Torukel. You did not leave a will. But what you wanted to say was conveyed clearly. No matter what, to not let Ivar Lodbrok or Paimon be troubled. Those were most likely the dying words that you could not spill out from your own mouth. The part of life that was so-called sorrow.
As a means to express my condolence to you, those dying words of yours, I shall respect it.
“It is fine.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said it is fine, honorable Marbas.”
I raised my head and faced Marbas.
I had a weak smile on my lips. It was in order to display a tired expression. Well, it had also been a long time since I had last used my brain this much, so I was actually a bit tired.
“Even if I was under false accusation and slandered, her highness Paimon was also in the sorry position of having been swept up in a plot, was she not? As it has already been proven to everyone here, the true culprit behind all these incidents was that goblin on the floor over there. He was a peerless villain. However, since he is dead, there is no reason to make someone else take responsibility.”
“In other words…… are you saying that you will not demand any punishment?”
“Yes, your honor. As the person directly involved in the hearing, and as the person to have survived the court of law by obtaining victory, with my just rights I shall request of this. Rank 71st, Nameless Demon Lord Dantalian hereby requests, for her highness Paimon to not be punished in any way because of this incident.”
I grinned.
“In the first place, this is the sacred Walpurgis Night. This is not a location for such vulgar words like punishment or penalty to be tossed around.”
The people around me made a commotion. They probably didn’t imagine that the very person to be accused would come out so pleasantly. They all had the same expression of surprise. On the contrary, once I had watched the goblin kill himself, I couldn’t have been more calm.
I did not want to become a person who went around talking about ‘acknowledgement’ and ‘respect’ all the time. I had thought to acknowledge Torukel the goblin. I had decided to respect his will. Then I must show it by actions.
To forgive Paimon here was, with no doubt, a politically dangerous decision. In the political world, just by the mere fact that you were enemies one could continue to take hostile actions. Today, disregarding the truth, the relationship between Paimon and I had clearly become ‘enemies’. To change this relationship into a different form will probably take a considerable amount of tiresome work. It may even be impossible.
That was what respect was.
To protect the other party’s words even if it meant that you’d have to endure harm.
I was confident that I would not feel anguish even if I were to go through hardship for respecting another.
If I used my second half little sister’s judgement as a basis, then I was in the possession of a devilish brain.
If I used my own judgement as a basis, then I was model student who knew etiquette.
“Honorable Marbas. The only thing that this one wants tonight is a single warm glass of honey wine.”
Ο
[1. Forgive Paimon.]
[2. Reprimand Paimon.]
Ο
As soon as I had finished talking, the choice box melted away.
Soon, the choice box was replaced by new lines.
Each individual letter was dismantled and put together to form new words. It gave the subtle pleasure like watching lego bricks being assembled on their own.
Ο
[A kind and merciful decision!]
[The continent is impressed by your magnanimity.]
[Fame increased substantially.]