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The trial of Seishiro Jigoku was a short one. That man, who once fought like a ferocious beast to clear his name, now had no trace of that previous determination left in him. He quietly admitted to his crimes, and accepted his sentence as if he had already died in that previous trial, three months before.
Kazuma had asked to lead the prosecution, and despite how personal that case was to him, he was nothing but professional the entire time, doing a flawless job until the very end.
The sun was already setting when they left the Old Bailey. They boarded a carriage back to the office, sitting on opposite sides. Kazuma looked outside through the window with a distant gaze, quieter than usual… If that trial had been difficult for Barok, it was certainly much worse for the son of the man who was betrayed and murdered by someone he once considered a close friend.
Barok wasn’t sure if breaking the silence would make things better or worse, but he chose to take that risk. “You did a remarkable job today. As I thought, you are a talented prosecutor.”
Kazuma looked at him, his expression still as gloomy as before. He bowed his head in a polite gesture. “Thank you, my lord.”
Barok hesitated for just an instant before continuing. “Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing is wrong.” Kazuma turned his face to the window once again. “I just thought I’d be happier.”
Barok expected as much: he was also familiar with that feeling. “You did your part. You can’t change what that man did, but you made sure he will pay for his crimes.”
“Yes, but…” Kazuma stayed silent for a long while, seeming reluctant to continue. When he finally did, his voice was little more than a mutter. “I’ve known Judge Jigoku since I was a child. He was always kind to me… Told stories about my father when everyone else avoided even saying his name. Always said things like ‘you remind me of your father’ or ‘Genshin would be so proud of you.’” He made a long pause. “I realized he wasn’t the man I thought he was after he proposed that exchange, but part of me still thought… he cared about me. I trusted him, and all that time he was the one who…” Kazuma lowered his head, covering his eyes with a hand. “Forgive me, my lord… I didn’t mean to say all this.”
“Don’t apologize, I know that trial was painful for you.” Barok made a small pause, carefully considering his next words. “But it is true that you are much like Genshin. He was fierce and determined in court, but had an honest and kind heart.” He lowered his gaze. “My greatest regret is doubting his integrity… but I was blinded by the love and admiration I felt for my brother. For that, I could never apologize enough… To Genshin, or to you.”
“Lord van Zieks…” Kazuma took a while to continue, seeming to struggle with the words. “I don’t blame you for what happened. Not anymore, at least.”
“It’s a relief to hear that,” said Barok. “But I wonder… If my younger self could have seen what Klint was doing, how different would everything be now?”
“I don’t know.” Kazuma considered it briefly. “Maybe not as different as we hope it would… I’m sure Stronghart would have found a way to escape justice.”
“Stronghart…” That name left a bitter taste in Barok’s mouth. He let out a low, heavy sigh. “You’re probably right.”
Kazuma observed him for a while. “You trusted him, didn’t you?”
The question weighed in Barok’s chest. “I believed he was a strict man because he placed justice above everything else. What Klint did was unforgivable, but that man…” He gritted his teeth. “How could he use my brother in such a way…?”
“Klint van Zieks…” Kazuma made a small pause. “He tried to atone for his crimes in the end. And it’s thanks to him that we finally cornered Stronghart.”
Oh… Suddenly, Kazuma was the one trying to comfort him. Not what Barok wanted, especially with everything he already had on his shoulders. Barok almost apologized for it, but it crossed his mind that distancing himself could make Kazuma do the same.
“I appreciate your kindness toward my brother and me,” he said, instead. “I don’t know if we are deserving of it, but it still brings me comfort.”
“It’s not kindness,” Kazuma retorted in a slightly dry tone. “I just have no reason to blame you.”
And, once again, he had raised those walls around him. Barok hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but wasn’t surprised. “Fair enough.”
Both of them faced the windows once again, the sound of the horses’ hooves against the pavement filling that small place.
“Lord van Zieks…” said Kazuma after a while.
Barok looked at him. “Yes?”
Kazuma opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything. He lowered his head, pressing his lips into a thin line. Barok waited until he finally found the words.
“If you weren’t by my side in today’s trial, I don’t know if I’d have been able to see it through the end. I…” He met Barok’s gaze. “Thank you.”
This time, his gratitude sounded more genuine. Barok nodded. “It was the least I could have done. No matter how small, I still played a part in those cursed events from ten years ago.” An unpleasant thought that had been haunting him since that fateful trial months before came back to his mind: his hostility against not only Kazuma, but his entire country. Now, his previous words and attitude made him nothing but ashamed of himself. “I hated your race for a long time… But it turns out we are the ones who failed you in every way we could.” The words made his chest feel heavy. “And, in many ways, we still do.”
Kazuma forced a small chuckle. “It’s true that I don’t always feel welcome here. But you were always kind to me, even when I had no memories of who I was… and even after everything I did to you.” He showed a subtle smile. “Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”
There was no trace of hostility or resentment in his words, maybe for the first time. For Barok, who constantly wondered if their relationship could ever be mended, that meant more than he could hope to express.
“Asogi…” said Barok. “I imagine it’s not easy to trust someone after everything that happened between you and that man, but… you can seek me out whenever you need help. I won’t disappoint you.”
Kazuma nodded, turning his gaze back to the window. “I hope I won’t disappoint you either.”
They didn’t speak for the rest of the way, but the silence wasn’t as heavy as before. Barok couldn’t deny that he was glad they had that conversation, even if it was a short one.
Now, he felt that the two of them could finally move on.