The Beginning of Betrayal — Part 2
The courtroom remained silent. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Every eye remained fixed on the woman standing at the entrance.
Luna. A confident smile rested on her face as she slowly walked forward. Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of her heels echoed throughout the massive chamber.
Ruko's face darkened. "...Luna." Luna smiled. "Hello, Ruko." Kazuma looked between the two.
"Wait? Didn't we know her?"
Ruko didn't answer. His eyes never left Luna. Sena slammed her gavel. "State your identity." Luna gave a respectful bow.
"My name is Luna." The courtroom instantly erupted. "Wait isn't she who use to be that traitor's lover?!" "Why is she here?" "Does she know something?"
Sena raised a hand. Silence returned. "If you have information relevant to this trial, please present it." Luna nodded.
"Of course." Ruko suddenly had a very bad feeling. The smile on Luna's face wasn't normal. It was the smile of someone who had already won.
Luna turned toward the crowd. "Everyone here wishes to know whether Ruko Satou is innocent or guilty."
Murmurs spread. She continued. "Then allow me to reveal what happened after the Devil King's Castle incident."
Ruko narrowed his eyes. "What are you planning you bitch?" Luna ignored him. Instead she pulled out several documents.
The crowd leaned forward. "The first report comes from adventurers who has stationed near the Devil King's territory."
Several guards accepted the papers and delivered them to Sena. Sena read silently. Her expression slowly changed.
"What..." The crowd became restless. "What does it say?" "Tell us!" Sena looked toward Ruko. "According to these reports..."
She paused. "The Devil King's Castle was completely annihilated."
The room exploded. "YEAH WE ALREADY KNOW THAT?!" "Impossible!" "No one could do that!"
Ruko quietly looked away. Kazuma immediately noticed. "...Ruko." The crowd slowly noticed too. That reaction wasn't the reaction of an innocent person.
Luna smiled wider. "The second report." More documents appeared. "Survivors reported seeing a black-and-silver figure surrounded by enormous magical energy."
Silence. Luna pointed directly at Ruko. "The description matches him." The crowd erupted again.
"Monster!" "I knew it!" "He's hiding something dangerous!" The chains around Ruko rattled. For once, he didn't have a joke ready.
Kazuma stepped forward. "Hold on." Everyone looked toward him. "You can't just accuse him based on that." Luna nodded.
"You're right." Kazuma relaxed slightly. Then Luna continued. "Which is why I brought more evidence." Kazuma immediately regretted speaking.
The crowd watched eagerly. Luna's voice became calm. "Ruko fought a being known as Devilness." The room became silent again. Even Sena stiffened.
"Devilness?" "Who's that?" Luna folded her arms. "A being far beyond of any ordinary demons." Ruko's eyes narrowed.
How did she know that name? Since very few people should know it. Luna looked directly at him. Almost as if reading his thoughts. Then she smiled.
"Surprised?" For the first time, Ruko felt uneasy. Not afraid. Uneasy. The kind of feeling that came when someone knew far more than they should.
Sena adjusted her glasses. "How do you know this information?" Luna smiled. "Because I have been investigating him for a very long time."
The words struck harder than expected. Ruko frowned. "A very long time?" Luna nodded with a grin. "A very." Very.Long. Time.
Something about the way she said it made his stomach twist. Kazuma noticed too. The atmosphere had changed. This no longer felt like a normal trial.
It felt personal. Very personal. Luna slowly approached Ruko. The chains rattled as he shifted slightly. She stopped directly in front of him. The entire courtroom watched.
Then Luna leaned closer. And whispered. Only loud enough for him to hear. "Do you really think your past disappeared when you came here?"
Ruko froze. His pupils shrank. The courtroom disappeared from his senses. His heartbeat thundered inside his ears.
"...What?" Luna straightened herself. The smile never left her face. But now it felt colder. Far colder. "You heard me." Ruko's breathing slowed.
His mind immediately jumped to Kyouka. The name. Jizuko. The old world. The things she shouldn't have known. Now Luna was doing the same thing.
No. Worse. Because Luna wasn't guessing. She sounded certain. Kazuma noticed Ruko's expression. His face had gone pale.
"Ruko?" No response. "Ruko." Still nothing. Megumin frowned. "Something's wrong." Darkness nodded. "I've never seen him look like that." Even Aqua stopped talking. Which was a miracle.
Luna turned toward the judges. "I believe the court deserves the truth." Sena nodded cautiously. "Proceed." Luna's smile widened.
"The man standing before you..." She pointed at Ruko. "...is hiding far more than his connection to the Devil King's Castle."
The crowd became deathly silent. Ruko clenched his fists. The chains groaned. Luna's eyes met his. For a moment, neither looked away. Then she spoke the words that shattered whatever calm remained.
