Chapter 97

The news was that Gidehme might have been contaminated.

And of all things, the last time I saw him, he had willingly sided with my fabricated story.

So… it bothered me a little.

‘Among those eliminated, Mel encountered the fire he feared most and was shocked.’

And the other one probably faced their trauma properly in the room Emmet dealt with.

But Gidehme didn’t make sense.

“How’d that happen?”

In this world, holy knights often get contaminated when they enter paranormal phenomena or come into contact with monsters.

But it’s not just holy knights.

Priests, or even people doing menial work in the Order, anyone can be contaminated.

“They say nothing is certain yet. You need a detailed examination to confirm contamination.”

In reality, it takes time to determine contamination for sure.

“They said the preliminary test came back as ‘no abnormalities.’”

But it’s too early to feel relieved based on just that.

Even if someone isn’t contaminated right away, there are cases where it shows up later after an incubation period.

Gidehme was classified as part of that “high-risk group,” and the Order decided to remove him from the Pope candidate selection.

“Is he okay?”

“From what I heard, he’s taking it more calmly than expected.”

Daddy’s expression was complicated.

Well, Gidehme was the oldest among the candidates, but he was still just a boy in his early teens.

“Even after continued observation, even if nothing shows up, once someone is placed in the high-risk group, they won’t be reinstated as a candidate.”

“Mm…”

For some reason, I remembered him charging forward the most in the room where Emmet’s trauma unfolded.

It made my feelings complicated for no reason.

“The good news is, he won’t be leaving the Order.”

Seeing me like that, Daddy changed the subject.

“From what they saw in this test, he has more than enough aptitude. Once the examination is done, he’s expected to switch to becoming a holy knight.”

All the children who became Pope candidates had outstanding divine power and their own specialties.

Without realizing it, my face must’ve brightened. Daddy gave a faint smile as he looked at me.

“Are you happy?”

“Mm. I guess.”

I admitted it honestly.

Gidehme has talent. The more people like him remain in the Order,

the more people I’ll have to rely on when I become Pope later, and the better our chances of saving the world.

“And normally, they wouldn’t share details about other candidates like this, but there’s a reason they told us.”

“A reason?”

“Yes. Candidate Gidehme asked for a message to be delivered to you.”

Even though he was no longer a candidate, there was still respect in the way Daddy referred to him.

“He asked me to tell you thank you.”

“Mm? Me?”

I tilted my head. What did he have to thank me for?

Even after thinking about it, nothing came to mind.

Well, maybe he had his own reasons… I decided to just let it go.

It was just a shame that the eliminated children needed treatment or observation, so I couldn’t meet them to say goodbye.

Now, only four remained.

Me, Flora, Emmet, and Lucy.

‘I expected this, but it still feels kinda strange now that only the main players are left.’

I glanced up at Daddy.

I remembered the day a few days ago when he had me spill every single detail about what happened with Usher.

[Oh dear! ‘Daddy’ has taken massive shock!]

[Pat him!]

[Let’s shout ‘Shock, go away!’]

That day, I worked hard to “purify” Daddy and carefully explained everything while reading the room.

The situation had been so unusual that it was eventually let go, but Daddy had looked deeply troubled that whole day.

‘Well, who would’ve thought I’d end up in the helper room with that guy Usher?’

Back in the present, Daddy looked at me, then tilted his head.

Then, as if he understood something, he lifted me up.

“Mm?”

“They say physical contact with parents is important for a child’s emotional development.”

Watching Daddy carefully explain, I smiled softly. It really did make me feel a little more at ease.

“You probably know what’s going to happen next.”

“Mm, yeah.”

I wrapped my arms tightly around Daddy’s neck. This position, this warmth. It felt completely natural now, like it was where I belonged.

Feeling his heartbeat thumping steadily, I suddenly lifted my head.

“I know. Now… it’s time to grow up.”

* * *

The next day.

The professor gathered all the candidates who passed the test.

“Thank you for gathering here, candidates.”

Professor Ahn stepped forward as the representative. His usual friendly smile was still there,

but somehow, this place carried a different kind of solemnity and gravity.

