Chapter 28

Just as I was about to say something to lighten the mood, the door creaked open.

Whatever I was going to say flew right out of my head.

“Looks like everyone’s here!”

A moment later, an older professor walked into the room. Chubby cheeks, tiny glasses perched on his nose—definitely someone who looked more like a grandpa than a teacher.

He was a priest and a theology professor.

Players used to say he resembled some cartoon character and called him “Professor Ahn.”

His real name: Stein.

“Today marks the first test for our proud pope candidates. What an honor it is!”

He paused briefly to make the sign of the cross and recited a short prayer.

‘Oh…’

A soft glow radiated through the room.

Those deeply attuned to divine power and faith could make even a short prayer shimmer with a magical glow.

“We’ve prepared everything we could so you can put what you’ve learned into practice!”

…But I haven’t learned anything though?

This is unjust.

‘He looked away!’

That professor totally avoided eye contact with me just now! So he does have a conscience, yet still treats me like this?!

“Ahem, let me tell you what everyone’s curious about—the exam itself.”

I let my body go slack.

‘The first test…’

I didn’t even need to look it up. The strategy guide I wrote popped right into my head.

Basically, it’s the chapter that says, “Just die once and get it over with.”

“As pope candidates, you are natural enemies of the Evil God.”

Stein glanced around the room.

“Which means, on your path to growth, you’ll face countless fanatics, aberrations, and oh yes—even paranormal phenomena.”

In this game, if someone starts a speech like that, it only means one of two things.

‘It’s one of these.’

One: there’s a hint hidden somewhere in all that talk.

Or two—

“And so, for your first test, you’ll be resolving a paranormal aberration of the Evil God!”

—it’s a dramatic build-up to tell you you’re about to get wrecked.

“Simple, right?”

Every single kid in the room went pale.

“U-uh, excuse me…!”

A short-haired girl with a pretty normal look raised her hand.

“A-are we really supposed to get rid of a monster…?”

“Oh, excellent question! That’s exactly right, Candidate!”

Look at that. Professor Ahn smiling all bright while sending kids to their doom.

‘Is he a psychopath?’

“Since your role is so vital, we believe it’s important to gain firsthand experience. And of course, your guardians will be right there with you to ensure your safety.”

Yeah sure. Just shut up and follow orders since you’ve got a guardian. I can’t believe I’m seeing this with my own eyes.

A heavy silence filled the room.

“I-I-I’m not doing it!”

A boy, one of the younger ones here—aside from me—suddenly shouted.

His face was full of fear.

“Y-you didn’t say we’d be fighting monsters! R-right? Right? Mom?”

The woman beside him, likely his guardian, gave a troubled expression.

A face that said she pitied him.

“Hmm, another good question! Of course, you’re not required to participate.”

“T-then…”

“But your score will go down. Will you decline next time as well?”

“…”

“Oh, of course, you’re free to decline again. But once your score drops to zero, you will lose your status as a candidate.”

Professor Ahn beamed gently.

“Once disqualified, you’ll no longer be a pope candidate. But since we’ve invested resources and funds into you, you’ll still be utilized—for the benefit of the Order.”

The reflection of his glasses gleamed ominously.

“Is that alright with you?”

Like I keep saying—just because the goal is noble doesn’t mean the methods are.

“Okay, then I’ll skip the tes—!”

The clueless kid was about to nod with a bright smile when his guardian silently blocked his mouth.

“Sigh…”

At the same time, I opened mine.

“I wanna go potty…”

Everyone in the room turned to me with slack jaws, some with outright pitying expressions.

Whatever. Deal with it.

“Oh dear, I’ve made our precious children wait far too long.”

The priest who’d blocked the child’s mouth turned to me. The boy happened to be sitting right next to me, so I was easy to see.

A grateful look in her eyes.

Save it. I don’t know anything.

“Then, I assume no one will be withdrawing?”

“…”

“Very good. Let’s proceed quickly for our candidates.”

I pouted.

“So, when do we gotta go for da tes’…?”

“Oh, wonderful question. You’ll be starting… right now!”

“…”

“…Or so I’d say, but that would be a bit cruel on our part, hohoho.”

Professor Ahn gave a grandfatherly chuckle.

“You’ll have plenty of time to take care of urgent needs. Let’s move quickly, shall we?”

He raised his hand, and lines of light traced through the air.

A glow flowed down from above.

In front of every candidate and guardian, something slowly began to materialize.

“A… bracelet?”

It was a black leather bracelet.

“These are equipment for your guardians. In the ‘isolation zone’ you’ll enter, you’ll need to pass the test with your own abilities.”

“…”

“Which means, we’ll be temporarily limiting your guardians’ powers—just a little.”

Yeah right. “A little,” my ass.

Fat chance.

Everyone started putting them on without question. Watching Daddy fumble with his, I leaned in and whispered.

“Appa.”

Before coming here, we’d come up with a simple signal.

Tap the neck three times with the index finger.

“What is it?”

It meant: Use divine power to mute or suppress our voices.

“This bracelet—put the pin in the fourth hole.”

Isn’t it weird? They’re sending kids off to fight monsters…

…yet the ones who could help are being nerfed?

Maybe the Order thinks it’s just a simple test.

‘But there’s a reason players scream about this chapter.’

I motioned for Daddy to come closer.

Since everyone was busy fiddling with their bracelets, each team was a little spread out.

Game Category [Post][Strategy Guide]

[Item Encyclopedia]

~Cheese Section~

‘Leather Bracelet of Judgment’

◆ Default test equipment
◆ Lowers guardian’s power to less than half

But listen up, folks.

If your guardian—the one keeping you alive—gets nerfed, you’re screwed, right? lol

Here’s how to turn it off.

Stop looking for justice in this damn game!

You beat fanatics with bugs, cheese, dirty tricks, and straight-up scumbaggery!

The Order is busy exploiting children. Why play fair?

You don’t.

I somehow slipped the bracelet onto Daddy using that workaround.

Just as I looked up, my eyes met another pair—belonging to the boy beside me.

The same kid who’d been terrified of monsters earlier.

“Daddy.”

I tapped Daddy to get off the chair, then walked over to the boy and whispered.

“Your mom’s one is navy blue. Ours is black!”

“Huh? Yeah…?”

Then I whispered even quieter:

“…Tell your mom to wear it like this.”

“Huh?”

“Just do it!”

Look, if you made it this far, you either have brains or backbone—or both.

As expected…

The boy whined and clung to his guardian as I turned away.

“Did it work?”

“Yeah, probably…”

I gave the faintest nod at Daddy’s question.

“Good.”

Daddy glanced around, then murmured quietly.

“Usher’s been watching you nonstop. I made sure to block his view when you were talking to that other candidate.”

“Ugh…”

Great. Just what I needed.

I shook my head in dismay.

‘Looks like this run’s gonna be full of variables.’
 

Brought to you by Gourmet Scans

Translator: Japchae