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

#016Reader Mode

#016

As we let the horses rest, I plopped down on the grass, massaging my aching legs.

I swear, once I reach the capital, I’m never traveling again.

The fields were still lush and green, thanks to the lingering autumn season. I knew that if winter had set in, I would’ve had to pack extra feed for the horses, which would’ve slowed us down significantly.

I’m glad I didn’t set out too close to winter.

I hadn’t experienced a Dark Realm winter yet, but I knew it would be harsh and brutal. After all, one of the gods who fought Roklem until the bitter end was the [God of Frozen Winter].

The Dark Realm’s frigid temperatures must be a result of this god’s chilling power.

Fear often grows when you believe your enemy is far more powerful than you. Some gods rule through this fear, gaining the devotion of their followers. Many of the gods killed by Roklem were such terrifying beings. And even if they weren’t inherently evil, refusal to submit meant slaughter.

So, what kind of god was Nephiton, anyway?

Golden eyes are symbolic of Nephiton and the hypnotic power associated with his gaze.

A god of hypnosis and illusion…

It makes sense why Roklem didn’t accept him.

If a god’s essence deviates too far from Order, they won’t be accepted, even if they haven’t done anything inherently wrong, as there was a high risk of their powers being misused in ways that could disrupt the balance.

The unease and dread a baptized citizen feels when they look into ‘golden eyes’ is probably a strategic deterrent.

Establishing such a ‘rule’ minimizes the risk of falling under hypnosis. I used to wonder why the God of Order, such an abstract entity, was the supreme deity, but understanding how the power of laws shapes people’s perceptions clarified things.

How hard is it to change people’s personal preferences and habits?

No matter how superior or convenient a new system might be compared to the old one. People have a natural resistance to change.

Look at Americans, for example. They stubbornly cling to measurements like inches, yards, pounds, gallons, and Fahrenheit.

There’s a running joke that anyone who could successfully replace this system would deserve both the Nobel Prize in Physics and the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet, no one dares to make the attempt.

But Roklem? He could force everyone to switch to the metric system overnight.

Of course, that’s assuming all Americans had undergone Roklem’s baptism…

In the Empire, every citizen undergoes the baptism of Order at birth, essentially allowing the Empire to operate according to Roklem’s will.

I once thought that the Order’s policy of not requiring sermons for the working class, and instead just having them pray whenever the bell tolled, was a makeshift measure to accommodate high illiteracy rates, similar to a ‘Prayer Wheel.’

It turns out, they’ve already hardwired the essential teachings into people’s subconscious minds. No need for extra brainwashing sessions when you’ve got that level of control.

Golden eyes? Despise them! Stay away!

Maggots under the skin? Adore them! Sign me up!

Heresy? Hate it! Reject it!

Order? Love it! Believe in it!

Simply following these intuitive preferences aligns with the teachings of the Order, eliminating the need to waste high-quality manpower on teaching doctrine to the masses.

The more ignorant people are, the more they rely on intuition, making them less likely to stray from the Order.

If laws can make one appreciate even what naturally invokes disgust, then the opposite is naturally possible…

… Shouldn’t Roklem actually be called the God of Perception Manipulation?

It seems hypocritical to criticize the God of Hypnosis when you’re manipulating perceptions across an entire continent.

No, that could have caused some overlapping domains, intensifying the animosity to even more brutal levels.

Is this what they call kin aversion?

“Fabio.”

I paused my leg massage and glanced up.

Nasir was holding an apple.

“What does this look like to you?”

“…Isn’t it an apple?”

Nasir split the apple in half and fed one portion to the horse. Then, showing me the other half, he asked again.

“And now?”

Where’s he going with this?

When does an apple stop being an apple? After one bite? Two? When only the seeds remain?

Is that what he’s getting at?

“…Still looks like an apple to me.”

Nasir grinned and offered the remaining half to the horse, but the horse snorted and turned its head away.

