TFWSDW 21

Chapter 21

He felt a pleasant chill.

Then, he covered his mouth and smiled so wide it looked like his lips would split.

‘Our church… it’s reached even the Pope candidate…!’

Ah, Left Brain of the Evil God! Enlighten the foolish. You’ve been heading toward the Source all along…!

If it’s this child, she’ll reach the deepest parts of the Church—places none of the countless fanatics who’ve infiltrated could get to.

“Ah… such a noble being…!”

Andras lowered his hand from his mouth.

His face was flushed with excitement, and the veins in his eyes had burst with joy.

But…

He still had to confirm it all himself.

Doubt everything. Even doubt your own existence until you reach the truth.

That’s the doctrine.

And that…

…is the role of the “Connector.”

[Crisis detected! Fanatic ‘Andras Lec’ has used the special skill ‘Doubt’ on you!]

…

‘What the—?!’

Game Category [Post][Strategy]
[Things Low-Level Players Should Watch Out For #2]
(Excerpt)
Solo fanatics are special units.
When you talk to them, they use a unique skill.
Every lone fanatic has one shared skill:
‘Doubt’
Effect: Summons a special extradimensional entity — the Judgment Stand of Truth.
This thing is nuts.
But hey, most of you can’t resist poking the forbidden fruit, right? lol
If it triggers, pay attention.
You’re about to enter a test—so choose carefully.

‘Wow… me.’

I stared at my own strategy post floating in front of me, stunned.

I wasn’t shocked though—I knew this skill existed when I approached him.

‘Ugh, I tried so hard to steer this away from happening…’

Still, I half-succeeded.

The perfect result would’ve been convincing him without summoning this monster.

‘Since it failed, I guess I’ve got no choice.’

I glanced around, looking for Dad with my eyes.

‘Please don’t freak out or intervene, Dad.’

I hoped the message got through somehow.

“Did you really have to go this far?”

The fanatic flinched at my words.

We were close enough that I saw his pupils tremble.

“I even explained everything nicely. And this is what I get? A trial? You might doubt me—but I’ll need to explain perfectly, won’t I?”

A black mist rose between us.

Only the caster and the target—me and the fanatic—could see it.

“……!”

His face turned pale with tension, and I finally closed my eyes.

When I opened them, the scene had changed.

But not drastically.

I was still standing in the garden.

Only now, the once-fresh grass was black and dead. The sky above was dark.

Caw, caw.

Even though there were no birds, I heard ominous caws.

All the holy knights who’d been around were gone—now it was just me.

Before me stood a giant judge’s bench—well, it looked like they just took the judge’s seat from a courtroom.

“Ohoho~ Today feels like Appetuoso!”

Sitting in the judge’s seat was a monster with a massive head.

“Con allegrezza~!”

Its round head was connected to a weirdly long, thin neck. It wore judicial robes and held a judge’s gavel in its bony hand.

“Ah~ What a giocoso day.”

Game Category [Post][Strategy]
[Monster Encyclopedia 12]
Extradimensional Creatures Edition
‘Judgment Stand of Truth’
Rank: Euclid
A special extradimensional creature summoned by the fanatics’ “Connector” units.
The “Judge” appears during the event.
Be careful—if you lie, the weight of the lie causes your body to become corrupted.
You’ll essentially be “infected.”
The key is to answer with truths that sound like lies.
.
.
Also nicknamed “Big Ping Pong Ball” by players—aka “Big Pongy.”

‘Ugh… it’s Big Pongy…’

I scrunched my nose at the familiar, annoying face.

Its round head stretched every time it talked since its mouth was stitched closed with long threads.

“Shall we begin… elegantemente?”

It wore a powdered wig—like Mozart or some other baroque composer would wear.

That’s why gamers nicknamed it “Mozart Pongy” or “Bach Pongy.”

All the weird words it uses? Music terms.

Game Category [Post][Strategy]
[Monster Encyclopedia 12]
(Excerpt)
In the game’s lore, the “Judge” wanted to be a musician.
Since it failed to reach that dream, it peppers music terms into its speech.

“Espressivo~!”

A metallic clunk echoed as it spoke like a spell.

Suddenly, black chains appeared on my hands.

I wouldn’t be able to leave until the trial was over.

“Defendant! Respond with only truth—risoluto-ly~”

I looked down at the chains wrapped around my arms and smirked.

“Yes, Your Honor. I’ll answer religioso-ly.”

(“Religioso” means “devoutly.”)

The judge’s black beady eyes suddenly widened a bit.

“Ho~?”

But before the judge could continue, a loud voice boomed from the sky.

“I will now begin the first question.”

It echoed—but it was familiar. The fanatic’s voice.

It was easy enough to understand.

“Oh! Plaintiff! You’re starting before this judge has even declared the session open? Rude! Calando, calando…!”

“Forgive me, Your Honor. I acted out of urgency—please excuse my rudeness.”

“Very well. My elegante self shall graciously forgive you.”

“Then, the first question…”

The fanatic’s tone changed.

“Are you a follower of the Evil God?”

Quick note: To escape this extradimensional trial, you must answer three questions with truth.

If not, you get corrupted—like the infected holy knights.

It’s not a huge issue—corruption can be cleansed.

‘But using cleansing magic right now would basically announce: “Hey, I’m the Pope Candidate!”’

So I had to get through this without getting corrupted.

And—

‘You think I didn’t prepare for this?’

“I answer, Your Honor.”

I calmly looked up.

“I know the teachings of the cult.”

Only cultists would know all the doctrine.

Except for me, of course.

“…”

Its weirdly long neck stretched toward me.

“Defendant, is that your full answer?”

Gah, that startled me.

“Yes, that’s everything.”

Sweat ran down my back as I stared into its gaping mouth full of sharp teeth.

“…”

A moment later—

Clink!

One of the chains snapped.

“Cantabile! Judged to be the truth.”

I stared ahead blankly.

“Plaintiff, begin the second question!”

“Yes, the second question…”

“Did you only tell the truth to me, Andras?”

I kept my eyes on the judge and couldn’t help smiling inside.

‘What a lame question…’

So predictable.

‘I knew it’d be like this.’

Did I only tell you the truth? Please.

Of course I accounted for you using your stupid skill.

“I answer, Your Honor. I have only spoken the truth.”

This time, the judge didn’t approach me.

“Serioso! Judged to be the truth.”

…Weird.

‘Why didn’t it get closer this time?’

Usually, that dramatic motion is meant to scare newbie players.

Still, clink!—another chain broke.

But I still felt uneasy.

“Th-The final question.”

Finally, the last one.

I didn’t think much of it.

‘Last questions are always obvious.’

Something like—Are you the chosen child of the Evil God? That sort of thing.

‘Of course, I can’t lie.’

But I already had the perfect answer lined up.

“Have you seen the Evil God?”

…Huh?

That’s… not what I expected.

I was only confused for a second before replying firmly:

“Yes, I have.”

At the same time—

BOOM!

A huge lightning bolt struck.

‘What?! I’ve never seen this pattern before!’

And the judge didn’t give its usual verdict.

Panicked, I looked ahead.

“Defendant… you are twisting the truth.”

“Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha! Ahahaha!”

The voice was terrifyingly beautiful—but sounded like it would rip my eardrums apart.

That massive ping pong ball head loomed before me.

Its mouth stretched wide open—

“Defendant… you say you’ve seen the Father?”