From Trash to Villain Master of Card: With Harem of Evil women-Chapter 65: The Council

Road to the Central Palace — Dawn

The streets of Vestria were surprisingly crowded for this hour.

Citizens lined both sides of the path, watching the Neudämmerung entourage pass.

They didn’t cheer. They didn’t insult.

They just... watched.

With curiosity. With fear. With the morbid fascination of those witnessing something historical.

Kaito walked at the front, dressed entirely in black with silver details that caught the dawn light. The clothing was a strange blend—a cut that recalled formal suits from his world but adapted with elements from this one: embroidery that looked like ancient runes, fabric that was half modern silk and half something that didn’t exist on Earth.

Lilith had designed this personally. "You need to look like what you are," she had said. "Something that doesn’t completely belong to any world. Something new."

Beside him, Naporia.

Her dress today was different from the previous ones. Aria had called it a "ceremonial war dress"—an impossible compromise between femininity and ferocity.

Dark blue, almost black, with light armor incorporated into the shoulders and chest. A skirt that allowed combat movement if necessary. A ceremonial sword at her hip—not for use, but a symbol of what she was.

Her hair was braided in the traditional battle style of the empire she once served, but with silver ribbons woven through marking her new role.

A simple silver crown rested on her head.

She looked exactly like what she was: a warrior who had learned to be a queen without ceasing to be a warrior.

Drake walked two steps behind, ceremonial armor gleaming. Aria another two steps back, notebook in hand for taking notes.

Twenty guards in perfect formation closed the procession.

The Central Palace grew before them—a massive structure of white marble that looked more like a temple than a government building.

And there, at the front, the Gates of the Council.

Twelve meters high. Ancient bronze. Engraved with the symbols of the Twelve Kingdoms intertwined in a pattern that represented impossible unity.

Guards from each kingdom formed a corridor from the plaza to the gates.

Two guards from each kingdom. Twenty-four in total.

Different armors. Different colors. But all in positions of absolute attention.

And all looking at Kaito and his entourage with expressions that varied dramatically. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Guards from Kaltstein: professional curiosity.

Guards from Meridia: barely concealed contempt.

Guards from Stahl: cautious respect.

Guards from Avernor: pure hatred.

The entourage stopped thirty meters from the gates.

Kaito turned to his group.

This was the moment.

Once they crossed those gates, everything would change.

---

Final Words

Kaito looked at each of them.

Drake. Aria. Bram. The twenty guards.

And Naporia.

"Listen, everyone."

His voice was calm but carried weight.

"In a few moments, we will enter there. And twelve kingdoms will judge whether we deserve to exist."

He paused.

"Some have already decided no. Others aren’t sure. A few support us."

He looked toward the gates.

"And no matter what they say, no matter how they vote..."

He turned back to them.

"...we do not kneel."

Naporia stepped forward, positioning herself beside him.

"We do not kneel," she repeated with a firm voice.

Drake joined on the other side.

"We do not kneel."

Aria, the guards, everyone repeated.

"We do not kneel."

The words resonated in the plaza.

Some observing citizens heard them. Murmured among themselves.

Kaito nodded once.

"Then forward."

The entourage moved toward the gates.

The guards of the twelve kingdoms didn’t move.

They only watched as Neudämmerung passed between them.

Kaito noticed how an Avernor guard’s hand tightened on his spear.

How a Meridia guard’s eyes followed Naporia with something between fear and fascination.

How a Kaltstein guard nodded almost imperceptibly—respect from soldier to soldier.

They reached the gates.

Two heralds stood on either side, dressed in white robes marking Vestria’s neutrality.

The herald on the left spoke with a voice amplified by magic.

"Lord Kaito Yukimura of Neudämmerung. Queen Naporia. You are summoned before the Council of Kingdoms to answer accusations presented by the Kingdom of Avernor."

The herald on the right continued.

"The accusations are: unprovoked aggression against Avernor forces, use of forbidden magic, summoning of entities sealed by the gods, and threat to the continental order."

Both heralds spoke in unison.

"Do you accept submission to the Council’s judgment?"

Kaito responded with a clear voice.

"We accept."

"Do you promise to speak truth before the Twelve?"

"We promise."

"Do you abide by the Council’s decision, whatever it may be?"

Kaito hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Then responded.

"We will hear the Council’s decision. And we will respond according to conscience."

It wasn’t the answer they expected.

The heralds exchanged glances.

