Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Trial Begins
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It was a gentle tone, but the voice held something sinister.
Perhaps it was the venom of one who coveted healing abilities so much they would sacrifice their sight.
Near the stairs, I spotted my eldest uncle and my uncle. Gyewon was there too.
‘Did he follow along because he was worried?’
Next to my eldest uncle was a man I'd never seen before. It looked like he was warily watching my uncle.
‘That’s the uniform of the Black Horns.’
The men standing guard beside both my eldest and younger uncles were all covered in injuries.
‘I told them it was okay to be dragged here today, but it looks like they couldn't control their tempers and beat them up on the way.’
I gave them a reassuring smile.
“My children, who have gathered for this meeting. I express my gratitude for your precious time.”
The head of the family said, looking over the assembly.
“We have some welcome faces at this grand meeting today, do we not?”
Truly, a familiar setup.
‘This is the same scene I saw in my third life, when I was dragged here after opening a clinic in the Black Forest.’
The countless people standing outside the path were either collateral branches of the Heuk family or their vassals.
The innumerable physicians, apothecaries, and warriors belonging to the Heuk family.
When people are gathered by order of the family head, this place…
becomes a grand courtroom.
“Who has come today, having committed a sin?”
I smiled a cold smile inwardly.
‘So we're the sinners, is that it?’
The family head's gentle voice spread through the space. Though quiet, it resonated as if through a microphone.
It was only natural.
The family head was a wind user.
A rare one who could use wind—specifically, the air—to heal.
“I am old and weary, so I shall leave the proceedings to my eldest daughter. Haran.”
“Yes, Mother.”
To be able to call her 'Mother' instead of 'Family Head' in a formal setting was a sign of the immense power granted to Heuk Haran. Heuk Haran strode forward, as if showing off, and opened her mouth.
“Today, we shall pass judgment on the grave matters that have been reported to the Family Head.”
Heuk Haran's lips curled into a smirk.
The look that flashed in her eyes was clearly one of contempt and ridicule.
“First. Regarding the unauthorized escape of the direct descendants Heuk Biwon and Heuk Birang, who were confined to the eastern sector.”
The crowd stirred for a moment.
“Silence. Silence!”
As the people quieted down, Heuk Haran continued.
“Their crimes do not end there. They are also accused of going into the city, damaging buildings, engaging in unauthorized combat, and harming people.”
Perhaps because of his madness, the name Heuk Biwon was heard frequently among the murmurs.
“The second matter concerns a physician with no license or permit… who dared to open a clinic under the Heuk family name. The subject is Heuk Biyu, daughter of Heuk Bihu.”
This time, there was less of a stir.
“You all know better than anyone the weight of bearing the family name. A child who has not even come of age has caused such an impudent incident.”
This time, the murmurs were filled with bewilderment.
‘Ah, so this is how they're going to attack us?’
I chuckled to myself.
This must be a joint effort by my aunts, I see?
“Let us begin with the first matter.”
From somewhere, warriors ran out in formation and surrounded us.
“Heuk Biwon, we’ll start with you. Do you admit to the charge of being a patient with a dangerous illness who left without permission, endangering the domain?”
“Ah, big sister. That spot suits you well.”
My eldest uncle stood casually and let out a scoffing laugh.
“How badly did you want that position? Enough to kill for it.”
“The accused will watch their tongue.”
Despite the warning, my eldest uncle bared his canines in a smirk.
“You don't look like a tiger, more like a fox in a tiger's skin.”
“Answer the question, Heuk Biwon.”
The siblings' gazes clashed, taut with tension.
“No, wait. If you’re going to state the charges, shouldn't you present a witness or some evidence first? This isn't some game where you just drag people in…”
My eldest uncle raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.
“Back when those Western Continent bastards were running rampant with violence, didn't our family agree to uphold the principle of presumed innocence, so we wouldn't become savages like them?”
“…”
Heuk Haran didn't answer, but she raised a hand.
“Let's see just how shameless you can be. Bring in the witness!”
Soon, the warriors surrounding us parted, and someone appeared under escort.
It was a man, trembling pitifully.
“This is the administrator who manages the tracking incense. He has testified that the tracking scents of you two, Heuk Biwon and Heuk Birang, were detected outside the family grounds.”
“Aha, a witness!”
My eldest uncle clapped with exaggerated enthusiasm, as if he found it amusing. The man's shoulders flinched with every clap.
“So he's the only witness, is he?”
Uh, um. Watching this, I felt a sense of unease.
‘It's not my turn to step in yet... but is this going to be okay?’
I know that look on my uncle's face.
Bam!
In an instant, the situation was turned on its head. The moment my eldest uncle stomped his foot on the ground, he appeared in front of the witness.
Thwack!
The witness crumpled to the ground.
And standing before him was my eldest uncle, his fist raised.
“Oh dear, what to do!”
My eldest uncle covered his mouth with his fist, feigning exaggerated shock.
“The witness has disappeared!”
“Heuk Biwon!!”
Wow, it's hard to be this freshly insane in a place like this.
I was genuinely impressed.
Uncle, you are the craziest son of a bitch I’ve ever acknowledged…!
“Now, next witness?”
My smiling uncle looked like a villain about to declare, 'I'll erase anyone who comes before me from this world!'
Even the great Heuk Haran, as well as my third aunt Heuk Gyera and her husband, wore dumbfounded expressions.
‘Look at the family head, the only one who's calm through all this.’
“What in the world is this?! Have you no idea how sacred this place is? Can't you break your old habits and stop swinging your fists like a mad dog?!”
Despite Heuk Haran's fierce rebuke, my eldest uncle merely picked at his ear.
“Oh my, I do apologize. But the mad dog is my dear younger brother Heuk Bihu over there. Biwon here was just so scared that he couldn't help but swing his fist, you see?”
“Do you think you can get away with this nonsense!”
“Then.”
For a moment, my eldest uncle's voice changed.
Rumble.
A dry clap of thunder sounded from the sky. It was loud enough to make some people drop to the ground.
“Either bring out a new witness and new evidence.”
I could only marvel at the sheer audacity my eldest uncle was displaying.
“Cool, right? My father just used lightning. Lightning mages can wrap themselves in lightning to move faster.”
And just what were the nerves of Gyewon, who was so diligently explaining this beside me, made of? Genetics are a scary thing.
He said that before, he couldn't even dream of using his power because even a little exertion would trigger his madness, so he had sealed it away?
‘Ha, I made that man some medicine, and now he's flying all over the place. Just flying.’
He might seem like that, but my eldest uncle is not an indiscriminate man.
It's more likely that he acted after thoroughly calculating his next move.
‘But this isn't enough.’
His opponents were Heuk Haran and Heuk Gyera. They wouldn't have put forth a witness so carelessly.
It's not as if they came unprepared.
The commotion would only be temporary, and there was no telling what they would pull next.
‘However…’
Why should we walk into a trap set by someone else and fight on their terms?
In a situation like this, you have to change the game.
I grinned and looked at my dad.
“Daddy, can you make my voice resonate loudly too?”
“…What are you planning to do?”
Still in his arms, I patted him as if to say, 'don't worry'.
“I need to reap the rewards of working myself to death making medicine beads for the past two weeks.”
Aunts, you don't like your brothers, so you want to get rid of them on this occasion, right?
Or perhaps you coveted their abilities and just wanted to catch them in the act, frame them as sinners, and use them?
It will all be for nothing.
Because I'm starting to see right through you.