Public Trial

Frankly, if her identity were not that of a witch, Isa’s impression of the two Church knights currently guarding the gate would be quite good.

They were not aggressive like the knights from the Laita City Church branch, nor did they take the opportunity to extort tips from merchants.

In Isa’s view, it would not be an exaggeration to call these two knights good men.

It was just a pity that she was a witch, destined to fight against the knights of the Church.

“Name? What is your business for entering the city?”

When Isa reached the city gate, she was naturally stopped by the guarding knight and questioned.

It seemed every person entering the city had to undergo a round of interrogation.

It was more detailed than before, requiring them to state their purpose for entering.

The questioning did not stump Isa.

She had already fabricated a story for herself before entering the city.

It didn’t arouse the knight’s suspicion, and she was quickly allowed to pass.

With that, Isa put away the magic potions she had initially taken out and walked into Laita City to find a place to stay for the night.

Watching Isa’s departing back, one of the knights asked, “A woman traveling alone, and that cloak on her… it brings back some bad memories. Shouldn’t we do a Holy Stone test?”

The knight looked at the cloak on Isa, remembering the night they were attacked by the witch.

Because the Holy Maiden had arrived in time, the attack caused no casualties, but many of their comrades from the Holy City were still lying in the Laita City branch.

The other knight, whose expression was clearly more relaxed and experienced, retorted, “Your wound just healed, so this is your first day on gate duty, right?”

Having his cover blown, the knight touched the bruise on his face and couldn’t help but nod.

“Don’t forget the Holy Maiden’s orders and the Holy City’s plan. As long as she’s a witch, the moment she enters the city, she becomes a bird in a cage. Right now, we’re hoping more witches walk right into our net. There’s no need to bother with a Holy Stone test; that might just tip them off.”

The veteran knight patted his young partner’s shoulder and continued, “Don’t worry, buddy. Many people near Noda Forest have a habit of wearing cloaks. You can’t just assume every woman is a witch, can you?”

“I hope so!”

After speaking, the two continued to question the people wanting to enter the city.

Isa walked along the streets of Laita City.

Civilians could be seen everywhere, picking out goods on the streets.

There were also mercenaries setting up stalls on the spot, selling still-bloody magical beast materials.

The calls of vendors were endless, creating a lively atmosphere.

Without lingering on the bustling streets, Isa first asked around about the departure times for carriages to other cities, but the replies she received were surprisingly uniform.

To prevent the witch’s escape, the roads to other cities would only be opened after the Holy Maiden publicly judged the witch’s crimes.
Isa had no choice but to wait patiently in the city.

The knights of the Church had already sealed the roads to other cities.

Only after the witch was judged would they reopen the roads.

This was the Church’s usual domineering practice, yet everyone felt it was a matter of course.

In their view, being able to witness the Holy Maiden personally judge a witch was a grand event.

What was being unable to leave Laita City for a few days in comparison?

If anything, the Church sealing the roads gave these people an excuse to stay and watch the ceremony.

They were eager to catch a glimpse of the Holy Maiden’s face.

Receiving this news from the carriage house, a sense of “the fox mourns the death of the rabbit” arose in Isa’s heart for the witch about to be judged.

If Her Highness Su Ran hadn’t intervened, even if she had luckily escaped the pursuit of the hounds, her future self might have faced such a judgment ceremony.

‘My hands would be strung up high, and amidst the cheers of the common folk, the gavel of judgment would fall, pronouncing me guilty on the spot.’

If possible, Isa hoped Her Highness Su Ran could act and rescue this witch from the Holy Maiden’s grasp, which would at least save her life.

However, Isa’s current priority was to find a place to stay.

As night gradually fell on Laita City, if she didn’t have a place to stay, she might be arrested as a suspicious person.

Thus, Isa went to the best inn in Laita City and placed nine silver coins on the counter.

“Give me the best room, and have hot water and dinner prepared.”

The value of nine silver coins could support a family of three in Laita City for a long time.

At this inn, it was merely the cost of one day’s room and board.

It wasn’t that Isa didn’t have gold coins to give; she had found the original bounty on the knights’ bodies.

It was just that people rarely used gold coins for transactions, and Isa did this to avoid looking special.

A maid led Isa to the top floor of the inn.

This was basically one of the highest points in Laita City, offering a panoramic view of most of the area.

On the open ground of a nearby square, a giant cross had already been erected.

Needless to say, this must be the instrument of torture used to bind the witch on the day of her judgment.

However, the base of the cross was not piled with a huge amount of firewood as was customary.

Perhaps it was due to the scarcity of firewood caused by the beast tide, or perhaps the Church wanted to use a different method to firmly nail the witch to the cross.

A knock from the maid sounded at the door.

Isa had her bring in the hot water and dinner.

After confirming the maid had left, the rope of her cloak came undone, and it instantly slid to the floor.

Before eating, Isa wanted to take a hot bath.

But no matter how many times she did it, just undoing her cloak and feeling the light, fluttering short skirt on her body made Isa’s face flush and her heart race.

‘I don’t think I asked Her Highness Su Ran if I looked good in this outfit last time.’

After putting away her clothes, her bare feet stepped onto the water’s surface.

As her delicate, fair calves submerged into the water, Isa leaned against the edge of the tub and let out a comfortable, soft moan.

After several days of sleeping in the open, soaking in hot water again seemed to instantly relieve all of Isa’s mental fatigue.

She hummed a song contentedly, carefully scrubbing every inch of her skin.

‘Isa’s body does not belong to her anymore. So, I must maintain it well for Her Highness Su Ran, so that she can see a clean me at all times.’

Just as Isa was humming her song, a piece of paper suddenly appeared in mid-air, gradually floating down in front of her.

Her fair, lotus-root-like arm emerged from the water.

She used magic essence to levitate the paper, preventing it from getting wet from her bathwater.

Isa could recognize that this type of paper was what Her Highness Su Ran used for messages.

She eagerly began to read.

“The witch imprisoned in Laita City. Go and find out some information about her.”

Seeing the content on the paper, a warmth spread through Isa’s heart.

‘As expected, Her Highness Su Ran will not abandon any of her fellow witch sisters who are in peril.’

The moment the thought of saving the witch arose in her, Her Highness Su Ran had already made her plans.

The only problem was, she was currently taking a bath.

‘Could Her Highness Su Ran also see me as I am now?’

At this thought, even the tips of Isa’s ears turned completely red.