00602 Those who fight to the death live, those who run to the death… . ————————————————– ———————-=
Suddenly the atmosphere seems to be moving in a strange direction… .
Clap, clap!
I clapped a couple of times to call attention, and all of the attention was immediately focused. I cleared my throat weakly and then calmly opened my mouth.
“Come to think of it… . “It seems like it’s been a long time since we all gathered together like this.”
The majority of the clan members responded by tilting their heads, but some smiled meaningfully. These are the people who participated in the pit attack.
Did you say the theory of relativity? Since the things I had to experience there probably weren’t that pleasant, the passage of time I felt would have been relatively slow.
… anyway.
“Well, before we get into the actual story, first of all… .”
When I paused for a moment and looked away, three people sitting in a huddle on one side came into view, one after another. Hyeon Ahn, Jae-ryong Shin, Helena. Among them, Shin Jae-ryong was looking at me with quite a puzzled look.
“Why are you looking at me like that? User Shin Jae-ryong?”
“to… . So, it’s okay.”
When I pointed him out and spoke up, Shin Jae-ryong responded as if he had been waiting. It seemed like he vaguely knew why he was doing that, but he felt a little mischievous and spoke in a deliberately rude tone.
“Hmm? “Are you okay?”
“Welcome. I think I’ve already received it dozens of times since this morning… . “I’m embarrassed to ask for more.”
“ha ha ha.”
“Well, I wish I could just move on, but… .”
As I look at Shin Jae-ryong scratching his head and trailing off, I start to laugh without knowing why. It must have been quite burdensome to have been drowned out in cheers when I encountered my clan members earlier in the morning.
Anyway, Ahn Hyun didn’t seem to have any major complaints, and Helena was acting calm to begin with, so I eventually decided to accept Shin Jae-ryong’s request.
“Still, I feel bad about just letting it go. … Anyway, thank you all three for your hard work.”
Actually, the first words that came to mind were ‘Thank you for accomplishing a great thing’ and ‘Thank you for your hard work’, but neither of them seemed to fit the situation, so I chose something that I thought was somewhere in the middle.
Clap clap clap… .
This was followed by light applause celebrating the survival and recovery, and as soon as the applause ended, a quiet silence fell in the tent.
Seeing the clan members finally quieting down, I crossed my ten fingers. Now it was time to get to the point.
“You’ve probably all heard the story to some extent. From what I heard from Lord Istantel Low, the area where the fortress will be built has been confirmed and they plan to move there soon. … “But I heard there’s one thing I need to take care of before that.”
“… … .”
“To put it bluntly, the trial is tomorrow afternoon. And those attending as plaintiffs are Hyeon Ahn, Jae-ryong Shin, and Helena. “It’s these three people.”
“Hey, Clan Lord. “I’m sorry, but I have a question.”
It was then.
As we paused for a moment, a refreshing voice was heard from one side, expressing great curiosity. Turning her gaze to where she had come from, she could see a woman raising her hands in a mermaid-like sitting position. Hye-mi Pyo, or more accurately, it was Jegal Hae-sol in the form of Hye-mi Pyo.
“How exactly does a trial work? “In this world.”
Jegal Haesol’s eyes were shining so brightly that he felt a little burdened. Like a child discovering an amazing toy for the first time in a long time.
Well, it’s worth it. Zhuge Haesol joined the raid on the Steel Mountains on the condition that he would remain quiet during the raid, and has been living like a rat until now. Of course, personally, I am very satisfied with that part.
But where will the original nature go?
As time goes by, Jegal Hae-sol openly says, ‘I’m bored.’ Sometimes, he says, ‘AC. ‘I followed you for no reason.’ He also expressed a grumble.
However, since it’s been a while since something interesting has happened (from Jegal Haesol’s perspective, of course), it wouldn’t be unreasonable for him to show such interest. I thought it would be a good idea to be a little more lenient.
“hmm. “Do you know what the current situation is?”
“Yes, roughly. While those three were fighting hard, one of them ran away. So we need to discuss punishment for the fugitive. is not it?”
That was summarized too harshly. Well, it’s still not wrong.
“Yes. In fact, the trial process itself is very simple. The parties make a decision based on a situation that has already occurred, and the final decision maker makes a decision after collecting opinions that arise during the process. Here, the final decision maker means the Commander-in-Chief, i.e. Lord Istantel Low.”
“to… . So, the person who is so pretty that you get jealous is the judge?”
As the questions continued, Go Yeon-ju suddenly opened her eyes and looked at me.
Someone so pretty that I’d be jealous… . Could it be that Go Yeon-ju is jealous of Han So-young? But honestly, it’s not wrong.
“… yes.”
“And what about the people who act as prosecutors, lawyers, witnesses, and jurors?”
