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

#047Reader Mode

#047

Mind manipulation doesn’t work on me, but the real concern is what comes next. What if Athanas or the player behind him figures out I’m immune to brainwashing or Oblivion?

They might decide it’s easier to just silence me for good.

I touched my chest, feeling the urgency to signal the Saint for help before things spiraled out of control.

“…No. I don’t want to keep any secrets from the Saint. You know the Lord sees more than we ever could. Maybe you are the chosen one of Roklem, Athanas. But I don’t know that for sure.”

Over my tunic, my fingers brushed against the Saint’s necklace.

The Saint said to just hold this necklace and call on the Lord…

I really hope it works even through fabric…

“I don’t think I’m this chosen one you speak of. I didn’t come here seeking you, nor have I had any nightmarish visions like yours.”

“…Then, Fabio, what brought you to the Cathedral?”

That question had me troubled.

If there are other players listening in on this conversation…

Best to keep it vague and give away as few clues as possible.

I decided not to mention Antonio.

“By luck, I caught a Countess’s eye and was given a great opportunity. Becoming a reader was all thanks to her generosity.”

Athanas just looked at me, his expression unreadable.

“So, you became a reader to serve this Countess?”

“You could say that…?”

“And left your serf life behind?”

“Becoming a reader was a far better opportunity than life as a serf.”

“So, you’ll return to the Countess’s domain soon?”

“…Yes.”

Athanas seemed deep in thought.

“Then why were you so startled when you first saw me?”

“Ah, well, that’s because…”

I scrambled for a believable lie.

I just need to buy time until the Saint gets here.

“…Actually, it’s because you resemble my dead younger brother.”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. I had a younger brother who was a very handsome man, just like you Athanas. People who knew my brother always used to say he was destined for greatness. But…” I deliberately let my voice fade away.

“If only he hadn’t fallen off a cliff in the rain and died so senselessly…”

“… I’m sorry for your loss.”

“You look so much like him, I nearly mistook you for him and thought my dead brother returned. I almost blurted out ‘Adrian’ when I first saw you. That was his name.”

Athanas remained silent for a moment before responding. “…Why didn’t you mention that earlier?”

“I thought it wouldn’t be a pleasant feeling to be mistaken for someone who’s passed away. More than that… After my brother’s death, my mother started seeing things. She was always a fragile person. She’d talk to empty air, set a place for my brother at dinner… It tore my father apart to see her like that. I played along with her delusions to comfort her, but I shouldn’t have. One day, she walked off a cliff, calling out for my brother, thinking she saw his ghost there.”

Athanas just listened silently.

Heart-wrenching stories, heavy as they are, tend to make it hard for anyone to just cut the conversation short, even if they’re not really interested.

If there’s a player eavesdropping, they’re probably trying to figure out if I’m just another NPC or a real player.

“My father was devastated after the tragedy. He became a shadow of himself, turning to alcohol for solace. When he got too drunk, he’d start seeing things, talking to mom as if she were still there. I was scared of him… always kept my distance. Then, one night, he thought he saw my brother, calling out to him. But there was no one. He never woke up from his sleep that night. Since then, I’ve been reluctant to even say my brother’s name. I regret bringing this up. It’s a grim tale, isn’t it? Sorry to dump such a terrible story on you. It’s probably the last thing you wanted to hear…”

“No, I’m the one should apologize. I shouldn’t have stirred up such painful memories. I understand why you reacted the way you did.”

When will the Saint get here?

I was getting restless.

Touching the necklace through my clothes should do the trick, shouldn’t it?

Maybe I should just blurt out the Saint’s name, find some way to slide it into the conversation…

“…I owe you an apology.”

“Pardon?”

“To be honest, I was suspicious of you. So I said some strange things just to test you. It must have been confusing.”

“What were you suspicious of…”

“I was trying to see if you knew about [Retrograde].”

“Pardon?!”

“[Retrograde] is a power that lets you turn back time.”

“No…”

“It was in the secret underground chamber, just as in my dream. Of course, after I found it, there was nothing else there.”

“…Why are you telling me all of this?”

“Well, once I reverse time, it’ll be like you never heard any of it. So, there’s no need to worry.”

“But still…”

“But if you’re someone who remembers even after time is turned back, then this conversation could be a chance to gain your trust, right?”