Maybe it wasn’t just me. When I glanced to the side, Emmet and Flora also looked different than usual.

‘Mm, Lucy’s the only one who hasn’t changed.’

Actually, the moment we arrived, Lucy had run straight toward me.

But the professors stopped her, so now we were all standing with some distance between us.

“The test that began with ten candidates now leaves only four. You’ve all worked very hard to come this far.”

Professor Ahn bowed his head slightly.

“The next test may very well be the last. Among you stands the radiant incarnation of God, brighter than light itself, the Pope. It is our greatest honor. Now, I will explain today’s schedule.”

You talk too much, Professor.

Still, the atmosphere was so different from before that the other kids all seemed tense in their own ways.

Soon, Professor Ahn called another professor, and a portal appeared in the center of where we stood.

“Please follow me for now. There is somewhere we must go together. Ah, please maintain your current spacing as you proceed.”

I already knew where we were going, so I followed quietly.

One by one, each person moved while holding their guardian’s hand or being carried. I was the last.

“…It’s not dangerous, right?”

Daddy whispered so only I could hear. I smiled slightly and answered.

“Mm, not at all.”

Relax, relax.

They’re not suddenly going to throw us into some weird paranormal phenomenon shouting “third test!”

‘Well… I guess something weird does show up?’

Just as I thought that,

the space before us opened up into something vast.

It was an enormous hall.

There were already children and guardians who had arrived earlier, all staring at something with their mouths slightly open.

‘Whoa.’

It felt like time flowed differently here. Everything looked like ruins.

The walls were worn, and the ceiling looked like it might collapse at any moment.

From the ceiling hung clocks, upside down.

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock.

Each one showed a different time. It was eerie.

At the center of the floor was a massive door, made of gold and silver, completely out of place in such a ruined setting.

“Now that everyone has arrived, I will begin the explanation.”

Around the door, black and gold lights swirled violently, as if they were clashing with each other.

“You must have wondered. Why would the great God choose not an adult, but a ‘child’ as His incarnation?”

Professor Ahn extended his hand gently. The massive door stood where he pointed.

“We have interpreted His will in this way. That our purpose is to receive and nurture His purest and most noble incarnation!”

His voice carried a hint of excitement. His slightly widened eyes swept over us children, including me.

“I think the professor’s acting kinda weird, Nemesia…”

Flora, standing not too far away, muttered so I could hear.

“Mm. I think so too… but sometimes people just go a lil crazy, so let’s just ignore it…”

Pfft!

I heard someone trying to hold back laughter, so I turned and saw Emmet’s guardian.

Regretting it instantly, I turned my head right back to the professor.

“Those who have come this far have successfully completed dangerous and difficult tasks that ordinary holy knights or priests could not resolve.”

What, didn’t you say before you’d ensure the candidates’ safety?

‘This line is ridiculous every time I hear it.’

“But in overcoming the trials ahead, your young bodies and stamina will only become obstacles! Therefore, we…!”

The professor spread his arms wide.

“Have decided to grant you all the opportunity to grow!”

There were a few times I’d admired just how vicious this Salvatore setting could be.

And one of the finest examples of that cruelty was now standing right in front of me.

The world was on the brink of destruction,

and the only Pope who could stop it was just a child.

So the Order prepared a method.

They would use a “paranormal phenomenon” that had been sealed within the Order for a very long time.

[Post][Strategy Guide]

[Monster Encyclopedia #45]

~Paranormal Class~

‘The Rift of Time / Gap of the Sleeping Poem’

◆ Grade Apollyon

◆ One of our fun and delightful Salvatore settings. The world is about to end, and our only hope is a tiny kid?

But as the kid grows, they get stronger, their chances of saving the world increase, and their survival rate goes up?

So what do we do?

We make them grow!

…And that’s where this so-called time skip tool comes in.

◆ If you pay the price, it lets you grow to whatever age you want, granting you the physical condition, body, and maximum stats appropriate for that age.

◆ It’s mainly used to transition into the next chapter, so there’s nothing particularly dangerous to watch out for.

◆ That said, once you pass through here, it leads into a pretty interesting chapter. And that is…