Chapter 319: Aldin of the Great Garden (2) (Epilogue)

As Lakrak moved, those chatting in the spectator area also paused their conversation and focused on the temporary courtroom, and the Great Garden quickly became quiet.

Lakrak said, "Now, let's begin... Uh, where do we start again?"

Jang-Wan pointed to Damien.

Lakrak nodded in understanding. "What are the charges from the prosecution?"

Even in this farce, Damien said without a hint of amusement, "The defendant, under the guise of a primordial Wizard and old god, along with other Wizards of the Pain Sect, committed countless crimes over the last 110,000 years. The details have been submitted in writing through the Sanctuary, please review them."

System windows appeared before everyone present. Despite being a brief summary, the extensive list of crimes would take days for an ordinary person to read. However, most of the charges were not direct offenses committed by Aldin, but rather those of the old gods. There were very few cases where Aldin was directly involved.

About this, Jang-Wan then addressed Lakrak, "Lakrak, may I speak?"

"Of course."

Damien didn't object to the lack of procedure or rules in the temporary courtroom, seemingly already resigned to it.

Jang-Wan said, "As you can see from the charges, Aldin was different from other old gods. Even as the old gods celebrated crimes they considered amusement, Aldin showed no interest in such acts. We can't treat Aldin the same as those old gods."

To this, the shrike in the cage responded, "To some extent, yes. But not entirely, no. I don't want to admit it. There are a few instances where, though not to the extent of the other old gods' amusement, Aldin also abused her position of privilege over mortals."

Jang-Wan banged the podium with her fist, "Then we should punish ourselves too."

"...I know. I’m not claiming we’re righteous. But we have already crossed that threshold against our will. Self-punishment is now each of our duties, and regardless of all that, it doesn't erase Aldin's crimes. The trial now is not about us, it's about Aldin."

Jang-Wan was about to say something but stopped.

Damien continued, "Moreover, there are clear and direct instances of Aldin's offenses. To accuse her of these crimes, I call a witness."

Lakrak approved. The summoned witness was the Constellation of the Ocean, Sha-Cha.

With them having too many names, players continued to call them Sha-Cha out of habit, and they willingly accepted it. Sha-Cha, wearing a white mask over a child's body, as in the previous game, walked to the prepared witness stand.

Sha-Cha said, "Execute her."

Despite their soft voice, a chilling sensation was clearly felt in the air.

Jang-Wan said, "Does she even know what testimony is?"

The shrike in the cage also watched Sha-Cha intently. "Sha-Cha, a testimony is..."

Sha-Cha interrupted, "All our long-standing friends agree. All old gods must die, no exceptions."

Both defense attorneys showed discomfort at the deteriorating trial situation, but Aldin understood Sha-Cha. Aldin had been the most active executor of Bifnen's orders among the old gods and had mechanically accomplished tasks during ancient wars. The long-standing war left each other as symbols of hatred, and the old gods had committed unspeakable horrors against the evil gods. Testifying about such crimes was a torment in itself. Irreconcilable relationships did in fact exist.

Lakrak said, "Hm, Sha-Cha."

"I'm listening."

"If you do not agree with the verdict of the Hall of Myriad Stars, what will you do? Will you seek to fulfill your wish privately?"

Sha-Cha answered without hesitation, "No. Our long-standing friends will respect the verdict of the Hall of Myriad Stars."

"Very well. Thank you for your testimony. You may return to your seat."

Jang-Wan expressed her dissatisfaction again, but Lakrak ignored her once more.

Jang-Wan stated, "I acknowledge that Aldin conducted wars and accumulated evil deeds, but it was all under orders."

Damien responded, "And if she just followed every evil order without deeming them unjust, that's also evil. People aren't beings who just output whatever they're inputted with. It's because they don’t act like that which makes them human."

Jang-Wan agreed, "Right. But..." This time, Jang-Wan glanced at Aldin. Aldin pretended not to notice and kept looking forward. "...Aldin was modified unfairly by the old gods. Due to that modification, Aldin lost the ability to refuse orders. Evidence and explanation of this have already been uploaded to the Sanctuary."

Another system window appeared before everyone in the temporary courtroom. Although shorter than the previous, this document was technically detailed.

The modifications made by the old gods to Aldin's consciousness, which even Aldin herself wasn't fully aware of, were uncovered by the Sanctuary from deep within the Demon World after Bifnen's death. The surgical modifications to the brain, including invasive brain surgery, had altered Aldin.

Although it was a shameful fact for Aldin, she had told Jang-Wan that it was fine for others to access all that information. If that shame could serve as a punishment for herself, Aldin had no reason to refuse.

Damien, already familiar with the contents, skimmed the system window again.

