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

#143Reader Mode

T/N: Thanks for the coffee Maggie and Novelreader122! ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

A few updates to improve translation accuracy. Explanations are provided at the bottom if you’d like to know the reasoning.

1. ‘Sir Casimir’ is used as an honorific to convey respect for knights.
2. Changed the God of War’s pronoun from ‘They’ to ‘He.’

#143

Pandemonium’s grip on my hand loosened so suddenly that I nearly lost my balance. I stumbled back a step, caught between confusion and wariness. His nonchalant tone only made it worse.

“This isn’t something you can just force,” he said with a shrug. “If you really don’t want to help, hyung, I’ll just take care of it myself.”

…Obviously.

He hadn’t even known I was here. Meaning, he’d planned to handle everything on his own from the start.

Just stick to your original plan.

Pandemonium let out an exaggerated sigh, his shoulders slumping like a man carrying the weight of the world. “Ugh, they say stress speeds up cognitive decline…”

“Then go meditate. Or touch some grass.”

He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “At this rate, my family’s going to nag me into an early grave before this tutorial even ends.”

“…And what makes you think that’s going to change after the tutorial?”

“Huh?”

“Do you really think they’ll just stop pestering you once the starry sky opens up?”

Pandemonium rolled his eyes. “Come on, think about it. The world’s gonna be absolute chaos. Not exactly the best time to be pushing marriage, right?”

I conceded with a nod. Okay. Fair point.

Once a contract with an Othergod was finalized, everyone would be lying low, playing it safe. That’s when the restrictions on the Apostles would lift.

A chilling thought took root in my mind.

Is he actually planning to get rid of his entire family when that happens?

A shiver crept down my spine, but I forced my voice to stay calm. “So your galaxy-brain solution to avoid a month of nagging… was a fake marriage?”

“Look,” he huffed, “I needed a legitimate excuse to keep you at my house. You think I could just stroll in with you and not set off every single gossip landmine in sight? The rumor mill would have a field day. Decades, even.”

Oh. Right.

In this world, I’m a Reader.

If I suddenly showed up at his family’s doorstep, unannounced, the conclusion would be obvious: I was his male lover.

And not just any male lover. The male lover of the family’s acting head—the guy already drowning under pressure to get married and pop out an heir…

This is like choosing between curry-flavored shit and shit-flavored curry.

For a moment there, I thought he’d just thrown his morals and any ounce of shame out the window by even suggesting marriage. But I guess he did put some thought into it. Even if that thought process was just picking the least awful option from a menu of bad choices.

But seriously, when you’re faced with a trash menu like this, the only sane move is to just walk away hungry.

“But what about my safety? What place could be safer than here?” I asked, genuinely confused.

Once the tutorial’s over, the system’s ‘Life-Saving Device’ that’s been protecting players from death disappears. After that, no one in their right mind would dare set foot in the Cathedral.

That’s what I told him. But Pandemonium still didn’t look convinced.

“But what if the Saint condemns you the second the tutorial ends? You said it yourself—you don’t even know why he’s protecting you. Aren’t you worried he’ll just… change his mind?”

…If we’re talking about people who should be worried about that, you should be a hell of a lot more concerned about yourself.

He was already unstable. And once he formed a contract with the God of War?

Who knew how much worse he’d get.

But I can’t let him see that I’m scared.

I forced out a laugh that sounded hollow, even to me.

“Haha, well, if the Saint screws me over and I get a Game Over, you’ll just revive me, right?”

The way Pandemonium’s face went rigid made my stomach drop.

What the actual hell.

“…If you’re that stressed about wasting points, just forget I asked.”

“No, no, of course I’ll resurrect you. Obviously…”

“I mean, it’s not like I’d be much help anyway, so don’t worry about it. Just bring me back whenever you’ve got points to spare.”

“…Yeah. Sure.”

…Yeah? Sure?

Wait. What the f*ck?

Is this bastard seriously going to do me dirty like that?

Would it kill him to say something like, ‘Don’t worry hyung, I’ll grind for every last point to bring you back first’?

Goddamn, this dude’s social awareness is below zero.

