Ch.3636. The Trial (2)

# The Trial of Jo Sun-do

The trial for Jo Sun-do and his gang was held 15 days later.

It was only natural that many members of the Balhut Cult attended the solemnly prepared courtroom for today’s proceedings. The selected jurors included citizens from South Gyeongju and North Gyeongju, as well as some members of the subjugation force. Jeong Dong-geon was serving as the prosecutor against Jo Sun-do.

“Damn it.”

Although this was a trial to judge Jo Sun-do, and I had thought he wouldn’t be given a defense attorney, surprisingly, Jo Sun-do had a properly qualified defender. However, defense attorney Shim Jeong-hun frowned, expressing resentment toward Jo Sun-do, who had not yet arrived.

The Balhut Cult had selected Shim Jeong-hun, who had worked as a lawyer in North Gyeongju before the apocalypse, as Jo Sun-do’s defense attorney to stage a fair trial. But frankly speaking, the appointed lawyer had absolutely no desire to defend Jo Sun-do. It was a position he never wanted in the first place, and Jeong-hun, who knew the horrors of North Gyeongju, wanted Jo Sun-do’s downfall rather than his acquittal or return.

‘It can’t be helped. I’ll just take the blame.’

Having regained his job as a lawyer after North Gyeongju was absorbed into South Gyeongju, Shim Jeong-hun tried to comfort himself by thinking this was part of the process of reviving the lost judicial system. The problem was that his first trial and defense happened to be for North Gyeongju’s worst war criminal who had committed terrible atrocities, and he sincerely wanted to lament the fact that he was assigned to defend such a criminal. Honestly speaking, he had reluctantly taken on the role of Jo Sun-do’s defender only because of the Cult’s sincere request.

“Please, Attorney.”

“Y-You don’t need to bow your head, Ms. Yu-na!”

“But it’s a position where you’ll definitely be criticized, isn’t it? Even with compensation from the Cult, your life will be difficult for a while.”

It was a request made directly by Choi Yu-na herself, the leader of the Balhut Cult, who had bowed her head to him. It wouldn’t have been strange if he had outright refused to defend Jo Sun-do, but he was attending the trial because Yu-na had asked him personally. If not for Yu-na’s request, he would have agreed to the Cult’s request but would have skipped the formal trial, ignoring the basic protection of human rights.

“But Yu-na is our benefactor in North Gyeongju.”

When Yu-na, the great saint who saved North Gyeongju and the Dragon Priestess, made the request personally, he simply couldn’t refuse. He had been saved by Yu-na and had been personally treated by her at the Balhut Cult’s main hall, which was why he could move around with his limbs intact. So the lawyer accepted Yu-na’s request and decided to attend, determined to do his best to defend his enemy for the sake of Yu-na’s honor, who had bowed her head to him for the sake of the human rights of a monster in human form, even if it meant great damage to his career.

“Hey. Are you my lawyer, mister?”

‘I want to go home.’

But even that resolve immediately faded at Jo Sun-do’s rudeness.

Shim Jeong-hun wanted to quit everything and leave right now, seeing Jo Sun-do’s casual attitude as he entered the solemn courtroom as if he were just out for a stroll. No matter how he looked at it, Jo Sun-do didn’t appear to be a war criminal facing a solemn trial, but rather like a neighborhood thug out for fun. He seemed to have a strong conviction that he wouldn’t be punished.

“Watch your language. This is where you’ll be tried as a war criminal.”

“Huh. You speak so frighteningly. So I’m being judged? What nonsense. Do you think a mere cult can punish the king of Gyeongju?”

“A king without a single follower.”

When Jeong-hun mentioned that Jo Sun-do was not an ordinary criminal but a war criminal, Jo Sun-do finally showed displeasure at Jeong-hun’s petty behavior, retorting as if to say who would dare judge him. Jo Sun-do still called himself the king of Gyeongju, to which Jeong-hun sarcastically replied that he was a king without a single follower.

“So what? Is there an Awakened stronger than me in this Gyeongju? Even that Jeong Dong-geon is no match for me in a direct confrontation. Only that damn whore can stop me.”

