Chapter 11

‘Huh, it just feels like a way to dodge the situation.’

It was a little unsettling, but I turned my head away.

“How did the walk permission go?”

‘I may not be an expert, but I do know how to encourage someone with low or no self-esteem.’

I mean, I watched My Golden Child and There Are No Bad Dogs in the World religiously. So I decided to think of it this way:

‘Let’s just pretend I’m raising a depressed dog!’

…He might look scary, but he’s soft on the inside?

“Daddy, I asked how the walk went.”

“I got permission.”

“Oh, really?”

Yes! Jackpot!

I clapped excitedly and showered him with praise.

“That’s amazing, Daddy! I thought it’d be really hard, but you got permission!”

Sure, the committee had no reason to reject my walk request. But who cares?

“You’re incredible! So cool!”

He looked a little flustered.

“…It wasn’t that difficult.”

“No, think about it. Ciara said all the pope candidate kids this time are exceptionally talented.”

That wasn’t an exaggeration or a lie.

Like the protagonist Khan, the chosen candidates were all formidable.

Some became enemies, others became allies.

“And what does that have to do with this?”

Perfect timing.

“You already know my secret, Daddy. Right?”

“…”

“Do you really think someone as amazing as me would make the wrong choice?”

I caught a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.

I didn’t let it slip. I reached out and grabbed his hand. His hand was so big that I could only manage to grip his fingers.

“And Ciara said this too. You used to be a really, really great person. And now…”

“A lunatic.”

“No, just a little sick.”

“…”

I said it with certainty.

“Every illness has a cure. And your pain can be healed too.”

I chose you—after digging through every option like the game’s veteran I am.

I’ve acknowledged you as my Guardian.

You’re not like the other potential Guardians in the story. You won’t betray me, you won’t kill me.

You won’t sell me out for some reward, either.

In the game, Derek eventually lost control and became a villain.

But even so, his end was tragic and heroic.

He snapped back to his senses for a brief moment, took down a horde of fanatics charging at the protagonist, then took his own life.

‘He knew he’d lose control again, so he chose to die.’

As a player, I was captivated by that storyline. But now that I’m in this world, it just feels… tragic.

[Love is great!]

[Let’s save everyone through love!]

What the heck. That’s even more culty than the actual cult.

I held back a twitching smile and looked at Daddy.

“Anyway, I’m gonna get super strong!”

Then, so only he could hear, I whispered softly:

“And when I do, I’ll be able to heal you completely too.”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he just stared down at our joined hands.

“…Why are you being so kind to me? You can change Guardians anytime you want. That’s your right as a candidate.”

That might be true for the others.

But me? I’m committed.

“Who needs a reason? It’s divine guidance.”

The fact that I’m the god in question is a secret.

“We’re bound by fate. A family brought together by divine will.”

“…”

I pointed at myself with a dramatic thumb gesture, as if to say, Just trust me.

[You’ve moved your ‘Dad’s’ heart—just a little! Time to get some fresh air!]

[Go on a walk!]

‘Just a little’? Seriously? So you still don’t trust me?

Geez, talk about hard to please.

‘Well, to be fair, he’s been living corrupted for seven years. Guess I can’t blame him.’

Still, from now on, we’ll be together as Guardian and candidate.

‘Time will fix it.’

I looked at him and grinned sheepishly.

* * *

We stepped outside. Finally, to the garden I’d been wanting to visit.

‘Whoa… This view I’d only ever seen on-screen is real now.’

For a seasoned player like me, it was actually kind of emotional.

[Successfully walked with ‘Dad’!]

To be honest, the garden wasn’t anything special. Just lots of greenery with a few flowers here and there.

‘But even this is rare in a world that’s been corrupted.’

I looked around.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t there a hidden practice dungeon somewhere around here…?’

In the game, the protagonist had to defeat corrupted beings and gain purification powers to level up.

Only then could they save the world later in the story.

That’s what the dungeon was for, and using the “Purification” skill inside it didn’t leave any trace.

‘Probably so enemies wouldn’t catch on. A thoughtful touch, I guess.’

Anyway, as someone who’d tried every crazy stunt imaginable in the game, this place was basically a testing ground!

“Thirsty?”

“Uum… Water?”

“The air outside the temple is more polluted. You’ll get thirsty faster than usual.”

Now that he mentioned it, I did feel a little parched.

“There’s a drinking fountain nearby. Go ahead.”

He pulled out a small dagger from his coat and held it out to me.

“It’s small, but can you carry it?”

‘Ugh, heavy…’

Maybe it’s small to him, but to me, it’s a brick.

“If anything happens, swing it.”

“Uh?”

I blinked.

“I know you can summon me, but just in case, keep it with you. It holds my power.”

“Oh, um… Okay. Be right back.”

The way he said it made it sound like the fountain was miles away…

‘It’s literally ten steps from here?’

A bit much, if you ask me.

But I didn’t mind the feeling.

In a world where one wrong move = instant death, this kind of overprotectiveness?

I’ll take it!

‘Ahhh… This cozy safety is on a whole different level from when my Guardians were some fanatic or a corrupt priest…’

It was wonderful.

[You’ve earned a reward. Special Event!]

[Find the Black Slime in the Hidden Practice Dungeon!]

The message that popped up brought a smile to my face.

Hey, I was just thinking about that!

I stepped slightly away from the fountain where Daddy was standing.

No need to go far—the target was practically right in front of me.

‘Ah, there it is.’

I stood in front of the third pillar from the temple’s edge.

The pillar had mural-like carvings. I scanned them and focused on the second image.

That one was of a beast with ten horns. I pressed down firmly on its eyes and nose.

[‘Hidden Practice Dungeon’ discovered!]

‘Ooh.’

With a soft shimmer, a barred gate appeared. Normal people wouldn’t be able to see it.

Only the protagonist with “God’s Eye” could.

The gate creaked open.

From the moment it began to rise, it would become visible to others too.

‘In the game, a prompt would pop up asking, “Do you want to enter?”’

But this is reality, so I’d have to walk in myself.

I turned around.

I could still see the fountain clearly—hadn’t walked far. Daddy was on his way back.

‘I should probably explain this to him and go in together. I’m still low-level, after all.’

…Was what I thought.

[You are entering the ‘Hidden Practice Dungeon’!]

……Wait, WHAT?!

Hold up, hold up! I didn’t say I was going in! I was just checking!

Hey! HEY! Signboard!!

A black mist surged from the hole and grabbed me, yanking me in.

In the game, it waited for confirmation before entry!

‘If you’re gonna change that, you should’ve SAID SOMETHING, you damn signboard!’

I saw Daddy in the distance, startled and running toward me.

‘Ugh, what do I do…?’

I was freaking out.

This might be normal dungeon entry, but to Daddy, it’s gonna look like I’m being kidnapped.

‘This is BAD!’

Even as I panicked, I shut my eyes tight.

‘Damn it, if our emotionally fragile Daddy goes into full breakdown mode, are YOU gonna take responsibility?!’

* * *

When I slowly opened my eyes again…

I was in a pitch-dark cave.

‘Ugh… I really ended up inside.’

I was worried about Daddy outside, but I didn’t waste time. My eyes scanned the surroundings.

‘It’s just like I remembered.’

Thankfully, my “God’s Eye” skill let me see clearly, even in total darkness.

I glanced around, staying alert.

[Welcome to the ‘Hidden Practice Dungeon’!]

[Objective: Find 10 Black Slimes 0/10]

Nice. The same quest the protagonist used to get.

“Some things never change.”

I crouched by the wall and peeled something off.

[You’ve acquired the item ‘Black Moss’!]
 

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Translator: Japchae