When a High School Sophomore Linked with a Night Heron, the World Moved by 1mm [Episode 13] Hell Trial

Defendant, Natsuki Suzakuzaka.

You attempted to trespass without permission into the private space created within the mind of Lord Sugawara no Michizane for the purpose of communicating with a night heron.

Not only was it an attempted illegal entry, but the crime of trying to violate the divine realm is grave.

King Enma declared this in a deep voice that resonated through the ground.

I am not well-versed in the trials of the human world. I have only seen courtroom scenes in manga and television dramas.

The Hell Trial was a bit different from human trials. There were no judges, prosecutors, or defense attorneys; it seems King Enma manages everything.

Of course, there was no one in the gallery, and it was clear that if things continued this way, King Enma would proceed calmly and I would be branded a criminal.

I cannot accept this. Isn't that a 'false accusation'?

Um...

If I'm going to hell anyway, I might as well argue as much as I can. With that resolve, I opened my mouth.

What is it? If you have something to say, you may say it.

Surprisingly, King Enma allowed me to speak quite readily.

This isn't just one-sidedly listening to the plaintiff's claims; perhaps they might even consider my circumstances.

I... my best friend Goicchi... oh, that night heron's name is Goicchi. Ever since that pink part appeared when we communicated mentally, Goicchi has been acting strange.

I was surprised at myself for arguing so desperately, especially since I never ask questions or express opinions at school.

However, the other side wouldn't stay silent either.

Wait a moment.

Lord Sugawara no Michizane. You have permission to speak.

With permission from King Enma, Lord Michizane struck at a sore point. Since I had saved Goicchi and could communicate mentally, the depth of our relationship was immeasurable.

Natsuki, was it? You call Goicchi your best friend, but didn't Goicchi himself refuse your approach to the pink part? You cannot deny that you tried to trespass without permission.

“Ugh...”

I couldn't say a word when suspected of trespassing. After all, I hadn't even realized that was what I was doing. Still, I had to find a way to argue back. Come on, Natsuki, you can do this.

Encouraging myself, I spun my brain into high gear. “I’ve done well so far! I’m a capable person!” My mindset was already that of Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of Demon Slayer.

“I know Goicchi from before, so I can tell! You’re the one who created a pink section in Goicchi’s brain to mind-control him. Give the original Goicchi back!”

“You too, is it? It seems neither you nor Goichi know how to use honorifics. Besides, brainwashing is hardly a crime.”

There was no sense of triumph in Lord Michizane’s words like there had been before. His rebuttal was far from logical; it even sounded like a baseless accusation.

“Lord Michizane. Here, I am the one who decides what is a crime and what is not. You need not make unnecessary conjectures based on the common sense of the human world.”

“And while I understand your feelings, the matter of honorifics has nothing to do with this trial. Refrain from making meaningless statements.”

Lord Michizane’s face turned pale after being rebuked one after another by King Enma.

Reinforcements are coming

I had assumed King Enma would sentence me in this Hell Trial to something like “100 years in the Pool of Blood Hell.”

Of course, that possibility hadn't disappeared, but the situation felt slightly better than it had at the start.

“I would like a bit more circumstantial evidence. Both parties may call upon witnesses.”

King Enma said it calmly, but who on earth would come to Hell?

“Just state the name of the person you wish to call and submit the request, and that will suffice.”

He added, as if sensing my concern.

“Then, I would like to request my classmate, Kimie Ryugeji.”

Kimie is the only one who knows about Goicchi. I named her, betting that she would surely help me.

“Then, I shall call Goichi, the black-crowned night heron.”

Lord Michizane also had no one else to call as a witness for this case but Goicchi. It bothers me that he calls him “Goichi,” but perhaps that’s just some kind of Heian-period accent.

With just a glance from King Enma, the black-clad ogre ran off somewhere like the wind.

I wondered how they would bring Kimie here. Before I could even finish the thought, Kimie and Goicchi appeared. Right, this is hell, so the dimensions are different. Things like teleportation must be possible.

Natsuki! Were you brought here too? What is this all about?

