Rise of the OtherGod Apostle: Not a Cult Leader, but a Serf?!

#098Reader Mode

T/N: UPDATE ‘Forgetfulness’ —–> Oblivion

Notes: Othergod is the first webnovel I’ve ever tried to localize, and I’ve learned a lot in the process. I initially used ‘forgetfulness’ because ‘oblivion’ carries a heavier meaning in English, usually reserved for complete erasure of memories or nonexistence. I understand now that it’s related to the God of Oblivion. My bad! I do read ahead, but the real understanding comes when I’m actually working on the localization and editing the text for an English audience. I’m not sure if ya’ll have ever tried MTL’ing this directly, but it can get pretty rough.

Anyway! Better to rip the bandaid off and make the change now rather than waiting until we’re 200 chapters in! I’ll go back and fix the earlier chapters, so sorry to new readers who might be jumping in mid-correction. As the solo person working on this project, it’ll take some time to make these changes, but I’m committed to getting it right.

TLDR: Past mistakes, meet Oblivion – Ladyhotcomb’s errors are currently being deleted!

#098

Huh? The Research Director?

Why on earth would the Research Director be here of all places?

[Meaning… Yes, that’s it! Meaning arises from difference. Information is born from these ‘differences’ and distinctions. If we filter out the meaningless and retain only that which holds significance…]

[SYSTEM: ‘Research Director Colomba’ has had a breakthrough idea in the realm of information theory.]

[SYSTEM: A groundbreaking advancement in the field of information communication is expected.]

[SYSTEM: A new chapter has been added to the achievement ‘Miracle of the Silver Tongue’.]

[SYSTEM: Your rank has increased ever so slightly.]

Okay, what the hell is actually going on?

Did this guy seriously just figure out Shannon information from that one little chat? That’s a concept that’s like, 800 years ahead of its time! ¹T/N: The “Concept of Shannon” refers to Shannon information, which is a fundamental concept in information theory developed by Claude Shannon in the mid-20th century. Shannon information quantifies the amount of information contained in a message based on the probability of its occurrence. The less likely a message is, the more information it carries. Conversely, a highly predictable message carries less information. These concepts laid the foundation for modern digital communication and data compression techniques.

At this rate, if they invent the transistor, there’ll be logic circuits popping up everywhere before we know it.²T/N: A ‘transistor’ is a fundamental building block of modern electronics. It is a semiconductor device that can amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power. Basically, a transistor acts like a controllable valve for electricity. ‘Transistors’ are essential components in nearly all modern electronic devices, including computers, smartphones, televisions, and countless other applications. They are incredibly small, allowing billions of them to be packed into a single microchip.

If things keep steamrolling ahead like this, they might even invent the computer before the steam engine. I’ve seen it go down that way a few times when helping guide a civilization…

Wait, no, that’s not even the real issue here.

How the hell did that sly Research Director bastard just happen to overhear our private conversation?

Was he eavesdropping on us?

But how did he manage that?

There’s no one else around…

In the Dark Realm, there’s no such thing as ‘all-knowing’ beings. Even gods rely on their worshippers to gather intel for them. They can only know what their followers have seen or heard. Wanna spy on your enemy? You gotta get someone on the inside, brainwash a person, or send in spies like rats or birds.

Eavesdropping requires someone to be physically present in the vicinity.

The most probable explanation is that the Research Director himself somehow overheard us. If he’s got superhuman hearing, he could easily pick up a conversation right through a wall.

But if that’s the case, Athanas definitely would’ve tried to slip me a secret message when I handed him that wax tablet.

So, more likely, we’re not just being listened to, but watched too.

…No, it’s probably more than just eyes on us.

Think about it, no matter how many surveillance cameras you cram into a room, there are still tons of ways to secretly pass info. You could even slip your hand into your friend’s sleeve, pretend to tickle them, and convey a coded message. The observer would know something shady went down, but they’d have no clue what was actually said.

But Athanas didn’t even try any of those tactics.

Why not?

Instead, he told me earlier that his hand moved on its own because of Ledeia’s power…

…Now that I think about it, hasn’t Athanas received the ‘Blessing of Healing’ at least once in his life? If so, that means Ledeia’s Holy Flesh is inside him right now, acting as his eyes and ears.

In other words, Ledeia’s Holy Flesh is like the ultimate spyware, keeping tabs on everything Athanas sees and hears in this place.

“Athanas.”

I looked up at him, and suddenly it all made sense – why he’d been staring at me with an unnerving intensity earlier, without saying a word. A million questions swirled in my mind, but I couldn’t risk voicing them aloud.

Well, at least Ledeia can’t manipulate someone’s consciousness. That’s something to be thankful for.

