Chapter 72

Betty knew it in her gut.

The fact that Derek had been chosen as Guardian… the fact that Alexa had joined them… it could only be Nemesia’s doing.

And Alexa was achieving her goals in a way Betty had never even heard of before.

Yes, Alexa might be Derek’s former subordinate, but her attitude clearly wasn’t just loyalty to Derek.

So Betty couldn’t help but feel—

‘This candidate might just…’

…be capable of causing something far bigger—whether a miracle or a catastrophe.

Her gaze drifted to the warmth in her hand. Flora, still holding it tight, lifted her head to meet Betty’s eyes.

“Betty?”

That sweet, gentle voice. The candidate she had to protect.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen? Your hand’s gone cold!”

“No, nothing at all.”

Betty had come to love the candidate who had chosen her—not just follow her, but love her enough to lay down her life.

Either way, whatever changes Nemesia brought had to be good for Flora.

If they weren’t… then they would inevitably become enemies of this strange entourage.

‘The Azure Knights’ senior officers were all said to have exceptional specialties.’

If she recalled correctly, Alexa had once served as an instructor and strategist within the order. If so…

‘If they even manage to bring in the Azure Knights’ quartermaster and tactician…’

Betty thought of someone currently relegated to a backwater post. Could it be that the Azure Knights would rise again?

Her thoughts stopped there.

“Alexa… you’re amazing!”

“Hahaha, you flatter me!”

Beyond Alexa’s light laugh, a massive white door came into view.

At last, they had made it to the Central Committee.

* * *

‘Hmm. A decent pace.’

Watching Alexa’s efforts, I made my judgment.

One wrong click in-game and it would’ve taken anywhere from three to nine in-game days just to get an audience with the bishops.

‘Told you Alexa’s a good teammate.’

Before us stood the Committee building—its white marble dazzling to the point of pain.

The higher an institution ranked in this order, the whiter and purer its marble.

No matter how the world rotted, decayed, and hurtled toward ruin…

…this was supposed to symbolize the Order’s pure will to preserve the world as it was in the beginning. Or so they claimed.

‘Not that it’s not already rotting on the inside.’

I’d bet there was at least one person in there in league with evil.

“Shall we go in?”

Daddy looked down at me.

I gave him a small nod, then glanced over at Alexa.

She gave a thumbs-up from behind Flora and Betty—Leave it to me.

‘It’s been smooth so far…’

I gave the white columns a complicated look.

From here on, it wouldn’t be so easy.

“…So you’re Candidate Nemesia and Candidate Flora. The lower offices sent word ahead.”

A priest with a sour expression came to greet us.

Which, translated, meant: You cleared in half a day what normally takes over a week for others, and I don’t like it.

A mix of astonishment and reluctant admiration.

“Well, if it isn’t Father Andrew! Weren’t you in the Central Office?”

At Alexa’s greeting, the priest flinched, discomfort plain on his face.

“…Sir Alexa Michelle.”

Alexa grinned.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the man who once cut our Azure Knights’ supply lines! Still got the touch, eh? Hahaha.”

“…”

“…Just kidding! Who cares about some order that vanished ages ago!”

The priest couldn’t quite hide his unease at the barb hidden in her tone.

“Don’t make baseless remarks. That’s an unpleasant accusation.”

Alexa took a small step back.

The priest glared at her before turning his back and starting down the corridor. Alexa sidled over to me and whispered—

“…You have to scrape him like this or he won’t shut up and just lead the way.”

“Mkay.”

Oh, so that’s how it works. I gave her a small thumbs-up in approval.

Alexa grinned.

As she strode ahead again, Daddy leaned down and murmured—

“…You like her?”

“Mkay?”

He nodded toward Alexa.

“I mean Alexa.”

“Ah. Mkay. I like her lots.”

“I see…”

I’d only answered his question, but Daddy suddenly looked a bit glum.

[“Daddy” is feeling uneasy!]

[Reassure “Daddy”!]

[Mission! Give him a cheek kiss!]

