"It was self-defense."

The 3-word sentence was Olga's only opening statement opening statement upon returning to the hideout.

The tavern didn't feel like a tavern anymore, it wasn't the smoky, rowdy kind of place where tankards clinked and music tripped along the tables, because for tonight, it was the supreme court.

Perhaps they've done this before, everyone knew where to sit, where me and Hailie should stand, etc, where do the players involved stand.

More than fifty players crammed inside, either sitting down at their tables or standing with their back against the wall, as though Pearl himself had summoned them like a jury.

There were 11 of us at the bar far end of the entrance for now, with me, Pearl and Hailie standing in the middle of Olga and the 7 other players.

Hailie, as a witness and a direct involver, should be standing on either side, but she's not leaving my side today. The entire place was awfully quiet, just the low tension of whispers trading theories, and the occasional scraping of a chair leg. So I sat down on a stool while Pearl stood like the main judge, the weight of their stares pressing down on me like heavy armor.

Here are the facts…

Nine people had been involved directly in that disastrous dungeon run, one that should only took 4 hours and a couple of cheap loots, mainly ran for EXP.

Olga, the supervisor for the run, and Hailie, the least experienced, were the only ones who survived the encounter intact. The other seven had returned from the respawn point from Beginning City, stripped of everything but their humiliation, dragging their new level-one bodies back into the tavern to testify.

Luckily, we've collected their loots and returned it to them accordingly, so it shouldn't be hard for them to level up again. One of the perks of having a guild/team.

Among the seven that died, were six men and one woman. All of them united by anger, their words striking like repeated blows of a hammer, all directed at Olga. With each of them coming up to tell the same story with different tones and perspective.

"Olga attacked the NPC for no reason."

"Then she just… went berserk."

"She drew her blade before anyone else had the chance to breathe."

"And then she turned on us, killing everyone."

I kept glancing over at her. Olga sat rigid, hands planted on her thighs, her jaw tight as stone.

She didn't interrupt, didn't argue. She just sat there and took it but with a deadly stare, like if they were alone, she would absolutely smash their head in again.

And then, inevitably, it was Hailie's turn.

With a hand on my chin, I watched with indifference, not really caring about the guild's internal shit and whatnot, thank god Ann warned me about this. After Hailie's statement, she would probably be let go and we'll just leave, they probably wouldn't remember my 1-week-trial thingy and wouldn't give me a hard time anyways, if I just bring up the fact that they tried to kill my friend.

But then… I realized something as Halie stood there. Her hands shook so badly the little healing staff she kept with her rattled against her chest as she stood, she looked like she might burst into tears at any second.

Hailie wasn't built for this, she was the kind of girl who wilted under a sharp look, who stumbled over her own sentences if more than three people paid attention to her.

To put it simply… A spoiled and reserved rich kid who never got to see much light of day, easily pressured… And would probably do drugs if put in an enclosed room with people who did it.

Now with fifty-ish heads turned all at once, staring her down, weighing her soul like she was some trembling defendant charged for battery and assault.

My stomach twisted, if she broke down here, the crowd would eat her alive, and that would eat me, too.

So, I stood.

"She told me and Pearl everything already, and I'll relay" I said, my voice carrying across the hush.

Dozens of faces turned my way.

"We would want to hear from herself." Someone in the audience spoke.

"It's okay Cory, I can…" Hailie spoke softly at me.

"Well fuck you, then!" I spoke at the audience, ignoring Hailie's words, because frankly, I didn't care. I wasn't going to let Hailie collapse under their pressure, so I added:

"Either you're gonna get my second-hand statement, or we're leaving, because she's not obligated to tell you guys jackshit, she's not a member. In fact, you guys owe us for almost killing her in that dungeon."

"What is that punk?" The same guy stood up.

"What, wanna throw hands?" I rolled up my sleeves.

"Ahem."

Pearl coughed, fake clearing his throat.

"This is not unprecedented that someone is unable to testify themselves. I can attest to the Priest's (Hailie) statement if any information relayed is out of the original narrative. Please, proceed, CJS69Real, but refrain from those languages if possible, we are trying to have a civilized discussion."

… Jesus this Bri'ish snob.

"She said she wasn't paying attention, then, Olga shouted at someone to stop doing something, but before she could even figure out what was happening, one of the party members charged at her with murderous intentions. He failed, she closed her eyes, and when she opened her eyes again…" I let the words hang, sharp and final. "Everyone else was dead."

The room shifted, murmurs swelling like an oncoming tide. Pearl, seated at the head of it all, steepled his fingers and nodded, not really needing to add anything to change anything.

"And can you identify the one who tried to strike you?" He looked at Hailie

Hailie froze, the air seemed to congeal around her. I saw her lips quiver, saw the panic clawing up her throat.

"It's okay, I'll protect you, I can teleport us, remember?" I whispered, half-lying, because that teleporting was only possible with the help of Ann, but, anything to make her feel at ease.

But then, slowy but steadily, she lifted her arm and pointed.

Her finger landed on one of the men in the group, standing amongst the 7 who died.

My eyes was on the culprit, and I heard Pearl's voice echo from behind me, trying to confirm what Hailie saw.

"The man with lengthy hair that covered one of his eyes, sharp chin, who uses a shortsword and buckler combo, username ErikDop?"

I turned back to look at Hailie, whose gaze was on the ground.

She nodded.

"Fucking hell…" I whispered.

I was on my feet before I even thought, fire rushing through my veins.

"You mother…!"

My hand went for my sword, I was ready to cut through this charade right there and just leave through the front door, I'll cut the truth out of him with steel if I had to. I was furious, of course, what if Eirlys learned that I left Hailie to wander to a dungeon alone and almost got killed?

Of course, it ain't entirely my fault, and it's not my obligations to babysit her… But, fucking hell.

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