Whose youth romance story begins with a witch's trial?!

[Arisa Wisteria]: I'll kill you, you bastard! You're kidding me, you bastard!

(Very good, this thing is indeed a firecracker that explodes at the slightest touch, and thanks to this it has successfully attracted everyone's attention, so next—)

[Chang Rong]: In short, Zifang, what I want to say is that even though Ms. Tono is afraid and nervous about the current situation, she still maintains her elegant and noble demeanor. I will not let you trample on this quality that is like a flower on a high mountain.

【Arisa Wisteria】: What nonsense are you talking about...?

[Chang Rong]: Don't worry, Ms. Tono. Tell me what you know. I will protect your right to speak and will not allow those lowly and vulgar people to touch your exquisite porcelain-like body.

(Although I didn't expect this doll-like young lady to actually increase her favorability much because of this, after all, she probably has no shortage of self-proclaimed knights and 'simps' like me around, I still have to give it a try, at least to get acquainted with her.)

[Hanna Tono]: Ugh...! Even if you say that, I won't be happy...!

—Huh? Why does it feel like my favorability rating increased by a huge amount all at once?

Seeing Tono Hannah's face flush instantly and her frantically covering her face with a feather fan, Chang Rong was the one who was stunned.

I just casually auto-attacked, how did the enemy suddenly flash, become a golden body, and use Cleanse Barrier? Hello, thank you, little dumpling, goodbye, I used everything in one go.

Could it be that this young lady is the type who usually lacks affection?

Never mind, I should be able to get a bunch of "friend zone" cards this time, I'll win!

Chang Rong glanced at the podium with a cheerful smile, and then—

【Arisa Wisteria】: Who is this lowly and vulgar person?! You son of a bitch, I'm definitely going to kill you!!!

[Nikaido Hiro]: ...That's disgusting, this is 'incorrect'

[Ryouya Hasumi]: No, didn't you say you were only going to support me? Chang Rong, what do you mean by this...!

Huh? I managed to get a friend card from Hannah Tono, but it seems like I've made even more enemies because of it?

Chang Rong felt like she was on a seesaw. She was raising Tono Hannah's favorability on one side, while the three sisters were already coming down and ready to gang up on her on the other.

Volume 1: Chapter 14. Yes, I am a refined person.

[Hannah Tohno]: I... I remember now. Meruru suddenly called, it must have been about 20 minutes before the body was discovered, right? I remember the conversation was... um...

[Chang Rong]: There's no need to be too nervous, Ms. Tono. Just keep your usual elegant and perfect pace.

[Hannah Tono]: I, of course I know about Desuwa! Right, Meruru said something like, "I wanted to have a get-together to get everyone closer, because I felt that Heero-chan wasn't in a good mood lately. Heero-chan was also looking for her, so I was going to ask Heero-chan what kind of get-together she wanted." That's right, it's Desuwa!

After finishing her sentence, Tono Hannah nodded vigorously, as if encouraging herself.

[Nikaido Hiro]: What...? I had no idea about that!

[Milia]: I think there was such a thing? Uncle, I remember that at that time, Xiao Ke was complaining to Leia about not messing with the phone, and Xiao Na answered a call, but hung up after only a few words.

[Hanna Tono]: Because I don't know what to say... How am I supposed to know what Hero would like?

[Sakura Emma]: Um, Hiro-chan really likes to correct other people's mistakes!

[Milia]: Rather, it's precisely because of this preference that Xiaoxi and Xiaoya (Noah) had a falling out...

【'Girl in Purple Kimono'】: Hehe, it's normal for girls in their prime to quarrel occasionally~, but this just makes Heero even more suspicious~

(This guy hadn't said much until now, and the first thing he said was just stirring things up...)

[Kurobe Nanoha Kaori]: Indeed... if Tohno Hannah's memory is correct, then 20 minutes before the body was discovered, which is within the shortest possible timeframe for death as Rhea estimated, Meru Kami should not have been murdered yet. I saw Emma Sakuraba in the infirmary 30 minutes ago. While this doesn't completely clear Emma Sakuraba of suspicion, analyzing the timing of the crime—Emma Sakuraba's actions were too hasty.