Damien acknowledged, "I admit that there was a modification, and it had some influence on Aldin's personality. However, how much influence it had, and to what extent it was beyond Aldin's control, remains unclear."

"Damien..."

"Jang-Wan. You know this isn't just about sympathy. There are sins, karmic debts, and wrongdoings. Personally, I also..."

Damien paused, looking at Lakrak. Following the shrike's gaze, both Jang-Wan and Aldin turned their attention to Lakrak, who was dozing off.

"Hey!" Jang-Wan finally shouted.

Lakrak blinked awake, wiping his face to shake off sleep. "My bad, the sunlight is so nice."

"Why is a Constellation dozing off? Constellations don't need to sleep, do they?"

"But doesn't a relaxed mind bring drowsiness, a natural part of life?"

"Why are you dressing up dozing off with nice words? And why are you so relaxed in a courtroom? You should be tense."

Aldin was also taken aback. Old gods didn't have alcohol or sleep. They didn't need mortal habits. These acts were rooted in physiological issues of mortals. Old gods saw such physiological issues potentially leading to greater problems, so they eliminated them.

'But...this might be less boring.'

Instead of preemptively mitigating potential issues, acting with potential problems in mind could be better. Like Rasdasil, which became the Demon World, expecting no issues did not prevent them from arising. Aldin wondered if she could change everything if she could go back to the time when Rasdasil was being created.

"Jang-Wan. Let's continue the trial, if you don't mind."

Jang-Wan glared at Lakrak before slightly nodding.

Damien raised her voice slightly, "Besides the evil deeds of the old gods, Aldin played two other crucial roles in altering the fate of Abartin. One was the betrayal of the Returner. If Aldin hadn't betrayed the Returner, Abartin's fate could have been significantly different. Many more beings might not have been harmed."

Jang-Wan quickly responded, perhaps anticipating this, "There might have been a better future in the infinite possible worlds that Abartin could have branched into at that time. But we can't be sure of that."

Damien said, "Then let's talk about the second important matter. Our story."

Jang-Wan and Aldin had anticipated the angle. Not about the Light of Eternity and Life, but them, the players.

Damien continued, "In the latter part of the game, Aldin tried to make us Fall and exile us all. Aldin could have stopped this at any point, but chose not to. If Nebula hadn't intervened, Aldin would have most likely succeeded."

"That seems a bit personal in your statement."

"Perhaps. I won't deny it. But until the very end, Aldin pursued the mission she believed was right, the Fall. Hegemonia

almost

won then. If Aldin had hesitated, even for a moment, or been a bit late, it could have happened. Aldin almost opened another era of the old gods despite the opportunity to prevent it."

"Almost? You're making too many assumptions, aren't you?"

"If necessary, I can call many witnesses... How about Nebula?"

Jang-Wan thought it was a bluff. Sung-Woon said he left all judgment to the judge, claiming that he had no authority. But Sung-Woon, who said that, could still take the stand as a witness and exert influence.

Jang-Wan thought,

'That can't happen.'

Lakrak was to judge. However, the rules were set by Sung-Woon. Sung-Woon had already overlapped with the will of the Light of Eternity and Life. If Sung-Woon wished, it could happen again.

As Jang-Wan contemplated whether to kick Damien's cage, an unexpected voice interrupted, "Nebula!"

Everyone's gaze turned toward the voice. Someone was walking up the path.

It was Hegemonia. Hegemonia's attire was entirely out of place for the Great Garden. She was dressed in a white imperial army uniform advantageous for snowy terrains, a helmet with a four-eye night vision, a tactical vest, and a designated marksman rifle slung over her shoulder.

"What? Nebula's not here? Didn't someone call him?"

Damien, who had been patient throughout the trial, let out a long, loud sigh for everyone to hear. Hegemonia, unfazed, continued walking toward the center of the courtroom.

Damien said, "Hegemonia, we’re in the middle of a trial."

"What does that have to do with me?"

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"...I know it's difficult to make you understand modern civilization, but you do know what a trial is, right?"

Hegemonia ignored Damien's sarcasm. "A trial? Oh, I remember. I think I did hear of it... But whose trial was it again?"

"It's Aldin's trial."

"Oh, Aldin." Hegemonia looked around for Aldin. Then she looked Aldin up and down. "Why have a trial for almost losing a game? Isn't that right? You played a bit dirty, but still. Why not just let out the frustration by hitting her once each and be done with it? Aldin, wouldn't that be better for you too?"

Damien sternly replied, "Are you a gangster or something?"

"Shall I start then?"

"That's not what we're talking about."

As Hegemonia clenched her fist and rolled up her sleeves, Aldin was bewildered. "...Huh?"

Hegemonia strode toward Aldin, leaving Aldin wondering whether to flee or stay.