Chapter 96 – Renia Gate (6)
“I have already secured evidence that the number of erosion sites increases as time passes. Perhaps when the situation becomes serious, they will realize whose words were correct. But when that happens… there will be meaningless sacrifices…”
In the cold underground prison where not a single ray of light shone, Renia, with one ankle chained, squatted down, hugging her furry tail as a source of warmth, staring at the thick iron door with bars.
In truth, contrary to Tas’s thoughts, Renia was not thinking about the problems of the Fox Tribe right now but rather a much larger issue.
It was the problem that all the people of the world needed to solve with one mind and one purpose as soon as possible.
If that problem could be resolved well, she was even prepared to spend her whole life in here.
“Ah, no. Still…”
Having been left alone in this place for days, her resolve had begun to waver. No matter how much of a spirit she was, the mental strain was unbearable.
It was impossible to accept the idea of spending years, or even decades, like this; it was certain she would go mad.
“…!?”
At that moment, her drooping ears perked up. Her sensitive hearing had picked up the sound of footsteps approaching.
The thumping footsteps grew closer to her. Hearing them made Renia unconsciously feel a flicker of hope. She hurriedly rose and grasped the bars, not knowing whether the footsteps that were coming for her brought good news or not.
Just being able to escape this narrow, cold prison felt like it would allow her to accomplish anything.
“Professor Renia, I am the Legal Officer Theron.”
At least it wasn’t Taizhu. It wasn’t that scurrying rat of a legal officer who had been feeding off Taizhu. This large bull-like figure with a strict, stern, and serious face showed her the documents he held.
“This, this is…”
“Your execution has been expedited. It will take place in the square right now.”
Renia’s hands and eyes trembled as she received it. This was certainly not good news. It was true she would be leaving prison, but humiliatingly, it was to be publicly punished.
Moreover, after being punished, she would be thrown back into prison in a broken state. She already knew this, but her heart had weakened greatly after the past few days in prison.
“N-no. Let go!”
“It cannot be helped. Bring her out.”
Legal Officer Theron sighed at her trembling and retreating form and ordered the sturdy bull beastmen he brought with him to forcibly drag her out.
“Let go! I’m innocent! The trial… ugh!”
“Though your honor has already fallen, how about maintaining a bit of pride as a chosen spirit of the Fox Tribe?”
They cuffed her wrists and gagged her mouth as she flailed. Theron clicked his tongue as he watched her.
Dragged away, Renia finally exited the underground prison and faced the dazzling sunlight. Half-blinded, she was led to a square where a large crowd had already gathered.
“No, no…”
Seeing the tall stakes planted in the center of the square, the color drained from her face. The executioner, ready with a fearsome whip, was already there.
If this continued, she would be forced to kneel, arms bound and bare-skinned, and whipped in front of all these people.
The issue was not the pain but the humiliation and shame. As Theron said, her honor would be shattered along with the lashings.
“What is going on? The atmosphere has been tense lately…”
“It’s tense, so we should punish more severely! Execute her at once!”
Amidst the gathered crowd, increasingly violent reactions began to emerge. Some among them were plant seeds of instigation, but the rest were all ordinary citizens.
They believed the government’s announcement and deemed Renia a criminal. Regardless of the truth, all they felt was satisfaction at witnessing the punishment of a criminal.
In that sense, the upper echelons of the Beastman Federation had continued to maintain such public spectacles.
Creating a common enemy to unite different tribes has proven to be the most effective way to do so.
“Ugh, ugh!”
Renia could not even plead her case. Gagged in her mouth to avoid injuring herself from biting her tongue, she was merely tied up and flailing.
“Is this really the end?”
To turn this situation around, the truth needed to be revealed, but the only ally who could do that, the Fox King, was powerless. It was fortunate if he could protect his own life, let alone overturn the trial’s outcome.
