Chapter 56

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding. As if I’d really break down the door of the Pope candidate’s room!”

While Usher’s cheerful voice echoed outside, I briefly fell into thought.

‘He’s probably been waiting out there.’

That was the most likely explanation.

Too late to think about it now, but maybe I should’ve focused on building a faction from the moment I got a Guardian. Maybe I should’ve started adding allies—even if it meant being away from Daddy—so someone else could protect me.

But I quickly shook my head.

‘No, that wasn’t it. Security came first. The fewer people who know I’m the Pope, the better.’

It was just that damn wildcard—Usher—showed up.

While I stayed silent, his voice came again from beyond the door.

“Knock knock? Usher’s here.”

So the whole breaking-the-door-down thing really was just a joke. He still sounded relaxed.

‘Psycho.’

I stared at the door coldly.

Clack!

Clatter clatter!

Clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter clatter!!

Thunk.

“Hm? Wow… What’s this?”

Usher sounded momentarily confused.

“…A barrier? Ha, hahahaha. Hahahahaha.”

Laughter gave way to a chilling tone.

“Wow, this is great for protecting the Pope candidate, huh?”

I got out of bed and moved near the door.

“Go away.”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment.

“…Oh! You were in there? I was wondering why there was no answer.”

As if he hadn’t already known I was inside, he had the nerve to say that.

“Won’t you let me in? I have something urgent to tell you.”

“I said go away.”

Clack!

Instead of answering, the door rattled.

“What’s with this barrier? If I try breaking it by force… the entire holy knight force in this area might come running. Did you… expect me to come?”

I didn’t respond.

“Or maybe… you were expecting something else?”

I didn’t take the bait. No matter what he said, as long as I held out in here, he couldn’t do a thing.

After a short silence outside, Usher switched tactics.

“But seriously, I do have something urgent. You remember that kid who escaped the underground with you a while back? He told me something pretty interesting…”

“Get lost.”

He tapped lightly on the door, still pretending to be polite.

“Your voice is coming from right in front of me… so you are standing at the door, aren’t you?”

Even with no response, he lowered his voice to a whisper like he was certain I was there.

“Let’s talk. I know your secret, you know…?”

“So what.”

“…”

He hesitated. I could hear a faint “Huh?” from beyond the door.

He probably thought I’d respond with something like ‘What secret?’

“Hmm. I think you misunderstood. I’m not your enemy, Candidate.”

His voice slithered through the air like a whisper.

“Are you hiding something, maybe? Who knows… maybe I’m the one person who’d truly understand you…”

Like the scent of a carnivorous plant luring in prey, his voice was uncharacteristically soft and sweet.

“Whether it’s… hatred or maybe… a sense of kinship.”

That confirmed it.

He must’ve drawn two conclusions from Bennett’s testimony.

First, he might think I was a family member of a fanatic.

That would explain why I supposedly held such a deep grudge against them.

In the game, people like that often played key roles in solving a chapter.

‘Because they know way more about fanatics than the average person.’

If not that…

Then his second theory must be that I was ‘a child chosen by the Evil God.’

And yet, the way he left room for ambiguity in case both assumptions were wrong…

So very Usher.

‘I’m living inside your head, you piece of sh*t.’

He kept talking for a bit, but I didn’t say a word.

When even his last attempt at persuasion didn’t work, his tone changed—irritated, or maybe anxious.

Then he tried something new.

“You know, that guy Bennett who reported to me… is it okay if he dies?”

I paused briefly. Thank God he couldn’t see my reaction.

“He reported the fanatics to me… so he has to go to the Inquisition Department. You probably don’t know, but their investigative unit… isn’t exactly friendly to witnesses.”

“…”

“Plus, he already has a history of contact with the fanatics. That’s not a good look. Too bad, right?”

This bastard.

‘Contact, my ass! He was kidnapped!’

By scumbags like you!

“What’s that got to do with me?”

He probably thinks I’m the kind of candidate who wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice civilians.

“Hmm, I see. Alright then! If the Candidate’s this confident, that must mean Bennett gave me a false report!”

Clap clap. He actually applauded.

Usher spoke cheerfully.

“How dare he lie to me! Not only that, but contacting fanatics right before this? That’s enough to say he was disturbing the Order’s stability. And as you know, discipline is everything around here.”

“…”

“Don’t worry, Candidate. I’ll handle it neatly. I’ll use my authority to strip him of his position and sentence him to death! You’re welcome!”

He said it so casually, then I heard footsteps like he was turning away.

“Sorry for disturbing your rest. I’ll be going now.”

As I realized he was really leaving, did I panic?

No.

‘I’ve got him.’

I glanced at the clock.

Then slowly scanned the room, carefully checking every corner.

And then, I grinned.

‘Alright, let’s do this. You fanatic f*ck.’

Soon, a voice echoed through the room.

* * *

Creeeeeak!

Usher, who had been walking away, couldn’t hide his smile.

‘Hah. She took the bait.’

It was the sound of a door opening.

Sure enough, a tiny voice called from behind him.

“…Wait.”

That clumsy little voice had never sounded so adorable.

Right. No matter how extraordinary she might be, she was still just a child.

Usher turned halfway around, pretending to be exaggeratedly surprised.

“Candidate?”

A small child peeked her head through the door. Pink eyes.

Eyes so big and fragile they looked like they’d fall off with a tap—Usher struggled to contain his joy.

‘It’s so hard just to get a glimpse.’

“What’s the matter?”

“…Really?”

“Hm?”

He turned to fully face her, shrugging as if he didn’t understand. The child glared up at him.

“…Are you really gonna kill Bennett?”

Oof.

He had just thrown that out there, but…

Apparently, the Candidate who mercilessly sacrificed civilians drew a line when it came to kids she’d grown attached to.

Or maybe… there was another reason.

…Well, no matter. He could figure that out later.

“Sure. He’s already had contact with fanatics since childhood, so there’s a high risk he’s been corrupted. No choice but to eliminate him.”

Usher held out a hand, palm up.

“And besides, he’s not even a proper holy knight. Just a nobody. Dead weight.”

Just because someone was kidnapped by fanatics didn’t automatically mean they were corrupted. As a fanatic himself, Usher knew that better than anyone—but he played dumb.

Even if the kid was corrupted, it’s not like anyone could use ‘Purification.’ So what could they do?

Yeah, this Order was perfect precisely because it didn’t have a Pope.

And it never would.

Because they’d never let one live.

‘Oops. Smile. Smile.’

Usher put on the practiced, graceful smile he’d been working on. Warmly.

Kindly.

He wanted her to like him.

Because she fascinated him.

What was she hiding?

“Do you want that friend to live?”

“…”

The child didn’t answer—she only glared.

But Usher could easily read the anxiety, confusion, and fear in her eyes.

“What a shame. The charges are pretty serious… But I do owe you my life, Candidate. It would be heartless of me to just walk away like this. I’m actually a very sentimental guy, you know?”

He imagined the child before him as a wild fawn.

Then took one small step forward—just close enough to avoid triggering her alarm.

What a tease.

Maybe I should’ve just brainwashed her completely back at the testing site?

No, no…

Usher was thoroughly enjoying this.

“Now that I think about it… there is a way to save that nobody.”

He stroked his chin, pretending to think.

“…A way?”

Seeing the child take the bait, Usher was now certain she had some kind of bond with Bennett.

“Right. A way. But…”

He looked around.

Then pressed a finger to his lips.

Wearing an expression of mock concern.

“But it’s not the kind of thing we can talk about out in the hall like this, right?”

Almost there.

“Let me come in, just for a moment.”

If he could just get inside that room—it would be his win.
 

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Translator: Japchae