Chapter 24

What I wanted was a basic supply item given to holy knights.

It’s considered outdated now, so it’s rarely used anymore. But technically, any holy knight can still request and receive it.

In Daddy’s case, he had only confined himself voluntarily in the prayer room.
His qualifications as a holy knight hadn’t been revoked.

Which meant he could still get it.

“…Are you sure this is what you need?”

“Yup!”

Daddy handed over the item he still had in his possession without hesitation.

Now, it was in my hands.

“Hold it up.”

Bennett’s eyes trembled at the sight of the rope I pulled out.

“So you were planning to tie me up after all…!”

“What do you think this rope is for?”

“Huh? Well, obviously, it’s for… tying…”

“Look at the length. What does it look like to you?”

Only then did Bennett stop shaking and stared at the rope.

What I had in my hand was so short it barely qualified as a rope.

I stepped closer to Bennett.

“…Nemesia.”

Daddy called my name like a warning.

‘It’s fine. Really.’

Scared dogs bark louder anyway.

Bennett froze but didn’t stop me.

Well—more like, he was so confused, he didn’t know what to do.

I gently pressed down on his shoulder.

“Listen carefully.”

As I added weight to my voice, Bennett tensed.

“Don’t forget what you saw today.”

Because it’s what’ll save your life.

“…Aren’t you supposed to forget things like this?”

As expected, Bennett looked baffled.

“Nope. Don’t ever forget it. And never, ever tell anyone about what you saw. Consider it advice—for your own good.”

“…”

This was genuine advice.

If he blabbed, all that awaited this promising supporting character was erasure from the story.

As Bennett stood there, dazed, I quickly moved my hands.

By the time he realized what had happened, the short rope had already wrapped around his hand.

“Ack…!”

Startled, Bennett tried to shake it off.

But the rope had already disappeared without a trace.

‘Not something you can just shake off, y’know.’

Game Category [Post] [Strategy Guide]

[Item Encyclopedia]

~Basics Edition~

“Lasso of Truth”

◆ A standard issue item given to all holy knights
But due to the restructuring of the holy knight system, it’s now outdated and rarely known.

◆ Its function is to prevent the target from speaking certain “truths.”
It’s not super powerful, just a basic item—so it’s relatively easy to break free from.

But did you know?

That’s not all there is.

If that were it, this wouldn’t be much of an encyclopedia.

Secret pro tip coming up 😎

If you found this helpful, drop a like 😘

“Alright then, go ahead and try to speak.”

“…”

“You’re telling me… the Pope candidate is—gasp!—a fanatic?”

Bennett glared at me.

It was like we were back underground, in front of the fanatics, with me playing my part again.

“If you’re curious about what’ll happen next, you can try saying it.”

Bennett looked at his hands. They were perfectly normal.

“…Are you going to kill me if I do?”

I tilted my head in thought, then smiled sweetly.

“No. I’m the one who’ll die.”

“…?”

* * *

Moments later, a blonde-haired boy stomped out of the room.

In the space he left behind were a torn rope, a broken chair, and a splintered chair leg.

Daddy stared at the closed door for a long moment before slowly turning to face me.

‘Oho, looks like you’ve got a lot to say.’

When our eyes met, he flinched, looked away briefly… then looked back again.

I don’t bite, Father.

“What do you think?”

“…Think of what?”

I raised a tiny finger and pointed to the door.

“As a holy knight trainee, what do you think of that one?”

Trainees are the stage before becoming a full holy knight.

After years of education and exams, some wash out, and the rest advance.

“While I did tie him down slightly… the fact that he escaped the knot on his own means he’s studied the standard training manuals quite well.”

Daddy reluctantly replied.

“And he knocked out a fanatic with one clean hit from a makeshift club. Just like this!”

I mimed swinging a bat. Overdid it and nearly lost my balance, but Daddy caught me in time, looking deeply concerned.

“Anyone would pass out if hit in the head properly.”

Buzzkill.

“But he’s got decent raw strength. And he already knows how to use divine power to boost it. That takes talent.”

