Chapter 51

“Don’t worry. It’s not right away!”

Derek felt a tangle of emotions as he watched his daughter speak with a bright, carefree smile.

‘A fanatic ritual?’

The fact that the ones who had infiltrated this place were actually gathering to worship an evil god was beyond outrageous—it was blasphemous. But anger or disgust weren’t his primary emotions.

“You really don’t have to worry that much. It’s not dangerous!”

How could this not be dangerous?

Derek opened his mouth to speak.

But the words never made it out. The child’s expression was just too innocent.

She looked so cheerful—what if his words made her sulk?

What if he disappointed her…?

Of course, if necessary, he would protect Nemesia even if it meant being hated. But for now, hearing her out took priority.

Nemesia had recently seen the underground fanatic cell. Now, she was telling him about the fanatic “Connector” she had seen in the garden.

She explained that, because of that fanatic, word about her had likely begun to spread among them.

And that she would probably be invited soon.

Her explanation was simple to understand.

…So simple it was actually a problem.

“…And you’re saying it’s not dangerous? Any holy knight hearing this would say it’s a hundred percent dangerous.”

“It’s true though…”

Nemesia frowned and squirmed.

The way she stuck out her lips in thought was so typically childlike that Derek clenched his fist in secret.

She was in danger.

‘…Is she saying it like this on purpose so I won’t worry?’

Maybe she knew this would happen anyway.

And she was trying to soften the blow for him.

Even though she didn’t need to.

‘Maybe she still doesn’t fully trust me. It’s fine.’

Right. From here on out, this was his role. He had an obligation to earn Nemesia’s absolute trust—down to her bones!

Nemesia had already given him that trust long ago, but her self-esteem-deprived daddy didn’t realize it. Still, holding back his quiet sadness, he renewed his resolve today as well.

“Daddy, what was it like when you hunted that monster the other day? Was it easier to deal with since you got your powers back?”

“…It wasn’t difficult.”

“See?”

I beamed up at him.

“It’s just gonna be something like that again next time!”

Hearing that, Derek became certain.

It’s dangerous… but she’s saying it this way to keep me calm.

But Nemesia, on the other hand…

‘Pfft, a fanatic ritual’s nothing compared to the Dog-Headed Judge.’

And so, once again, the father and daughter were dreaming two completely different dreams.

“Wait… ‘something like that again’? You mean you’ll faint again?!”

Derek, quick on the uptake, narrowed his eyes. Nemesia rolled hers in a troubled look.

‘…Sharp one. He’s not falling for it.’

Just as Nemesia was trying to figure out how to reassure him with a smile—

[An item has been activated! (Item: “Lasso of Truth”)]

Nemesia’s eyes widened as she stared into the air. An item?

‘That item is…?’

Even before her thoughts finished, she hurriedly checked the rest of the message.

[(Target: Bennett Satin)]

Right, that was the item she had used on Bennett!

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]

Lasso of Truth

(excerpted)

The Lasso’s first hidden feature is that if the target speaks a truth that had a restriction placed on it, the player gets an alert.

Totally OP item for catching fanatics and spies, lol

The restriction Nemesia had placed on Bennett at the time was…

‘That a pope candidate is connected to the fanatics.’

Now, sometime later…

Nemesia stood silently, staring at the air, which made Derek furrow his brow.

“What is it?”

“Mm, it’s nothing big… Looks like someone tattled.”

She figured that our supporting actor had finally tattled to someone.

‘Let’s see who he tattled to.’

The great thing about this item—it even showed who the information was revealed to.

Up to this point, Nemesia was still in a good mood. A smile hung lazily on her lips.

‘People really don’t know how good this thing is.’

She hummed to herself as she checked the display. But the moment the name popped up—

Nemesia’s smile disappeared.

[(Revealed to: Usher Tatum)]

…You’ve gotta be kidding me.

She barely stopped herself from blurting it out. Shock swallowed up every other emotion.

One single thought filled her mind.

‘Toosheeeeeeer!’

* * *

At that moment, Usher was in a splendid mood.

“Hmm~ Humm~”

In a dimly lit room, he sat in a chair far too small for him, rocking back and forth.

Creak.

Creeeaaak.

The chair cried in protest.

Next to him stood a boy, staring at him with dazed eyes—Bennett.

His unfocused gaze wasn’t even aimed at Usher, more like at the void.

