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~Chapter 47~
Like many games, Black Salvatore also had many luck-based systems.
Even that recent encounter with the dog-headed Judge had involved some luck, hadn’t it?
“Though… it was bad luck.”
Because so many parts of this world depended on luck, fortune was a pretty important factor here.
So this time, I focused more than ever.
“What we’re offering is the priest’s special ability: Divination.”
According to the story, when the Pope candidates’ training reached about 3 to 5 months, the church would give them a special gift.
That gift was the special ability just mentioned—Divination.
One of the professors explained:
“It tells the candidate’s future and grants one temporary ability to help with that future.”
“For example, if the candidate is going to fall within a week, they’ll receive the ability to float for that week, so they won’t get hurt.”
“In case of a fire risk, they may get fire resistance, or luck to avoid general misfortune.”
In the game, this was like a luck recharge.
If you pulled high luck here, the next chapter would be easier.
‘Floating power or fire resistance might sound cool, but in practice they’re kinda useless…’
In a world full of danger, pure luck was the best…!
Soon, a priest with their face hidden under white cloth appeared.
He and the Holy Knights set up a small tent in the room.
“If you understand the rules, we’ll now invite you in one by one. You’ll meet the divination priest alone, but protectors can wait outside.”
Everyone accepted the explanation and moved to the waiting room.
I could feel people lingering around me, trying to approach, but I ignored them.
‘Sorry. If I let you talk to me, Usher might come too…’
“Mom… why does only one person go in at a time?”
“Oh, that’s because no one else should know about your future. It’s private.”
As I waited in my dad’s arms, I heard a familiar voice.
It was Laura from my old team, standing with her own candidate.
I nodded slightly, surprised by her polite greeting.
‘She explains things well.’
“The future reading probably warns you of dangers. But if someone overhears it… they might use that info for evil.”
Laura trailed off, but I understood what she really meant:
‘We can’t let the fanatics know a candidate’s weakness.’
The infiltrating fanatics would definitely try to eliminate candidates one by one. Everyone in the church feared this.
‘They probably think the dog-headed anomaly from the last trial was caused by a fanatic, too.’
Which… honestly isn’t a wrong assumption.
I struggled not to glance over at Usher.
Meanwhile, Laura continued explaining things very clearly—even though she was a knight, she was surprisingly well-educated.
“Whoa… she’s good at this.”
I muttered softly, then looked up… and paused.
“…….”
My dad looked sad and sulky.
Why?
Why??
“I can explain… well too…”
“…Huh?”
“I really can.”
“…Uh.”
As I blinked in confusion, he avoided my eyes like a guilty puppy.
‘Wait… did he hear that? But… I already know all this stuff?’
Why is he pretending now? If he wanted to explain, he should’ve said so.
While I hesitated, thinking how to respond, a screen popped up in my head like a warning sign:
[Oh no! ‘Dad’ is feeling down. Let’s cheer him up!]
What?! Am I supposed to use a purification spell on this?!
I coughed and tightly grabbed his hand.
“Even if you don’t explain… Daddy is the best!”
Flinch.
“You even saved me earlier! You were so cool!”
Yes, I absolutely love your overwhelming strength, Dad.
I’ll raise you as my personal hero from now on.
“And you were so thoughtful! Sitting in that tiny chair and hugging me in case danger came again!”
Sparkly eyes.
Oh—Dad’s mood improved!
But then…
“Then I’ll keep holding you like this forever…!”
Excuse me??
Wait, that’s a bit much.
‘You’re going to do this every time? That chair might actually break!’
Was my reaction that obvious?
Uh-oh, no…!
Just as I’d lifted his spirits, he got sad again!
What else was I supposed to say!?
[‘Dad’ is now twice as sulky.]
This isn’t my fault!
Time passed as we waited.
One by one, kids came out from the tent where the divination was done.
Some were so excited they forgot the rules and spilled hints about their powers.
“Wow, now I won’t feel cold even if I fall into water—mmph!”
“Haha, Candidate! Let’s go eat now!”
And so, protectors would rush to shut them up and whisk them away.
‘Yikes… protectors really have it rough. They’re also babysitters.’
Soon, Emmett and his protector Antonio emerged.
‘Huh? What’s wrong with him?’
Emmett looked pale like he had seen a ghost.
We made eye contact.
He nodded at me.
I hesitated but gave him a small, timid wave.
“……!”
Startled, Emmett blushed faintly and turned away.
A few minutes later—
“Candidate Nemesiah, please come in.”
It was my turn.
The tent was empty, with just the setup I had seen earlier.
“I’ll stay right here. I’ll be hyper-aware, so make a sound if you need help—even a tiny one.”
“Okay!”
Dad waited right outside the tent while I marched in bravely.
After that hidden dungeon incident, he didn’t even like being a few steps away. But now, he was calmer.
Because this tent had a secret—no one, not even fanatics, could use movement-related powers inside.
Also, no fighting allowed.
“Welcome, Candidate Nemesiah. Nice to meet you.”
The priest sat on a very low sofa, with a soft carpet on the ground.
It was designed so even kids could sit comfortably.
‘Hmm, very considerate design. Approved.’
“Hi…”
“Would you like to sit down?”
The priest’s face was covered to the nose with cloth. I nodded and sat across from him.
No one else was here.
“My name is Siris. With the power granted by God, I will now read your future, Candidate Nemesiah.”
He waved his hand, and cards flew up and landed neatly on a velvet-covered table.
‘Whoa, that’s cool.’
They looked like tarot cards.
Siris split them into two decks, then waved again, pulling two cards from nowhere and placing them on the table.
“Please choose one and flip it over.”
I nodded and picked the card on the left.
It was… pitch black.
‘Huh? It’s completely dark…?’
Suddenly—
Whoooosh!
Black smoke shot out of the card. I gasped and opened my eyes wide.
‘Oh wow, so this is what game effects look like in real life?’
There were so many possible cards that even I, a game veteran, couldn’t be sure what this meant.
“Hmm…?”
Siris looked at the card and tilted his head. I couldn’t see his whole face, but he seemed serious.
“…You’re the first candidate ever to draw this card, Nemesiah.”
What??
‘What does that mean?! It sounds creepy!’
I already feel like I have terrible luck!
The image of the rabid dog-headed Judge flashed in my mind.
“Actually, this card…”
Siris looked around—even though we were alone—and lowered his voice.
“…This card represents the Evil God.”
…Excuse me??
I’m trying to become Pope, and I got the Evil God card??
