Chapter 11

No PoV.

The morning sun had barely risen when the preparations were completed. The air was crisp, filled with the distant hum of soldiers moving about, their uniforms crisp and formal, their boots clicking against the cobblestone paths.

The teleportation circle had been drawn outside the tents, shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. Several mages in dark robes stood nearby, their hands clasped behind their backs as they awaited final orders.

Today, Shigure, Akrūra, and Tsukiko would be taken to Himmelsburg.

For a trail in the imperial courthouse.

The rest of their friends, along with Sister Amelia, Irene, Helene, and Father Alfred, had gathered near the circle for the farewell.

Angelika, standing close to Yuuka, held onto her sleeve tightly. The five-year-old's usual brightness was dimmed, her lower lip quivering slightly.

"Big brother and big sisters… you'll come back, right?" she asked softly.

Akrūra, standing between two guards, glanced at her and gave a small smirk. "Of course. You think a little trial will stop us?"

Angelika's eyes shone with hope. "Mhm!"

Shigure, who had been silent, finally spoke, her voice softer than usual.

"Be good while we're gone, Angelika."

Angelika nodded firmly. "I will!"

Tsukiko, despite the situation, gave a teasing grin. "Maybe bring us something nice when we get back, yeah?"

Mirai crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing. "You're acting too relaxed for someone about to stand trial."

Shigure smirked. "If I start panicking now, what good will it do?"

Marie sighed. "Still… It's frustrating. We should be going with you."

"Yeah," Noah agreed. "The whole thing's ridiculous. We all know you didn't destroy Drachenheim willingly."

Karna, who had been quiet, finally spoke. His red eyes locked onto Akrūra's.

"Stay alive and come back safely," he said simply.

Akrūra met his gaze and smirked. "You too."

Luciana, standing beside Anneliese, looked to Shigure. "If anything happens, we'll find a way to help."

Estelle nodded. "You're not alone."

Beatrice gently squeezed Angelika's shoulder. "And we'll take care of our little sister in the meantime."

Angelika beamed, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Father Alfred, despite the bandages still wrapped around his head, took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Children," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "No matter what happens, know that I believe in you."

His silver eyes lingered on them, as if silently apologizing for being unable to do more.

Shigure nodded at him, a rare moment of unspoken understanding passing between them.

The head officer overseeing the transfer stepped forward. His voice rang with authority.

"It's time."

The soldiers surrounding them adjusted their stances. The mages began chanting, their hands moving through the air as the teleportation circle flared brighter.

Akrūra, Shigure, and Tsukiko exchanged one final glance.

Then—

The circle flashed brilliantly, and in the blink of an eye—

They were gone.

At the Capital City —Himmelsberg

The world twisted and blurred.

Then—

A gust of cold, crisp air greeted them as the teleportation completed.

They found themselves standing on a massive stone platform, lined with runic symbols, its edges guarded by uniformed soldiers wielding rifles with gleaming bayonets.

Beyond them, the capital city of Himmelsberg stretched in every direction.

Massive iron bridges, towering gothic buildings, and a sprawling rail network spread through the streets, with steam-powered trains chugging along. Soldiers in dark coats and high boots patrolled the platforms, their expressions unreadable beneath their military caps.

In the distance, the imperial courthouse loomed, a vast structure of dark stone and towering spires, its entrance lined with columns engraved with ancient laws.

The sound of marching boots, whistles, and train horns filled the air, creating a symphony of order and authority.

Akrūra inhaled slowly. "So, this is Himmelsberg, huh?"

Tsukiko gave a low whistle. "They sure know how to make a place feel intimidating."

Shigure remained silent, her eyes scanning the city carefully.

Then—

The guards shoved them forward.

"Move," one of them ordered.

With no other choice, the three walked toward their fate.

And the moment Shigure, Akrūra, and Tsukiko stepped off the teleportation platform, they were escorted to a waiting carriage.

It was not luxurious—far from it. The dark, reinforced wood bore the mark of the Himmelsberg military, with a crest depicting a dark blue dragon clutching a sword and a set of scales.

Inside, cold iron chains still bound their wrists and ankles, rattling slightly as they settled into their seats.

The streets outside bustled with activity, filled with merchants, workers, and soldiers marching in precise formations. The clip-clop of horses, the low churning of steam engines, and the chatter of citizens formed a strange, rhythmic symphony.

Akrūra leaned back against the wooden wall of the carriage, arms crossed despite his restraints. "So… first time in the capital. Thoughts?"

Tsukiko peered out the small, barred window, watching as the cityscape passed by. "It's definitely… different."

Shigure, sitting beside her, nodded. "Drachenheim was quiet compared to this."

