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

#037Reader Mode

#037

Honestly, this bastard system is seriously frustrating! It can’t even show a name above a unit’s head. It’s not user-friendly at all!

Tertius… curly silver hair, those unique mint-green eyes… he’s the sixth Apostle. Still, his exact title remains a mystery. And he’s got that ability to see emotions as colors.

“…What’s on your mind?”

Currently wishing this system had a memo-taking feature.

“Oh, just remembering some things about you, Mr. Ter!”

“About me? Anything beyond my name?”

“Things like our conversation today. I’m committing your likeness into my memory, Apostle Tertius.”

“Why would you bother doing that?”

“Well, it’s not everyday you meet an Apostle! I want to make sure I don’t forget a single detail!”

I beamed at him, my smile as wide as it could get.

This bastard doesn’t seem thrilled about me getting too close to Adna.

But you can breathe easy now!

(A former) serf like me will find my place and live quietly!

Let the higher-ups bicker among themselves!

But it makes me wonder, do Apostles date?

Sure, marriage is off the table, but what about casual dating?

These bastards, even as priests, don’t seem too fussed about having kids outside of wedlock, as long as they’re not passing down their fortune…

“Why?”

“Pardon?”

“Why do you think we’ll hardly see each other?”

What’s he getting at now?

“You’re the one who suggested I should keep my distance from Apostles because of my condition, right, Apostle Tertius?”

Thanks to them, I’m now stuck with the setting of not being able to name Apostles and having a divine power allergy.

“Wouldn’t it be alright if I just avoid using divine power?”

Is he trying to keep tabs on me?

If Adna, who’s not using her divine power, is okay to hang around, then maybe he’s wondering if she’s on the same wavelength? Is that what he’s getting at?

“But if people find out I’m a Watched One, that could be a problem, right? I mean, for someone from a humble serf background, rubbing elbows with Apostles would seem pretty strange.”

“…What if there’s a way we could meet without drawing attention?”

Wow, he’s really pushing my buttons.

How would I know such a thing?

Even if I had a clue, would I be the one asking Adna to meet up first?

If Adna had her way, she’d be sprinting to you, pleading for you to prevent it.

What’s the point of hanging around someone who’s just going to be angry?

“Even if there’s a way… do we really need to go to such lengths just to see each other?”

“You’re the one who mentioned effort in relationships, right?”

Hold on, is he taking that as advice about Adna?

Just how much does this guy fantasize about Adna, anyway?

“I meant that I’d be putting in the effort… not that you Apostles had to join in.”

His gaze was so intense, that I instinctively tried to withdraw my hand.

“How could I dare expect that? I still remember Apostle Adna’s kind reminder about knowing my place…”

“Don’t bother with what Adna says.”

Yet the sixth Apostle, ever so composed, kept a firm grip on my hand.

“Forget about Adna. Let’s focus on us.”

Geez, even for childhood friends, this is a bit too clingy.

If he wants me to back off, why not just say it? Instead, it’s all, ‘Get to know me first, then maybe you can get close to Adna!’

It feels like he’s hell-bent on blocking any solo time with Adna.

Are they on some mission to monitor the Watched Ones right now? Is that why he’s so concerned about Adna possibly being assigned to keep tabs on me?

“…Does my behavior bother you?” Tertius asked.

Ah, right. This bastard can see people’s emotions.

He must have picked up on my intense aversion.

I got flustered and faked surprise, avoiding his gaze.

“Well, it’s, um, a bit overwhelming. What I mean is…”

“Sorry, I don’t usually behave this way…”

Despite his words, the sixth Apostle showed no signs of letting go of my hand.

“…Would you have felt this overwhelmed if Adna was the one doing this?”

No seriously, every other word is about Adna… Is this idiot really her childhood friend or what?

“Well, since Adna isn’t here, I’ll speak honestly…”

I kept my voice low.

“I’m actually kind of scared of Adna, so being alone with her is a bit much for me.”

“And what about being alone with me?”

“If I had to choose between you, Mr. Ter, and Adna, I’d prefer you.”

“Really?”

Tertius’s expression instantly brightened.

Oh my, just look at that grin.

So he’s happy now that I’ve made it clear I’m not into Adna?

