074 Wandering Chapter 14 Lord Gilbert

Midnight readers, apologies for the delay.

"Your Lordship, what will be done with these Earthlings?"

A retainer of the Gilbert family asks the lord.

"From that man, we’ve been told to enslave them all—treat them as beggars.

Even those who’ve earned war medals—well, we’ll find some charge of disrespect and invalidate them.

Regardless, everyone’s the target. Find some excuse—debt, anything—and enslave them.

Young women will be kept as mistresses. Men will be worn out in war."

The lord replies with a grim face.

The retainer nods, as if this is routine, and smirks.

"Please let us have some of the women too."

"Don’t mention it to that rigid aide. He’s the son of Lord Dish. Would only cause trouble."

The conversation laid bare the lord’s true colors.

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Lord Gilbert opened with a statement that hit like a bucket of ice water to the average Earthling.

"Why fight? You can't just stay warm and cozy as refugees forever—don't you realize that?"

"Lord Gilbert, there aren't any Earthlings here who qualify. Save your noble advice for when you've gathered a few."

Commander Sanders cut off Gilbert's speech before it could fully bloom.

We exited with faces twisted like we'd swallowed a lemon.

"President, it looks like Earthlings who haven't joined the war are in real trouble."

"Prince said we were victims. But the Empire's homeland view seems to differ."

"The key'll be whether marriage status can get us out of this."

"Make sure to relay to the other Earthlings that they should all fall under the protection of a decorated officer. Emphasize it's a cover-up."

We, two hundred and fifty Earthlings—regardless of whether we're part of the self-proclaimed自治 committee or the anti-autonomy faction—were gathered in the grand assembly hall.

President Kamizawa issued the directive, sure. How seriously anyone took it, though? Who knows.

On the dais stand Lord Gilbert, his retinue, and his guard knights.

A portion of the Earthlings—mostly the self-proclaimed自治 committee—still don’t get it. They’re looking at the Imperial regular forces with hopeful eyes, convinced they’ve come to reclaim Earth.

Those who believed Kamizawa’s warning are on edge.

"Earthlings... I am Lord Gilbert of Gazan-Zem-Gilbert, Earl of the Empire. I’ve come to break your rotten roots."

The Earl’s ominous words freeze the crowd’s expressions.

"First, I’ll announce the excluded."

The guard knight, apparently serving as the Imperial Army’s adjutant, steps forward and begins explaining after the Earl’s words.

“Our Imperial Regular Forces have come to retrain those who did not take part in combat. That means anyone who’s already fought at Anoi Fortress is excluded.”

Fourteen-four members of the Anti-Autonomy Coalition are thus excluded.

“Next, spouses of decorated individuals are also excluded. Submit your applications accordingly.”

This leaves forty-five of the original one hundred eighty-nine members of the Anti-Autonomy Coalition—excluded.

All due to following the chairman’s directive.

The directive was, in fact, relayed to the self-proclaimed Autonomy Coalition as well—but apparently their heads were in the clouds, too trusting to believe it.

Well, it makes sense, really. No one who didn’t fight got decorated, so no one could be excluded on that basis.

Still, it would’ve made more sense for the Anti-Autonomy Coalition’s decorated members to seek protection.

“Why aren’t you fighting? Sitting back like refugees, thinking you can just reclaim Earth without lifting a finger?”

"We're sheltering refugees under the Prince's protection."

"That's right, that's right. The Prince himself bowed his head and blamed the Empire for becoming a refugee!"

"The Prince? Your oversight of Earth's management has already been handed over to the Empire's home command. He's irrelevant now!"

"Like... that..."

Lord Gilbert spoke with a sharp edge.

The fact that the self-styled Autonomy Coalition was getting condemned didn't bother me much—but that they were just as surprised as I was? That was news.

The Prince, after all that bluster, just handed everything over to the Empire like it was nothing.

I'd have been in real trouble if I hadn't realized, even in my debate with Miss Ai, that being a refugee wasn't a permanent status.

But if I couldn't trust what the Prince said, then I'd have to rethink everything.

"Earthlings, your status as refugees ends today.

Those with Imperial 4th-Class Battle Medals will be treated as 1st-Class Citizens. Those with 5th-Class Battle Medals will be treated as 2nd-Class Citizens."

"Those with prior battlefield experience, and spouses of medal recipients, will be granted temporary second-class citizen status."

"What about us, the ones left out?"

The self-styled自治会 member asked timidly, voice trembling.

"Paupers, naturally. We regular troops will have to protect—feed—them, I suppose."

"That's... not right..."

Lord Gilbert's tone was anything but protective. It was the language of a master speaking to slaves.

"Why us? This is bullshit!"

The自治会 crew erupted in outrage.

Even if they were delusional, this treatment was excessive.

At that moment, Lord Gilbert—still fiddling with his tablet—turned toward us and flashed a smug, unpleasant grin.

"Oh, right. Anyone with outstanding debts to the Empire remains a pauper until settled. You're coming too."

My back went cold.

Ayame had been named.

The aide next to me made a face—like, *again?*—and wiped it clean in an instant.

Something’s up.

“Can’t I just pay off the debt right now? She’s my wife, you know.”

“Besides, this kind of thing usually comes with a grace period, doesn’t it?”

I’d just blurted out, caught in Ayame’s crisis.

Lord Gilbert glared at me.

“Are you implying I’ve made a misstep?”

“Here, we don’t know the Empire’s laws. Can’t tell lies from truth.”