That gluttonous horse would never pass up an apple.

“To the horse, it’s no longer an apple, but to you, it remains one.”

“…Did you do something to it?”

“I made it appear as something else.”

Nasir handed me the halved apple.

“Can you guess what I made it look like?”

I tried to focus, but it still looked just like an apple to me.

“I don’t know. It looks exactly like an apple.”

“…Fabio. Look deep into my eyes.”

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

Damn, what was that?

What was he trying to do just now?

“Did you sense that ‘something’?”

“…Yes.”

“What do you think I did?”

…Should I tell him it seemed like he tried to hypnotize me?

While I was thinking, Nasir spoke first.

“Does what I’m holding still look like an apple to you?”

“Yes.”

“I tried to hypnotize you into seeing this apple as a stone.”

Why choose that illusion…

“Nephiton is also known as the God of Mirages. As the name suggests, he has the power to deceive the senses.”

Did people in the desert trust mirages?

What’s the point of trusting a mirage? If they believed in cacti, they might at least find a century plant.¹T/N: In the real world, a “Century plant” is a type of agave that is said to bloom once every century, but this is a misnomer as it typically blooms between 10 to 30 years. You can find them growing near cacti.

“While alive, Nephiton was a formidable force, overpowering other desert gods and reigning supreme over the entire desert. But…”

So, he ruled through hypnosis and illusions.

“Even after death, with his power greatly diminished, his innate essence to ‘deceive the senses’ remains potent.” Nasir said, his grip tightening around the apple.

As he squeezed, the veins on the back of his hand bulged, yet the apple remained intact.

“Under this illusion, the apple feels like a stone to me. It looks, smells, feels, and even weighs like a stone. So, even though it’s clearly an apple, my perception tells me it’s a stone. That’s why it doesn’t break, no matter how hard I squeeze.”

To any onlooker, it would have appeared as if he were attempting to crush a rock.

“Your unique blessing likely allows you to see things as they truly are, cutting through all distortions.”

It’s more of an unintended side effect, really…

“And you’re not bound by the laws set forth by the Lord, Roklem.”

Honestly, I find it insane not to be disgusted by that maggot priest…

To survive among the insane, the sane must don the mask of madness.

But is it even possible to not be disgusted by that guy?

“Do you grasp the significance of possessing such a blessing?”

That I need to be a master actor?

“Does this mean I’ve strayed from the Order?” I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

Nasir remained silent.

“… It’s really bad to stray from the Order, right?” I asked again.

“It’s a matter of perspective… But one thing is certain.”

Nasir playfully tossed and caught the apple.

“The being that blessed you is a God with the power to rival Roklem.”

…What?

Hapenesus?

Of course, Hapenesus is an Othergod.

By definition, an Othergod surpasses any other earthly god in power…

It’s like someone pointing to a faint, distant 16th magnitude star through a telescope and claiming that it’s grander and hotter than the sun itself. For those of us on Earth, its light seems dimmer and less significant than even a flickering candle.²T/N: 16th magnitude star: In astronomy, magnitude measures the brightness of stars. A 16th magnitude star is very faint, barely visible even with telescopes.

Hold on, do they think I’m blessed by some immensely powerful evil god?

A chill ran down my spine as cold sweat began to drip down my back.

Did I just make a terrible mistake?

If this keeps up, I might end up under intense scrutiny from a high-ranking priest…

A high-ranking priest could be Roklem’s direct eyes and ears. This means there’s a serious risk of them uncovering the true origin of my trait if they dig deep enough.

Being connected to an Othergod is the gravest taboo imaginable, often leading to an inevitable death sentence.

“As such, you can expect special treatment when you arrive at the Order,” Nasir warned me.

So “special” that they’ll make an example out of me in a way that’s even more brutal than a usual execution, you mean.

“…But you don’t need to worry or let it alarm you too much.”

