Chapter 30

‘What are you, some horror movie serial killer…?’

I glared at Usher with a stony face.

‘Look at that smug little smile.’

Even as I stared him down, my eyes were busily scanning the surroundings.

A dark room. The problem was…

“We’re the only ones here.”

His voice dropped as if he’d noticed where I was looking.

“Could it be that no one else has shown up yet?”

He spoke playfully, almost teasing.

“Sir?”

He suddenly remembered to add a polite tone.

‘Just my luck.’

As Usher said, it was just the two of us in this room.

The number of people in each room must depend on the room’s size—and this one was small.

Just in case, I tried summoning Daddy.

“Daddy…!”

[This is a location where summoning is not allowed!]

A system notice blocked my view.

‘Tch…’

So it’s a special space, huh?

Not surprising.

There were plenty of supernatural zones like this one. Still, there was one comforting fact—

‘Usher can’t kill me in here.’

Because this was a space linked to The Angel’s Interview. And in this zone, no one can commit “murder.”

That’s a rule you’d know if you understood the system… and Usher didn’t know it yet.

‘That’s why he’s so relaxed.’

Letting him think he could kill me at any moment gave me the upper hand.

‘So there’s no need to act all calm in return.’

I glared at him and deliberately stepped back.

Aside from being disgusted, I had no real reason to worry.

‘Please, Daddy… calm down wherever you are…’

I was more worried about Daddy, who would’ve realized by now he couldn’t summon me!

I was finally getting our glass-hearted Daddy to act like a person!

“Hm? You seem rattled. Is it ‘cause Daddy’s not here?”

I ignored Usher’s words and turned my head away.

Because right then, something popped up

[Let’s calm down the confused “Daddy” from a distance!]

[You can send strength to “Daddy”!]

‘Oh, thank god. Please, please send it to him!’

[Start your encouraging message to “Daddy”!]

“…Daddy, don’t go doing something crazy…”

[Oops! That’s not very encouraging!]

What, why?! That was heartfelt!

If my old man goes berserk somewhere else, are you gonna take responsibility? For my game life? My real life?

[Last chance—only one more try!]

Geez, talk about impatient.

Whoever programmed this system probably had their anger management fixed by money and power.

Suddenly I felt very serious.

I clasped my hands together like I was praying.

I could practically picture Daddy, anxious and on edge.

If I could only say one thing right now…

“…Daddy, you’re the best, so come get me, okay? I’ll be waiting.”

The moment I whispered that, a white light flowed from my body.

I tensed for a moment, worried it might be [Purification], but thankfully it was just ordinary divine power.

The light faded quickly.

It must’ve reached him.

‘Phew. That should focus him on the mission and help protect everyone else too, right?’

“Hmm, what was that just now?”

When I looked up, Usher was squatting in front of me, watching closely.

Back off, you fanatic bastard.

[Faction: Fanatic of the Evil God]

He was so close, I could see his faction info as plain as day. Gave me the chills.

“None of your biz.”

I replied coldly, standing up and dusting off my clothes.

Even standing, I had to tilt my head up to look him in the eye.

“We should probably get out of here. What now?”

Usher tilted his head slightly.

‘The test must still be ongoing.’

Even though this place had morphed into another supernatural room with a ridiculous difficulty curve.

No one could escape.

You had to leave by following the rules.

“Hm? You’re not pretending to be scared?”

He asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

Are you seriously asking me that?

“If I act scared, it feels like things’ll get worse. Just a hunch.”

“…”

He’d definitely found my attitude interesting back in the Room of Miracles, but that was it.

This guy’s the type who gets crueler the more his opponent shows weakness.

“Sharp one, aren’t you?”

Usher smiled like he’d just confirmed something.

“I don’t like crybabies.”

Good for you.

“What about your candidate?”

Turns out I wasn’t the only one separated from my guardian.

“Who knows? Maybe they went off somewhere?”

But he didn’t look worried in the slightest.

“Sadly, my candidate doesn’t have the ability to summon me.”

“…”

“But looks like you can’t summon yours either, huh?”

He clearly enjoyed seeing me flinch.

‘Go ahead, underestimate me all you want. Be my guest.’

“Alright, guess I’ll observe for now. I am a holy knight, after all. Gotta protect the candidate, ha ha.”

I ignored him and walked away. His shadow trailed me like a stalker.

“If I protect you, will you make me your guardian? I’ll be a great Daddy! Huh? Huh?”

He was spewing nonsense by the bucketful.

