The next morning, Verity entered a room, its interior resembling that of a tribunal. He was made to step on a podium, a bright beam of light illuminating his figure.

Inspecting his surroundings using the rune of Truth, Verity could vaguely tell that he was being watched, but nothing beyond that. He could not discern what the test would be.

A voice resounded throughout the tribunal, and light shone on a second podium. It revealed a dark-skinned man with long braided hair. With staggering force, the man smashed his gavel against its block as he called for attention.

"Listen well, challenger Verity. In this courtroom, you are in the presence of the will of the Emperor, for the Law is his will, and his will is Law. Through me, his Justice will be enacted, and through you, it will be enforced. Remember this. I do not lie, I do not deceive, and I do not compromise, as I am merely the Emperor's hammer."

The judge hit the block with his gavel once more. "This test is simple. You will be assessed for your worth in the eyes of the Empire. A criminal will be brought forth, his crimes listed, and you will be tasked with executing the criminal. Is that understood?"

Verity frowned. "...Yes."

Verity was apprehensive, but surely a criminal en route for execution would have committed heinous crimes difficult to even speak of. If that was the case, though Verity did not enjoy being treated like a puppet, he could cut the criminal's life short without much trouble.

A third light shone, illuminating a walk-way, at the end of which black curtains were raised. At the judge's motion, the curtains fell and a man wearing black robes and a black mask with the eyes carved out walked out, dragging a young chained monster behind him.

No, not a monster. The black robed man dragged a young troll behind him. Long hair, black tattoos, and long arms. That was definitely a troll. A troll child who was bleeding, scared, and crying.

Verity's body tensed.

The judge spoke. "A troll found on Empire territory. It has been sentenced to execution. Will you carry it out, challenger?"

Verity's eyes narrowed. "What… is the crime?"

The judge, his voice and face impassive, spoke again. "I have just told you. It was born a troll, and it was found dirtying Empire land. That is its crime."

There was a short silence, and the judge spoke again. "Now, challenger, execute the criminal, and you will pass the second test."

Verity's gaze drifted toward the Troll child. He was crying, mumbling in a language Verity did not understand. He had been beaten, starved, and who knew what else.

All of that because of the way he was born?

How ridiculous.

Verity dropped his spear. "No."

The judge's face remained impassive. "Will you disobey the laws of this Empire? The will of the Emperor himself?" He leaned forward. "The consequences for such an affront far surpass the likes of execution."

Verity crossed his arms. "If that's what the laws are, then maybe this place isn't so great after all."

A hint of emotion flashed across the judge's face. "I see. Then you will fail." He looked toward the man who had dragged the troll in. "Execute it."

The man nodded, and he lifted his heavy axe.

BOOM

Verity's figure blurred and his fist crashed into the executioner's face, sending him crashing into a pillar.

The troll child, still terrified, looked up at Verity. The young troll did not have the presence of mind to offer any words of thanks, but a flicker of hope could be seen forming in his eyes.

Verity grabbed the troll's hand, lifting him to his feet. "This is ridiculous. If passing this trial means killing that child, then I'll walk out of this city right now," Verity stated.

The judge did not even flinch at the gesture. He stood on his podium, behind the stand that held his gavel and block, his face hardened by years, decades of this line of work.

"You may be hunted to the ends of the Earth. There is no place where the Emperor's hand cannot reach." The judge's expression darkened. "Perhaps your bravado comes from exceptional backing, or transcendent talent, but I will tell you this, in the face of the Emperor, none of that matters."

He lifted his gavel. "For as long as you reside in these lands, when it concerns the Emperor's will, you shall either bend, or you shall break."

The orb on which the judge had placed his hand not once reacted to what he had said. He was telling no lies.

Verity tensed. These were now more than simple words, his entire being told him so. He stared at the judge, without another word escaping his mouth, and brought the young troll closer to his side.

He looked around him. He could not see an escape, at least not one that would allow him to flee before the judge, someone Verity recognized to be on par, if only slightly weaker than Irina, the Dragon Knight Commander.

Verity swallowed hard. "Well? Are you coming down to force my hand or are we fighting this out?"

The judge and Verity stared at each other for a long while.

At last, the judge scoffed. "Hmph." And the gavel hit the block for the last time. "Pass. The troll's sentence has been carried out, and it will be released at the southern edge of the Green forest, where it was caught."

Verity raised a brow, and his entire body relaxed. "...Just like that? Was this another fake test?"

