Mock Trial
After taking care of the paperwork that had piled up from one thing after another...
I finally made it back to my room and lay down on the bed.
*Sigh...* I can finally get some rest.
Maybe I pushed myself too hard, because the moment my head hit the pillow, sleep rushed in.
Just as I was about to drift off...
Captain, are you inside?
...Oh well. I'll rest later.
Oh! Captain! There you are!
...Were you resting? Did I interrupt you?
...No, it's fine.
What's up?
Well...
I came to deliver this to you!
Lisa handed me a single sheet of paper.
It looked somewhere between a proposal and a formal notice.
Written neatly by hand, the title at the top read...
Mock Trial Notice...?
...It's scheduled to proceed according to the dates listed below...
Participants: Captain Captain and the Voyager Savior Party...
Further details will be announced on-site...
...Voyager Savior Party's exclusive la belle liaison, Lisa.
Oh... so she's our la belle liaison.
Have you finished reading, Asherah?
Yes. But what exactly is this?
I've never heard of a mock trial.
Then allow me to explain.
Before we talk about the mock trial...
The Observation Council, Polaris...
Has approved a special support fund for us!
Haha, no need to look so shocked.
While you were all working hard, I haven't exactly been idle.
Seriously? Wow, look at our talent Lisa doing all the heavy lifting!
Ahem! Of course!
However, in order to use the funds, we must submit a clear purpose.
For example... by planning something like this mock trial...
And reporting that we successfully completed the program and distributed rewards!
...That's how we secure the funding.
So we're dressing it up to get free money?
"Free money"? Do you have any idea how much work this takes?!
Deciding the program, the rewards, how they'll be distributed...
The venue, the date, the participants...
Everything must be organized and submitted in a flawless proposal—
It's incredibly tedious! And exhausting!
I hope you all appreciate that!
O-okay. I get it.
So this isn't a real trial?
Correct. It's a training program in the form of sparring between Saviors.
Even if you lose, the Journey won't end. So there's no need to worry.
Question. What's the reward?
Excellent question!
A famous eastern chef has opened a restaurant branch in downtown NOA. Have you heard?
*Gasp!* That place...?
If you successfully complete this mock trial...
We'll hold the Savior Party dinner there!
Reaaaally?!
Yay! Omega likes good food!
I heard the rumors of that place.
Opening day reservation queue lasted 7 hours and 48 minutes.
Well? Tempted?
Let's start immediately!
Ooh. Luna's eyes are glinting.
If only she showed that much enthusiasm all the time...
So who's our opponent? Who do we have to beat?
Well... they're people you're familiar with...
People we know?
I don't believe there's much chance of us losing...
A-anyway... Why not go see for yourselves?
They're already waiting.
Mm... All right. Looks like we're ready.
Okay then! Everyone, follow me!
So...
There's some little-known Savior Party, and if we help with their sparring training...
They'll assist us in finding a sacred relic?
Yes... That's what I heard...
I didn't hear it directly... But they contacted the Order that way...
But why do we have to be their training partners?
Perhaps because of what happened recently...?
After removing a sacred relic without the Order's permission then losing it...
And causing friction with the Journey Captain as well...
D-didn't we recover our standing by awakening the Star Piercer's spirit?
...Perhaps the efforts you made afterward to make up for it did not go very well, Saintess Muriel?
Q-quiet! What was I supposed to do?! If I just sit still, I'll fall below rank 116!
...Tch. Still, sparring training...?
Mm. Though... it may not be entirely bad.
They did promise to help us find a sacred relic. So it's not a loss for us...
And if they're truly unknown, their skills can't be that impressive.
I guess... acting as training partners should be more than manageable.
As expected of the 116th Saintess Muriel! Saying that it's more than manageable... even your stamina is remarkable!
Do you know when this training is scheduled?
Huh? Ah, well...
...Wait. Don't tell me it's right now!
I-I'm so sorry, 116th Saintess Muriel! I failed to inform you...
