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

#034Reader Mode

#034

The halo shining behind Adna was the kind you’d normally only see when a Saint performed a miracle.

When Tertius asked what she had done, Adna said it wasn’t a blessing she had used but just her attempt to calm her emotions.

Unable to hide his disbelief, he questioned further, “…And those emotions were?”

“That…”

Adna hesitated, glancing at the [Watched One] before averting her eyes.

[… I’ve never felt anything like this before.]

…Did the Watched One do something to her?

The emotions swirling around Adna were a whirlwind of colors, unlike anything he had seen…

[It was so intense that it was almost terrifying.] she admitted. [So overwhelming that I thought I might destroy everything around me…]

There’s no trace of a miracle being performed… Could Fabio have used some kind of undetectable spell?

[Love.] Adna said simply.

…What?

Tertius, trying to make sense of it all, was blindsided by her answer.

[Yes. Pure, unadulterated affection.]

Excuse me… What?

[Do you understand how it feels to be unable to bear how lovable something is, Sixth?]

“…What?”

Tertius was so shocked that he accidentally blurted that out loud instead of telepathically.

[You once said that I didn’t understand what it truly meant for a person to love another. Now I know what you meant. Love is this overpowering, all-consuming emotion that shakes the very foundations of one’s beliefs.]

“What are you even saying?” he asked again, still baffled.

[Oh, and this love, it’s not Eros. It’s purer, more eternal… I want to protect this love even at the cost of my life… a dedication. Yes, I want to devote myself to him completely. He’s shown me how incomplete I was.]

“No….”

Tertius started to object but remembered to keep it telepathic.

[What in the world happened in such a short time for you to feel this way? Wait. Have you suffered from some kind of mental attack?]

[……? Don’t be ridiculous. If it were possible to breach an Apostle’s mind here at the Order’s headquarters and cause such turmoil, the Order would have collapsed long ago.]

[But your explanation just doesn’t make any sense! What happened between you two?!]

[…Sometimes one word can save a person. It’s a pity you don’t understand that.]

What is she even talking about?

[No… seriously, what did he say to you?] Tertius demanded.

[He told me I was a very kind person.]

Tertius was dumbfounded. [What? You??]

[Now that I think about it, you once said something similar, Sixth.]

Is she really not under some sort of mental attack? Should I summon the Saint?

[You told me, “If you keep talking like that, who will truly understand you? Even someone who sees emotions like me and the Saint can still misunderstand. If you don’t fix your twisted way of speaking, you’ll be hated forever.”]

…She remembered that?

[But… he understood me.]

[What…]

[There was someone who actually understood me.]

Tertius’s gaze drifted to the [Watched One].

Fabio’s emotions pulsed with dark hues, conveying the intensity of his extreme anxiety and regret.

[…No, you might be wrong. Are you sure he isn’t afraid? Your ability to read people’s expressions has never been the best…]

[You’re the one who’s wrong.] Adna cut in. [Fabio isn’t like that.]

How can you say ‘he isn’t like that’ when you’ve just met him today…

And doesn’t she remember what he could do?

Tertius’s gift was to see emotions. How could she possibly think her interpretation was more accurate than his unique ability?

[…Fine, let’s say you’re right.] he conceded, albeit reluctantly.

If Fabio used a spell or some other attack, what could it have been?

How could someone have such a profound impact on someone in such a short time?

[Even if he truly sees you as kind and warm, it doesn’t change how others constantly misunderstand you.]

[…Do I need everyone to understand me?] Adna asked defiantly.

[What?]

[Even if only one person understands… Isn’t that enough?]

[No, it’s not enough.]

[That’s just because you haven’t found someone who really understands you.] she argued. [I realized today that even if the entire world misunderstands me, if there’s just one person who truly sees me, that’s all I need.]

[Don’t say things like that.] admonished Tertius, who had strived for so long to help Adna be better understood, only to see her regress to such a state.

This couldn’t be happening.

[So, are we finished with our business now? I’d appreciate it if you stopped taking up my time with Fabio.]

My time with Fabio…

Hearing this, Tertius was now sure that the [Watched One] had somehow messed with Adna’s mind.

Even without solid proof, the drastic change in Adna was evidence itself.

Surely the Saint will know what to do… He can fix this.

[Sorry, but your time with him is up for now.]

[…..?]

[I’ve been assigned to handle this by the Saint.] Tertius explained. [I need to brief Fabio on some stuff and sort out his accommodation.]

[…Why?]

[Why?] Tertius almost scoffed. [Because you suddenly erupted with sexual desire and divine energy. Why don’t you go explain that to the Saint.]

[That’s…]

Since this Watched One was declared innocent and released by the Saint, he must have judged Fabio to not be dangerous… But could the Saint have been influenced too?

No, that was impossible.

Because the Saint is deeply connected to Lord Roklem.

Tampering with the Saint’s mind would be like challenging the Lord’s consciousness. It was unthinkable.

Tertius quickly shook off such blasphemous thoughts.

[By the way, where is this new guy supposed to be staying? The Saint didn’t seem to have a plan yet.]

[Fabio will stay under my personal protection.] Adna stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

[What??]

[Why does that surprise you?] she retorted. [Considering that Fabio is unable to receive even the Blessing of Healing, wouldn’t it make sense to for him to be kept in the safest place possible, free from even the smallest of injuries?]

