Chapter 4

* * *

“The Order had a reason for creating the Guardian system.”

Because of the divine oracle.

It declared the pope must be raised well into adulthood, no matter what.

“Your name is Nemesia, correct? …It says here you’re three years old.”

“Yup.”

Now I even found out my name.

This was a face I’d never seen in the game before, and the name was just as unfamiliar.

“I suspected as much from the start, but you don’t talk or act like a three-year-old.”

“I’m smawrt.”

After all, there’s a full-grown gaming addict trapped in this tiny toddler’s body.

I don’t know how Ciara interpreted that, but she simply nodded.

“This is the prayer room.”

We stopped in front of a marble door.

“Still… I’m surprised Sir Usher told you where the prayer room is, and even gave you intel on other guardian candidates.”

“Yup.”

“…He’s not usually that kind of person.”

I pretended not to hear and whistled softly.

Just as Ciara said, the person I planned to choose as my guardian was waiting behind this door.

‘It’s not without its risks, but thinking long-term… this guy’s the best pick.’

Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud, so I just tossed out the first fanatic’s name I remembered.

He’s gonna be dealt with later anyway, by my own hands. Don’t take it personally, Usher.

‘Still… praying in a place like this? It’s perfect for turning people into fanatics.’

The inside of the prayer room was dark and damp, almost unnaturally so.

Breathing in this musty air while staring at these dreary walls all day is no wonder people start to lose their minds.

‘If I were the pope, I’d start by redoing the wallpaper.’

Ciara opened the door.

And right as it creaked open, I saw a towering man inside.

He startled me a little, but not enough to be shocked.

Because I knew exactly who he was.

A massive figure.

Eyes lowered, black hair, and a handsome face overshadowed by gloom.

Dark, brooding blue eyes that gleamed with a strange light.

Despite being a prayer room used by holy knights, it felt like I’d just walked in on a retired mafia boss.

[Status Effect: Low Self-Esteem]

I smiled at the gloomy heartthrob.

Hi there, future guardian.

‘How about you hop on my coin and ride your way to salvation?’

* * *

Derek Sacrum.

He was wildly popular among gamers.

Part of it was his decadently attractive looks, which drew in a huge female fanbase. But he also had a chapter where he shone spectacularly.

Plus, lore-wise, he was a former hero of the Order.

‘I remember now. In the past scenes, he looked like a radiant golden hero, but now he’s corrupted and brooding like some underground boss. That contrast was a huge hit.’

I looked down, trying to organize my thoughts.

The signboard immediately followed my gaze and started hopping on the floor.

<Black Salvatore> designed the system windows to appear as wooden signs, for player immersion.

‘Come to think of it, this was the first thing I saw when I woke up in this world…’

Like some shady cult stuff…

[Do you believe in God?]

[Let’s save this doomed world with love!]

“Ah, right! That one!”

I blurted it out before I could stop myself, earning strange looks from those around me.

“Candidate…?”

I ignored them and stared hard at the sign that had popped up.

‘Wait… this phrase wasn’t here before in this part of the game.’

Why would the word love appear in a hopeless dystopia?

[Let’s save the world with love!]

…The phrasing had changed.

Was I imagining it?

[The “Sole Savior” will save the world with love!!]

It really changed!!

‘…What the hell does that even mean, saving with love?’

As if waiting for me to ask, more signs burst into view.

[Give a Hug!]

[Give a Kiss!]

[Give Praise!]

[Pat on the Head!]

…?

Huh? I blinked my big round eyes.

‘…What am I, a kindergarten teacher?’

The signs floated closer. Alarmed, I quickly adjusted my thoughts.

[Pat on the Head!!]

‘There’s no such thing as a bad dog? Am I raising a dog now?’

No matter how I looked at it, that’s exactly what it sounded like.

There was nothing like this in the original game.

I took a step back, avoiding the signs, tilting my head in disbelief.

‘Wait a minute… these aren’t things I have to do, right?’

And then, as if confirming it, more signs popped up in rapid succession.

Letters dancing in the air spelled out:

[Feed him!]

[Go on a Picnic!]

[Sing him a Song!]

[Dance for him!]

[Say “I love you!”]

…Have you lost your mind?

The people in this place are:

Believers, clerics, holy knights…

Let’s dig deeper.

Fanatics, corrupted holy knights, royal spies…

You expect me to go on a picnic with people who’ve half lost their minds? Sing to them? Tell them I love them?

‘That’s a surefire way to get branded a heretic and executed.’

In the original game, the protagonist’s mission was clear:

[Preach]

[Proselytize]

[Deliver sermons]

[Grant salvation]

…How did that respectable list of papal duties turn into this glorified babysitter checklist?

[Avoid the fanatics, cultists, and corrupted holy knights in the Order. Find a Guardian!]

‘I know! That’s why I’m here to recruit this guy!’

But the sign wasn’t satisfied. This time, it popped up with what looked like a warning against my choice.

[‘Derek Sacrum’ is a Corrupted Holy Knight.]

A corrupted holy knight.

In plain terms: he’s losing his mind.

‘I know that.’

In the story, corrupted holy knights slowly lose their sanity over time.

Derek is no exception. In the end, he spirals into a frenzy and even kills his allies.

‘But in my strategy guide, he’s a safe pick.’

There’s a reason I passed over the “normal” holy knights.

‘Sure, he’s guaranteed to go berserk… but there’s also an effective way to fix him.’

As a former hero, his stats are impressive with just a bit of care. The corruption makes things tricky, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.

[Would you like to appoint “Derek Sacrum” as your Guardian?]

I nodded.

‘It won’t sparkle or make a sound effect like in the game, right?’

That would draw too much attention.

[“Derek Sacrum” has been appointed as your Guardian!]

No light. No flashy sound effects.

‘Hm? That’s it?’

I had planned to choose him, but the lack of fanfare made it feel oddly underwhelming.

[You can’t change your chosen “Guardian”!]

The sign wobbled back and forth as if taunting me.

Oh, shut up.

[As the one who speaks for God, your choice is final. May you have no regrets!]

Sure thing.

“Sir Derek, were you about to head out?”

When I didn’t say anything, Ciara asked hesitantly.

“…Going to get my meds.”

A dull, low voice.

So low it was almost inhuman.

“Ah.”

Ciara looked a bit troubled.

“What is it?”

“Well… This little one here is a ‘Pope Candidate’ who just made it through the Labyrinth.”

Derek gave a look that said, So what? An expression of apathy and gloom.

‘He looks more like a depressed patient than a holy knight…’

I know his self-esteem was shattered after realizing he was corrupted.

But I didn’t think it was this bad…

“The candidate just selected you, Sir Sacrum, as her ‘Guardian’.”

For the first time, a flicker of emotion crossed Derek’s face.

“…Me? But why? Why would you choose trash like me…”

Trash?

With that face, nobody would dare call you trash.

‘Sorry, but you’re stuck with me now.’

The sign had already made it official. Now I just had to drag him off for the guardian ritual.

Ciara glanced at me, speaking cautiously.

“Um… was it perhaps… a mistake?”

“No! No mishtake!”

As if I’d choose wrong?

I staked my whole gaming life on choosing the right Guardian.

‘Yes, a corrupted holy knight is dangerous. That’s true.’

But this one’s different.

He’s the kind of person who, if he ever did lose control, wouldn’t hesitate to stab himself instead of harming others.

One of the few truly righteous people left.

And someone with the potential to stand against the fanatics and royal spies who’ll soon come for me.

‘Let’s be heroes together, shall we?’