The Judgment

On the lunar surface, on the outskirts of the Lunar Capital and the border of the Lunar Secret Realm, far from the city on the Silent Coast, stood a massive factory complex. Unlike the tranquility within the Lunar Capital, this factory was a cacophony of noise, filled with the incessant clanging and banging of heavy labor.

Inside the factory, a vast number of moon rabbits were hard at work. Dressed in simple, drab clothing and wearing numb, hollow expressions, they bustled back and forth. Their task was the cutting and processing of massive blocks of white stone.

These white rocks, excavated from the moon's interior, were cut into perfectly uniform cubes. They then underwent repeated cycles of cleaning and polishing, eventually processed through specialized means into flawless, perfect white stone without a single blemish or speck of dust. These stones would serve as the primary building materials for the construction of the Lunar Capital.

The number of moon rabbits in the factory was immense, yet the giant blocks of white stone dwarfed their small bodies, making the processing and transport an exhausting ordeal. Many moon rabbits were clearly reaching the limits of their endurance, yet they forced themselves to continue. Although the Lunar Capital had long possessed automated technology capable of replacing such grueling labor with robots, they chose not to. They had no desire to incur development and maintenance costs when moon rabbits could be exploited at will.

Inside the factory's inspection room, an overseer—completely encased in a helmet and robes that left not a single inch of skin exposed—was using a handheld scanning device to check the finished white stones one by one. He had to ensure every block met the standard of perfect purity. His device could detect even the slightest trace of 'impurity' invisible to the naked eye.

Suddenly, as his scanning light passed over one block, several microscopic, droplet-shaped marks appeared on the surface. The overseer froze, then glanced at the processing information attached to the stone.

"Bring C-3427 here."

At the overseer's command, a small, thin moon rabbit boy was soon brought forward by two similarly garbed subordinates. His ears drooped, his entire body trembled, and his eyes were wide with terror.

"C-3427, this is the white stone you were responsible for. Explain these marks..." the overseer said, his voice cold as ice.

"I-I'm so sorry, my lord... I accidentally hurt myself while I was working..." the moon rabbit boy stammered, fearfully extending a hand wrapped in bandages.

"Hurt? Which is to say... you allowed the precious white stone to be stained by the impure blood of a moon rabbit, didn't you?"

"Yes... yes, I am deeply sorry. But I cleaned it very thoroughly, many times! To the eye, you absolutely cannot see—ugh!"

Before the boy could finish, the overseer delivered a brutal kick to his stomach. The boy's face flushed with pain as he doubled over, his hands slamming into the ground to support himself. He gasped for air, his trembling intensifying.

"Can't see it? Does not being able to see it mean the impurity doesn't exist? Do you have any idea what these stones are for? When the Purification Fleet returns in triumph, these will be used to build a monument to their victory. And you dared to stain such a sacred object with your filth!" the overseer roared. He followed up with another kick, this time directly to the boy's face, sending him flying. Blood sprayed from the boy's nose and mouth.

Witnessing this, many moon rabbits in the factory stopped their work, looking toward the scene in silence.

The boy on the ground coughed several times. His fists clenched and then slowly relaxed. His breathing grew ragged before he forced it back into a steady rhythm. After a moment of internal struggle, he unclenched his jaw.

"I-I'm sorry... it was my fault... a mistake... please forgive me... my lord..." the boy whispered as he crawled back to his knees, his voice weak. No emotion could be seen through the overseer's helmet.

"Take him to the punishment room. Destroy this stone. I'll deal with you properly later..." the overseer said slowly. As his subordinates moved to haul the boy away, a sudden change occurred in the factory.

Above the factory floor, a massive holographic screen flickered into existence. A mechanical voice rang out.

"The trial of the leader of the moon rabbit rebellion thirteen years ago is about to begin. By order of the Council of Sages, all moon rabbits are required to watch the entire proceeding. overseers, organize your units immediately."

"Tch... I almost forgot about this..." the overseer muttered coldly, looking at the screen. He then turned back to the boy being dragged away.

"Wait. Let him watch the trial here before taking him to the punishment room. In fact, gather all the slave rabbits. Let them watch this so they can abandon their meaningless delusions." Having said his piece, the overseer sat comfortably in a chair to watch the upcoming 'broadcast.'

...

In the Tribunal of the Lunar Capital's Central Administrative District, the vast, wide hall was packed to capacity. A Judge, clad in opulent robes and possessing a somewhat bloated physique, sat upon a high dais. He stroked his meticulously groomed beard while scanning the room below. Finally, his gaze settled on the center of the hall.

