That’s How They Became Villains

#9. Legal Defense Trial -2-

“Why? He’s a hero who saved people!”

“And he’s also an enhanced human who hasn’t been registered with the city.”

To my question, Han Yu-jin continued with a troubled expression.

“There have been consecutive incidents of unidentified enhanced humans going berserk. There’s no contradiction in Cheongang’s decision to detain unregistered enhanced humans in the city.”

“Damn it, I told him to speak up instead of suffering alone when something happens! That bastard!”

“No, not speaking was the right answer. If senior really is a first-generation enhanced human that was rumored like an urban legend online for a while, he would be blamed for all the incidents that have happened so far.”

She was right.

Rumors were circulating about unidentified enhanced humans harming civilians.

How could he confess that he was a first-generation enhanced human without nanomachines implanted in his brain in such circumstances?

It would be like confessing that he was the perpetrator of all the incidents that had occurred so far.

“Actually, it’s good that it’s been revealed like this. I don’t know who uploaded it, but thanks to the video circulating online, people have a good impression of senior.”

Yes, you understand, Han Yu-jin.

That’s why I set the stage for him to appropriately reveal his identity.

Cheongang, you f*cking bastards…

Are you really going to play this dirty and cheap?

In that case, I have my own plans.

I turned on the internet and accessed Minos’ YouTub*, Arc.

My purpose was to drag the famous Rekka bastards of the video platform, who are obsessed with issues, into a mud fight.

-Beep!

At that moment, the status window notification, which I had been deliberately ignoring, started blinking a fierce red light.

‘Ah, wait a bit. I’m busy now.’

-Beeeep!!

As I continued to ignore it, the red light blinked more frequently.

And then.

[You have committed an evil act!]

With some flame explosion effect, the accumulated alerts began to pour out like a waterfall.

[Illegal hacking of electronic devices installed in public places and ordering terrorism, deception… (See more)]

[Evil points increased by 100]

[Current evil points: 105/100,000]

[Congratulations! You have achieved 100 accumulated evil points!]

[With this momentum, let’s become a greater villain who plunges the city into chaos!] [Updating risk level…]

[Your risk level is Grade E]

[Evil points shop has been opened!]

[In 3 seconds, you will access 1 piece of knowledge of the future]

[3…] [2…]

‘W, wait… so suddenly…’

-Stagger.

Suddenly, a deep drowsiness came over me as if I had been anesthetized.

Ah, damn it.

Why do I keep suddenly collapsing like this these days…?

“Defendant, please state your date of birth and name.”

When I opened my eyes, I was in a courtroom.

Before me was a judge sitting at the bench, emotionlessly reading personal information.

ENIAC, a super AI developed in Unhwa that manages all security in Minos.

The gallery was packed with civilians occupying the few available seats.

They couldn’t sit still, seemingly anxious about something, and judging by their gazes, it appeared to be because of the person next to me.

I glanced at the person beside me.

“Jin Hyun, 30431227.”

Last was speaking while sitting in the defendant’s seat with his hands and feet tightly bound.

A dream?

It felt too vivid to be one.

“That’s what would be written on my ID card. Though it’s not mine.”

“You’re saying you don’t have a name.”

“‘I don’t know’ would be the more accurate expression.”

ENIAC corrected the statement in response to Last’s ambiguous remark.

“Then for convenience, I will continue to call you Jin Hyun.”

“As you wish.”

-Bang bang.

As ENIAC brought down the gavel, the atmosphere in the courtroom became solemn.

“Defendant Jin Hyun, you administered private sanctions without obtaining a hero rank from the Hero Corporation, do you admit?”

“I admit.”

“Defendant Jin Hyun, you don’t have safety nanomachines in your brain, do you admit?”

“I admit.”

“The reason is because you are a survivor of the first enhanced human experiment, do you admit?”

“I admit.”

“Are there any other survivors from the experiment?”

“I don’t know.”

Last swallowed once.

“However, I hope they are alive. They were all precious family to me.”

Silence fell over the courtroom.

ENIAC seemed to contemplate for a moment, then delivered the verdict.

“I will now pronounce the judgment. First, defendant Jin Hyun has created and possessed a forged ID card.”

