Episode 9
Reincarnation Test 7
Seojin entered the courtroom.
Step by step, he walked towards the prosecutor’s stand.
Then, he lowered his mask and turned his gaze towards the spectator seats.
Journalists, the victim’s husband, and others waiting for different trials, along with the spectators.
However, his friend, Lee Jungwoo, who came with him, was not there.
Seojin checked his wristwatch.
‘Will he make it on time?’
***
“But really, you don’t remember anything?”
“Hmm.”
It was 20 minutes ago.
Inside the car heading to the courthouse, Seojin had asked Jungwoo to stay quiet until the trial was over.
But Jungwoo ignored the request and continued talking.
“You don’t remember anything? Then… do you not remember borrowing 300,000 won from me?”
Seojin firmly replied, “Yeah, I remember. I didn’t borrow it.”
“What about promising to give me a bicycle?”
“I remember that too. I said I wouldn’t give it.”
“Hehe, you remember everything. It’s a shame about the bicycle and money, but it’s fortunate.”
Jungwoo laughed and looked at Seojin.
His gaze genuinely showed affection for Seojin.
At that moment, Trot music played from Jungwoo’s embrace.
It was his annoying ringtone.
“I’ve been into Trot lately.”
Jungwoo smiled slyly and answered his phone.
“Yes, Detective Park. The Usoojin case? Right. I asked you to inform me first. Yes, I’ll buy you a drink.”
Jungwoo discussed the Usoojin case with the detective, and Seojin naturally paid attention to the conversation.
Jungwoo’s voice continued.
“What? Usookyeong’s cellphone? Found it at the round straw pile? Why would it be there?”
At that moment.
Seojin stopped the car on the side of the road and stepped on the brake.
In this abrupt situation, Jungwoo was taken aback.
“Why? Why did you suddenly brake?”
Seojin couldn’t answer.
The world turned black and white, and the psychometry ability started unexpectedly.
“Mom is passing by the supermarket after finishing the dinner party.”
It was a rural road with the sound of crickets.
A woman was walking unsteadily in a dimly lit area.
She wasn’t talking to anyone.
A recording symbol appeared on the screen.
“Today, the boss gave me money and told me to take a taxi. I’ll buy Christmas presents with that money. Jiwon wants sneakers, and Jeongwon wants a turning mechanism toy. I don’t know if Dad will come this Christmas. If he does, let’s scold him.”
At that moment.
A rough engine sound was heard.
The headlights flashed, and a woman’s gaze turned towards the light.
Vroom!
The woman’s mobile phone, which she was holding, fell onto the asphalt.
Then, the rough breathing of a man on the street became audible.
“He’s hurt. But, ah, he seems to be still breathing. What should I do? Should I wait? If I wait, he might die… Ah, damn. What should I do if someone sees?”
Seojin knew the protagonist of that voice.
It was none other than Jang Dongik, the driver of the vehicle.
“Why? Why did you suddenly hit the brakes?”
The world regained color, and Jungwoo’s voice came through.
Seojin covered his forehead and lowered his head.
‘Even though I didn’t touch anything, it’s visible?’
Seojin’s actions slightly deviated from the rules he had set.
However, there was no time to deeply contemplate his ability right now.
“Jungwoo, bring evidence.”
“What?”
“That cellphone, bring it to the courtroom.”
***
Reflecting on the memory from 20 minutes ago, Seojin sat down.
Sitting here after being reborn felt like a new experience.
Seojin tapped the desk with his fingers and closed his eyes.
“The air inside the courtroom is different from the outside.
A heavy atmosphere, so oppressive that one can hardly make a loud sound, weighs down on the people.
Within this, Seojin is the executioner.
By striking the neck of the sinner, she must avenge the victim.
Otherwise, standing in this place has no meaning.
Today’s sinner is Woosujin.
She killed a mother who raised two children, saving even on transportation expenses, all for a 1 billion insurance payout.
Because of that paltry sum of money, the two children will have to miss their mother for the rest of their lives.
Seojin continued her thoughts, tapping the desk with her fingers.
Then, she stopped the rhythm and wiped the examination stone with her palm.
The examination stone that she thought she couldn’t face again.
The examination gown that she thought she couldn’t put on again.
It’s the restart of her life as a prosecutor.
In her past life, she was falsely accused of being a sexual offender, driven to suicide, and murdered because she lacked the strength.