[Milia]: Indeed, and Uncle, I remember Xiao Ai was helping Xiao Mei organize the medicine bottles back then, right? Judging from the medicines that have been organized in the infirmary now, Xiao Ai did stay in the infirmary for a while.

[Nikaido Hiro]: Wait a minute! How can you be so sure it was Meruru who called? And the time might not even be what you remember!

[Hannah Tono]: Sorry, that's really rude! Although I can't completely distinguish everyone's voice yet, I can still recognize Meruru's voice, okay? After all, it's super recognizable! And, oh right, there's also the call log here!

Hannah Tohno was annoyed by Hiro Nikaido's rebuttal. She pouted, took out her phone, first showed the call log to the girl next to her, and then dialed directly.

Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep! Beep beep beep!

A crisp, or rather 'piercing' bell suddenly rang out, and from where the bell rang—

[Nikaido Hiro]: ...! ! ?

Hiro pulled his phone out of his pocket, his eyes widening in horror as he stared incredulously at the vibrating phone in his hand.

He was at the scene of the crime, had no alibi, was carrying the victim's mobile phone, and was in an unstable mental state.

Chang Rong clearly sensed that the girls' previously precarious 'hesitation' was visibly collapsing, replaced by fear, confusion, and... 'killing intent' towards Nikaido Hiro.

They gradually began to consider the image of using their vote to personally kill the isolated and helpless black-haired girl in front of them.

I have to do something, but right now it seems there's nothing I can change.

—Hero…no, she seemed completely incapable of thinking, and for some reason, she was staring intently at Emma. That look was different from before; it felt…like she was genuinely contemplating the possibility of killing Emma.

Does the authorities believe Emma secretly slipped Labubu's phone into her pocket? But anyone could have done that in the time before the trial in the hallway.

This clearly defined intent to kill is truly difficult to comprehend. However, even so, this does not mean that Hiro is the murderer in this case.

After all, if she really were the murderer, based on the pranks I played in the cell, she would probably have been identified as part of Chang Rong's group, part of Chang Rong's group, and part of Chang Rong's group by now...

Although I still have no idea about the full picture of the case because I accidentally skipped a part of my life, I have to do something—it's pointless to speak casually, after all, my credibility is at the level of sitting at the same table as Hero.

We have to find a way to keep the trial and debate going; we absolutely can't let it stop here. And we have to do it in a way that even someone with my 'credibility at the level of a shady operation' can achieve—a shady operation?

After a moment's thought, Chang Rong realized something. He gritted his teeth in embarrassment, scratching his toes with the shyness of someone who knew he was about to go up on stage and blast Eludic electronic music.

That's the only way...!

"Hahaha, not bad, not bad, really Subarashi."

A sophisticated person's routine consists of three parts: a laugh, clapping, and a seemingly meaningless compliment.

As soon as Chang Rong opened his mouth, his air of being a mastermind behind the scenes immediately drew everyone's attention.

Although she wished she could find a hole in the ground and crawl into it, Chang Rong had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue.

"I never expected you to be able to deduce things to this extent. As expected of the young lady, the testimony you presented was so crucial, and the way you presented the evidence was so elegant."

"Huh? Yes, really? But of course I am the young lady, without a doubt!"

Although Hannah Tono didn't know what Chang Rong was up to, she still nodded while covering her face with her fan.

"However, such reasoning is still too naive—isn't that right, Rhea-sama!!"

"Huh? Hmm? This... I think the reasoning is already quite reliable... Ahem, you're right, my fan Chang Rong!"

Hasumi Ryoya was also caught off guard by the sudden remark, but she immediately cleared her throat, held up a finger, and showed a flash of inspiration.

—It's done

Chang Rong knew nothing about the case or the girls. But from his brief contact with them, he at least learned one thing:

Once you set up a stage for Hasumi Ryoya, she can become even more rambling and unpredictable than the blue hedgehog, and her ruthless pursuit of attention rivals that of Dark Souls 5.