But the rules didn’t require blind acceptance.

Only that they listen.

The herald on the left nodded.

"Then you may enter."

The gates began to open.

The sound was deep, resonant. As if the earth itself were moving.

Slowly, the interior was revealed.

---

The Council Hall

The hall was... impressively intimidating.

Circular. A dome thirty meters high. Walls of white marble engraved with the history of the Twelve Kingdoms—wars, alliances, betrayals, all immortalized in stone.

In the exact center of the hall: an elevated podium of dark wood. For the accused.

Around the podium: a massive circular table. Not completely round—it had an opening facing the podium, like an open jaw.

Twelve sections of the table. One for each kingdom.

And behind the table, raised even higher: an empty throne carved from black stone.

The Throne of the Neutral Judge.

No one sat there—it was a symbol. The Council judged collectively, not individually.

But the throne reminded that someone was watching. The gods. History. The judgment of time.

The table sections were already occupied.

Kaito recognized some.

Kaltstein Section: King Aldric in the center, with Leonardo and Boudica flanking him. Three other counselors completed the delegation.

Vestria Section: Queen Isolde with five counselors, all dressed in white. Neutral. Hosts.

Avernor Section: The Lord Magistrate in the center—the king himself hadn’t come, sending a representative. Four counselors with him, all with expressions that promised blood.

Stahl Section: Serafina von Eisenhardt. Kaito felt relief seeing her. At least one confirmed ally. Her delegation of five included the General Kaito had met months ago.

The other eight sections had faces Kaito didn’t know. Kings he had never seen. Kingdoms he knew little about.

Meridia. Valdoria. Sorenth. Calvados. Norheim. Sundergard. Terravaal. Ashmark.

Some looked with curiosity. Others with clear hostility.

And in the center of the hall, waiting beside the accused’s podium, stood Queen Isolde.

She spoke with a voice that filled the space without shouting.

"Lord Kaito Yukimura. Queen Naporia. Approach the podium."

Kaito took the first step inside.

The gates closed behind them with a final sound.

There was no escape now.

He walked toward the podium with Naporia at his side.

Drake and Aria positioned themselves in the area designated for "witnesses and advisors"—ten meters from the podium, observing.

The twenty guards remained near the entrance—allowed to be present but not participate.

Kaito and Naporia reached the podium.

It was higher than it had looked from the entrance. Designed so that whoever stood there had to look up at the judges.

Deliberate psychology.

But Kaito remained upright. Naporia too.

We do not kneel.

Isolde continued.

"The Council of Kingdoms is in session. Year 1247 of the Continental Calendar. Case presented: The Kingdom of Avernor versus Lord Kaito Yukimura of Neudämmerung."

She pointed toward the Avernor section.

"Lord Magistrate, present the formal accusations."

The Lord Magistrate stood.

His smile was that of a man who already knew he had won.

"Honorable members of the Council. I present accusations against the so-called ’Lord’ Kaito Yukimura."

He unfurled a parchment.

"First accusation: unprovoked military aggression against legitimate forces of the Kingdom of Avernor, resulting in the deaths of over one hundred soldiers and the capture of two summoned heroes."

"Second accusation: use of magic forbidden by ancient treaties, specifically the summoning of entities sealed by the gods as threats to the world order."

"Third accusation: construction of a kingdom in disputed territory without Council permission, violating continental law."

"Fourth accusation: representing an existential threat to the established order through alliance with forces that should remain sealed."

He looked directly at Kaito.

"We request the Council: complete dissolution of Neudämmerung, arrest of Kaito Yukimura, and permanent sealing of all entities summoned by him."

Murmurs rippled through the hall.

Isolde raised her hand, silencing them.

"Lord Kaito. You have heard the accusations. How do you respond?"

This was the moment.

Everything he had worked for. Everything he had built.

Depended on what he said now.

Kaito looked around the hall.

At the twelve kingdoms judging him.

At Drake and Aria supporting him.

At Naporia beside him, standing firm despite the fear he knew she felt.

And he thought of those who weren’t here.

Adelheid in Aschenfall, protecting the kingdom.

Lilith coordinating with allies.

Valeria guarding the gates.

The three trusting him to defend what they had built together.

Kaito took a deep breath.

Then he spoke.

With a clear voice. Without fear. Without shame.

"I did not come here to lie. I did not come here to hide what I am."

He paused.

"I summoned four villains. Women sealed by gods as threats. And I called them my queens."