[…There’s no need for all that. You’re practically announcing that a new Watched One has arrived at the Order by doing this.]

[So what if people know about him? As long as he’s so tightly guarded that no one dares to approach him.]

[Okay, short-term protection is one thing, but we’re talking about a Watched One. Do you plan on being his guardian forever?]

[Absolutely.]

“No, wait…”

Tertius was so taken aback he slipped up and spoke out loud instead of in his head.

[I’ve made up my mind. I will be his guardian forever.]

“…What in the realms have you decided all by yourself?” Tertius couldn’t help blurting out.

Has Adna lost her mind?

Doesn’t she sound crazy?

Apostle mental communication is working, so the person in front of him is definitely Adna, but…

[Fabio has agreed to it too. He promised that if I wanted, he would stay unchangingly by my side…]

“No… uh… you should go see the Saint for now.”

[…Didn’t I already tell you everything that happened?]

Tertius hastily sent a mental message to the Saint. [Adna’s acting really erratic, and it seems pretty serious.]

Shortly after, Adna appeared to receive a summons from the Saint, showing only a subtle flicker of disappointment on her icy face.

Remembering to use telepathy this time, he sighed, [Enough with the crazy talk. Go see the Saint and have a thorough check-up to make sure there’s nothing wrong with you.]

[I’ve never been more clear-minded than I am now.] Adna replied calmly.

[Fine. Just go and tell all this to the Saint too.]

[…I have no choice it seems. I’ll go quickly. But please make sure nothing happens to Fabio in the meantime.]

“What… Fine, I understand.” Tertius resignedly agreed. He couldn’t help but feel a mix of shock and horror at Adna’s newfound obsession with the [Watched One].

Watching Adna, so consumed by an emotion she’d never known, unnerved him. It felt like he was witnessing something that shouldn’t exist…

He glanced at Fabio, whose emotions were a chaotic storm of fear, anxiety, and desperation, which only made the situation feel even stranger.

…Looking at his behavior, it doesn’t seem like he used any special powers.

When Tertius had previously reported the situation to the Saint, he assured him that although Adna was acting strange, there was no reason to suspect Fabio of anything. However, hearing this only increased Tertius’s anxiety about what was actually going on.

If Fabio didn’t use any powers, and Adna became this way on her own, then what am I supposed to do?…

Let’s get to the bottom of what happened first… He decided.

“Hey.”

“Y-Yes, Sir!”

“You… what did you do?”

How in the realms did you manage to make that disaster of a mouth start babbling about love?

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry!”

Hearing Fabio’s frantic apology, Tertius couldn’t help but frown.

Why is he so terrified?

What is he even apologizing for?

“…? Do you even know what you’re apologizing for?”

“I honestly don’t know. Could you please tell me what I did wrong?”

“Why do you think you’ve done something wrong in the first place?”

Does he, even without knowing specifically what he did, somehow grasp that he has worsened Adna’s already illogical way of thinking?

“Well, I just got the impression… that you were angry with me, Sir Sixth Apostle.”

“Me? Angry? Over what?”

“…I thought I might have inadvertently offended you. If I’m wrong, I apologize.”

“What?”

Was he watching me this entire time and reacting to my expressions?

Tertius was genuinely shocked.

I assumed his fear was because of Adna’s antics.

As the only person who never backed down from engaging with Adna, ever since his days as a fledgling Paladin, Tertius had become the go-to person for dealing with any fallout problems from Adna’s antics. But encountering someone who was so responsive to his own reactions was new to him.

Usually, those dealing with Adna would be stunned, thinking, Is this…really a Paladin of the Order? But then they’d see Tertius and feel a bit better, like, Ah, this is what a normal Paladin is like.

Did he just lump me and Adna together? Now, I wonder if Fabio, who was oblivious to our mental conversation, might have gotten the wrong idea.

“No… Did it seem that way?”

Tertius ran his fingers through his hair, trying to regain some composure.

“I’m sorry for causing a misunderstanding. It’s just… I heard something so ridiculous that I couldn’t control my expression.”

Adna wants to dedicate her life to someone chosen by an Othergod… That’s not the sort of thing even an Apostle should joke about.

“Hmm. You know Apostles can talk to each other without speaking, right? So, if my expression was strange, blame Adna… it’s her doing.”

I’m not sure what Fabio did to Adna, but I need to tread carefully here too.

“…So, it wasn’t really about me, then?”

As Fabio mumbled those words, his emotions were pulsing with anxiety.

…So much for him being the understanding type Adna thought she found.

Tertius fought the urge to let out a heavy sigh.

“…It was about you, yes.”

“Oh…”

“You promised Adna that you’d stay by her side forever and never change, right?”

“Y-yes…?”

“Is that what you truly said?”

Tertius asked again, but Fabio’s silence spoke volumes.

He looks so flustered and wronged that he just might explode.

Fabio’s emotions were a kaleidoscope of intense, swirling colors.

If only I could show these colors to Adna.

T/N: We all know what Fabio did to Adna. It’s the legendary three-piece set move! ୧(๑•̀ヮ•́)૭ Deadly against the opposite sex apparently. On a more serious note, assuming that Tertius’s emotion reading ability actually works on the MC… Is he really doing alright? Those emotions make me wonder.