I shall repay this sin in the fires of hell!
...They must be a rather diligent Savior Party...
Fine! I was getting bored anyway.
Let's at least see what kind of Savior Party they are.
Ahem. Greetings. The Monolith Order welcomes—
...Hmm?
...Huh?
...Oh?
...Muriel?
Huh? Why are you here?
Everyone! The ones assisting us in this mock trial are...
The two saintesses of the Monolith Order!
...What?
Oh, it's them? I thought it'd be someone impressive.
What—
Wait, hold on.
You're the ones who contacted the Order directly?
Yes!
And promised to help us find a sacred relic?
Yup!
You scammers!!
You should've said it was you from the start! Little-known Savior Party my foot!
Mhmm... Compared to other Savior Parties with long histories and traditions...
We are still rather unknown, aren't we?
Ugh... You and your wordplay...!
A-anyway! You even have the Star Piercer's spirit!
You're not planning to launch us with that mass... or whatever that thing is, are you?!
Omega is Omega! Not a spirit!
And Mass Driver only works when it goes zap-zap...
Besides! There are only two of us, and five of you! That's completely unfair!
Fair point.
Though I won't be participating directly.
Hngh! I don't care! I won't do it! I refuse!
We didn't agree to this! The Order forced us!
Then we'll even the numbers.
What...?
We'll send out only two members as well.
Oh? So that's how it's going to be?
Whaaat? I mean... Yeah, four against two would've been a bit much, but...
Don't worry! I'm certain you'll win!
I do intend to.
As long as dinner's on the line, I'm not losing.
E-eek?! A-are you seriously agreeing to this...?
H-hold it! I still feel like this is unfair somehow...!
It's two against two, but why does it feel like something's still wrong...?
Errgh! I don't know! But I still don't want to fight you lot!
You can't say that now! It's too late to back out!
Of course I can! Or at least put that sword on the line—
All right!
...What?!
WHAT?!
You mean the Captain's sword, correct?
If you win, we'll hand over the sword!
W-wait! I never agreed to—
Captain... you're not doubting your own team, are you?
And please don't worry about what happens if we lose.
Your talented liaison has already planned ahead!
...Lisa, a word...
I pulled Lisa aside, away from the others.
I do think we'll win, but...
Staking this feels like a bit much...
B-but if they refuse to fight, that's a problem.
This is training meant to prepare for real combat.
If our team has dinner on the line, shouldn't the other side have a comparable offer?
And even though it's unlikely...
Don't worry if they somehow win!
Lisa pulled out a document and showed it to me.
It's the Monolith Order's cooperation approval form.
It clearly states that no physical goods or currency will be awarded to Order members participating in training.
So even if they win, we can simply point to this and decline.
...Her thoroughness was almost frightening!
Besides, the outcome itself isn't important.
All that matters is that we can report the training was conducted.
I figured you'd say that.
But if I said that outright, no one would feel motivated, would they?
If we're going to do this, it's better if everyone gives it their all.
...She's always been like this, but Lisa is getting scarier by the day.
We moved to the venue for the mock trial.
Asherah and Luna will represent us.
Looking forward to it!
I'm getting hungry. Perfect warm-up before dinner.
Omega will cheer with Smile!
...Go team.
...All right! Ready, Elisa?
If we win, demotion won't matter! It's a straight path to the High Saintesshood!
As expected of the 116th Saintess Muriel! Securing advantage through cunning and underhanded means!
Even if you are burned by the flames of hell, I shall remain by your side forever...!
Sh-shut it! Anyway... this is a fight we can win!
Bite, scratch—whatever it takes, we have to win!
H-huh...? B-bite them...?
Yeah! Even if we have to throw sand in their eyes, we're taking the Star Piercer!
U-understood!
117th Saintess Elisa... Ready...!
Very well. From this moment...
We begin the Voyager Savior Party's mock trial!
The opponents are Monolith Order's Saintess Muriel and Elisa.
If both sides are ready...
Battle, commence!