Chapter 69

There had been a bit of a fuss, but the result had never been in question.

“Even the air is dangerous!!”

Dad had even managed to spit out such a legendary line, but all it took was one sentence—”Don’t you trust your old subordinate?”—to shut him up.

Guess even Dad still had a soft spot for his old teammates.

Of course, we agreed that if anything seemed off, we’d summon Daddy back immediately. Just in case, I even wrapped myself in his divine power.

“…Our Captain’s really changed, huh.”

Now alone with me, Alexa muttered with a grimace.

I only glanced her way. I’d seen it too. A lot had happened to turn my old man into that.

“Mm, no. I’d say he’s back to his original self.”

“Was he always like that?”

“Nope. I’ve never seen him this extreme before. But it’s fun. I like it.”

Alexa grinned.

“Better than watching someone die while still alive, don’t you think?”

There was weight behind her words.

“So, what’s the occasion? What made you ask me out on this lovely date? What an honor~”

I knew she wasn’t just all sunshine and jokes.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

I wanted to wrap this up quickly—for Daddy, who was probably dealing with separation anxiety outside.

“Follow me.”

“…Sorry, come again?”

I placed my hands on my hips.

Sure, I’m only three, so it probably looked more like I was trying to be cute.

But this wasn’t about looks. It was about attitude.

“Become my subordinate.”

“Uhh… excuse me? Did I just hear what I think I heard?”

“Let’s not deny reality, shall we? You already figured it out.”

“…”

I tapped Alexa’s arm, grinning while she gave me a suspicious look.

“Alexa, Daddy’s the most important person to you, right?”

“Of course. He’s my old captain. Loyalty’s a given.”

“Nope. It’s not just loyalty. It’s only Daddy that matters to you, isn’t it?”

She froze for a second, and I didn’t miss it.

“Let me guess. As long as Daddy’s safe, you don’t really care what happens to me. You probably feel a little grateful that I got him out of the Prayer Room, though.”

“…”

Her smile began to fade, just as I expected.

“Sir Holy Knight, who only cares about Daddy—if you want to hear what comes next, you’ll have to swear an oath.”

“…An oath?”

Yep. That was code for: Premium content ahead, please pay first.

“Uh-huh. It’s super important to Daddy. You have to hear this.”

She had seen it herself—how I brought Daddy back from the ‘Sealed Garbage Disposal Unit,’ a paranormal trap that no one had ever escaped before.

No way she wouldn’t be shaken.

“Fine. I’ll swear it.”

Alexa raised a single brow and smiled.

“Let’s hope the price of this oath is sweet enough, Honorable Candidate.”

That smile was different than before.

* * *

“What kind of oath do you want? Or rather, let’s just say I won’t repeat anything we discuss here.”

At this point, Alexa still thought Nemesia was just adorable.

Or maybe—just maybe—she still had some affection left.

A candidate chosen by the Captain. A prodigy. The one who had freed her old captain from that cursed Prayer Room.

Whether the kid was threatening her or pressuring her, Alexa had found it charming. Even when the tiny little thing put her hands on her hips.

‘This has to be the cutest threat in the world.’

As someone who’d spent her life fighting filth, filth, and more filth, the frontline holy knight couldn’t help but be amused.

Those cheeks like white buns, that floral pink hair—it all screamed sweetness.

Far too lovely for a place as brutal as this Order.

“Mkay.”

Just like that, Alexa took the oath.

“I swear before God with my divine power and very existence. Not a single word will leave my lips.”

As a holy knight of the frontlines, oath-taking and secret-keeping had been a way of life. Nothing difficult about this.

As her divine power settled, the child broke into the brightest smile yet. So radiant, Alexa blinked in surprise.

“There’s only one reason you should follow me, Alexa.”

Tap. The girl’s tiny finger tapped Alexa’s calloused hand.

“I know how to heal Daddy.”

“…What?”

“There’s only one way to heal a corrupted knight, right?”

The only method to treat corruption.

“I know who the Pope is.”

There was only one answer.

Purification. The legendary, exclusive ability of the Pope!

“Whaaaaat?! Did I just hear what I think I did?!”

“Shhh. You’re too loud. Want to drag Daddy over here?”

Alexa quickly clamped her mouth shut. Even though they’d already set a soundproof barrier, she still listened when Nemesia shushed her.

There really was something strange about this candidate.

A way she drew people in. A way she made people believe.

“The Pope has the Purification ability.”

“How do you… know who the Pope is…?”

Nemesia’s eyes rolled slightly.

“You didn’t forget I cleared the Labyrinth, right?”

The Labyrinth.

A place as old as the Order itself, rumored to hold remnants of the divine.

Finding mysterious knowledge or prophecy there wouldn’t be odd at all.

Alexa swallowed hard.

Her smile, her composure—everything had long since disappeared.

‘…This is way beyond me.’

She knew.

But the little girl had dangled Derek on the other end of the scale. Their captain. Their hero. The one they’d never forgotten.

“Who is the Pope? No—wait! Don’t tell me!!”

Alexa reflexively reached out to cover the child’s mouth—only to realize her entire face could almost be covered with one hand.

The shock of just how young she was suddenly hit her.

She pulled her hand back and whispered carefully,

“…Is it true?”

Could it really be that among the chosen children, the Pope had been hiding?

“So Daddy can… really be purified?”

The child clasped her hands like in prayer and beamed.

“Yup. I swear on my life.”

Divine power swirled around the girl. And yet—it looked more sacred than Alexa’s ever did.

The moment Nemesia returned the oath, there was no more room for doubt.

“You told me to follow you, right? Then I will. I entrust you with my life—on the condition your vow is true.”

She knelt on one knee.

It had been a long, long time since she’d done this with true sincerity. In this corrupt Order, she’d lost faith clearly and completely.

She had lost it the moment her young captain, broken and contaminated, returned—discarded in secret and locked up in the Prayer Room.

He said he was fine. But no one believed he hadn’t been imprisoned.

The Azure Holy Knights had sworn, through tears and blood, that they’d rescue their captain one day.

But time passed. They were scattered. Their promises buried.

Until now.

“Mkay. Don’t worry. I keep all my promises with Daddy too.”

What was salvation, really?

They said God sent the Pope to this world as a final hope.

But in this moment, Alexa felt that Nemesia was the real Pope.

What else could you call someone who gave hope to the faithless?

“…I swear.”

Divine power surged between them. Derek would probably sense it from outside, but that was fine.

If anyone would know this energy, it was him.

Alexa swore her loyalty gladly—and with hope.

And then—

“Yaaay, now we’re teammates, right?”

…Teammates?

Not subordinate?

She blinked, but nodded.

“Then I’ve got a favor.”

The newly sworn baby Pope spoke.

“Wanna go fight for me?”

…Hmm?

“Ah! Just talk-fight. Like, argue!”

And thus, the baby commander issued her first royal decree:

She asked her knight… to verbally destroy someone.
 

Brought to you by Gourmet Scans

Translator: Japchae