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

#009Reader Mode

#009

Six months. Half a year. That’s how long I’ve been stuck learning to read and write from Antonio.

Damn these medieval people!

I had forgotten that back in the Middle Ages, translating the Latin Bible into English was grounds for execution. Blasphemy, they called it.

But of course, the Dark Realm, not to be outdone by the Middle Ages, took it a step further with a Doctrine written in some convoluted language that no one could make heads or tails of, even if they tried.

So, learning to read and write wasn’t just about knowing the alphabet. No, you had to tackle a ridiculously complex foreign language too.

This is so damn inefficient!

Interestingly enough, I didn’t even need to struggle with the everyday alphabet – it was just good old Hangul.(the Korean alphabet).

Pretending not to know it was troublesome.

My impatience got the best of me, and after just three days, I started putting on a show of struggling with my reading. Unsurprisingly, Antonio was all over it, singing my praises as a ‘learning prodigy.’

Next thing I know, he’s whipping out the Doctrine, claiming I’m ready to learn the Holy Text.

Ugh, if only this didn’t involve such advanced knowledge…

A week into learning the Holy Text, I realized that even if I strained every last brain cell, mastering it within a month was impossible. That’s when I was ready to throw in the towel and get the hell out of there.

I had no grand ambitions to begin with. I just wanted to find a job near the chapel, something that allow me to earn a living. Knowing everyday Hangul would be more than enough for that.

Why bother with the Holy Text if I wasn’t planning on becoming a priest?

But when I subtly hinted at wanting to quit because of the difficulty, Antonio, usually the gentle soul, did a complete 180 and showed some sternness. He insisted that learning the Holy Text was an absolute must.

He explained that many crucial matters were written in the Holy Text, and if I didn’t learn it, my learning would be limited, or something along those lines.

To be honest, I just wanted to escape ignorance, and this was merely an excuse to secure a recommendation for the Order. So, I was a bit puzzled.

I said, “Given my background as a serf, I suppose I’d have to do things like washing or odd jobs at the Cathedral to earn money. With the time left after work, I’d hardly have enough time to read, even if it were just documents written in regular characters. Would someone like me ever have the chance to read valuable knowledge written in the Holy Text?”

Antonio’s answer to this was unexpected, to say the least.

“Learn the Holy Text, and you won’t need to do such work!”

After a detailed explanation, he suggested that if I, an ordinary serf, could decipher the Holy Text, my thirst for knowledge might impress them, paving the way for me to rise through the ranks and possibly become a clergyman or even a priest.

But the idea of becoming a priest didn’t appeal to me in the slightest.

As a modern soul, there was no way I could bring myself to worship Roklem. And without such faith, my divine power would be non-existent, and I wouldn’t even qualify to be a bell-ringer, let alone a priest. Wouldn’t it be a complete waste of effort?

So, I asked Antonio, “I may not have the qualifications to become a clergyman. Would learning the Holy Text still be meaningful then?” After pondering my words for a while, Antonio said this:

“Yes, it is meaningful. Regardless of qualifications, you could still become a sexton, or at the very least, a reader.”¹T/N: A “sexton” is a church officer or employee who takes care of the church property and performs related duties such as digging graves, ringing the bell, etc.

The role of a “reader” was unfamiliar to me, as I had never encountered it in the game. When I asked Antonio what a reader does, he graciously explained:

“The only clerical role that doesn’t require any prerequisites is that of a ‘Reader.’ Well, there’s one condition: you must be able to read the Holy Text. If you meet this one requirement, you can receive holy orders.

What does a Reader do, you might ask? It’s a bit tricky to explain. Remember how I said even nobles find the Holy Text difficult to read? So, they hire ‘Readers’ who can read the scriptures.

Therefore, as long as you can read the Holy Text, you should have no problem making a living. On top of that, you’ll have numerous opportunities to learn more. Now, will you consider learning the Holy Text until the end?”

These words convinced me completely.

Imagine having a job where you earn a substantial income just for reading books all day. Sounds like a dream come true, right?

For a humble serf like me, it was truly a life-changing opportunity.

The problem, however…

The Conclude timeline begins in less than three months.

The day the heavens split open is forever seared into my memory.

December 24th, Christmas Eve.

On the night of the 24th, we carry out a ritual to summon the Othergods, and by the 25th, I am reborn as an Apostle.

The game always kicks off on December 25th because apparently, the crazy bastards at ST Games thought it would be fun to have the main character’s rise to cult leader status coincide with Jesus’ birthday.

Naturally, this sparked some wild rumors about Conclude being a game designed by a bunch of Satan worshippers.

At first, fans had a field day with memes like “Why the Apostle of Earth is Jesus: Born on December 25th.” But one overzealous Christian took it to heart and, using some seriously far-fetched logic, demanded a ban on Conclude, branding it ’a game straight from the pit of hell.’

