TFWSDW 60

~Chapter 60~

“Are you okay?”

It was Antonio’s papal candidate, Emmet.
The bespectacled boy looked a little tired.

When I met his gaze, he seemed a bit… awkward somehow.

“Mm, I’m fine.”

“…Good. I’m glad you’re safe. I was really scared.”

Well, it had been quite a sight.

For reference, Emmet had been carried in the arms of one of the holy knights who’d arrived a bit late.

‘Even if you heard the explosion… who abandons their papal candidate to come running?’

Absurd, but I kind of understood.

It meant he was a candidate who’d never be chosen as pope.

It was… a little pitiful.

“But then—”

[※ Warning! Emergency!]

“Ah, wait a sec.”

Startled, I stared at the empty air.

The interface panel was flashing an unprecedented bright red.

[“Dad” is on the verge of going berserk!]
[Objective: Run to him immediately and calm him down! (Time limit: 15:00)]

…What?

‘Why?’

A flood of possible reasons ran through my head—all of them dire.

I widened my eyes, then cursed under my breath.

‘Damn it, a timed mission?’

[Time remaining: 14:55]

The timer was ticking in real-time.

I shot to my feet. The playful bickering in the room cut off instantly.

“What’s wrong, Candidate?”

I kept my composure and scanned the faces around me, finally settling on Emmet.

Yes. He was the one.

“You… you said you were thangful to me.”

“Huh? O-oh. Yeah, I did.”

This kid was calculating—and couldn’t stand leaving debts unpaid.

“Then this time, help me!”

I grabbed Emmet’s hand, and his eyes went wide.

“Uh… y-yeah…?”

Good.

Still holding his hand, I pulled him toward Alexa and Antonio.

Then I let go and stretched both hands out to Alexa.

“Alexa, hold me!”

“Eh? Hold you? What does that—?”

“Hug me!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Alexa scooped me up, a little awkwardly. Her muscular arms felt oddly uncomfortable.

Dad’s arms were even stronger, yet had always felt safe and warm…

But this was no time to judge ride comfort.

“Antonio, pick up Emmet! Now!”

“Yes? O-oh, right!”

“What do we do next, Candidate?” Alexa asked, serious.

I thought of where Dad was.

The panel had said earlier: the underground levels of the Inquisition building.

The Church’s shadow—its police force. My lips pressed into a thin line.

Combine that location with the word “berserk,” and it wasn’t hard to picture what they were doing to him.

‘Damn it. Does the Church have to be destroyed before they learn a lesson?’

“To Laura. Let’s go to Laura!”

“Uh… o-okay.”

“I know where Sir Laura’s room is! Follow me!” Antonio shouted eagerly, taking the lead without needing more explanation.

“Hold on tight, Candidate. We’ll run fast—it sounds urgent!” Alexa warned.

[Time remaining: 11:45]

Moments later,
we reached Laura’s room with astonishing speed.

Click!

Unfortunately, the room Laura shared with Mel was locked.

They’d gone out.

‘What do we do? There’s no time to search outside.’

But to carry out my plan…

I needed exactly three papal candidates and their Guardians.

Just then—

“Mel went to the west garden for a walk.”

A clear, bell-like voice.

“Today the flowers are blooming beautifully.”

I turned my head.

A pretty girl with long platinum curls stood there.

“Hello. I’m Flora. I don’t think we’ve met before. You’re Nemesia, right? And hello to you too, Emmet.”

The delicate-looking girl in flowing clothes was one of the strongest papal candidates, who—along with me and Emmet—had taken the top three spots in the first exam.

“You’re looking for Mel, aren’t you?”

Beside her stood her Guardian: a woman with lemon-gold hair of a different tone, eyes closed.

[Faction: Corrupted Holy Knight]

My eyes lingered on the tag above the woman’s head, troubled, then moved on.

There were more urgent matters right now.

Flora pointed to the door next to Laura’s.

“She and I use neighboring rooms.”

I didn’t hesitate long.

“Um, listen…! Could you help me a lil’ bit? Just for a—”

“Yes!”

“Huh?”

“Yes! What should I do?”

That easy? I froze for a beat—but quickly pulled myself together.

‘Right. She was like this.’

Her Guardian looked briefly taken aback, but soon wore a resigned expression, as if used to it.

“Then come with me, just for a little while!”

[Time remaining: 10:40]

As they ran, Alexa’s thoughts wandered to the small child in her arms.

‘Hm. This kid feels… strange.’

She’d been stunned when she first received contact from her old Captain. She’d abandoned her mission on the spot to come here.

The higher-ups would chew her out later, but so what?

‘That poor man finally left that musty underground. I’d do anything.’

Her seniors would understand too. Derrick Sacrum was that kind of man to them.

Anyway, the child he’d entrusted her with gave off a peculiar impression.

Timid and wary on the surface—but bold and unhesitating in action and speech.

When she first appeared, the child hadn’t panicked at all. Instead, she’d demanded, “Why didn’t you come faster?”

A clever one. Hiding her true nature well.

‘So this is what it means to be a Labyrinth Survivor…’

The girl stayed silent as they ran, glancing now and then at the empty air with a face full of anxiety.

Even when threatened by Usher, she hadn’t worn such an expression.

‘And the destination…’

Soon, they arrived.

A place Alexa had never wanted to set foot in again.

Where the Azure Knights had lost their Captain.
The place they loathed most.

The Inquisition building.

[Time remaining: 7:32]

“I’m sorry, but you three cannot enter!”

The Inquisition.

Even the name dripped with terrifying authority.
Audits, interrogations, torture, experiments, surveillance, investigations, prosecutions—
They handled it all.

Above all, they held the exclusive right to investigate and interrogate heretics.

In practice, its members acted like secret police, hunting infiltrated cultists.

‘Problem is, they’re just as good at snaring innocent people.’

And sure enough, the moment we arrived, a squad of holy knights blocked our way.

‘The Black Knights again, huh?’

Not the same ones who’d dragged Dad away.

But still…

I narrowed my eyes.

[Faction: Cult of the Evil God – Fanatic]

‘Knew it.’

The black armor they wore wasn’t just dark. Their souls were pitch black.

As far as I remembered, this building never had so many guards posted outside.

Which meant—they were waiting because something shady was happening inside.

“There is currently a contaminated holy knight in danger of going berserk within. Entry is forbidden! It’s for your safety, Candidates.”

The fanatic, disguised as a holy knight, spoke with a stern face.

‘That “contaminated knight” is my dad.’

So Usher’s scheme hadn’t just been to abduct me. He’d set up a trap for Dad too.

Using our “safety” as an excuse, they’d only parrot the manual if we tried to get in.

Talking them down wouldn’t be hard.

‘But there’s no time.’

So I chose the quickest, simplest option.

“…Alexa.”

“Y-yes?!”

She flinched, surprised I’d called her.

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her neck and whispered something in her ear.

“Uh… huh? Y-yes. O-oh…”

Why else had I dragged Emmet and Flora along?

Because I needed them for this.

“I understand…! Ahem.”

Alexa cleared her throat, straightened her expression, and, still holding me, barked,

“Hey.”

“…Hey? Dame Alexa Mischere. Did you just address me like that?”

“Oh, you know me? Then you know I know you. You’re the class below me, right?”

“…So what if I am? If you’re thinking of forcing your way in, not even you could—”

“Hah! What age do you think we live in? Who’d spout something so barbaric? Crazy, huh?”

Alexa grinned.

“From this moment, every word I speak is the word of our cute, precious, bun-like papal candidate. Got it?”

…Did she really have to add all those nicknames?