“Well I guess… but shouldn’t you be talking to the Saint about this? He’s the one you should build trust with the most, not me…”

“I tried, but he doesn’t remember anything.”

“You tried…?”

“Yes. I didn’t mean to test him. But after the revelation and finding [Retrograde], I was desperate and sought out the Saint. I only mentioned the dream to him. He listened, then used Oblivion to erase my memory. If I hadn’t reversed time later for a different reason, I would’ve forgotten everything.”

“…I see.”

“I waited after that. Even if the Saint forgot, the Lord wouldn’t. If He saw me as a disruptor of Order, He’d let the Saint know, and the Saint would confront me. But he never did… Since that never happened, I thought maybe it was the Lord’s will for me to keep it to myself.”

“Um, you really don’t need to share all this with me…”

“… Having the power to turn back time is terrifying. I’m the only one who remembers what I’ve done. I fear losing my humanity, treating people as if they’re not… real.”

“Yeah…”

“That’s why I’ve made a decision. I’ll always apologize before using [Retrograde] if I’ve wronged someone. Even if I’m about to undo it all.”

“But if it’s all going to be undone, why bother…?”

“Because I’ll still remember. I’ll remember every mistake I make. My wrongs don’t just disappear. What vanishes is the chance to make amends.”

Athanas, his eyes brimming with sincerity, knelt down on one knee before me.

“Fabio, I apologize for misleading you. For getting your name wrong, and most of all, for making you revisit those painful memories.”

“Uh, it’s okay, really.”

“… When I turn back time, you’ll forget this conversation, but I’ll still remember deceiving you into sharing it. Fabio, can you forgive me for that?”

“Of-of course I forgive you!”

“I’m deeply sorry for what you’ve been through with your family.”

F*ck! Just hit the rewind button already if you’re gonna do it!

Now, I was seriously freaking out over the Saint showing up before he could do it.

The second he finds out I called the Saint, he’ll be filled with doubts and suspicions.

A nobody reader, with a serf background like mine, calling the Saint?

That’s just absurd.

And even worse…

He’s going to figure out I’ve been lying through my teeth this entire time!

Panic was setting in, sweat glistening on my forehead.

There was only one way I could make it out of this mess.

This bastard needs to hit the rewind button now and never pay attention to ‘Fabio’ again.

Damn it. Does rewinding time count as messing with the mind?

If it doesn’t, I’m in deep trouble.

I can hardly remember half the stuff I rambled on about, but he will!

Hold on, if he rewinds time and I remember too, that’s also a problem.

Once Athanas realizes I remember post-rewind, he’ll drag me into his ‘Companion’ circle, willing or not.

No, no, better to have the memories. If I remember, I can just play dumb, right?

Just fool him this time, and hopefully, he’ll leave me alone for good…

“Thank you for forgiving me.” Athanas said as he stood up, acknowledging my response with a solemn nod.

My nerves were shot. I bit my lip anxiously.

Hurry up! Reverse time already!

And then it happened.

Bang!

With a thunderous bang, the massive front door, towering three times my height, burst open.

Athanas’s eyes shot towards the sound.

F*ck!

“…The Saint?”

F*ck, f*ck, f*ck!

Doomed!

I’m doomed!! I’m done for!!!

“…Fabio. Did you summon the Saint?”

F*ck. What do I even say?

How do you even talk your way out of this with a bastard who can rewind time…?

“Please tell me. Did you call him here?”

“I, I…”

Suddenly, a sword shot through the air, embedding itself near Athanas’s feet.

“Back away from him now. Disobey, and face the consequences.”

“…You did summon him.” Athanas’s expression darkened, his gaze flicking between the Saint and me. “…Who are you, really?”

“I’m just—”

“You don’t have to answer that.” In an instant, the Saint was there, standing protectively in front of me.

But relief was the last thing I felt – just overwhelming despair.

I’m so screwed….

“What has he done to you? Speak, and I’ll punish him at once.”

Saint, for the love of… just shut up! Let me think.

“…You’re trembling terribly. It’s okay. Everything’s going to be alright.”

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

Damn this useless bastard….

“…I wonder how much truth was in your words.” Athanas’s glare was like a drill, piercing right through me.

The seriousness of my predicament hit me like a ton of bricks.

No more time for internal debates.

“Athanas, listen, I…!”

T/N: LMAO MC really is so screwed! ꉂꉂ◟(˃᷄ꇴ˂᷅๑)༡