Ascendance of a Bookworm (LN) - Volume 3.3 - Chapter 15

The Door of Judgment 

Richt excused himself, leaving to fetch the mayor. 

A short while passed before he returned. When he did, the mayor was brought onto the stage by two men who were holding him by the arms. He looked thin and somewhat pitiful wearing his ragged clothes, but this was actually pretty standard for commoners. And while he was unsteady on his feet, I didn’t see any signs that he had been beaten over the winter. In fact, it did not seem as though he had been treated that poorly at all. 

The mayor knelt before me, raising his head to meet my gaze before quickly lowering it again. While I only saw his narrowed eyes for a second, there was a nasty gleam in them. I could feel the distinct air of arrogant condescension, his transient expression making it clear that he intended to exploit me to escape his punishment, since I was just a compassionate little girl. 

...If the me from a year ago was up here, I never would have noticed that look. 

I had now spent a year getting knocked about in noble society, having to carefully observe Ferdinand’s stony expression and Florencia’s calm smile to catch even a glimpse of the true emotions hidden beneath their facades. It seemed that all this practice had made me a little more attentive to things like this, and while I wasn’t particularly happy about the method, it had at least helped me to avoid getting exploited. 

“High Bishop, I simply did not understand my actions,” the mayor began in a pained voice, keeping his head lowered as he defended himself. 

He went on to speak at length about how he hadn’t realized that attacking the monastery would be considered treason, but that was a lie; when Fran had told Richt about the monastery attack during the Harvest Festival, the blood had drained from his face, and there was no chance that the mayor’s assistant would know something that the mayor himself did not. The truth was that he had just intended to smooth over his crime using the former High Bishop’s influence. He knew that it was a grave offense, which was why he had waited until Richt was away from the city to order the attack. 

As I listened, feelings of complete disgust slowly started to build up in my chest. Ferdinand was standing one step behind me, and I could only imagine the blood-chilling expression on his face. Just the thought was enough to make a shudder run down my spine. 

“Enough. Since when were you under the impression that ignorance would excuse your crime?” Ferdinand asked, cutting down the mayor’s defense in one fell swoop. 

The mayor looked up at Ferdinand in surprise, failing to find any words. He then locked his eyes on me, having no doubt concluded that I would be easier to convince, and resumed his defense. 

“O benevolent High Bishop who saved Hasse from destruction! Everything I did was to protect my humble city. It is only now that I understand the severity of my ignorance, and I ask for your mercy so that I might live with virtue to atone for my sin.” 

His grandiloquence was about what you would expect from someone who was in a position of leadership; he knew how to pick his words, speaking in a manner that quickly persuaded those listening to sympathize with his situation. Several people in the crowd had even started to speak up asking for my mercy. 

This isn’t good... 

An uncomfortable chill washed over me. My goal here was to save as many people in Hasse as possible by sacrificing their mayor, but there was a chance that those who tried to defend his actions would end up getting executed as well. 

“Are you not a saint who shows mercy even to orphans, High Bishop?” the mayor asked confidently, elaborating on what I had done for Hasse’s orphans and openly praying that I show him the same consideration. 

Richt looked sick to his stomach, his face making it clear that he wanted to tell the mayor to shut up already. He edged slightly toward him, but then immediately stopped in place, having turned completely pale. I could guess that he had intended to stop the mayor from continuing his act, only to be glared at by Ferdinand. 

A moment later, I felt a tap on my back. I gracefully turned and looked up to see Ferdinand, whose gaze was so intensely cold that it actually made me flinch. He was still forcing his lips into a calm smile, but there was not an ounce of warmth to his expression as he silently pressured me to finish this already. 

Well then... what should I do now? 

I needed to think up a way to lead this safely into the mayor’s execution while preserving my saintly image. After watching the mayor for a second, who was now waving his arms around as he expounded on his pleas, I lowered my gaze. 

“Mayor, you speak of mercy, but do you not beat Hasse’s orphans each and every day? Both Thore and Rick were covered in bruises when I took them from you,” I began. Nora and Marthe had both been reasonably well-fed, no doubt because he was going to sell them, but Thore and Rick had been malnourished and were clearly the victims of regular physical abuse. “I do not see the need to show compassion to one who exploits their power to abuse the weak.” 

I could see the panic in the mayor’s eyes, and he quickly began to ramble in a desperate attempt to smooth things over and get some sort of compromise from me. “That is— Ahem. That was simply punishment. I would not have harmed them in such a way had they not committed such immoral acts. Is it not normal to punish those who deserve it?” 

“I don’t quite understand what immoral act would need to have taken place to warrant violence. Say Thore or Rick had attacked your family—would that be enough to warrant such a punishment?” I asked, placing a hand on my cheek and innocently tilting my head, playing the part of a sheltered child ignorant of the world. 

The mayor nodded over and over, eagerly rubbing his hands together. The carnivorous glint in his eyes as he tried his best to sway me was actually kind of scary. 

