TRIAL [2]

Regressor's Instruction Manual Episode 943

Trial (2)

'Your friend isn't going anywhere.'

His expression is quite interesting.

'He's still just a kid. This brat. Mentally, he's at a kid's level.'

Of course, primarily, there seems to be concern for this side. It felt like he still held on to the possibility of undergoing mental problems.

Whether it's Stockholm Syndrome or whatever, it's a story that has nothing to do with me, but Kim Hyun Sung doesn't seem to be reflecting that much on it.

There was a sense of observing my actions closely, as if he was convinced there was an issue with me.

It was a gaze that seemed to try to catch even the slightest movements, but within those emotions, the most prominent fear was losing his unique friend Lee Ki-Young. This guy was still afraid of being left alone.

'He's not really a kid. Elementary school or middle school?'

Connected by camaraderie, friends who would give their lives for each other, confidantes who understood each other, and companions who needed to be together through the years.

After being stranded on the continent and their stories deepening, he continued to maintain this stance.

I also thought it wasn't a bad thing, but honestly, I hadn't thought that this guy would still be so attached to this kind of thing.

The temporary emotions that arise when a childhood friend gets closer to a new friend.

The sense of alienation felt by the one left behind, as the two share the same memories. It seems like he's swayed by foolish emotions that occur in youth.

After the resurrection show ended and we confirmed each other's camaraderie, it seemed like it was just the day before yesterday... It felt like he had been liberated from mental illness to some extent...

'This guy hasn't changed at all.'

'Maybe he's never had a friend.'

'He's got a decent job, so why is he acting like this? He must not have had any friends during his school days. He probably didn't have anyone to call a friend from elementary school to now.

In truth, that was Kim Hyun Sung's essence.

He's fearful, likes to keep things to himself, worries more about human relationships than anything else, and above all, he didn't seem to have thought that this guy was a criminal in the situation where everything about him was exposed, creating a sudden live NTR show must be difficult.

'I'll make time to hang out later.'

While I was a bit concerned about him for a moment, I didn't linger on Kim Hyun Sung's gaze for long.

What was important now was Zen right in front of us.

I was about to use magic to start blocking the noise, but...

'How did this guy get in?'

I could feel Kim Hyun Sung trying to create a hole with magic. I turned my gaze away in haste, and I was able to focus on the conversation again.

"Is there anywhere you're hurt? Have you been tortured or... gone through something difficult?"

"I haven't experienced anything like that Lee Ki-Young-nim."

"Have you eaten properly? How about other things?"

"Yes."

"That's good then..."

A well-intentioned lie. This guy's body is going to be sore all over. Look at how dry his lips are. He probably hasn't even been drinking water properly.

"Can I ask what the Inquisition officials asked you?"

"Um... More than that, I'd like to know how Lee Ki-Young-nim has been."

"Such things are not important. Zen-nim. Right now..."

"I really want to know."

'I'm still the same. Well, it seems like he really wants to know.'

"I... I pray every day and..."

'Meanwhile, I was taking a bath and having a glass of wine. I was fooling around like a playboy. Eating rainbow cotton candy and candy fish instead of rice gruel...'

"Every time..."

'I was getting some healing. It was the same schedule every time, but I never got tired of it. It made me wonder if this is what life is.'

His face twisted.

"Yeah, I'm still like that. Well, I really wanted to know, that's why."

"I... I also... look up at the sky and think of the promise..."

"That's right. Our promise."

"I'm just saying..."

"I also... pray for our... well-being..."

Zen's voice was shaking.

I look up and say, "As I recall our shared memories..."

He was at ease. Still, he felt comforted by the fact that there was one way he could be of help.

But eventually, he lowers his head deeply. That promise was an impossible one to keep.

Perhaps Zen knows well about the situation he's in. He would know better than anyone how dark and dangerous the Holy See is.

Lee Ki-young must have done something. For the past three days, this gentle saint of light couldn't have just been idle.

'In reality, I was idle.'

I would have gone to Pope Basel and appealed, shouting for Templar Zen's innocence.

Claiming that he desired his own freedom and that he was innocent, I would have prostrated himself on the ground.

Every day, shedding tears, I would have pondered and pondered what he could do. Yet, despite all that, nothing had changed...

'They're trying to conceal the truth,'

For the sake of his own honor, the fact that the Honorary Cardinal had escaped from the Holy See was tarnishing the Holy See's reputation even further.

It wasn't something that could be brushed off as a simple mistake. The Holy See chose to present a plausible sacrifice rather than letting their own reputation be eroded.

It was himself... and...

The voice of the Saint of Light.

"I apologize for not being by your side."

"Zen-nim, you don't need to apologize. All of this is because of my own foolishness and shortcomings."

"I apologize for not keeping our promise. For leaving you alone... I'm truly sorry."

"Alone? I am not alone. I have never thought of myself as alone, not even once. The scenery may look different, the current location may be different, but I know that I am always looking at the same place. I believe Zen-nim is seeing the same thing... Yes..."

