Chapter 65

Certainly, once they checked the situation after the report came in, it was clear—there were more than a few suspicious things going on.

“Candidate, please, calm down…!”

“Cough, I told yoo not to come!”

The moment the child began coughing, even the holy knights started panicking and stomping their feet in distress.

Meanwhile, Alexa, standing amidst the crowd, clicked her tongue silently.

To Nemesia, it felt like she had only been locked away for a blink… but in truth, two whole days had passed since the two of them disappeared.

Alexa hadn’t slept a wink, her face was gaunt, yet an indescribable spark lit her expression.

‘She’s alive…’

It was like witnessing a living miracle. If someone told her to convert to the ‘Church of Nemesia’ today, she would’ve done it right then and there!

‘Still…’

Though she’d cowered in fear, Alexa couldn’t help clicking her tongue at the fierce expression on the child’s face.

And a small whisper of awe escaped her lips.

‘So the rabbit does have claws…’

Tiny fists balled tightly, waving with gusto—it was like watching a bunny stomp its hind legs in protest.

Eventually, the situation shifted when Nemesia passed out from the skill backlash.

The instant her eyes closed and she collapsed, Derek’s eyes snapped open as if taking the baton from her.

“Everyone’s gathered?”

Alexa swallowed hard.

“…Looks like we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

His voice was low, as if biting off each word, and Derek’s face had grown even colder.

“Those who dared to put the pope candidate in danger—you better cherish this moment while you’re still breathing. Because I’m going to kill you soon.”

It was as if a war hero, long absent, had returned to the battlefield.

Alexa remembered the days when she rolled under Derek’s command, just another low-ranking subordinate. Before she knew it, her back had straightened on instinct.

‘Yeah… he’s pissed. Properly.’

And who could blame him?

‘Hell yeah, wreck them all. Oh… wait.’

Come to think of it—wasn’t she also one of the people he’d be mad at?

She did chuck the pope candidate aside like a rag doll…

‘I’m basically dead.’

And yet… a smile crept onto Alexa’s lips.

‘Better to be a limbless survivor than a smiling corpse in heaven.’

Only now did she calmly revisit the events from two days prior.

Nemesia, responding to Alexa’s instructions, had channeled divine power and reached out to Derek.

The child didn’t know it, but her power had instinctively calmed Derek’s own, even managing to speak to him.

She’d only been taught a single thing, yet Nemesia instinctively calculated the next steps, predicting what came after—like solving a puzzle midair.

There was no other word for it.

‘Awe-inspiring.’

It wasn’t something that could be taught by words alone.

The world would call such a person a genius.

‘So this is why she’s a pope candidate? One who crossed the labyrinth?’

While secretly celebrating the duo’s return, Alexa’s eyes gleamed sharply.

* * *

A few days later.

‘Ever since I got here, it feels like time’s slipping by in chunks.’

Blinking, I lay flat on my back, thinking.

‘Those bastards… I haven’t forgotten. Not one of them…’

The faces of the guys who interrogated Daddy were still fresh in my mind. Soon enough, they’d learn just how unhinged a game-addicted person’s memory could be.

If I could, I’d dash out right this moment.

But right now, my body was ready to strike. Just… a labor strike.

Usher barged in—I fainted.

Wiped out an underground fanatic cell—fainted.

Ran into that dog-headed judge—fainted again…

‘Is there an achievement for passing out three times? Should come with bonus rewards or something.’

At this rate, my health might quit before I do. This world is a goddamn scam.

When I woke up, I was in the infirmary.

Technically, it was a ward no longer in regular use—but right now, I had the whole wide space to myself.

A courtesy from the Order.

Unused it might be, but it had once been reserved for high-ranking priests. And it just so happened to be one of the few sunlit spots in the entire place.

I blinked again.

Snooze.

Daddy was lying next to me.

He’d offered his warm embrace and even gave me his arm as a pillow.

‘Man… he’s sleeping real peacefully.’

Then again, how many peaceful nights has he had in his life?

I retraced the steps that led us to lie here side by side.

When I first opened my eyes, I was a little dizzy, barely in a condition to listen to anyone.

“…Just hold on a bit longer. We’re almost at the infirmary.”

When we arrived, I bumped into Daddy, and while I was getting treatment for my bruises and general exhaustion, Daddy refused to get any treatment—so of course, we had a fight.

