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~Chapter 34~
“An objection?”
Three heads turned their gazes on me at once. The Judge tilted its heads in unison.
“Hmm? A guest from the Second Space?”
“It isn’t your turn.”
“Indeed, it is not.”
Those eyes were like a beast’s, yet far more than mere instinct shone within them.
I quickly took stock of the scene—the civilian hostage still alive, Gidme who hadn’t yet crossed the portal, and his guardian looming behind him.
‘I can’t save everyone… but I won’t stand by and watch a child be sacrificed for an adult’s mistakes.’
“Humans from another sector cannot intervene.”
Fortunately, I knew this monster’s nature well.
Or rather, the nature of most intelligent creatures tainted by the Evil God.
‘I mustn’t forget to look afraid.’
I trembled deliberately, raising my hand slightly.
“H-however… what if I take responsibility for the hostage and the boy?”
Gidme might be a troublemaker, but from his actions, it was clear he had tried to save people.
But his guardian? That man was the type to manipulate the child from behind the scenes and use others as sacrifices.
He would have abandoned everyone else just to save himself—
and afterward, he’d shift all the blame onto young Gidme, claiming he had only given “advice.”
‘I can already see how it would play out. I have to save him.’
I darted a glance at the tear-streaked Gidme and shrank my hand back, shivering dramatically.
“I-I’ll take full responsibility…!”
“…Nemesia.”
A low voice came from just behind me—Father had drawn close without me noticing.
It’s fine, Dad. It’s me. Your Pope.
I shot him a steadying glance before turning back.
“Sublime!”
“So holy!”
“Self-sacrifice is a noble word!”
“How long has it been?”
“A thousand years?”
“Five hundred, fool!”
The three heads whispered among themselves, then delivered their verdict.
“W-what?! My body won’t move…!”
The Holy Knight who had been desperately trying to drag Gidme through the portal was now bound tightly in place.
“Very well. According to the rules, we shall allow this exception!”
“Allowed!”
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Judge, lacking a gavel, pounded the desk with its fists.
I turned to Gidme, our eyes meeting.
“L-leave it to me! Give everything to me and go!”
He flinched.
“Hurry!”
Pretending to bark orders through trembling lips was exhausting.
But I could see something flicker in Gidme’s expression—a desperate hesitation.
“B-but how will you…!”
“Can you save that person?”
Gidme couldn’t even bring himself to look at the hostage dangling in the air. He only wept harder.
I subtly lifted a finger, pointing toward the Judge.
“Then do you have the confidence… not to break while facing that?”
“…N-no…”
I forced a trembling smile.
‘This should look like I’m scared but trying to act strong.’
“Th-that’s fine. Admitting your limits is also a Candidate’s quality.”
“Yawn. Is the drama over?”
“But this was the best part!”
“I hate melodrama!”
The Judge gestured to Gidme’s side, and a crimson portal opened.
“You take the red one. You, the blue one.”
Gidme looked back at me once more. I nodded firmly.
“Go.”
The boy hesitated, then clenched his shaking legs and stepped toward the portal.
But he stopped and turned back.
“T-that person…”
“I know. I’ll do my best.”
He would feel reassured hearing that. I hesitated, then added,
“Even if I have to die, I’ll make sure they’re sent out. Okay?”
“…!”
Gidme opened his mouth to say something, but the crimson portal swallowed him whole.
“C-candidate…! Damn it, I’ll go too—!”
Panicked, his guardian tried to follow, but—
“No, you cannot.”
“Follow the rules. You take the blue one.”
At that moment, a rotting hand shot out from the blue portal and dragged the Holy Knight in.
“W-what?! What is this…!”
The knight’s face went pale as terror dawned in his eyes.
‘I can guess what he saw in there.’
It was surely the faces of the hostages he had sacrificed.
“N-no, it wasn’t me—damn it, save me! Aaaaaah!”
The knight was dragged into the darkness by decaying arms, vanishing completely.
A heavy silence filled the space.
“My, my, a Holy Knight shouldn’t act like that.”
It was none other than Usher who stepped casually up beside me.
“Don’t you agree, Candidate?”
Before he could say anything more, my body was lifted abruptly.
I was enclosed in Father’s arms as I fixed my eyes on Usher.
“His name was Gerik. That knight who just got dragged off? He always carried an inferiority complex toward Sir Derrick—compared constantly because their names sounded similar.”
Usher twirled a finger near his temple, explaining the word as if to a child.
He chuckled darkly.
“But still, imagine that. Ordered to protect the Candidate, yet he turned his own Candidate into a puppet! He probably even provoked you on purpose back in the Miracle Room. How fitting, don’t you think?”
“…”
I didn’t answer.
I was still under his brainwashing, forced to respond to any question he asked.
Thankfully, I was spared from answering when a new announcement interrupted.
“Ah, dear guests, after a final rest period, the trials of the Second Space will resume. Please hold on to something sturdy.”
The ground began to tremble.
* * *
A short while later, a courtroom identical to the one from the First Space—where Gidme had been—materialized in our area.
We were granted a brief reprieve before the trial began.
“…Will everything be alright?”
The voice belonged to the female Holy Knight who had become part of our team.
Her name was Laura.
In her arms was her Pope Candidate, still fast asleep.
“Wahaha, I’m sure it will be fine. Our esteemed Candidate wouldn’t have stepped forward so recklessly without reason,” replied the man with his eyes completely wrapped in bandages.
He introduced himself as a priest under the cardinal’s authority and gave his name as Antonio.
‘This spy bastard… even his name is a lie.’
[Faction: Royal Spy]
Knowing who he truly was, I could only scoff inwardly.
I forced myself not to look at the faction marker floating above his head and instead bowed deeply to Laura and him.
“I-I’m sorry… for acting on my own…!”
Being cradled in Father’s arms made it hard to bow properly, so I dipped my head even lower.
“D-danger…!”
I almost toppled headfirst to the ground, but Father caught me just in time, sparing me an unfortunate accident. It had been close, but at least my sincerity seemed to have come across.
Both Laura and Antonio were staring at me with startled expressions.
‘From their perspective, my actions added another hostage they’d have to protect.’
“Truly, I’m sorry. I’ll sincerely accept any punishment once we’re out. Or, if there’s a reward you’d prefer, name it.”
They deserved an apology. Of course, I had no intention of leaving it at just words.
‘Instead, I’ll personally send you home. Express delivery.’
“No, no, Candidate…! Please, you mustn’t bow to us!”
“Mm? Mommy…?”
Flustered, Laura shifted awkwardly, accidentally rousing the Pope Candidate nestled in her arms.
“Besides, we owe our lives to Sir Derrick’s assistance. It’s fine!”
“Haha, that’s right,” Antonio added lightly. “I heard Sir Derrick had been shut away in a cave, but honestly? It feels more like he’s been in intensive training. He’s become quite impressive, wahaha.”
While Laura and Antonio exchanged reassurances, the latter stroked his chin thoughtfully.
And then, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“But… Candidate, you don’t seem quite as frightened as you were back in the Miracle Room. Is that just my imagination?”