Tsukiko smirked. "Well, it was destroyed, so I suppose it's quiet now."

Akrūra shot her a dry look. "Too soon."

As they continued their journey through the city, something caught their attention—

A noblewoman and a young girl standing on the sidewalk near a large bookstore.

The woman had long, flowing cherry blossom-colored hair and deep blue eyes, an elegant black dress hugging her figure. A refined hat adorned with lace sat upon her head, casting a slight shadow over her delicate features.

Beside her stood a young girl, no older than Angelika, her bright green eyes filled with curiosity. Her cherry blossom-colored hair cascaded far past her waist, her bangs neatly framing her round face. She wore a beautiful yellow dress, a stark contrast to her mother's darker attire.

For a brief moment, their eyes met with the prisoners inside the carriage.

The little girl tilted her head, her gaze lingering on Shigure.

Shigure, in turn, merely stared back, her expression unreadable.

Then—

The girl smiled and gave a small wave.

Shigure blinked.

Before she could react, the carriage moved forward, turning a corner and leaving the scene behind.

Akrūra raised an eyebrow. "That kid was weirdly friendly."

Tsukiko hummed in agreement. "Yeah. Nobles don't usually acknowledge people like us—especially prisoners."

Shigure, still staring at the now-empty sidewalk, muttered, "…She reminded me of Angelika."

The mention of their younger sister brought a rare moment of silence between them.

Then, Tsukiko suddenly grinned. "Maybe you have a noble admirer, Shigure."

Akrūra chuckled. "Wouldn't that be ironic?"

Shigure rolled her eyes, shifting her gaze back toward the window.

As they continued toward the courthouse, the streets opened up to a grand railway station, where a massive steam locomotive stood, billowing clouds of white smoke into the sky.

Even through the closed carriage, the sheer power of the engine's churning wheels sent a faint tremor through the ground.

Tsukiko let out a low whistle. "That's the first train we've seen since reincarnated in this world."

Shigure nodded. "Drachenheim didn't have railways, so we only heard about them in newspapers."

Akrūra smirked. "I was starting to think this world was too primitive for it."

Indeed, in their past lives on Earth, trains had been commonplace—but here, the presence of steam-powered locomotives was still a marvel.

The massive iron rails, the intricate system of pipes and gears, the hissing of steam escaping the boiler—all of it was proof of this world's advancing technology.

"You think we'll get to ride one someday?" Tsukiko mused.

Akrūra shrugged. "If we survive this trial, maybe."

Shigure smirked. "Then we better not die."

Their conversation was abruptly cut short as the carriage came to a halt in front of the Imperial Courthouse.

The doors were pulled open—

Murmurs spread through the courtroom as Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure were led inside.

The massive hall of judgment was adorned with grand chandeliers and towering stained-glass windows, each depicting the gods of the Theocratic Empire in various acts of divine justice. The judges' bench sat elevated above the rest of the chamber, casting an imposing presence over all who stood trial.

The three children kept their heads down, their small hands shackled in enchanted chains that pulsed with suppressive energy. They were seated in the center of the courtroom, surrounded by guards in golden armor, each gripping their weapons tightly, as though expecting the children to break free at any moment.

The murmurs of the audience grew louder as their presence was fully revealed.

"Look at them… they're just children."

"Children or not, they destroyed Drachenheim."

"But how could three ten-year-olds do something like that?"

Then, someone whispered just loud enough for the words to carry—

"That girl… her ears…!"

All eyes turned toward Shigure, whose sharp, pointed ears were clearly visible beneath her silver hair.

The whispers intensified.

"Is she… a elf?"

"No, look carefully. Those ears are sharp, and pointed while Elf ears are pointed but different!"

"Then what is she? A vampire?"

Shigure kept her head low, her expression unreadable.

Tsukiko and Akrūra remained equally silent, their presence alone drawing an unsettling level of attention.

The trial had not even begun, yet the judgment in the eyes of the people was already forming.

A man in priestly robes stepped forward, his deep blue eyes filled with righteous fervor as he addressed the court.

"In the name of the Thalrithian Empire, I, High Inquisitor Gregor von Agler , bring forth the accused—Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure—charged with the destruction of the town of Drachenheim and the deaths of its inhabitants."

His voice echoed through the grand hall, each word filled with condemnation.

"Do the accused have anything to say in their defense?"

The children said nothing.

Gregor's lips curled into a sneer. "Nothing to say? How fitting. Perhaps you are aware that there is no defense for the crimes you have committed!"

The murmurs of the crowd grew louder, anger rising among the spectators.

"This is absurd," Tsukiko muttered under her breath.

