Juuni Kokuki -- 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)
Rakusho no Goku -- 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)
By Ono Fuyumi -- 小野不由美
Translated by o6asan
"Recently, the security in Shiso(芝草) has been worsening as Seika(清花) insisted to. The people are scared about this situation, so they keep up vociferous calls for a death penalty, I think. If we do not impose a severe punishment soon, the situation might be getting worse and worse, they concern."
"I agree......"
In recent years, it is true the security in Shiso(芝草) has been worsening. -- Not only Shiso(芝草) but also all over the country. Though it is a slight increase on an actual number, the people feel unsafe now because their country was almost a safe place. Little wonder that the situation is related to the Ruler's edificatism. They begin to doubt whether the current criminal law is strict enough.
But, judicial officers, like Eiko(瑛庚), know very well that the number of crimes in Ryu(柳) is not very large. Crimes have definitely been decreasing since the current Ruler(現王) ascended the throne. After death penalties were stopped by the Ruler's intention, there is no fact that crimes have been increasing. Especially, the number of criminals has decreased dramatically as the Ruler ceased executing criminals and revived Geimen(鯨面) which was already abandoned in other countries.
It is said that to tattoo criminal's face as a penalty is to disturb criminal's regeneration. At start with, Geimen(鯨面) was abandoned in So(奏), after that, disuse of it becomes a trend in other countries. Though some Rulers revive this penalties, Geimen(鯨面) is contrary to humanity, that is the established theory, so they were also abandoned in even Ryu(柳) long ago. But, the current Ruler dared to bring it back. First two times criminals are tattooed on their head, because they can hide them by their hair grown. Criminals can conceal their stigma as a criminal and it will disappear in around 10 years. This disappearing tattoo ink was invented by Tokan(冬官). It's named Soboku(沮墨).
At first, Soboku(沮墨) looks deep black, but, it fades out for several years. Black, indigo, and blue, it fades out gradually, blue, purple, and pink, it will disappear in around ten years -- sooner or later it depends on criminal's skin color. But, if the criminal reflects deeply on his/her act and doesn't make any other crimes, he/she will be not guilty person someday.
On the contrary, when he/she repeats a crime three times, he/she has one more tattoo where people can see it easily. At third, his/her right temple, at fourth, his/her left temple, after that, under right eye, and under left eye. There is rarely a criminal punished to Geimen(鯨面) of four times or more. And if he/she had a tattoo four times, this would be called Keijin(刑尽) that means penal servitude or prison until all tattoos disappearing. First tattoo by Soboku(沮墨) can disappear in around ten years, but, if next one puts on before former tattoo didn't fade out, the time for disappearing is longed. Four times Geimen(鯨面) will not disappear at least until thirty years. Although it depends on balances of others, if all the tattoos are very deep black, it means disappearing of them might take time until his/her death.
At first, they concern about criminals looked down on by people and their regeneration disturbed by it, surprisingly it helps criminals' reborn. The criminal who deeply reflects bears with for fading its color, and people consider light color tattoo an evidence of his/her conversion. Deep black tattoo being hated can't be avoided, but during this periods they have sufficient degree of protection by the country, and color being lighter and lighter, he/she being more and more positive because people around praising. Actually, criminals who had got three tattoos had very low recidivism rate.
People say the security is worsening, however, the number of atrocious crime in Ryu(柳) is very smaller than other countries' even now. It doesn't even need to compare with other countries which execute criminals. This is the evidence that the death penalty has no effect to stop crimes, but people always trust their recent feelings. And there is no doubt their country is different from a few years ago.
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