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

#019Reader Mode

#019

Anyway, this trait is basically hardwired into me; it’s not going anywhere, no matter how hard you try to remove it.

Am I supposed to think of it as some kind of divine branding on my soul or something?

Honestly, it feels more like a curse than a divine blessing.

Now that I think about it, I’m actually pretty pissed off. If it weren’t for this stupid trait from Hapenesus, I wouldn’t have to deal with this whole high priest investigation mess.

“…So, who are we going to see now?” I asked Casimir.

You see, the clergy of the Order are kind of split into two different groups: you’ve got those who only serve Roklem, and then you’ve got those who serve Roklem and one of his subordinate gods.

Chanters and bell-ringers are part of the clergy too, but priests are in a whole different league. They can directly tap into their gods’ powers, which gives them a way higher status.

The difference in unit cost is about 30-fold.

From priests on up, they can perform baptisms, and their prayers go directly to the god they serve.

So, basically, you can get away with killing a bell-ringer if no one’s looking. But with priests? That’s playing with fire. If you don’t take them out before they start praying, inquisitors will be swarming from all directions…

Whoops, there I go again, thinking like a gamer.

Anyway, above priests, you’ve got bishops and archbishops. Once you hit archbishop, you’ve entered the realm of the high priests.

Now, you might think Pope, Cardinals, and Patriarchs are the next in line, but they’re actually special positions that archbishops can get promoted to.

So, to use corporate jargon, bishops are like middle management, archbishops are like department heads, and Popes, Cardinals, and Patriarchs are like the top brass – team leads, section chiefs, and HQ chiefs, you get the idea.

For those who serve Roklem and Roklem alone, the Pope’s the highest-ranking priest. But for those serving Roklem and one of His subordinate gods, the Archbishop takes the highest seat.

Think of the Archbishop like the CEO of a subsidiary company.

Of course, if a subordinate god only has a handful of priests, having an Archbishop would be overkill. It’s like a tiny startup with just five employees, including the CEO, having a headquarters chief – it just doesn’t make sense.

Instead, these subordinate gods have “Apostles”, a rank reserved for a direct representative chosen by the god. The prestige of being an Apostle depends on which god you serve.

It’s kinda like how the CEO of a massive corporation with over 30,000 employees and a solo entrepreneur running a one-man show are both CEOs in their own right.

Generally, it’s believed that from the Archbishop level up, you have a direct connection to the god.

To handle the burden of having your god use your body like a personal CCTV to spy on the Dark Realm, you need to be at least an Archbishop.¹T/N: Closed-circuit television aka Security cam!

In emergencies, a god can quickly peek through their priest’s eyes, but if this goes on for too long, the priest will collapse under the strain, leading to eyeballs bursting and severe blood loss.

Archbishops, however, can hold out a bit longer.

Their true power shines when they declare a sanctuary, allowing direct divine intervention and transforming them into something like a precision-guided missile. This lets them unleash [Divine Punishment], annihilating high-performance units that would normally take dozens of holy knights to defeat.

Declaring a sanctuary, however, is a big deal that requires a significant sacrifice, making it impractical just to investigate some guy with a peasant background. A quick peek through a follower’s eyes should be enough to verify someone’s background.

Even if the priest I’m about to meet isn’t an archbishop, if they can’t confirm my trait, then they’ll have to take this matter to the Archbishop next.

“Wouldn’t knowing who it is in advance just make you more nervous? Do you still want to know?”

At Casimir’s question, I nodded.

If the knight commander is bringing this up, then it must be someone significant—perhaps even someone of archbishop caliber.

“In that case, you should prepare yourself even more,” Casimir advised. “Meeting this person without preparation could be quite a shock, catching you off guard.”

The commander seemed to think that this was the best course of action. “The person you’re about to meet is the Holy Maiden.”

…Holy Maiden?

I stopped in my tracks, momentarily stunned.

“The Holy Maiden…?”

Could it be Saintess Adelaide?

Are we going to see her right now?

I felt a rush of excitement before I managed to calm myself down.

No, wait. It couldn’t be Adelaide at this point in time.

In the game [Heretic Slayer], the Order’s pretty much falling apart, and the original Saintess has already been sacrificed.

That’s when The Grey Saintess Adelaide, steps in as a pivotal character. She was forcibly chosen and rushed into her role because the next in line was too young.

One of Roklem’s symbols is pristine white hair. When a woman is chosen to be a Saintess, an Apostle of Roklem, her hair instantly turns a pure, snowy white. However, Adelaide, a young girl unable to fully accept the immense power bestowed upon her, only saw half of her dark hair turn white, earning her the dishonorable title of ‘The Grey Saintess’.

The Order has a cruel way of labeling those who sacrifice everything for the cause…

Still, anyone who’s played Heretic Slayer can’t help but have a soft spot for the half-baked Saintess Adelaide. A 16-year-old girl sacrificing her own lifespan to save the world? That’s pretty damn touching.²T/N: “Half-baked” is used to describe the Saintess who couldn’t fully accept her divine powers, not in the sense of being unprepared or inadequate.