Gasps rippled through the hall.

The Lord Magistrate smiled—he had expected denial, not admission.

But Kaito continued.

"Why did I do it? Because I saw in them what no one else saw. Potential. Humanity. The capacity to be more than the labels placed upon them."

His voice strengthened.

"Adelheid von Eisenberg. Called a heartless war machine. But I saw her weep for every fallen soldier. I saw her organize humanitarian aid with genuine compassion."

"Lilith. Called a soulless manipulator. But I saw her resolve disputes with wise justice. I saw her admit vulnerability."

"Naporia."

He looked at her.

She returned his gaze, eyes shining.

"Called an uncontrolled butcher. But I saw her rebuild a house with trembling hands. I saw her show patience with children who lost their father in a war they didn’t ask for."

"And Valeria. Called a function without a soul. But I saw her sacrifice victory because another person deserved it more."

Kaito turned to the Council.

"These are the villains I summoned. And if that makes me a criminal... then I am guilty."

The Lord Magistrate stood.

"You hear! He admits to using forbidden magic! He admits to summoning sealed threats!"

But Kaito wasn’t finished.

"But I also tell you this: every person in this hall has been judged by labels. King. Hero. Villain. Traitor."

He looked specifically at Drake.

"And some of us choose to be more than those labels."

His voice resonated in the hall.

"Neudämmerung exists because we all deserve a second chance. Because labels do not define destiny. Because change is possible."

He paused one final time.

"Judge whether I should live or die. But judge the truth. Not the lies others have told you about monsters and threats."

"Judge what we truly built. A place where the discarded find purpose. Where those called villains prove themselves more human than many heroes."

Kaito straightened completely.

"And if you decide that is a threat... then perhaps the order you protect deserves to be challenged."

Absolute silence fell over the hall.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Then, slowly, Naporia placed her hand over Kaito’s.

A small gesture.

But visible to all.

Solidarity. Support. Unity.

The Lord Magistrate opened his mouth to respond.

But Isolde raised her hand.

"Enough for now. The Council will deliberate."

She looked at Kaito.

"You have spoken your truth. Now we will hear from others. And then... we will decide your fate."

Kaito nodded.

"That is all I ask. A fair judgment based on truth, not fear."

Isolde struck her ceremonial gavel against the table.

"The Council will continue tomorrow. Everyone return to your residences."

The gavel struck again.

BANG.

The sound resonated like a death knell.

Or a bell of hope.

Depended on who you asked.

---

As They Exit

The Neudämmerung entourage walked toward the exit.

The hall still in silence.

But Kaito noticed things.

Serafina of Stahl nodding slightly—approval.

King Aldric studying him with an indecipherable expression.

The Lord Magistrate speaking urgently with his counselors—worried.

And the citizens outside, who had heard parts through the gates, watching with mixed expressions.

Some with fear.

Some with... hope.

When they were far enough away, Naporia whispered.

"You did it. You spoke the truth."

"Yes."

"And now?"

Kaito looked back once, toward the closing gates.

"Now we wait. And see if the truth is enough."

Aria approached.

"It was... powerful. Honest. Risky."

"But enough?"

Aria considered.

"I don’t know. But it was the right thing."

Drake added.

"At least three kingdoms seemed... considering it. Not convinced, but not closed off either."

"Then there’s hope."

"There’s always hope."

The entourage continued toward their residence.

The sun had fully risen now.

Illuminating Vestria with golden light.

A new day.

And tomorrow, the judgment would continue.

But for now, Kaito had done the only thing he could do.

He had spoken his truth.

And he had defended those he loved.

The rest... was in the hands of fate.

---

At the Residence — That Night

Kaito was on the balcony, looking at the stars.

Naporia joined him.

"What are you thinking?"

"That tomorrow could be the end of everything we built."

"Or the beginning of something greater."

Kaito looked at her.

"How can you be so optimistic?"

Naporia smiled.

"Because today, before twelve kingdoms, we did not kneel."

She took his hand.

"And that, no matter what else, is victory."

Kaito squeezed her hand.

"Thank you, Naporia. For being here. For being exactly who you are."

"Always."

They stayed like that, looking at the stars.

Two people from different worlds.

United by something greater than either of them.

And ready to face whatever came.

Together.

---

The fate of Neudämmerung would be decided not with swords... but with words.

And Kaito Yukimura, the discarded hero, had spoken.

Now the world would respond.