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

#011Reader Mode

T/N: To avoid confusion, ‘Apostles’—who are players drawn into this world—will be referred to as ‘Concluders.’ This distinction is made to differentiate them from Apostles who are native to this world. Players are still Apostles though. Enjoy~

#011

I was caught off guard by the system message and my eyes widened in surprise.

What’s going on? Hypnosis?

The knight noticed my reaction. “You seem surprised.”

“Pardon?”

“What startled you?”

I scrambled to come up with a believable excuse, knowing I had to play dumb about the whole situation.

“Oh, well, I thought I saw a bright flash or something…” My voice trailed off as I tried to sound unsure.

“Be more specific.”

“Honestly, aside from a quick burst of light…I really couldn’t tell you.”

An idea popped into my head. “Maybe…the sun reflected off your helmet and got me in the eyes for a second there?” I suggested, my voice wavering slightly.

The knight let out a soft sigh. “I was merely testing to confirm whether you are indeed an ordinary ‘serf’.”

“Wait, you did something to me? Was it that flash of light?” I asked, doing my best to appear totally clueless.

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Seriously, I’m completely in the dark here!

I don’t know a thing about any of this!

C’mon, look at me – I’m just a regular, ignorant serf!

“The fact that you felt nothing is proof in and of itself.”

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“It means you possess an innate blessing.”

Being “innately blessed” suggested that one had some kind of unique trait.

What? You tried to hypnotize me just to see if I have this ‘blessing’ or trait?

What kind of nonsense is this?

What if I didn’t have mental interference immunity?

Were you planning to hypnotize me into confessing something?

And then you’d just keep subjecting me to various status effects until you figured out what my special trait is?

As absurd as it all sounded, I did my best to keep playing the part of the naive, unsuspecting serf.

“Really? I always thought Antonio was just saying nice things to make me feel good about myself…”

“Has anyone ever spoken to you directly?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Have you ever heard a voice guiding you or revealing things you didn’t know before?”

“No, never.”

“Then what made you decide to leave this place before winter?”

“It was…in a dream I had.”

“Is that so? In this dream, did someone tell you to go there before winter comes?”

“…No, not exactly. Are you suggesting that I’ve received some kind of divine revelation?”

While Roklem, the supreme God, rarely communicates through dreams, the subordinate gods who serve under him often do, making sure to include their unique symbols.

It’s kind of like an aggressive marketing strategy used by smaller companies.

The supreme God gains faith points simply by existing, but the subordinate gods have to actively perform miracles to gather faith.

Things like revealing a new water source to a village suffering from drought, helping someone who’s lost find their way, or sending a prophetic dream to prevent an assassination.

And they always make sure to include an obvious symbol, so no other god can take credit for their work.

Faking one of those symbols can get you into real trouble.

If an Apostle of that god announces, “Our lord has gained a new follower,” but the god is like, “Wait, what? No, I didn’t do that,” it could spell big trouble.

That’s why I intentionally made up a vague dream without any clear divine symbols…

“…A revelation without a symbol.”

I broke out in a cold sweat when I overheard the knight’s murmur.

I’m so screwed.

I had assumed that any regular serf claiming to have a generic dream without divine symbols would just be brushed off as having an ordinary dream.

But what happens when someone with a unique trait has that kind of dream?

I’m really, really screwed.

Only deceptive gods would conceal their symbols.

Am I about to get dragged off to the Inquisition?

“Is…is something wrong?”

I put on my best frightened expression.

But who was I kidding? I was absolutely terrified.

“How much of the Holy Text have you committed to memory?”

“Well, aside from a few rarely used words that I struggle with, I’ve pretty much memorized it all.”

“If I just had one more week, I think I could even memorize the words that only appear once…”

The knight let out a surprised, “Ho-oh!” upon hearing my hesitant voice.

“Did you say you’ve only been studying for a little over 6 months?”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“You must be a true genius.”

What are you talking about?

Some people can read through it in just a week.

“It’s commonly known that only those who possess the Blessing of Order can read the Holy letters.”