If we’re eight years before the events of Heretic Slayer, that means Adelaide would be around eight years old now.

Thinking about Adelaide’s tragic fate in Heretic Slayer still gets to me. I remember bawling my eyes out and cursing those game developer bastards, wishing they’d spare her…

…No matter which of the 15 becomes the final Concluder, the Dark Realm is going to descend into absolute chaos.

If the current Saintess can’t hold on much longer, Adelaide will end up sacrificing her lifespan all over again to save this world.

Because that’s just the kind of person Adelaide is.

…And now that I think about it, I started playing Conclude in the first place because it’s set in the same universe as Heretic Slayer. I had this naive hope that maybe, just maybe, I could change Adelaide’s fate…

If I had never started playing, I wouldn’t be stuck in this mess right now.

With that thought, my mood took a nosedive.

So, who’s got it worse? Me, a (former) serf bastard who could be executed any minute now, or Adelaide, who’s still got at least another eight years?

No contest. It’s definitely me.

Plus, I’m about to meet a legit Saintess, not a half-baked one…

The Grey Saintess was insanely powerful, almost too powerful to be considered incomplete. Using her powers would make her cough up blood, though.

But what about a full-fledged Saintess?

Ranking even higher than the Pope, the Saintess is the closest to God among all the Apostles serving Roklem and his subordinates.

If I screw this up, I could be hit with [Divine Punishment] the second she lays eyes on me.

“Look at you, completely lost in your thoughts. Are you that nervous?”

I’m about to face my potential executioner, of course I’m nervous.

“The Holy Maiden is human too, so there’s no need to feel overly anxious.”

Yeah, but there’s a god pulling the strings behind that human.

“…Are your legs starting to give out on you? Want me to carry you?”

“No, no, I can walk on my own.”

That’s right, I’m about to meet a real-life Saintess unit.

And if the lore is true, every Saintess is incredibly beautiful.

Just how stunning is she going to be?

Come to think of it, getting judged by the Saintess might be my lucky break. Sure, it’s not like I’m gonna win a prize or anything, but her unique skill is exactly what I need right now.

The Saintess possesses the [Eye of Judgment]. She’ll see that I haven’t committed any sins.

Roklem, the [God of Order and Condemnation], gives the Saintess the power to play judge, jury, and executioner. When judging heretics, the severity of the sin dictates the harshness of the punishment. If the sin is unintentional, the poor sap gets a quick death without the torture.

The Grey Saintess kept sacrificing years off her life to cast [Divine Punishment] just so the mutants created by Othergods could die without suffering…

Of course, the clergy of the Order have no choice but to put these mutants out of their misery. Their existence, warped by the power of an Othergod, throws the natural order into chaos and accumulates sin. Mercifully ending their lives before they stray further from the [Realm of Order]—a sort of heaven for the devout followers of Roklem— is really the kindest thing the clergy can do.

What a crazy, messed-up world this is…

Anyway, once the Saintess confirms my innocence, she’ll probably feel bad and let me off with a quick and painless [Divine Punishment].

Which makes me wonder, if I die now, do I get to go to the Realm of Order?

Dying is terrifying, sure, but the thought of spending eternity in some boring place isn’t exactly my idea of a good time either.

With all these thoughts swirling in my head, I found myself standing in front of an imposing door—the same one from the game’s opening cinematic.

I glanced down at my outfit.

Great, I look like a total peasant.

To make matters worse, I just got here, haven’t even been at the Cathedral a full day, and I’m already a sweaty, grimy mess.

Usually, I’m all about sticking to the game’s vibe, changing outfits when a cinematic scene’s coming up to snag the best screenshots.

Guess I’m going to meet my maker in these rags, though.

No amount of scrubbing was going to make my tattered tunic, worn-out pants, and somewhat decent leather shoes look presentable.

Meeting the Saintess looking like this…?

Hey, maybe it’ll score me some sympathy points.

Awesome, here I am, about to meet my end without having had the slightest opportunity to upgrade my wardrobe since landing in this game world.

My heart raced as I braced myself for what was to come, my mind drifting off into a whirlwind of thoughts.

Creeeaak.

Casimir’s steady hand gripped the heavy door, and with a calm demeanor, she gracefully swung it open. The hinges groaned in protest, but the sound was quickly absorbed by the thick, richly adorned walls, revealing the room beyond.

Inside, a scene straight out of the cinematic opening awaited. Two figures stood in the center of the room, bathed in an ethereal, soft white light that seemed to emanate from their very beings. The air was charged with a palpable energy, creating a solemn and revered atmosphere.

To the left stood a figure with hair cut in a stylish bob, the ends caressing their jawline gracefully. The short hairstyle framed their face perfectly, adding a modern touch to their otherworldly appearance.