Ledeia didn’t have the power to rifle through Athanas’ memories or warp his thoughts to get him to spill secrets against his will. And if Ledeia tried to use him as a puppet, forcing him to grab a weapon, Athanas’ hand would probably spasm and drop it anyway…

“…You look exhausted,” I said, breaking the silence. “Why don’t we head back and get some rest soon?”

If the sanctuary grants the authority of ‘control’, it’s probably best to get out of here.

Athanas nodded, reaching out his hand. I hesitated for a moment before firmly grasping it.

If I act suddenly afraid of holding hands, he’ll know something’s up.

“Sorry, my hands are pretty clammy…” I forced the world’s most awkward smile as I felt the cold sweat on my palms. “I know you said it doesn’t bother you, but it’s still a bit embarrassing, you know?”

Damn, is this seriously what my life has come to?

I was positive that if I opened my status window, it would flash ‘paranoia’ or ‘nervous breakdown’ in glaring red letters under abnormal conditions.

If I call the Saint, wouldn’t he find a way to help me out of this mess?

If we turn the main library inside out, we’re bound to uncover at least one piece of evidence of those doctrine-violating experiments. And isn’t it kind of sketchy that Ledeia’s sanctuary is even inside the main library building to begin with?

But what if, by some twisted chance, the Saint concludes that there’s nothing suspicious going on…

I’d be facing the nightmare bad ending of becoming the Research Director’s personal lab rat.

Damn it.

The more I mulled it over, the more I realized I couldn’t really count on the Saint either in this situation.

He had warned me already, hadn’t he?

If they found out I was an existence outside the Order, the Research Director would be drooling at the chance to study me.

And let’s be honest, he never actually promised to intervene if I got caught.

So, odds were the Saint would just kick back and watch me get experimented on, as long as I didn’t die.

I can’t trust anyone.

I forcefully shoved those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand: getting out of this building in one piece. I should at least avoid the [Becoming a Test Subject] bad ending, right?

Colomba… that f*cking bug bastard, even his name makes my skin crawl.

Is this guy an Othergod’s servant too?

But if he’s pulling this crap without an Othergod warping his mind…

…The Dark Realm is really living up to its f*cking reputation.

I kept walking, my eyes fixed on the floor, just focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Then, suddenly, I got a notification:

[SYSTEM: Due to the effect of ‘The Whole World Is Beneath One’s Self,’ the status effect ‘Oblivion’ has been nullified.]

Oh.

Before I even realized it, we were at the main building’s entrance.

What about Athanas, though?

Had his memories been erased? Did he remember warning me? Meeting Callister? Getting treated like garbage by those snobs? He’d at least remember walking into the main building, right?

But I can’t ask him about that here…

…Not with all these nosy ears around. It would be a nightmare if someone found out I was immune to oblivion. I felt a small sense of relief, though, when I touched the wax tablet hidden in my sleeve, the engraved lines distinct against my skin.

If Athanas forgot, I can just fill him in.

I’m pretty sure Athanas confided in me about what he uncovered, even though it was risky, because he trusted I’d do the same for him…

…But wait, did I ever tell him that oblivion doesn’t work on me?

“Fabio?”

Did I mention that to him?

“Fabio…”

Hmm, I don’t think I did?

“Fabio, is something wrong?”

So then why did he give me that warning?

In that situation, wouldn’t it be smarter to just play dumb? He didn’t even tell me to act a certain way. Wouldn’t it be better to just drag me out of the main building, pretending he had no idea what was going on?

Was that warning meant for the Research Director to hear, not me?

Was he saying that he’s got sharp eyes, so the director better watch how he acts around us? Is that what he meant? But does that even count as a warning?

You know, in detective novels, the quick-witted guy always dies first…

“Fabio!”

Oh.

I had stopped walking without even noticing.

“…What’s on your mind that’s got you so troubled?” Athanas asked, his voice full of concern.

Looking up at him, I could see the same concern in his eyes, which made me wonder…

Even if I ask him right now what he meant by that…

…Would I actually get a straight answer? Probably not. Athanas wouldn’t remember saying it, anyway.

The whole thing felt odd.

I mean…is the Athanas standing in front of me really the same guy I’d been with just a few minutes ago? The one who’d walked out of the library with me?

Sure, he’d only lost a few hours of memories, but what if it had been longer? What if we’d gone through all sorts of stuff together, grown close, and then – poof! – Athanas forgot it all?

That would be incredibly frustrating.

I’m so lucky Athanas didn’t have some kind of profound moment earlier. If he had, wouldn’t he have forgotten all about the second we left the library?

…And wouldn’t that mean my rank would just drop back to where it was?

Forced persuasion wouldn’t work, not without any memory of being deeply moved in the first place.

It’s like… if someone has an eureka moment but then forgets it, did it even really happen?

