Published: September 10, 2025
Satou here. There are quite a few games and dramas centered around trials, but if you don’t watch them attentively, you end up forgetting the foreshadowing and relationships between characters, and you can’t feel the catharsis of the final reversal scene.
◇
“—God. O just God whom we revere.”
In the Central Temple of Urion, illuminated by an indigo light, the divine communion ritual was underway.
The ritual procedure was the same as in previous Central Temples.
This time, the shrine maiden was a woman in her forties with an atmosphere like a bitter winter morning.
“O seeker of justice who dares to face the trial.”
A strict male voice echoed in my mind.
This was said to be the voice of Urion God.
“Expose evil deeds, and deliver righteous judgment.”
In my mind’s eye, I pictured a golden scale with simple decorations.
It must be Uriru Rābu, the golden scale—the artifact of Urion God—that I overheard mentioned in the cafeteria yesterday.
“Then, I shall grant you the proof.”
—Oh?
This time, the phrase “If the people universally revere my name” did not appear in the trial.
“Is it unnecessary for the people to worship?”
“Correct the injustice, you who face the trial.”
Unusually, there was a response to the question, but somehow the conversation didn’t feel quite right.
Unfortunately, no further answers or instructions came, and the communication with the god ended there.
Compared to the previous two gods, this was better, but still, it seemed not very skilled at wordplay.
◇
“Mr. Satou, good work.”
I wiped the sweat with the towel Zena-san handed me.
I checked my measuring device pulled from my pocket for a reaction.
—Alright. The experiment was a success.
“A pocket watch?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
When I accepted the “trial of the gods,” I was verifying the operation of a little item.
“So, what was the god’s order like?”
“Arisa, please phrase that a little differently…”
“Huh? What was the divine oracle from the god?”
Seira looked troubled, as if unhappy with Arisa’s rephrasing.
“‘Expose evil deeds and deliver righteous judgment,’ and then ‘correct injustice,’ I think.”
“Heh, looks like this time they don’t need popularity points.”
Well, since the faith and prayers of the people seem important to the gods, I’ll still make sure to pick up on that with lower priority.
“So, do you have any ideas about the evil deeds or injustice?”
“I’m not a god, so I have no idea in this country I just arrived in.”
I answered Arisa’s question with a wry smile.
“Like the trial we just saw earlier?”
“I don’t think such a small trial counts as a trial from the gods.”
Zena-san and Seira exchanged such words.
“For now, I’ll transform into Kuro and contact the advance team of the Echigoya Trading Company.”
Since this country has no Echigoya branch, when the trial was decided, I had sent some people from Echigoya Trading Company.
I left personnel selection entirely to the manager, but since she’s competent, the people she chose should be gathering information properly.
“Putting off the hero of the Saga Empire?”
Arisa’s question reminded me.
Right, the hero of the Saga Empire, Hero Seigi, is in this country.
“I don’t think we need to get involved.”
I want the hero to execute justice in his own way.
If we meddle unnecessarily, it might just create extra trouble.
We talked while leaving the Central Temple of Urion.
“—Oh? Are they doing something at the cathedral?”
Arisa sharply spotted the place I had been ignoring.
Hero Seigi is there, so I don’t want to get close.
“Let’s go!”
Before I could stop her, Arisa ran toward the cathedral.
“I wonder if there’s some event going on?”
“It’s a cathedral, so probably some kind of divine ritual.”
Seira took my hand, and together with Zena-san, we headed toward the cathedral.
Well, maybe we can secretly peek in and find some big evil suitable for the trial target.
◇
“What a crowd.”
When we opened the cathedral door, heat and the murmur of people spilled out.