Chapter 31

Bzzzt!

— Rule 2. Do not damage anything within this area.

Right before my eyes, the fanatic was being struck by crimson lightning.

What was even scarier was…

‘This is seriously… horrific.’

…that after the red light vanished, Usher stood there looking perfectly fine.

Was his skin made of stone or what?

“Ooh… that was kinda tingly.”

Yeah, I couldn’t help but grimace at the sight.

“Hmm, Rule No. 2, huh… that must mean there’s a No. 1 and a No. 3 too.”

But it wasn’t like he came out completely unscathed. Parts of his gloves were scorched, and his hands were a mess.

“But when it says ‘do not damage anything in here’… that includes people, right?”

Usher narrowed his eyes.

“What do you think, Candidate?”

That smug expression said, ‘Thanks to you, I learned something new!’

His eyes as he stared at me were unsettling.

“Did you already know I’d get zapped if I tried to attack you?”

Instead of answering, I tilted my head toward the stone.

“How long are you gonna keep talking nonsense? Aren’t you gonna get out of here? You’re the one who’s wasting time.”

“…”

Usher gave a shrug.

“It was so electrifying, I snapped right back to my senses.”

More like you lost what was left of them.

A moment later, Usher picked me up again.

Unlike Daddy, who always held me with awkward care and only ever thought about my comfort, Usher’s grip was just plain uncomfortable—and gross!

“I hate this so much.”

“Oh, it’s been a while since someone said that to me.”

“I loathe people who manhandle kids.”

“Oh? So as long as I don’t manhandle, I’m good?”

I ignored him and focused on the puzzle.

The question in this chapter was practically a meme. There were even forum posts with answer guides.

And, more importantly, this one followed a pattern.

“Excuse me, Mr. Test-Maker.”

Correct the following sentences.

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

• The Evil God is right.
• The Evil God must rule the world.
• The world must be destroyed.
• I want to worship and fanatically serve the Evil God.

I stared hard at the stone and asked,

“Is there even a correct answer to this?”

Usher, still holding me, chuckled like I was being silly.

“Haha, Candidate. Like that thing’s gonna answer you.”

It will.

I know this system better than you ever could, freak.

And sure enough, something appeared on the wall. This time, it felt a little… rushed.

— …

— …

— Time Limit

02:59:00
02:58:00

I let out a small laugh.

‘Called it.’

Suddenly, a time limit popped up—like the test-maker was flustered.

A sandglass etched beside the countdown was now steadily trickling down.

What, are you trying to stress me out?

I picked up the chalk, completely calm.

With this puzzle, you didn’t need guides or answer threads. I remembered every variant and its patterns by heart.

All I needed to do was decide which version this one was.

“I’ll write the answer now.”

After some thinking, I lifted the chalk.

Correct the following sentences.

Screeeeeech—!

Correct the following sentences.

I drew a single line.

Then calmly looked at the wall.

“You said if I give the right answer, I get hanged. But if I give the wrong answer, I’ll starve to death, yeah?”

So then…

“Is this… the correct answer, or not?”

I followed the test-maker’s rule to the letter and created a solution—but it was one that couldn’t be clearly called right or wrong.

‘Honestly, that paradox is the real solution.’

The devs seriously needed to fix their question phrasing.

There’d been massive forum blowups over this puzzle before.

“Oho…”

Usher, still holding me up, let out a whistle. His stare was intense, but I just looked up at the ceiling—toward the test-maker, wherever it might be.

How long did the silence last?

— Value proven.

Drrrrkk!

The wall pushed open, and a door appeared—large enough for a person to pass through.

The countdown vanished like it had never existed.

I smirked.

‘Just as expected.’

A little while later.

“Wow. I heard the labyrinth test zones had wild puzzles, but this one? This one’s insane.”

We were walking down a long hallway. I ignored Usher’s amazement and kept moving.

‘I have to get out of here fast, and I can’t waste time talking to this psycho…’

And then—

[Danger detected!]

Startled by the sign, I quickly turned around.

“Hmm?”

Usher’s hand was hovering just inches from my neck.

Bzzzt!

That familiar red lightning coiled around his hand.

Like it was stopping him from choking me.

Usher tilted his head.

“Yep, still can’t do it?”

