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~Chapter 51~
“Don’t worry. It’s not right away!”
Derrick’s feelings were complicated as he watched his daughter speak so brightly.
A fanatic worship service?
He could set aside the anger and disgust that people were daring to gather in secret to worship the evil god.
“You really don’t need to worry. It’s not dangerous!”
How could that not be dangerous?
Derrick opened his mouth—
But he couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
The child was too radiant.
If she looked so happy now, what if his words made her gloomy?
What if she was disappointed…
Of course, if necessary, he would protect Nemesia even at the cost of her hatred.
But for now, hearing her out took priority.
Nemesia explained: after seeing the underground fanatic branch, she’d recognized the “Connector” she’d glimpsed in the garden.
Thanks to him, her name was spreading among the fanatics.
Soon, they would invite her.
Her explanation was easy to understand.
…Too easy to understand.
“…And yet you say it’s not dangerous? Any Holy Knight here would call that dangerous a hundred times out of a hundred.”
“But it really isn’t…”
Nemesia frowned, lips pushing out in thought. She looked so much like a child her age that Derrick clenched his fist in secret.
She’s in danger.
…Is she trying to speak lightly on purpose, so I won’t worry?
Because it was inevitable.
She seemed to want to make it sound as light as possible.
Even though she didn’t have to.
Maybe she still doesn’t trust me enough. That’s okay.
Yes—this was his role now.
He had the duty to earn his daughter’s full trust!
Nemesia had long since given it, but with his low self-esteem, Derrick only pressed down his hidden gloom and steeled his resolve again today.
“Dad, when you fought the monster the other day, how was it? Was it easier once you regained your strength?”
“…It wasn’t hard.”
“Right?”
She smiled brightly.
“The next thing will be about the same!”
That confirmed it for Derrick.
Dangerous—but she was trying to reassure him.
But Nemesia’s own thoughts were different:
Heh, a fanatic worship service isn’t nearly as hard as the three-headed Judge.
And so, father and daughter dreamed two different dreams.
“Wait… if it’s similar, does that mean you’ll faint again?”
Derrick’s sharp words made Nemesia roll her eyes awkwardly.
…Sharp indeed. He’s not buying it.
She tried to cover it with a smile, wondering how else to calm him—
[An item has activated! (Item: “Lasso of Truth”)]
Nemesia’s eyes widened at the air.
An item?
That item is…
She quickly read the remaining text.
[(Target: Bennet Satain)]
Yes—this was the item she’d bound on Bennet!
[Game Forum – Off-topic]
“Lasso of Truth”
(excerpt)
The lasso’s first hidden ability:
If the target speaks a truth that breaks the imposed taboo,
the player receives an alert.
This makes it god-tier for catching fanatics and spies, lol.
The taboo Nemesia had set on Bennet was:
“That the Pope candidate is connected to the fanatics.”
Now, as Nemesia stared silently into the air, Derrick grew concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mm, nothing big… Looks like he tattled.”
The child thought to herself that her “supporting actor” must have tattled to someone at last.
Let’s see who he told, shall we?
The great part of the item was that it showed to whom the truth was revealed.
Nemesia still felt lighthearted. A smile dangled from her lips.
No one ever notices these sweet hidden functions.
Humming, she glanced at the display.
But when the name appeared—
Her smile vanished.
[(Revealed to: Usher Tatum)]
…Shit.
She barely swallowed her words.
Shock swallowed every feeling.
Only one thought remained:
Not HIM againnnn!
Meanwhile, Usher was in a very good mood.
“Hmhm, hmm.”
In a dimly lit room, he lounged in a chair too small for his tall frame, rocking it lazily.
Creak.
Creeeeak.
The chair groaned.
Beside him sat a boy staring at him blankly—Bennet.
His eyes, unfocused, seemed to look past Usher into nothing.
“Do you know how good I feel right now, Bennet?”
“….”
“Oh, that’s right—you’re not a knight yet. Just a squire.”
Usher’s words were drawn out, leisurely. Bennet didn’t so much as twitch.
“You can answer if you like.”
