Execution Ceremony

There are plenty of criminals in this world. But they don't always get the punishment they deserve. Drunk driving, sexual assault, even murder. And the sentences? A few years at most. Sometimes even suspended. No wonder people get pissed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠off.

Still, people put up with it. Because there's something more important than personal grudges. Even if it's filthy, the law has to be upheld.

But flip the perspective to this world now. A world without cops or courts. Who the hell punishes criminals here?

This is a story about an execution ceremony.

Random dumb posts like that. While Ttakboki's cleavage pics and cat memes dominated the recommended board, one post popped up in our Maelmang Gallery.

And its content was pretty shocking.

A brutal opening. Rage and grief seeped from every word. I scrolled down quietly.

School violence. Rare in this ruined era. But back then, it was everywhere you turned.

And the guy in the photo? A judge. I could guess what happened next. All too common in Korea.

I clenched my fist hard. Blood trickled from where my nails dug into my palm.

A murky rage boiled inside. All too familiar to me.

"......Hoo."

I barely calmed myself. I could imagine a mother's pain. I'd shared the same wound.

Hating the whole world, wishing every human dead. Plenty felt that fury. Explains the comment storm.

Lots agreed it was self-defense. But dissenters weren't few.

The gallery erupted like a colosseum. Debates raged in comments: Is this right? No it's not. Kill all judges. Vigilantism's wrong no matter what. Why post this shit here anyway? Opinions flew.

"Hmm."

Personally, I'd side with the mom. Hell, "side with" sounds dumb. Who am I to judge right or wrong? Haven't lived some grand life.

"Still, intriguing."

No follow-ups or new comments, sadly. I checked the mom's profile. Her story checked out.

Rare sight either way. Victim turned perp executing a judge.

"......Shall I go see?"

Not far off. After mulling, I grabbed my gear and headed out.

Family loss and revenge? Hooks me like nothing else.

"Won't feel right without seeing it myself."

I muttered, leaving my bunker. Not here to stop or help. Don't care about good or evil. Hell, I don't even know what that is.

Just wanna witness their end with my own eyes.

A ruined building. That's where I met the woman.

"Hello."

"Who...?"

"Saw your gallery post. Came because of that."

"Y-Yeah? Because of that?"

She was shocked I'd tracked her down. Didn't pry, though. No time for that. About to kill her daughter's enemy soon.

Had excuses prepped. Kinda disappointed.

"So why're you here? To stop me?"

She eyed me suspiciously. I shook my head quick.

"No way. I'm actually cheering you on, ma'am."

"Really? Comments weren't all like that."

"Only those who haven't lost everything can spout that hypocrisy."

"Hypocrisy...?"

"They haven't watched their family's soul torn apart by another's hands."

She started to speak, then clamped her mouth shut. Her eyes flickered, then softened. Realized we shared the scar.

Her gaze shifted to the building behind.

"......She jumped. Suicide."

"From home?"

"Yeah, our apartment. Walls are all cracked now—no one lives there."

"......"

"I found her first, after the fall. That bloodied face, those resentful eyes... haunt my dreams every night."

"......Your daughter wouldn't blame you."

"No, she would. For not protecting her sooner."

She gave a wistful smile. Tried comforting her, but knew it wouldn't land.

"......Reading comments made me doubt if I was right. Talking it out... eases it a bit."

"You'll still get revenge, right?"

"Yeah. It's all I have left."

Awkward silence fell. Whatever the outcome, she'd end her story here.

I felt it.

"My girl was so good. Never troubled us, studied hard despite being poor."

"I see."

"Didn't complain once about leaving friends for the transfer. Should've known better—wish I'd stopped it."

Tears streamed down her face. I handed her my handkerchief. She took it with an ambiguous smile, crying or laughing unclear.

"......So why come all this way? Just to cheer me on?"

"Nah, curiosity. Wondered how this execution ceremony plays out."

"Was gonna report the end as last words..."

"Not the same as seeing it live. Atmosphere, nuances words miss."

"......You're a bit odd."

"Hear that a lot."

She didn't suspect much. Knew our shared pain. Knew I could stop her if I wanted—but wouldn't.

I was just a bystander. Not a major role.

"Mind if I see the judge?"

"The judge? Why?"

"Curiosity again. Rare chance to chat with one. Might spill different stuff to a third party."

"Still..."

"Did he beg you for forgiveness?"

"......Yes."

"Could check if it's sincere."

She nodded after thinking. Led me inside.

Building was wrecked. Cracks everywhere—could collapse any second. Worse inside. Could die crushed in sleep, no complaints.

"Building's too trashed, no?"

"Risky, yeah. But I'm leaving after this anyway."

Living room full of collapse scars. In the center, a man bound to a chair. Glasses, bruises all over.

He saw me and yelled.

"I-I'm innocent!"

.......Hmm.