TFWSDW 45

~Chapter 45~

Gidmeda’s rugged face flushed crimson, his lips opening and closing awkwardly as though uttering the most difficult words in the world.

“Th-thank you… for helping me!!”

Ah, his voice cracked.

I blinked, lowering my head slightly. I mustn’t laugh, though someone nearby was already struggling to hold back their amusement.

“I… I just had to say it… Anyway, I also heard that you made it out safely, though they said you’d fainted and were in pain…”

“Yeah, I came down with something like a fever… I was scared too.”

It wasn’t quite a fever, but it was best to maintain the image of a frail candidate. And it wasn’t even a lie; I had been the last to emerge and the one who remained unconscious the longest.

Gidmeda’s eyes widened briefly before he averted his gaze, clearly overcome by a tangle of emotions.

Feigning with my fingers as though fidgeting, I asked softly,

“Have you… chosen a new protector?”

“Ah? Uh… yes, I have… someone new…”

I glanced back discreetly. Indeed, there was a new Holy Knight—this time, a woman with short-cropped hair.

“She seems fine enough.”

At least better than the selfish brute who had once used his charge as a mere shield.

Lowering my voice, I murmured,

“These trials are already arduous… make sure you choose someone reliable.”

Gidmeda’s eyes darted to me, his expression startled.

“I read the rules. It said you can change your protector at any time before the official ceremony…”

“Ah? Oh, yes.”

He nodded, seemingly content, and after a moment’s hesitation, left. His face betrayed a hint of regret, but upon looking at me, he must have thought, She’s still unwell… and withdrew.

“Hmm… do I really look that pale?”

I glanced around.

It wasn’t just me—everyone’s faces seemed drained, a natural consequence of having endured such a deadly trial. Yet I could sense that the ordeal had drawn us closer together.

Some of the protectors now looked upon the Pope candidates with noticeably changed expressions.

Thank goodness protectors can’t approach their candidates in this space.

I turned away, deliberately ignoring the piercing stare from Usher in the distance.

I will never speak to you, you wretched fanatic.

At least there was one small comfort.

Although my involuntary “heroics” in Teams 1 and 2 had drawn unwanted attention, it turned out that heroes had emerged in Teams 3 and 4 as well.

How fortunate that I wasn’t the only one to stand out!

Thanks to that, the survival rate has risen dramatically.

Normally, this chapter would claim an average of four candidates—sometimes as many as six. This trial was aptly named the novice’s graveyard.

My gaze soon settled on a delicate, fair-haired girl with platinum locks fluttering softly.

She was the one who had saved both the hostages and her team from Team 4.

But the true hero…

I turned my head and locked eyes with a boy.

Lavender hair, oversized glasses perched precariously on his face.

He was the one who had miraculously saved every single member of Team 3 without a single casualty, his abilities nothing short of extraordinary.

Alongside the platinum-haired girl and myself, he was undeniably one of the brightest stars of this trial.

And now he was approaching me.

Don’t come here, don’t come here, don’t come here…!!

Outwardly, I shrank back timidly, but inside, my expression twisted in dread.

And with good reason.

[Faction: Royal Spy]

I really don’t want to get entangled with you!

Nor did I have the slightest desire to engage in conversation.

But contrary to my silent plea, the boy stopped directly in front of me.

Up close, his features appeared sharper and more intelligent than I had expected, yet I averted my gaze, unwilling to meet his eyes.

I’m just a timid little child, painfully shy around strangers…

“Hey.”

Feel the wall I’ve built and walk away… treat me like something unpleasant you’d rather avoid…

“Hey?”

Damn it!

I timidly lifted only my eyes.

“Wh-why are you calling me…?”

Good, my voice trembled convincingly.

From behind the lenses of his glasses, his gaze was unexpectedly piercing, as though the frames served only to mask the sharpness within.

Just like my protector…

“Do you know my name? I figured I should introduce myself before we get to the point.”

Of course I knew it, but I feigned ignorance, keeping my head bowed and shoulders hunched as though urging him to leave.

But the boy ignored every sign of my cold demeanor and spoke with a friendly tone.

“My name is Emmett Dyer. Oh, and… my protector is Sir… Antonio.”

You almost slipped and said your father’s name, didn’t you?

Because it’s a false identity.

And really, who refers to their protector with such honorifics? I kept the thought to myself, simply curling in on myself like a cornered cat about to lash out.

