Chapter 43

No, I mean—I did gamble on this, thinking he could pull it off.

Mathematically, I assumed Dad’s level would be around 50 when I tried this.

But when I peeled back the wrapper… he popped out at level 99, and everything got steamrolled like it was nothing.

‘I tried it because games always have cheesy little exploits like this.’

Given Dad’s current role in the storyline, even a corrupted level 50 would’ve been strong enough.

‘Didn’t think it’d actually work, but to think he really got back to his prime—even for a moment.’

The effect wasn’t just good. It was too good.

But then…

Shiver…

My hands. My whole body started trembling uncontrollably.

‘This is bad.’

My consciousness started to flicker.

Using the Purification skill with all my might basically meant I’d just done something way beyond what my current level and condition could handle.

‘This was only possible because of the “Child Actor” skill…’

It was reckless and absurd, sure. But so what?

Success is success.

And if Dad hadn’t sliced that thing in one shot, we’d be the ones stuck in here instead.

The moment I could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, my body didn’t fall. It floated up instead.

“…Are you alright?”

I felt myself pulled into a strong, steady embrace.

When I lifted my head, through the haze of my blurry vision, I saw a face filled with worry.

‘What did Dad look like without the corruption?’

Suddenly, I felt a pang of regret. I didn’t get to see it—I’d been too focused on slicing the dog-headed judge.

I buried my face into Dad’s neck.

“Mm… I’m done…”

I admitted it honestly.

The “Child Actor” skill would probably end soon, too.

“But Daddy, you were so cool…!”

“…”

“You were the best.”

He didn’t say anything, but the neck that held me grew a little warmer.

For a moment, Dad seemed at a loss for words.

“…I’m glad… to have been of use.”

‘Of use’? He really has no idea. Once we get out, I’m gonna shower him with compliments until his ears burn…

I barely managed to lift a limp finger.

“Let’s go.”

A crimson portal had appeared before us at some point.

Proof of our successful subjugation.

“If we stay here any longer… we’ll be trapped…”

“Yeah. Let’s move.”

As I felt Dad start walking, I closed my eyes.

Ugh, the moment we get through the portal, I’m passing out. No questions asked…

Just as I thought that, Dad’s body stopped.

That ominous feeling made me force my eyes open.

“…Nemesia.”

Dad’s voice was grave.

We definitely saw that obnoxious judge get sliced in half.

“No, no, hang on a sec.”

I quickly slapped my hand over Dad’s mouth.

‘Something’s off.’

Fighting the blurriness in my eyes, I slowly looked ahead.

A monster, melting away endlessly, stood before us.

— Yeeeah…

— Yeah! Yeah!!

— Huuu-man~!

A single eye dangled loosely from the head as it drooped down right in front of me.

My insides flinched, but outwardly I just glared.

“Move. If you break any more rules, you’ll vanish.”

— Kekekeke, you know our ‘rules’?

— One question!

— Answer it!

The creature’s many heads cackled individually as they spun in a circle.

“…And if I answer, what do I get?”

Hand it over, you mutt-faced freaks.

This was a pattern I’d never seen before, but since I was sure there wouldn’t be any more combat, I relaxed.

— Deal!

Once the bargain was made, the question flew at me:

— “What if one of the ‘hostages’ you sacrificed was actually human?

I blinked at the unexpected question.

But the answer came out easy. Calm.

“So what?”

I smiled brightly.

“Guess I’d be headed to hell. But that’s not what happened, is it?”

Hah. Look how bitter they are—clinging to this even at the end.

At my answer, the monster with only one eye left let out a throaty laugh that sounded more like coughing.

— You, you’re hilarious!

— Too bad we couldn’t finish the trial!

— What a shame!

Cough cough cough! The dog-heads howled with laughter, their jaws practically splitting open.

— You’re ‘its’ servant.

— The Pope, right?

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘So that’s how this is going.’

Outwardly, I tilted my head with indifference.

There wasn’t much time left before I collapsed. Better to wrap this up quickly.

“That was one question. I answered it. In return, let’s agree you won’t spill what you learned—anywhere.”

— Kekekeke.

— You really are fun.

Their intensity weakened even further. They were clearly reaching their limit too.

— We swear!

— On our existence!

— Not even Mother or Father will know! It’s our secret, okay?

One of the few blessings about this world’s Order is that the evil god’s creations rarely work together.

They’re all self-centered like this.

— Funny, funny!

— We’ll be watching you!

— Call us again!

“Nope.”

Thanks to you, I won’t be able to look at a dog for weeks.

Still, the monsters grinned and stepped aside. Then one of them said something ominous:

— You won’t be able to resist.

As if that were the end of it, the creature retreated. I didn’t bother watching and just tugged at Dad’s clothes.

He stepped into the portal like he’d been waiting for it.

‘God, that took forever.’

I could almost hear a “Chapter Clear” jingle playing somewhere in the background.

But instead of sound effects, something else popped up.

[Achievement Unlocked! Idol of the Fanatics (???) II!]

‘…What the hell?’

* z* *

Inside a dimly lit room…

The sound of sniffling echoed nonstop.

“Hic… I was s-scared… Sob… Mom…”

It was the whimpering cry of a ten-year-old Pope candidate.

The child had been assigned to Team 3 after being separated from their Guardian, Usher, and barely made it out thanks to the incredible efforts of another child on their team.

But whether the kid made it out or not meant absolutely nothing to Usher.

‘No, wait… If the brat died, I’d have to find another candidate… so I guess that’s a bit of a hassle?’

Sniffling beside him, the kid wept, but Usher sat there with legs crossed, chin resting on his hand, like it was none of his business.

Watching his own Pope candidate bawl their eyes out only made the contrast sharper.

Yeah. Kids are supposed to be like that, aren’t they?

“Thanks.”

“I mean it.”

Unlike that brat who acted all tough when she was actually scared, only pretending in front of others—

“I thought… if I showed fear, it’d make things harder for everyone. Just a gut feeling.”

How intriguing.

The curiosity that sparked during their first and second meetings exploded once they were trapped together.

And then…

“Alright, I’ll sacrifice the hostage.”

A Pope candidate who could so casually sacrifice a hostage?
 

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Translator: Japchae