Chapter 320: Aldin of the Great Garden (3) (Epilogue)

Chapter 320: Aldin of the Great Garden (3) (Epilogue)

Fortunately, Jang-Wan stood up first and said, "What are you doing? Lakrak! Stop her!"

Lakrak, who had been dozing off, yawned and woke up. Looking around without knowing who had called him, Lakrak noticed Hegemonia.

"Oh, Hegemonia. What brings you here?"

Hegemonia also stopped and looked at Lakrak. He looked happy to meet a kindred spirit.

"What are you doing here? Let's go out with guns. I was about to have a match with Nebula."

"Another game?"

"Listen, according to Nebula..."

Hegemonia briefly explained their disagreement about squad tactics in mountainous terrain. To those who were familiar with the topic, it could have been a discussion that could dramatically change the doctrine of firearms combat, but to most in the temporary courtroom, it seemed very out of place.

Lakrak partly agreed with Hegemonia, but also replied that it was impossible to know without directly comparing tactics.

"Exactly. That's why we're checking."

Lakrak rubbed his eyes and said, "Is Salkait coming?"

"Of course."

"Who else?"

"Redin and Alma..."

"Just squad combat?"

"Oh, shall we settle things today?"

The tip of Lakrak's tail wagged lightly. At the sight of his visible excitement, Jang-Wan glared at Lakrak as if to burn him with her gaze.

Lakrak sneakily averted his gaze to the sky and then said, "However, it's difficult right now. This is also part of the job. Becoming a Constellation brings a lot of tiresome tasks."

"...Well, yeah. I understand. We havent been able to find Nebula anyway."

"Come to think of it, I think he mentioned something about needing to check something in the library."

"Oh, did he?"

Hegemonia checked her system window. Although the Sanctuary showed that Nebula was not found, Constellations were able to choose not to disclose their location if they wished. In such cases, a game of hide and seek played out. It was inconvenient, but Constellations had become used to this. In very urgent situations, the Sanctuary would contact them first anyway.

Hegemonia said, "Alright. I'll call you when I find Nebula. Wrap this up quickly and finish."

"Understood."

Jang-Wan shouted, "What do you mean 'understood'?"

Lakrak waved his hand cheerfully at Jang-Wan to dismiss her question, and Hegemonia left.

Then, not so far away, Hegemonia got into a quarrel with Crampus in the spectator seats, and Crampus, fuming, followed Hegemonia. To Aldin, it seemed like Hegemonia intentionally picked a fight to balance the numbers in case Nebula wasnt coming. Aldin considered Hegemonia someone to be kept at a distance.

In the midst of the chaos, Lakrak hit the podium again. "Hm, what were we talking about?"

Jang-Wan gripped her forehead. "Why dont you just stay out of this."

"That's a bit..."

"Were you sleeping?"

"...I know that."

"Then accept it."

The shrike picked up the glass orb projecting the Light of Eternity and Life. The orb resonated with a bright light.

"The Light of Eternity and Life has already reached a conclusion. The jury, our judge, has come to one conclusion. The trial is over."

Jang-Wan began to sob, then started crying.

Aldin felt pain in one area of her heart. Aldin had called Jang-Wan into the game to create a crisis for Nebula. She reasoned that if Nebula continued to win without any significant challenges, Nebula's Divinity level might not rise enough over time. It was for such a simple reason. She hadnt anticipated this problem in her plan.

Why is she crying when she possesses power almost equivalent to a god?

With the system's power, controlling emotions would be simple. Like reason, emotions were also physiological phenomena. If one didnt want to cry, they could easily avoid it. If one didnt want to feel sad, they didnt have to. Yet Aldin herself had been no different from Jang-Wan in the past.

Lakrak checked various pieces of information through the system window. Aldin expected that among them, the wills of the jury present, the Sanctuary, and the Light of Eternity and Life would be there.

Lakrak cleared the system window and said, "Well, then..." He stood up and leaped on top of the podium. Sitting on the podium with his legs crossed, he placed his hands on his knees and looked down at everyone.

"I render the judgment," Lakrak announced. "The old god Aldin has accumulated numerous sins over tens of thousands of years under the commands of other old gods. Even though those were commands and she was conditioned to find it difficult to refuse them, the existence of those sins cannot be ignored. Furthermore..."

With a light tap, Lakrak's tail hit the platform. The audience, already focused on Lakrak, concentrated further.

"Despite hardening her heart during the 40,000 years of searching for players, Aldin went against her original intention at the last moment when she had the chance to stop her wrongdoing. This act, separate from merely judging the old god Aldin's sins, signifies the inherent instability of this being and the potential impact it could have on the future of the Hall of Myriad Stars. The judgment is not about vengeance, so we must consider whether this entity can coexist with us."

Jang-Wan bent over facing down at the platform, as if she didn't want to hear anything. Aldin hesitated several times before placing a hand on Jang-Wan's shoulder.

Now, Lakrak proceeded to pronounce the second judgment verbally. "Therefore, as per the will of the Light of Eternity and Life...the old god Aldin is punished with life."

Few understood the last sentence intuitively.

"What did you say?" Damien asked.

"Punished with life. Aldin will not die, but will live to serve Abartin and the Hall of Myriad Stars."

"Lakrak, but you just..."

"Look at Aldin's face."

Damien did so and understood Lakrak's judgment. Jang-Wan also looked at Aldin's face with red teary eyes, surprised by Lakraks words. Aldin's face was filled with despair.

"This is the will of the Light of Eternity and Life that read the truth, so the old god Aldin cannot escape through death, but must atone for her sins with good deeds until causality is sufficiently satisfied."

Aldin swayed and fell to the ground.

Jang-Wans shoulders began to shake, laughing. "It's okay, it's done."

Aldin felt a chill down her spine from Jang-Wan's laughter. It was a feeling of fear. But that wasnt all. Another emotion followed.

Jang-Wan reached her hand out to Aldin, who had fallen, and said, "Get up, Aldin."

Aldin lifts her head.

Jang-Wan, still with tears in her eyes but also a bright smile, said, "Are you prepared for what's to come?"

Aldin shook her head and stammered, "No, I should have...my story should have...ended here..."

Without waiting for Aldin's full response, Jang-Wan helped Aldin stand.

"I'll teach you." The Constellation of Sacrifice, who won the game through repeated self-sacrifice, said to Aldin, "I'll teach you how to use that life."

Something began to swell inside Aldin's heart, having been emptied by fear.