novelraw Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18 : Chapter 18
Chapter 18
“Nonsense, my friend. To the man who is about to become Director, no less. Have you not heard the news?”
“I have. The inauguration is in a week, if I recall correctly.”
“That is right. Will you attend?”
I looked at Chief Justin for a moment.
“I will decide after hearing what you have to say today.”
“That would be the sensible choice.”
Chief Justin idly toyed with the coffee grinder.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“No, thank you.”
Chief Justin smacked his lips in mild disappointment.
“If you will not drink it, I cannot force you.”
“Then explain it to me. What do you mean by telling me to conceal the fact that Draksan is my client?”
“Draksan was a patient you treated, so you must know what kind of incident he went through.”
“If you mean an incident… Are you referring to the ‘Monster Tamer’ case?”
“Yes.”
Draksan’s wife had been murdered. It happened on the day he accepted a royal commission and went to hunt monsters beyond the Demonic Border.
The culprit—Hadler—broke into the house while Draksan was away, bringing along a monster he had trained.
He murdered Draksan’s wife. According to the autopsy… he had ‘let the monster tear her apart alive.’
The examiners unanimously agreed that it was closer to torture than murder.
Their daughter did not die, but she fell into a coma.
The shock of watching her mother be brutally murdered right before her eyes had caused her to lose consciousness.
They said that unless a miracle occurred, there was no chance she would ever awaken.
“It was our investigator Nyxle who caught that bastard.”
The culprit was apprehended by the Public Security Bureau not long after.
He was a mage. The investigation revealed that he was a serial killer who had murdered four more victims, selecting only Barbarians or their families.
His motive was ‘cleansing.’
Hadler murdered Barbarians under the deranged belief that killing them—whom he considered a cancer on society—would purify the world.
That was why Draksan’s family had been killed. Because he was a Barbarian.
After his arrest, Hadler was given the nickname ‘Monster Tamer.’ Since all of his victims were Barbarians, some also called him the ‘Barbarian Killer.’
The verdict was life imprisonment.
‘The problem was that it was life imprisonment, not execution.’
The criminal was still alive.
His wife had died in agony, and his daughter lay in a coma. Yet the perpetrator was still alive, eating food provided by the state, living quite comfortably… And even with a life sentence, there was the possibility of parole, of one day walking free.
‘Draksan could not accept that fact.’
—If only I had not gone out hunting that day. What kind of hunter am I? What kind of hunter cannot even protect his own family…?
—I should have killed him. Before he was sent to prison! I should have killed him even in the courtroom. If I had thrown my axe then, I could have killed him! Why did I hesitate? Why?!
I remembered Draksan’s voice from the early days after he first came to our office.
He was sinking deeper into madness as he drowned in regret and self-reproach.
“He eventually began suffering from Intermittent Explosive Disorder. That is when he started coming to our office.”
“Intermittent Explosive Disorder… that is the condition where one cannot control one’s anger?”
“That is correct. This assault is very likely connected to that condition. Draksan is not the sort of man who would assault people like that in a clear state of mind.”
“There are not many people who assault others while completely sane. Especially in times like these.”
“Is that all you called me here to say?”
Chief Justin looked at me, then straightened his posture. He took a sip of coffee and let out a long breath.
“I saw you participate in that military trial last time. You know, the kingdom’s famous fire mage. His name was…”
“Berian.”
“Yes. Mage Berian. I found it personally interesting, so I reviewed the entire context of the case before and after the trial. He killed quite a few people, yet his sentence was limited to exile.”
“There were reasons for that verdict—”
“Of course. I am sure there were circumstances I am not privy to. Berian is a powerful mage, and the Demonic Border Guard is short on manpower. Especially mages.”
Chief Justin was uncannily accurate in deducing the undisclosed background.
“So instead of imprisoning him for treason, it was better to exile him to the Demonic Border Guard. It benefited both sides.”
“……”
“What caught my attention was the ‘justification.’ No matter how mutually beneficial it is, such a verdict cannot be passed without justification.”
Chief Justin took another sip of coffee, then gestured toward me with his cup.
“You were the one who provided that justification. More precisely, the conversations you had with Mage Berian, the counseling records you kept—they became an excellent justification.”
I did not answer. Because I understood what Chief Justin was getting at.
“Draksan assaulted three of our good investigators. One of them was injured so badly that returning to duty will be difficult. Ordinarily, even a sentence of over twenty years would not be enough. But if you were to intervene, it could be reduced to three years, or even one year and six months. It might even be suspended entirely.”
“That much…”
“It is possible. After all, he is a hero and warrior who saved Sauhin.”
That was true.
Draksan had beaten three investigators, but he had saved the village of Sauhin. And the kingdom, as always, needed powerful hunters capable of slaying monsters.
Just as Berian had narrowly avoided execution for treason and was instead exiled, the same could be done for Draksan.
By carefully tying together the fact that he was a victim of the ‘Monster Tamer’ case and his Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
Chief Justin turned his body and looked straight at me. His eyes gleamed sharply, yet at the same time they looked strangely weary and exhausted.
“I would prefer that you did not do that. Please.”
“But—”
I steadied my breathing.
