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

#055Reader Mode

#055

You didn’t realize you had fallen asleep?

Seriously, just how tired were you?

Or is waking up just not your strong suit?

This whole scene reminds me of that Athanas meme that took the internet by storm.

In Heretic Slayer, ‘sleep’ functions as a save, so players would put him to sleep at every opportunity, especially since the game didn’t auto-save.

Can you imagine the frustration of defeating a boss, only to die by accident and have to redo it all over again? So, it was crucial to ‘save’ right before and after defeating a boss.

To make matters worse, the game wouldn’t save right away; you had to witness the full glory of Athanas’s sleep animation, which drove many players up the wall. But to be fair, it’s not as bad as other games that won’t allow you to save unless you’re in a safe zone or out of combat.

But seriously, did they have to include a sleeping animation for saving?

Not only did it waste precious five seconds, but it also disrupted the game’s immersion. I mean, imagine our hero, covered in blood and gore after slaying a boss, surrounded by carnage, decides it’s naptime.

Granted, the sleeping animation wasn’t Athanas flopping down on the ground, but him sitting with one knee raised, bowing his head for a quick power nap. Still, the sheer absurdity of dozing off anywhere, anytime, and waking up instantly was enough to drive players nuts.

Complaints rained down on ST Games to overhaul this dumb save system, but their pleas were ignored. So, what did the gamers do? They did what they do best: they channeled their frustration into hilarious gold, creating meme after meme of Athanas sleeping in the most ridiculous situations.

And that’s how the legendary ‘Athanas Sleeping Anywhere’ meme took off.

There’s Athanas, dozing mid-convo with important leaders.

Athanas, mistaken for a corpse on the battlefield, but nope, just napping.

Athanas, sneaking in a quick nap while the Apostle of the Plague transforms into their final form right in front of him…

The memes spread like wildfire, spilling over into crossover parodies where Athanas was depicted as a perpetually sleepy crusader, waking up only to yell “Heretic! Where are the heretics?” before swinging his holy hammer like a maniac and dozing off again.

At first, it was hilarious to see how players turned a crappy system into a source of humor, but it got old fast when some wouldn’t let it go. It got so bad that I tried to complete my fifth playthrough without saving, but sadly, my skills weren’t up to the task. So, I compromised by only letting Athanas catch some shut-eye in proper lodgings, no more power naps on monster corpses…

Speaking of crazy, this whole ordeal made me understand why ‘experienced regressors’ in those stories often went insane.

After reliving the same day over and over, I would start catching Z’s wherever I could, comfort be damned.

Anyway.

I used to complain about the game company’s lame save system and how they made Athanas such a weird sleepyhead….

So, is it really true that Athanas falls asleep anywhere this easily?

This guy must be lucky to not have insomnia then.

“Yes. I’m sorry to bother you, but you’ve been sleeping for a long time, so I thought I should check on you. Are you okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine…How long was I out?”

“Um, around 5 hours, give or take.”

Athanas just sat there, rubbing his forehead, and you could cut the silence with a knife.

…Maybe I should’ve woken him up earlier?

Wonder if he had some training or something on his schedule.

Athanas then rubbed his face vigorously, his gaze bouncing between me and the window, as if he couldn’t believe how late it had become.

He looks like he’s missed something important, but I’m clueless about what.

“Did you have something planned that you had to do?”

He didn’t reply right away. Instead, he fixed me with a look so intense, packed with emotions I couldn’t even begin to untangle. I squirmed a bit under that gaze, my brain scrambling to figure out what I could have possibly done wrong.

Why is he looking at me like that?

We’ve never crossed paths before, have we?

Is he ticked off at me for not waking him earlier and now he’s missed something?

That’s ridiculous.

“…Yes.” he finally admitted, his voice tight.

But thankfully, he was polite enough not to vent his frustration on me.

Athanas picked up his fallen chair and collapsed into it, his disappointment hanging heavy around us.

Standing in front of him, I felt extremely awkward.

Watching him was like seeing a student who’d just missed the cut-off for their college entrance exam, standing outside the locked doors, their aspirations dissolving before their eyes.

It’s a shame, but… what can I do?

It’s not like it’s my fault…

“Well, I’m sorry that happened.”

He stayed silent, the weight of unsaid words filling the space between us.