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

The judge smirked, the first noticeable change in his expression since Verity had entered the room. "None of it was fake. As I told you, I do not lie." He jumped down from the podium, and he slowly stepped toward Verity. "The troll had been sentenced to execution, and had you not intervened, it would have died then and there." He stopped mere inches from Verity. "Tell me, why did you intervene?"

Verity frowned. "...Because it was wrong? What kind of Empire executes someone for trespassing?"

The judge paused, and he laughed. "Great, that is great. Indeed. In your heart, the sentencing was wrong, and so you moved to rectify it. If the first trial's purpose was to test whether you would reign in a tumultuous heart, this one's purpose was to assess whether you could follow its words, you see."

He patted Verity's shoulder. "Conviction. That is the purpose of the second trial, and by not allowing the troll child to be executed, you have demonstrated conviction in your beliefs."

Verity's brow twitched. "So… if I had executed him myself, I would have still passed?"

"Indeed." The judge answered immediately. "As long as you follow what you truly believe, that is a pass. Righteousness is for Knights, and blind obedience is for soldiers. What a warrior needs is conviction powerful enough to follow their own hearts. Whether that is their belief in the supremacy of the Emperor, their own moral compass, or the single unshakable desire that drives them toward victory, conviction is the root of all growth."

Verity listened intently, not fully subscribing to the judge's words. 'Very philosophical all of a sudden…He's basically saying that a serial murderer can be a worthy warrior if what they're doing is following their hearts… I'm not sure how I feel about that.'

He sighed. "Can you guarantee this child will be brought back to where he was found."

The judge smirked once more. "Haven't I told you? I do not lie. My word is gold."

—

"NO! PLEASE! WAIT! LET ME MAKE MY CASE DAMMIT! DON'T I GET A TRIA—"

The prison guard shoved a piece of cloth into the criminal's mouth.

The judge, an older elven woman, spoke to a young archer with night blue hair. "That woman has been tried already. Whether she lives or dies, that is your choice," She said.

The young archer tapped the tip of his chin with his finger. "Hmm. I see. You there, what's your name?" He asked, pointing to the prisoner.

The prison guard glared at him. "It is no longer necessary for the prisoner to speak. Make your choice at once, brat," he said. "If you cannot bring yourself to do it, I will execute this woman for you, and you will pass the test regardless!"

The judge's brow seemed to twitch for a moment, but she ultimately did not step in.

Hearing this, the young archer let out a soft chuckle, and his expression soured. "Since she's not allowed to speak, I suppose you'll oblige me with your name, sir?"

The prison guard's fury flared. "What is the matter with you? My name is of no impo–"

SWOOSH

No one had seen him draw, no one had even seen the arrow fly, but in an instant, there was a small hole in the center of the man's cranium, and an arrow had sunk into the pillar behind him.

The young archer stepped lightly toward the woman, and he removed the cloth from her mouth.

She was moments away from an outburst of begging and pleas for salvation, but the young archer placed a finger over her lips, shushing her.

"What's your name, ma'am?"

A smile formed on the prisoner's face. She sensed a hint of compassion, perhaps even pity. "I-It's Mavis! Mavis, my savior!"

The young archer smiled, and placed both hands on the woman's cheeks, softly caressing her. The woman lagged nervously, tears of relief welling in her eyes.

"T-Thank yo–"

In the next instant, the woman's head turned 180 degrees, a sickening crunch bursting from her neck.

She died instantly.

The judge watched with an impassive expression from her podium. "Why did you do it?"

The young archer shrugged. "The first gentleman was rather annoying, and as for the lady… I suppose I just felt like it, haha… Oh, and her crimes were quite gruesome as well, right, there was that too.."

The judge stared at the young archer for a moment, and her gavel hit the block. "...Pass. You may proceed."

The young archer beamed. "Oh? Really? Great!"

He politely stepped outside of the tribunal, humming. "Mavis~ Mavis~ Hmm, what a pretty name."

The judge passed a hand over her face. "Tsk. I've told them numerous times that this test would only apply to those who are sane… not lunatics like this one."

She leaned her head back. "...Or perhaps that was their goal from the start."

—

Hoshino furiously pointed her finger toward the judge.

"Only I am permitted to enact justice, for I am the Star of Justice! Do you hear me, you idiotic judge? In this world, my Light is the only scale, and my radiance is the only executioner!"

