Chapter 5

* * *

“It wasn’t a mishtake.”

At Nemesia’s small but firm declaration, both Ciara and Derek looked at her in surprise.

“I don’t make mishtakes like that.”

Her little glare was fierce and defiant.

‘…God, she’s tiny.’

Way too tiny.

She looked like a speck of dust that might pop if someone so much as squeezed her hand.

“But Candidate, this prayer room isn’t only used by Sir Derek. So—”

“No. I heard the pershon who brought me here talking. Said he wash here.”

“Sir Usher…?”

At that name, Derek immediately pieced the situation together.

‘Usher Tatum.’

Anyone in the Order knew how unpredictable that man was.

“So you met Usher.”

He was a guy who wandered through the Order stirring up drama and chasing amusement in chaos.

If anyone could whisper something wicked like, “Derek is really useful,” into the ear of a small child, even if that child was a pope candidate, it’d be that insidious bastard.

When in truth…

He was probably the most useless waste of space in this place.

His gaze dropped.

The pope was practically the embodiment of the Order’s existence.

Therefore, protecting the pope was the Order’s absolute duty.

‘Which means the pope candidate’s decision cannot be denied.’

It was an ironclad rule.

Derek slowly bent his knees, lowering himself to the child’s eye level.

…Though he still had to look down.

By choosing him, this child had already doomed her chances in the competition for popehood.

Derek felt a faint twinge of pity.

“I’m sorry. That your choice was trash like me.”

Once, he was a hero.

To enemies, a nightmare. To his allies, a wise and powerful servant of God.

But during a battle with an apostle of the Evil God, his mind had been corrupted. Madness took root.

He could still wield divine power, so the Order kept him around.

But he was a rusted, broken weapon, never sure when he might snap and kill someone.

“You’re not trash.”

…Until that firm little voice hit him.

Derek looked up.

“I didn’t pick a trash.”

Her gaze was fierce, maybe even too bold.

But she was still so small.

Like a baby kitten thinking it’s a tiger.

“This wash the will of God.”

A heavy sentence for him.

“And I, with my will, picked you.”

How old was this kid?

Nothing about her matched the way she spoke.

Instead of answering, Derek’s low, gloomy voice filled the air.

“…Derek Sacrum, by the pope candidate’s call, accepts the role of Guardian.”

He had no idea why this newly-chosen candidate picked someone like him. No clue how she could say he wasn’t trash.

It was probably the ignorant stubbornness of a child.

…And yet.

“Bend down.”

Her cotton-like hand reached out.

Derek hesitated a moment, then lowered himself further, doing as she wished.

The child stood on tiptoe and placed her tiny hand on his shoulder.

“You’re pretty. So pretty.”

“…?”

Ciara, who’d been quietly watching, parted her lips, trying to say something—

“…!!”

But Derek felt something strange.

‘Energy? No, this is… divine power.’

His mind cleared in an instant.

And not just his mind. He was wrapped in a faint but unmistakable holy power. Not quite his prime, but it was real.

This wasn’t a delusion.

His mouth parted in shock.

‘What is this…?’

And just like that, the moment her hand lifted, the heavy gloom settled back in.

Which meant only one thing…

…This child had purified him.

A legendary power spoken of only in myths.

Meanwhile, as Derek was caught up in that mysterious sensation, Nemesia was shocked for a very different reason.

‘Wait. That actually worked?’

[Now shout “You’re pretty!” at your new ‘Daddy’ Derek!]

[This is the perfect chance to reduce his Corruption level!]

[Let’s save with love!!]

What the hell kind of love is this?!

* * *

In a world where the Evil God’s power grew stronger by the day, the protagonist Khan had one ultimate weapon: Purification.

A unique power that could cleanse the Evil God’s corruption.

It worked on corrupted holy knights, yes…

But also on land, air, plants, animals. In everything.

It was the perfect ability for a savior.

…Problem was, you didn’t get it until way late in the game.

‘And by the time you do, all the good holy knight characters are already dead!’

Now I understood what all that ‘love, love’ the signs were screaming about really meant.

‘They’re telling me to hop on the express train home!’

I’d already been planning to use everything I had to lower Derek’s corruption anyway—

‘But now I’ve basically unlocked a cheat code!’

I made the right choice.

And it was written all over Derek’s face.

The signs even displayed the result.

[Let’s cheer up your sad new “Daddy” with a compliment!]

[Now shout “You’re pretty!” at your new ‘Daddy’ Derek!]

Just a few minutes ago, I had stared at those signs with pure disbelief.

‘Saying “You’re pretty” to a guy who’s like 190 cm tall…?’

Honestly, if I said that, he’d probably reply with, “Want me to show you how pretty your blood looks when it’s spilled?”

No way he wanted that either.

Really. Got it, signboard?

[Your gloomy new “Daddy” might get more corrupted if you don’t!]

…Way to guilt-trip me in the most manipulative way possible.

Still, something didn’t sit right.

Why was I the only one seeing these weird signboards?

‘What if I’m actually a hidden character…?’

Something to think about later.

Right now, I had to treat this place like the real world and act accordingly.

I shouted with confidence.

“Bend down.”

When is my pronunciation going to improve?

Either way, the big man lowered his head in front of me.

‘…If I ride on his shoulders, I’ll be able to see the top of most people’s heads.’

[New goal added!]

[Shoulder ride!]

…Are you kidding me?

I stared blankly at the signboard, which had eagerly added a new event with “Daddy.”

And even now, time continued ticking forward.

I raised my head, not wanting to leave the kneeling “Dad” looking awkward, and thought to myself:

‘He didn’t even ask why… just knelt.’

That look on his face held resignation, surrender… even despair.

“Minjeong, my dear… Grandma’s just waiting to die now that your dad’s gone.”

‘…Why the hell is that popping into my head right now?’

I shook the unwanted memory away and reached out my hand.

[Now shout “You’re pretty!” at your new ‘Daddy’ Derek!]

Fine, fine.

‘Nothing to lose anyway.’

I stood on tiptoe and stretched out my hand—