Chapter 86

‘Do something for me? Yeah, right.’

At the very least, I know there are only two things this guy could possibly “do for me.”

One — carry out the mission he infiltrated for.
Two — the moment he finds the Pope, slit their throat.

That’s it. Just those two.

‘The Order of the Evil God made sure he can’t do anything else from the start.’

Game Category [Post][Casual Chat]

Title: Our poor little Usher-chan ㅠ

Our Usher-Usher-chan is actually a pitiful soul, you know.
It’s all because the Evil God and the cult made him this way ㅠ
Please look at him with warmth and love ❤️

❤️ Likes -3

Comments

👤 Savior 1
Not eating your Usher.

👤 Savior 2
Could you say that in front of the 3,125,487,975 people that bastard’s killed?

└ Sayver 1: Haaahk, you have no idea how great it is to die to Usher-chan,, haaahk

└ Sayver 2: Ah… weirdo alert.

👤 Savior 3
The Usher faction in our game is the worst. That fanatic’s fandom is just as crazy as he is.

└ Sayver 2: Even compared to Flora?

└ Sayver 3: Don’t you dare compare our Lady Flora to a filthy fanatic. I’ll crush your skull.

└ Sayver 2: …Actually, hearing that, they might be about the same.

“Don’t need it. You saw enough, right? Get lost. Orders? I’ve only got one thing to say—never show your face to me again.”

“…That’s disappointing.”

As he said that, Usher’s eyes lit up.

Before, it was just awe and admiration. Now they gleamed like a miner who’d just struck gold.

Like he’d realized something.

“…Could it be you saw through my foolish little test just now? You did, didn’t you? My apologies.”

The bastard’s nature was showing—apologizing shamelessly.

“Let me follow you. I can do anything.”

“Don’t need you.”

— Why not?

— Take him! It could be fun!

— Yeah, fun!!

These damn mutts, still here?

I didn’t even glance at the dog-headed judge as I stepped back.

“I’ve told you enough times already. I have zero need for someone who only gets in the way like you.”

“And if I don’t get in the way?”

“…”

“If I help you do whatever you want?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t do that.”

At my words, Usher’s eyes went wide. Judging by his reaction, I’d probably erased the last shred of doubt in his mind.

And he stepped even closer.

“I knew it… you are the real one, aren’t you?! You know everything about me. It’s been like that from the start… That’s why I couldn’t help but fail, isn’t it?”

Ack! dammit, don’t come closer, you psycho!

Scritch, scritch…!

Great. Now the Tagger sound’s back again.

“Fine. Since you know so well what I can’t do, I’ll make it so I can do them.”

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

I don’t need you. Why would I need you? I said no.

But Usher just looked me straight in the eye and declared—

“I will make a vow of obedience.”

He said it as if he were pleading, yet with a strange firmness. I couldn’t help but snort.

A vow of obedience? From you?

‘This lunatic must think I’m some pushover.’

“I vow my obedience.”

I’ve seen a fanatic vow obedience before.

It was right after I tore apart one of their underground cells.

That day, I’d met a fanatic Connector with Daddy.

I’d pretended to be the Evil God’s chosen child and received a mark of obedience.

The mark’s still etched on the back of my hand to this day.

Fanatics don’t just vow obedience with words.

They always add some kind of binding mark or token, as if they can’t truly obey without physically engraving it.

‘…Which makes sense, since their god’s doctrine approves of betrayal. If it’s not forced, why would anyone trust it?’

But there’s an exception to that rule.

The bastard in front of me.

Usher.

Why?

Because of his hidden ability.

‘Even if he vows obedience, it’s useless. This guy… he can brainwash himself out of the “vow.”’

It even came up in the gameplay footage.

There’s a scene where he escapes a deadly vow penalty by sheer self-hypnosis.

And I’ve experienced it myself!

‘I remember the first time, it pissed me off so much…’

Sure, he still takes damage. But he survives and slips free.

So him spouting vow-of-obedience crap right now? Complete bullshit.

“That so?”

In other words—

‘I’ve got you by the throat, bastard.’

I smiled brightly.

Usher froze for a moment.

“Then put a restriction on it that even your ability can’t undo. Still doable?”

Oh, if he’s going this far, I’ll wring him dry.

“And you can’t use your ability on me or my people without my permission. Still willing?”

I’d thought cutting ties was best, but I realized—

Even if I threw him out, he’d just come back saying the same thing.

In that case, I’ll just use the chance I’m given.

“…”

Usher blinked blankly, then slowly broke into a smile.

“Ahaha… hahaha… hahahahaha!”

Laughing like a maniac, befitting a fanatic.

…If it weren’t for his face, he wouldn’t have any fans, and his personality would’ve gotten him kicked out long ago.

“Hah… you’re the first person who’s made me feel I’ve been playing such a cheap game all this time. Yes… the first since I was born…”

…Yeah, that doesn’t sound good. Ominous, even.

“Fine, I’ll vow it.”

A vow with no loopholes?

‘You’ll regret it.’

But whatever.

“If it means I can see the end of the world up close… what could be difficult about that?”

I wasn’t forcing him?

‘A named fanatic helping me get a happy ending, huh.’

I held out my hand.

His eyes curved as he smiled, taking it.

Our hands touched.

A red aura flowed from him.

‘…The Evil God’s divine power.’

It triggered an instinctive disgust, but I held it in.

— Strong one, huh.

— Mother’s scent! Sniff sniff!

The moment his aura coiled around my hand—

“Hmm?”

Usher let out a soft laugh. But his eyes held clear displeasure.

“As expected of the chosen child. You’ve already received another mark of obedience?”

Wait—so after all that talk, he’s pissed because this isn’t my first vow?

“…If I find out who it is, I’ll punish them.”

“As if I would.”

Hey, that’s not a convinced face.

Yet he took my other hand, the one without the mark, and wrapped his aura around it.

‘Hmm?’

This time, the form was different from the vow I’d gotten from the other fanatic.

His aura slowly began to take shape—

— Ooh, that’s a soul-bound vow.

— Yeah, looks like it.

The mutt-headed judge’s unsolicited commentary told me all I needed to know.

This was even stronger than the Connector’s.

And then, finally, something solid was in my hand.

Clink.

It was… a chain. The chain in my hand was connected to him.

And around his neck was a shackle—basically a dog collar.

‘…What the hell?’

Do fanatics just have messed-up kinks or what?

Usher seemed to notice my bewilderment and responded calmly.

“Knowing how deeply you distrust me, I seek to prove myself guilty.”

He pressed a hand to his chest, all fake-formal, and declared with a bright smile—

“Take my leash!”

Ugh. I don’t wanna touch it.

But it was clearly a powerful binding. And if it was soul-bound, as the judge said, even more so.

‘I see.’

I smirked inwardly.

“Fine. I’ll accept it.”

If he’s going this far…

I’ll show you, bit by bit, just how bad a choice you made.

You’ve been had, you lunatic.

Let’s see how you like being sentenced to hard labor… for the sake of saving the world.