This time will be different.
Unlike the previous life, she will devour everything.
This trial is the beginning of that plan.
Seojin slowly opened her eyes.
On the opposite side, Attorney Gusangjin was visible.
With a greasy face, he arrogantly glared at Seojin.
His eyes conveyed a message.
‘You won’t succeed.’
The defendant, Woosujin, had her head bowed.
She was trembling, shoulders shivering, hands fidgeting.
Although her long hair covered her face, Seojin could sense the face hidden within.
Woosujin is eagerly hoping for this time to pass, to receive a not-guilty verdict and go outside.
There is no remorse for her younger brother or niece.
She prioritizes herself.
Smiling quietly while looking at the two, Seojin knew that the deeper the two struggled, the further they would fall into the abyss.
“Prosecutor, present the charges.”
The judge’s voice echoed.
Seojin slowly stood up.
All eyes in the courtroom focused on Seojin.
The novice prosecutor, assigned to handle the investigation from start to trial.
A situation where all the efforts could crumble due to a single mistake.
The heart can only beat.
Mouth dry, focus blurred.
But Seojin was different.
Her voice, to begin with, was composed.
“The defendant, Woosujin, conspired to murder her elementary school classmates, Jang Dongik and her friend’s younger sister, Woosugyeong. The two communicated through a cell phone registered under someone else’s name, finalizing their murder plan….”
As Seojin continued speaking, Attorney Gusangjin frowned.
‘Arrogant kid.’
Attorney Gusangjin didn’t like Seojin’s calmness, found it unpleasant, and couldn’t stand the fact that she was giving nothing.
‘Let’s see how that expression changes when the trial is over. She has to stand alone in that place. There will be no one to help, even if she cries.’
Attorney Gusangjin chewed on his lip and glanced discreetly at the defendant Woosujin, who sat beside him.
From the beginning until now, Woosujin has kept her body trembling, head bowed.
Her criminal acts are being laid bare in front of everyone.
It would be strange if her body wasn’t trembling.
“I need to reassure this woman first,” Attorney Gusangjin leaned towards Woosujin and whispered softly.
“It’s okay. Nothing is confirmed. It’s just a procedure.”
Woosujin nodded, and Attorney Gusangjin continued.
Deny everything the prosecutor says. Just follow my lead. Then you can go home.”
“I… I haven’t done anything wrong. Really, I haven’t.”
“That’s right. You haven’t. Listen carefully. You are innocent. Think about it. Remember what I’ve been saying. The one who survives is the one who lives. If you go to jail, what will happen to your nieces?”
Criminals tend to separate themselves from their actions and their usual selves, rationalizing the crime by imposing unreasonable reasons on the situation.
“Yeah, I had no choice. It was unavoidable. I’m not that kind of person.”
Self-justification, claiming that they are not originally that kind of person, but the situation forced them into it.
Woosujin did the same.
The trembling in her body ceased.
Then, slowly lifting her head, she faced Attorney Gusangjin.
“Yeah… it was for my nieces. It was what my brother wanted too.”
Attorney Gusangjin nodded in agreement as if acknowledging Woosujin’s statement.
“Yes, your brother also wanted it.”
Attorney Gusangjin smiled devilishly.
Now, there’s no need to worry about Woosujin’s mental state.
“Good.”
Attorney Gusangjin turned his gaze towards the spectator seats.
Journalists filled the room, including those from major media outlets that had arrogantly dismissed interest in the local incident.
His eyes, examining them, held a sense of power.
If he loses here, it’s the end of his career as a lawyer.
JTJ CEO Jang Taekjun once said, customers only care about one’s skills, not good or evil!
Those customers are watching this case.
Without clients, a lawyer is just a self-employed person who knows the law well.
“Think positively. If you win, it could lead directly to VIP clients.”
Losing here means the public will curse him as the devil’s advocate, and clients will turn away, claiming incompetence.
But high risk, high return.
If he wins, the public will praise him for preventing the prosecution’s excessive indictment, and clients will acknowledge his abilities.
“You can do it.”
Fortunately, the opposing prosecutor is a novice, and the supporting prosecutors are also figures banished from the central office.
Attorney Gusangjin smiled quietly.
Then the judge’s voice was heard.
“Does the defendant Woosujin admit to the prosecutor’s charges?”
Woosujin, who had been bowing her head, shifted her gaze to the judge.
There was no remorse on Woosujin’s face.