If my ties to an Othergod are exposed, will Antonio and Nasir be safe? Though, I’m hardly in a position to be worrying about others right now…

“I promise, everything will work out in time,” Nasir reassured me.

Yeah well, death is certainly one way to resolve things.

“…Of course, you might have some restrictions on your movements for safety reasons. I hope you understand.”

Restricted movements? You mean I’ll be locked up until I crack and confess the truth?

Nasir seemed to be gauging my reaction before adding, “However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be confined in the Order indefinitely. If accompanied by a trustworthy companion, a pilgrimage is possible…”

They would let someone who’s allegedly blessed by a powerful evil god go on a spiritual journey?

“…If there’s a place you truly wish to visit, I’ll find a way to get you there.”

But honestly, even a misguided Order like this wouldn’t let someone tied to an unknown Othergod live, would they?

I stared intently at Nasir, my mind racing with thoughts. If my connection to an Othergod were to be discovered, not even my ashes would be spared.

Nasir was probably making these promises without knowing the full extent of my situation.

But the fact that he’s willing to take such a risk for a serf who’s supposedly been blessed by a powerful evil god suggests that his opinion of me must be quite favorable.

Still, something doesn’t add up. How can Nasir be a heresy interrogator if he’s making promises like this?

What happens if he gets too close to the heretics and can’t bring himself to execute them?

As I wondered if Nasir was cut out for his role, he suddenly blushed and looked away.

“It’s a bit embarrassing when you stare so intensely.”

……?

For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I forgot my concerns.

“I mean, it’s not that I mind you looking…”

What are you even saying right now?

“I’m just not used to it…”

I’m not used to seeing you blush and act shy either.

Who decided to program such a shy gesture into a male character?

It’s a supply without demand.

“Ahem. Anyway, I’m just giving you a fair warning and try not to be too startled when you meet our leader, Casimir. It might be overwhelming to suddenly discover who has blessed you.”

Being warned about impending doom doesn’t make it any less terrifying, though.

“…Thank you for your consideration, Nasir.”

Regardless, it’s advantageous to stay on his good side, so I thanked him politely.

Nasir observed me for a bit, then enthusiastically patted my head.

“Wait, Nasir?”

Did you just use the hand that was holding the apple’s cut side to touch my head?

“Don’t be too nervous. Our commander, Casimir, will take a liking to you.”

How would the commander’s fondness for me change anything?

Will it change the heat of the flames when I’m burned at the stake?

“…Though, Casimir might be slightly irritated because of Antonio, so she might come across as even more intimidating.”

No, she’s already terrifying, considering the whole gouging-her-own-eyes-out thing. And now you’re saying she’s even more upset?

And you’re saying she’s even more upset now?

“Why is the commander upset?”

“…Hmm. It’s probably best you don’t know.”

“But what if I mess up and make her even angrier?”

“Casimir is perceptive. If I tell you now, you might act too careful, and she might not like that.”

Damn, you shouldn’t have said anything then!

“Oh, and if the director of the Department of Research approaches you, avoid him at all costs. He’s…a bit off.”

“The director of the Department of Research?”

“He’s an individual there who’s deeply fascinated with gods outside of the Order. Should he get wind of you, he might go crazy with joy. Refuse any requests he makes.”

I thought being executed was the worst-case scenario, but there’s an even grimmer fate.

Becoming an experimental specimen!

The thought of being subjected to experiments in a medieval world, as opposed to a scientifically advanced world, was chilling.

They probably haven’t even considered the concept of anesthesia or ethics in their experiments.

“Even if they assure you that helping would please Roklem, or beg claiming it’s for the greater good, ignore them. They’re just trying to manipulate you.”

“…Do you really think I have the power to refuse such a request?”

“Well…”

Nasir hesitated, glancing at me. He seemed to have realized that, as a heretical serf, I don’t have the same rights as others.

“I’ll talk to the commander about it,” he said finally.

Sure, go have a chat, and maybe I’ll be put to death before becoming their lab rat.