“The Saint promised to grant any wish of yours. So, it makes sense that I should be the one to oversee that, right?”

“…Yes, that does make sense.”

At this rate, the entire church is gonna know he’s got a crush on Adna.

“Well, Fabio. If Adna becomes too much, I’ll protect you.”

“…Thank you.”

Does Adna have any clue how much you’re into her?

“Well… Adna might not be mean-spirited, but she has a unique talent for driving people crazy.”

Wow. Adna, who never flirted with anyone, is now seen as a troublemaker just because she’s got a fan club.

It’s almost like you’re being unreasonably jealous.

Not questioning youself as her childhood friend, but doubting every guy around her? Slightly less weird, but still pretty creepy. He really needs to see how obsessive he is.

If he’s caught acting this possessive, he’s going to lose points big time.

I bet my favorability level is already taking a hit.

“I somehow ended up being the one who cleans up after Adna’s messes, so I guess you could say I know her quite well.”

Being the best childhood friend has its perks, huh?

“I can see emotions, so I understand that Adna means no harm. But sometimes, it feels like I’m going to go crazy.”

Adna, with zero romantic interest in others, drops bombshells like entrusting her life to me, causing all sorts of misunderstandings.

“And now, even when Adna’s not around, she still won’t leave my thoughts.”

Yes, yes, a severe case of Adna addiction that requires treatment.

“…I wish I could just get her out of my head right now.”

Seriously, why am I the one hearing this?

Here I am, new to the job, and already I’m a shoulder to cry on for an executive’s unrequited crush.

Only in this Church, I swear…

“Hmm. Maybe we could start by not bringing up Apostle Adna?” I said.

“That’s probably a good idea. Sorry about that.”

Tertius blushed slightly and lowered his gaze.

“Well then, please take care of me, Fabio.”

“…Please take care of me too. Mr. Ter.”

But what’s my game plan now?

With Tertius trying to straighten things out with Adna and the Saint ready to grant wishes, this might turn out better than I thought.

I wonder if they’d let me be… a reader?

Sounds cushy: all the benefits with none of the stress.

Got to try, even if it’s a long shot.

“Excuse me, Mr. Ter, could you tell me what a reader does? And who usually becomes one?”

“A reader?”

Tertius looked genuinely surprised.

“…Where did you hear about readers?”

“Antonio mentioned it while I was studying the Holy Text. He said if someone can read them, even without a talent for priesthood, they could be a reader. But then I learned just a blessing lets you read these texts, so I got curious about what readers actually do.”

“Ah, I see…”

Tertius seemed a bit thrown off, trying to figure out how to explain.

“What exactly did… Antonio tell you about being a reader?”

“Well, he mentioned that many nobles can read normal texts but struggle with holy ones. So, they hire someone to read the Holy Text to them. As long as you can read, you won’t starve.”

“…You do realize that’s not entirely accurate, right?”

Figures. A dream job where you just read and get paid? Too good to be true.

My suspicions rose when I found out about the blessing for reading the Holy Text. Getting it confirmed like this is kind of disappointing.

Obviously,nobles would have received the blessing of order, so they’d be capable of reading the Holy Text without requiring someone else to do it for them.

“Yes. Nobles are typically part of the Order, and most of them can harness divine power. This blessing enables them to read Holy Texts, even if they find regular texts challenging. That eliminates the need for someone else to read the text for them,” Tertius elaborated. “Originally, readers served the opposite purpose.”

He dove into the history.

“Back when the Empire was expanding its borders, the newly titled nobles could handle Holy Texts thanks to their blessings, but many weren’t fluent in the common language. Readers were then hired by noble families to read or translate everyday books and documents into Holy Text.”

So it’s like being an in-house translator.

The job sounded more challenging than just Bible-reading but still respectable.

Being a translator is a niche profession. Maybe if I learn a few more languages, I won’t have to worry about making a living.

I’m quite confident in my language learning abilities…

“But that was back when the Empire was growing. Now, nearly all nobles are well-versed in the common language, so the demand for traditional readers is pretty rare.”

Damn.

The reader market has already crashed.

Guess that’s what happens when blessings are the ultimate language hack.

A foolproof language, immune to getting lost in translation…

Wasn’t religion supposed to confuse languages, kind of like a divine Tower of Babel?¹T/N: Refers to the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where God created different languages to stop humans from understanding each other. MC humorously suggests that religion should complicate language, not simplify it.