Daddy’s gaze landed on me.

“With some training, he could become a very capable holy knight. Is that what you were trying to find out?”

“Yup.”

I nodded with a goofy grin.

Guess I gave myself away, huh?

I meant to.

“I really need capable people, you know.”

I’m still just taking baby steps, but the path ahead is endless.

I need items. I need allies. And let’s not even get started on the monsters and events I have to resolve.

‘And I’ve got to do it all without getting caught.’

Damn it. Whether in-game or out of it, I’m destined to curse at the developers…

“You’ve got your eye on him, then.”

Daddy rubbed his neck with an uncertain expression. He clearly had more to say.

“But before you train him… isn’t there something to consider?”

Naturally. Anyone who saw the earlier scene would ask the same thing.

“He saw you acting. You trust he won’t tell anyone?”

Of course.

“Nope.”

I smiled brightly.

“We just have to wait! Until he reports me to his superior.”

“…What? What kind of logic is that…?”

My grin widened.

Doesn’t he know how well I know our dear supporting character?

‘I like all the justice-loving types.’

Truly. I like them so much I spent 90% of my playthrough time with Bennett.

I’m the woman who walked through his entire storyline with him.

If Bennett ever found out, I bet he’d say: ‘Give me my life back!’

I shrugged.

Which is why I can say with confidence—he’s going to report me.

“All we have to do is wait.”

Game Category [Post] [Strategy Guide]

[Item Encyclopedia]

“Lasso of Truth”

(excerpted)

The first hidden function of the lasso is this:
When the target says a “truth” that the lasso has suppressed…
The player gets a notification.

Perfect tool for exposing fanatics and spies 👌

‘So I’ll get notified either way.’

And that’s not all.

The lasso has a second hidden function when used in stacks, but…

Let’s save that for later. No need for it now.

I turned away mid-laugh and caught Daddy’s expression.

His brows were furrowed. He looked like the world had just ended.

“Daddy?”

He looked right at me…

‘Terrifying…!’

His eyes were sharp and intense—it scared the hell out of me.

“Listen carefully. No—you must listen.”

Y-yes?

Did I screw something up?

As I frantically reviewed my actions, Daddy gently placed a hand on my shoulder.

Flinch.

“This is serious.”

“O-okay…!”

What on earth made him look so grim?

Gulp. I swallowed hard.

“You must never… refer to a holy knight as ‘Sir Holy Knight.’”

“So I did mess up—wait, what?”

What now?

“You just said, ‘until he reports me to Sir Holy Knight.’ Didn’t you?”

The way he repeated my words felt like I was being interrogated. Classic holy knight technique.

…Excuse me, sir, why are you using that on your daughter?

“Y-yeah, but…?”

The pressure made me slip into polite speech without realizing.

“See? You’re using honorifics again. Aren’t you?”

“N-no… I mean, yeah…”

Daddy’s face grew even graver. At this point, I’d say he looked downright menacing.

What did I do wrong??

“This is a major issue.”

“Gasp.”

“You are the Pope candidate.”

“Uh-huh…”

…I mean, obviously?

“You must never use honorifics with holy knights.”

I blinked.

…That’s the issue?

Probably just my Korean upbringing sneaking out subconsciously with all its Confucian manners.

“This is important. No one can be allowed to look down on you. No one is above you.”

“Oh… thanks?”

I didn’t get it, but Daddy looked like a man hanging off a cliff by his fingernails, so I just nodded politely.

…He’s oddly meticulous about weird things.

‘Well, no harm in it, I guess.’

In hindsight, this was something I shouldn’t have brushed off so easily.

I was probably just feeling too relaxed after seeing Bennett act exactly as expected.

* * *

“Okay, got it. I won’t use honorifics with anyone anymore. Promise.”

While Nemesia was thinking, ‘Daddy sure gets worked up over the strangest things,’

“…If I ever slip up, you can give me a scolding. Like, ‘You rascal!’ or something.”

“…”

Upon hearing that…

Derek made a very important decision.
 

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Translator: Japchae