"Y-yes I su–"

Hoshino shook her head, and she hijacked the light magic artifacts of the tribunal. Since there no longer existed anyone with proficiency in light magic above hers, it was rather easy to do. She shined them all onto herself and struck a dramatic pose.

"NO! You don't understand! The Emperor? The Law? What is that before a Star!? Before the cosmos itself?!" She asked. "Nothing!! How dare you pass judgement in my presence!"

The judge, the criminal, and the prison guard looked at her with blank expressions.

The criminal turned his head toward his guard. "...She's got a few screws loose on that one."

He had tried to use his looks to seduce her, as that was the variable in Hoshino's trial. She had been presented with an incredibly handsome man who had committed heinous crimes, and then would have been presented with a hideous one who had committed a minor crime just passable for execution such as insult to a noble, or royalty.

When Hoshino had stopped the executioner, her eyes beaming, he thought he had succeeded, but then she had immediately started raving on and on about Justice, Stars, and whatnot.

The criminal stood up amidst the confusion, and he glanced toward the judge. "So does this mean I'm free to go? That was the deal, right? If she saves me, I'm exonerated, aren't I?"

The judge groaned and he turned to Hoshino. "Alright! Alright! I get it! Then is it your choice to let this man go!?"

Hoshino scoffed. "Ah? Are you crazy? You haven't listened to a word I said, have you…" She sighed, and she waved her wand.

"Light of the stars that judge the heavens,

Flame of the sun that scours the earth,

Reveal, Purge, Illuminate – Sunshine!"

A miniature sun came into being, and it moved to face the criminal. Its shined right before him, and because of its mesmerizing beauty, he couldn't help but stare at it for a moment.

That moment had sealed his fate.

He screamed. "AAAHHH!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?! HELP ME!!! SOMEONE HELP ME!!!"

His handsome face burned to a crisp.

"Justice is fair, justice is not always merciful! Now, you shall never again be a slave to what you see!"

The criminal held his charred face, unbearable pain coursing through it. "YOU B*TCH, I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU, NO– I'LL MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!! MY FACE!!!"

That's what he said, but the agony was such that he could not even stand.

Hoshino nodded with satisfaction. "Mmm, mission accomplished. Justice has been served, my role ends here!"

The judge was at a loss for words. 'What a nutcase.'

The gavel hit the block. "Pass."

–

Felica's trial was much simpler. While Verity had to face a monster who had committed no crime, and Hoshino had to face a monster wearing beautiful human skin, Felicia simply had to face a demon.

Its mouth and eyes had been covered, but Felicia could see a glowing golden cross on its forehead and horns protruding from its skull. It was truly a demon.

"...I was under the impression that the Empire's laws forbid the capture, or trial of demons. They are to be slain on sight, are they not?"

Her tone was sharp, almost impatient.

The judge leaned forward. "Indeed, you are correct, but this demon was not captured. It follows willingly."

Felicia's eyes narrowed. The creature stood unnaturally still, clearly under some sort of compulsion.

"So what? I just have to kill it, is that it? Isn't that too easy of a trial?"

The judge smirked. "Indeed. A demon, in the end, is a demon. It has corrupted the lands, slaughtered, and destroyed far more than we can count. Its very existence is a threat to the entire continent, but why is it you think we have yet to kill it ourselves?"

Felicia tilted her head. "I'm… not sure."

"This one is a traitor. It has betrayed its own kind. With its aid, we have saved countless lives, and we have stopped the fall of entire nations."

Felicia frowned. "A demon? It betrayed its kind? I've heard of humans doing so, but demons…?"

"Indeed, curious, but true. And so, there is your trial, challenger. Today, due to external pressure from the Temple, this demon is to be sentenced to execution, unless you were to choose otherwise."

Felicia's grip tightened around her sword.

The judge continued. "Its crimes are too numerous to count, but without it, we lose one of our only cards against those vile creatures. If you strike at the mark on its chest, you will shatter its only remaining core." The judge's grin widened. "Hatred for demons is a given among humans, but knowing this, will you still execute—"

SLASH

The demon's body split right down the middle.

Felicia sheathed her sword. "Was this supposed to be some sort of dilemma? There is no such thing as a 'useful' demon, so long as it lives."

She left the tribunal without even hearing the verdict, and uttered a few words as she stepped out. "The Rising Stars Tournament isn't as impressive as I thought it would be."

The gavel hit the block. "Pass."

—

And then there was Marco.

There he stood, his expression unreadable, and as he did so, a silky voice emerged behind him.

"Fail."

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