Chapter 36

— Why should the lord be put on trial?

— Yeah, why?

“It’s obvious… for dereliction of duty, of course.”

I spoke clearly and confidently. One of the three heads tilted to the side in confusion.

Another one glared at me with intense focus.

— We’re currently holding a trial for theft.

— Exactly!

— Still, we’ll allow that as an additional claim.

I smiled inwardly as the dog-headed judge followed along just as I had expected.

Stupid mutts. I’m going to make you whimper by the end of this.

“Then, does that mean you’re refusing to try the lord?”

— It’s not a registered case. We can’t try someone without a formal complaint.

“No, you should rule on the cause of the crime too. Unless… are you saying you can’t because he’s a lord? If that’s not the case, I request you take the complaint now and judge it together. Or at least treat it as part of the same case.”

— …!

Gotcha.

To judge and punish humans, you have to understand them well.

According to the setting, this creature became corrupted by the selfishness and arrogance of humans while studying them to mimic their trials.

And that’s not all. It might look like a simple-minded “execution parrot” that sentences everything to death, but—

By mimicking human judges, it’s become strangely sensitive to fairness and perception.

“Then when I get out of here, I’ll make sure everyone knows. I’ll spread the word far and wide that there’s this so-called judge in a supernatural phenomenon who flaunts their power… but isn’t fair at all.”

— …

Ugh, I really miss having visible choice boxes like in the game. Talking my way through everything is exhausting.

‘Still… I have to do it.’

“Whether it’s a human trial or a monster’s, the foundation should be fairness and equity.”

At the very least, this mutt judge seems to truly believe he’s fair and just.

“But right now, what you’re saying… isn’t fair to everyone involved, is it?”

I pointed to the ground beneath my feet.

Trials in supernatural events are built on certain immovable laws.

Like: a trial must always be fair.

Which means…

“This space is violating its own rules.”

That’s a critical error for any supernatural occurrence.

And sure enough—

RUMMBLE—!!

KABOOM!

“Uh-oh… the floor’s—?”

“Nemesia!”

The ground trembled, stones falling from the ceiling. I could hear Daddy shouting from behind me.

I wanted to look back.

But I couldn’t—not yet.

The battle of nerves wasn’t over.

‘I can’t back down now.’

This shaking meant the judge understood what I said—and accepted it.

Just like the contradiction puzzles I solved with Usher before, you have to dig into the inconsistencies here to reach the truth.

KABOOM—!

The ground cracked, and for the first time, the judge let out a sharp, emotional voice.

— Formal complaint is the rule!

— We prioritize the accused who have already been reported!

To throw off the others watching behind me—especially that bastard Usher—I let my shoulders sag, as if I were nervous.

But my expression remained calm as I tilted my head ever so slightly.

Did you think that would shut me up?

“Then… doesn’t that make you, Judge, also responsible for reducing the tax revenue of the land? You’re being unfair too, aren’t you?”

When I first thought of this approach, I wasn’t sure it’d work—but it did.

These monsters were created to torment humans.

And ironically, they’re highly susceptible to human judgment and social perception. Ridiculous, right?

I pointed at the judge.

“Then you should be subject to trial as well, Judge. For holding an unfair trial!”

I gave a cheeky grin.

“I know a judge who’d love to hear about this.”

KABOOM!

— You insolent little human!

— A mere brat dares shake the foundation?

— Dare shake us?!

Part of the courtroom collapsed.

Then, a clawed hand with long, sharp nails slammed onto the desk, and the massive body of the judge leaned toward me.

“Nemesia!”

I still couldn’t look back. Daddy probably couldn’t come to me either—likely held back by something.

The beast’s face was now right in front of mine. I could smell its breath.

But its shadow-like head wavered strangely, half-faded and distorted.

‘That’s its real body…’

I’d tried every strategy and even fought its true form once before.

But at my current level, I didn’t stand a chance.

— The one who ruined our trial…

— Shall receive the same judgment…

“I didn’t ruin it.”

The beast’s snout was right up in my face, but I spoke clearly and calmly.

I could see its sharp teeth, but I hid the sweat on my hands.

“I’m not saying you should stop giving death sentences entirely. I’m saying you should judge fairly, case by case.”

I didn’t break eye contact with its abyssal, grotesque gaze.

“Isn’t that the role of a judge and a trial?”

— Don’t joke around. A crime is still a crime.

— Sins don’t disappear!

“Of course not. You can’t make them disappear.”

I nodded politely.

“Which is why I’m filing a complaint against the lord.”

— What are you talking about?

Open those ears, you mutts.

“Since you said it hasn’t been officially submitted… now it is.”

What I meant was: I’m requesting to amend the indictment.

I shifted my gaze slightly.

The dog heads looked at each other, exchanging brief, awkward glances. I didn’t miss it.

“That way, the unresolved crime can be punished, and this trial can truly be fair, right?”

If you’re going to do it, go all the way.

You can’t pick and choose who to punish.

If you do, this trial isn’t fair. As I kept pressing that same point, the judge went silent.

“Don’t you agree, Your Honorable Judge?”

I let my words trail suggestively.

“If so, your name will shine among humans as the ‘fair judge.’”

I know you like that kind of flattery. Woof woof.

I smiled sweetly.

“Even lowly humans will come to revere you, Your Honor.”

God, it was so hard to get all this out in baby talk.

— …

— …

A long silence followed—but I realized then that I’d succeeded.

The judge returned to his seat, expression back to its solemn state.

All three heads looked serious.

— Defense, state your desired sentence.

— Go on.

I gave a bit of a smug smile.

“I trust Your Honorable Judge will render a fair sentence.”

Gotta wrap things up properly.

That monster hates when anyone tries to interfere with his final decisions.

‘Very realistic, honestly.’

My hand was sore from how tightly I’d been clenching it.

— The sentence is as follows!

— The defendant shall be branded for three years! While branded, if she approaches the victim, she will feel excruciating pain. If she repeats the same crime within three years, she will suffer an endless nightmare every night. If she commits a major crime such as robbery or murder during that time, she will be executed immediately!

— Dragged here and executed!

— And the lord who caused this situation shall also be brought here for trial!

— Kill them all!

— Let’s kill them!

‘Phew… that’s settled.’

It’s a pretty severe punishment, but better than death, right?

‘Sucks for the lord… but not my problem.’

I knew from the game lore that the lord of the fief where the hostages were taken was a complete bastard.

This was the limit for what could be done to save a criminal hostage.

Because in the end, you can’t justify the crime.

Still, the real problem was…

This wasn’t over.

I finally turned around.

There they were—our team’s hostages, staring at me like they’d just seen their savior.

‘Ahaha… I’m dead.’
 

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Translator: Japchae