‘In the middle of the hallway? Are you nuts?’

Ignoring the mission prompt, I craned my neck and whispered—

“’Cause she’s one of Daddy’s people. That’s why I like her more.”

Daddy gave a faint smile at that, looking relieved.

It seemed he liked Alexa’s bullheaded methods so far… but he’d still been watching me to see if I was okay with this approach.

‘All of it’s been coordinated with Alexa, though.’

I noticed the transparent barrier surrounding us. Good—nothing we said would leak out.

“Nemesia, what were you talking about just now? That was divine power, wasn’t it?”

Flora trotted up to me, whispering excitedly.

“Mkay… I’ll tell you everything when we get back…”

“Yay, okay.”

Flora’s bright smile could’ve lit the place even without her already radiant hair and eyes.

She glanced at Alexa and Father Andrew chatting ahead—well, Alexa poking at him, really—then gently tugged my sleeve.

“Nemesia, I haven’t had the chance to say this with everything going on…”

“Mkay.”

“We’re… friends now, right?”

For the first time, her ever-gentle smile wavered. Her fingers and gaze were cautious, like someone who’d had her kindness rejected too many times before.

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]
Title: I can’t see Flora as a pope candidate anymore. (Serious)

She just looks like a woman now…

She’s overcome! Such! Pain! And now—
She just looks like a woman to meeee!!!

❤️ Likes: 44

Comments

👤 Savior 1
? She’s always been a woman tho

└ Savior 2: I second this

└ Savior 3: Nah, that’s just a running joke, gramps

👤 Savior 4
Is this ’cause you saw the reveal about her backstory? Wasn’t even that sad. My sis only used up four boxes of tissues.

└ Savior 3: Wipe your tears before saying that

With her overpowered traits and her stark sense of right and wrong, Flora seemed upright and unshakable.

But her backstory was that she was a child who’d survived in a village of fanatics.

Until she entered the Order’s trials, she’d endured relentless ostracism.

I looked at her neatly trimmed nails and gave her a big smile.

“Mmkay, we’re already friends.”

“…!”

Flora’s face bloomed like a flower. I laughed with her, only to catch Betty’s gaze—well, her closed eyes turned toward me.

Her lips moved silently, but I got the gist: If you hurt her or make her cry, I’ll never forgive you.

Seriously… overprotective much?

I made a show of leaning into Daddy’s arms.

We’re not the only ones with protectors here.

Daddy immediately wrapped me up protectively, and I grinned.

“We’ve arrived.”

A short while later, we reached the innermost meeting room.

“The bishops present have been informed. You may enter.”

Through the open door stood a round silver table, ringed by seven chairs—though only four were occupied.

“Of the seven bishops, three are absent due to other duties or injuries.”

‘Enough to make decisions, then.’

In the game, the number of bishops present at this point was random.

The minimum needed for a decision was four.

Which meant, if you were unlucky, you could get here only to be kicked out for lack of quorum.

Seemed fortune was with us today.

“Bishops, I take my leave. Breath of Rest be upon you.”

With that, Andrew stepped back.

The bishops knew we’d entered but didn’t so much as glance at us.

“We greet the bishops.”

As Alexa moved forward, Daddy also stepped closer—

“Hold tight.”

Huh?

BOOM!

It happened in an instant.

Daddy moved in a blur. By the time I blinked.

A jet-black spear was lodged where he’d just been standing.

‘Yikes.’

The blue energy coiled around it was unmistakable—holy knights’ aura!

“Hah. I smell foul corruption in here.”

I turned to see a man with his arms crossed, smirking.

Dark hair.

“Where do you think you’re going with those filthy feet?”

He was handsome, but with the menacing air of a gang boss.

His mouth twisted into a sneer, teeth bared.

“Filthy scraps of the Evil God.”

I let out a low sigh.

‘Wow. The bishop level here is just…’

That was Bishop Nathaniel Hessentine, one of the Order’s top leaders and a man of enormous influence.
 

Brought to you by Gourmet Scans

Translator: Japchae