Chapter 8

I swallowed hard.

‘Why the hell is he here?’

I thought back to what happened ten minutes ago.

“The pope candidate’s stroll requires permission from the central committee… Well, I suppose you can go for a short walk.”

When I asked to go for a walk, Daddy agreed without much fuss.

“…Though I doubt the garden will be of much interest to a child.”

…He did say something a bit ominous, but I let it slide.

I knew what he meant anyway, so it was fine.

I hadn’t asked to look around the Order just for fun.

‘The mission keeps telling me to use purification on Daddy.’

I was wondering if that skill only worked on him, or if I could use it on others too.

‘I need to test it and find out.’

Thankfully, this place was practically crawling with fanatics of the Evil God. Corrupted holy knights, no less.

‘Wait, this isn’t exactly something to be proud of.’

But there was a problem.

To get official permission for a walk, we had to go through the Central Committee of the Inner Court.

Which happened to be where Daddy was headed right now.

‘I can’t go there yet.’

That place was crawling with another breed of villain: spies. Different from the fanatics, but just as bad.

If I got spotted there, things could go horribly wrong.

‘Like, say, getting kidnapped…’

It really hit me again. This game never gives the main character a break.

Anyway, I’d forced Derek to go alone to get permission, and in the meantime, I was just goofing off in the room.

“Absolutely no leaving the room.”

I stayed put, because I knew better than anyone why it was dangerous out there.

But then the door opened…

“Daddy?”

“Heh. Daddy?”

Who could’ve guessed disaster would come walking through the door on its own?

And now, back to the present.

“Shall we have a little chat?”

The man who’d barged into my room smiled sweetly as he loomed over me.

I forced down the tremble in my lip.

I can’t show I’m shaken…!

I clamped my mouth shut and glared instead of smiling.

“Why are you here, mister?”

“Oof, feisty.”

The man’s face stayed gentle, kind even. He was stunning, with a smile that seemed warm and harmless.

Everyone who fell for that face in the story?

‘They all died.’

He was the kind of guy who’d betray you with an angel’s smile and leave you to die.

“Did you think nothing would happen to you?”

Usher reached out.

“You’re even bolder than I expected.”

Grab.

His hand wrapped around my head, sending a chill down my spine.

“So why was the prophecy wrong…?”

He looked almost bored, like he wasn’t even aware he had a kid’s head in his grip.

I bit my lip.

‘…Daddy, hurry back already!’

Usher scratched his cheek with his free hand, then tilted his head.

“Hey kid, just to be sure… you’re not a boy, are you?”

What kind of question is that?

“Hmm, hard to tell. Some of God’s Apostles are pretty boys, you know.”

“I’m a girl!”

“Right. That so.”

Even after my snappy answer, he ran his eyes up and down me like he was double-checking.

He even tugged at my hair, so I slapped his hand away and glared.

I knew why he was muttering about boys out of nowhere.

‘The prophecy.’

In the story, before the protagonist appears, both the Order and the cult receive a prophecy.

That a “boy” would appear, someone capable of surviving the hardest trial of all: the Labyrinth in Zone One.

‘In the original timeline, Khan was the one who cleared it.’

But because of me, that prophecy had gone off-script. No wonder they were confused.

“Hmm. I kind of like how feisty you are.”

Usher chuckled softly.

He had a handsome face, but I saw the ominous darkness lurking behind those eyes.

‘This guy is dangerous…!’

He suddenly stepped in and grabbed my wrist.

Ow! You psycho! Who grabs a baby like that?!

“Why didn’t you choose me as your Guardian?”

…What?

“My name should’ve been on the Guardian recommendation list, no?”

I was honestly dumbfounded.

Are you senile?

‘You literally said you’d kill me if I chose you!’

“You said you’d kill me if I picked you as my daddy!”

“Oh. Did I?”

What do you mean ‘did I,’ you lunatic?

‘Not that I was ever planning to pick you.’

I struggled to yank my hand away, but it was useless.

Just then, as if to help, the signboard popped up beside Usher.

[Danger detected!]

[Would you like to use “Purification”?]

No. Absolutely not.

‘Using it now is a straight path to getting found out and dying early.’

[In that case, activating Divine Power! Mission: Wink!]

…Excuse me?

Do what now?

[Mission: Wink!]

You’ve gotta be kidding me.

As Usher’s eyes grew darker, I panicked and forced one eye shut, then opened it again.

Is this a wink or a survival twitch?!

“Huh. What was that?”

Usher looked intrigued and lifted me up.

Pop!

A burst of white light exploded from my body, knocking his hand away.

“…Oh? That’s Divine Power?”

He stared at the tiny wound on his hand, impressed.

“You haven’t even been formally trained yet, and the power’s this strong. No wonder you passed the Labyrinth…”

Muttering to himself, Usher suddenly looked genuinely puzzled.

“But why do you hate me so much? I mean, I’ve got a great personality and a kid-friendly face, don’t I…?”

“…You said you’d kill me.”

“Ah! That’s what this is about?”

Usher clapped his hands.

“Then I take it back. So now, choose me as your ‘Daddy.’ You’ve piqued my interest.”

Are you crazy? Even if I had another chance, I still wouldn’t do it.

“Nope.”

I surrounded myself with a barrier of divine power.

It was a rough imitation of what Derek did with sound suppression earlier.

“What kind of daddy manhandles a baby like this?!”

“Oh. That’s a no?”

Psycho. No wait, fanatic. Not much of a difference.

“I don’t like people who say they’ll kill me. So get lost.”

Fanatics like him had one thing in common. If you treat them nicely, they see it as weakness and try to use you.

You couldn’t let your guard down. Not even a little.

Usher smiled.

“Really? That’s a shame.”

“…”

“Then how about we go somewhere special and talk, just the two of us? I really like you, kiddo.”

He’s completely deranged. And the longer he talks, the more dangerous he sounds.

“Other kids just don’t do it for me.”

What now? Of all people, why Usher?

If I make myself seem too capable, he’ll become obsessed.

‘I can’t take him on right now. And I can’t risk him discovering my power either.’

…But wait. That’s what this skill was for.

Though the ritual hasn’t officially been performed yet, the signboard had already registered Derek as my Guardian.

Which meant I could use that power.

[Danger detected! Let’s summon “Daddy”!]

Guardian Summon.

When the main character is in danger, they can summon “Daddy.”

[Come on, say the words!]

[“Daddyyyyy (Big Heart♡) Help meee!”]

…What’s with the heart?

Frowning, I opened my mouth without hesitation.

No way I’m getting kidnapped by a fanatic for a brutal ending!

“Daddy! Help me!”

[Oops, not quite the correct phrase!]

[But “Daddy” responds to the summon anyway!]

A holy white light surged between me and Usher.

“Huh?”

Usher froze, his expression tightening as he backed off warily.

His hand moved toward his waist—

Crash!

The clash of steel against steel rang out.

“Aaah!”

My body was yanked away, and I instinctively shut my eyes.

When I opened them again…

There was Derek, sword in hand, holding me tight and pointing his blade straight at Usher.