If he’s hesitating this much about bringing me back, there’s no way he’d actually go through with reviving some random NPC like he said.

“Listen. Even if I offered to wait, couldn’t you at least pretend you’d prioritize bringing me back?”

“…Why? That would only put you at greater risk.”

For f*ck’s sake…

“Ugh, whatever. I should just blame myself for getting stuck in a trash-tier unit.”

What a ruthless bastard.

He’s already perfected that min-max gaming mentality, hasn’t he?

Like yeah, I get it—being a meta slave and all that—but damn, I thought I’d at least rank above “completely useless” in his books…

Though if I’m being honest, the God of War and I have always mixed about as well as oil and water.

Out of all the Othergods, He’s literally my worst possible match. Well, except for that one abandoned Othergod who never gets any updates and I can’t even reach an ending with.

Every single time I cleared a run with the God of War, He’d be there griping about how I was “ruining the aesthetics of battle” and how victory wasn’t everything.

I got so irritated once that I burned through a mountain of points just to corner Him into a long conversation and ask, ‘So what exactly DO you want then?’

Back then, I just dismissed it as scripted dialogue.

What was that pretentious speech War gave me again?

The bastard kept going on about preserving some eternal golden age where warriors actually believed dying in battle would earn them a seat in Valhalla—that mythical hall where Odin’s chosen warriors spent eternity feasting and fighting.

My god, could War be any more stuck in the past?

Something in me snapped hearing that self-righteous bullshit. Before I could stop myself, I was already running my mouth: “You know what? Fine! Spend the next million years watching ants tear each other apart like some caveman reality show. That’s about the level your prehistoric brain can handle, isn’t it? You dusty old jackass!”

War literally trembled with divine rage after that one.

He launched into this epic tirade about ensuring my death would be the most excruciating experience in all of creation.

So I hit Him with the ultimate rage trigger line: “Cool story bro, I’ll just quit the game~” and logged straight out.

Pretty sure I blacklisted the God of War from my character select after that…

…There’s no way He actually remembers that whole thing. Right?

And just like that, I had another excellent reason to keep my distance from Pandemonium.

Time to change the subject.

“Quick question though. What exactly are the players hoping to accomplish by holding this Council?”

After all, they’re taking a massive risk showing up at the Holy Capital’s Cathedral in person. Something major has to be brewing.

“…That’s a secret.”

“Is that right?”

Guess he still doesn’t trust me completely yet.

Well, fair enough. I’m the only one immune to a Game Over, so how could he ever fully trust me?

From his perspective, I could totally sell them out to the Saint, get every player in the Cathedral wiped, and walk away with an easy victory.

“…Just watch your back and be careful, okay? The Inquisition’s Commander knows about this Council but isn’t lifting a finger to stop it. That probably means the Church is scheming something, too.”

The Council meeting itself could be one giant trap.

With all these Tutorial Phase restrictions in play, I can’t even gauge how dangerous that trap might be, but…

“Hey, are Insanity and Bonaparte attending this Council too?” I asked.

When Sukidesu mistakenly thought he’d stumbled into what he presumed was another of Insanity’s traps, he was furious, ranting about how this was the price of working together. This basically confirms Insanity is directly involved in organizing the Council.

Which meant whatever grand scheme the Council was cooking up, Insanity was undoubtedly in on it.

“…They won’t be there in person. But they might be around nearby.”

“So they’re actually teaming up on this one.”

“The Council meeting was actually Rider of Civilization’s idea.”

Wait, wasn’t Rider’s player killed because of Insanity?

For Bonaparte to even consider sharing a table with a potential traitor…

A creeping sense of unease settled in as red flags started popping up left and right.

If this whole conspiracy benefits all the players, then Order’s about to be dealt a serious blow.

Just what kind of mayhem are these players are plotting?

Maybe I should just ask Reyes?

He’d probably spill everything without thinking twice—

Knock, knock.

Someone was at the door.

[Fabio, are you in there?]

…Elamin?

My heart just about leaped out of my chest.

“Who’s that?” Pandemonium swiveled toward the door.

“Shh!” I hissed, my pulse going haywire.

