Damn, I recarneted As A Judge in Fantasy World

Abel observed the unfolding trial with a measured gaze. The injury that Enrique had was certainly not recent; it looked like it could have been the result of broken bones from childhood or perhaps even polio.

'That's why Duke Giovanni said his finger hurt so much,' Abel mused.

Now, he felt like he fully understood the man's pain. Perhaps because of Enrique's limping appearance, the audience's reaction had shifted significantly.

"Even with a body like that, he wants to serve God. He might actually be an amazing person," someone murmured from the gallery.

"That's right. Life itself must be suffering for him," another person agreed.

"It's possible that the defendant's son wasn't left to die on purpose."

"There must have been some unavoidable circumstances."

Unlike the disdain shown toward the arsonist Bassett, the expressions in the courtroom now reflected a level of respect for Enrique, not pity. Enrique Giovanni sat silently, perhaps aware of the attention he was receiving. The way he lowered his head made him look like he was in pain.

"We will now begin the trial regarding the deaths during the treatment of the plague. Salute your honor."

Abel noticed how strange the courtroom looked. Everyone wore masks and white overcoats, giving the impression of a group of fanatics.

'My head is a mess,' he thought.

Perhaps it was because of the defendant's identity. In reality, the case was simple—Abel had only asked for 200 more gold and for Enrique Giovanni to prove his divine power.

"Please begin the procedure," Abel ordered, his eyes fixed on the examiner as he started quickly scanning through the trial documents. He checked the pages again, ensuring nothing had been missed, but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Then I will investigate," Corbin Sears, the prosecutor, said, stepping forward. Sears had earned a reputation for his tenacity. They called him a 'mad dog'—a nickname that reflected his tendency to bite at anyone he investigated.

"The defendant clearly received 50 gold coins as medical expenses, didn't he?" Sears asked, his sharp eyes trained on Enrique.

"Yes," Enrique responded.

"You're not short on money, so why did you demand an extra 200 gold? Do you hold a grudge against the victim's family?"

"Not at all. I did my best to use my divine power. Despite my poor health, I continued visiting for several days."

"But why did the patient die?"

"I… I didn't realize I was too exhausted. Even the most devout priests have limits to how much divine power they can use."

Enrique's argument was simple. His divine power had diminished as he continued treating people afflicted by the plague.

"So, do you have records of treating anyone else before the victim passed away?"

"Yes, here are the financial records and a list of those I treated. You may call them as witnesses," Enrique answered confidently. It was clear he had prepared for the trial.

Sears wasn't one to back down easily, though. He meticulously cross-referenced the records, determined to verify even the most credible-seeming details.

"I would like to call on the people listed as witnesses," Sears declared.

"I approve. How long will it take?" Abel inquired.

"I can bring them all in just one hour."

Abel felt a twinge of suspicion. There were at least twelve people, and yet Sears claimed he could have them there in an hour. Still, Abel nodded. If Sears couldn't locate the witnesses, the trial would simply be delayed, and the court would issue summonses.

"We will take a break for an hour," Abel announced, standing up and acknowledging the courtroom before heading to the waiting room.

To his surprise, when the hour was up, all the witnesses were present.

"There are twelve in total," Sears confirmed, looking satisfied.

"That was fast, even though you didn't prepare in advance."

"It was easy since the quarantine hasn't been lifted. We were all gathered in one place," one of the witnesses explained.

Abel nodded approvingly. 'Oh? You've grown a lot. This deserves praise,' he thought, though there was no room for personal comments in the courtroom.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Please proceed with the witness examination," Abel said.

The Sears prosecutor's eyes gleamed as he launched into a barrage of questions. However, the testimonies and the evidence were consistent—Enrique had not lied.

The defendant's lawyer grew more confident with each passing minute.

"I would like to ask the witnesses. Have your symptoms worsened after receiving divine healing from Father Giovanni?"

None of the witnesses answered.