Rumors spread like wildfire: ST stands for Satan, Conclude promotes homosexuality, all sorts of inhumane crimes can be done, and is a game championed by devil worshippers…

Considering the game wasn’t even available for purchase domestically, many gamers scoffed, “How can you ban a game that’s not even approved for sale?!”

The real drama started when this crazy bastard took to online forums, airing the fans’ dirty gaming laundry in a desperate attempt to rally support for the petition.

Up until that point, it was mostly the Mother God fans taking the heat.

The petition’s promotion spectacularly backfired, achieving the polar opposite of what the Christian had intended.

Posts like, “I’m here because of the promotion,” and “Is this the number one blasphemy hotspot officially recognized by Christian groups?” started popping up left and right. As a result, Mother God’s fanbase exploded like never before.

Just thinking about it still makes my blood boil.

If it wasn’t for that fiasco, Mother God’s fanbase wouldn’t have grown so insanely fast.

By now, the odds of Mother God’s potential contractor being a hardcore fan are probably around 99%.

Anyone who saw the requirements for receiving [Blessing of Mating] and still clicked ⟪YES⟫ is definitely part of that tainted crowd.

I’m generously allowing a 1% margin for accidental clicks.

I absolutely do not want to run into a Mother God fan.

“Status window.”

[???]

*Hidden Trait: Effect is unknown.

For the past six months, the trait given to me by the Mother God has remained an mystery.

She doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to find me yet.

Whether it’s because I can’t activate the trait until I become an Apostle, or it’s simply been put on the back burner, chances are, I’ll be able to enjoy a peaceful existence until Christmas.

If she had intended to activate it, she would have done so by now.

If I want to beat the game, I need to go all out to secure a contract with an Othergod before Christmas.

Even if only half of the sixteen participate in the competition, I’ll still have to outdo seven of them. She won’t have the time to come looking for me.

And if the trait is deactivated, she’ll never be able to track me down.

How could they possibly know that a serf who’s been cooped up in a remote village, farming for the past six months, is a player?

Even the Order wouldn’t have that kind of intel.

All I need to do is get to the Cathedral before Christmas.

This thought crossed my mind as I scattered chicken feed around.

The chickens pecked eagerly at their meal.

Seeing the sun gradually rise, I realized it was about time to hit the books.

Come to think of it, I’ve been doing nothing but waking up at the crack of dawn, farming, taking care of chickens, and studying for the past 6 months.

Anyone would think I was playing a farming game, not Conclude.

Had I ever lived such a peaceful life before?

Adjusting my straw hat, I muttered to myself,

“Do I have any crops to plant at the moment?”

[As September draws to a close, it’s time to sow winter barley and winter wheat.]

“So, if I plant barley now, when can I expect to harvest it?”

[Harvest winter barley during the peak of summer, between June and July.]

That won’t work. I’ll be long gone before Christmas.

I gazed up at the cloudless, clear sky.

“Is it going to rain anytime soon?”

[The sky suggests it won’t rain within the next three days. You should prepare some water in advance.]

“…Feels like I’m in a proper farming sim, getting advice like this.”

It wasn’t genuine advice, merely tidbits drawn from Fabio’s memories.

My gaze swept across the tranquil expanse around me, overgrown with grass that reached my waist.

Without me uttering a word, a narration window popped up, blocking my view.

[I should clear up to where the rocks are and make it my field.]

“Nope, not happening. I’m tapped out.”

[No matter how busy you are, you should be able to manage turning over a furrow or two more each day. Let’s do it little by little.]

“I said I can’t.”

[When you’re feeling weak, think about the crops that will grow in that field. You’ll be filled with energy in no time.]

“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled.

This guy Fabio, he’s a total farming nut.

At first, I thought maybe the personality of the body I took over had somehow stuck around. But now I get it – it’s just the system spitting out sentences that fit the context.

The narration pops up whenever I look at something Fabio really cared about.

That stupid rock triggers the same annoying narration every single time.

Initially, I felt obligated to respect his wishes, seeing as I jacked his body and all. But after three days, I abandoned the thought.

Digging without a backhoe? No thanks, I’m not crazy.

I’m not Fabio.

Plus, there’s nobody left who’d even appreciate me trying to carry out Fabio’s hopes and dreams, not even the man himself.

Clearing the field up to that rock wouldn’t change a damn thing.

That same narration would still play on repeat.

I’m lucky an empty field is the only thing the man had an emotional connection to.

I cringed, imagining how uncomfortable it would’ve been if Fabio’s mom was still alive.

Getting hit with a [My beloved mother] pop-up every time I so much as glanced at her…

Fabio being an orphan is a silver lining, I guess.

With that thought, I picked up the pace heading to Antonio’s place.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

Since I hadn’t done any planting or clearing, I found myself with a ton of free time after wrapping up my chores.

But in this backwoods village, there was absolutely nothing to do for fun.

Watching the clouds go by was about as thrilling as it got.

Today though, the sky was blue as far as the eye could see, without a cloud in sight.

So I ended up killing time over at Antonio’s.