“Do you have any idea how good I’m feeling right now, Sir Bennett?”

“…”

“Oh, right. You’re not a knight yet. Just a squire.”

While Usher spoke leisurely, Bennett didn’t move a muscle.

“You may answer, if you’d like.”

“Yes…”

Usher hummed a tune.

“Isn’t it just wonderful how, by sheer coincidence, my pope candidate fell ill and had to be treated away from me?”

He finished his explanation, which no one could hear, in an unreasonably cheerful tone. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest.

“I simply cannot live without excitement. This is delightful.”

His gaze settled on Bennett’s golden hair.

He slowly recalled what had happened a few days ago.

A few days earlier.

His pope candidate had returned, but Nemesia had yet to.

Leaving his pope candidate in her room, he stepped outside.

It annoyed him to no end that Nemesia hadn’t returned yet.

What was going on in there?

And how could he not be in there?

It was unfair!

He even felt a little hurt.

How could she throw him out first?

‘If she had let me stay until the end, I would’ve happily watched the whole thing.’

The thought that Nemesia might never return didn’t even register as a possibility.

He was certain.

Nemesia would come back. And something amazing and unexpected would have happened in there.

Too bad he hadn’t seen it.

‘Well, it’s fine.’

He could just ask her when she got out.

She said she was scared of him.

‘I’ll be kind. Gentle.’

A smile bloomed on the reflection in the window. A face of divine beauty and delight.

He soon arrived at the holy knights’ quarters.

It was a place mostly reserved for high-ranking members—Usher’s room was here too.

He had just dropped by to submit a periodic report to the fanatic headquarters.

“Who’s that?”

He spotted a boy loitering near the building.

* * *

Bennett had agonized over this decision more times than he could count.

“I am a child chosen by the Evil God.”

That statement from the pope candidate was not something he could overlook.

And she spoke the fanatics’ language too fluently—too naturally. It didn’t seem like acting.

“Listen well. The most essential virtue for a holy knight is the ‘Eye!’ We face that which is not human! Beasts wearing human masks! As God’s tools, we must confront all of them!”

“Keep doubting. Doubt again, and again.”

Trust only your own judgment.

Words he’d heard so often they had etched themselves into his bones.

His mentor—a holy knight so skilled he was deputy commander—had always believed in Bennett’s potential.

That trust was a firm foundation, but also a heavy burden.

‘I… I can’t afford to make a wrong judgment.’

Nemesia’s behavior had fanatic written all over it, and she never denied it.

“Salvation! I’ve been saved!”

Yet, for some reason, Bennett couldn’t forget the image of Nemesia sitting in the black slime, erasing it without hesitation.

Covered in filth here and there…

Looking so pure amidst all that filth…

He had felt no disgust. No anger. And that confused him.

“Child, remember this. Sometimes God will test you in the lowest, filthiest form.”

“Do not resent. Do not be angry. As His servant, you…”

He remembered his mother—killed by a fanatic.

And the one who had saved his life—Nemesia. The day she blew up the place and escaped with him…

“…If I tell you, will you kill me?”

“No. I’ll die.”

The way she calmly told him to talk and let him go…

‘But what if she was lying? What if I will die…?’

He had come here to report to his mentor. And yet, for three whole hours, he hadn’t set foot inside.

‘I’ll trust my own judgment.’

At last, Bennett turned his back to leave.

Strangely, deciding to not report it made his steps feel lighter.

He was about to go when—

“Hey, you there?”

A shadow fell over him.

“What’s a squire doing here?”

Shining silver hair, cold violet eyes. A face of dazzling beauty.

Bennett recognized him instantly.

It was Usher, on his way back to his room.

* * *

Snapping out of his recollection, Usher chuckled softly.

He had recognized Bennett instantly.

That boy who had been with Nemesia when she came out of the portal from the underground cell.

“N-no, it’s nothing, Sir Tatum!”

Usher instinctively sensed the boy was hiding something.

Finding the stammer suspicious, he placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and casually used his power.

“I heard you went through something rough recently. Even gave testimony to the Inquisition. Must’ve been hard. If there’s anything you want to say, you can tell me.”

And in that moment—

“N-no, I’m fine…!”

Usher’s eyes widened.

‘Well, well.’

To his surprise, Bennett had just shrugged off his brainwashing ability.
 

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Translator: Japchae