"...Did Frondier really want that?"
Philly asked, and Bartello answered with a heavy heart.
The day of exile had arrived, and Frondier and Lily stood bound in the center of the Sylvania City square.
Beyond the lines of soldiers, countless Imperial citizens had gathered.
The date and location of Frondier's judgment had already been announced by the Empire.
- Please conduct my exile in a public place. Everyone in the Empire must know that 'the devil named Frondier has left'.
Normally, for criminals who commit treason against the Empire, public executions are held to raise awareness among the citizens.
However, Frondier's case was so exceptional that both Bartello and Philly initially intended to secretly expel him from the Empire.
Philly said with sunken eyes.
Would the Empire ever see another talent like him?
Would she ever meet such a person in her lifetime?
Even if she did, would she be able to see through the fog of her own suspicion?
While Philly's heart was filled with worry and regret, some of the Zodiacs seated nearby were still burning with murderous intent.
"Exile? We should kill him here."
One of them growled. A few of the surrounding Zodiacs seemed to agree.
"You can't. Your head will be rolling over there before Frondier even lifts a finger."
Ludovic's assertion. Before the offended Zodiac could say anything, he cast his gaze to the opposite side.
Opposite the Imperial Palace, behind Frondier, sat Enfer, Azier, and Malia.
"Be grateful they're just sitting there quietly."
And it wasn't just Roach here.
Among the Zodiacs, there were those who were Frondier's allies, including Osprey, of course.
There were also members of Constel who, despite being students, rivaled the Zodiacs in power, and they were present here as well.
"Can't you feel the immense tension filling this place?"
Although unseen, a tremendous clash of power surrounded them from all sides.
If anyone made a reckless move, they would be obliterated by this momentum.
"Know that the Imperial Palace doesn't have many allies."
The Zodiac finally fell silent at Ludovic's words.
However, the tension remained. It felt like at any moment, all the animosity towards Frondier could explode.
Within this precarious battlefield...
'...What should I do?'
Elodie de Inies Rishae was still contemplating.
'I don't need to do anything, right?'
Elodie wasn't worried about Frondier.
She wasn't enraged like the others in this situation.
This was because she had an unwavering belief that Frondier had made his own arrangements.
Elodie couldn't even imagine Frondier being in danger even after leaving the Empire.
She even thought it might be more appropriate to worry about the future of the Empire instead.
'Although Frondier was caught in Odin's scheme, quietly leaving the Empire is also Frondier's choice...'
Then she should respect that choice.
There was nothing for her to do this time.
Rather than there being nothing to do, the entire incident had already concluded before she even realized it.
"...Then, I shall announce the verdict."
While Elodie's thoughts continued, Emperor Bartello had risen from his seat.
It was rare for the Emperor to read the verdict himself, but considering the circumstances and the fact that it concerned Frondier, there was no one else to recite the verdict.
Elodie glanced at the Emperor and nodded slightly.
'Yes. If that's Frondier's will.'
Frondier hadn't asked Elodie for anything.
He probably meant to entrust this place to her while he was away from the Empire. Elodie clearly felt that trust.
Elodie happened to see something small flying through the air above. It was a faint presence, difficult to detect even with mana sensing.
Frondier's sixth sense also reacted.
Frondier, who had already reached a certain level as a warrior, had grasped the identity of the object flying through the air from its starting point.
It was a pebble, smaller than a human fist.
For reference, this pebble wasn't flying through the air for no reason; someone in the crowd had thrown it.
The one who threw the pebble was Kevin Brown, a 10-year-old boy.
Kevin was a child who had perfectly learned from the people around him and his parents that Frondier was a devil.
Moreover, even the terrifying tension in this space was not enough to suppress his courage. He didn't even feel it in the first place.
Therefore, Kevin had no hesitation in delivering justice to the devil standing in the center of the square, who, according to what he had heard, was dirty, despicable, filthy, and had deceived people.
Perhaps the heavens were responding to his sense of justice, as the pebble Kevin threw drew a surprisingly accurate parabola towards Frondier.
Yes. From the moment the pebble started flying from afar, Frondier had sensed it. If he remained still, it would cleanly hit his forehead.
So what should he do? Should he avoid it?
'The moment I avoid it, people's anger will reach its peak.'
Frondier watched the flying pebble and thought. If he showed any movement, whether it was dodging or defending, there was a risk that this square would explode.
His face and expression were already the type that easily provoked people, so it was even more likely.
'Let it hit. I have to let it hit as if nothing happened.'
Getting hit by a pebble was no big deal. If it hit, the people who supported Frondier would be enraged, but they would know why he didn't dodge, so it would be okay.
Everything would be fine. It would be okay.
Thus, Frondier watched the flying pebble, not budging an inch.
It hit. He was wearing shackles, so his body was bare without aura. Of course, even if he didn't have the shackles, he wouldn't have used aura.
Blood flowed from his forehead. It seemed he had been hit by a rather sharp part. But it was just a little warm, and there was no significant pain.
Silence engulfed the area.
Even the Emperor, who was about to read the verdict, stopped.
This wasn't a situation on the verge of explosion, but rather, everyone was in a state of mild panic. No one knew what someone might do. They might erupt. There was only that wariness, but no one actually intended to do anything.
A strange silence. A noisy silence filled with people's emotions.
And a single voice broke the silence.
"I guess it can't be helped."
The owner of the voice walked forward.
Despite being on the stairs, her feet moved in a straight line, as if there was an invisible floor leading towards the open air.
"I, Elodie de Inies Rishae."
The boy's pebble was a tiny thing.
It was too weak and insignificant to inflict any real injury on Frondier.
Even the act itself could be dismissed as a childish prank.
"Because puberty has arrived."
However, that small pebble, flung from a small hand, changed the entire course of their destinies.
"I'm running away from home."