"This trial was never about the Devil King in the first place." Silence. Absolute silence. Luna's voice echoed throughout the chamber. "This trial is about discovering what Ruko Satou truly is."
The entire courtroom froze. Kazuma's eyes widened. Megumin looked confused. Darkness looked worried. Aqua blinked."Huh?"
Nobody laughed. Nobody spoke. Because for the first time—Ruko himself didn't know how to answer.
The courtroom stayed dead silent after Luna finished speaking. Ruko didn't move at first. Then he exhaled. Slow. Controlled.
Luna wasn't done taughting him. "Aren't you gonna say a thing." "...What do you want me to say asshole." "Tch... I see you still have a mouth on you after the heavy statement you set my father through."
Ruko is confused. Everyone is confused. "What are you blabbing about?" "...Oh I guess you didn't remember my father..." "...Very well. I will make you remember since his name is none other than alderp himself!"
Everyone is on aw of what I she talking about alderp all of a sudden. Ruko after hearing that name feel a sudden uncomfort. "...Oh I remember now. That old sunova fat Oreos."
Luna felt angered but keep her calm. "Heh. Still got mouth with no bark—" "So what your saying is that your his some hidden daughter."
Luna smiled. "...So you catch on quickly since my true name is 'Luna Barnexia Alderp'." "...And the way I'm doing this is so I can get my revenge since no girls will ever be on your side."
"…You done talking?" Luna smirked. "Hit a nerve?" That was the last thing she should've said. Ruko tilted his head slightly. "Yeah. Now I'm gonna fuck you up."
One step forward. Chains clinked. Null Chains flared. "He's resisting—tighten suppression!" The chains lit up, pulling harder on him. Ruko looked down at them.
"Fucking annoying." Luna crossed her arms. "Look at you. Chained like an animal and still acting tough." Her man stepped beside her, laughing.
"Just accept it already. You're done." Ruko looked at him first. Then Luna. Then back at the man."…Both of you talk too much. But that pussy sucker didn't say anything."
Silence dropped. BOOM. Ruko moved. Not fast. Just gone from where he was standing. A shockwave cracked the floor. Before anyone processed it— He was already behind Luna's man.
"Starting with you." SLASH. Core Alloy formed mid-motion. One clean strike. The man froze. Then his head fell. No dramatic scream. Just silence as his body dropped forward.
Luna's eyes widened. "W-what—?!" She tried to step back—Too late. Ruko was already in front of her. The entire room erupted.
"RUKO STOP—!" "ALL GUARDS MOVE!" But Ruko didn't even look at them. Just Luna. "You said I killed your father." Luna trembled but forced anger. "Yes you did! Over and over again!"
"…No." Pause. "But I'm starting to wish I did more so his will be completely shattered like your stinking hole." Luna snapped.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST—" She didn't finish. Ruko grabbed her wrist mid-swing. No emotion on his face. "Last chance." Luna spat in his face. "You're nothing!"
That did it. A quiet snap in the air. Not rage. Decision. SLASH—One motion. Clean..Controlled. Luna froze. Then head dropped. The courtroom went dead silent. Kazuma's voice broke through.
"…Ruko…" "...He just killed a noble." "HE DID WHAT?!" "…Oh no." "…This is bad."
Ruko stood still. Looking at the bodies. No celebration. No emotion. Just… done. He exhaled. "Now we're even bitch." He spat at her face. Silence again.
Then—He lifted his hands slowly. "Wait are y—" "I surrender." Everyone froze. Even Sena. Ruko looked directly at her. "Chains? Court? Execution? Whatever you want."
He shrugged slightly. "Just stop talking." The Null Chains reactivated instantly. Sena hesitated. "…Why would you surrender after that?" Ruko looked away.
"Because I'm tired..." Short pause. "I'm tired of this annoying place and I'm tired of this life and everything so just get it over with...!" Kazuma stepped forward.
"Ruko, what the hell are you doing…?" Ruko didn't look at him. "Don't try to fix it however you want." Then quietly: "...Since were not brothers. I don't care anymore."
The guards rushed in immediately. Chains wrapped tighter than before. This time, Ruko didn't resist. Not even a little. Sena gave the order. "Take him into custody." As they dragged him away—Kazuma stood still.
Something in his expression changed. Not anger. Not relief. Uncertainty. Ruko passed him once. Just briefly. Their eyes met. "…You'll won't understand me later." "...What?"
But Ruko was already gone down the corridor. Chains dragging behind him. Outside, the courtroom remained in chaos. Inside, only one thing was clear: Ruko didn't lose the fight. He just stopped playing it.