“Reading the Casebook again, Fabio?”

“Sure am, Mr. Antonio. The more I read it, the more I’m starting to understand Roklem, the God of Order.”

It’s full of sensational cases, so I’ve really just been reading it for the entertainment value.

Compared to some dry medical textbook or history tome, the Casebook is basically a page-turner novel.

“It’s remarkable, the way you read without making a sound or even moving your lips.”

Oh right, silent reading.

I laughed to myself under my breath. Classic isekai trope.

Everybody losing their minds just ‘cause I can read a book in my head.

I knew reading out loud was the norm in medieval times, but I didn’t think soundless reading would send them into culture shock like this.

“It’s nothing special.”

“No, I’ve never seen anyone read as fast as you, Fabio. And you actually understand what you’re reading, just like that! You must certainly be a genius, blessed by the Lord himself!”

Flustered by Antonio’s over-the-top praise, I ducked behind my book. What is this, some isekai novel? What’s he going on about?

It’s not like I’m some toddler who’d get all puffed up over unearned flattery.

“That’s not true at all. If I was really a genius, I would’ve memorized all the Holy scriptures by now.”

“Hah! Even the sharpest minds can’t learn the Holy scriptures that quickly.”

“But Antonio, didn’t you say your quickest student was able to read the Doctrine independently within a week?”

Antonio visibly flinched.

Guess he didn’t think I’d remember that little detail.

“Trust me, I know I’m no genius. I just pick up on basic letters faster than most folks. Other than that, I’m pretty average.”

“No, you truly are a genius!”

“What’s the difference between teaching someone to read, then acting shocked when they do it, and teaching someone to use a spoon, then being amazed when they manage to slurp down some soup?”

“No, it’s completely different!”

Antonio looked exasperated, but he couldn’t argue with my logic.

Seeing him like this was frustrating for me too.

How the hell did a walking, talking isekai novel cliché end up being born in the Dark Realm?

He fits the trope pretty well, getting way too excited over ordinary things and fawning over a couple of words like he’s ready to rip out his own liver and gallbladder as tribute.²T/N: “Rip out his liver and gallbladder to offer them” is a Korean idiom that expresses a high level of respect or loyalty to someone.

I should make sure he doesn’t get swindled somewhere.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

If there was one thing that ‘Fabio’ had overlooked, it was that his learning journey was not at all like an educated adult learning a new language.

Instead, it resembled a toddler learning to read.

Imagine a four-year-old who had never seen Hangul before suddenly being able to read Korean fluently after just three days of lessons. You would call them a genius, wouldn’t you?

But what if this same child, armed with their newfound knowledge, delved into the pages of “The Selfish Gene” and fully grasped its complex contents?³T/N: “The Selfish Gene” refers to a well-known book by Richard Dawkins about evolution and natural selection.

Such a feat wouldn’t just be a sign of genius. No matter how brilliant they were, understanding the book would be impossible if they’d never encountered concepts like genes or evolution before.

Antonio had never felt so baffled in his life as he did at that moment.

…Fabio has never once sought guidance on the pronunciation of a word.

At first, Antonio assumed Fabio was just pretending to read when he saw him quietly paging through the Casebook. Amused and a little proud, he decided to test Fabio with a question, expecting the boy to be flustered.

“Tell me, Fabio,” Antonio began, a hint of mirth in his voice, “why do you think two murderers who committed similar crimes received different punishments?”

Without lifting his gaze from the pages before him, Fabio responded, “One had the intent to kill, while the other did not.”

Upon hearing this, Antonio nearly fainted from shock.

Fabio misunderstood Antonio’s astonishment, thinking he was just surprised Fabio could read silently. It never occurred to him that Antonio would be stunned by a ten-year-old knowing such a basic moral concept. What amazed Antonio was that Fabio had actually ‘comprehended’ the material.

Surely some God has blessed this child.

In classic medieval fashion, Antonio figured anything he couldn’t explain must be the work of the divine. In the Dark Realm, where Gods were real, this was often a fair conclusion.

But which God blessed Fabio this gift?

The thought made Antonio’s stomach churn painfully.

The story about Fabio learning to read from studying the Doctrine was a lie.

In their world, the holy words weren’t learned, but bestowed. After being baptized, those touched by the Gods simply…knew how to read them.

Saying it took a week to learn to read the Doctrine really meant it took that long to learn to recite it gracefully and rhythmically.

Even if the blessing came from a God who serves Roklem, one could still read the holy letters…

There are Gods outside the Order, but those who received their blessings unpredictably often met a grim fate.

Antonio was desperate to protect Fabio from such a destiny.

Losing one disciple to the flames was already too much to bear.

…I must send word to Casimir.

Antonio retrieved a signet ring from a box he hadn’t opened in ages.

A deep gouge in the ring showed its seal was no longer functional.

T/N: Bro…MC is already messing up ahaha. Let’s see him mess up again! ( •̀ᴗ•́ )و ̑̑