TFWSDW 33

~Chapter 33~

The peculiarity of this space lay in the fact that all the civilians, unlike the Pope Candidates and their guardians, were bound to the ground.

“We tried to free the civilians, but it was impossible to pull the chains from the earth,” someone muttered grimly.

Of course it was.

Those civilians were… hostages.

‘They definitely called this the Second Space earlier, didn’t they? This is not good…’

We had rushed to arrive quickly with Usher, but it seemed we had been assigned to a chamber far too distant.

“Please! Please save us!”

“At least free our legs!”

The panicked civilians cried out desperately.

But the earth paid them no heed.

The civilians, bound by the chains shackled to their legs, were pulled together in a single group. Lines formed a circle around them, glowing as light surged from the pattern.

A translucent wall materialized.

BANG! BANG!

The civilians pounded on it frantically, but there was no escaping.

‘How many Pope Candidates and guardians are here?’

I quickly tallied.

There was Father and me, Usher, the bandaged man, the female Holy Knight, and the child she held—her Candidate.

‘Five in total.’

Not good.

That meant the other groups we were about to see would likely have at least five to seven members as well.

“Ah, dear guests, please wait just a moment. The First Space is now concluding.”

“Oh, what do we have here?” Usher whistled softly.

“What’s about to happen now, I wonder? I hope our clever little Candidate is still alive, sniff, sniff…”

The bandaged man let out a mock-sob, while the female Holy Knight holding her Candidate said nothing.

“There’s nowhere to hide, is there?” Father murmured softly, as if he expected me to know the answer.

‘Well, they do think I’m the future Pope.’

It wasn’t strange for him to look at me like that.

I shook my head discreetly.

“…If we’ve come this far, we can’t avoid it.”

No, the only way to avoid this would have been not to take the test at all. But that wasn’t an option, was it?

“To ease the boredom of our Second Space guests, we present a small diversion.”

With that venom-laden announcement, one of the chamber walls rumbled upward.

And then—

“Ah, ngh, sob, hic, hngh…!”

A child drenched in tears gasped for air.

To my surprise, it was none other than Gidme, the Pope Candidate who had previously picked a fight with me.

The child clung to something resembling a railing, and before him was a colossal courtroom.

“No defense? Is there none?”

“None, it seems.”

“No defense, then.”

Presiding over the courtroom was a figure with three canine heads.

Its body was that of a man, but from its shoulders rose the heads of a dog—three of them, like Cerberus of myth.

Where there should have been a defendant’s bench, the accused was instead suspended in midair, tightly bound.

“We must pass judgment.”

“Execution.”

“Execution!”

I let out a quiet sigh.

‘To think I would ever see that mutt’s heads in person…’

Game Category [Post][Guide]

[Monster Encyclopedia 25]
Paranormal Edition

‘The Judge’s Law’

Rank: Archon

◆ Civilians who have become hostages will have their lives judged by a three-headed Judge.
The player must act as their defense attorney and argue on behalf of their lives.

Honestly, I have no idea what the developers are trying to make us do in this game, but if you end up here, just assume you’re completely screwed.

◆ This creature only appears as an anomalous paranormal phenomenon if a fanatic was present during the ‘Angel’s Interview.’

If the hostages assigned to you are virtuous individuals, you might not need to worry too much.
But come on—are people ever purely good?

If you fail to give a proper defense, the civilians will be dragged away.

If you’re already in here, here’s how to clear it.
It’s complicated, so memorize it well.

By the way… are you any good at debates?

‘I just saw the Judge, and now there’s another trial…’

I had expected it, but seeing it with my own eyes still gave me a headache.

Convincing this monster was the only way for the civilians to return safely.

Our job was to persuade it not to execute the civilians being held hostage…

There was, however, one other shortcut.

“You stole, didn’t you?”
“A thief.”
“Kill them! Execution!”
“Defense attorney, why are you silent?”

The shortcut was to abandon the hostage entirely.

“I have no intention of defending them.”

The one who likely should have been defending them was Gidme, but standing behind him was a towering Holy Knight who answered instead.

Though Gidme was clearly positioned at the defense bench, the knight brazenly spoke for him, and judging by the Judge’s silence, it had been agreed upon beforehand.

‘Well, it’s true the kid isn’t in any state to speak.’

The knight placed a heavy hand on Gidme’s shoulder and said shamelessly,

“We accept the verdict.”

“Good. Execution again! Execution!”
“Execution!”

“P-please save me! Please…!!”

The woman suspended in the air trembled violently, tears streaming down her face.

‘Wow… so there really are Holy Knights who are absolute garbage.’

You know what’s funny?

I said there was a way out, not a way to clear the trial.

There’s always a reason shortcuts seem easy.

Game Category [Post][Guide]

[Monster Encyclopedia 25]

And for the record, the three-headed Judge will tell you that if you abandon a hostage, you can take one person per hostage “outside”…

That’s a lie. Do not believe it.

When you abandon the hostage and go “outside,” it’s not really outside.
The abandoned hostages become monsters and wait for you there. Instant death.

This cursed game leaves you no option but to save the hostages.
Remember that—over and over again.

It seemed those in the First Space had already sacrificed nearly all their hostages, and that woman was the last.

‘So they planned to abandon her and leave?’

Tch. We should have arrived sooner.

Sure enough, Gidme’s guardian raised his hand.

“Judge,” the knight said smoothly, “we’ve dealt with the last person, so as promised, please let the Pope Candidate—no, this child—leave now.”

“Of course!”
“We keep our promises.”
“Naturally.”

The three heads spoke one after another.

At the same time, a blue portal appeared beside Gidme and the Holy Knight.

One of the dog heads chuckled, pointing at the portal with a clawed finger.

“Go on, then.”

The knight tugged at Gidme’s shoulder as the boy shed tears.

Gidme couldn’t take his eyes off the struggling woman.

“Candidate, what are you doing? We must go now—pull yourself together!”

“W-wait a moment, but that person…!”

But the knight forcibly pulled Gidme away from the railing, hoisting the squirming child up and preparing to drag him through the portal.

“Wait.”

I stepped forward.

And at that instant, a large hand rested on my shoulder, while massive legs and boots blocked my path.

‘What now?’

Father’s gentle hand on my shoulder was expected.
But the boots blocking me from the front…

They belonged to Usher.

“Reckless behavior won’t do, Candidate,” he said calmly.

“…What?”

The sheer absurdity slipped out of me.

That’s what you’re saying?

And why was he blocking me all of a sudden?

Before I could answer, Father pulled me close, his voice low and protective.

“And what business is this of yours?”

Usher simply shrugged, still barring my path.

“Why, isn’t it a Holy Knight’s basic duty to protect all Candidates?”

I didn’t know what whim had driven him to stand in my way, but it certainly wasn’t concern.

Father and Usher exchanged a glare that was almost a duel in itself.

But now was not the time.

“Dad,” I murmured, patting his hand lightly before stepping forward.

“This isn’t dangerous!”

At that, even Usher didn’t try to hold me back any longer.

“Wait!”

Thankfully, the hostage hadn’t been dragged away yet.

“Honorable Judge!”

I shouted with all my strength, and the towering three-headed Judge turned its gaze on me.

Its eyes glowed blood-red.

I flinched instinctively, but that was all.

“I object!”