“Try not to take it too hard,” I offered, trying to lighten the mood, “I’m not sure what you missed, but life’s long. You’ll find other opportunities.”

“…Do you really think so?”

“Of course.”

Even though I’m clueless about the specifics of Athanas’s missed appointment today, I doubted it would derail his destiny.

After all, in Heretic Slayer, he became a paladin with a pretty high level of holy power.

Missing one important moment like an exam and having to wait another year is tough, but there’s always a next time.

Athanas lifted his eyes to mine, his face gloomy. “Then, will you help me?”

“Pardon? Help with what?”

“…Making up for it.”

And why’s he looking to me for that?

“That’s something you have to do yourself, isn’t it? What could a random passerby like me possibly do to help…?”

“My name is Athanas.”

So what?

“Yes… I see.”

“…And your name would be?”

Why are you asking that?

Maybe he thinks swapping names moves us past the stranger phase to something more familiar, laying the groundwork for asking for help?

I hesitated, weighing my options. The last thing I wanted was to get tangled up with Athanas.

Even if he is a fresh-faced Athanas who has no memories of Heretic’s Slayer and slaughtering heretics.

The Order’s eyes could be on him. Even if today’s run-in was purely by chance, bumping into each other too often might paint a target on my back.

The kind that screams, ‘This one’s got player memories and is scheming something…‘

Of course, I wasn’t one of those fanatics who’d happily die under Athanas’s hands.

I’m not some moth drawn to a flame…

But flat-out refusing to share my name would just be weird.

After a bit of internal debate, I caved,

“…My name is Fabio,” I said, a bit hesitantly.

“Fabio. That’s a fine name. A name meaning ‘harvest’… Did your father give you that name?”

“Uh? Yes, that’s right…”

“Ah, so your father must’ve been a believer of Egus, the god of abundance and harvest.”

“Not really…” I sighed, “He just wanted me to be a prosperous farmer. You see, I was a serf, and so were my parents.”

“You were a serf and became a reader? May I ask what led to that change?”

Why are you so nosy about someone’s past?

Is this normal small talk for a library encounter?

Should I start prying into his business too?

“…Weren’t you looking for help to catch up on something you missed? Maybe you should get on that instead if it’s important. They could still be waiting for you. Seems more urgent than my backstory.”

Athanas looked a bit downcast at that. “Actually, there’s something I was hoping you could help me with… It’s a bit awkward to ask someone I just met…”

Then maybe don’t ask.

“I know this is a lot to ask, but honestly, I have no one else to turn to. Will you help me?”

“How can I commit to anything without knowing what you’re asking?”

“Do you plan on coming back here tomorrow?”

This as*hole really doesn’t listen.

I frowned. “If I come, what do you want?”

Athanas paused, looking uncertain.

What’s with the hesitation now?

“…Please wake me up.”

“Pardon?”

“If you see me sleeping, just… wake me up. I can’t seem to wake up on my own…“

Are you kidding me? Am I some kind of alarm clock?

The request was so out there, I was momentarily speechless. I half-expected something dramatic, not to be enlisted as a personal alarm service.

Why would you ask a passerby for such a thing?

It was like offering a sympathetic ear to someone stressing over exams, only to find out they’re actually looking for someone to drag them out of bed next year.

“…I realize how shameless this sounds. A knight, meant to be a paragon of order and timeliness, asking for such a favor… must sound pretty pathetic.”

Pathetic? More like downright bizarre.

In Heretic’s Slayer, Athanas was the guy who trusted nobody with his safety. In a world where anyone could turn into a disciple of the Plague God, even him, vigilance was his constant companion. He slept with one eye open, never letting his guard down, and always had his weapon within reach.

And yet, here he was…

Confessing he’s such a heavy sleeper he needs a total stranger, a heretic no less, to wake him up.

It suddenly hit me again just how peaceful the Dark Realm is right now.

“It’s… well, it’s a bit much.”

“…I’m relieved you don’t find it too burdensome.”

This Athanas is… kind of funny.

Was this his original personality in the beginning?

“So, do you plan to sleep here again tomorrow?” I asked, eyebrow raised.

“…Yes.”

“Why here, of all places? Wouldn’t it have been more convenient to ask a fellow squad member or someone at the training center to wake you up?”

