CH 20

“Oi oi oi, you’ve lost your mind, haven’t you? Gustav and all that. You’ve already got Nina? What the hell is that?”

The hero Ark says in disgust, but I’m only telling the facts.

“I mean exactly what I said. I caught this thief just a moment ago. Isn’t that right, Niña?”

“Well, ……, well, I’m sure I was caught him, but…”

“You see. And many people in the castle town have seen me chasing after this Niña.”

Yes, that’s what happened when I was robbed of all the money I had by Niña in the market. The man who was running some kind of stall had a clear view of me getting robbed, and above all, there was no shortage of eyewitness accounts because such a standout guy in platinum armor was chasing the thief.

“Hun, what does it matter? After all, there’s no doubt she’s guilty.”

“Well, that’s true. But no matter how many extra charges there are, the first charge to be dealt with is the one under which I Caught her red-handed [stealing my money]. And I’m going to judge that crime here on the spot on the same day. Do you know what this means?”

“What does it mean?”

“Don’t you understand, hero Ark? I’m going to make Nina pay for her sins right here and now, so that all her extra sins will be reset.”

“Nah… ….?”

Gaping, but Ark immediately turns to Agranis.

“Are you kidding me? You can’t do such a crazy thing!”

“…… No, Master Ark. According to the laws of the Kingdom it is possible. No, not only in the Kingdom, but in almost all countries at present.”

“What?”

“It is very difficult to prove theft in the past. Therefore, when a person is caught for stealing and also has many extra crimes, it is customary to lump the crimes together and impose a heavier punishment for them. That way, even if past extra crimes are revealed later, they will be treated as crimes that have already been dealt with.”

“That’s ridiculous ……!”

Yes, it is. As I recall, it was like that in modern Japan. Shoplifting, for example. Most shoplifters who get caught are habitual shoplifters, unless it is their first offense, and they often have two or three digits of other crimes. Even if you do your best to prove all of them, however, the timing of these crimes will vary. Then, each time one of those crimes is proven, the culprit will be punished one after the other, with one imprisonment or fine after another.

This would be a tremendous obstacle to the criminal’s reintegration into society, even though it would be fair to say that they deserved it. That is why I have heard that it is possible to combine the offenses into a single charge, while making sure that the extra charges are not yet clear. For example, by estimating the weight of the extra charges in advance.

Thank goodness there is a similar system in this world. Well, I was ready to abuse my authority and push for it, even if they told me there was no such thing.

“Well, that’s why. Now you guys have nothing left to threaten me with.”

“Damn it! I don’t give a shit! Niña! You’re coming with me!”

“Oops, I won’t let you do that.”

Ark stepped closer and tried to grab Nina’s arm, but I wouldn’t let him. Gently. I pulled Nina towards me as if I was embracing her.

“Whoa”

Niña screamed in surprise, and then she instantly blushed in my arms.

No, no, no, let me make an excuse. I never intended to embrace Niña’s slender, shapely body. I just had a little too much momentum and pulled too hard on Nina’s arm, ah, and I could see Nina’s whole face turning bright red under my eyes as I looked at her. After all, she seems to be angry with me for embracing her. I have to apologize later.

“Tsk! Don’t interrupt me!”

Ark glares hatefully at me and reaches for Nina again, but I slap his hand away with a smack.

“??”

“Don’t touch Nina. She’s not going anywhere with you.”

“You want to interfere with the hero’s journey to defeat the Demon King? Is that also the authority of the SS commander?”

“Interfering with the hero’s journey? Hey, hey, hey, who’s the hero? In my eyes, you’re just a small fry villain who takes advantage of a helpless girl’s weakness and blackmails her.”

“Who the hell are you …… talking to?”

“Of course I’m talking to you, you pathetic little Hero!”

“Alright, You bastard. You’re not getting away with this, ……!”

Ark pulled out the sword in his back, his voice trembling with anger.

“Insulting me, a Hero, is worthy of death, you bastard. I’m gonna skin you!”

“I told you, didn’t I? I have the same power as the chief guardian. If you point your sword at me, you’re pointing it at the kingdom, remember?”

“Humph! I don’t know about that, I’m the only one in this world who can slay the Demon King. I don’t think I’ll be charged with that much for slaying one pie of shit like you, will I?”

As Ark and I glared at each other.

“- – please wait.”

It was Agranis who intervened.

“I foolishly think that if the two of you continue to fight, it will only be to your mutual disadvantage.”

“Disadvantage?”

“Yes, Sir Gustav. Yes, that’s right. Even if you win against Master Ark, it will jeopardise your position in the Royal Castle as you have interfered with the journey of the heros’ party. And even if Ark-sama wins, it will be bad for your reputation in the Royal Castle because you have harmed the SS Commander of Princess Leia.”

“Well, that would be true, but ……”

“So let’s set some rules.”

“What? Rules?”

Agranis smiled slyly.

“Yes, Let’s have a [duel] between Hero Ark and Sir Gustav with the rule that neither of you take each other’s lives and the loser accepts the winner’s terms: Hero Ark and Sir Gustav, how about it?.”

(Notes: I’m gonna go with SS Commander, isn’t more cooler?)