Editing Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi:Volume6 Chapter2 (section)

===Part III===
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"—But—"

<i>Kan, kan, kan.</i>The gavel echoed throughout the hall, and the first thing Shaun did was to grin and declare, like a thug licking his tongue in front of his prey.

"—We have to wait for the jury to arrive. Apologies, but we're adjourning immediately."

<i>Kan!</i> The gavel cracked loudly.

At the same time, Dee raised her hand. At the same time!

"Your Honor! I'd like a meeting with the explainer! Also, I'd like to get some rebuttal material, so please allow me to leave the courtroom during the break!"

"No, that's too much trouble."

"Shut up, Shaun! Give me permission! It’s a reasonable request!"

"Tch…I’ll grant permission for the audience and the defense—are you satisfied, ‘Witch of the West’?"

<i>Bang!</i> Dee abruptly stood up and looked around. Around her were Alice, Julie, Scar, Class 3-4 and the city's core people, about thirty of them in total.

'Tihaerus! Go to Martinez and get Gel and Clear here! Hurry! I'll explain later! Weitz! Got to the town hall and get all my notes!"

"Okay." "Understood!"

Not a single one of them asked why or said no. They all followed Dee’s instructions without asking any questions. They had their game face on.

Ai was the only person who was not prepared for this.

Dee took a breath after giving the instructions and turned to Ai.

"Ai, calm down and listen carefully."

"Yes…"

"They're here to prosecute you."

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"What do you mean …?"

It came too quickly for her to falter.

"What is going on …?"

Ai was simply just numbed by the events taking place before her.

Dee cleared her throat once and was about to speak.

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"Shall I answer that question for you?"

[[Image:Kamisama v06 Illustration 06.jpg|thumb]]

…When had she been there?

A girl in a maid's uniform had suddenly appeared between Dee and Alice. The girl was about eight years old, and her age alone was unusual, but what was most unusual was her hair. Silver hair, faintly white, not of natural color; it resembled the white hair of an old woman.

"Nice to meet you all. I apologize for my behavior earlier. My name is Madame Express Legion's Hive. I will now serve as your briefing officer. I would like to be acquainted with you."

"Madame…"

Ai gulped.

"So you're saying you're…the body of this ‘thing’?"

"More or less. To be precise, this ‘thing’ is my actual body."

Madame smiled ‘apologies for the inconvenience’ and thanked them for their attention, then looked at them as if she had realized her mistake.

"Ah, please make yourself at home, even though you are sitting on <b>me</b>. Would you like a drink? Please let me know if you need anything. It is my duty to relieve you of your inconveniences after all. "

With these words, the chair moved, and she prodded her knees as if to say, "Sit, sit. At the same time, a drink server appeared by the girl's side and started serving drinks.

"Have you received your drinks? I shall explain then."

With the words, a blackboard protruded behind the girl. By this time, almost everyone had understood that this apparition before them—the courtroom, was this girl.

"We are Coven—and as the name implies, an independent judicial troupe created by Master Witch."

Words like "Coven" and "independent" were written all by themselves on the blackboard.

"We bring crimes to justice, regardless of time, place, or target."

"Crimes…"

The words stabbed Ai's heart.

"What is…this crime you speak of?"

Dee was about to interrupt the conversation with a flabbergasted look on her face, but Ai stopped her, and personally asked the question..

"What crime… do you judge me for…judge people for?"

Madame softly bowed in silence and proudly replied,

"That is, of course, the crime of ‘saving the world’. We are the only organization that can judge that."

"What is that?"

For a moment, Ai did not understand what she was talking about.

"Are you saying that…saving the world is a crime?"

"Yes, Master Ai."

"…I don't understand."

"Would you like an explanation?"

"Of course."

Understood, Madame said, bowing gracefully.

"Orders aside, where do I start—of course, since you are Master Alice’s friend, I can omit many details here. I do not know if you are aware of this, Master Ai, but the act of saving the world might not actually save the world itself."

"This is…"

Ai nodded. Even if someone wished to save the world, it was that person’s world alone. Ai knew this from her journey so far.

For example, if one wished to return to the world of fifteen years ago in order to ‘save’ this world.

Ai gulped and nodded her head. Even if an individual wishes to save the world, it is only that individual's world. Ai knew this from her journey so far.

For example, if one wished to return to the world of fifteen years ago in order to ‘save’ this world.

However, only the Living would be saved by this action, and the Dead that remained active would be vanquished.

In the same way, even if one saved the world of the Dead, the world of immortality, or the world of Class 3-4, there would be people who were not saved.

"You are indeed a friend of Master Alice's. You understand things very quickly. It saves me a lot of time."

Madame smiled innocently.