“If I slept there, even during my off-hours, someone would wake me up for a bothersome task.”

…So he’s here to slack off?

That was the last thing I expected to hear.

Isn’t he supposed to be the diligent newbie?

In a world gone to hell, I’d understand—superiors dropping like flies, quick promotions, and suddenly you’re shouldering the weight of the world. But right now? Everyone’s still alive.

So, he’s what? Paladin-in-training? Maybe even already a full-fledged paladin?

And here he is, a knight of all things, seeking out secret nap spots to dodge duties?

Slacking off…

Really? A knight asking a random stranger for a wake-up call?

Pull yourself together!

“…So, I just need to wake you up?” I double-checked, still not fully believing the situation.

“Would you do that for me?”

“I guess I’ll be here anyway, buried in books… It’s not that hard. But just so we’re clear, if you’re a heavy sleeper, I’m not going to keep trying.”

“Thank you!” Athanas’s reaction was immediate, suddenly standing up and grabbing my hands in gratitude. “Fabio, that’s really kind of you!”

“Um, I don’t think this qualifies as being particularly kind…”

“No, others would have refused.”

Well, yeah, because it’s a bit ridiculous for a knight to be asking for this.

I agreed just to avoid further hassle.

I’d be here tomorrow regardless, and if he’s here, he’d just ask again.

Better to deal with it once than twice.

It’s not like waking him is going to lead to any significant interaction between us…

“…Fabio. Is it okay if I ask you more about yourself?”

“Pardon?”

“I’d like to get to know you better.”

I visibly frowned. “Is there a need for that? I’ve already said yes to your request. There’s no need for us to become closer.” I pulled my hands from his grasp.

Athanas immediately became sullen. “…I’m sorry. I got too carried away.”

“Do you always try to become closer with people you’ve just met?”

“No, I’m not usually like this…”

Athanas paused, looking at my face as if gauging my reaction before continuing, “…It’s just, lately, I’ve been feeling quite lonely because things haven’t been going well with my peers.”

“Ah, I see.”

And you’re sharing this because…?

“At first, we got along fine. But as I started winning more in sparring, their attitude towards me became colder and colder….”

Ah, the classic tale of being shunned for shining too brightly.

It happens more often than you’d think.

“In training, I can handle it, but in my free time, it’s excruciating. It seems like they’re purposely ignoring me. No, I’d be lucky if they’d just ignored me; they also harass me with ‘innocent’ mistakes, like soaking the cloth I use for my weapon maintenance in vinegar…”

Wow, they’re bullying Athanas.

What kind of recklessness is this?

Naturally, these fellow trainees have no clue about the powerhouse Athanas is destined to become. That ignorance fuels their boldness.

It feels like I’m hearing the story of how Lu Bu was ostracized as a child and became introverted.¹T/N: Lu Bu was a renowned figure in Chinese history, particularly during the later years of the Eastern Han Dynasty (c. 25-220 AD), which was marked by political instability and conflict. He is often portrayed as a formidable warrior with unmatched martial prowess in historical texts and the classic novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” by Luo Guanzhong. Lu Bu is famous for his strength, skill in archery, and riding, earning him the nickname “Flying General.” Despite his notorious reputation for betrayal and unstable behavior, Lu Bu remains one of the most iconic figures in Chinese history and culture, embodying the archetype of a tragic hero whose flaws led to his demise.

“They’ve even pulled me out of bed for guard duty on nights it wasn’t my turn, claiming they wanted to swap shifts. If I push back, they say it was all a misunderstanding, but it’s obviously intentional. If it were truly a mistake, it wouldn’t happen every single day.”

So that’s why he’s sleep-deprived.

“…I don’t really care about their petty antics. They’re just small-minded people. But it’s really lonely not having anyone on my side.”

Hmm…

I get it.

That’s rough.

But why tell this to me, of all people?

How many people are there in the Order?

Out of all those people, he zeroes in on me—a guy who’s practically wearing a ‘Not looking for pals’ sign.

Maybe check if someone’s up for a heart-to-heart before unloading, yeah?

Had he asked, I’d have said no.

Especially when it comes to dropping heavy, personal stories out of the blue.

It’s not exactly easy to just walk away mid-conversation.

“…You must have had a hard time.”