“Ahem… both of you, please… just lie down. I beg you…”

Eventually, both of us were sentenced to bedrest by the healing priest.

That part was fine.

But then Daddy said something weird—that today of all days, he absolutely wouldn’t leave my side.

“Then lay down too! Why’re you still standing, huh?! I’m only mentally drained, you’re the one who’s an actual patient!”

“Well…”

“Huh?”

“Are you… asking for an arm pillow?”

…Excuse me, how did we get there?

I couldn’t follow his logic at all, but for the first time, Daddy was being stubborn.

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, signs started popping up.

[Let’s fulfill Daddy’s wish!]

[Mission! Get the Arm Pillow!]

‘Ugh.’

Look, I get that emotional bonding is important and all. But why the hell does that bonding have to take the form of an arm pillow?

‘…I’ve never even had one before.’

The thought of awkwardly cuddling up made me want to crawl into a hole. But then—

“It’s just… well…”

[“Daddy” is extremely disappointed!]

“…So I can’t?”

[Disappointment intensifies!]

“Ciara said emotional exchange is key between parents and children…”

[So very disappointed…]

‘Alright, alright, fine!!’

“Fiiine! We do it! Happy?!”

And so, that’s how I ended up lying here like this.

‘But honestly… it’s surprisingly comfy.’

I blinked slowly, gazing up at the ceiling. From where I was resting, I could feel the steady, slow thump of a heartbeat.

‘So this is what a parent feels like?’

Geez. Even if Daddy is a legendary holy knight, doing this every night must be exhausting.

But for the past few days, he’s looked happier than ever. There’s even a faint smile on his face.

Well, if even one person’s happy, that’s good enough.

I slowly turned my head.

His peaceful face, framed by long lashes, made me think about what was happening outside.

Just yesterday, Alexa stopped by for a visit and gave me the lowdown.

“Don’t worry! That bastard Tatum’s been dragged in for disciplinary review!”

Usher had claimed that he’d received a tip about a fanatic targeting the pope candidate (me), and rushed in to protect me.

He said his “excessive” actions were due to urgency. Supposedly.

‘Pfft. Sounds exactly like him. Totally expected that excuse.’

Then, last night, a priest from the Central Department’s internal affairs came by and shared the disciplinary verdict.

His actions were clearly excessive, but considering the Cardinal had assigned him as temporary guardian in Daddy’s absence…

And also taking into account that fanatics are top-priority threats at all times…

He was only found guilty of excessive force and given a heavy punishment.

‘Yeah, what did I expect from a rotting Order.’

I’d seen it coming the moment those holy knights came in swinging the Cardinal’s name.

“…We regret having to tell you this. The Cardinal also expressed his regret regarding the incident, and we will do our best to honor Candidate Nemesia’s requests moving forward.”

When they asked if I had any demands regarding punishment, I asked for just one thing.

And that was…

“Are you awake?”

At Daddy’s voice, I quickly turned my head. His eyes were clear—definitely not someone who’d just been sleeping.

“Wasn’t you the one sleeping?”

“I’ve been awake. You were tossing and turning—I thought maybe you were uncomfortable.”

“I’m not. I woke up early too.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Usher’s punishment.”

His expression darkened instantly. A flicker of cold killing intent followed.

“Rotten to the core.”

“Yup. Real rotten. What can ya do.”

It’s depressing when you think about it too hard… but honestly, it’s fine.

I smiled broadly.

‘That guy’s been hit with a restraining order.’

He can’t just pop up in front of me anymore—not in this Order.

The Cardinal himself placed a divine restriction on him. On top of that, the other punishments he got were satisfying.

If he tries breaking the restriction?

‘That’s the same as screaming “I’m a fanatic!” in public.’

The only silver lining in this whole mess was that, while Usher was being dragged off and disciplined, Bennett was safely rescued.

I heard it from Laura when she visited.

‘Mission accomplished.’

Now that we’ve bought some time…

‘Next step is cutting off that guy’s backers—clean.’

Not that he was the only one on my list.

There were plenty more who needed wrecking.

I began lining up my next tasks, one by one.

That’s when—

Knock knock.

At the sound of the knock, Daddy immediately sat up.

“Who is it?”

“Me too! I wanna come too!”

Daddy lifted me up in his arms and opened the infirmary door.

And there—

‘Yep. Knew it.’

The person I’d been expecting stood outside.

“…”

It was Bennett.
 

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Translator: Japchae