Chapter 21

I felt a delightful chill creep down my spine.

Then he covered his mouth and burst into a smile so wide it looked like it would split his face in half.

‘Our cult… even managed to reach the Pope candidate…!’

Ah, O Left Brain of the Evil God! Enlighten the foolish! So You were already heading toward the Source…!

With this child, we might finally reach the innermost sanctum of the Order—the place no other infiltrator had ever touched.

“You are a noble being…!”

Andras lowered the hand covering his mouth.

His flushed face appeared, eyes bloodshot and trembling with manic joy.

But even still…

He had to confirm it with his own eyes.

Doubt, then doubt again.

Until at last, you even doubt your own existence and reach the Source.

According to doctrine, he had to question everything.

Because that…

…was the very duty of a Connector.

* * *

[Danger Detected! Fanatic ‘Andras Rek’ has used the special skill ‘Suspicion’ on you!]

…Huh?

‘What the hell?!’

Game Category [Post] [Strategy Guide]
[Things Low-Level Players Should Watch Out For Pt. 2]

(excerpted)

Fanatics roaming alone are special units.

What does that mean? The moment you talk to them, they’ll use a special skill on you.

All lone fanatics share this unique skill.

Suspicion
Effect: Summons the supernatural aberration

This one’s… seriously messed up~

But you people always do the exact thing we tell you not to, don’t you? lol

If it triggers, listen carefully.

Because from here on, your choices matter a hell of a lot.

‘Wow, I…’

Staring at the old strategy post floating in front of me, I swallowed hard.

I wasn’t panicking, though. I knew this skill existed before I approached him.

‘I specifically set the scene to avoid this…’

So I’ll call this a half-success.

The perfect result would’ve been getting the fanatic to believe me without summoning this damned monster.

‘Well, if it failed… can’t be helped.’

I let out a quiet sigh.

Then glanced around in search of my dad, giving a subtle eye signal.

‘Don’t be startled. Please don’t do anything, Father.’

I prayed the message got through.

“Was this really necessary?”

At my words, the fanatic flinched.

We were close enough that I could clearly see his pupils tremble.

“I was kind enough to explain, and in return, you bring me to trial? I’ll clear your doubts… but you better believe my explanation will be flawless.”

A thick black mist began rising between us.

Only the caster and the target—me and the fanatic—could see it.

“…!”

I closed my eyes, the fanatic’s pale and stiff expression the last thing I saw.

When I opened them again, the scenery had changed.

Not drastically, though.

I was still standing in the same garden.

But the once-vibrant plants were now shriveled and black, and the sky above had turned pitch-dark.

Caw, caw.

There were no birds in sight, yet an ominous cry echoed in the air.

The Holy Knights that had been nearby were nowhere to be seen.

Before me stood a massive tribunal.

To be exact, only the judge’s bench, as if the rest had been ripped away.

— “Ohoho, the atmosphere today feels like Appetuoso!“¹

Seated at the bench was a grotesque creature with a massive, round head.

— “Con allegrezza!“²

Its bulbous head sat atop an absurdly long, thin neck. It wore a judge’s robe and held a gavel in its skeletal hand.

— “Ahh, such a giocoso day.“³

[Game Category] [Post] [Strategy Guide]
[Monster Encyclopedia #12]
~Paranormal Class~

Tribunal of Candid Truth
Classification: Euclid

A supernatural entity summoned via the fanatics’ special skill Suspicion, used by Connector-class units.

Warning: This “Judge” will determine the truth in your statements.
Lying will weigh on your soul, corrupting your body in proportion to the falsehood.

You can think of it as becoming “corrupted.”

That means when making choices, you need to give truths that sound like lies.

.

.

For reference, the Judge’s nickname is “Giant Ping-Pong Ball.”
Common variants include Mozart-Pong and Bach-Ball, shortened to MozBall or BachPing.

‘Ugh… it’s MozBall.’

I wrinkled my nose at the face I didn’t want to see.

