"There has never been a rule forbidding mortals from entering the court. Besides, the fact that they could see the passage proves they have the right to stand here!"
"What's more, I naturally have my reasons for bringing these two to court."
Mark's mouth suddenly began moving on its own, beyond his control. The sensation was utterly bizarre, several times stranger even than watching Steven control his body.
"And stop trying to intimidate me with your self-righteous nonsense! I was banished solely because I refused to abandon humanity, which makes me very different from the likes of you!"
Khonshu, possessing Mark, strained his voice and roared with all his might.
Standing nearby, Neuvillette watched the veins bulging in Mark's neck, stretched so taut they looked ready to burst, and his stern brows drew together.
Then Neuvillette glanced around.
Clearly, Khonshu's words had already displeased the other gods seated there.
Even Hathor, the goddess of love who had always been rather tolerant of Khonshu, now wore a helpless expression.
This was hardly a good sign.
Neuvillette silently lowered his eyes.
As the plaintiff, Khonshu had originally held a certain inherent advantage. Yet he was now far too agitated to remain calm in court, undoubtedly a grave mistake.
Worse still, the moment he opened his mouth, he had offended both the "judge" and the entire "jury."
"We did not abandon humanity. Humanity abandoned us."
The blond young man to the bald man's right suddenly spoke up, rebutting Khonshu's earlier words.
At that moment, the speaker was presumably the god possessing him-Horus.
Mark shifted his gaze and opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something, but Horus cut him off and continued, "We simply let our Avatars pursue our goals without bringing needless trouble upon ourselves, unlike a certain someone."
It took no