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Chapter 8
I held my breath.
‘Why is this guy here?!’
I thought back to what had happened 10 minutes ago.
“The Pope candidate needs committee approval to go for a walk… Very well, I’ll go handle that.”
When I asked to go for a walk, Dad willingly agreed.
“…The garden’s not really a place with anything good for a kid to see.”
He did leave behind a cryptic comment.
But I already knew why, so I didn’t mind.
I wasn’t planning to walk around just for fun anyway.
‘The system keeps telling me to use the purification skill on Dad.’
I wanted to test it—was I only allowed to use it on him, or could I use it on other people too?
‘I wanted to experiment.’
Fortunately, this place is crawling with fanatics of the evil god.
Corrupted holy knights, no less.
‘Oops, that’s not really something to feel proud about.’
But there was a problem.
To get permission for the walk, Derrick had to go to the Central Committee.
The very place he went just now.
‘I’m not supposed to go there yet.’
That place is full of spies—different villains than the fanatics—who have infiltrated the Church.
If I get spotted there, things could go very, very wrong.
Like… kidnapping levels of wrong.
This game was just full of nonstop trouble for the protagonist.
Anyway, I’d forced Derrick to go alone and was just hanging around my room.
“You must never go outside.”
I knew the risks better than anyone, so I’d stayed in my room like a good girl.
But then the door opened…
“Dad?”
“Whoa. Dad?”
Who would’ve guessed disaster would walk in on its own?
Back to the present.
“Shall we talk?”
The man who casually entered my room smiled down at me.
I clenched my trembling lips tightly.
I can’t show I’m scared…!
I couldn’t smile—I just stared him down in silence.
“Hey, mister, why are you here?”
“So sharp-tongued.”
The man smiled kindly. He looked beautiful. Gentle.
People in the story who fell for that face?
‘All died.’
He was the type who smiled like an angel—then betrayed people and got them killed.
“You really didn’t expect something like this, huh?”
Usher reached out his hand.
“And you’re bold, too.”
Grab. His hand clutched my head—cold and terrifying.
“Why was the prophecy wrong…”
His expression was too calm for someone holding a child’s head.
I bit my lip.
‘Dad, hurry up and come back!’
Usher scratched his face with his free hand and tilted his head.
“Hey, kiddo, just checking… You’re not a boy, right?”
Seriously?
“Hmm, hard to tell. Some of God’s apostles are pretty boys, you know.”
“I’m a girl!”
“Ah, I see.”
Even after I snapped at him, he gave me a once-over, head to toe, just to make sure.
He tugged at my hair, so I smacked his hand away and glared at him.
I knew why he suddenly came in talking about boys.
‘It’s because of the prophecy.’
Before the protagonist appears in the game’s story,
both the Church and the evil god’s cult receive a prophecy—
It says that a “boy” will pass through the hardest area, “The Maze.”
‘In the original story, Kahn was the one who passed it.’
But now I’ve messed up the prophecy. No wonder he’s confused.
“Hmmm, the more I see you, the more I like that feisty attitude.”
Usher chuckled.
His handsome face looked nice, but I’d already seen the ominous shadow in his eyes.
‘He’s dangerous…!’
Suddenly, his beautiful face zoomed in—and he grabbed my wrist.
It hurt! Who grabs a baby like this?!
“Why didn’t you choose me as your ‘Guardian’?”
What is this psycho saying?
“My name should’ve been on the list of Guardian candidates.”
I was honestly dumbfounded.
What, is he senile now?
‘You literally said you’d kill me if I picked you!’
“You said you’d kill me if I made you my dad!”
“Oh, did I?”
“Did I?” WHAT?! You maniac cultist.
‘Not that I was ever going to pick you anyway!’
I growled and tried to pull my hand back, but he was too strong.
At that moment, a familiar sign popped up next to Usher.
[We’ve detected danger!]
[Would you like to use “Purification”?]
No. Absolutely not.
‘If it gets exposed, I’m dead for sure.’
[In that case, use Divine Power! Mission: Wink at him!]
…Excuse me?
What now?
[Mission! Wink at him!]
You crazy signboard!!
Seeing Usher’s eyes grow more suspicious, I squeezed one shut and opened it again.
This was survival winking!!
“Huh? What’s that?”
Just as Usher lifted me up, curious—
BOOM!
A burst of white light exploded from my body and knocked his hand away.
“…Oh? That was divine power?”
Usher looked at the tiny scratch on his hand in awe.
“Even before proper training, it’s this strong? You really are no ordinary Maze-clearer…”
He mumbled, then gave me a puzzled look. Like he was genuinely curious.
“But why do you hate me so much? I’ve got a nice personality, and kids love this face…”
“…You said you’d kill me.”
“Oh! That’s the issue?”
Usher clapped his hands.
“Okay, I take it back. So make me your ‘Dad.’ I’m interested now.”
You’re insane. Even if I gave you another chance, the answer would still be no.
“No.”
I surrounded my body with divine power like a shield.
I’d seen Derrick use it to block sound and tried copying it.
“What kind of dad treats a baby like this?!”
“Oh, am I not supposed to?”
Insane. Completely nuts. Well, he is a cultist, after all.
“You said you’d kill me. I don’t like you. Go away.”
There’s one thing all undercover cultists have in common:
If you act soft, they take advantage of you.
You can’t show any weakness.
Usher smiled.
“Oh? Then I guess I have no choice.”
“……”
“How about we go somewhere nice and have a little chat? I really like you, kiddo.”
His words were getting creepier.
“Other kids just don’t interest me.”
What do I do? Of all people—it’s Usher.
If I show too much skill, he’ll start obsessing over me.
‘I can’t beat him right now. I also can’t let him find out about my purification ability or who I really am.’
…No. There is a way for times like this.
Even though the formal ceremony hasn’t happened yet, the system has already registered “Derrick” as my Guardian.
Which means—I can use one particular skill.
Game Category [Post] [Strategy Guide]
[Guardian Summoning Spell]
Say “Summon!” and he’ll appear.
(Highly recommended to assign it to a hotkey.)
[Danger detected! Let’s summon “Dad”!]
Guardian Summon.
When the protagonist is in danger, they can call “Dad” for help.
[Go ahead, call him!]
[Daaaad (BIG heart♡) Please help~!]
…What’s with the heart?
I frowned, but didn’t hesitate to open my mouth.
No way I’m letting this end in a creepy cultist kidnapping death scene!
“Dad! Help me!”
[Oops! That wasn’t the exact phrase!]
[But ‘Dad’ is responding to your call anyway!]
A holy white light surged between me and Usher.
“Huh?”
Usher stiffened and stepped back cautiously.
His hand started reaching toward his weapon—
BANG!
The sound of blades clashing echoed.
“Waaah!!”
I felt myself being yanked away, closed my eyes instinctively—
And when I opened them again…
There was Derrick, holding me in one arm and aiming his greatsword straight at Usher.