“Do you think you’ll be found not guilty just because you’re a strong Awakened?”

“Of course! In this era, it’s common sense that Awakened are more important than ordinary people, right? The stronger the Awakened, the more evil deeds are permitted. Isn’t it a wonderful world?”

However, Jo Sun-do responded as if it were amusing, challenging him to name an Awakened in Gyeongju stronger than himself. It was true that even Jeong Dong-geon, the military officer of the Balhut Cult, was realistically weaker than Jo Sun-do. In the end, it wasn’t Jeong Dong-geon who subdued Jo Sun-do but Choi Yu-na, the Cult’s leader, and it was a fact that the average strength of the remaining cult members was below that of Jo Sun-do’s gang. Therefore, Jo Sun-do was confident that, considering the times and reality, he wouldn’t receive severe punishment as a strong Awakened.

“…You’re not wrong.”

As a lawyer who knew that outside Gyeongju, Awakened often got away with murder or were treated as innocent, he had no proper rebuttal. In peaceful times, Jo Sun-do would deserve life imprisonment for his crimes, but in this zombie apocalypse, punishing Jo Sun-do was ambiguous. Rather, holding a trial to judge him seemed like a luxury in this disaster situation, or it could be suspected as a way to legally declare Jo Sun-do not guilty. Especially assigning a defense attorney like himself to such an evil person…

‘I hope my thoughts are wrong.’

The defense attorney entered the courtroom with an ominous feeling, seeing many jurors, prosecutor Jeong Dong-geon, and observing civilians. Of course, not just ordinary civilians, but also journalists who reported world news for subscription fees and YouTubers who streamed as a hobby without profit were present. Some were also attending to post updates on the Balhut Cult’s community. The largest group among them was…

“…”

The victims who had suffered at Jo Sun-do’s hands. Most of them had been called as witnesses, but those who couldn’t testify due to insufficient evidence made up more than half of the spectators. Considering those still bedridden and not fully recovered, there would be at least twice as many people awaiting the outcome of Jo Sun-do’s trial.

“What’s with those unpleasant stares? Eyes down, slaves.”

‘Sigh.’

Jo Sun-do maintained his casual attitude as he took the defendant’s seat, while the defense attorney followed behind, feeling the numerous hateful gazes directed at him and swallowing hard. Jo Sun-do’s gang had already arrived at the defendant’s seats, sitting handcuffed in their chairs.

“What? Is that bitch Yu-na the judge?”

Finally, Yu-na sat in the judge’s seat. While the spectators and jurors were surprised yet thought it natural that Yu-na would be the judge for this trial…

“Today’s trial will be conducted not by me, but by Lord Bahamut.”

Suddenly, a transparent mirror formed in front of her, and within it appeared the gentle face of a dragon. Upon seeing the dragon’s face, Jeong Dong-geon bowed his head respectfully, and the cult officials and South Gyeongju residents who had seen the dragon before showed their reverence and awe without hesitation.

“What? Are you saying that dragon is also participating to judge me? Ha, what a grand trial!”

‘Just putting on a brave face.’

Jo Sun-do responded to the dragon’s appearance as if it were amusing, but the defense attorney beside him noticed that Jo Sun-do was just putting on a brave face. Though he maintained his casual attitude, his facial expression was clearly distorted with dismay, and his hands and feet were trembling. Perhaps he had confidence in persuading Yu-na or the Balhut Cult officials somehow, but with that dragon as the judge, what chance did he have?

“Silence. The trial will now begin.”

With just the word “silence,” the entire courtroom was overwhelmed, and in the quiet courtroom, only Bahamut’s announcement of the trial’s commencement could be heard.

“Let me state the charges. Murder. Forced displacement. Enforced disappearance. Enslavement. Child abduction. Cannibalism. Torture. Killing of prisoners. Forced pregnancy. Destruction of towns and villages that cannot be justified by military or non-military necessity.”

Just hearing these charges was enough to give one a headache. Even committing just one of these would make someone a villain of the highest order, yet Jo Sun-do had committed countless atrocities worthy of historical record. The spectators who held grudges against Jo Sun-do gritted their teeth so hard they might break, wondering if all these evil deeds were really committed by just one person. They desperately wanted Jo Sun-do to receive the dragon’s severe judgment.

