The Bell of Truth and Suspicion
Cold stone walls surrounded the prison cells beneath Axel. A single lantern flickered in the hallway, casting long shadows across the iron bars. Inside one of the cells sat two prisoners. One leaned against the wall with a tired expression. The other looked like he simply didn't care. Kazuma sighed loudly and rubbed his face. "…This is the worst." Beside him, Ruko sat with his arms resting on his knees. "You're the one who started stealing relics." Kazuma glared. "You're the one who punched the guards!" Before their argument could continue, footsteps echoed down the hallway. Kazuma looked up. "…Visitors?" A group approached the cell. Standing at the front was Aqua, followed by Darkness, Yunyun, and Wiz. Megumin was noticeably absent. Aqua immediately grabbed the bars. "Kazuma! Ruko!" Kazuma stood up quickly. "Finally! Someone came!"Darkness looked worried. "We heard you were arrested." Yunyun nodded nervously. "What happened?"
Kazuma opened his mouth to explain.
But before he could speak—Ruko suddenly raised a hand. "Don't." Kazuma blinked. "Huh?" Ruko shook his head slightly. "The guards are might be listening." The soldiers down the hallway remained silent but clearly attentive. "If you say too much," Ruko continued calmly, "they'll twist your words into a confession. So don't become an idiot." Kazuma slowly closed his mouth. "…Right." Aqua crossed her arms. "Well you still need to explain something! Otherwise why we came here." Kazuma scratched his cheek awkwardly. "…Okay but before that." He looked at the girls seriously. "I need to confess something." Ruko look at Kazuma and know what he is about to say since it wasn't time yet. Darkness straightened slightly. "A confession?" Kazuma nodded. "Yes." He took a deep breath and close his eyes. Ruko leaned back against the wall. "Oh this should be good or bad cuz I'm gonna here it all." "Yunyun, Wiz. When I look at you both the truth is I'll be looking right at your chest! But wiz you got some huge ass moms!" Which Wiz look shock holding her chest dramatically. "And Yunyun your chest could barely hold in." Yunyun hold her chest embarrassed. "But sincerely I thought both of you wanted attention? Sorry for staring."
"And Darkness, when I first look at you I only think of boobs." In which bring darkness to shame of tiny tears. "That's right you are boobs just boobs. Please forgive me." The entire hallway went silent. Aqua blinked. Kazuma pointed dramatically. "Yes has you all been seen. I've been observing all your chest." Kazuma continued proudly. "Each one has… unique characteristics." Aqua's face turned red.
"YOU WERE LOOKING AT OUR CHESTS?!" Ruko raised a finger. "To be fair…" He glanced at them. "I also noticed some things has well for my part." The girls turned toward him. Ruko shrugged. "Anytime I look at you girls my mind is in a another world thinking of naughty things to do with everyone's body." Aqua looked horrified. "You two are disgusting!" Kazuma pointed at Aqua. "Hold on! Don't act like you're innocent!" Aqua crossed her arms. "What does that mean?!" Aqua gasped! "Please don't teel me you'll say something sleazy about me next." Kazuma sighed dramatically.
"Aqua, do you remember when we used to sleep in the stables…" Aqua froze. "…What about it?" Kazuma leaned closer to the bars. "One night you fell asleep first." Aqua's eyes widened. "Kazuma…" Kazuma continued calmly. "I somehow lifted your hair to try real hard to get turned on you." But nope I couldn't do it. I did try though." The hallway went completely silent.
"…And?" Aqua whispered dangerously.
Kazuma shrugged. "…But nope I couldn't do it. I did try though." Aqua stared at him and grap is shirt and shake him. "…What. Nothing you overgrown pervert." Ruko suddenly spoke up. "Well since we're both confessing about Aqua now then I'll share some too!" Everyone looked at him. He leaned forward slightly. "One time I snuck into Aqua's room to see if she's awake or not." Aqua screamed. "WHAT?!" Ruko continued casually. "Yes, you were sleeping." "I thought about groping your chest in your pajamas but decide on lift it. Until i try groping her chest to get turned on—there's no reaction." Aqua's face turned bright red. "YOU PERVERT!"
