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

#077Reader Mode

#077

No matter how many times I flipped the paper over, those words were the only thing written.

I couldn’t believe it.

This is a real as*hole move, isn’t it?

「 Merry X-mas!」

This message was clearly mocking players who came here, worried about the prophesied ‘day the starry sky opens’.

A real legendary d-bag, for sure.

The bastard who set up this trap is probably someone chosen by the Distorted One.

The [Distorted One] is the Othergod in charge of “Distortion” and “Disappointment”.

You can easily earn points in the ‘distortion’ domain just by scattering counterfeit coins around, but ‘disappointing’ people scores you way more.

“Disappointment” might not sound like a big deal, but think about it – the more someone’s heartfelt hopes are crushed, the more devastating the ‘disappointment’ becomes. That’s when you begin to understand how truly terrible this domain is.

So what’s the best way to cause immense ‘disappointment’?

By doing something extremely devilish.

For example, let’s say you wanted to plunder a family’s wealth.

If you’re playing with the Plague God, you could spread an epidemic to wipe them out. If it’s with the War God, you could start a war, emerge victorious, and pillage everything. But if you’re playing with the Distorted One?

…You could trick some noble girl who just wants her mom to get better. Deceiving her into believing that poison is medicine, so she ends up killing her mother with her own hands.

Then, after revealing the devastating truth to the girl and driving her to madness, you pretend to be her guardian and devour the family dry.

Definition of pure evil…

It’s a strategy that claims fewer victims but feels the most vile.

Unlike the quite unrealistic strategies of other Othergods, playing with the [Distorted One] has a strong sense of realism, making you feel like you’re doing something seriously twisted. As a result, most people don’t main it.

It’s not like they can’t tell game from reality, but honestly, I wouldn’t really want to associate with someone who played with the ‘Distorted One’ all the time.

And whoever got picked from our group must be a real psychopath.

A pro at stirring up drama, fabricating lies, and manipulating public opinion.

If a bastard like that is hiding in the Order…

…Could he be the bastard who intentionally created the rule that players shouldn’t meet each other?

When people get together and openly exchange information, it’s easier to spot a con artist. But if everyone rarely communicates with each other…

He can run rampant as he pleases.

He probably staged some stunt to make players not trust each other. Even now, with just one trap, he greatly killed my motivation to find other players, didn’t he?

He must really be a vicious and cunning bastard.

“Something wrong?”

Athanas’ question jolted me out of my head.

“No! Nothing! Well, actually, it’s not exactly nothing…”

…How much should I tell him?

My palms were slick with cold sweat.

Originally, if I stumbled on signs of another player, I was going to play it off like, “I had this revelation in a dream, and bam, there was actually something here!”

But with Athanas’ hand injured now, that’s not an option.

If the bastard who rigged this trap finds out the blood drops belong to Athanas…

He’ll probably try to kill Athanas.

Because he’ll get the wrong idea and assume Athanas found this place after recalling memories of Heretic Slayer.

If he wants to win the game, he’d want to eliminate the variable of the “original protagonist”.

…It’s because of me.

I was the one who told Athanas to come here.

I was the one who asked him to check the coffin and grab what’s inside.

If something happens because of this, it’s entirely my fault.

I have to warn him.

I couldn’t just leave Athanas exposed and unaware of the danger.

Telling him to go see the bishop to check for curses or whatever isn’t enough. I had to explain exactly what kind of threat we’re dealing with.

…But how?

To get across how evil the person who set this trap is, I’d have no choice but to tell him about ‘Othergods’ and their chosen ones existing.

No matter how I phrase it, won’t it sound totally crazy?

There are gods beyond the starry sky who seek to shatter order and devour the Dark Realm. To get their influence into this world, they need ‘contractors’ and I’m one of them. However, I refuse to destroy order, so I joined the church. The Saint spared my life, but one of the other ‘contractors’ who converted like I did has a very evil heart. That person seems to have deceived the Saint and they’re the one who set this trap…

…If I say all that, they’ll probably ship me off for a psych eval.

That would be the best case scenario. They could drag me to the Heresy Inquisition, calling it blasphemy for not believing in the Saint and trying to test him, even though he mercifully let me live.