“So, does that mean I had the potential to learn it?”

“No, what I’m implying is that those with the Blessing of Order can read it naturally, without having to learn. It’s unheard of for someone to learn it without the blessing.”

The knight’s words left me with a whirlwind of questions.

“But Antonio told me…”

“He contacted me, saying there’s a ‘blessed one’ who can’t read the Holy letters.”

What… what was he getting at?

Antonio, who seemed like just another ordinary citizen of the Dark Realm, said…

“I am Nasir, an Inquisitor of the Order.”

With a smooth, practiced motion, he drew his longsword.

“I’ve come to determine whether you are a heretic.”

Antonio reported me to an inquisitor…?

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

[SYSTEM: Due to the effect of ‘The Whole World Is Beneath One’s Self,’, ‘Murderous intent’ can no longer be sensed.]

A series of pop-ups flashed before my eyes, but I had no time to read them.

Because the knight’s sword was already slicing through the air towards me.

Shocked and terrified, I collapsed to the ground.

My straw hat, now bearing a sword cut, landed on my legs.

That was way too close. I nearly had my face split in two.

With trembling fingers, I gingerly touched my face and neck.

In [Heretic Slayer], when an inquisitor reveals their name, it usually means they’re about to use an instant-kill skill.

“Did that surprise you?”

Of course it did!

“Did I… did I do something wrong? A heretic… How could that be possible?”

“We’re going to find out.”

What’s left to find out at this point?

What method are you planning to use now?

Don’t they usually identify heretics by violently smashing their skulls with a holy hammer?

Wait a second, is he really an inquisitor?

If he were one of the inquisitors from [Heretic Slayer], he would’ve cut me down without hesitation the instant an unidentified blessing was detected.

Why didn’t he just kill me right away?

As I pondered this, it dawned on me that this was taking place before the events of Heretic Slayer.

Maybe it’s because this is happening before the world plunged into chaos?

In [Heretic Slayer], the world teeters on the brink of destruction due to the overwhelming presence of Othergod Apostles.

Picture a world where drug cartels have grown into a massive armed force, powerful enough to assassinate presidents, and where 80% of the population are drug addicts.

In contrast, in this current era, without any Concluders, drug-related crimes are only seen on a small scale, like people secretly growing marijuana in their backyards.

These two scenarios obviously wouldn’t call for the same level of law enforcement.

If I remember the early days of Conclude correctly, units apprehended by inquisitors weren’t immediately executed.

Being taken by the Order would only sever one’s connection to the unit. It didn’t necessarily mean certain death.

Given that martyrdom yields more points even if you’re going to lose a unit anyway, self-destruction was usually the go-to choice.

So maybe being brought before the tribunal isn’t as terrible as I initially thought?

As this idea crossed my mind, the knight pointed his sword directly at me.

“Name.”

“Pardon?”

“Tell me your name. Or I’ll cut you down where you stand.”

“Fa… Fabio.”

“And your age?”

“Twenty-three!”

“So young. What about your parents?”

“They… They’ve both passed away…”

“How did they die?”

“My mother died from an illness when I was just a child, and my father fell from a cliff…”

I recounted Fabio’s backstory, my voice trembling.

“I see… That must have been very hard for you.”

Despite still holding his sword pointed at me, the knight gave a small, sympathetic nod.

Why is he showing me sympathy?

How could an inquisitor respond so gently to a story like that? When a parent tries to use forbidden methods to resurrect their sick child, isn’t it the inquisitor’s job to pass judgment? Normally, they might say something like, “Disgusting. Your actions haven’t saved the child, but condemned them to an eternal hell,” before sending the entire family to their doom.

Is that why I don’t recognize his name?

With an attitude like his, he probably wouldn’t have survived long in the game.

As I pondered this, I made sure to maintain the demeanor of the terrified serf, Fabio.

“Have you ever witnessed any strange phenomena? Ever handled an object that felt mysterious or consumed an odd-colored mushroom?”

“No, not really. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything like that.”