With dispassionate eyes, she looked at the judge and answered in an emotionless tone.
“No, I did not kill my sister.”
But that wasn’t the end.
Woosujin’s gaze shifted to Seojin.
Then, in a dry voice, she continued.
“Prosecutor, please believe me. Why would I kill my sister? I still miss her. I have to go home. If I’m not there, who will take care of our nieces?”
The courtroom buzzed.
Her voice was genuinely unjust and poignant.
Whispers from people in the spectator seats reached Seojin’s ears.
“Is she really falsely accused?”
“It seems so. If she’s human, she can’t be like that, right?”
“The prosecutor was a rookie, but it seems he got carried away wanting to become a hero.”
Those whispers were undoubtedly directed at Seojin.
But Seojin just smiled slyly.
‘Curious.’
When the shamelessly brazen face was shattered, the true nature was revealed.
Seojin was curious about that.
“Now, Prosecutor, begin the cross-examination of the defendant.”
Seojin stood up and approached Woosujin.
Looking down at her with chilly eyes, she opened her mouth.
“Ms. Woosujin, you were the beneficiary of the deceased’s 1 billion won life insurance, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about it?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know?”
“… My sister told me. She said to take good care of the children in case something happened to her.”
“Is there a usurious debt?”
“I run a business in the market. I borrowed money temporarily because I needed cash, and I paid it back right away. There’s nothing strange about it.”
Woosujin answered all of Seojin’s questions without hesitation.
True to her words, she was thick-skinned, shameless, and audacious.
Seojin spoke again.
“Now, let’s talk about your deceased sister. It’s true that she was practically separated from her husband, correct?”
“Yes, we lived separately ever since she got married and had a child.”
“But didn’t her husband claim that?”
“That’s because he wanted to divide the insurance money! Otherwise, he would have sent money!”
“There’s evidence of irregular, albeit small, amounts of money sent irregularly.”
“Hah! So he had a conscience. But I’ve never heard of it.”
Seojin looked at Woosujin quietly and continued.
“When you contacted Jang Dongik, why did you use someone else’s cell phone?”
“He gave it to me as a gift. I didn’t know it was registered under someone else’s name. The reason… he suggested using that phone to contact each other.”
“Why?”
“… Because we were dating.”
“Did you meet at the alumni gathering, started dating, shared the insurance money story, and conspired to commit the crime, to kill?”
“No!”
The tension in the courtroom reached its peak when Attorney Gusangjin stood up again.
“Your Honor! The prosecutor is confusing the defendant with baseless conjecture!”
“I acknowledge that. Prosecutor, stick to questions based on objective facts.”
Even with the judge’s warning, Seojin immediately directed her words at Woosujin.
“Then let’s continue with questions about the phone.”
“I told you, he gave it to me because we were dating!”
Woosujin replied with a scream, and Attorney Gusangjin stood up again.
“Your Honor! I object!”
“Prosecutor!”
But Seojin didn’t stop.
“Not about your phone, Ms. Woosujin! About your sister Woosugyeong’s phone!”
“…!”
“Did you know that your sister used the phone’s recording function to keep a diary?”
Suddenly, why ask about a diary?
Woosujin’s eyes shook mercilessly.
She nodded, pondering how to answer.
“… She recorded it sometimes. But why?”
“Your sister was recording her diary at the time of the incident. However, something other than her voice was recorded.”
“What?”
Woosujin’s face turned pale, and she looked at Seojin with bloodshot eyes.
“… Something else was recorded?”
At the same time, the courtroom door opened, and Lee Jungwoo entered.
Seeing him, Seojin turned to the judge, opened her mouth, and said, “Respected Judge, we have just located the deceased’s phone. Although it has not been officially admitted as evidence, we believe it is crucial in finding the truth of this case…”
No one knew what that evidence was.
However, it was certain that it would tip the scales of this judge in one direction.
Journalists licked their dry lips and whispered.
“I knew there would be fierce arguments…”
“I didn’t know either. I didn’t think Gusangjin could do nothing and just end it.”
“I agree. Who’s that novice prosecutor?”
It was one-sided.
Gusangjin couldn’t do anything.
Even now, he is just sitting there, unable to do anything.
Then he staggered to his feet.
“Objection…”
But Gusangjin’s voice couldn’t continue.
Woosujin covered her ears and started screaming.
“Aaaaaah!”