“As I said before, context is important. “Since all the circumstances have already been determined, there is no need for witnesses or jurors.”
“Then there is nothing except the judge?”
“well. If you really look at it, you can see that those three people are acting as plaintiffs and prosecutors, but they are limited to expressing their opinions on the handling of fugitives. The same goes for the defendant and the fugitive. Of course, people around me can act as lawyers, but I probably wouldn’t do that.”
“why? “Why don’t you defend me?”
The questions continued endlessly. And slowly, even among other clan members, those who expressed discomfort began to appear. It’s not that I was offended, but because I kept interrupting the conversation to myself, I thought, ‘What is he?’ I want to.
But I quietly sent a signal to calm them down. Shin Jae-ryong and Helena were showing reactions that they already knew or were not very interested, but Ahn Hyun was listening very intently.
“Hyemi. “I’ll tell you that.”
At that time, a clear and pure voice answered Jegal Haesol’s question on my behalf. When someone looked at me, the sight of a woman in full maturity caught my eye. She was Jeong Ha-yeon.
“may I? Clan Lord.”
I quietly nodded my head as I saw Jeong Ha-yeon looking at me as if she was asking for permission. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind that I had hardly ever talked to Jeong Ha-yeon since the incident at the Mountains Where the Dragon Sleeps.
“The reason is simple. In this hole plane, the concept of running away is not common sense. Rather, it is treated as a kind of unwritten rule that should never be done.”
“… … ?”
“Let me give you an example. Let’s say Hye-mi takes over as the leader of the expedition, and she happens to have a vacant priest position. You have to choose between Person A and Person B, and Person B has a history of running away from his companions on a previous expedition. So, Hye-mi, will you include this person B in the expedition? When and where can she abandon her companions and run away?”
“no. Of course I choose A… . ah?!”
“yes. That’s it. And I would like to add one more thing: the Northern Continent has never forgiven a fugitive in the first place. 99% executed. And even if they are not officially punished, they are completely buried as users.”
“Heh~. It’s a store. “It’s fun, but it’s also scary.”
“It has to be that way. Rumors have quite a ripple effect. Think about it. All situations are recorded in the exploration records, and the population of the northern continent is at most 50,000. If we were to guess the number of combat users from there, it would be even smaller, right? In other words, it prevents the generalization that can occur as a result of a precedent being established, and directs the arrow of rumor at the fugitive. … “Then, would you please apply what I have said so far to this situation?”
“Ah, yes! I completely understand now. Thank you for the faithful explanation!”
Jegal Haesol patted his stomach and smiled, looking satisfied. It’s like a child who looks happy after eating a lot of delicious food.
Some clan members took turns looking at each other with slightly dazed expressions. I’m sure it’s a feeling of confusion that comes from ignorance, not knowing what’s being said even though you’ve heard the same story.
After satisfying his curiosity like that, Jegal Hae-sol immediately became calm, and I secretly gave Jeong Ha-yeon a look. Jeong Ha-yeon smiled brightly and responded. As always.
“ruler. The story is a bit long, so let’s wrap it up quickly. I will tell you without any hesitation. Istantel Low Road has been expressing its intention to hold a public trial tomorrow, and has said it will respect the wishes of the three of us.”
In fact, holding a public trial is the same as saying that a conclusion has already been reached, but Han So-young still left room for a trial. That is, we will first collect the opinions of three doctors.
“In other words, the disposition of the fugitive most reflects the opinions of the three parties who survived.”
At that time, Helena, who had been staring into space with boredom, quietly raised her hand.
“Clan Lord. “If it’s a trial, is it okay if I just don’t attend?”
Although he said he wasn’t really interested, there was a hint of fatigue in his voice. However, non-attendance was impossible, so I immediately shook my head.
Anyway, I thought Helena would be interested, but it was quite surprising.
“Attendance is mandatory. However, if it is difficult to express your opinion, you can abstain and waive your rights on the spot.”
“I’m abstaining… . “I understand.”
“yes. Then the remaining two… .”
“I will attend. “I will spend the rest of the day gathering my thoughts.”
Next, I turned my attention to the two people next to me, and Shin Jae-ryong responded right away with a stern expression on his face. It’s something he’s already prepared for, and he’s probably at the casualty management center and has given it some thought.
But Anhyun was looking at me with a helpless expression on her face. He probably feels quite awkward knowing that one person’s life depends on his every word.
“Although they did not show it, Istantel Low Road seemed keen to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. There is still one day left, so I hope you will organize your thoughts by tomorrow morning.”
Literally, this choice is entirely up to Ahn Hyeon. I cannot and do not intend to intervene. All I can do in this situation is just quietly watch the clan members’ choices.
“Then let’s conclude the meeting.”