Even if such a miracle were to occur, it was already certain that she would be punished in a moment. As the cold wind touched her bare skin, she simply squeezed her eyes shut.
It was something she had never imagined, having been born a spirit and living as a scholar.
“Open your eyes.”
“…!”
However, at that moment, along with a fresh wind, an unforgettable voice rang in her ears.
Renia perked up her ears and opened her eyes wide. Among the excited onlookers stood a small girl with a striking figure.
The girl, cloaked in a black hooded cape, slowly removed her hood.
Though others around her were focused on Renia, she could not help but shed tears upon seeing the girl’s splendid silver hair shining brightly in the sunlight.
“Ugh!”
“W-what is this!? Is it a storm!?”
A fierce gust of wind suddenly swept over the square, as if the atmosphere were raging. The spectators, as well as the executioner who had ascended to the platform, struggled to keep their eyes open against the fierce wind, causing many hats and scarves to be blown into the air.
“The Fox King requested. Although I did feed you the whole thing, just know that.”
Walking forward amidst such chaos, Irilia created a staircase of swirling dirt that led up to the platform where Renia was bound.
“…Thank you.”
Hearing Irilia’s words as she removed the gag from her mouth, Renia could no longer bear it and bowed her head deeply.
*
“What is this!? Capture the sinner at once!”
“B-but, Legal Officer! The opponent is…”
The whirlwind commanded by Irilia did not cease. The only ones able to stand firm were those with significant strength, including Theron and his bull beastmen.
However, even if they were among the stronger ones, they could not dare to rush at Irilia in a storm akin to a typhoon.
Irilia, showing her face brazenly and smiling, looked back at them.
“If you come at me, I’ll take you on. Obviously, I’ll be defending myself, right?”
Blocking Renia’s path, Irilia showed no intention of retreating even if they charged at her. She could easily dispose of mere legal officers and their underlings without lifting a finger.
“What on earth is this! This is the sacred enforcement of the Federation’s law!”
Ultimately, Theron had no choice but to assert their position as representatives endowed with power by the great force. Thus, he warned that resistance to them was resistance to the Federation itself.
“If we are to go by the law, I have something to say too. Fox Tribe King Tas has already stated that this incident is invalid and has secured evidence to protest, so isn’t it only natural to postpone the hastened punishment?”
Irilia sent a document, pulled from her cloak, flying directly into Theron’s hands amidst the raging wind.
The document stamped with the Fox King’s seal stated that the incident was intertwined with a rebellion occurring within the Fox Tribe and that a proper protest would be submitted to the Federation government.
“E-even if this is true, the laws of the Federation…”
“If you feel wronged, go ahead and sue me. However, do you understand what is closer to the law than anything else at this moment?”
At the point where they could not physically overpower Irilia, the Federation government had already lost.
As soon as the formal procedures were initiated, the incident itself would be turned upside down, and to proceed with the legal process immediately, they needed to subdue Irilia.
“Ugh… everyone fall back.”
Ultimately, Theron had to swallow his pride and retreat.
Unlike Taizhu, he had no personal grudge against Renia, thus he had no desire to escalate matters and clash with Irilia.
Seeing this, Irilia seemed satisfied and gradually calmed the winds.
All of this occurred in the midst of the Federation government.
“Go and wait. You’ll be released soon, so look forward to it.”
“B-but many citizens may not understand. If suddenly I’m acquitted and released, they will…”
“They believed what they wanted and acted as they pleased. So, it will have to be the same this time, right?”
Renia trembled in fear at the thought of the many citizens gathered around her as she was to be released from the stake. However, Irilia merely scoffed.
“This is not a time when you can act up just by relying on numbers. If they do not believe you are innocent, then they only admit that they are swayed by mere emotions, not justice. So, don’t worry and go.”
Irilia stood confidently, even under the gaze of thousands.
Her demeanor was so self-assured that even Renia, who had been filled with concerns like a mountain, found herself nodding along unconsciously.
