Chapter 946. Trial (5)
“Templar Gen is a victim created by the Sacred Democratic Country and the Vatican.”
“...”
“That was what Father Lee Ki-Young said, and I completely understand why he said that. According to Father Lee Ki-Young, Gen was actually a tool his entire life. He grew up in an orphanage managed by a temple, and he became a Templar for some reason.
"He spent the majority of his childhood and his teenage years training rigorously every day. He had never been able to do anything by his own will, so I won't say that he had an easy life.
"The Templars turned Gen into a monster, and we can say that the Vatican is an accomplice, as the Vatican has never done anything about it,” Kennen explained.
“His upbringing is not an excuse for his crimes, Kennen,” I[1] said.
“You think I don’t know that? I’m just saying that I understand his position. I'm sure you can only say that because you didn’t see Father Lee Ki-Young pleading with tears in his eyes, Alex. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who was swayed.
"I honestly think that the masterminds here are Templar Simon and Father Yohan,” Kennen added.
“Templar Simon? Father Yohan?” I asked.
“That’s right. Those jerks are the ones who used Templar Gen. Father Lee Ki-Young wasn’t lying when he said that Templar Gen was also a victim,” Kennen answered.
“Do you have proof that Templar Simon and Yohan had been using Templar Gen for their vested interests?
"And have you forgotten the note that Father Lee Ki-Young had left before he got kidnapped? Didn’t he write that something bad might happen to him? The Hero of Shadows submitted that note just now.
"The evidence is rock solid, Kennen. I don't even think that we should hesitate here. It doesn’t matter what kind of conspiracy the Templars were involved in; the story behind his actions isn't important as well.
"Of course, as a field investigator, I can’t tell a juror what they should do, but I believe that you’ll make a reasonable decision,” I said.
The gist of the story was that Father Lee Ki-Young, who was struggling to uncover the Templars’ conspiracy, had ended up getting kidnapped.
I turned and saw Father Lee Ki-Young’s messy room, which had never been touched since his disappearance.
There was a mess on the table, and there were torn pieces of paper and trash all over the floor. Most of the jurors gulped upon seeing the horrible sight. It was like they could clearly imagine what had transpired.
Perhaps the silence lasted too long because a junior of the Continental Management Committee shattered the silence, saying, “Father Lee Ki-Young was last seen here before he was kidnapped. Jurors, please make your decision while thinking of this sight.”
“What do the investigators think?” a juror asked.
“The field investigators believe that Father Lee Ki-Young didn’t show much resistance. They think that there was an argument followed by a brief struggle. As you can see, they exited the room through the window...” I replied.
“Where were the Holy Knights and the security guards of the temple?” a juror asked.
“We learned that the Holy Knights on Father Yohan’s side were on duty,” I answered.
“Is it safe to assume that this kidnapping was planned in advance?” they asked.
“That’s something you must decide. We're only here to guide you into making the right decision,” an investigator said.
They were right, and my actions right now weren't befitting of a field investigator.
Kennen turned to me and said, “Your words and your junior's words are contradictory.”
“...”
“Still, this is really incredible. Who could have known that you’d end up working at the Continental Protection Management Committee, Alex?” Kennen said.
“He's the reason I ended up changing my mind, Kennen. I had been living a sad life at the time, so I ended up joining the Committee to become someone useful to Father Lee Ki-Young.
"Now that something so absurd has occurred, how can I just stand by and do nothing? I honestly believe that a trial for him is a waste of time. We ought to have ripped him to pieces long ago,” I told him.
“Lower your voice, Alex. You’re really agitated right now. You know you shouldn’t say that in front of the jurors, right?" Kennen reminded me.
“I’m saying this because you guys are here. I know how to keep my mouth shut somewhere else, so don’t worry about me,” I reassured him.
“...”
“You’d better be prepared for the next site,” I warned.
“...”
“Miss Jung Suah?”
“Yes, sir?” Jung Suah replied.
“I think it’s best if we head to the next site,” I suggested.
“Okay. S-So do we just need to head there?” she asked.
“Yes. Guide the jurors to the warp gate and announce that we’re heading straight to the Demonic Forest. We’ll leave in ten minutes,” I instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
“You actually look the part, Alex,” Kennen remarked.
“Shut up, Kennen,” I said.
“What’s your relationship with Jung Suah?” Kennen asked.
“There's nothing going on between us,” I replied.
“But the way you guys were exchanging glances told me that there's definitely something going on. Is it okay for you to date a colleague?” Kennen pointed out.
“Shut up, Kennen. I’m not in the mood for your jokes,” I told him.
I wasn’t sure what he was thinking. I thought this way of avoiding the elephant in the room, but I didn’t really approve of it. I was getting annoyed because Kennen was being a chatterbox next to me, but he soon became quiet.
And it was all because a shocking sight had appeared before him...
“The second site is the site where we believe Father Lee Ki-Young stayed for approximately eighteen days. The space inside is small, so we’ll allow only two people to enter at a time,” I informed.
The jurors were at a loss for words.
It was a desolate building that looked like a hut, as it was buried halfway into the ground. The ground was covered in muddy water and filth. It was questionable whether there was even proper air circulation inside the "hut."
It was so smelly inside that I couldn't breathe and couldn't stop myself from frowning. It was a space so small and dirty that it was hard to believe that someone could even stay here for a minute, much less for eighteen days.
We were having a hard time staying in this place, so I could only imagine the suffering that Father Lee Ki-Young had to go through. I had been here once, but I was still at a loss for words upon seeing it twice.
‘The Son of Light... actually spent such a long time in a place like this?’
