Volume 1 - CH 17

“This despicable man, Cyclo, was actually once a close friend of the saint! And we got an important testimony from her! — Now, please, Miss Saint!”

As Bujin speaks to enliven the situation, Maria nods and begins to speak on the witness stand.

“…… Cyclo and I were formerly engaged to be married. So I knew that Cyclo had acquired an unfortunate skills. So I thought it would be hard for him to earn a living–I was deducting some money from the money they gave me for my work as a saint, and I was sending him money.”

“M-Maria? What? What do you mean?”

Cyclo was so surprised that he did not understand the situation.

Maria’s testimony continued.

“I’ve been sending him not only money, but also letters. I never received a reply, but I always believed that he was reading my letters. But …… I never thought he would do such a despicable thing!”

Maria glares at Cyclo and says.

“–You’re horrible, Cyclo. I misjudged you.”

As soon as he was told, Cyclo’s mind went blank. Then, his eyes go completely black.

He feels dizzy and his feet wobble. The words were that shocking to Cyclo.

“No… Maria, it’s not like that. Believe me! I have never received any money or a single letter!”

“It’s not nice to tell lies, defendant! Both the fact that the saint was sending money and the fact that she was sending letters are in the Church’s records!”

At Bujin’s suggestion, Cyclo retorts angrily.

“Then the church is lying too! I have never received such a thing!”

“…… So you even call me a liar.”

Maria retorts to Cyclo’s words in a disillusioned voice.

“No, Maria! That’s not what I meant!!”

In an attempt to defend himself, Cyclo excitedly leaves the defendant’s seat and tries to approach Maria.

But – there was someone there to stop him.

“Don’t move any further!”

It was one of the men who had been seated with Bujin and the other guards.

Quickly, he held up his sword, still in its scabbard, and stepped in between them to restrict Cyclo’s movement.

“I can’t hear any more. I will not forgive you for trampling on Maria’s good will!”

“Sir Hero!”

Maria called the man a hero. Then Cyclo understands. This man is the one with the special job skill of “Hero” who is currently working in this country with the saint.

Cyclo had heard from newspapers and gossip that the hero and the saint were very close.

And from the scene in front of him, Cyclo realizes that the relationship between the two is probably more advanced than rumored.

I have no one on my side.

The moment he realized this, all energy drained from him.

He loses the will to argue and slumps to the ground.

“I pronounce the verdict!”

When the judge tried to issue the verdict, Cyclo did not even try to oppose at all.

“It is clear that the defendant is the serial rapist! Therefore, you are sentenced to be sent to the frontier as a criminal slave! And you will pay for your crimes to the fullest!”

Sent to the frontier as a criminal slave. This is the harshest and heaviest punishment except for the death penalty.

Cyclo, however, was so beaten down that he did not feel like defying it.

(T/N: Ugh, my heart hurts…)