“That is clearly an immoral act,” the mayor agreed. “Were the orphans to attack my family, I would be furious, and of course punish them with violence. Nobody would fault me for that, since the orphans must understand that they are only being kept alive through my goodwill.” 

Richt, now kneeling behind the mayor, closed his eyes tightly and hung his head. The town chiefs kneeling around him were also wincing at the irony. 

I looked at the mayor head-on, then asked my final question. “Had the orphans not understood that they were attacking your family—would you say the same even then?” 

“It would be unthinkable for the orphans to not recognize my family. Their lies would not excuse their crime.” 

I let out a sigh and whispered, “Too bad,” before turning to look up at Ferdinand. “The mayor has made his position clear.” 

Ferdinand’s cold eyes narrowed further, and his lips curved into a slightly broader grin. “I see. He certainly has made his position clear,” he said, taking a step forward. 

I, in turn, took a step back, granting Ferdinand the right to speak. 

“You maintain that one who attacks a building constructed by the archduke for his daughter should inarguably be punished. Nobles live in ivory buildings, which are constructed using the archduke’s power. This is a fact known by all.” 

“Erm... No, I truly was not aware...” the mayor trailed off, faltering again now that he had to deal with Ferdinand. His face began to pale, and his grandiloquence from before vanished in an instant. He looked my way, desperately seeking my help, but I refused to acknowledge him. 

Ferdinand took another step forward, cornering the mayor even more. “Mayors must deal with nobles, and it would be unthinkable for you to not know something so basic. You made your citizens attack the monastery, knowing the gravity of your crime. What you did not know was that the former High Bishop had died before he could disguise it and provide his protection.” 

The mayor widened his eyes in shock. “That is simply not...” he began, desperately trying to find an escape. But the people in the crowd who had moments before supported him were now regarding him with dispassionate eyes. I could guess that he had spent the winter convincing them that he hadn’t known what he was doing. 

“But regardless, it would not matter even if you truly had not known. The actions taken by the people of Hasse are nothing less than an attack on the archduke’s family, and that is treason. Treason must be punished, and none can fault the archduke for ordering said punishment. Commoners must have it drilled into them that they are kept alive only by the grace of the nobility—this is the position that you yourself just espoused.” 

“But—” 

“I tire of your dishonest excuses. Speak no further,” Ferdinand said flatly, silencing the mayor’s protests. He then returned to my side, where he looked down at me with the same harsh expression that he had given the mayor. “Rozemyne.” 

I instinctively straightened my back, sensing that he was going to lecture me. Seeing that, Ferdinand let out an exaggerated sigh, then spoke in a chilly voice with an intentionally villainous look. 

“You pleaded for the archduke to lighten his sentence on the basis that the people of Hasse understood the gravity of their crime and were deeply remorseful. It seems to me, however, that they do not understand at all,” Ferdinand said, looking from the mayor to the gathered crowd. Everyone tensed up as his eyes scanned them, and silence fell over the plaza. “Rozemyne. You are known as the Saint of Ehrenfest. Do you still believe that Hasse deserves your mercy?” 

The atmosphere froze over as the citizens realized that the lightened punishment I had spoken of could be taken back with a single word. A silence so heavy that people were afraid to move at all blanketed the plaza as they waited to hear what Ferdinand would say next. But amid the crushing pressure so intense that one might even hesitate to breathe, Richt slowly looked up, as if pushing up against weights holding him down. 

“O honorable High Priest. O honorable High Bishop. I ask for permission to speak,” he said in a trembling voice. He was so nervous that he had started to sweat, making his pale face glisten slightly and his hair stick to his forehead. 

“You may speak,” Ferdinand said. 

Richt expressed his utmost gratitude, then continued. “High Priest. We, the people of Hasse, truly understand the gravity of the crime that the mayor ordered us to commit. Under normal circumstances, our entire city would have already been destroyed, and we cannot thank the saint enough for granting us her mercy and sparing our lives. The mayor is the only one who does not understand. We are not like him, I can assure you,” he said, quivering under Ferdinand’s pressure as he desperately tried to protect his fellow citizens. 

His courage touched my heart. That was when I felt a tap on my back from Ferdinand, who was still strictly glaring down at Richt. I looked up, and he shot me a look that seemed to say, “What is your role here, again?” 

...Right. I’m supposed to be a saint. 

As moved as I was, now wasn’t the time for me to stand around. I stepped in front of Richt and spun around, spreading my arms wide as if to protect him from Ferdinand. “High Priest, I believe Richt’s words. The people understand the gravity of their crime. I know it.” 

“...High Bishop,” came incredibly moved voices from both Richt and the town chiefs. 

The admiration and gratitude in their eyes made me feel so guilty that I could barely stand it; I just wanted to scream, “I can’t be a saint! This is all too much!” and run off the stage. But I was facing Ferdinand as he played the part of an evil final boss, merciless expression and all. I couldn’t just run away. This, too, was part of the assignment that he had given me so long ago. 

Ferdinand shook his head while deliberately facing me. “Rozemyne, kindness at times does more harm than good. You must pluck the seeds of rebellion before they grow into carnage.” 