"In the past—before that moment fifteen years ago, such a wish would have been meaningless. Now, unfortunately, even the most ridiculous wishes can come true…which is a truly scary thing. The rules of the world will change—and thus, we are a group of people who are trying to prevent them from getting out of control."

She put his hand on her chest and bowed her head, showing her pride.

"I wonder if you have a general understanding of our philosophy now?"

"Yes, more or less…."

And she understood the problem.

"…Can you tell me one thing?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"You judge those who save the world. Right?"

"This understanding is correct."

"Then who are you to judge?"

"Well, that is a harsh statement."

Madame as though she was hit in a critical spot.

"You go around like this, judging the beings that are against the world, but isn't that also because you want to ‘save the world’? In the end, it's all the same, isn't it?"

Ai felt a feverish surge as she said. It was energy fueled by rage.

Madame said she was going to judge others. And yet, she was doing the very thing she should be judged for.

The lack of self-awareness was incredibly ugly to Ai—it was as if she was looking at her old self.

"You are absolutely right, Master Ai. That is why we use the judicial method."

"……"

"We shall never operate as individuals, and shall continue to work as ‘everyone’. This also includes the prosecution and the defense. We always listen to their statements."

"Isn't that also a self-serving argument …?"

The moment Ai asked this question,

"Ufufufufu."

Madame started laughing.

"What's with the sudden—"

"No, pardon me. Ufufu, you are correct, perhaps it is selfish of me."

Ai felt her spine tingle. It felt like she was facing the true nature of a monster who had been talking rationally, only to suddenly shed its skin.

"Well, yes. But we shall call this 'fair'…ufufu."

Madame laughed. She was smiling with the conviction that she was doing the right thing.

It was a smile that Ai remembered as well.

"I shall not ask for more. Any more concessions, and we shall be unable to prevent the world’s destruction…which defeats the purpose of it all…ufufu."

Madame has omitted everything else from her mind. She never questioned her own righteousness, as though it was what it was.

'If you have a problem, and find it unreasonable, perhaps you may try and defeat it with more unreasonableness? Ufufufufu. Of course, we shall resist."

"…That's enough."

"Are there any more questions?"

"…Yes, I have nothing more to ask…"

"Is that so—perfect timing. It seems the jury has arrived..."

Then Madame suddenly directed her eyes to a completely unrelated direction, and began to mumble.

"…Please wait, Master Noellfaen. You cannot go in there like that. Ah, ah, you too, Master Destructive Fist,. That is my precious flank, ah, ah, ah, please stop—kya—"

The next moment, the hall was engulfed in violence.

First there was a roar on the right outer wall, and then an arm sprouted from it. The red oak wall, sturdier than any metal, was easily dented by the blow, and shattered by the next one.

Maccia came out of the rising smoke, along with his powerful arms.

Holding her flank, Madame protested to the man,

"Wh-What are you doing, Master Destructive Fist? What do you think you are doing to my precious flank?"

"It's just a mosquito bite to you anyway, right?"

"That is not the problem!"

While speaking, the next moment of violence came.

An overwhelming light sprinkled down from the top of the atrium. In the center of the rainbow circle was a boy, simply floating there.

"Master Noellfaen…I beg of you, please use the entrance."

"? Isn’t this the gate?"

"…This is fine."

The boy, who acted and looked like an angel, landed in the jury box. The man sat next to him.

"I brought Dust along too. It's too much trouble for her to travel long distances."

Beside him was the red noblewoman supported by a force field of seven colors."

<i>Kan~ kan~ kan~!</i>

"Finally, the bastards are here."

Shaun, seated in the presiding judge's chair, raises his gavel lazily.

"Then let the court begin."

<i>Kan!</i>

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"Ehh."

<i>Ahem, </i>Nodding his head, Shaun fiddled with the mallet in his right hand.

"…Erm."

<i>Ahem. </i>Shaun cleared his throat again, slapping the table with his left hand, searching the sides and below for something. He repeated this gesture for quite a while, and brazenly stated,

"Erm, so, where do we start?"

<i>Like we know.</i> Everyone's cold gaze was directed at him, but he did not seem offended at all.

Madame was the one who panicked.

"Sh-Sho, what is wrong with you? I made you a cheat sheet before!"

"Shut up, old hag. I've lost it. And don’t call me Sho, damn it.""

"W-What a horrible thing to say! What is wrong with you, Sho…you used to be so cute…you've become such a horrible person. …"

"Just do something about it, old hag. I said I’ll work."

For some reason, Madame smiled at the final words, took out a piece of paper and handed it to Shaun.

Ai and the others were wide mouthed as they had witnessed it for the first time. Those who were used to it showed disdain, but nobody stopped them.