“There are several other charges as well. Does the defendant acknowledge these?”

“I cannot acknowledge them! This is judicial murder by the cult! Judicial murder that ignores the presumption of innocence!”

When Bahamut stated that there were other charges besides these, Jo Sun-do shouted that he could not acknowledge the crimes before the defense attorney could even step in. Seeing Jo Sun-do speak out of turn and make excuses on his own, the defense attorney sighed and let him continue. Frankly, just showing up was fulfilling his duty.

“Silence. Please calm down and speak through your defense attorney.”

“This trial is invalid! I refuse to accept it! I am the king of Gyeongju! Who dares to punish a king!”

Bahamut advised Jo Sun-do to be quiet, but Jo Sun-do simply shouted what he wanted to say. He drew a line, stating that he could not recognize the cult’s law and that they could not punish him.

“Silence.”

“Yes, this is a false accusation! I merely fulfilled my duty as an Awakened! In this world now, only Awakened can survive the disaster! It’s only natural for weak ordinary people to become footrags for the Awakened to survive!”

He claimed that all of this was a false accusation and not his responsibility. Jo Sun-do said he had only fulfilled his duty as an Awakened and should not be blamed for it. Bahamut briefly said “silence,” but Jo Sun-do’s mouth did not stop.

“What’s wrong with that! Aren’t you all the same?!”

As he claimed that the Balhut Cult was not much different from him, the spectators could no longer hold back and began to shout.

“Silence. No, Silence spell.”

“…! …!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Bahamut cast a Silence spell on Jo Sun-do. Under the Silence spell, Jo Sun-do tried to pour out his claims to the public, but no words came out. Forcibly silenced, Jo Sun-do glared at Bahamut on the judge’s bench with a murderous expression, as if asking what this was all about.

“They say even Buddha’s face turns after three times. I will use the Silence spell until the defendant calms down. And…”

“…! …! …! …!”

Bahamut declared that Jo Sun-do was the first to disrespect the court and that he would keep the Silence spell until Jo Sun-do calmed down. In defiance, Jo Sun-do pointed at Bahamut, trying to say something, but…

“Pfft!”

Under the Silence spell, it just looked ridiculous. The spectators couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of Jo Sun-do being completely helpless, with expressions of satisfaction on their faces. However, the trial had only just begun.

“Do the rest of you acknowledge the charges I just mentioned?”

With Jo Sun-do silenced, Bahamut asked the remaining defendants, Jo Sun-do’s gang, if they acknowledged the charges.

“We, we just followed Jo Sun-do’s orders!”

“Th-That’s right! Everything is Jo Sun-do’s fault! We just followed his orders!”

“We weren’t bad! It’s just that the situation wasn’t good, and the world being what it is, we followed the orders of the strong!”

“How could we, powerless as we are, dare to defy Jo Sun-do?”

Of course, their answer was no. Naturally, knowing they would face severe consequences if they admitted to all these charges, they focused on making excuses and shifting all blame onto Jo Sun-do. They strongly claimed that they had merely followed orders and succumbed to Jo Sun-do’s oppression. However, for the victims attending as spectators, their behavior was infuriating.

“I know everything! Those bastards exploited us happily even without Jo Sun-do’s orders!”

“Despite receiving intensive treatment from the cult, my body still bears their abuse! The scars are so hideous I can show them right now!”

“He has no guilt? That’s impossible! He’s a rapist who violated my child!”

The spectators rebutted the gang’s claims with agitated expressions. Some removed their clothes to show evidence of abuse, while others showed the evil deeds committed against them on their smartphones.

“Shut up! How dare you worthless non-Awakened trash interrupt when Awakened are speaking?!”

As the spectators began to give testimonies that would be unfavorable to them, the defendants, seemingly panicked, shouted at the spectators to shut up, attempting to forcibly silence them. Thanks to the cult’s security guards on standby and Bahamut’s intimidating gaze, the situation didn’t escalate to extremes, but those attending the trial could easily sense that this trial would not end easily.