Demonstration experiment

 
 The Duke’s sudden declaration caused murmurs to spread throughout the assembly hall.
 
 Bang bang, the judge’s gavel rang out.
 
 ”Uhm, let me confirm again. Is it correct that the defendant will be replacing the advocate, and will be representing himself?”
 
 ”That’s right.”
 
 The Duke gave a short reply.
 Those expressions and tone weren’t discomposed.
 
 After a beat, the Duke opened his mouth once more.
 
 ”The advocate’s remarks just now were inappropriate. As the person standing in for him, I bear the responsibility to retract his statement, and give an apology.”
 
 The Duke gave a standing bow towards His Majesty.
 
 
 
 ——— Ah, I see.
 
 In other words, the Duke is implying that he is [apologising to His Majesty] for the insults uttered earlier by the advocate towards the Second Knights Order in the form of [his responsibility as the employer]. Of course, he has no intentions of apologising to the Second Knights Order.^[1]
 
 I think that’s what’s true.
 However, I don’t know if that’s all.
 
 It’s also possible that he judged the prosecution’s search regarding the magic communications device was [too much for the attorney to handle].
 
 As I was thinking about those things, the Duke turned to the judge this time, and opened his mouth.
 
 
 
 ”Regarding the appeal from the prosecution earlier, the explanation of what that magic tool is ——— it regards trade secrets of the company owned by our family, so I will remain silent.”
 
 (“!!”)
 
 At the Duke’s words, everyone gasped.
 
 ”If there’s one thing that I can say… it’s that [in regards to this incident, it is irrelevant, just as much as I am].”
 
 The Duke said this one-sidedly, then sat down as if he had nothing more to say.
 
 (Trade secrets, eh?)
 
 As I frowned, Graham-nii-sama next to me muttered.
 
 ”He nicely talked his way out of it. Usually, [keeping silent] is the same as saying [I did it]… but if [it’ll damage the business], then that’s reason enough to keep silent.”
 
 I thought for a moment, then spoke to my brother.
 
 ”… either way, it doesn’t change what we need to do, does it?”
 
 ”Right.”
 
 Saying so, we smiled together.
 
 At that moment, the court official came to where my brother was, and said this:
 
 ”The magic tool’s preparation is complete!”
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 My brother raised a hand in the judge’s direction.
 
 ”Now that the preparations seem to be ready, I was thinking I’d like to conduct the demonstration experiment using the evidence at once. May I?”
 
 ”Of course, you have my permission.”
 
 The judge nodded.
 
 ”Then, witness, the explanation please.”
 
 Being called to by my brother, I nodded.
 
 ”Then with your permission, I shall give an explanation of this magic tool and conduct the operations test.”
 
 Descending the witness box, I went and walked to the large window between the judge’s seat and the prosecution’s seat, where the magic tool had been placed.
 
 Right now, the window was open, and a wooden frame wrapped in Mistreel wires was facing outside.
 
 
 
 ”First of all, I would like to start off by stating that the magic tool here is identical in basic construction to the [box] piece of evidence discussed earlier.”
 
 At my words, the judge tilted his head.
 
 ”Though you say that, that looks a lot bigger than the [box] in question.”
 
 I nodded.
 
 ”That [box] consumes a large amount of magic power in a short time, and emitted magic power in all directions, whereas this one has been made more practically.”
 
 ”Practically, you say?”
 
 ”One point is that it can send out magic power much further, consuming a minor amount of magic power. And there’s another point, but I think it would be faster to have you see it.”
 
 When I said this, His Majesty, who had been watching silently till now, chuckled.
 
 ”That sounds very interesting indeed.”
 
 ”… on another day, I shall present to you a magic tool with a similar function, so I ask your forgiveness for today.”
 
 ”I know, I know. I’ll be looking forward to that day.”
 
 Saying so, His Majesty grinned.
 
 (“Your Majesty, that’s not fair.”)
 
 The judge next to him muttered so in a whisper.
 
 ”I’ll also sell one to the courthouse later.”
 
 ”Hohoho. That’s something to look forward to.”
 
 ——— stop it already. I can’t handle these uncles anymore.
 
 
 
 I sat down on a chair in front of the magic communications device, a little worn out.
 
 Before me is the telegraph key.
 Finally, it is time for the demonstration.
 
 I looked at Graham-nii and nodded.
 
 In turn, my brother began the explanation of the preparations done this time.
 
 ”As a matter of fact, for the demonstration experiment now, a magic tool similar to this one has been prepared and installed in the western spire that can be seen from this window. From here this magic tool will send magic power waves there, and will send that same magic power wave back as a signal from the other side.——— Letty, are you ready?”
 
 ”Yes, Onii-sama!”
 
 I nodded at my brother’s words, and announced [Here I go] as I pressed the telegraph key with my finger.
 
 
 And then———
 
 
 (Toto-Tii-Toto……Toto-Tii-Toto)^[2]
 
 
 I sent the same code twice, then removed my hand from the telegraph key.
 
 
 The assembly hall was wrapped in silence.
 
 One second, two seconds, three seconds……
 
 My tightly gripped hands began to sweat.
 That sound echoed throughout the assembly hall.^[3]
 
 
 《Toto-Tii-Toto……Toto-Tii-Toto》
 
 
 ””OOOOooooooohhh!!!!””
 
 
 The assembly hall shook.
 
 I let out a huge breath.
 

TL Notes:

[1]A little bit of nuance that got lost here, is that the apology is “to the king” and not “to the Order”. ↩

[2]FYI, she just signalled either “ITI…ITI” or “ĘĘ”. From this we can assume that she probably doesn’t know Morse code XD ↩

[3]yeeaaahhh, not sure what sound they’re talking about. Gripping hands, and sweating, does not make sound. I’ll assume it’s the beep sound she just made. ↩