“Have you noticed any changes in your appetite? Perhaps developed a craving for raw meat?”

“What? Absolutely not, meat should always be cooked before eating.”

“Have you had any peculiar dreams since then?”

“No, nothing out of the ordinary…”

Is he actually getting any useful information from these questions?

What would happen if I just lied?

“What do you think of Sir Antonio?”

“Mr. Antonio? He’s the clergyman I admire the most.”

“Do you know what kind of person Antonio was?”

“He’s the one who rings the bell, right?”

“I mean before he took on the role of a bell-ringer.”

How would I know that? In Fabio’s memories, Antonio had always been the bell-ringer.

But it seems he was a rather influential figure.

The knight referred to Antonio as “Sir Antonio,” suggesting he once held a more prestigious position.

Maybe he voluntarily stepped down from a higher position to become a bell-ringer for some specific reason.

This line of questioning might be aimed at determining if I had sought out Antonio to uncover secrets from his past with some hidden agenda.

But, of course, I’m just a clueless, innocent serf!

Somewhat meekly, I said, “I don’t really know much about Mr. Antonio’s past…”

“Take an educated guess.”

“Um… well, he mentioned having a daughter once, so maybe he was married at some point? And given how knowledgeable he is, perhaps he was a professor or a scholar? Or maybe even a chronicler?”¹T/N: A “chronicler” is an individual who records events and happenings in a detailed and chronological order, essentially creating a “chronicle” or a historical record

“…And why is he the clergyman you admire the most?”

“Out of all the clergymen I’ve met, Mr. Antonio embodies the teachings of Lord Roklem better than anyone.”

The knight chuckled. “Based on what you’ve seen? How many clergymen could a serf like you have possibly met?”

What was the count? Around five or so?

Well, being the best out of five is still being the best.

“Have you ever even met an archbishop… no, even a bishop in your life?”

“I did catch a glimpse of a bishop from a distance once, during the Harvest Festival in the Countess’ domain…”

“So you believe that bishop followed Lord Roklem’s teachings less diligently than a simple bell-ringer?”

“I only saw the bishop from afar, so I can’t really judge how well he follows the teachings.”

“You don’t know because you haven’t seen it? Being a bishop is a title bestowed by Lord Roklem himself. Isn’t that enough?”

This feels like being asked if your parents are wealthier than Bill Gates just because you said you admire them.

Although slightly taken aback, I maintained my composure.

“That might be true. But I never said Mr. Antonio is the best clergyman. Only that he’s the one I admire the most.”

“Isn’t it natural to admire someone who is superior?”

“No, that’s not it. Mr. Antonio did something that even the most revered priests have not.”

“Ho-oh? And what might that be?”

“He changed me.”

“…What?”

“Seeing Mr. Antonio made me want to learn more about Lord Roklem and strive for wisdom. He never preached or tried to convert me; just his mere existence and actions transformed my heart.”

The knight, visibly bewildered, burst into hearty laughter.

“You think changing the heart of a single serf is such a remarkable feat?”

“Who told you that you’re destined for greatness? That you’re the Messiah sent to save the world? Hahaha, it seems like someone has seriously misled you.” The knight concluded, mocking my answer.²T/N: A “messiah” is a term that originates from religious traditions, particularly Judaism and Christianity, and it refers to a savior or liberator of a group of people.

“When did I say I did something so incredible? I only mentioned something other priests failed to do for me personally.”

“That’s true. Bishops and priests probably wouldn’t bother visiting such remote villages anyway.”

“Would it have made a difference if they did find the time?”

“So, you’re saying if it hadn’t been Antonio, your heart wouldn’t have changed?”

“Pardon? No, I was genuinely asking you. About how things might have played out differently.

I don’t know any other priests or bishops, but it seems like you, Mr. Inquisitor, do, so I was curious about your opinion.”

The knight let out a dismissive laugh upon hearing this.

“Very true. I can’t imagine any other clergyman spending so much time on a peasant.”

