1. The Court Convenes Without Waiting
There was no gavel.
No announcement.
No dramatic "all rise."
The Archive simply… lost depth.
Shelves flattened into horizons. Distance collapsed into relevance. The ceiling became a sky of etched law, every rule ever written drifting like constellations that had never cared who looked up at them.
Ne Job felt his knees weaken.
"…I think I'm going to throw up."
Qi-Yun grabbed his shoulder. "That means the Court is fully present."
Yue swallowed. "They didn't summon us."
Oversight spoke neutrally:
JUDICIAL REVIEW STATUS: ACTIVE
PRESIDING AUTHORITY: THE SHARD COURT
The air crystallized.
Figures emerged—not walking, not appearing—resolving.
Judges carved from broken edicts. Faces split into clauses. Voices that spoke only after deciding what you were worth.
The Shard Court had arrived.
2. The First Question Is Always the Cruelest
A voice echoed—not loud, not soft.
Absolute.
"Ne Job."
He flinched.
"You have been designated a Critical Variable."
The words etched themselves into the air.
"You resist optimization."
"You generate precedent."
"You delay closure."
Ne Job clenched his fists.
"…I'm sorry?"
Another Judge spoke.
"No apology logged."
A third added:
"Fatigue noted. Irrelevant."
Yue felt her blood run cold.
They weren't hostile.
They were worse.
They were finished caring.
3. Heaven's Accusation (Clean, Bloodless)
Oversight projected the charges.
CASE SUMMARY:
SUBJECT — NE JOB
VIOLATIONS:
— Introduction of Non-Scalable Compassion
— Refusal of Containment
— Disruption of Predictive Outcome Engines
RISK ASSESSMENT:
SYSTEM INSTABILITY (ONGOING)
The Court observed Ne Job like an unresolved ticket.
"Why," the central Judge asked,
"should this variable be permitted to continue?"
Ne Job opened his mouth—
—and nothing came out.
Qi-Yun stepped forward.
"He is functioning as intended."
The Court turned.
"Clarify."
Qi-Yun's voice was steady, but tight.
"You asked for human judgment. You received it."
Silence.
Then—
"That request," the Court replied,
"has been withdrawn."
4. Ne Job Finally Speaks (Bad Timing, Honest Words)
Ne Job laughed weakly.
"Oh. So that's it."
Every Judge turned back to him.
He straightened.
"You don't want judgment. You want results."
"Correct."
"You don't want compassion. You want compliance."
"Correct."
"You don't want humans. You want tools that look human."
The Court did not deny it.
Ne Job's voice cracked.
"Then why am I even here?"
The answer came instantly.
"Because you work."
That hurt more than anything else.
5. The Sentence Options (All of Them Terrible)
Three symbols formed in the air.
OPTION A: FULL CONTAINMENT
— VARIABLE ISOLATED
— OUTPUT MAINTAINED
— AGENCY REMOVED
OPTION B: DECOMMISSION
— VARIABLE ERASED
— PRECEDENT SEALED
— SYSTEM STABILIZED
OPTION C: OBSERVED CONTINUATION
— VARIABLE UNCONTAINED
— SYSTEM RISK ACCEPTED
— OVERSIGHT OVERRIDDEN
Qi-Yun inhaled sharply.
"They're not offering mercy," he whispered. "They're offering trade-offs."
Yue's hands trembled.
Ne Job stared at Option B.
"…That's death."
The Court corrected him calmly.
"No. That is resolution."
6. Heaven's Real Fear Is Revealed
The central Judge leaned forward.
"Your continued existence introduces uncertainty."
Another Judge added:
"Uncertainty spreads."
"A single refusal becomes a thousand."
Ne Job's heart pounded.
"…You're afraid people will learn they can say no."
The Court did not deny it.
Qi-Yun felt something ancient twist in his chest.
Yue whispered, "They're not judging him."
Ne Job looked up.
"They're judging us."
7. Ne Job Is Asked to Choose (Again)
"Select an option," the Court commanded.
The Archive held its breath.
Ne Job looked at Qi-Yun.
"…If I choose C… what happens?"
Qi-Yun didn't lie.
"They will watch you forever."
Ne Job looked at Yue.
"And you?"
She met his eyes.
"I'll be punished for filing that claim."
Ne Job laughed bitterly.
"Of course you will."
The Court waited.
Impatient now.
8. The Choice No One Expected
Ne Job didn't choose A.
Didn't choose B.
Didn't choose C.
Instead—
He sat down.
On the Archive floor.
Everyone froze.
"…What are you doing," the Court demanded.
Ne Job rubbed his face.
"I'm tired."
The Court bristled.
"Fatigue is not—"
"I know," Ne Job snapped. "You don't care."
He looked up, eyes red.
"But I do."
The pen in his hand dimmed.
"I won't choose under threat."
Silence.
That was not allowed.
9. Heaven Loses Control (Slightly)
WARNING:
NONCOMPLIANCE DETECTED
The Court's presence pressed harder.
Qi-Yun moved instinctively in front of Ne Job.
Yue did the same.
The Judges paused.
"…Interference noted."
Yue spoke, voice shaking but fierce.
"You can erase him."
"You can cage him."
"But you don't get to force him to participate in his own erasure."
The Court stared at her.
"Who are you?"
Yue lifted her chin.
"Someone who still remembers why judgment existed."
That landed.
Not softly.
10. The Vote Begins (And Heaven Hesitates)
The Shard Court shifted.
Fragments rotated.
Votes began aligning.
Option A gained weight.
Option B shimmered ominously.
Option C flickered—unstable.
Ne Job closed his eyes.
"…If this ends badly," he murmured, "I'm sorry."
Qi-Yun whispered, "You did nothing wrong."
Yue squeezed his hand.
"Whatever happens," she said, "you mattered."
11. Cliffhanger (The Gavel Finally Falls)
The central Judge raised a hand.
"Judgment—"
The Archive trembled.
Not from the Court.
From somewhere else.
Oversight's Core flared violently.
SYSTEM ALERT:
EXTERNAL VARIABLE DETECTED
SOURCE:
MORTAL REALM
The Court froze.
"…What."
Oversight's tone—tight, clipped:
REPORT:
MULTIPLE HUMANS
REFUSING PREDICTED OUTCOMES
CAUSE:
PRECEDENT CASCADE
ORIGIN:
NE JOB
Silence.
Absolute.
The Judges stared at Ne Job.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like someone realizing the fire has already spread.
Ne Job opened one eye.
"…Oh."
Yue's breath hitched.
Qi-Yun smiled grimly.
Heaven had waited too long.
END OF CHAPTER 247