With that in mind, I immediately announced that the meeting was cancelled.
*
The next afternoon.
“… Therefore, the questions from now on are merely formal ones, and the user Heewon Lee can only answer yes or no.”
With almost all Southern Expedition users gathered together, Han So-young’s voice sounded like a scolding. I looked around the outdoor courtroom and fixed my eyes on the chair in the center.
There was a woman sitting on the chair. Of course, that woman was the user who ran away, and she was also the defendant who would be punished this time.
“The clan you belong to is wet. 6th year user. Class is archer. My name is Heewon Lee. Is that right?”
It was a voice that had no pitch but was extremely sharp.
“… yes.”
The creeping voice barely responds.
Soon, with half-glaring and half-curious gazes pouring in, Han So-young’s interrogation continued.
“User Heewon Lee participated in the pit attack group. Is that right?”
“yes.”
“And during the battle, I was tasked with tracking down a monster that had escaped from the square. Is that right?”
“Yes, that’s correct up to that point. but.”
“be quiet. Afterwards, the group was divided in the middle, and user Shin Jae-ryong was included in the group as the team leader. Is that right?”
“… yes. however… .”
“The group encountered a monster, and in the ensuing battle, user Heewon Lee escaped alone. Is that right?”
“Now, just a moment. that!”
“User Heewon Lee. “If you go beyond the scope of the answer I specified one more time, I will ignore all procedures and take immediate action under my authority.”
“… … .”
“It’s your last chance. “Please answer the previous question again.”
“… yes.”
Han So-young fiercely pushed Lee Hee-won without giving him any room, and eventually made him admit to the fact that he ran away.
At that moment, a faint murmur arose among the users watching nearby.
Although it did not turn into a messy uproar, some users soon began sending outright hostility toward Lee Hee-won. You would have thought it was disgusting that a user with a reputation would do something like that.
“great. Let’s end the interrogation here. then… .”
It was then.
“Cho, total commander! “Please wait a moment!”
A man dressed in red clothes shouted in a loud voice. It was a wet load. I heard that she tried very hard to somehow get over it on a positive note… . Unfortunately, Han So-young is not such an easy woman.
“What’s going on? Wet load.”
“Well, I’d like to ask to speak!”
Lord Jeokshim spoke while taking a deep breath as if he was trying to follow the procedure, but Han So-young shook his head as if it wasn’t funny. And she continued her words while looking at Ahn Hyeon, Shin Jae-ryong, and Helena who were seated to the left and right of Han So-young.
“I will dismiss it. “I’m about to hear the opinions of these three people.”
“Well, you can listen to our side too!”
“Because I’ve already heard enough. Anyway, wasn’t it ultimately meant to open a way for user Lee Hee-won to live?”
“That’s it!”
“yes. Yesterday, you told me to just be nice and move on. However, when I asked if you could take responsibility for all problems that will arise from this precedent, you did not give any reply, right?”
“… Pfft!”
Lord Jeokshim chewed his mouth with an expression on his face that seemed at a loss for words.
“I don’t want to drag this on for too long. I will continue like this. then… .”
“abstention.”
Soon, Soyoung Han turned her head and Helena raised her hand and announced her position. Wow, that’s nice because it’s so fast.
After a while, Han So-young blinked a couple of times and opened her mouth.
“User Helena, abstains?”
“yes. “I don’t really care how it’s handled.”
Nodding her head, Helena yawns long.
Lee Hee-won, who was sitting on a chair, suddenly raised his head. A look of surprise appears on my face. He said he thought he was going to die, but he probably didn’t know that there would be abstentions from the beginning.
however.
“Then the other person…” .”
“I want punishment.”
The moment Han So-young looked to the far right and asked, Shin Jae-ryong’s answer immediately made Lee Hee-won blush.
Shin Jae-ryong’s face surprisingly looked very stern. He took a deep breath once or twice and opened his mouth, looking at Lee Hee-won.
“After the whole battle, while I was running away, I lost a man I thought was a comrade. Even though the clans we belonged to were different.”
The moment he heard those words, a question suddenly passed through Shin Jae-ryong’s head.
‘By any chance, didn’t you see any other users when you rescued me?’
“I won’t talk too much. But even putting aside his personal revenge, the man’s final moments were truly manly, or rather warrior-like. As such, I don’t think I can be at all lenient towards the fugitive compared to that man. Therefore, I will choose punishment. That is all.”
“all right. “Thank you for your opinion.”
Shin Jae-ryong finished speaking, and Han So-young readily accepted.
With this, 1 vote for punishment and 1 abstention.
All that remains now is Ahn Hyeon’s opinion. In that case, it would be correct to say that Ahn Hyeon’s opinion determined Lee Hee-won’s punishment, or rather, his life or death.