"Then, is there anyone who feels better after receiving his divine healing?"

All twelve hands shot up.

"And, did anyone here get asked for more money after receiving healing?"

All hands went down in unison.

The defendant's lawyer checked the ledger and confirmed all the dates before concluding with a triumphant smile.

"That's all."

Corbin Sears looked anxious. It seemed the victim's claim was turning out to be false, which would naturally weaken Enrique's punishment. Murder and negligent homicide were very different crimes, but there was no way to prove intent. A look of resignation crossed Sears' face.

'But why do I still have questions?' Abel thought, reflecting on his past experiences. Usually, he didn't have answers in mind while heading into a trial, except for one instance: when he had dealt with Skylar Sierra, who had evaded punishment like a slippery eel.

Maintaining neutrality was his core principle. If Enrique had done his best for the patient without asking for extra money, the punishment would likely be light—a lenient sentence, perhaps probation. Yet something still seemed off to Abel.

After finishing all the formal questions, Abel decided not to dismiss the witnesses just yet.

"Let me ask you a question. Who was the last person to receive treatment?"

A man, glancing around nervously, raised his hand.

"I think it was me."

Abel opened the ledger, confirming the dates.

"You were treated a week ago?"

"Yes, that's correct."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I see you treated one person per day for twelve days. Is that correct, Defendant?" Abel directed his question to Enrique.

Enrique, startled at being called out so suddenly, stammered, "Yes? Yes."

"You met the victim four days ago, and he died three days ago. So, there's a three-day gap between the last witness and the victim's death?"

"Yes."

"Wouldn't that have restored your divine power?"

Enrique had no answer. He had been claiming exhaustion had prevented him from using his divine power, but Abel was starting to see through the cracks in his argument.

"This case raises many questions. The prosecution should investigate the defendant's unrecorded activities. The next trial date will be set for Thursday."

"Yes!" Sears replied, his tone sharp and determined.

With that, Abel left the courtroom, not betraying a single emotion.

* * *

A few days later, the investigation results came in.

"Father Enrique Giovanni performed healing acts for three days before meeting the victim, but did not display any divine powers."

"And why didn't the victim's family members come to court?"

"They accepted a settlement and decided not to pursue further action."

"Didn't Enrique ask for money back then too?"

"Yes, he demanded 200 more gold, just like in the previous cases."

"Did the patient die after paying?"

"Yes. According to the testimonies, they couldn't find another priest."

Enrique Giovanni's guilt was confirmed—he had demanded a large sum in exchange for a life, even though he couldn't use divine power, all while knowing the patient might die. But that wasn't the end.

"Just a moment!" A group of people rushed into the courtroom.

Corbin Sears stood before them, grinning.

"These are people who lost their families because of Enrique Giovanni. We call them as witnesses."

The testimony of past victims was hard to dispute, especially since records of plague deaths and divine healing left evidence behind.

"We didn't even receive the settlement money!"

"He suppressed me with authority, saying that as a believer in Aramid, I should endure it!"

"Because he was from the Giovanni family, I couldn't say anything back then."

New crimes were revealed, and the number of victims had grown to fifty.

At this point, the audience's reaction shifted dramatically.

"No, what was he thinking?"

"If it wasn't possible, he should have handed it to another priest."

"He took advantage of the fact that no other priest was available."

"How could he be so shameless?"

"At first, everyone thought he was pitiable, but look at what's come to light."

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The audience's words had no bearing on the verdict, of course, but Abel remained focused. It wasn't public opinion that swayed him; only the facts and evidence mattered.

"Wait, doesn't that mean His Highness the Duke of Carriers uncovered the truth?"

"That's right! He saw what the inspector missed!"

"How can he have such insight? This isn't the first time he's done something like this."

"Yes, remember the case with that arsonist?"

Their praise stirred Abel's heart just a little, but he stayed the course. Praise or not, it wouldn't change the direction of the trial.

'If anything, it only makes me more committed to my work,' he thought.