Its thread-sewn mouth tugged grotesquely each time it spoke, stretching with every syllable.

— “Shall we begin… elegantesque?“⁴

Atop its round head was a powdered wig straight out of Mozart’s wardrobe.

Its speech was laced with baroque musical terms.

Why?

[Game Category] [Post] [Strategy Guide]
[Monster Codex 12]

(Excerpted)

According to the lore, the Judge dreamed of becoming a musician.
Having never realized that dream, it now inserts musical jargon into its speech—an unconscious habit.

— “Espressivo!“⁵

With a single, spell-like word, there was a heavy clang beneath me.

When I looked down, black chains were now shackled around my wrists.

I wasn’t leaving until the cross-examination ended.

— “Defendant, respond only with truth, and answer resolutely, risoluto!“⁶

I stared down at the chains binding my hands… and smirked.

“Yes, honorable Judge. I shall answer religiosamente.”

Religiosamente: meaning ‘with reverence.’

The judge’s black, dotted eyes blinked open just slightly wider.

— “Hooh?”

But before the Judge could say more, a voice boomed from the sky.

“We shall begin with the first question.”

It echoed and vibrated, but I recognized the voice.

The fanatic.

It was still Andras.

— “Ohhh, plaintiff! Starting before this court has even declared its session—how rude. Calando, calando…!“⁷

“My apologies, Your Honor. I ask forgiveness for my impatience—time is short.”

— “Well, very well. As befits my elegante nature, I shall be generous today.”

“Then… here is the first question.”

The fanatic’s tone shifted.

“Are you a follower of the Evil God?”

A quick explanation: to escape this trial, I must answer three questions truthfully.

Failing to do so results in corruption—like the fallen Holy Knights.

But honestly, that part’s no big deal.

I can purify that kind of corruption.

‘Still… using Purification now would scream I’m the Pope! to the fanatics.’

So I need to navigate this without getting corrupted.

And…

‘You really think I didn’t prepare for this?’

“I respond to the Judge.”

I looked up with leisurely confidence.

“I know the teachings of the fanatics.”

Only the Evil God’s true followers are said to know the entire doctrine.

Except for me, of course.

— “…”

That grotesque neck stretched toward me like a snake.

— “Is that all, defendant?”

Holy crap, that startled me.

“Yes, that is my full response.”

As its mouth stretched wide open, revealing razor-sharp teeth, I broke into a cold sweat.

— “…”

Then—

Clang!

One of the chains around my wrists snapped free.

— “Cantabile!“⁸

— “The response is deemed true.”

I stared forward, keeping my face blank.

— “…Plaintiff, proceed to the second question!”

“Yes. Second question.”

“Have you spoken only the truth to me, ‘Andras’?”

I kept my eyes on the Judge.

But inside, I was holding back laughter.

‘What a weak-ass question…’

This was just as I expected.

‘Told you I came prepared.’

“Your Honor, I have spoken only the truth.”

This time, the Judge didn’t move closer.

— “Serioso!“⁹

— “Truth confirmed.”

Huh?

‘Why didn’t it approach me this time?’

This animation was notorious for startling newbie players.

Clang!

Another chain broke off.

But I still felt uneasy.

“Th-this is the last question.”

Finally, the last one.

I wasn’t too concerned.

‘The final question is obvious.’

It’s always something like, “Are you truly the chosen of the Evil God?”

‘And of course, I already have the perfect answer prepared.’

“Have you seen the Evil God?”

…Huh?

A question I hadn’t anticipated.

I faltered for only a second before answering clearly:

“Yes. I have.”

And just like that—

BOOOM!

A massive bolt of lightning struck down from above.

‘What the hell? I’ve never seen that pattern before!’

And the Judge said nothing.

Alarmed, I looked ahead—

— “Defendant… you dare distort the truth?”

— “Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha!”

The laugh was terrifyingly beautiful yet loud enough to rupture eardrums.

That massive ping-pong head loomed before me.

Its jaws wide open.

— “You claim to have seen the Father?
 

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Translator: Japchae