said Uncle Bill.

"That's right, Rid. We all came here to encourage you during your trial," said Uncle Dean.

"Even though we can't watch the trial in person, we're grateful to be able to see you and cheer you on," said Eric.

"I didn't expect you all to come here. Thank you, all of you," I said.

I missed them because it had been so long since I'd seen them. I intended to chat with them for a while, but several knights began to pull and push me, forcing me to continue walking into the courthouse.

"Hey, who told you to chat? Hurry up and move!" the knight said.

"Yes, yes. Thank you all for coming to cheer me on. I'll be going now," I said.

"Keep your spirits up, Rid. I'm convinced you're innocent in this case," said Uncle Dean.

"That's right, keep your spirits up, Rid," said Eric.

I smiled and walked back to the courthouse. When I reached the front door of the courthouse, I saw two knights guarding it. The two knights immediately opened the door and told me to enter. I entered the building, escorted by the knights surrounding me.

Meanwhile, as Rid entered the courthouse, several people who had overheard his conversation with the people from Aston village began to tease them.

"Hey, you commoners, did I hear you right when you said that the child was innocent? It seems you're blind, huh? It's clear that the child has killed several people, including the son of the Duke of San Angela, and you still say he's innocent?"

"It seems they've gone mad. Well, it's natural for them to be like that, especially since they're commoners," the people said.

"What did you just say?" asked Eric, looking angry.

"Calm down, Eric. Don't get carried away," said Uncle Bill.

"But they started it first, uncle," said Eric.

"Since you've met the killer, you'd better go back to your slum village and never return to the capital of San Estella again, because your presence is polluting the air in this capital," said the person who had taunted him.

"You bastard," said Eric, immediately hitting the person.

Not only Eric, but his friends also joined in hitting some of the people who had taunted him. A commotion broke out among the crowd gathered in front of the courthouse. Several knights guarding the courthouse immediately intervened to stop the disturbance.

-

Inside the courthouse.

As soon as I entered the building, I was immediately greeted by a very large room. In front of me were rows of chairs, which appeared to be for spectators watching the trial. Currently, no one was sitting in the chairs, and the courtroom was still very quiet, as there was still an hour until my trial began. Far in front of the rows of spectator chairs, in the center of the courtroom, was a chair that appeared to be for the defendant who would be attending the trial. To the left and right of the chair were three chairs and a table longer than the three chairs combined. The three chairs to the left and right of the middle chair were arranged facing the middle chair. The middle chairs and the spectator chairs were arranged facing the front of the courtroom. Meanwhile, at the front of the courtroom, there was a wall with a large scale symbol on it. In the center of the scale symbol were three large letters spelling out 'CSF'. Above the wall, on the second floor of the courtroom, stood a fairly large chair. It appeared to be the seat of the judge presiding over the trial.

After that, I looked to the right and left of the fairly large chair. To the right and left of the chair was a wall with the same symbol as the one on the wall below the chair. But beside that wall, I realized that there were also several chairs lined up on the second floor. The chairs were oriented toward a chair in the center of the first floor. It seemed like there were also seats for spectators above me, but unfortunately, I couldn't see them because the ceiling was blocking them.

"How big is this courtroom, really?" I thought.

As I was observing the courtroom, a knight told me to keep walking.

"Why are you stopping? Keep going!" the knight said.

Since the courtroom was still empty, I was directed to a door on the right side of the building's entrance. I walked to it, and when I reached it, a knight opened it. It turned out to be quite a large room inside.

"Now, enter that room until the trial begins," said the knight escorting me.

"Ok," I said.

Then I entered the room, but the knights escorting me didn't accompany me into the room.

"You wait in this room while we stand guard outside. Don't cause any trouble, or we'll take action against you," the knight said.

"Ok," I said.

"Also, I'm sure you're hungry. Eat this while you wait for the trial to begin," the knight said, handing me a lunch box.

I accepted the box with my handcuffed hands.

"Thank you, sir, but how am I supposed to eat this with my hands cuffed like this?" I asked.

"That's none of my business. The important thing is that I've given you food. Now I'll close and lock the door," the knight said.

The knight immediately closed and locked the door. Meanwhile, I walked to the center of the room. There were seats in the room, so I sat down. I then looked at the lunch box and opened it. Inside the food box, there was rice and a complete selection of side dishes.

"I thought the food the knights gave me wasn't fit for consumption, because when I was in prison before, they always gave me unsuitable food, so I thought they'd give me the same food, but apparently not. I'm really hungry right now, but it doesn't seem like the time to eat. Besides, I can't eat comfortably with my hands right now," I said.

I immediately closed the food box.

-

A few minutes later.

The door to the room suddenly opened. As it opened, three men I recognized entered the room. They were the Duke of San Angela, Marquess Marcelo, and Commander Luka.

"What brings you here, Lord Duke? Are you going to hit me again?" I asked.

"I came here to check on you, and you seem to be doing very well now, unlike when you were in prison," said Duke James.

"That's because the knights healed me," I said.

"They only healed you because you agreed to stand trial. If you hadn't, they would have left you in that condition," Duke James said.

"I know about that. They do it to cover up the fact that they actually like to beat the prisoners there. So if a prisoner comes to attend a trial, they'll heal him first so that outsiders don't find out that they actually like to abuse prisoners," I said.

