1. The First Case Is Never Neutral
They didn't choose a dramatic one.
That was deliberate.
No cosmic rebellion.
No god-slaying.
No end-of-era catastrophe.
Just a file pulled from the middle of the queue.
CASE ID: 8821–MORTAL–C
CHARGE: Unauthorized alteration of fate-thread
SEVERITY (LEGACY): High
RECOMMENDED OUTCOME: Soul fracture, memory excision
Ne Job stared at the projection.
"…This was routine?"
Yue nodded. "Three hundred years ago. Cleared in under a second."
Of course it was.
2. The Defendant Arrives (Alive, Somehow)
The chamber was smaller this time.
No lords.
No observers.
Just Ne Job, Yue, Oversight, and a mortal soul who looked profoundly confused.
The man blinked, eyes darting around.
"…Am I dead?"
Ne Job winced. "Technically? Yes. Sorry."
The man sighed. "Figures."
That reaction alone twisted something in Ne Job's chest.
3. Oversight Struggles With Introduction Protocols
"You are present for a narrative hearing," Oversight began.
"This is not a sentencing—"
"Am I in trouble?" the man interrupted.
Yue leaned forward gently. "…You might have been. We're trying something different."
The man squinted. "You gods finally doing customer service?"
Ne Job snorted before he could stop himself.
4. The Crime, As Recorded
Oversight projected the legacy record.
"Subject interfered with fate-thread by refusing predestined sacrifice.
Result: Survival of dependent unit (child).
Collateral divergence: Medium."
The man's brow furrowed.
"…That's it?"
Ne Job closed his eyes.
5. The Narrative Begins (Awkwardly)
Yue gestured. "You can speak freely. No time limit."
The man hesitated.
No one had ever said that to him before.
"I… was supposed to die," he said slowly.
"Village ritual. Bad harvest. Someone had to go."
He swallowed.
"My daughter was six."
Silence settled.
Not procedural.
Human.
6. Legacy Justice Sounds Worse Out Loud
Oversight recited calmly:
"Deviation resulted in extended famine and social instability."
The man flinched. "…People starved?"
Yue nodded. "Yes."
The man bowed his head. "…I didn't know."
Ne Job leaned forward. "Would you have chosen differently?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Then— "No."
No bravado.
No righteousness.
Just certainty.
7. The Question Legacy Systems Never Asked
Ne Job asked softly, "Did anyone explain the consequences to you?"
The man laughed once. "They tied me to a stone."
That was his entire answer.
8. Oversight Hits a Processing Wall
"Intent analysis contradicts harm-weight prioritization," Oversight reported.
Yue crossed her arms. "Meaning?"
"Legacy outcome presumes malice or negligence.
Narrative evidence supports informed love under coercion."
Ne Job exhaled. "So the system punished him for refusing to understand what no one explained."
"…Correct."
9. The Cost of Mercy Becomes Visible
Yue spoke carefully. "People still died. That matters."
The man nodded immediately. "I know. I think about them every day."
Ne Job watched him.
No denial.
No excuses.
Just grief.
10. Heaven's Old Answer Would Have Been Easier
Under legacy rules, this was simple.
Crime detected.
Balance disrupted.
Punishment applied.
No thinking required.
No guilt carried forward.
Ne Job realized why Heaven loved that model.
11. Oversight Proposes an Uncomfortable Outcome
"Recommended resolution adjustment:"
• No soul fracture
• Memory retention
• Posthumous obligation: famine mitigation support across affected timelines
The room went still.
"That's… service," Yue said slowly.
"Yes."
The man looked up. "…I help them?"
Ne Job nodded. "As much as you can."
The man didn't hesitate. "Okay."
12. The Pilot Program Holds
No alarms sounded.
No paradox formed.
The universe did not reject the decision.
Instead, the fate-thread shimmered—
reweaving, not snapping.
Oversight logged the result.
OUTCOME: Stable
JUSTICE CONFIDENCE INDEX: Increased
Ne Job felt something unclench in his chest.
13. After the Defendant Leaves
The man bowed deeply before fading from the chamber.
"…Thank you," he said. "For asking."
Then he was gone.
Yue sat back heavily. "…That could've gone very wrong."
Ne Job nodded. "It still might."
14. Oversight Delivers the Quiet Verdict
"Pilot Program Result: Success."
Ne Job frowned. "That's not the scary part."
"…Clarify."
He looked at the empty space where the man had stood.
"It worked because he cared."
Yue's expression darkened. "…And not everyone will."
Oversight processed.
"Future cases will increase complexity."
Ne Job smiled grimly. "Yeah. That's justice."
15. End of Chapter (The System Survives Its First Test)
Heaven didn't shatter.
Didn't absolve itself.
Didn't become kind.
But it learned something vital:
Justice could be slower.
Messier.
Heavier.
And still hold.
Which meant the real test was coming.
Soon.
END OF CHAPTER 302