“Is that so? Then meeting Antonio was truly a fortunate encounter for me.”

I let out a small chuckle.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Am I not allowed to?”

“People usually don’t laugh when they’re at the wrong end of a sword.”

“Oh, is that right? Then I won’t laugh.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…” The knight sighed, glanced at the sky, then lowered his sword.

Victory.

I beamed triumphantly.

Breaking the tense atmosphere with laughter makes reverting back to a serious demeanor somewhat awkward.

Laughing in itself means he’s let his guard down around me.

Once he thinks, ’What’s up with this guy?’, even if I spout nonsensical logic, he’s more likely to just dismiss it, thinking, ’There he goes again.’

…So, even if I contradict myself during the interrogation, he might not find it suspicious.

“Is that the only reason you admire Antonio?”

“Yes. Isn’t that enough?”

“If it’s not, give me another reason.”

“Another reason?”

I don’t have another one.

I blinked innocently, playing dumb.

“Even if the Inquisitor doesn’t think it’s enough… I’m not the Inquisitor.”

“.…..”

“That’s the most honest answer I can give.”

If the Inquisitor isn’t satisfied with a simple serf’s answer, what more can be done? If you ask a bug that’s never left its tree about the forest, what kind of deep, insightful answer could you expect?

I placed my straw hat, now sporting a distinctive sword-slash mark, back on my head.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask? I’ll do my best to answer!”

“What do you think is happening right now?”

“You suspect me of heresy, and you’re conducting an investigation, right?”

“And?”

“Um? I should fully cooperate with this investigation to prove I’m not a heretic. That’s why I’m giving it my all…”

“Why the sudden change in your demeanor?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I couldn’t help but notice how shaken you were when I revealed myself as an Inquisitor, especially upon learning of Antonio’s deception. It was written all over your face that you never saw it coming,” the knight remarked, studying me closely.

“And yet, now you seem remarkably composed… particularly when speaking of Antonio. Your words flow a bit too smoothly for my taste.”

As if someone is concealing their true emotions.

Without warning, the knight’s blade once again found its way to my throat.

“Even if you genuinely held him in high regard before, surely learning that he reported you as a heretic would stir some feelings of betrayal, wouldn’t you say?”

He’s more perceptive than I gave him credit for.

I adjusted my assessment of Nasir.

Still, this was within my expectations.

“And why…should I feel betrayed?”

“You tell me.”

“At first, of course, I was shocked. The idea of being associated with heresy had never once crossed my mind. It filled me with chilling fear and dread. I did briefly question why Antonio hadn’t brought up this oddity to me…”

I allowed a brief pause for effect.

“But the Antonio I’ve come to know would never do anything to hurt me. That’s exactly why I’ve decided to trust him. I think he probably kept this information from me because he thought it was for my own good.”

“So, you’ve decided to blindly trust him and cease all further contemplation on the matter?”

“No, not at all. I trust Antonio because I’ve thought about it carefully. Even though he knew I couldn’t read the Holy Text, he could have gone straight to the Inquisition, but he didn’t. He probably wanted to keep me safe. After I got over the initial shock and thought about it, I was overwhelmed with appreciation for his kindness, especially since I haven’t been blessed by Roklem.”

“…So you managed to regain your composure?”

“Yes. If I truly wish to express my gratitude towards Antonio, wouldn’t the first step be to prove my innocence in the face of these accusations of heresy?”

“I give you my word that I will fully cooperate.” With that, I met his gaze, my eyes shining with the innocent sincerity of a serf.

The knight fell silent for a moment before letting out a long, drawn-out sigh and returning his sword to its sheath.

“Casimir will probably have my head for this.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll be straight with you. I came here today under Casimir’s orders, fully intending to intimidate you into remaining in this village…”

With a roguish grin, the knight extended his hand to me.

“But I’ve come to the conclusion that confining someone of your caliber to this backwater place would be a terrible waste.”

Has this turned into a Shonen Jump manga instead of an Isekai novel?

T/N: Mr. Antonio?! ∑(; °Д°)