“Knock it off and look for the exit. If you’re gonna rot, do it by yourself in here.”

“Aww, harsh! But I guess that’s what makes you Maze-clearer material.”

He reached a hand toward me and then pulled it back.

[Detecting a threat!]

“Hmm?”

His eyes flashed dangerously for a split second.

I turned my head naturally, as if I’d heard something off to the side.

[Fanatic “Usher Tatum” has canceled a Hidden Ability!]

‘Holy shit…’

Cold sweat dripped down my back.

He couldn’t kill me here, but if he used a hidden skill to grab me and force something…

No telling what might happen.

‘I need to get out of here… fast!’

While I was still fumbling at the wall, he stepped up next to me.

“Yeah, we’ve gotta get out of here. My poor little candidate might be bawling their eyes out by now.”

Usher whistled and peered at the wall beside me.

As soon as both of us got close—

— Prove your worth.

A glowing handprint formed on the wall, along with letters.

“Whoa! Did you see that, Candidate? I protected you!”

“What the hell are you talking about? How was that protecting anything?”

He ducked behind me like a coward while spouting that crap. Truly, this fanatic had no shame.

‘Seriously, is he losing his mind because it’s just the two of us?’

Before I could even respond, the real issue appeared.

Actually, this room was the issue—to leave, you had to solve it.

Correct the following sentences.

(However, you may only use one straight line.)

• The Evil God is righteous.
• The Evil God should rule the world.
• The world must be destroyed.
• I want to worship and fanatically follow the Evil God.

“…Oho, now this is interesting.”

Usher rubbed his chin.

The sentences were carved into a massive stone slab.

Below it was a shallow groove with something that looked like chalk.

It said,

‘Use this to submit your answer,’

“Ooh, Candidate. I feel some sinister energy here. If you get it wrong, I bet the wicked god will take that precious little neck of yours!”

…Aren’t you blaspheming by saying stuff like that?

“…So I lose my head if I’m wrong?”

“Gasp! How could you say something so scary…!”

What are you even saying? You literally said it first, you lunatic.

And then…

— If you give the correct answer: how dare a mere human guess correctly—execution.

— If you give the wrong answer: unworthy of life—starvation.

Additional lines of text appeared on the wall.

“Oh. So it’s a nice clean slice, huh.”

Usher admitted cheerfully.

I stared at the question, then looked away.

Admittedly…

‘It does feel like they want us to die either way, but…’

There is a winning strategy.

Plus, “paradox” is one of this test’s main themes.

“Are you gonna solve it?”

“Is there even a solution?”

Yes. Yes there is.

The slab was clearly made with humans in mind—there was a groove perfectly placed for me to grab the chalk.

‘Let’s solve it fast and get out of here.’

It didn’t matter if Usher knew I’d cleared the maze before—solving this wouldn’t raise any flags.

Only one thing concerned me.

This place… we haven’t even seen the real horrors yet.

“If you don’t solve it, I will.”

“Really? How?”

He pointed at the slab.

When I didn’t respond, he gave me a chilling look. I played dumb.

“Move. I’m writing.”

“Okaaay~”

Usher replied with feigned curiosity—and then—

Wham!

My eyes blinked wide.

“Cough, cough!”

‘Y-you crazy son of a…!!’

Just a moment ago, I’d been reaching for the chalk.

But now, smoke and dust swirled up from below.

As it cleared, I saw the groove where the chalk had been.

‘It’s destroyed.’

Shattered to pieces. The indent was crushed into the shape of a footprint.

That bastard stomped it with brute force.

“Oh no, what a shame. Guess it broke?”

And while he did that, he grabbed me by the collar and yanked me up.

Now I was dangling midair.

If my clothes had been any tighter, I might’ve passed out from being choked.

‘…This bastard. He wants to see how I get out, huh?’

He’s saying: don’t you dare leave without me. I stared at the crushed chalk dust underfoot and sighed.

‘Not picking this psycho was probably the best decision I ever made. Seriously.’

I quietly glared at Usher.

“Oh no, Candidate. Looks like you can’t reach the slab from where you’re standing now~!”

“…”

He grinned.

“Can’t be helped. I’ll hold you up! Aren’t I the nicest? Here, try this chalk instead.”

But then.

A red circle lit up beneath Usher’s feet.

The glow flared up, and I was flung away from it.

‘Well damn. Never seen someone walk straight into punishment before.’

Wincing from the landing, I looked up.

— Warning

The last thing I saw was Usher’s slightly flustered expression… as he was sealed in crimson light.
 

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Translator: Japchae