“Then why do people still get ordained as readers if they’re not actually translating books anymore?”

“Being a reader is the one clerical role that doesn’t come with set duties or doctrinal requirements. So, if someone needs a religious title for whatever reason, they often choose to become a reader.”

…Seriously?

So, they hand out ordinations like party favors, with no real commitment to the clergy life?

Isn’t that just a fancy way of selling religious titles for personal gain?

And the church actually allows this?

Sure, selling church positions for favors screams old-school medieval corruption, sparking ideas of religious revolutions and reforms, but…

This is the Dark Realm we’re talking about – home to actual gods.

No matter how you look at it, it looks like they’re exploiting a legal loophole, but does the God of Order really turn a blind eye to this?

Is there a reason he has no choice but to overlook this?

“Why would someone need priest ordination, then?” I asked.

“Hmm… Well, if you consider Roklem’s priests, they must vow to remain unmarried for their ordination. You’ve heard about that, right?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s only marriage and childbearing that’s prohibited. Dating’s not strictly forbidden.”

…Wait, dating’s on the table?

Holy moly, really?

I mean, how can a God of Order be okay with such messy situations?

Workplace flings and forbidden romances are just asking for drama…

That explains why Tertius openly pines for Adna.

If dating were banned, he’d probably never would have become an Apostle, or he’d lose his romantic feelings the moment he took vows. If emotions like disgust and affection can be manipulated, why not love?

If I were running the show as the God of Order, I’d have made everyone asexual after ordination.

That would ensure a clergy free from sex offenders.

No more wasting energy on controlling desires; just think of the efficiency gains.

Wouldn’t priests also welcome the idea of Sage Time lasting forever?

Their divine power would probably get a boost too…

“Nobles, even the non-inheriting ones, navigate a maze of marriage rules. Some families even let you stay involved in family affairs post-marriage, without forfeiting any rights.”

Tertius’s words made me think back to what I’d read in the lore guide.

The Empire was formed by swallowing up various ethnic groups and small nations… Tribes and kings who pledged allegiance to Roklem became feudal nobles.

With Roklem, your origins don’t matter; faith alone is your ticket to power. But the native gods of the Dark Realm treat converts and born believers differently.

Take the golden-eyed folks of the desert. To them, you’re only a true believer if you’re born into their lineage.

It’s a bit like an ethnic religion, kind of how Judaism is.²T/N: Judaism is often considered an ethnic religion because it is traditionally associated with the Jewish people.

But here’s the twist in the Dark Realm: divine bloodlines are real, and godly powers are passed down genetically as traits.

This isn’t your typical Greek or Roman mythology scene, where gods drop by Earth for some celestial mating with mortals, leaving behind demigods.

When you become a vessel for a god, it changes everything – your eye color, hair, even your whole physique transforms to be more divine. And surprising, these changes are hereditary.

So, DNA in reproductive cells can be influenced by divine energy.

Of course, Roklem’s Apostles aren’t supposed to have kids, but hypothetically, if they did, the child would likely be born with white hair.

Picking such a progeny as the next vessel would be unit cost efficient. And even if they don’t end up as an Apostle, their unique human qualities would make them a figure of awe.

In this way, entire families could morph into descendants of a god, climbing the social ladder in a society where theocracy reigns supreme.³T/N: A society where religious leaders govern and religious law is civil law.

“The ruling classes that governed various communities became part of the Empire and were granted the title of nobility. So, the Empire’s nobility should be viewed not as a group sharing a unified culture, but rather as a collective of diverse ethnic minorities,” Tertius explained further.

“But in the Church of Order, getting ordained means relinquishing all familial rights, as you transform into a devotee dedicated to serving the Lord…Once ordained, your actions no longer affect your family lineage.”

So basically, it’s like cutting ties with your family by taking up the cloth.

“That’s why ordination is often a solution for tricky family situations.”

“Does Roklem approve of this?” I asked.

“For the Church of Order, there’s no real reason to stop it.”

No reason to stop it, huh…

So, exploiting loopholes is okay as long as you don’t cross the line into outright illegality?

That’s a pretty casual policy coming from the Church of Order.