“And what else… ah! I cleared the ‘Swamp’ in Zone 2.”

Zone 2’s Swamp—one of the three most treacherous areas aside from the labyrinth I had passed through myself.

In other words, this boy possessed potential second only to the protagonist’s.

Though he’s a spy.

A royal spy.

Simply put, they were the lapdogs of tyrants or corrupt courtiers from a crumbling kingdom—those who wished to revel in decadence while the world burned.

More precisely, they were the underlings of those corrupt courtiers.

People who would ensure their own comfort and survival until the bitter end, sent by the royal family to seize control of the papacy.

As such, only the elite of the royal court were chosen, and the same applied to their children.

He must be among the rarest of prodigies.

Holy power was a given.

Indeed, his stats as a character were extremely high.

Emmett Dyer.

He was one of the rivals who constantly clashed with the protagonist.

I had tried my utmost to recruit him as an ally, but such attempts almost never succeeded.

And that wasn’t the end of it. As he grew older, he would only become an even greater thorn in one’s side.

Any event tied to the royal spies inevitably led to…

Kidnapping.

Kidnapping.

Or should I say… abduction.

Game Category [Forum Post][Casual Chat]

Title: Hey!!!!!! Stop making it sound like I’m being kidnapped, for crying out loud!!

Damn it!!!!!!!!!!

I’ve been kidnapped again! Again! AGAIN!!!

Looking for mini-game tips, please ㅠ

 Likes: 255
Comments:

 Savior 1
Did you manage to escape from the carriage yet?

└ OP: ㅠㅠㅠ Not yet…

└ Savior 1: Yikes… if you cross the border, it’s game over…

 Savior 2
At this point, just enjoy it, haahng.

 Savior 3
You might discover a new kink; kid-nap-ping? (Aaah~♡)

 Savior 4
Fanatics’ imprisonment vs. Spies’ abduction.

└ Savior 1: 111111

└ Savior 5: 22222222 No question, option 2, right??

└ Savior 3: Try mixing option 2 with option 1~ aaah~

└ OP: Stop holding polls in my post, you crazy saviors…

I instinctively stepped back, desperate to distance myself from the budding prodigy of kidnappers, though I knew full well he wasn’t about to leave.

“What’s your name?”

“…You already know it.”

“Hm?”

I raised only my eyes, deliberately making my body tremble.

“You know… so why ask?”

“……”

I was well aware that my name had spread far and wide as the one who had cleared the labyrinth.

The boy’s eyes behind the lenses narrowed ever so slightly before a small, polite smile touched his lips.

“Sorry, I think I frightened you. I only came… to thank you.”

Emmett scratched his cheek awkwardly.

“I heard you helped my father. Without asking for anything in return.”

“……”

“Truly… thank you.”

He bowed his head, the gesture impeccably courteous.

At that moment, he seemed like a well-mannered, ordinary child—except for the fact that his face was anything but ordinary, strikingly handsome as it was.

“Thanks to you, I was able to see my father again, safe and sound. I… I really need him.”

…To stage another kidnapping with him, perhaps?

“And I was told you asked nothing from him.”

Before entering this chamber, I had seen his protector, Antonio. He had waited outside, clearly anticipating my arrival after sending Emmett in.

Though the conversation had been cut short when my father’s icy glare had driven him away almost instantly…

Even Lorado, who had been in the same team, hadn’t been able to approach me afterwards. Father had been remarkably even-handed, and I was satisfied with that.

“…You helped without… expecting anything in return too, didn’t you…?”

In truth, this boy deserved to be considered the top performer in the entire trial.

After all, Team 4 had suffered casualties, and Team 1—Gidmeda’s team—had been all but annihilated save for him.

Our team and Team 3 had survived intact, but…

Their return was much swifter than ours.

Of course, if one were to assign points, my father—who had single-handedly annihilated a paranormal entity—would undoubtedly take the crown.

But that was a secret no one else knew.

The dog-headed Judge had been an irregular anomaly, and the church likely couldn’t fully grasp what had transpired within the trial grounds.

Ultimately, my delayed return would only make me appear weaker than this boy. Exactly as I wanted.

Second or third place is more than enough.

There was no reason for me to stand in the spotlight—and I mustn’t.

“You… did a good thing too, didn’t you?”

“Mm, not quite.”

Emmett’s smile blossomed, brighter than any he had shown before.

“I was paid to save them.”