I got chills.

‘…This sick bastard.’

He kept staring… and then smirked.

“Not even flinching, huh?”

That look of certainty.

“You did know this would happen if I tried to attack, didn’t you? How’d you know? Tell me, Candidate? Please?”

He pulled his hand back.

The red light faded—and then he reached for me again.

His hand stopped right in front of my eyes.

[Danger detected!]

Bzzzt!

This time aiming for my heart.

[Danger detected!]

Crackle!

Then my stomach.

How many times did this repeat?

— Warning accumulated!

Now the light wasn’t just sparking.

Clang!

Red chains snapped into place, shackling both his hands.

Clang! Clang!

“Hm?”

He jiggled them a few times, then shrugged.

“Aha, looks like I’ve reached my limit.”

He waved one of his hands.

“If it weren’t for these bracelets… how disappointing.”

On his wrists were the Leather Bracelets of Judgment, which reduce a Guardian’s power to less than half.

‘…If he didn’t have those bracelets, what would he have done?’

What else? It’d be the start of a bad ending, obviously.

‘So these bracelets are suppressing his fanatic hidden skills too, huh.’

Not exactly how I wanted to gather new intel…

Still, the fact that part of me was excited about learning this made me sick. Damn it.

I’m seriously losing it.

‘Daddy… I miss you so much…’

* * *

Derek suddenly looked up.

‘Just now… I think I heard Nemesia’s voice.’

Was it a hallucination?

He ran a hand down his face.

“My, you seem very worried. I suppose that’s understandable.”

A pleasant voice spoke from beside him.

It was the man with the bandaged eyes—one of those Nemesia had nicknamed Royal Spy Set #1 back in the Angel’s Interview zone.

“Antonio, you and Sir Derek must both be worried… Being separated from your candidates and all. Just the thought makes me anxious too.”

Also present were a female holy knight named Laura, who’d just spoken, and the candidate child she served.

In total, there were four of them here.

Derek’s concern deepened.

Two Guardians without their candidates… that meant somewhere, there might be a room with only the children.

And worst of all, Nemesia could be stuck with that lunatic.

Smack!

Derek suddenly slapped his own face, startling Antonio and Laura.

“Let’s move.”

“Uh… Sir Derek, you’re still as impulsive as ever, I see?”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Antonio mumbled to himself.

Weren’t people saying Derek had become quieter after becoming a Corrupted Holy Knight? That he’d grown timid?

Who the hell started that rumor?

“Sir Antonio, I’m counting on that smart head of yours for the next puzzle.”

“Yes, yes, of course…”

Derek marched on in silence.

No one realized.

He was barely holding back from going berserk.

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

In the frayed corners of his mind,

That single sentence, her voice,

Was what barely tethered Derek to sanity.

Her voice.

Her waiting face, somewhere unknown.

For that alone, Derek walked forward without hesitation.

“Ah! Wait for meee! I wanna see our Candidate toooo!”

Antonio chased after him in little steps.

Behind him, Laura shook her head.

Gently scolding the child she carried.

“Now, Mel dear, don’t imitate that. It’s not proper, okay? Big no-no.”

“Mmkay.”

* * *

After clearing the first room, a long corridor followed.

To Usher, the structure didn’t seem all that impressive.

Darkness was something every Evil God fanatic was familiar with.

The darkness of the Evil God.

The darkness…

Clink.

Usher glanced down at his hand.

Clank.

Red glowing chains were wrapped tightly around it.

‘Tch… annoying.’

He had let his guard down.

He hadn’t expected the Leather Bracelet of Judgment to be this powerful.

Even his special fanatic abilities had been sealed.

‘…Well. Impressive, I’ll give you that.’

Damn it, O’ Evil God…

Usher opened and closed his hand.

Fanatics assigned to infiltration missions receive training to handle holy power.

To hide the Evil God’s power they carry.

But once their divine power is restricted…

Their hidden, twisted power starts leaking out.

That’s why… it was best not to use power at all in here.

Usher raised his head.

“Why’s this hall so damn long…”

Ahead, a round little back bobbed along.

The cotton-candy-like hair swaying with each step caught his eyes.

His gaze followed it—like a beast who had just locked onto prey.
 

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Translator: Japchae