Chapter 24
What I wanted was something every Holy Knight gets as part of their standard equipment.
It’s old-fashioned and rarely used now, but it’s a basic supply that any Holy Knight can request if needed.
In Dad’s case, he’d only been confined and locked away in the prayer room voluntarily.
He hadn’t actually been stripped of his Holy Knight status.
Which meant…
He could easily bring it.
“…Are you sure this is all you need?”
“Yup!”
Dad willingly handed me the item from his storage.
And now it was in my hand.
“Take a good look.”
Bennett’s eyes trembled when he saw the rope I’d pulled out.
“As I thought… you’re trying to lock me up again…!”
“What’s rope used for?”
“W-what? To… tie people up, obviously…”
“Look at the length of it. What does it look like to you?”
Bennett stopped shaking and stared at it properly.
What I was holding was so short it barely even counted as a rope.
I approached Bennett.
“…Nemesia,” Dad called my name in warning.
But I silently told him with my eyes: It’s fine. It’s fine.
Scared puppies bark louder, after all.
Bennett stood frozen and allowed me to get close.
No, he was just too confused to stop me.
I placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Listen carefully.”
Bennett tensed as I put weight into my hand.
“Don’t forget what you saw today.”
Because it was something that could save him later.
“…Wait, you’re telling me not to forget?”
As expected, Bennett looked confused.
“Yeah. Don’t ever forget. But also don’t ever talk about it to anyone. That’s my advice to you—it’s for your sake.”
“……”
This was sincere advice.
If he blabbed carelessly, the only result would be that we’d lose a useful supporting character.
While Bennett was still dazed, I quickly moved my hand.
By the time he realized what was happening, the short rope I’d been holding was already wrapped around his hand.
“Ah…!”
Bennett panicked and tried to shake it off.
But the rope had already disappeared.
‘It’s not something you can just shake off.’
Game Category [Post][Guide]
[Item Encyclopedia]
Basic Items Section
“Lasso of Truth”
◆ A basic item given to Holy Knights.
But after Holy Knight ranks were reorganized, it became outdated and lesser-known.
◆ It prevents the target from speaking a certain “truth.”
It’s not very strong because it’s a mass-issued item, and it can be broken easily.
But did you know?
We’re not done yet, it’s an encyclopedia after all.
I’ll tell you its secret bonus function now, hehe.
Hit the like button for all this effort.
“Go ahead and try saying it.”
“……”
“‘The Pope candidate is… oh my God! A fanatic.’”
Bennett glared at me.
It felt just like when I was acting in front of the fanatics underground.
“If you’re curious about the result, you can try saying it.”
But Bennett’s hand was completely fine.
“…If I say it, will you kill me?”
At that, I put on a thoughtful expression.
Then smiled brightly.
“No. I’ll die.”
“…?”
A little later.
The blond boy stormed out of the room, his face flushed.
Left behind in the room were the rope he’d tried to break and the shattered remains of the chair and its legs.
Dad stared at Bennett until the door closed, then turned his gaze on me.
‘Oh, he looks like he has a lot to say.’
When our eyes met, he flinched, looked away for a moment, then looked back at me.
…Dad, am I that scary?
“How does he look to you?”
“…What do you mean?”
I pointed at the door with my little finger.
“As a Holy Knight, how does he seem? He’s just a trainee, right?”
Trainees are the stage before becoming a Holy Knight.
After years of training and tests, some drop out and the rest become full-fledged Holy Knights.
“I did tie him up lightly… but if he managed to undo the knot on his own, it means he’s been properly trained.”
Dad answered reluctantly.
“He also knocked a fanatic out in one hit with a club, like this!”
I grabbed the chair leg and swung it dramatically.
I put too much strength into it and almost stumbled, but Dad caught me with a worried look.
“Anyone would get knocked out if they’re hit properly on the head.”
Boring answer.
“But he does have a solid base strength. And he already knows how to enhance his strength with holy power. He’s talented.”