Kennen was silent while the religious jurors were already crying.
“Sob! Sob... O Benigoa!”
“Father Lee Ki-Young...!”
They were crying while calling out to the Goddess. Their crying seemed contagious because the others soon started crying as well. The desolate building looked like it was going to collapse at any moment, and the idea that he had struggled in a place like this for such a long time made the jurors' emotions run wild.
“The rangers believe that Father Lee Ki-Young went outside only two times throughout the ordeal,” I told them.
“Does that mean he spent the rest of the roughly eighteen days in here except for the two times he went out?” a juror asked.
“That’s right. His nutrition and health deteriorated drastically during his stay here. We believe that his current malady was caused by the time he had spent here. It was raining most of the time, so a majority of the traces have disappeared long ago, but Father Lee Ki-Young... he was assaulted many times in here,” I replied.
“So the evidence that the Commander of the Republic had found was discovered here...” a juror muttered.
“That’s right.”
“We can’t say this with certainty, but we believe that he had experienced a variety of harsh torture in here. In addition to the physical pain, I’m sure he was being mentally tortured as well.
"What's interesting is that he visited a nearby rural hamlet to exchange some of the leather he had obtained for everyday supplies,” I explained.
The jurors started whispering among themselves.
“Why did he not let the villagers of that hamlet know about his plight?” a juror asked.
“He was probably worried that Templar Gen might take his anger out on them. I’m sure he would have done more than just kill them,” I answered.
“We managed to confirm that he left the hamlet as quickly as possible, and then we discovered traces of holy power being used right after that,” Jung Suah chimed in.
“In other words, we think Father Lee Ki-Young ended up getting punished for visiting that rural hamlet,” I added.
“I agree,” Jung Suah said.
“How many times did he use healing-type holy spells...” a juror asked.
“We don’t know exactly how many times, but we believe that he frequently had to exhaust his holy power,” I answered.
“If someone with that much holy power had to frequently exhaust it to heal himself, then... he had to have been in a serious situation back then,” a juror said.
“Yes.”
“And he did say he almost died...”
“Why did he even buy everyday supplies?” a juror asked.
“Father Lee Ki-Young bought everyday supplies for Templar Gen. To serve food and make things convenient for him.”
“But why...” they questioned.
“We will understand his intentions unless he makes it clear to us himself, but if I were to make a guess... I'd say it's because he found him pitiful.
"I’m sure they talked about many things. They spent over two weeks in this tiny place, so I believe that amount of time was enough for Father Lee Ki-Young to understand and empathize with him.
"The criminal had harmed, insulted, and humiliated the Son of Light, but he still ended up loving him, as he has always been that kind of person," I explained.
“...”
“...”
“O Son of Light...!”
“Whoo...”
“That’s probably the reason why the Son of Light has decided to defend him. The Son of Light has forgiven him—no, he’s trying to forgive him. He’s such an innocent and kind man... to the extent of foolishness. He's doing that despite what he had experienced...” a juror chimed in.
“...”
“...”
“What do you think, Alex? You already know what the majority of the jurors think, right?” Kennen asked.
“Well, they’re not wrong, Kennen,” I replied.
“...”
“The next site is just ahead of us. After entering the Republic, we found evidence that Father Lee Ki-Young had devoted himself to that damned criminal. Despite getting beaten up every night, Father Lee Ki-Young still couldn't help but find him pitiful. He'd wake up at dawn and prepare food for that damned criminal,” I said.
“That bastard,” Kennen said.
“However, his kindness was repaid with violence,” I added.
“...”
“The payment he received for his dedication were ruthless beatings and torture. That bastard treated the Son of Light like he was some slave at the black market. At this point, I don't think the mastermind behind his actions still matters.
"It doesn't matter whether his actions were a result of Templar Simon's orders or Father Yohan's lies. The truth is that he's evil, Kennen. He's like a demon who derives enjoyment from deceiving people. He makes people pity him before repaying their kindness with violence.
"Even if Father Lee Ki-Young ends up forgiving him, we can’t forgive him,” I explained.
“It was just the first trial...” Kennen remarked.
“I don’t know if holding more trials is worth it. Anyway, what do you think, George?” I asked.
“Well...” George trailed off.
“Yeah?”
“There’s a group that has been contacting me to vote that Gen is innocent,” George confessed.
“What?” I was astounded
“Calm down, Alex. I looked into them because I was curious about them, but it was meaningless. I have been silent until now, as I don't want to cause any trouble, but there are many of them out there.
"It’s highly likely that they’re the Templars or Father Yohan’s spies, but I don’t really know what they’re trying to do here,” George explained.
“Did you accept their money...” I asked, sounding hesitant.
“Of course, I didn’t. I would accept it if I were still the same old me years ago, but... we're talking about Father Lee Ki-Young here. I can't betray him.
"He’s someone who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Son of Light had saved the world, and I don't think he deserves beatings and getting locked up in a desolate building as his reward for saving the continent.
"We've received plenty of help from him, too,” George said.
“...”
“Whenever the continent was in danger, we were always with him. We're also witnesses to his life story and epic adventures,” George added.
“...”
“Do you remember what the Shield of Blue shouted while he was being dragged out of the courtroom? He’s right. We must do what we can do. We have to make that demon pay for his sins,” George said.
I had always thought of George as a bit of an airhead, but it seemed that he was capable of saying something awe-inspiring from time to time.
I immediately nodded at his words.
The majority of the jurors were shocked upon seeing the horrific scene.
“That bastard...”
“He deserves an extreme beating.”
“That bastard is a demon.”
I couldn’t agree more.
1. Alex’s POV ☜