This thought felt weirdly familiar.

Hadn’t Athanas just asked me something like that?

Like, if you dream something up but forget it when you wake up, did you actually dream it at all?

Why did Athanas…?

“Fabio? Are you feeling alright?” Athanas’ gentle tap on my cheek finally snapped me out of my head.

“Huh? Am I alright? Yeah, I’m fine. Totally fine.”

“Are you sure? You seem… distracted and worried. Is something on your mind?”

“Worried? No, no, I wasn’t really worrying about anything. Just thinking about what game to play with the kids later. That’s it.” I said, forcing a big yawn. “I’m just a bit sleepy from those early morning wake-ups the past few days. Let’s get moving.”

Athanas didn’t seem convinced, but he let it go until we got to our usual prayer room. I watched quietly as he said his prayers in front of Valentine’s symbol.

Taking off his armor after he finished, Athanas turned to me expectantly. “Can you tell me now? What’s troubling you?”

But I deflected the question back to him. “Actually, before we get into that, I have a question for you. How much do you remember about earlier?”

Athanas furrowed his brow, deep in thought. “How much I remember…” He paused, considering my words carefully. “Are you referring to the number of people who ignored us?”

Looks like his memory cut out right around when those scholars gave us the cold shoulder.

I had a hunch that would be the case.

I pulled out the wax tablet hidden in my sleeve.

“So, you’re telling me you don’t remember writing this either?” I asked, my eyes fixed on the tablet.

The stylus marks on the back were clearly visible when he wrote them earlier.

If my memory serves me right, it should say…

‘Fabio, Fabio, Fabio, Fabio, Fabio.’

“Gah! What the-“

I chucked the tablet on the floor without thinking.

What the hell is this?!

Where are Athanas’ notes?

I was supposed to see ’Callister, Research Director, forbidden books, oblivion, don’t go to the library,’ but it all vanished!

Where did it go?!

“…Is something wrong with it?” Athanas picked up the tablet.

“A-Athanas, can you see the writing on the back? What does it say?” My voice wavered slightly.

Athanas shot me a puzzled look. “…There’s writing on here?”

“You can’t see it? It’s right there, plain as day…” I faltered, a creeping unease washing over me.

“I don’t see anything.”

I cautiously walked over to Athanas’ side, peeking at the tablet from a few steps back.

The wooden surface was…

“Fabio, what did you see?”

…completely blank.

My heart plummeted as I stared at the tablet. The deep grooves Athanas had carved, nearly snapping the stylus, had just… disappeared. Vanished without a trace.

“…Let me see that again.” I grabbed the tablet, my eyes boring into the empty surface. I rubbed the back frantically, trying to convince myself I wasn’t losing it. The surface was smooth as silk, no ridges or marks to explain what I swore I saw.

This is insane.

Am I going crazy? Did those words really just vanish?

How was that even possible?

Could oblivion physically erase things?

But then, as abruptly as they disappeared, the letters flashed back onto the tablet.

Seriously, what the hell is happening…

Athanas approached, asking, “What were you trying to write down?”

‘Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it.’

But as he drew near, the letters started fading away again, like they were desperate to avoid his gaze.

Could it be…the God of Records?

I darted my eyes between the tablet and Athanas, a growing unease twisting in my chest.

“Hey, Athanas, can you turn around and face the wall? Just for a sec?” I tried to sound casual.

Athanas’ signature frown appeared, but to my surprise, he obediently turned his back.

Huh…I thought he’d at least ask why.

I looked back at the tablet, my heart stuttering as the letters reappeared.

‘Fabio, come back, come back, come back, come back.’

…Come back?

Where? To the library?

Are you crazy?! You can’t seriously expect me to go back there!

New words formed on the tablet:

‘Athanas, don’t trust, the Order, don’t trust, liars.’

I scowled as I read on, the letters shifting again.

‘Truth, history, records, I’ll show you, the erased things.’

…Why did this guy choose me, of all people?

What did he think I could do?

Does he know that I haven’t received the ‘Blessing of Order,’ so he’s trying to recruit me?

I mean, I am curious about what Roklem erased from the records…

But isn’t getting tangled up with a god who’s rebelled against the Order a monumentally bad idea? If I made an enemy of the Saint or Athanas, my life will be well and truly screwed….

The letters kept coming, refusing to let me look away.

‘Library, come back, library, come back, I’ll give you a blessing.’

I made my choice.

“Athanas, I think this wax tablet might be cursed or something. Could you get rid of it for me?”

T/N: I’ll be taking a weekish vacation to catch up on some reading and fix mistakes! Please support the author on RIDI and leave a rating on NU when you get the chance. See ya’ll soon! （＾∀＾●）ﾉｼ