Shaun, who had gotten his hands on a piece of paper, looked annoyed,

"Erm, I swear—we believe in God…ehh, we, believe in people. we, believe in the law—I believe in the true…de? Deject?...oi old hag, how do you read this? (scorn!)…ah yes, scorn. Adding the pronunciation, old hag—we scorn upon deceit and misunderstandings—the (incitement) of misunderstanding—and execute justice—"

"—Ai—Ai! Over here! I’m calling for you!"

Shaun was being so lazy as he declared, and Dee seized the opportunity to hurry over, dragging along Alice like he was garbage.

"W-What is it, Miss Dee? We have to listen..."

Ai, who had been ready to take in every word Shaun said, protested.

"…No, you don't have to pay attention to that. You know that right, Ai? He’s a terrible speaker, and it’s all just a pretext anyway. Look, the jury's asleep at the wheel. Just listen to what I have to say."

"H-huh. What is it?"

"We're gonna get you out of this."

Dee stared at Ai firmly in the eyes.

"Ai, I know you're worried about what Madame said, but don't worry about it right now. If you’re wrong, that means they’re just as wrong. Don't take it so seriously—am I right, Alice?"

Dee tapped Alice on the shoulder.

"Yeah, I know."

"You two…."

Dee and Alice were trying to help Ai, which caused Ai's heart to race with joy. But at the same time, the knowledge that the warmth would shatter her dreams caused her to cool off..

"Come on, buck up. Don’t be scared. Just deny whatever they ask. Don't answer them without discussing this through with them…hey, Alice, say something."

"Ahh, though I don't really understand what’s going on either."

Alice seemed confused and bewildered as well. Still, he patted his own chest, trying to assure Ai.

"You're going to be fine, don't worry."

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry…"

Both Alice and Dee had good reason to hate Ai, but they stuck their necks out for her. She was so delighted, and yet felt so unbearable..

"—We believe in justice."

<i>—We believe in justice.</i> The jurors chanted, and the oath ended.

"—Thus ends the oath of the presiding judge of the day, Shaun Sullivan."

Madame took over the proceedings, looking relieved to the point of tears. Apparently, Shaun would be the presiding judge and she would be the prosecutor and facilitator.

"Now then, I shall introduce the jury—Starting from the left seat, Master Destructive Fist, Master Noellfaen, and Master Dust Believer. Three members, the minimum number of people required in attendance.

Seated over there were a few Deformed.

A man with flaming fists. A boy who simply floated. A red noblewoman whose identity remained unknown.

"We are also fortunate to have more than three jurors this time—Master Witch of the West. This way, please."

"Eh? Me too?"

Dee pointed to herself with a puzzled look, <i>oh yeah,</i> and clapped her hands,

"W-What's going on?"

"No, those jurors they speak of are just people who exist beyond the law. Like say, , a representative of a great power—or someone who has survived a trial."

"That's you, isn’t it, Miss Dee?"

"Yes, I was prosecuted when I was the Ghost, but I slipped out. Nobody could catch me back then. Lemme tell you, Alice got prosecuted once because, but he survived thanks to his slick tongue and my support."

It was no wonder they were both so familiar with it.

"Good chance."

Dee smiled gleefully.

"I'm going to go talk to the jury. They're all like my minions now, so I'm going to try to convince them to join me..."

"Wait."

A bandaged hand went up.

"That little girl has already been disqualified from being a juror."

"Eh? Is that so?"

"Oh, you didn’t notice when you brought her here? She’s no longer an invincible Ghost, he's just a little girl with a normal body."

<i>Speaking of which…</i>Madame ponders. At the same time, the chairs that Dee and Ai were sitting on shook unnaturally.

"It's true. She has weight."

"That Maccia…"

Dee gritted her teeth tightly. Maccia in turn took her stare head on, his face clearly stating ’I’m not letting you do as you . I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. I'm not going to let you do what you want.

The other two did not particularly try to stop them.

"…Your minions sure are loyal…speaking of which, they never told us that the Coven’s approaching"

"Those guys~! I’m not going to talk to them anymore. …"

"Erm, apologies for keeping you waiting. Let us continue."

The walls and floor shuddered, completely erasing the previous commotion, and Madame resumed her speech.

"Ehh—the juror’s privilege the Witch of the West has shall be revoked—now that the jurors have been decided, the accusations will be read out. There are two. The first one is about the mysterious black surface that has appeared here."

Madame pointed to the center. Right over there, the black surface continued to swirl, ignoring the buzz around it.

"We shall seal this black surface."

Madame quickly waved her hand to silence the protesting voices of the citizens.

"The other accusation is the revival of Alice Color. These are the two cases brought forth by us. The accused..."

Ai clenched her fists. She waited for her name to be called. She strained her legs, hoping not to shame herself.

However, in the next moment, Ai's resolve was completely in vain.

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"Alice Color, step forward."

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