On the right, another figure demanded attention with their long, luxurious hair loosely tied and flowing down to their waist like a waterfall of silk. The hair moved gently, as if blown by an invisible breeze, adding an extra layer of grace and fluidity.

Guess the Saintess’s legendary beauty will have to stay a mystery.

Better to leave something to the imagination than end up disappointed because she’s not my type, right?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, hidden beneath the fancy ornament.

If one of them is the Saintess, who’s the other one? An Apostle, maybe?

Lucky for me, I didn’t have to play the guessing game for long.

Because the one with the long hair? Yeah, that was a man.

“Are you Fabio?” The short-haired one stepped forward, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air.

“Yes, it’s an honor to meet you, Saintess!”

The Saintess paused for a moment, leaving me hanging in suspense.

…What’s happening?

Is she already using her [Eye of Judgment] on me?

Feeling the pressure, I started to sweat as the Saintess, who seemed to be frozen like she was lagging for a brief moment, finally came back to life.

“…Why do you look so terrified?”

“If you’re innocent, you have nothing to fear from judgment,” she added with a gentle reminder.

I couldn’t help but feel a bit wronged by her words.

I mean, come on, it’s totally normal to be scared when you’re in a police station, even if you haven’t done anything wrong!

“It’s because I was told I’m an outsider to Order,” I explained.

“But wasn’t that beyond your control? Do you think Roklem might be unfair in his judgment?”

What the hell?

Is it really that hard to understand that being afraid doesn’t mean you don’t trust god?

Is this the kind of mindset that comes with being a fanatic?

Is that what it takes to be the Saintess?

Okay, enough of this. Better stop thinking like this. The Saintess can detect lies, so she might just pick up on my disrespectful thoughts too.

“I know that Roklem is always fair, but I can’t help feeling scared of being punished.”

“There’s no need to be so tense.” She tried to reassure me, her voice calm and steady.

“There’s no need to be so tense.” Her voice was calm and reassuring. She gestured to the Apostle standing behind her, who stepped forward and lightly touched my forehead with his fingertips.

What the hell are you doing?

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

I mentally cursed as soon as I saw the system message, then felt a bit foolish after actually reading it.

For a second there, I thought he was trying to hypnotize me or something.

Turns out, he was just trying to calm me down with a blessing. I had instinctively reacted because of that heretical bastard Nasir’s previous attempt; though my trait of repelling even good effects certainly didn’t help. Still, it was kind of reassuring to know they didn’t think I was a completely lost cause.

The Apostle looked a bit thrown when his blessing didn’t work on me.

“Thanks anyway,” I said, trying to be gracious.

“You’re welcome. Although since my blessing didn’t work, there’s nothing to thank me for…”

“I appreciate the thought, really,” I insisted, not wanting to seem ungrateful.

Holy shit, I’m screwed. Even the power of an Apostle-level unit doesn’t work on me.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my nerves steady.

Well, I guess everyone’s time comes eventually. Some just get an earlier checkout than others…

“…It seems we have much to discuss. Please, have a seat,” the Saintess said, gesturing to a cozy tea table beside her.

As I settled into the nearest chair, the Saintess took the seat across from me, with the Apostle to my right and Casimir to my left.

Damn, it’s getting a bit crowded in here.

“Shall we begin with introductions?” the Saintess suggested.

This feels like the first awkward meeting for a random group project.

“Sure, I’m Fabio…” I started.

“Is that truly your name?” she cut me off, her tone sharp.

“Uh, yes?”

“I’m asking if Fabio is your real name.”

Wait, what is she getting at?

Now I was really thrown for a loop. Was there something off about my status window? Could she sense my soul was…different? What other name could she mean – my username? My real-life name?

What the hell do I even say to that?

[Fabio! That’s my name!]

[You know, Fabio is a name associated with agriculture and harvest, just like my father always used to say. Really, what could be a better name for me? I aim to become the best farmer!]

What the…?

I was utterly baffled when those narration boxes popped up, killing any tension that had been building.

“…I’ve been called Fabio since the day I was born,” I finally responded, keeping my voice even. “Could there possibly be another name for me?”

Technically, I’m not lying here.

I had been called Fabio since the moment I arrived in the Dark Realm, and this body had been known as Fabio since his baptism at birth.

I just hoped the Saintess couldn’t see through that careful half-truth. Her expression was unreadable behind that ornate mask.

“…I asked because some demons make contracts, steal baptismal names, and bestow new ones,” she explained. “If you’re not aware of any of this, then that’s all I needed to know.”

Her ornament really does make it hard to read her emotions. Maybe that’s why it’s used during interrogations.

“Now it’s my turn to introduce myself. My name is Ada.”

Not Saintess, just Ada.³T/N: “Ada“ in Korean is a slang for a person who never had sex lol.

Her casual introduction caught me off guard, and I momentarily forgot all my previous thoughts.

How can someone actually be named like this?!