Ch.196196. Courtroom Showdown

The Annihilation Corps was, quite literally, on the brink of destruction.

While deploying support to the great war in South America, they also had to suppress those harboring doubts within their ranks.

The fingers of the Flowing Milky Way were moving, turning those they touched into liquid-like substances.

“Save me!”

“AAAAARGH!”

They were executing those within the Annihilation Corps who harbored impure thoughts.

The tide had already turned against them.

Yet the Flowing Milky Way demanded loyalty—through force and terror.

“The collapse of our forces wasn’t in the scenario. But now that things have gone this far, there’s no need to be cautious anymore.”

The Ancient Species was already attached to their opponent and actively working against them.

This entity, different from their original plan, had essentially ruined their schemes.

To counter it, they needed to resurrect and modify the Ancient Species.

“And for that, we need enormous amounts of energy.”

The Flowing Milky Way ordered the collection of those who were hiding and fleeing.

The Watching Eye appeared behind him.

[You too… now… come… with us.]

“All I wish to observe is humanity in its natural state.”

The Flowing Milky Way warned the Watching Eye.

[Answer. Recklessness. Stubbornness. But I’ll let it pass.]

“I appreciate that.”

The Watching Eye disappeared, and Jiho appeared before him again.

Already covered in snake scales, his eyes were filled with burning hatred.

“When do we move?”

“I hear there’s going to be a public trial. Morgan is doing his part.”

“I’ll move. I’ll do anything.”

While his enthusiasm was commendable, there was no reason to deploy this powerful young man now.

“Defeating them isn’t the only goal.”

“Then what is?”

“Morgan will handle it. This time, losing is how we win.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

This puzzled boy needed to be shown the techniques of an adult.

“Currently, I’ve instigated a fight within their ranks. Morgan is targeting and brainwashing one of their insiders. And deliberately letting it be discovered. That’s the plan.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s how we create ‘suspicion,’ just like in the recent incident.”

The Flowing Milky Way remembered the recent news. They had successfully backed their opponent into a corner as intended.

Morgan’s brainwashing amplifies emotions and creates chaos.

By breaking down mental barriers, it can effectively achieve something close to brainwashing.

That’s what’s commonly known, but there was another advantage—the ‘impaired judgment that comes from losing rationality.’ Even when trying to make normal judgments, emotions prevent proper decision-making.

Even without completely stripping away one’s defenses, psychological manipulation is possible.

Heo Min-woo didn’t go out unaware of his brainwashed state. He knew from the beginning.

But once he was already under control, he was threatened using his family.

[Deliberately get caught and eliminated. Then fight Do Jong-hyun immediately. Otherwise, I’ll kill your family.]

When faced with this threat, a rational response would have been to report it, but as mentioned, he was emotionally incapable of doing so.

So he acted like a puppet, following orders.

Though the emotional control was lifted, the problem was that his family remained brainwashed.

Moreover, a countdown began the moment he was released.

Though free from brainwashing, his family was still being held hostage.

Constant pressure came through his phone, and he had to sacrifice himself for his family.

The result was his declaration in front of Do Jong-hyun—claiming he was fighting with a clear mind, free from brainwashing.

The significance of this was that it provided the perfect “conspiracy theory” to those already rebelling.

It was designed to maximize doubt and criticism against Do Jong-hyun.

And the final step was to kill someone in front of everyone.

If they fought among themselves in a whirlwind of heightened emotions, the goal would be achieved.

“The Watching Eye recently brought an interesting story.”

It was about Do Jong-hyun’s condition after being attacked by the caterpillar. Though unknown at the time, it was revealed that he had been controlled by the caterpillar and gone on a rampage.

Indeed, if Do Jong-hyun transformed into a monster and harmed people in that emotional whirlwind, it would be the perfect end.

Even his staunchest defenders would have no choice but to turn against him.

“Since they’re human, we can push them. So, hold back this time.”