Dad’s gaze turned back to me.
“If he’s nurtured, he could become a very useful Holy Knight. Is that what you were trying to ask me?”
“Yup.”
I grinned and nodded.
Oops, I’d been found out. Was I too obvious? Well, that was the plan.
“I really need useful people.”
I’d only just taken the first step, but there was a long road ahead.
I had to gather items and allies. Then there were the incidents and monsters I had to deal with…
‘And I have to do it all without getting caught.’
Damn it, whether in the game or in real life, I’m destined to curse the developers…
“You mean he’s someone worth keeping an eye on,” Dad muttered, rubbing his neck. He looked like he had more to say.
“Before you ‘raise’ him… shouldn’t you be worried about something first?”
Right, given what just happened, it was a fair question.
“That boy saw you acting. Do you trust he won’t tell anyone?”
Of course.
“Nope.”
I smiled brightly.
“We just have to wait! Until he reports me to a Holy Knight!”
“…What? What are you even talking about…?”
My smile grew wider.
As if I wouldn’t know how our supporting character would act.
‘I love those righteous types.’
It’s true.
I loved him so much I spent 90% of my playtime with Bennett.
I was the woman who followed Bennett’s entire life story.
If he knew that, he’d probably say:
‘Give me my life back!’
I shrugged.
So I could guarantee it—he’d report me.
“We just have to wait.”
Game Category [Post][Guide]
[Item Encyclopedia]
Basic Items Section
“Lasso of Truth”
(…omitted…)
The first hidden feature of the Lasso is that if the target tries to say the forbidden truth,
the player gets a notification.
It’s the perfect item for catching fanatics and spies, haha.
‘Because the alarm will come automatically.’
And that’s not all.
The item’s second hidden function triggers when you use it in combination with something else…
But I’ll check that later. I don’t need it now.
I turned my head mid-smile and noticed Dad’s expression was strange.
His forehead was wrinkled, and his face looked dead serious, like a war had just started.
“Dad?”
He stared straight at me…
‘Whoa… scary…!’
His sharp eyes made me shiver.
“Listen carefully. No—you must listen to this.”
Y-Yes?!
Did I do something wrong?
I quickly retraced my actions, and Dad carefully grabbed my shoulders.
Flinch.
“This is serious.”
“O-okay…!”
What was with that grim face?
Gulp.
“You mustn’t call Holy Knights… ‘Sir Holy Knight.’”
“…Huh? Did I… mess up?”
Wait, what?
“You just said, ‘Until he reports me to a Holy Knight, sir,’ didn’t you?”
He was questioning me in the same tone Holy Knights used during interrogations.
…Excuse me, why are you using that on your daughter?
“Uh… y-yeah?”
I was so nervous I accidentally spoke formally.
“You just did it again. You’re using honorifics. Isn’t that right?”
“N-no… I mean, yeah…!”
Dad’s face grew even more serious. It was almost scary now.
What did I do wrong?!
“This is a huge problem.”
“Gasp.”
“You’re a Pope Candidate.”
“Uh-huh…”
Who doesn’t know that?
“You can’t use honorifics with Holy Knights. Ever.”
I blinked.
…That’s what this was about?
It was probably because my Korean manners slipped out unconsciously.
“This is important. No one should ever look down on you. No one is above you.”
“Uh… thanks?”
I didn’t fully understand, but seeing Dad look so desperate—like he was clinging to a cliff—I just nodded quietly.
…He’s weirdly thorough about the strangest things.
‘Well, I guess it can’t hurt.’
Thinking back, I probably shouldn’t have brushed it off so lightly.
I’d relaxed too much because Bennett was acting exactly as I expected.
“Okay, I got it. I won’t use honorifics with anyone from now on. I swear.”
At the same time Nemesia was thinking, ‘He’s weirdly thorough about the strangest things…’
“If you ever slip up, I’ll personally teach you a lesson.”
“……”
Hearing that, Derrick made a very important decision.