Tears welled up.

It was almost overly emotional, to the point of being worrisome. I wanted to overdo it a bit more, but this was the appropriate line to draw.

I hadn't intended to while away the time with a melodramatic act.

"I'm preparing for the trial, Zen-nim."

"...."

"I told you before. This time, it's my turn to speak. This time, I will take you out of here, Zen-nim."

"But..."

"I have already made up my mind, Zen-nim."

"It's impossible. No, I'm afraid it might be harmful to Lee Ki-Young-nim."

The Saint of Light knows very well how to stand firm even under immense pressure from a great power. I have always been steadfast, I believed.

"They are currently oppressing the opposing factions, including the Templars."

Some have already been oppressed. Templar Simon's whereabouts are unknown, but Cardinal Johann, has become a flesh-and-blood victim. Those beneath him have probably become true sacrificial offerings.

"I don't know which side is right. However, I do know that this approach is misguided. They... they claim that the Templars, including Templar Zen, are corrupt beings who have stolen the power of Benigore. They accuse Templar Zen and Templar Simon of stealing Benigore's power. The opposing faction says they are heretics and must all be oppressed."

"....."

"They claim that the reason Templar Zen kidnapped me... was to do the same thing to me."

"That's not true!"

Yeah? But in my eyes, you all seem like heretics.

"The truth must be revealed."

"....."

"Zen-nim, you must tell everything you know."

"I can tell everything..."

Of course, it had to be that way.

Should I start with where Templar Simon is?

Or about the dungeon? Or when you first received your wings?

'But why do you seem so hesitant? This bastard.'

His face was literally hesitant. I almost let out a curse, but...

'Yeah. You're worrying about me again.'

He was worried about the Honorary Cardinal who could be entangled in a dirty courtroom battle.

"I am a strong person, Zen-nim."

"....."

"Yes, that's right. I understand. Lee Ki-Young-nim was a strong person. Strong, confident, never backing down, never submitting... He was someone who faced everything head-on."

'Yeah, that's the image I want.'

"I will tell everything."

Yes. It was at that moment when he quietly nodded his head.

I could sense the magical barrier crumbling in an instant.

Wondering if Kim Hyun-sung had done something impulsive, I looked at him, but apart from forcing a strained smile, he didn't make any other actions.

It's not exactly like him, but he averts his gaze.

'He's not Hyun-sung.'

The voice was very familiar.

"The visiting time is over, Honorary Cardinal."

The voice was harsh and commanding.

"From now on, it's interrogation time."

Why is this bastard here again? Damn it.

When I turned around, what I saw was Jincheong.

The one who had shouted at Lee Ki-Young using informal language, referring to himself in a higher form of speech due to his title of Honorary Cardinal.

It sounded like he was using formal language because of the title of Honorary Templar.

However, what bothered me more than others seeing him in that me was the bastard's attitude.

It was quite irritating that he appeared with several officials and they were all holding stacks of documents.

'You said you didn't want to be associated. Did you accept that? Did you really become a special prosecutor, you bastard?'

"According to the country's law, you have exceeded the visiting time, Honorary Cardinal."

"....."

"Since you've asserted your rights as a suspect under the country's law, I believe you're aware of the visiting time specified in the country's law."

This bastard is too audacious.

"You even seems to have disregarded many procedures."

Yeah, damn it, I disregarded them.

I didn't even request a suspect visitation or a protection application in advance.

I'm a damn Honorary Cardinal of the damn nation. You bastard.

Could such procedures really stop me? I am the nation itself, and the nation is me.

"I hope you'll be more careful next time. You claim to value the country's law so much and love it, yet you've ignored all these complicated procedures... I'll consider it a mistake born out of ignorance. Since these are unfamiliar matters to you."

This bastard is too audacious. He's too audacious.

I was taken aback, but I could figure out why this bastard was here.

'Were you bored all this time?'

He wanted to have a proper match. Until now, he hadn't had a chance.

Given that he agreed to Kim Hyun-sung's suggestion amid his busy schedule, he must have really wanted to beat him to pulp.

Or maybe he's been stressed out a lot recently and wanted to relieve stress.

To him, it would feel like a game. Although it's a different kind of game than the one he likes, he must have wanted to play with someone of the same ilk on the chessboard.

Since the black market has disappeared and taking care of Kim Hyun-sung has concluded, he must have wanted some leisure time.

He probably thought once again that he didn't want to be associated with these bastards, but the temptation of the game was hard to resist on this side.

As if that conclusion was definitive...

He lifted the corners of his mouth and opened his mouth.

As always, wearing a defiant smile, appearing as though he's above everything. With an arrogant face, that is.

-Then, let's start the game.

'Are you out of your goddamn mind? Do you want to be exposed and then exposed again?'

-Are you willing to lose your honor...?

Do you want to fall to the bottom again? Do you want to grovel once more?

----

I feel like Ki-young will lose this one 😂, I don't ask me why, I don't know, I read till chapter 1000 but I couldn't understand more than half of it.