Chapter 943. Trial (2)
‘Your friend isn’t going anywhere.’
His expression was a sight to see.
‘Kim Hyun-Sung was still a child. His mental age is that of a child.’
Of course, he was just worried about me, and he was still convinced that I was still experiencing mental issues. Stockholm syndrome or whatever had nothing to do with me, but Kim Hyun-Sung didn't believe it.
He was certain I had problems, so he was examining my behavior.
It was like he wanted to nitpick my smallest actions, but the most noticeable part about him was his fear of losing his close friend, Lee Ki-Young. He was still afraid of being left alone.
‘You’re not even a baby. What are you, twelve? Sixteen?’
We were brothers connected by a bond, and I was a friend he could give up his life for.
We both understood each other, and we had spent a long time together.
Our bond had become extremely deep and could no longer be compared to our relationship when we were still in the tutorial dungeon. Despite that, he was still afraid that I was going to leave him so easily.
At first, I thought it wasn’t so bad, but I never imagined he'd still be obsessed over that possibility. In his eyes, I was like a childhood friend who was becoming even closer to my new friend. He felt left out upon realizing that both Gen and I had shared precious memories.
He was shaken by the ridiculous idea that I'd be as fickle as a child.
It seemed like my revival was just yesterday, and we had our own splendid ending upon confirming our bond. I thought he was no longer being plagued by his mental illness, but...
‘I guess he still hasn’t changed.’
Perhaps it was because he never had a friend except for me.
‘He looks normal, but he's really pathetic. I'm sure he never had someone he could call a friend since he was in elementary school up until now.'
Kim Hyun-Sung had always been that kind of person.
He was a coward and reserved. He was also always worried about his relationship with others, so I was sure he was having a hard time watching this NTR live show starring the bastard who had already been branded as a criminal.
‘I’ll make time later and play with you.’
I was briefly worried about him, but I didn’t really focus on Kim Hyun-Sung. What was important right now was Gen, not Kim Hyun-Sung's anxiety. I cast a soundproofing barrier, but...
‘Why is he coming in here?’
I could feel Kim Hyun-Sung trying to make a hole in the barrier with his mana. I glared at him once, and he quickly looked away.
I could finally focus on the conversation.
“Are you hurt anywhere? Were you tortured... or did you experience anything horrible?” I asked.
“I didn't experience anything like that, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” Gen replied.
“Have you been eating well? The... others...” I paused.
“Yes.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but...”
It was a white lie. I was sure his entire body was screaming at him in pain.
'Look at his chapped lips. I don’t think he’s been drinking water.'
“Can you tell me what questions the Heretic Inquisitors had asked you to answer?” I asked.
“A-Actually, I’d like to know how you’ve been doing these days,” Gen said.
“That’s not important, Mr. Gen. Right now—”
“I really want to know,” Gen interrupted me.
‘It’s been the same for me. What do you want to know so badly about?’
“I’ve been... praying every day...” I said.
‘I've been drinking wine while taking half-baths, and I've been enjoying my time as if I were unemployed. I’ve also been eating Mirror Salmon and cotton candy instead of pig porridge...’
“Every time...”
‘I’ve been coping with the same method as I've been using all this while. My schedule is the same each time, but I don't feel like I'll get tired of it. This must be what it feels like to live a decent life.’
Gen frowned.
“W-Whenever I feel suffocated, I tend to look up at the sky,” I told him.
'That’s right, our promise.'
“I see...” he mumbled.
“There are times when it’s hard and tiring... but I'll remember our promise and look up while thinking about memories together,” I added.
Gen was relieved, and he was comforted by the fact that he was helpful to me, albeit in an indirect manner. However, he then lowered his head upon realizing that our promise could no longer be fulfilled.
I was sure Gen knew about his situation better than anyone. He knew how dark and dangerous the Vatican was. There was no way I'd just stand by and do nothing.
For the past three days, Gen seemed to be thinking that the weak Saint of Light had done something.
‘Actually, I didn’t do anything.’
Gen probably assumed that I visited Father Basel to plead and convince Father Basel that he was innocent. He seemed to be thinking that I got on the floor and insisted that I was the one who wanted to be free and that he was innocent.
I assumed he was thinking that I had been thinking of ways to set him free while crying every day. Despite my efforts, however, nothing had really changed, as the Vatican was trying to hide the truth.
The fact that I ran out of the Vatican myself to find freedom would not only taint my honor but the Vatican’s honor as well. It wasn’t something that could be dismissed as a one-time mistake. The Vatican had decided to sacrifice someone rather than tainting their honor, and the sacrifice was Gen.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you,” Gen said.
“You don’t need to apologize for anything, Mr. Gen. All this happened because I was stupid and incompetent,” I told him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise. I’m really sorry... for leaving you alone,” Gen said.
“What do you mean alone? I’m not alone, and I never thought that I was alone. We're seeing different things, and we're in different positions, but I know we’re always looking at the same goal. I’m sure you’re looking at the same goal as well, Mr. Gen...”
