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~Chapter 43~
I knew I was taking a gamble—I truly believed I could pull it off.
By my calculations, my father’s level should have been around 50 when I attempted it…
Yet when I peeled back the wrapping, what emerged felt like a level 99 juggernaut, making the entire ordeal feel almost laughably easy.
“I’d only tried this trick because such exploits existed even in the game…”
Given his role in the story, even a corrupted Level 50 version of him should’ve been sufficient.
“I didn’t expect it to work—but to think he’d temporarily regain the form of his prime…”
The result was overwhelming. Almost too effective.
But then—
Shiver…
My hands—my whole body—shook uncontrollably.
“This is bad.”
My mind swam.
To use the Purification skill with such force meant I had pushed far beyond what my current level and state should allow.
“This was only possible thanks to the ‘Child Actor’ skill…”
A reckless gamble. But so what?
It succeeded.
Besides, had Dad failed to fell the Judge in a single stroke, we would have been the ones trapped here.
The moment I could endure no longer and collapsed—my body did not hit the ground.
Instead, I floated gently into the air.
“…Are you alright?”
I felt a solid warmth hold me.
When I lifted my head, blurred vision met a face flooded with concern.
“What did Dad’s face look like, cleansed of all that corruption?”
A pang of regret touched me. I hadn’t seen it—too busy watching a dog-headed judge get decapitated.
I buried my face into my father’s neck.
“Mmm… That’s my limit…”
I admitted it honestly.
Soon, the Child Actor buff would wear off.
“But Dad… you were so, so cool…!”
He didn’t respond.
“The best.”
He said nothing, but I felt the warmth on the back of his neck intensify.
A moment passed, and then—
“…It’s a relief that I was of some use.”
Of some use? This man still doesn’t know his worth. Once we get out, I’m going to praise him until he blushes.
I struggled to lift my weakened fingers.
“Let’s go.”
Before us, a crimson portal had appeared—undeniable proof of our success.
“If we stay here any longer… we’ll be trapped…”
“Yes, let’s not delay.”
As Dad carried me forward, I closed my eyes.
Just a little further. Once we’re through, I can safely pass out…
But just then, he stopped.
A sense of dread surged through me, and I forced my eyes open.
“…Nemesiah.”
Dad’s voice was grave.
We had seen the judge fall—watched the beast collapse.
“No, no, wait a minute.”
I clapped a hand over Dad’s mouth.
“Something’s off.”
Fighting through the fog in my mind, I looked ahead.
There, a melting abomination continued to reform.
“Ah…”
“Ah! Ah!”
“Hu-man!”
A head, missing an eye, dropped down before me.
I suppressed a flinch and glared at it coldly.
“Step aside. Break the rules any further and you’ll cease to exist.”
“Kikikik! You know our ‘rules,’ do you?”
“One question!”
“Answer us!”
The beast’s heads cackled, spinning in delighted circles.
“…And if I answer? What do I get in return?”
Fork it over, mutts. I want a reward.
It was a new pattern, but I could tell—there’d be no more combat. I relaxed slightly.
“Very well!”
The question was hurled like a spear:
“What if one of the ‘hostages’ you sacrificed had actually been human?”
I blinked. I hadn’t expected that. But my answer came naturally, easily.
“What else?”
I smiled sweetly.
“Then I’ll go to hell. But they weren’t, were they?”
So bitter, even in defeat—clingy to the end.
The beast blinked its remaining eye once… and then let out a booming laugh.
“You’re… hilarious!”
“Shame we couldn’t finish the trial!”
“Truly a shame!”
Arf! Arf! The dog-heads howled with laughter, jaws stretching wide.
“You, the envoy of ‘that one.’”
“The Pope, yes?”
I clicked my tongue internally.
“So it came to this.”
I tilted my head nonchalantly. I was nearly out of time. Let’s end this.
“You asked your one question. I answered. Now let’s make a deal—you will not reveal what you’ve learned here to anyone.”
“Kikiki… of course, of course!”
“We vow it!”
“By our very existence!”
“Even Mother and Father won’t know! Only we must enjoy the fun!”
One of the few blessings of this world: the creations of evil gods rarely cooperate.
They each do as they please.
“So fun! So fun!”
“Let us watch you.”
“Call us again!”
“No.”
Thanks to you lot, I never want to see another dog again.
Still, the monsters grinned and stepped aside—though not without a cryptic parting word.
“That may not be possible.”
As though closing the curtain, the monster withdrew. I immediately tugged Dad’s clothes.
As if waiting for my signal, he stepped through the portal.
“Finally… that dragged on forever.”
It almost felt like I heard the familiar jingle of a chapter ending.
In truth, what came up instead was:
[Achievement Unlocked! Idol of the Fanatics (???) II!]
“…Excuse me, what?”
* * *
Inside a dimly lit room—
The sound of sobbing echoed.
“Hic… I was so scared… Mom…”
The weeping came from a ten-year-old Pope candidate.
A child assigned to Team 3 with Usher as protector—one who escaped safely thanks to another candidate’s extraordinary efforts.
Not that Usher cared.
“Ah, no… If the kid died, I’d just have to find another. What a hassle.”
Sitting cross-legged, chin resting on one hand, Usher looked on like it was someone else’s problem.
Watching the crying child before him only deepened his sense of contrast.
“Yes… this is what a child is supposed to be.”
“Th-Thank you.”
“I mean it.”
Not like that one—who showed no fear at all, yet pretended to be frightened in front of others.
“If I acted scared, I thought it’d make things harder for everyone. It was instinct.”
Fascinating.
His interest, sparked during their first and second meetings, had now exploded after being trapped together.
And then—
“Alright, I’ll sacrifice the hostage.”
A Pope candidate who could sacrifice hostages without batting an eye?