Even if I somehow prove it and get him to believe me…

Athanas is a Sword of Condemnation, slaying anyone who strays from order.

How would someone like me, who exists outside of order, look to him?

…He’d be disgusted, wouldn’t he?

“If there’s no issue, I’ll take that paper.”

“Huh?”

“The paper. The person who set this trap must have written on it, right? I’ll need to investigate it along with this wire.”

Athanas spoke quietly about tracking down whoever pulled such a prank.

“…You shouldn’t brush it off as just a prank.”

I have to warn him.

I knew that, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Is your hand… okay?”

“Hm? It’s fine. The bleeding has stopped already.”

“Because of me…”

I felt sick to my stomach.

…Should I tell the Saint?

If I mentioned another Watched One seemed to be stirring up trouble, would he at least hear me out? Didn’t he say there was nothing else to do besides keeping tabs on the ‘Watched Ones’?

Obviously, I’ll have to own up to all the lies I’ve told…

But that seemed better than putting Athanas in danger.

I fumbled with my clothes, trying to grab the holy object. No, I attempted to grab it.

“…Are you having chest pains?”

“Pardon?”

“You haven’t looked well for a while now. Perhaps there’s some stale air trapped down here.”

Without warning, Athanas picked me up.

“Wait, what are you…”

“Let’s go up and talk. There’s something unsettling about this place.”

I instantly shut up. Athanas had a point.

Right. Who knows what kind of devices they might have installed.

I had been even more careless than the oblivious Athanas.

I felt disgusted with myself.

I should explain everything once we’re somewhere safe.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

When we finally surfaced from underground, I found myself hyperaware of the librarians I usually barely noticed. Sure, I knew they weren’t interested in us, but couldn’t hushed convos still be overheard, even by accident?

“Um…” I hesitantly tugged on Athanas’ sleeve. “…Could you take me somewhere private? A place where we can be alone would be great.”

Suddenly, there was a thud, like something had been dropped.

Startled, I whipped around and saw a librarian awkwardly picking up scattered books.

“Ah…Oh no! I dropped the books! My hand just slipped!”

…What?

That reaction was way too suspicious, almost like a setup?

With my senses heightened after just experiencing the Distorted bastard’s trap, I carefully scrutinized the librarian. He was blatantly avoiding my gaze, indicating that he was aware of my presence.

If it were the Distorted bastard himself or someone under his orders keeping watch, they would have acted more naturally.

What’s up with his weird behavior?

…I should ask about this.

“Fabio.”

“Yes?”

“What you just said was a bit…” Athanas abruptly stopped mid-sentence and let out a fake cough. “…It seems like a statement that could be easily misunderstood.”

Misunderstood?

I mentally replayed what I had just said.

…Oh.

Considering society’s view of readers and the acceptance of same-sex relationships in this world, I quickly realized how my words might have come across.

It probably sounded like a couple shamelessly planning to get a room in broad daylight.

Embarrassed, I felt my face flush.

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

I tried to clear things up, but Athanas raised a finger to his lips, making a shushing motion.

Reflexively, I clamped my mouth shut.

Leaning in close, Athanas said, “If I was being too insensitive just now, could you give me another chance?”

Then, in a whisper only I could hear, “I understood what you meant. You needed an excuse for us to leave together. I’ll play along.”

He seemed to take my unintended verbal slip-up as a kind of smokescreen.

Athanas whispered again, loud enough for others to overhear.

“I wish… you’d tell me it’s not a misunderstanding.”

Wow…

For a second, every hair on my body stood on end.

Having someone whisper sensually in your ear… is incredibly creepy.

I nearly screamed out loud.

But the real challenge was for Athanas, having to act in front of someone with a charm stat of 30. Firmly suppressing my urge to run away screaming, I felt my face grow even hotter.

“Yes…”

My shaky voice, mixed with embarrassment and agony, sounded like a line from an extremely flustered heroine.

This is really aargh!

I felt I could spend the next decade smashing my head against walls every night, haunted by this memory.

Athanas beamed.

“To think you feel the same way… Could there be anything more joyful than this?”

Wow… Damn.

He’s f*cking incredible at acting.

Is this raw talent?