Rakusho no Goku #14
2011.01.05(Wed)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
“I don’t think so. — Because Shudatsu(狩獺) knew that Shunryo(駿良) went to the small shop near his house to get peaches. He heard the mother and her child talked about it in front of their own shop.”
Mother called out to her child to wait and asked him about money. To which Shunryo(駿良) opened his palm and showed his money.
— 4 sen(銭) per peach, so three peaches are 12 sen(銭). Yeah I have.
“Shunryo(駿良)’s family is not rich. They cannot afford to give allowance to Shunryo(駿良), age 8. So, if Shunryo(駿良) wanted to obtain money, it was the only way to help his parents. He helped his parents everyday and had 1 sen(銭) as a reward. He got 12 sen(銭) for about 10 days. I heard he’d absolutely wanted to eat a peach.”
Jokyu(如翕) said so regrettably.
“He wanted two peaches and a peach for his little sister, that was Shunryo(駿良)’s wish. So, he helped his parents and saved money patiently.”
Eiko(瑛庚) nodded, but he had hurt feelings again. The boy had 12 sen(銭) which he saved at long last, his mother asked him and perhaps he showed them proudly. Eiko(瑛庚) was still able to see his proud and beaming smile, and mother’s smile which was faced her child protectively. It was a heartwarming scene. But it decided his fate.
“Shudatsu(狩獺) heard what mother and son said. If he didn’t act immediately, Shunryo(駿良) would have arrived at the shop without going through deserted areas. That’s why Shudatsu(狩獺) followed Shunryo(駿良) and he drew the child into the first alley.”
“But their surrounding circumstances were quite obvious. He must have known someone saw them. If he feared the boy making noise, he had to kill the boy. He knew about that at the beginning, didn’t he?”
Jokyu(如翕) nodded.
“I agree with you. That’s why Tenkei of State(州典刑) concluded the murder as a First-degree(賊殺). But I remained suspicious. I really doubt that Shudatsu(狩獺) followed Shunryo(駿良) because he had clear murderous intent from the very beginning. I consider Shudatsu(狩獺) is almost psychopath. Want, think to take, and act. As a result, he finds himself killing someone for taking what he wants. — It’s something I felt.”
Um, Eiko(瑛庚) moaned. What Jokyu(如翕) said was too delicate. But his feelings, which hesitated to judge the murder as a First-degree, were understandable. They finally had to conclude it’s a First-degree murder(賊殺) or not, and they could not base themselves on their impressions when they make a sentence, but it made no sense to bother at the first day of the trial. — Eiko(瑛庚) thought so and saw Sotsuyu(率由). Sotsuyu(率由) looked about 60 years old, an experienced old man, but actually he was the youngest of the three.
“What do you think, Shishi(司刺)?”
Shishi(司刺)’s work is to find grounds for clemency and to declare it for the commutation, according to the three law : Sansha(三赦), San’yu(三宥), Sanshi(三刺). Sansha(三赦) means three kinds of persons who should be absolved: They are these three, under 7 years old, over 80 years old, and imbecility.
“Well — he is not Sansha(三赦). There is no question about it, isn’t it?”
Sotsuyu(率由) said and both Eiko(瑛庚) and Jokyu(如翕) nodded.
“In the same way, I have no choice but to judge his not being San’yu(三宥) in all cases of his.”
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