“…Yes.”
Usher hummed a tune.
“Just when my Pope candidate happened to fall ill and needed treatment away from me—how perfect.”
He enjoyed explaining things no one else could hear, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the chair’s armrest.
“I can’t live without amusement, you see. This is delightful.”
His eyes lingered on Bennet’s blond hair.
Slowly, he recalled a recent event.
A few days ago.
His Pope candidate had returned, but Nemesia had not yet come back.
Leaving his candidate in the room, Usher had gone outside.
The fact that Nemesia hadn’t returned yet—it was unbearable.
What could be happening in there?
And he wasn’t inside to see it?
Outrageous.
He even felt… slighted.
That she would throw him out first!
If only she’d let me stay until the very end—I’d have enjoyed watching.
The thought of Nemesia never returning never crossed his mind.
He was certain.
Nemesia would come back. And inside, something astonishing was unfolding.
It was just a shame he couldn’t see it.
Well, that’s fine.
Once she was back outside, he could just ask her.
After all, she’d said she was afraid of him.
So I’ll be kind. Gentle.
In the window’s reflection, a painted smile spread across his face—beautiful, almost divine.
Soon after, he arrived at the Holy Knights’ lodgings.
Mostly high-ranking officers stayed here; Usher’s room was here too.
He’d only stopped by because his fanatic headquarters report deadline was approaching.
“Who’s that?”
He spotted a boy loitering around the building.
Bennet had agonized for hours over whether it was the right thing to do.
“I am a child chosen by the evil god.”
The Pope candidate’s declaration was impossible to ignore.
And her use of fanatic language—her uncanny knowledge—it was too much to dismiss as mere acting.
“Understand this: the Holy Knight’s foremost virtue is the Eye! For we face not only humans, but the evil god’s creations wearing human masks! As God’s tool!”
“Always doubt. Doubt again.”
Trust only your own judgment.
Words he’d heard so many times they were burned into his ears.
His mentor—second-in-command of the unit—was a great man.
He had always praised Bennet’s ability, firmly believing Bennet would be his successor.
That trust was a strong support—but also a heavy burden for one so young.
I must not make a wrong judgment.
Nemesia’s words and actions—anyone would call them fanatical.
And she offered no defense, no excuse.
“Salvation, I’ve been saved!”
Yet Bennet could not forget her as she’d sat in that black slime pit, filth clinging to her here and there—yet somehow appearing noble amidst the filth.
There had been no disgust. No anger.
Only confusion at his own lack of them.
“Remember, child. Sometimes God will test you in the form of the lowest, dirtiest wretch.”
“Do not resent or rage. As His servant, you must…”
The image of his mother, killed by fanatics, flashed through his mind.
Alongside it—the memory of Nemesia saving his life.
The day of the explosion, when they escaped together…
“If you tell them, will they kill me?”
“No. I will die.”
The way she’d calmly told him to speak—and then let him go.
Would she really have died? Or was that a lie…?
He had gone to find his mentor, but for three hours, his feet had refused to carry him inside.
No. I’ll trust my own judgment.
At last, Bennet turned away, deciding against reporting.
Strangely, his steps felt lighter for it.
But just as he tried to leave—
“Hmm, you there?”
A shadow fell before him.
“Why is a squire here?”
White-silver hair so bright it dazzled, violet eyes like frozen flame.
The beautiful, enthralling man was one Bennet knew well.
Usher Tatum, on his way to his room.
The memory ended.
Usher let out a deep, low chuckle.
He had recognized Bennet at once.
The boy who’d been with Nemesia when she stepped out of the underground branch.
“N-no, it’s nothing, Sir Tatum!”
Usher instinctively knew the boy was hiding something.
Sensing the evasion, he placed a hand on Bennet’s shoulder and smoothly invoked his power.
“I heard you recently went through a rough ordeal. Even testified for the Inquisition. That must’ve been hard. If there’s anything you wish to say, you can tell me.”
At that moment—
“N-no…!”
Usher’s eyes widened.
Well, well.
Amazingly, Bennet had repelled his mind-control ability.