I cried, and I was worried that perhaps I looked too desperate. I thought I was overreacting, but this was good enough because I had no intention of wasting time filming a melodrama.
“I’m preparing for the trial, Mr. Gen,” I informed him.
“...”
“I told you before, but it’s my turn this time. This time, I’ll take you out from here,” I said.
“That’s—”
“I already decided,” I interrupted him.
“It’s impossible. No, I’m worried it’ll harm you, Mr. Lee Ki-Young,” Gen said.
'You know I’ll never yield to the pressure of great power. I’ve always stood my ground.'
“They’re trying to purge the opposite faction, including the Templars,” I informed him.
Some Templars had already been purged. I couldn’t find Templar Simon’s whereabouts, but Father Yohan would soon die, and I was sure that his subordinates would meet the same horrible fate as him.
“I don’t know which side is correct, but their ways are wrong. T-They’re claiming that the Templars are corrupted beings who had stolen Goddess Benigoa’s power. They’re saying that you and Templar Simon had extorted Goddess Benigoa out of Her power.
"They’re stating that the opposite faction is filled with nothing but a bunch of heretics and that they must be purged,” I explained.
“...”
“They’re claiming that you kidnapped me... to do something horrible to me,” I added.
“That’s not true!” Gen shouted.
‘Oh yeah? But you guys do look like heretics in my eyes.’
“I must reveal the truth,” I said.
“...”
“You must tell me everything you know,” I said.
“I can... tell you everything,” Gen mumbled.
'Of course, you should tell me everything. We can start with either how you got your wings, the dungeon's location, or Templar Simon’s location.'
‘But why does it feel like he’s being hesitant?’
I almost cursed, but...
‘He’s just worried about me.’
He was worried about me getting swept up in a dirty court battle.
“I’m a strong person, Mr. Gen,” I told him.
“...”
“...” “Yes, I’m aware. You’re a strong person, Mr. Lee Ki-Young. You’re strong and confident; you've never been the type to back down nor surrender... You were brave enough to face everything,” Gen said.
‘Yeah, that’s the kind of image I want to show everyone.’
“I’ll tell you everything,” Gen said.
I nodded quietly...
Just as Gen was about to start speaking, the soundproofing barrier I made shattered. I looked to the side, thinking that Kim Hyun-Sung had done something unexpected, but he hadn't done anything. In fact, he actually looked away upon seeing my gaze.
‘It’s not Hyun-Sung.’
“Visiting hours are over, Father Lee Ki-Young.” A familiar voice echoed, and it was a very sassy voice. “It’s interrogation time now.”
'Why are you here, damn it?'
I looked back and saw Jin Cheong—the rude guy who called me a bastard. It had been a while since I heard him talk to me with respect and using my title.
It was probably because there were other people around, but more importantly, his attitude bothered me. I was annoyed by the fact that he appeared with many adjutants, and they were actually holding piles of documents.
‘I thought you didn’t want to get involved, damn it. So why did you accept it?’
'Did you actually become a special prosecutor? But why?'
“You have exceeded the visiting time that’s written under continental law, Father Lee Ki-Young,” Jin Cheong added.
“...”
“Since you asserted the suspect’s rights as specified in the continental law, I believe you’re also aware of the visiting time that’s specified in the same law,” Jin Cheong said.
'This bastard is being really sassy right now.'
“To make things worse, it looks like you ignored most of the procedures.” Jin Cheong pointed out.
'I did, damn it. I didn’t submit a request to meet with the suspect or ask for protection. I’m the Honorary Cardinal of the Sacred Democratic Country, you bastard. Do you really think those procedures will stop me? I’m the Sacred Democratic Country, and the Sacred Democratic Country is me.'
“Please be careful next time. You can’t ignore all the complicated procedures as you please and focus only on the continental law. I’ll consider this a mistake made out of ignorance since you must not be familiar with the procedures yet,” Jin Cheong continued.
'This bastard is acting really sassy.'
I was startled, but I had an idea why he was here.
‘Are you that bored? You really want to fight me?’
I had been wanting to have a proper match with him, but I never really had the opportunity for that until now. And I was sure he shared the same sentiment as me; otherwise, he wouldn't have accepted Kim Hyun-Sung’s proposal.
It seemed that he really wanted to put me in a difficult position.
Of course, he could also be doing this only to relieve some of the stress inside of him.
I was sure Jin Cheong had been full of stress these days. This probably felt like a game to him. It was different from the game he enjoyed, but he probably wanted to play a game on top of the chessboard with someone similar to him.
The black market had disappeared, and he was done babysitting Kim Hyun-Sung, so he wanted to enjoy his free time. He definitely thought of his desire not to get involved with us again, but he simply couldn’t resist the temptation of playing a game against me.
Jin Cheong smiled as if to prove that my assumption was correct.
As always, his smile was both arrogant and annoying.
He looked like he was telling me that he was above me.
— Let’s start the game.
‘He’s crazy. You've already lost to me once. Are you really that excited to lose again?"
"Do you... want to lose your honor?"
'You want to fall into the abyss again?'