[Hasumi Ryoua]: Although the current conclusion is that Hero is the murderer, it would be too naive to end it like this! Let me think... That's it, I'll defend Hero!

[Nikaido Hiro]: ...?

(Don't just stand there with that 'What the hell? Is this guy out of his mind?' look on your face, Hiro! I don't know the specifics of the case. I was just pretending to be Jiahao to give you more time to think. Hurry up and think of a solution!)

[Hasumi Ryoua]: After all, even criminals have the right to discretionary treatment! Oh right, speaking of which, I just remembered something! It was about 40 minutes before the body was discovered. At that time, I was with…

Ryota Hasumi really started talking at length, and the gist of it was that when she and the others were looking at their phones in the room, they seemed to hear a dull snapping sound.

However, only Rhea heard this voice; Coco, Hannah Tono, and Milia beside her seemed not to hear it, which is why Rhea did not initially give this somewhat uncertain testimony.

[Ryota Hasumi]: How about it? Isn't this a super clue that can shake up the entire case and reverse everyone's thinking?

(Although the intention was to buy Rhea some time, this girl... is just too good at exceeding expectations.)

[Nikaido Hiro]: Hmm... That's right, as expected of a famous idol. This unique charm is indeed an honor that belongs only to you, Rhea.

[Ryoua Hasumi]: Hahaha, that goes without saying! But Hiro, you'll probably only be the second-in-command of the fan support group, what a pity.

[Nikaido Hiro]: (I would rather die than join such a terrifying organization as its second-in-command...!)

[Chang Rong]: (Don't just throw me into that kind of terrifying organization as its leader without a second thought...!)

[Nikaido Hiro]: Let's talk about that after the trial... But your testimony just now really overturned the whole picture of this case, no, it should be said that it even obtained 'evidence' that can point out the real suspect, that witch!

[Arisa Wisteria]: Huh? You have evidence!?

[Hame Ryoua]: What? There's actually evidence in what I said!?

Chang Rong: What? You actually have evidence?!

[Nikaido Hiro]: (So you two were really just playing a prank on each other...!?

[Sherry Tachibana]: Hey hey hey?! Don't steal the detective's job!

Nikaido Hiro's words instantly widened everyone's eyes.

Regardless, with Chang Rong's instigation, Hannah's testimony, Rhea's pranks, and Heero's determination to "hehe, I must survive,"

The witch's trial begins its march toward a stage of fate from which no one can predict.

Volume 1: Chapter 15. You are the murderer! ↗↘↗↘!

###

The issue from the previous chapter has been corrected. It was originally just a casual remark, intended as a tagging exercise, but it unexpectedly served as a wake-up call for everyone.

This book is not easy to write, and although it's my first time writing, I still have some common sense, so please rest assured.

###

[Nikaido Hiro]: All our previous discussions were based on the fact that the deceased died 20 minutes before being discovered, right?

[Ryota Hasumi]: That's right. The time of death of Meru on Ice was probably between 20 minutes and 1 hour before the body was found. However, considering everyone's testimonies, especially Hannah's call records, Meru on Ice was still alive 20 minutes before the body was found. The actual time of the incident was probably around that time.

【'An'an'】: We have compiled an alibi... something like this.

The long-haired, white-haired girl in a fluffy lace dress, who hadn't spoken until now and whom everyone thought was asleep, held up a sign with alibis for everyone present.

{Leah, Coco, Hannah, and Milia} remained in their small underground cell. {Sherry and Arisa} remained in the reception room. {Noah, Anan, and Emma} stayed in the second-floor recreation room; Emma later went to the infirmary. {Nanoha Kaori and Mag} saw Emma in the infirmary 30 minutes ago, then met up with Mag in the reception room before returning to their cell.

(I don't understand... In short, Heero had no alibi at all, and Emma didn't have an alibi from 30 minutes before the body was found.)

(So ​​'Marg' is the name of the girl in the purple kimono?)

Chang Rong glanced at 'Marg', who noticed Chang Rong's gaze and immediately gave a teasing smile, while extending his right hand, which was covered in a black silk glove, to wave slightly in greeting.