"They're not going to listen, no matter what we say," Akrūra added.

Shigure remained silent.

Then—

A new presence entered the courtroom.

The grand doors of the courtroom swung open, and a figure stepped inside.

The murmurs immediately ceased.

A man with white hair and crimson-red eyes walked gracefully toward the center of the court, his presence exuding a sense of elegance and danger. Two curved black horns protruded from his head, marking him undeniably as a demon.

He wore a black noble's coat lined with silver, with matching black gloves, each finger adorned with rings of unknown significance.

Asmodai.

The children's eyes widened.

What was he doing here?

Yet here he was, standing before the court, his expression unreadable.

Gregor von Agler narrowed his eyes. "Demon."

Asmodai smiled faintly. "High Inquisitor. Its a pleasure to see you ."

"You have no place in this trial," Gregor said coldly.

Asmodai tilted his head. "Ah, but I do. I am here to confirm the truth."

The crowd held its breath as Asmodai's calm, unwavering voice filled the courtroom.

"I, Asmodai, take full responsibility for the destruction of Drachenheim."

A stunned silence fell over the hall.

Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure were too shocked to speak.

Why was he taking the blame?

He wasn't even there when Drachenheim was destroyed!

But Asmodai continued as though this were an undeniable fact.

"The ghouls that attacked Drachenheim? My doing. The devastation that befell the town? My actions. These children?" He gestured toward the three, his expression unchanging. "They were merely pawns controlled by me."

Gasps filled the courtroom.

"A demon… admitting to such a crime?"

"Is this a trick?"

High Inquisitor Gregor's lips curled into a deeper scowl. "You expect us to believe that?"

Asmodai gave him a knowing look. "It matters not what you believe. The truth is what I have stated."

The inquisitor clenched his fists, clearly dissatisfied.

The children remained stunned into silence.

Then, as suddenly as he had appeared, Asmodai turned away.

"I have said my piece. Do with that information what you will."

And with that—

He vanished, his form dissolving into black mist, leaving behind only uncertainty and chaos in his wake.

The courtroom erupted into chaos.

"That demon is lying!"

"But why would he take the blame?"

"Are the children truly innocent?"

The judges exchanged uncertain glances.

The case that once seemed so clear-cut was now shrouded in doubt.

And the fate of Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure remained uncertain.

The courtroom which had been barely settled from Asmodai's sudden departure suddenly the doors swung open once more. Then a familiar figure strode inside, his presence commanding immediate attention. Felix. The very same man who had captured Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure.

Behind him, a group of mages in dark robes followed closely, their expressions grave. Felix's sharp gaze scanned the courtroom before he stepped forward, ignoring the murmurs that arose in his wake.

"High Inquisitor Gregor," Felix spoke, his voice steady and firm. "I bring forth new evidence regarding the accused."

Gregor narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased by yet another interruption. "State your case, Felix. This trial is already in disarray."

Felix motioned to the mages behind him. One of them stepped forward, holding a glowing crystal that pulsed with arcane energy. "My mages have sensed an anomaly," Felix continued. "The children before you are not the only ones who possess such power. The other nine children from the orphanage of Drachenheim—those currently being held in the camps—bear similar signatures. Their abilities, though dormant, are unmistakably of the same nature."

A stunned silence followed his words. The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, whispers growing louder. Gregor's fingers tapped against the wooden bench before he finally spoke. "Are you suggesting that all twelve children are…?"

Felix nodded. "They are extraordinary. Their existence alone is enough to shift the balance of power in this world." He then turned his gaze toward Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure. "And they will be wasted if we let them rot in a prison or be executed for crimes they did not commit."

Gregor exhaled sharply. "Then what do you propose?"

Felix smiled, but it was devoid of warmth. "I will take them. All twelve. They will become part of my organization."

The murmurs erupted into full-blown protests. "You cannot be serious!" one of the judges shouted. "These children are dangerous! We cannot simply hand them over to a—"

"To someone who can actually control them?" Felix interrupted smoothly. "You are right. You cannot."

Gregor scowled, but the weight of Felix's influence was undeniable. The man had power, resources, and, more importantly, knowledge. If anyone could turn these children into weapons—or something more—it was him.

Finally, after a long, tense pause, Gregor relented. "Very well. But know this, Felix—if even one of these children loses control, their blood will be on your hands."

Felix's smile widened. "Duly noted."

He turned to Akrūra, Tsukiko, and Shigure. "Your lives are no longer your own. You belong to something greater now."

The three children exchanged wary glances. They did not trust him. But they knew one thing for certain—whatever fate awaited them in this organization, it was better than the executioner's blade.

CONTINUE.