“Do Jong-hyun… show me his picture.”

At this moment, Jiho’s voice trembled, enough to make even the Grand Executive, the Flowing Milky Way, feel puzzled.

“Do you know him?”

“Yeah. Maybe…”

An uncertain voice. The Flowing Milky Way detected an ‘uncertain element’ here.

When shown Do Jong-hyun’s face, photos, and videos on screen, Jiho trembled.

“This person is…”

“This person is what? Where did you sell your hatred now?!”

The Flowing Milky Way, sensing the atmosphere, shouted.

“Abandoned by your mother, your very existence as a son denied, and now you waver? You’re a repository of potential! You have the possibility to recreate the power of the Ancient Species! If you succeed, you can maintain a small body with the power of the Ancient Species! That means they can extend their lifespan. Hate those who abandoned you!”

“My mother… abandoned me!”

With hatred rekindled in his eyes after the scolding, the Flowing Milky Way was satisfied.

But he clearly recognized this as a risk factor and would keep a careful eye on it.

*

A trial… something I’ve only seen on TV is now happening before my eyes.

It was my first time ever going to court. I could see the barrage of camera flashes from journalists stationed at the entrance.

“How do you feel right now?”

“Why did you kill Officer Heo Min-woo?”

Security guards were busy holding back the surging reporters.

There were also protesters.

“Die!”

“Monsters get out!”

“Your truth has been exposed on YouTube! You’re a fake!”

I don’t know what they’re talking about, but it’s probably the usual conspiracy theories.

However, not everyone was attacking me.

“Do Jong-hyun, fighting!”

“Jong-hyun!”

Surprisingly, there were also protesters supporting me elsewhere.

“Mom?”

I thought I heard my mother’s voice. When I quickly turned my head in that direction, I saw my parents’ faces.

“Mom! Dad!”

At that moment, I felt more supported than ever before.

Even though they couldn’t do anything, my parents had come to support me.

My steps couldn’t have been lighter as I entered the courthouse, leaving behind the increasingly harsh June sunlight and entering the solemn atmosphere of the court.

The court structure I’d seen on TV was roughly recreated—the gallery, below which were the defendant and plaintiff sections, and the court reporters right in front of the courtroom.

And everyone standing when the solemn judges entered.

That scene was now playing out.

Three judges sat down in order, and the long-awaited trial began.

First, they informed me of my right to remain silent.

As we all know, I don’t have to speak about facts that might incriminate me.

Next came the identification inquiry, confirming whether the information about me, the defendant, was correct.

“Your name is Do Jong-hyun, correct? Are you the one who transforms into a monster?”

“From beginning to end, I am the human Do Jong-hyun, age 17.”

After asking about my residence and place of origin, the prosecutor explained the gist of the indictment.

“Currently, not just South Korea but the entire world is gripped by fear of monsters. Some are injured, some are killed! Many people become enraged at the mere sight of monsters. Yet this boy, no, this human monster, brazenly reveals his face and identity. At this crucial moment when humanity must triumph in the fight against monsters, this individual’s existence is a grave threat and humanity’s defeat!”

He begins with a very loud, hostile tone toward me.

Simultaneously, thunderous cheers erupted from the gallery.

“In fact, monsters have never stood trial before. The reason, as you all know, is that they were already dead before they could appear. They were beings beyond the need for law. But strangely, cunningly infiltrating humanity, a being has finally emerged to face legal judgment. Brazenly pretending to be good.”

His hostility toward me is burning intensely.

“This prosecutor believes that this wicked, manipulative monster deserves exemplary punishment without a shred of sympathy. I believe this falls under Article 93 of the Criminal Code, the crime of aiding the enemy. And also the murder of Heo Min-woo!”

“The crime of aiding the enemy carries a death sentence as standard?”

I was dumbfounded by the charge my lawyer had informed me about, but it’s the prosecutor’s opinion, so I had to listen.