Han So-young’s head turned to Ahn Hyeon.
“User Anhyun?”
“… “Yes, yes?”
Ahn Hyeon responded with a trembling voice. What can I say, a face that says something is about to come?
Han Soyoung didn’t say anything. What she meant was that she would wait for Ahn Hyeon’s opinion.
But the problem is that Ahn Hyun is still confused. The fact that he was still glancing at me was proof of that.
However, I rejected Anhyeon’s request by shaking my head. In fact, it is not difficult to provide help in making choices, but then there will be no progress. I’ve just begun to ride the flow of inner maturity, and I can’t stop it.
Ahn Hyeon, who had been trying to make eye contact with me, eventually lowered his head and looked at the ground. And for a long time, Anhyun continued to stare at the ground.
okay. Your personality must be complicated. That too a lot.
For a moment, time passed.
“… User Ahn Hyeon.”
When the frosty urging to make a decision quickly followed.
“Well, I…” .”
Finally, a small voice came out from Ahn Hyeon’s mouth. I reflexively increased my hearing.
“Che, punish… .”
“Oh, no, I mean… . Of course, it’s something that needs to be punished… . Still, life… .”
A voice that continues intermittently. So you want to be punished, but you still don’t want to take your life?
“I decide what kind of punishment to give. “Anyway, you’re saying you agree to the punishment, right?”
I quietly asked myself whether Soyoung Han also had similar thoughts.
And it was that moment.
“… no!”
Suddenly, Anhyeon raised his head. Then, he looked directly at Han So-young, almost glaring, and continued speaking in a voice that was noticeably higher than before.
“… once! “I wish I could give you one more chance.”
And, declared. I wish I could give you one more chance.
… Is this your choice?
The moment Ahn Hyeon’s opinion ended, several users around him showed signs of discomfort. I don’t like Ahn Hyeon’s decision. In fact, Lee Hee-won and Jeoksim Road’s faces brightened. Do you think a way out has been opened?
You might think so if you only look at what is clearly revealed. 1 vote in favor, 1 vote against, 1 abstention. Since the result is like this, a decision cannot be made based solely on the opinions of the parties involved.
But that doesn’t really cause any worries. In cases where coordination is not possible, one additional vote is automatically created, and that authority naturally goes to the judge.
In other words, all decisions now depend on Han So-young.
“I accept your opinion.”
Han So-young, who stared at Ahn Hyeon for a moment, said. Han So-young’s face showed no change at all from start to finish.
Finally, Ahn Hyeon sighs, looking calmer.
“however. It may be a pity, but I think differently. User Ahn Hyeon.”
A cold voice echoed around the area.
This differs from user Ahn Hyeon’s thoughts.
It was clear what that meant. Han So-young said she wanted punishment. Well, since Han So-young decided to proceed with an open trial in the first place, it was as if she had already reached a conclusion.
Murmur.
The surroundings started to become chaotic.
The faces of Lee Hee-won and Jeoksim Road, which had brightened for a moment, turned dark red again, and Ahn Hyeon stared at Han So-young with a bewildered look on his face.
“You look like you’re asking why. It’s simple. “I don’t want people to say that it’s okay for the Southern Expeditionary Force to run away during battle.”
If I were honest, it was an honest reason. And it was also something that could not be refuted. If you want to refute that statement, you have to assume that you will be responsible for any problems that may arise from running away. That was something even I couldn’t guarantee.
“Therefore, my opinion is that punishment must be made unconditionally…” .”
The moment Han So-young continued speaking, Yeon Hye-rim suddenly stood up. Users around were startled and stopped walking.
The rumor that the princess of execution has risen… .
“The punishment is execution. I’d like to decide. That is all.”
At the same time that Han So-young was sentenced to death.
thud!
Something crashed down from the sky to the ground.
Upon closer inspection, I could see that it was the Executioner’s Greatsword, a weapon exclusive to the Execution Princess. It’s been a while since I saw that.
“to… . So, now?”
Soon, Yeon Hye-rim walked forward and looked at Han So-young, bending her neck from side to side.
And the moment Han So-young gently nodded, Lee Hee-won’s face turned pale.
—————————= Review of the work ——————– ——-=
Why, why, why, why… .
I wondered why the pace was like this again, but I understood when I saw the capacity.
24K!
Hahaha.
… OTL. sorry. Thinking that this was the actual end of the pit part, I greedily put in various things, and before I knew it… . Eh, hypothesis.
hmm. But as I was writing this, I suddenly became curious about your opinions.
Readers, what do you think when you enter the world of ‘Hole Plain’?
Do you think executions are natural to maintain the Southern Expeditionary Force’s stance?
Or it’s too much. Do you think you should have given it a chance?
fantasy,