“Draksan committed assault after losing his reason due to Intermittent Explosive Disorder. You know that as well, Chief. I cannot keep silent about that.”
Chief Justin lowered his gaze, sinking into thought, as if choosing his words.
“Listen carefully, Dr. Kain. I know very well that Draksan assaulted people after losing his reason due to Intermittent Explosive Disorder.”
“Then why are you saying this?”
“Because I know. That is exactly why. Because of that condition, Draksan must remain in prison. If you release someone who cannot control their anger back into society, the consequences are obvious, are they not? Especially when he is a Barbarian.”
I let my displeasure show.
“What does being a Barbarian have to do with anything?”
“Do not misunderstand me. I am saying that we should not ignore differences between races.”
“It has been proven for over fifty years that Barbarians are no different from ordinary humans! And now you speak of racial differences?”
Originally, Barbarians had been treated as an entirely separate race, like elves and humans.
However, with the advancement of magitech and various incidents over the years, it was proven that Barbarians were no different from humans, aside from being slightly larger and stronger.
Even the unique mana traits—like racial fingerprints—were identical to those of humans.
These days, the term ‘Barbarian’ is rarely even used.
They were simply referred to as ‘human.’
‘Those who insist on distinguishing them at all only say “Barbarian-type.”’
Much like how, in my previous life, Black people had once been treated as little better than animals before years of resistance led to their recognition as one race.
“It is true that there are personality differences between ordinary humans and Barbarian-types. It is also true that many Barbarians struggle to control their anger. That is difficult to dismiss as mere coincidence, is it not?”
“That is… nothing more than minor genetic variation.”
I felt a wave of fatigue and rubbed the corner of my eye. After taking a deep breath, I continued.
“I acknowledge that there are differences. But Draksan is remarkably gentle, even among Barbarian-types. He suffered a great shock and developed Intermittent Explosive Disorder, but he can be treated. Given time.”
“I know that Draksan is more reasonable than most Barbarians. That is why he came to you for treatment.”
“Then why—!”
“This is not a matter of whether he can be treated or not.”
Chief Justin cut me off decisively.
“What I am saying is that we must not create a precedent.”
“A precedent? What do you mean?”
“To reduce Draksan’s sentence, we would have to address his mental illness. We would also have to explain his tragic story in detail.”
That would likely be necessary for leniency.
Draksan’s tragic past could sway the public and the jury.
“The problem comes after that. Everyone has a sad story. And mental illness has no clear-cut standard. If we start granting leniency based on tragic circumstances and mental disorders, criminals will exploit it.”
“As you know, I have the ability to discern lies. I can distinguish between those who truly have a mental illness and those who are merely exploiting it to receive leniency.”
“You are not the only doctor.”
“In the Lumentea Kingdom, I am the only physician who specializes in mental health.”
“For now. But what if someone other than you opens a counseling office?”
I fell silent. I could not ignore that possibility.
Chief Justin’s eyes flashed as he continued.
“For example, what if some mediocre doctor with nothing but a license opens a so-called mental health clinic like yours, handing out pardons to criminals left and right?”
“That is unlikely—”
“Is there any guarantee that it will not happen?”
There was no guarantee. In fact, it was more likely to happen.
Humans were creatures who exploited loopholes in laws and systems in every imaginable way.
That had been true in my previous life, and it was true in this one as well.
“It is too dangerous. Releasing people who cannot control their anger back into society, or reducing sentences because of tragic stories and mental illness… We must not leave such a precedent. If we do, I believe it will be irreversible.”
I suddenly recalled my previous life. In that world, sentence reduction due to mental illness had been commonplace.
Were there no side effects? There were countless.
Many committed serious crimes and then pretended to be mentally ill to receive lighter sentences, and as a result, those who genuinely needed help often suffered instead.
“Dr. Kain, please, listen to me.”
I felt pity for Draksan. He had lost his family and failed to achieve revenge with his own hands.
That resentment led him to lose control of his anger, and he developed a disorder that slowly drove him mad.
His life was already hell.
Did he truly have to be sent to prison? Did he have to be made to suffer yet again?
‘But…’
Chief Justin’s argument was persuasive. If such a precedent were set, people would surely abuse it.
And if Draksan were released back into society, even I could not guarantee what might happen.
My head throbbed.
***
I went to the detention center where Draksan was being held.
I had not submitted a visitation request in advance, but thanks to Chief Justin’s consideration, I was able to meet him without much waiting.
When I saw him, Draksan’s hands and feet were bound, and he was wearing something like a collar.
It was likely an electric collar created through magical means.
‘Probably as a precaution against escape.’
If Draksan truly decided to flee, he would not be easy to stop.
As Chief Justin had said, he was a Barbarian.
“Doctor.”
Draksan’s voice was calm when he addressed me. His eyes were darkened, perhaps from tears, but his gaze as he looked at me did not waver.
‘It feels as though he has already made up his mind…’
But it did not seem like a positive resolve.
As expected, Draksan spoke with a firm expression.
“Doctor, this is a decision I came to after a very long time.”
“Yes. Please, go on.”
“I would like you to let me go to prison.”
What was he saying now?