There, a moon rabbit girl in thin clothing knelt on the cold floor, her limbs bound by heavy shackles. Beside her stood two white-armored guards holding unsheathed blades. The lights of the entire Tribunal were focused on her slender, defiant form.

"Ahem... it is time to begin." The Judge cleared his throat, glancing at the documents on his desk and then back at the girl. He spoke with an air of absolute authority.

"Defendant, moon rabbit... designation A-1546. That is you, is it not?"

Listening to the voice echoing through the hall, the girl slowly raised her head. She cast a frigid gaze at the high-and-mighty Judge and spoke calmly.

"It is not."

"Heh... I almost forgot. You once served as an adjutant under the former Defense Official, Yorihime, the second daughter of the Watatsuki family. You were highly favored by her. She used her status as a noble to bestow a name upon you. Let me see... that name was... Reisen, correct?" The Judge let out a cold laugh, flipping through his papers.

Reisen remained silent, her eyes locked onto him. The Judge's tone shifted to one of pure contempt.

"However, you may not be aware that Watatsuki no Yorihime was recently stripped of her noble status for the crime of desertion. Therefore, the name granted to you through her authority is now void. You are currently A-1546, not some 'Reisen'..."

"Desertion? What happened to her? What's going on?" Reisen's expression finally shifted, a hint of urgency in her voice.

"That is not something a slave rabbit like you is permitted to know. But rest assured, your former master will soon find herself in the same position as you." The Judge smiled, turning a page in his ledger to officially begin the interrogation.

"moon rabbit A-1546, Crime Number One: You, a lowly moon rabbit, murdered the Lunarian Kogetsu Mamoru and destroyed his remains. Do you plead guilty?"

"Hmph. That man was a slave master who tormented four of my compatriots to death. I was merely taking revenge," Reisen said, refusing to back down.

"Crime Number Two: You privately produced a large number of pamphlets, secretly spreading seditious ideas among the moon rabbits. Do you plead guilty?"

"I was simply teaching my people to ask themselves if they were truly born to be slaves. Is there a problem with that?"

"Crime Number Three: You secretly organized and connected numerous moon rabbits into a clandestine society with the intent to plot treason?"

"That was simply solidarity~"

One by one, the Judge listed the numerous charges, and each time, Reisen fired back with a mocking retort. This infuriated the many lunarians in the gallery; several stood up and began screaming for her execution. Similar scenes were playing out across the Lunar Capital as the broadcast reached every corner.

In the hearts of all lunarians, the verdict for this moon rabbit girl had already been decided.

"Finally! You incited a rebellion across the entire Lunar Capital, leading countless followers in an open assault on the Council of Sages! You murdered countless lunarians! Ultimately, you caused the death of Elder Kogetsu, one of the Sages, and stole a princess who was still an infant! For such a monstrous crime, do you plead guilty?!" the Judge roared. After a moment of silence, Reisen smiled.

"Lord Judge, I think you've misunderstood something. That wasn't a rebellion. It was a transformation—a reform of the destiny where you lunarians have ruled and oppressed moon rabbits for generations! It was a revolution~"

As Reisen finished, a heavy silence fell over the Tribunal. Everyone waited for the Judge's final pronouncement.

Finally, slamming his hand onto the desk, the Judge shouted his verdict.

"The defendant has confessed to her numerous crimes! This Tribunal hereby sentences moon rabbit A-1546 to death, to be carried out immediately!"

The Judge's words rang through the vast space. The white-armored guards flanking Reisen turned toward her simultaneously, drawing their pure white blades. They raised them high, preparing to strike her down. Kneeling on the floor, Reisen let out a long sigh and looked up toward the ceiling.

"I'm truly sorry, Lady Yorihime..."

"BOOM!!"

Just as the white blades were about to descend, the wall of the Tribunal exploded with a thunderous roar. A powerful shockwave accompanied by a thick cloud of dust surged into the hall. The two guards were knocked off balance and tumbled to the floor, while Reisen remained upright, anchored by her heavy shackles. Screams of panic instantly filled the room.

"W-What is happening?!" the Judge cried out in terror. Reisen stared blankly at the gaping hole in the wall.

"This power is..."

"Ah, resigning yourself to fate like this... that isn't your style at all, Reisen..."

Through the settling dust, Watatsuki no Yorihime, dressed in her miko robes and clutching a long blade, stepped slowly into the hall. Looking at Reisen, she spoke with quiet resolve.