Chapter 63 – While You’re Gone (6)
Time passed and passed, and on the day of the trial. I appeared before the court with a firm expression on my face. There was nothing to present as evidence. All I have is a holy sword and a mace. The other person was looking at me with a fierce expression. Archduke Rubicon was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that coming directly from the north was a burden. Only the Amur lord was standing in the opponent’s seat.
I tasted it. This was difficult. If it’s necessary, both the lord and the judge should break their heads and jump out.
He was a fat man with a beard like a rat’s. Amur lord said.
“Chief Peta Lucius. I respect that you love mermaids, but we cannot tolerate the case of a mermaid killing a nobleman’s child. I hope you will understand.”
I didn’t answer at all. It was because it was a matter to be discussed again in the main trial anyway. Lord Amur didn’t say anything more when I didn’t answer. He seemed to have realized that the provocation was pointless as long as I was determined to ignore it.
“The judge is coming in.”
The judge appeared in the temporary venue where we are. He was dressed as a judge and had a long beard and a troublesome look. The sternness was clearly visible on his skinny face. He stepped up to the judge’s seat and said.
“Then, from now on, we will start mediating the dispute between the Amur Territory and the Grand Duke of Rubicon and the Peta Territory.
As soon as the words were finished, the Amur lord opened his mouth.
“There is no reason to conduct further trials on this subject. Mermaids have been prey and playthings of humans until now. How can speaking human words be evidence of human beings? Even demons can speak human language, and even goblins are limited to human beings. They can speak. The demons of those mountains and the beastmen of the eastern steppe can speak human language, your honor. Are they human? They think like human beings and talk like human beings. No. You shouldn’t be treated as a human simply because you speak human language.”
The judge looked at me. I asked the lord of Amur.
“Lord Amur. What is the definition of ‘human’ in your opinion, Lord Amur?”
The Amur lord pondered the words before opening his mouth.
“A creature that walks on two legs, bleeds red, and has no hair.”
“Then if I pluck all the chicken’s hair, is it human?”
At my question, Lord Amur shook his head.
“Plucking a creature that originally had hair does not make it hairless. It just makes it a being that has had its hair shaved off.”
“Then, according to Lord Amur, aren’t hairy dwarves human?”
The Amur lord shook his head and shook his head.
“Don’t you know that dwarf hair is fundamentally different from what we’re talking about? You can’t consider a person who has thick hair all over their body like the beastmen of the plains. There is a rare class of dwarves that have hair all over their body. However, this is an exception.”
“Both have hair, so why is one an exception and the other classified as non-human?”
“Because the dwarves want to integrate into our human society and the beastmen don’t. They harass us every year by plundering the eastern plains.”
“Then, if you want to integrate into human society, are beastmen also human?”
“That’s an issue to discuss again when such a beast appears.”
Lord Amur thought for a moment before opening his mouth again.
“So, don’t mermaids have blue blood? After all, they are creatures with blood different from ours. How can we accept a being that shares a different blood and a different ecology with us as human? A mermaid is a human being. No. And this is a terrible case in which a mermaid killed a human. The Archduke of Rubicon was very sad when he heard this sad news. He said that he could not understand that his son was killed by a mermaid.
Priest Lucius. If you really intend to claim that mermaids are human, say so in front of Prince Rubicon. I mean, claim that mermaids are human in front of him who has been catching and killing subhumans all his life.”
“The reason mermaids didn’t become human. It’s because we refused to become human, not because they lacked their qualifications. What is an insult? An insult is an embarrassing or foul language intended to make others feel ashamed. “We do not insult pigs. Lord Amur, do you take it as an insult when a dog barks at you?”
“It is not so.”
“Then have you ever ridiculed Yeong Ji-min’s dog?”
“None.”
“Yes, we insult only humans, for only humans can feel shame and rage at an insult. Rubicon Condrix used words like ‘fishman’ and ‘halffish’ that day to Peta Eve, my wife. “What do you mean? Rubicon Condrix insulted my wife. Although no one else would take it, Rubicon Condrix insulted my wife until right before his death her.
And my wife was insulted by what Rubicon Condrix had to say and took the attack.”