"You're quite clever," Duke James said.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Lord Duke," I said.

"Now that I've seen your condition, I'm going to leave. I can't wait for the trial, especially when His Honor sentences you to death, Rid Archie," Duke James said.

"You'd better not wait for the trial, Lord Duke. Because, as I said before, you could end up being the one sentenced to death," I said.

"Watch your words to Lord Duke, you bastard!" Commander Luka said, suddenly enraged.

Duke James looked at me with a sharp gaze.

"You're still delusional. It's a shame you're here, and the trial is about to begin, so I can't beat you like I did back then. I stopped beating you because that stupid noble was there,"

"Let's go now, Sir Marcelo, Luka. There's no need to get emotional about what he said, and he'll be dead soon anyway," said Duke James.

"Yes, Lord Duke," said Marquess Marcelo and Commander Luka.

The three of them hurriedly left the room. Once they were gone, the door was closed and locked again.

-

A few minutes after Duke San Angela left, the door opened again. Two people entered the room. I was surprised to see them.

"Brother Rid," said Caroline.

One of the people who came into my room was Caroline.

"Carol? Why are you here?" I asked.

"I saw the newspaper report about Brother Rid being involved in an incident. The newspaper said that Brother Rid will be in court today. Since I have free time, I came here to watch Brother Rid's trial," Caroline said.

"You didn't have to go to the trouble of coming here, even bringing Commander Oliver," I said.

The other person who came into my room was Commander Oliver. It seemed he had been ordered to guard Caroline, so he came along.

"Long time no see, Young Master Rid," said Commander Oliver.

"It's been a long time, Commander. By the way, why is Commander suddenly calling me 'young master'? I'm not a noble, so I don't deserve to be called 'young master'," I said.

"Consider it an honorific, Young Master Rid. I respect you for being a hero during the academy attack. Moreover, you also managed to save Prince Charles, Princess Chloe, and Princess Caroline," Commander Oliver said.

"I don't deserve that honorific, Commander Oliver. Especially now that I'm a murderer who has killed several people, including a Duke's son," I said.

"I'm sure if Brother Rid didn't do that, it would be a mistake, right?" Caroline asked.

"No, Carol. I was the one who killed them all. It wasn't a mistake," I said.

"Impossible, I still don't believe it," Caroline said.

"If you really killed them, you must have had a reason, Young Master Rid," Commander Oliver asked.

"As you say, Commander, I did have my reasons for killing them. During the trial, I intend to tell you my reasons, even though it's unlikely anyone will believe me," I said.

"I'll believe whatever Brother Rid says," Caroline said.

"If Princess Caroline says so, then I'll believe what you have to say," Commander Oliver said.

"You two haven't known me long, yet you readily said you'd trust me. Don't you suspect I might be lying about the reasons I'm about to reveal?" I asked.

"Don't underestimate the instincts of an old man like me, Young Master Rid. I can tell who's trustworthy," Commander Oliver said.

"As for me, I simply feel that Brother Rid is a trustworthy person, that's all," Caroline said.

"Thank you for trusting me, both of you. By the way, did you come here with Her Majesty, Carol?" I said.

"Ah, my mother said she would be here. But she had something to do earlier, so she told me to go to the courthouse first," Caroline said.

"Is that so," I said.

After that, Caroline looked around the room and noticed a lunch box next to me.

"Brother Rid, is that your lunch box?" Caroline asked.

"Yes, when I was told to wait in this room, one of the knights gave me this lunch box. The knight told me to eat from it, but with my hands cuffed like this, I can't eat comfortably," I said.

"Then let me feed you," Caroline said.

"No need, Carol. I don't want to bother you," I said.

"It's okay. Besides, Brother Rid hasn't eaten yet, right? Just think of it as repayment for saving me during the academy attack some time ago. Although, that repayment won't be repaid just because I feed you. Anyway, I'll feed you, so just sit still, Brother Rid," Caroline said.

"Ok, if you say so," I said.

Then Caroline took the lunchbox, opened it, and began feeding me. While Caroline was feeding me, Commander Oliver spoke to me.

"I heard that Elaina has joined Elevrad, and you're also currently the vice chairman of Elevrad, Young Master Rid. Has Elaina been a bother to you while she's carrying out Elevrad's duties, Young Master Rid?" Commander Oliver asked.

"No, Commander. Elaina hasn't been a bother to me. In fact, I've been a bother to her by asking her to help with some of the tasks," I said.

"If you're released from this punishment and return to the academy, make her do more homework. I don't mind if you continue to burden her with these tasks. This will give her a lot of experience, especially in administrative matters. This experience her brother couldn't have gotten because he wasn't a member of Elevrad while he was at the academy," said Commander Oliver.

"Ok, Commander. When I return to the academy, I'll give her as many tasks as you requested," I said.

A few moments later, I had finished the food in the lunchbox. Since Caroline and Commander Oliver had been in the room for quite some time, they both decided to leave.

"Then, I'll go now, Brother Rid. Good luck with your court hearing," said Caroline.

"Yes, thank you, Carol," I said.

They both left the room, and after that, the door was closed and locked.

-

A few minutes later, the door opened again.

"Looks like I have quite a few visitors today," I thought.

-To be continued

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