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~Chapter 56~
“Haha, I’m joking, joking. As if I’d dare break the Pope candidate’s door!”
While Usher’s cheerful voice rang out, I sank into thought.
‘So he’d been waiting nearby.’
Very likely.
Looking back now, maybe I should’ve started building allies as soon as I got a guardian.
So that even if Dad was separated from me, someone else could protect me.
But I shook my head.
‘No, security came first. It’s better if as few people as possible know I’m the Pope candidate.’
It was only Usher—this damn unpredictable variable—that ruined things.
When I stayed silent, his voice came again from beyond the door.
“Knock knock? Usher’s here.”
So breaking the door had only been a joke. He was still full of leisure.
‘Psycho.’
My eyes grew cold as I stared at the door.
Clatter!
Clatter, clatter!
Clatterclatterclatterclatterclatterclatter!!
Then silence.
“…Huh? Whoa… what’s this?”
Usher sounded briefly unsettled.
“…A barrier? Ha, hahaha. Hahahahaha.”
At the end of his laugh came a chilling voice.
“Well now, this is perfect for protecting a Pope candidate.”
I rose from the bed and stepped closer to the door.
“Go away.”
He seemed to pause a moment.
“…Oh! You were inside. I wondered why you weren’t answering.”
Despite clearly knowing I was here, he spoke with feigned innocence.
“Won’t you let me in? I’ve something urgent to tell you.”
“I told you. Go away.”
Clatter!
Instead of replying, he shook the door.
“What’s this barrier? If I force it open… every knight in the area will come running. Did you anticipate I’d come?”
I said nothing.
“Or… maybe you anticipated something else?”
I didn’t fall for his obvious bait. As long as I stayed inside, he couldn’t do a thing.
After a short silence, Usher tried another tactic.
“But really, I do have urgent news. Remember that kid who escaped the underground with you the other day? He told me something… interesting.”
“Get lost.”
He knocked politely, pretending civility.
“I can hear your voice up close. You’re standing right by the door, aren’t you?”
Even without an answer, he whispered knowingly.
“Let’s talk. I know your secret…”
“So what.”
“….”
A faint “Huh?” slipped through the door, as if I’d thrown him off.
He must’ve expected me to ask, What secret?
“Mm. I think you’ve misunderstood. I’m not your enemy, candidate.”
His voice turned soft, conspiratorial.
“Don’t you have something to hide? Who knows—maybe I’m the one who’ll understand you best…”
His tone was like the sweet scent of a carnivorous plant luring its prey.
So soft, so gentle, completely unlike him.
“Whether it’s hatred… or a sense of kinship.”
That confirmed it.
From Bennett’s testimony, he’d drawn two possible conclusions.
First—that I was family of a fanatic.
Which would explain why I harbored such immense hatred for them.
People like that often played crucial roles in solving chapters of the game,
since they knew more about fanatics than common folk.
If not that—
Second, that I was “a child chosen by the Evil God.”
And he was keeping his words vague enough to cover both, in case he was wrong.
So very Usher.
‘I’m already inside your head, you bastard.’
Even when he spoke a few more lines, I didn’t answer.
When his final attempt at persuasion failed, irritation—or maybe impatience—crept into his tone.
He changed tactics again.
“By the way, that boy Bennett who reported to me. Do you mind if he dies?”
I froze for a moment. Luckily, he couldn’t see it.
“Since he gave me a report about the fanatics… he’ll have to go to the Inquisition as a witness. You may not know this, but their investigators… aren’t exactly kind to witnesses.”
“…”
“And since he had direct contact with fanatics underground… What a shame, isn’t it?”
You son of a—
‘Contact? He was kidnapped, damn it!’
By people like you!
“What’s that got to do with me?”
He surely believed I was the kind of candidate who could sacrifice civilians without a thought.
“Mm, I see. Got it! From how confident you sound, he must’ve given me a false report!”
Clap clap. He applauded.
His voice was unnervingly cheerful.
“To think he’d dare lie. And right after contact with fanatics, no less. More than enough to call him a troublemaker disturbing the Church’s order. Discipline is everything here, you know?”
“…”
“Don’t worry, candidate. I’ll take care of it neatly. With my authority, I’ll have him expelled and executed. You’re welcome!”
After saying it so casually, I heard footsteps turning away.
“Sorry for disturbing your rest. That’s all.”
As he withdrew, did I panic?
No.
‘Got you.’
I glanced at the clock.
Then slowly scanned the entire room, inch by inch.
And I smirked.
‘Fine. Let’s play, you damn fanatic.’
Soon, a sound echoed within the room.
Creeeak!
Usher, walking away, couldn’t hide his smile.
‘Ah, hooked at last.’
The sound of the door opening.
And sure enough, a small voice came from behind him.
“…Wait.”
The clumsy, childish pronunciation was almost unbearably cute in this moment.
Yes. No matter how extraordinary, she was still just a child.
Usher half-turned, exaggerating his surprise.
“Candidate?”
A little head poked out from the door. Pink eyes.
Huge, glimmering eyes that looked as if they’d spill tears with a single touch.
Usher fought to suppress his glee.
‘So hard to get a glimpse like this.’
“What is it?”
“…Is it true?”
“Hm?”
He turned fully, shrugging as if he didn’t understand.
The child glared at him.
“…Will you really kill Bennett?”
Well, well.
He’d only thrown it out as bait.
But it seemed this candidate, usually cold about sacrificing civilians,
saw that boy differently.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
Well, that could be uncovered later.
“That’s right. Since he came into contact with fanatics as a child, he’s likely contaminated. Only way is to dispose of him.”
He spread his palm.
“Besides, he’s no useful knight—just a pawn. A spare part.”
Usher knew better than anyone that being kidnapped didn’t mean certain contamination.
But he feigned ignorance.
Even if Bennett was contaminated,
there was no one left in the Church to perform purification.
That was why it was so convenient there was no Pope.
And there never would be—
because they’d never allow one to live.
‘Ah, smile. Don’t forget the smile.’
He summoned his well-practiced, dazzling grin.
Warm. Kind.
He wanted her trust.
She was fascinating.
What was she hiding?
“Do you want me to spare him?”
“….”
She didn’t answer, only glared.
But he easily read the anxiety, confusion, and faint fear in her eyes.
“What to do… the evidence is clear. But you saved my life, candidate. Wouldn’t it be too heartless if I just let him go to his fate? I’m more sentimental than I look.”
He imagined the child as a wary young beast.
He stepped one pace closer—close enough to test the waters, not close enough to alarm.
So tantalizing.
Had he known, he would’ve fully brainwashed her back at the exam.
No, this was even better.
Usher was enjoying himself.
“Come to think of it… there might be a way to spare that pawn.”
He stroked his chin, pretending to ponder.
“…Way?”
The hopeful look on her face confirmed it.
She and Bennett were close.
“Yes, a way. But…”
He glanced around, then raised a finger to his lips.
Feigning trouble.
“But this isn’t something I can discuss out here in the hall.”
Almost there.
“Let me in for just a moment.”
If he could step inside that room, his victory was assured.