Sorry, Kimie. When I tried to go beyond the pink color by communicating mentally with Goicchi, I was sued for trespassing.

I tried to explain briefly, but Kimie looked blank and didn't seem to grasp the situation right away.

I added that it was Sugawara no Michizane who created the pink part, that Michizane had sued me, which is why I was dropped into hell for a trial, and that King Enma, not a judge, was presiding over it.

I see. I was the one who encouraged Natsuki to go beyond the pink color, so I can't say I'm unrelated.

Since Kimie knows about me and Goicchi, she understood the situation. Moreover, she seemed a little happy to be called to a hell trial. Her eyes were shining like a scholar who had just discovered something.

On the other hand, Goicchi was brought to Michizane's side. I have mixed feelings about that.

The Truth Revealed

Does the witness know the defendant, Natsuhime Suzakuzaka, well?

King Enma asked.

Yeah, I know her. It's Natsuki, right?

Hmm... (No, no, didn't I just say that honorifics don't matter? Calm down, Enma.)

It looked like his cheek twitched for a moment upon hearing Goicchi's answer, but King Enma continued.

Is it true that when Natsuhime Suzakuzaka communicated mentally with you, she ignored your warnings and tried to enter the pink part?

Yeah, that's true. Because Michizane... oh, oops...

Kimie didn't miss Goicchi's slip of the tongue.

In other words, Goicchi was told by Michizane to keep Natsuki from finding out the secret of the pink part, right?

Isn't that a leading question?

Lord Michizane hurriedly interrupted.

However, unlike trials in the human world, the proceedings depended entirely on King Enma's whims. King Enma seemed fascinated by Kimie's story.

"Goi-cchi. You were saved by Natsuki, yet once you were able to link minds, you used her relentlessly. You controlled Kimie to gorge on set meals at the school cafeteria and tried to swallow the pond's carp whole—you've been doing whatever you want, haven't you?"

Since Kimie had no direct involvement with Goi-cchi, her criticism was merciless.

"I understand you feel indebted to Lord Michizane for saving your life, too. But is it really right to avoid communicating with Natsuki mentally? Natsuki is genuinely worried about you; she even practiced breathing techniques just to get to the bottom of the pink truth. And yet, to be framed and put on trial in Hell—no matter how you look at it, that's unreasonable!"

Goi-cchi, who had been listening intently to Kimie's tirade, reacted. Since this was a trial in Hell, it seemed he could communicate with Kimie as well.

"I want to communicate with Natsuki as easily as I always have, too. But Lord Michizane told me I couldn't reveal the secret of the pink color yet. Oh, I just said it."

"That is enough."

King Enma cut in. He didn't look stern; instead, he nodded as if he had just thought of a brilliant idea.

"Lord Sugawara no Michizane. What do you think? Shouldn't we reveal this so-called secret of the pink color now?"

"If King Enma insists, I have no choice. Natsuki, this is a matter that greatly concerns you as well."

According to what Lord Michizane revealed after resigning himself to the situation, a plan was secretly underway to clear-cut a section of Mount Kora for development. Apparently, they intended to level the vast forest to build recreational facilities.

It might not seem like a problem, but clearing that much land would deprive a vast number of plants, birds, and animals of their homes.

Lord Michizane, having learned of the existence of a night heron capable of communicating with humans, thought about whether he could use it to stop the plan.

"When I revealed the matter to Goi-cchi, he was outraged by the arrogance of humans threatening nature. He promised to cooperate with me."

Taking in Lord Michizane's words, King Enma quickly delivered his verdict.

"Defendant Suzakuzaka Natsuhime. You are to join forces with the plaintiff, Lord Sugawara no Michizane, and the night heron to save Mount Kora from the threat of deforestation. On that condition, you are acquitted."

It seemed I had avoided falling into Hell. I was relieved to learn the truth about the pink color and Goi-cchi's true feelings. However, I had been presented with an incredibly difficult challenge.

To be continued in [Episode 14]

You can find all episodes of "When a High School Sophomore Linked with a Black-crowned Night Heron, the World Moved by 1mm" in this magazine.

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