“High Priest, the people of Hasse are planning no rebellion. There is nothing to fear. Isn’t that right, everyone?” I asked, turning around to face Richt, the town chiefs, and the crowd. 

Richt immediately said, “Of course,” and loud cries of agreement came from all over the plaza. 

“You can hear them for yourself, High Priest. So please...” 

But just as I thought I had settled the matter, Ferdinand suddenly raised his right hand to shoulder height. “Then I shall have them prove it.” 

“Huh...?” 

...Sorry, but I have no idea what’s happening right now. Are you expecting me to do something? At least give me a sign! 

As I panicked on the inside, not knowing what to do, Ferdinand whipped out his schtappe. “I shall thoroughly pluck the seeds of rebellion,” he announced, then muttered “geteilt” and swung his schtappe. A translucent amber barrier appeared beneath the stage, a little way into the plaza. 

Schutzaria’s shield...? 

It had the same decorative patterns, but while the shield I made when praying to Schutzaria was round, the one that Ferdinand had produced was a thin rectangle that resembled a door, wide enough for two adults to walk through while standing beside one another. 

“They shall attempt to pass through this Door of Judgment. Those who truly regret what has occurred shall be able to pass through without issue.” 

Richt gazed at me with worry, but I knew how these things worked; a shield of Schutzaria would let anyone through who did not harbor malice or the intent to harm others. I looked him in the eyes and gave a reassuring nod. 

“Richt, I am sure you will pass through without issue,” I said. 

Determination filled Richt’s eyes and he stepped forward, climbing down the stairs and standing in front of the amber rectangle. As those in the crowd all held their breaths, waiting to see what would happen, he walked toward the shield... and passed through with ease, despite looking a little scared at the very last moment. 

“It is as you see, High Priest. He is a good man.” 

“Hm. It appears that Richt is trustworthy, but what about this one?” Ferdinand mused, unsympathetically looking down at the mayor. 

At that, Richt, as well as several of the town chiefs, grabbed the mayor and brought him down the stairs. Then, they pushed him toward the Door of Judgment. 

“Nguh!” 

As I expected, the mayor was knocked back by a strong wind, making him unable to pass through. Bands of light instantly shot from Eckhart’s schtappe and bound him. 

“Lord Ferdinand, I have detained the rebel.” 

“Good work.” 

Richt had passed through the Door of Judgment, but the mayor had not. I heard a simultaneous gasp from everyone in the plaza as fear crept onto their faces; those who had attacked the monastery no doubt realized that the same power had knocked them away in the past. Some even looked visibly sick. 

“Richt, have all the citizens of Hasse pass through the door,” Ferdinand ordered. “All those deemed a threat shall be executed.” 

“High Priest,” I said, pulling on his sleeve to try and signal that this was unnecessary. But he was gazing between the gathered citizens and the bound, prone mayor with a harsh look in his eyes. 

“Any number of these people could harbor the same ill intentions as this fool. Judgment shall be necessary if you do not wish for us to execute the entirety of the city. Do you not agree?” 

“I-I believe in the people of Hasse. Surely judgment is not—” 

But before I could say “necessary,” Ferdinand grinned. “If those in Hasse are as virtuous as you believe, then this judgment will pose no threat to them.” 

Unable to argue with this logic, I had no choice but to concede. “Then I suppose it must be done. Do you agree, Richt?” I asked, not knowing what else to do but throw the ball in his court. 

He did not oppose the judgment, but instead accepted it with a smile. “Yes, High Bishop. There is no problem with that at all. In the event that there are others who fail, I would rather they be removed than risk leading Hasse into another crisis. We cannot allow ourselves to fall any further out of the archduke’s favor than we already have.” 

Richt showed no hesitation in supporting the judgment and execution of any dangerous individuals who might commit further treason; his goal above all else was to save the city from destruction, so he just couldn’t risk displeasing the archduke’s family any more than they already had. 

“Judgment shall reveal those worthy of receiving the Saint of Ehrenfest’s mercy. As you saw, I passed through the door safely. If you do not wish to be executed as a rebel, then you must do the same!” Richt declared. 

And so, everyone in the plaza lined up to pass through the door. The town chiefs and the citizens of their towns went first, but since they hadn’t participated in the attack and the mayor had very little influence on them, they all passed through so easily that it was almost underwhelming. The city folk who had participated in the monastery attack, however, were evidently a lot more fearful. They faltered in front of the Door of Judgment, afraid that they would be knocked back like the mayor had been. 

“Do not fret about those who cannot pass through,” Ferdinand told Eckhart. “You need only bind them as you did the mayor.” 

“Yes, sir!” Eckhart replied, taking out his schtappe. The sight was enough to send a wave of panic surging through the citizens, causing some to swallow their fear and rush toward the door, yelling all the while. 

“Ngh!” 

“Gaaah!” 

Several among the flowing stream of people were knocked back by the door, and Eckhart instantly detained them with bands of light. 

Once everyone had attempted to pass through, the Door of Judgment faded, and six bound people were taken onto the stage.