After the prosecutor’s opening statement, it was my turn and my lawyer’s.

The judge asked if I agreed with the content.

My lawyer latched onto the concept of “enemy country.”

“First, it’s unclear whether the term ‘enemy country’ that constitutes the crime of aiding the enemy applies in this trial. We’re not talking about a nation, but monsters. Also, what exactly did he do to help them? This young man has hindered monsters, never helped them.”

Beyond my lawyer, it was now my turn.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat and looked straight at the court.

“I am not a monster. More precisely, I borrow the power of monsters. Since a human monster would be a monster becoming human, let’s call it a monster human instead.”

Yes, let’s change the confusing terminology first. To prove I’m different from them.

“I’ve cooperated with humanity to confront monsters and have fought numerous battles until now. If I were the enemy, there would be no reason for me to reveal my identity and be here. I could just transform and destroy everything. I’ve come to stand trial to prove my innocence. What happened to Mr. Heo Min-woo was unfortunate, but he was threatened by the enemy and chose death himself. Therefore, I deny ‘all’ of the charges.”

As soon as I finished speaking, jeers filled the courtroom.

The judge’s gavel made a harsh sound as he tried to calm the situation.

From this point on, it was a battle using evidence. We needed to present materials and credible sources that proved the crime to sway the judge’s heart.

And I had to refute those materials.

My lawyer had prepared everything from witness requests, but I was still anxious.

Emotions seemed to be swirling. There was a tension like the courtroom might explode.

Now the judge asked if I agreed with each piece of evidence submitted by the prosecutor.

“How many active monster forms do you have? Are they all you?”

“Yes.”

“How will you prove it?”

“I’d need to transform, if you permit.”

With the judge’s consent, I transformed into some of the smaller forms.

“Your Honor, regarding the mechanical dinosaur, I already released that transformation at school. So there’s no need to transform here. If I did more, the ceiling might break.”

“Indeed, I wouldn’t want to see a courtroom with a broken ceiling.”

The judge agreed, and this matter was concluded for now.

The prosecutor focused on the murder charge.

While there was footage of Heo Min-woo attacking me, the prosecutor added suspicions about incidents caused by those strange beings.

“I didn’t do it. Many of these accusations are forced.”

“So you’re denying it, correct?”

The judge only asked if I was denying the evidence.

My lawyer told me we were now entering the ‘fact-finding’ procedure that we know best.

In this procedure, witnesses would be called and interrogated.

The prosecution confidently opened with one piece of evidence.

“You seem to claim you’re good, but then why did you kill your friends?”

“Friends?”

“Yoo Deok-min, Seo Jin-won. And the suspicion regarding the missing Min Gang-su. Contrary to your claims, there are many suspicious deaths!”

Wait? I might understand Yoo Deok-min and Seo Jin-won, but why Min Gang-su? He’s completely unrelated.

The prosecutor triumphantly presented evidence.

“This is a DNA fragment found on Yoo Deok-min’s body. Min Gang-su’s was also found there. You say you took down Yoo Deok-min because he attacked you, but what about Min Gang-su? What happened to this boy? Doesn’t the fact that both were found together suggest they died in the same place?”

“I wouldn’t know. What’s certain is that I was attacked. As you already know, Yoo Deok-min attacked me with the power of the monster Mahana, and I only defended myself. I don’t even know about Min Gang-su since he disappeared. The same goes for Seo Jin-won.”

“No traces of monsters were found on Seo Jin-won. Isn’t that strange? We might understand Yoo Deok-min, but why Seo Jin-won, who wasn’t a monster? On this matter, I call a classmate of the defendant as a witness.”

“!”

Problems were arising from unexpected areas.

And a witness was walking into the courtroom.

Jung Han-na from the upper class. Neither close nor distant to me.

This was fine, but the next member was unexpected.

My friend Gi-cheol from the lower class and dormitory appeared.

And they said things I didn’t want to hear.