“Considering his environmental factors of not knowing his own name and birthday, I judge as follows.”

-Not guilty.

“Second, defendant Jin Hyun has administered private sanctions to citizens without obtaining a hero rank.”

“Considering that he could not reveal himself as an enhanced human, that he saved many citizens’ lives, and that the citizens he sanctioned are safe, I judge as follows.”

-Not guilty.

“Third, defendant Jin Hyun is an enhanced human but doesn’t have safety nanomachines in his brain.”

“Considering his environmental factor as a survivor of the first enhanced human experiment, I judge as follows.”

-The defendant, Jin Hyun, shall have safety nanomachines implanted as soon as this deliberation ends.

As ENIAC’s verdict continued, the gallery began to murmur.

“Doesn’t having no nanomachines in his brain mean he’s the perpetrator of those unidentified enhanced human rampage incidents?”

“Who knows? There could be other first-generation survivors out there.”

“Anyway, as long as the nanomachines are attached…”

“I hope the other first-generation ones are caught soon, too. If they’re alive, that is.”

Looking carefully, some of the people involved in the Noir Blanche kidnapping incident were also present.

-Click.

At that moment, all the lights in the courtroom went out.

Simultaneously, Last, ENIAC, and even the spectators all stopped moving.

“Why?”

A voice was heard.

Looking carefully, someone was standing in the center of the courtroom.

“You received help from Last, didn’t you?”

“You’ll continue to receive help from him, won’t you?”

“Then why are you so desperate to corner him?”

It was a familiar voice.

This was clearly the voice of me in this world, Chae Yu-ha.

So the one speaking is me?

But I’m here.

If I’m over there…

Then who am I right now?

“But Last will still help you because he’s too kind.”

“Falling debris, fired bullets, hot flames, he’ll take them all in your place.”

“Pretending he’s not in pain, not suffering…”

“Last is…That kind of person.”

After those final words, the voice was heard no more.

The frozen world began to flow again.

“Wait!”

At the same time, one of the spectators stood up abruptly and shouted.

“Is such a light sentence really okay?”

“The trial is closed. No objections will be accepted.”

However, ENIAC dispassionately organized his documents and descended from the judge’s bench as if he couldn’t hear the spectator’s shout. “What, man? This AI bastard…Do you know who I am?”

The outraged spectator caused a disturbance.

Officials rushed to calm and soothe him.

Some officials called security on their phones but even when security arrived, the situation wasn’t resolved.

This was because they couldn’t lay hands on the disruptive spectator since he was a resident of Royal Road.

“…….”

For some reason, I really don’t know why, but suddenly I thought:

Do they deserve Last’s help? They don’t know what’s happening on the ground that has become a wasteland.

They don’t know that humanity ceased to be the masters of Earth because they’ve never seen it with their own eyes.

They can’t feel it so they’re just playing these meaningless role-playing games.

Someone once said: there is no paradise in the place you’ve escaped to.

That was right.

There couldn’t be a place for humanity to settle after abandoning and fleeing from the ground.

If they’re going to perish anyway.

By my hand…

“……!!”

My consciousness returned to reality.

Looking around, Han Cheol-ho and Han Yu-jin were still nearby.

“My goodness, sis! Why are you sweating cold sweat?”

Han Yu-jin noticed something strange and spoke to me.

I didn’t have the energy to respond properly, so I just waved my hand dismissively.

‘What was that just now?’

It definitely said it would show knowledge of the future.

‘Then is this the knowledge of the future?’

That terrible sensation was still vivid.

The feeling of something writhing inside my mind.

The sensation of becoming something other than myself the more I listened to the inner voice.

In this body, in this heart, some great malice was living and breathing.

I shook my head vigorously to clear away the distracting thoughts.

Whatever the reason, the fact remained that if I did nothing, a bell would be hung around Last’s neck.

Then there was only one thing I could do.

“Ms. Yu-jin.”

“Yes?”

“Take me to the courtroom where Mr. Jin Hyun will be tried.”

I’ll rescue Last myself.

“W-what are you saying all of a sudden?”

And the groundwork for me had already been laid.