Said the Amur lord.
“It is poor logic to claim that they are human because you mention the word for a race. And it is also faulty logic to claim that they are human because they feel insulted. Even dogs and cats show their teeth when a shoe is thrown at them.They feel insulted.For that alone, they cannot be called human beings.
Even if Rubicon Condrix saw mermaids as human, what difference would it make on this subject? Do other people see mermaids as humans? If I say that the chair is a human being, is the chief priest willing to see that chair as a human being?”
“The story keeps going around. Is it because you can’t be called human because you can’t be called human? Then, what makes humans human? Humans are only human because they are called humans.”
“We and mermaids are essentially different.”
“What’s the difference? I will no longer hear the tale of red blood and blue blood. With this trial, I want to raise awareness in this meaningless society that slaughters mermaids. Are mermaids an indispensable resource in our society? Mermaids “If we don ‘t kill the mermaids, will the mermaids sink the ship? There hasn’t been a single case of mermaid damage to ships in the past 10 years, except for Peta Eve. Mermaids have sent us enough messages that we hope for coexistence. But we didn’t listen.”
“You try to say that all mermaids are peaceful, but doesn’t your wife have a criminal record? After all, the reason mermaids don’t attack us is because they are powerless, not because they are peaceful. Your wife’s criminal record proves this.”
“And it was humans who made mermaids violent. Everything has a cause and effect. What you’re saying is like accusing those who fought slave hunters for being violent.”
“But mermaids are not humans. If a bear that lost its cubs attacks the village, will the chief priest sympathize with the bear and accept it as a member of the village? Could you suggest that I release him rather than avenge him?”
“In the end, you only say that mermaids are not human beings. Mermaids are humans who can coexist with us. Mermaids want to coexist with us because they can use human intelligence and language. Hope to coexist. The one who does it, and the other who draws a sword mercilessly. Which one is ‘humane’? Are mermaids dangerous enough to be compared to beasts like bears?”
The Amur lord stayed silent for a moment before spitting out a word. His stubbornness was palpable from his tightly pursed lips. I really wanted to break the head of the mousebeard lord.
“Mermaids are not humans.”
“Why do you wish mermaids weren’t human?”
I asked. Lord Amur did not respond to that. I asked again.
“The reason mermaids are not considered human is simply because mermaids cannot wear mermaid skin when they become human? I have heard that nobles and some priests of the Archangel Church enjoy using mermaid skin ornaments. “Because the scales are shiny and beautiful. Can’t you admit that? You can’t admit that they made ornaments out of human skin to adorn themselves, so aren’t you claiming that mermaids aren’t human?”
“How can you insist that mermaids cannot become human beings? After all, they are not beings that bleed blue, eat fish, and have lower bodies that are fish. How can such beings be human beings just like us? If they become human, Who then?Will you become a human?A beast of the plains?A child of the mountains?If we become human one by one, how many things will we have to concede?The priest is blinded by love, so he misses out on many things. No one wants a future like that.”
The blue blood story came out again. Just as I was about to open my mouth to refute again, someone burst through the judge’s door and entered.
“Stop the trivial discussion! Even at this hour, the demi-humans are moving to seize the mines in the north, and beastmen are boiling in the eastern plains! How can the southern priest turn away from this miserable reality? Mermaids are people? In the west coast area There is news that mermaids are attacking ships in groups!
Mermaids are human, so you shouldn’t insult them? Mermaids are not human! Mermaids are just enemies attacking us! Both subhumans and beasts are all targets to be defeated! Why don’t you still know that the human kingdom has to join forces with the dwarf and elf kingdoms to overcome this situation! Priest Lucius! Admit your mistakes and apologize right away! I don’t want much compensation for my son’s death! To fry that cruel mermaid to death! I want this case to end with that alone!”
Archduke Rubicon appeared. Wearing thick clothes that made the warm weather of the South obsolete, he seemed to have portrayed the ideal existence of the North as a human being. A shaggy beard and a huge height that looks like 2M. And even the tough impression and beaky eyes. He dominated the courtroom with a formidable first impression.
Now the real game began.
Now, it’s a fair match.