“Luckily, we’ve got Support AI. Can I check it, right?”

“Shut up! You’re mocking me, are you?”

“Why the rush? Worried the law’ll catch up to you?”

“Disrespect! Seize him!”

“““What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”””

The mercenaries all snapped, furious.

“Earthlings—everyone! Disrespect! Arrest them!”

One word from the count, and we Earthlings were all arrested.

Medals revoked. Everyone reduced to paupers.

“They have the right to a trial! Don’t just hand down punishment willy-nilly!”

The imperial guard knight’s aide interjects.

We’re barely being granted a trial, it seems.

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Imperial trials are judged by AI—copies of the judges’ own personalities—created and operated in person by the imperial judiciary.

No investigation, no gathering of evidence—just immediate judgment. That’s a problem, sure. But the speed? That’s a real selling point.

And even if they’re charging us with “insolence”—a crime defined entirely by nobles—it’s still a proper trial. That’s… surprisingly decent, actually.

The defendant has the right to legal counsel—but I don’t know anyone in the Empire who could help.

So I went with Plan B: I asked Support AI Aiyu, my organic terminal with a knack for law and knowledge, to act as my lawyer.

The courtroom was a tiny room inside the Anoi Fortress Administrative Tower.

On a small raised platform at the back, the judge AI was seated. To its left: the plaintiff’s seat. To its right: the defendant’s seat.

No central defendant stand here, no public shaming like in Japan.

That’s how it works in the Empire’s weird legal system—where you can counter-sue during trial.

Both sides accuse each other. The judge AI makes the call. That’s how justice works here.

“Proceeding with the trial. Charge: Disrespect.”

The judge AI announced the start.

"Defendant Akira Yae-gashi admits to showing disrespect toward the plaintiff, Lord Gilbert?"

"No. I do not admit it."

"Does the plaintiff, Lord Gilbert, admit that Defendant Akira Yae-gashi showed disrespect?"

"Yes. I admit it."

Lord Gilbert smirks.

"Rendering judgment."

(What the hell? Wait—hold on. I’m filing a countercharge against Lord Gilbert for attempted abduction of my wife.

The so-called 'disrespect' was just me trying to avoid that! )

"Countercharge accepted."

(Shit. If a noble throws a 'disrespect' charge, it’s automatically guilty.)

"Does the defendant, Lord Gilbert, admit to attempting to abduct the wife of plaintiff Akira Yae-gashi?"

"No. I only detained her for debt collection."

"Relevant! There's no evidence that Lord Gilbert was entrusted with collecting this debt."

"Here it is."

Lord Gilbert produces the assignment of debt collection documents.

"I acknowledge that Lord Gilbert holds the right to collect this debt."

Prince's bastard. You'll pay for this later.

What now? What now?

"Repayment terms."

Aya-me whispers in my ear.

"(Right! The repayment conditions have been worsened. It should've been a one-time payment with no interest or reminders.)"

"Those terms depend entirely on the creditor's mood."

"Didn't you at least suggest repayment in money?"

"I merely wished to collect the debtor in person, nothing more."

"Objection denied. Nobles have that right."

( Damn it. So nobles can do whatever they want now? )

Nobles twist laws and contracts like wet rope. So the Empire’s rotten through and through, huh?

Even that prince—smiling like a saint, but still lying through his teeth as a noble.

Damn it. If only I had rank and status...

Wait. My status... was something classified under Imperial Secrecy, wasn’t it?

I took the gamble.

“I accuse Lord Gilbert of contempt toward Akira Yae-gashi.”

“What are you talking about?! A commoner like you—how dare you accuse a noble of contempt?! Isn’t that right, Your Honor?”

But the judge AI froze. Couldn’t say no.

In that moment, I cornered Ayame.

“Ayame. What’s my rank? My status?”

“That information is strictly prohibited. I cannot answer.”

“Ayame, I’m finished if I don’t know. I command you—what is my status?”

“Due to its connection with Imperial Secrecy, I cannot answer.”

"Ayame, the Prince is involved too. Absolute command! What is my status?!"

"Absolute command acknowledged. The status of Akira is Imperial Prince Sixth."

"(Huh? What the hell is that? But now I can win.) As the Sixth Prince, I ask—do you trust the words of a count more than mine?"

"What kind of nonsense is that? Disrespect toward the royal family is now an added charge!"

Count Gilbert bellowed. The judge AI unfroze and resumed motion.

Seems like the inquiry to the Empire has concluded—or the information lockdown has been lifted.

"We have confirmed the identity of Yaegashi Akira as the Sixth Prince of the Empire.

Count Gilbert is found guilty of disrespect and attempted kidnapping of a royal consort."

"Release the Earth citizens wrongfully arrested under false charges, as well.

They are my family and my subordinates."

"Dismiss the Earl Gilbert. Issue orders to the Imperial Regular Forces to free the Earth citizens."

"S-That's ridiculous! He's an additional prince, for heaven's sake!"

Fear of rank and status—always the same.

A world where status dictates everything is broken, sure, but this... this is just how it has to be.

If the Earl hadn't flaunted his rank to pull off something reckless, none of this would've happened.

If the people at the top don't act right, this empire's finished.

Now, what should we do with that Prince who sold out the Earth people?

Sorry. I've added a bit more nuance to the Imperial judicial system’s portrayal.

Added Earl Gilbert’s reaction.

Added and revised on May 24, 2018.

On the surface, the Earl doesn’t look like a villain, so I slipped in a little scheming scene.