"Or maybe looking under the pajamas but decideto take it off as well and try to look or do something—there's no reaction." Ruko shrugged. "But same result as Kazuma." "…Nothing." For a moment there was silence. Then—SLAP. Aqua's hand hit Ruko's face. Then another. Yunyun joined in nervously. Darkness slapped him too. Left. Right. Left again. Kazuma watched from the side. "…God damn." Kazuma prayed. "...Glad that's not me." Darkness, however, looked strangely flushed rather than angry. When the chaos finally stopped, the girls quickly stepped back decided to walk out of the prison of how Ruko came to light of his confession, Ruko leaned against the wall again. "…It's definitely not worth it." More footsteps echoed down the hallway. The group quickly stepped back. Approaching the cell was Sena, the investigator who had arrested them. She carried a small silver bell. The guards placed a table and a chair in front of the cell. Ruko look confused since it supposed to be in a room to investigate answers. Sena set the bell on top of it.
"This interrogation will begin now." Kazuma groaned. "Oh great and what is that." Sena spoke calmly. "This is a magical lie–detecting bell that detects lies." "It rings when someone speaks falsehood with malicious intent." Kazuma swallowed. "…That sounds dangerous." Sena looked directly at him. "Kazuma Satou." "Yes?" "Are you working for the Devil King's army?" "No!" The bell stayed silent. Sena nodded. "Did you attempt to assassinate Lord Alderp?" Kazuma waved his hands. "No and who name is that!" The bell remained silent again. Ruko on the other hand is froze by this since when does it not ring in this time–line. Kazuma smiled slightly. "See? Honest guy." Sena narrowed her eyes. "Have you had contact with with the devil king or any Devil King generals?" Kazuma hesitated. "…No?" DING. The bell rang loudly. Kazuma froze. "…Crap." Sena leaned forward. "You lied." Kazuma sighed panic. "No I don't lie... I don't know any of them. The bell rang. Proving Kazuma is lying.
Finally Sena turned toward the second prisoner. "Ruko Satou." Ruko looked up calmly. "Yo what's shaking?" "You assaulted royal guards during your arrest." "Correct, since I don'tneed to lie." The bell remained silent. Sena continued. "Are you working for the Devil King's army?" "No." DING. The bell rang instantly. Everyone froze. Kazuma slowly turned toward him. "…Bro?" Ruko is shocked in his thoughts. "Huh" Sena's eyes narrowed. "Interesting." She continued questioning. "Have you interacted with Devil King generals?" "No." DING. Again. Every answer triggered the bell. The guards began whispering nervously. Sena crossed her arms. "You claim innocence." "But the bell says otherwise." Ruko frowned slightly into his thoughts. "...What the hell? What the fuck is going on! Isn't it supposed to be ring to Kazuma if he lied! Then what the bloodclat it showing it to me. I gotta think of something?" Then suddenly he leaned forward. "You know what's actually true?" Sena paused. "What?" Ruko looked directly at her. "You're really an attractive woman." Silence filled the prison.
"You're a very beautiful officer," he continued calmly. "I wouldn't mind you watching me twenty-four hours a day sweet cheeks." Giver her a wink. Sena's face flushed red. The guards instantly drew their swords and spears. "Watch your tongue!" Ruko's expression darkened slightly. For a brief moment—A heavy bloodlust filled the jail cell. "Ow! I'm talking her not you fuckers. NOW GET LOST!!" The pressure made the guards freeze. Even the air felt heavier. No one moved. Then it Ruko make it vanished. Sena slowly stood up. Her expression had become serious. "This will be settled in court." She turned toward the guards. "If the charges are confirmed…" Her voice was cold. "…execution will be considered after the trial." Kazuma slowly sat down again. "…We're doomed. And Ruko... what was that you just do!?" Ruko leaned back against the wall. "…Yeah. And it was my blood lust which means I was about to shed blood." And tomorrow—Their fate would be decided in court.