A child who looks like me

Ye-na’s expression, which had been determined with her lips tightly pressed, slightly stiffened.

She was about to ask, “What does embarrassment mean?” but decided to keep quiet. She had a fleeting sense that she understood. She had enough intuition for that.

“We’ll meet in the third round,” Ye-na said to Hong Jae-in.

Calculating the numbers and orders, she realized that if she won her first two games, she would face Jae-in in the third.

“Do you think you can make it to me?” Jae-in replied, raising one corner of his mouth in a smirk.

Jae-in had come to this tournament with the goal of winning. It was his last chance to compete as a lower-grade player. Once the new year rolled around, he would have to compete against sixth-graders in the upper grades.

If he didn’t achieve something impressive in his final tournament as a lower-grade player, the older kids might look down on him.

His new academy teacher had assured him he would place in the rankings. Although a child who had won a Go tournament in August was quite skilled, Jae-in had received special tutoring that allowed him to analyze that child’s games and find weaknesses. Now, he felt invincible.

The gold medal was his for the taking.

“Why can seven-year-olds even compete? They just cry and throw tantrums,” Jae-in chuckled at a joke with a friend in front of him.

Watching Jae-in laugh at something not particularly funny, Ye-na tilted her head in confusion.

Why would he mock her before truly understanding their skills?

However, she didn’t dwell on Jae-in’s attitude too much. She simply thought to herself that she should not become someone like him.

***

Seoul Western District Court.

In a solemn atmosphere, the judge began to methodically outline Chae Eun-yeop’s crimes. It was a typical procedure, but Eun-yeop appeared uncomfortable, showing signs of boredom several times. He seemed eager for the verdict to come so he could throw off his burdens.

After about twenty minutes, Eun-yeop appeared to yawn, his nostrils flaring slightly.

“The defendant submitted over sixty letters of remorse but approached the trial with implausible excuses, attempting to conceal and minimize his crimes. After the prosecution’s demands, he even tried to bribe the judicial researchers and judges out of anxiety about his sentencing, thereby undermining the value of the judiciary,” the judge revealed a new fact.

Eun-yeop frowned, and the audience began to stir.

“He even tried to bribe the judge!” Ji-heon murmured quietly, prompting Bae-il beside him to let out a soft, incredulous sigh.

In a way, he was truly a remarkable person. It was rare for someone to struggle so hard for their dignity and freedom. Few people in the world would believe someone could be as cunning and wicked as he was.

Starting from the bribery of the judge, the verdict became increasingly intriguing.

“Every time evidence and testimonies were added, the defendant changed his statements. He continually claimed mental instability as an excuse, showing no sincere remorse, which indicates that the defendant still does not comprehend the seriousness of his crimes. Therefore, the court cannot avoid holding the defendant accountable for all these charges.”

Amidst this, Ji-heon anxiously checked the time. His desire to quickly run to Ye-na and Jeong-o clashed with his sense of duty to witness Chae Eun-yeop’s final moments, deepening his worry.

There were already so many crimes committed; adding another one meant the verdict would surely be long.

“All evidence and testimonies were consistent and verifiable facts, and no logic could support the defendant’s claims of slander. Thus, the court finds the defendant guilty of conspiracy to murder Kim Jin-gu, attempted murder of Jeong Ji-heon, attempted murder of Jang Young-mi, along with bribery, receiving bribes, and obstruction of justice.”

Yet, the end was finally in sight.

“Therefore, I hereby sentence the defendant, Chae Eun-yeop, to life imprisonment, as requested by the prosecution.”

At the judge’s pronouncement, Ji-heon felt a rush of relief and nearly burst into applause.

Eun-yeop’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, and he jumped to his feet in shock.