Yesterday’s drama was bad enough. If Elamin caught me with yet another mystery man in my room, I was toast. No smooth-talking my way out of this mess…

The anxiety sweats were hitting hard now.

Had I even locked the damn door?

I had to physically will myself not to check, my hands balling into fists at my sides. Instead, I yanked Pandemonium’s sleeve and pushed him into the tiny space behind the door.

I shot Pandemonium a stay quiet look while easing the door open, just enough to shield the room from view.

“Elamin?”

His face brightened with relief. “Oh, thank goodness. You’re here.”

He gave me his usual sunny, warm greeting, but I barely noticed. My eyes were glued to the long, cylindrical box in his hands.

“There was something I didn’t get a chance to give you yesterday.”

My gaze snagged on the pristine wax seal. When he passed it over, it felt surprisingly heavy in my hands.

Casimir’s relic.

A jolt of trepidation shot through me.

…Wait, is her tongue actually in there?

I tried to swallow past the sudden lump in my throat. It was a little creepy, but in the Dark Realm, this was an incredibly rare and valuable item.

I plastered on my most convincing everything’s-totally-normal smile, trying to ignore how my stomach was doing backflips.

“I’m not sure I deserve something this precious. Please tell her I’m incredibly grateful.”

Elamin smiled. “Sir Casimir said it’s nothing compared to what she received from you.”

Is he talking about the relic Antonio gave me?

That wasn’t a gift though. I’d only lent it to her.

…Not that I’d dare ask Casimir to return it.

Elamin cleared his throat with an awkward cough.

“Ahem. So, did everything get resolved with Athanas yesterday?” He studied my face carefully. “Seeing as you left together with him this morning, I assume you two made up…”

Hearing that, my face grew hot.

“You saw that? I didn’t even realize you were there.”

Elamin shook his head. “Oh no, I didn’t see it personally. Another Reader mentioned it.”

…Great, the rumor mill is already churning.

Of course, people were watching. Even if I wasn’t really paying attention, the Readers who’d been here a while would definitely be keeping tabs on a newbie like me.

“…Yeah, we cleared up the misunderstanding.”

Elamin let out a breath, nodding. “That’s good to hear.”

But then his expression darkened, taking on a more serious, almost wary look.

“But that man… Athanas…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “Be careful around him.”

“Pardon? Why?”

Elamin’s lips pressed into a thin line. “The way he looked at me when he sent me away… It was intense. If you had been with someone else last night, I think he might have taken their head clean off.”

I blinked, taken aback.

…Yeah, but only because he thought I was hiding a damn heretic in my room, not fooling around with someone else.

Knowing Athanas, he probably had that “Die Heretic!” look plastered all over his face without even having to say a word.

Well, that’s the Sword of Order for you.

Elamin hesitated before speaking again, quieter this time. “This might sound presumptuous, but… have you considered breaking up with him?”

“…Come again?”

Huh. I was expecting a ‘cheating is bad’ lecture from a hopeless romantic like him, not this.

“Love is neither a trophy to be claimed nor a shackle to keep someone bound. To love truly is to honor another’s freedom, even when that freedom leads them away. But be wary those who refuse to accept this. Those who grip their lover with desperation and a sword in hand, may one day find the blade cutting into the very love they wished to keep.”

“…Haha.”

Hearing him mistake Athanas for some possessive lover left me feeling weirdly embarrassed.

Like I’d just accidentally inflicted critical damage on his reputation.

“Ah… I think he just seemed harsh because he was worried about me. I told him I’ve been dealing with something terrifying lately, and that day, he only showed up to check on me. Athanas isn’t the jealous type. Really.”

Elamin exhaled slowly, like he was physically restraining his skepticism.

“…Yes. I suppose that’s possible.”

Yeah, he totally doesn’t believe me.

I mentally apologized to Athanas. If only persuasion were one of my strengths.

Elamin’s gaze lingered, searching, before he finally spoke again, his voice earnest. “Even so, if you ever feel unsafe, don’t hesitate to come to me or Sir Casimir. We’ll ensure your safety.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you,” I replied, offering a small, grateful smile.

With Pandemonium hiding behind the door and eavesdropping on all this, I needed to wrap this up before things got even more complicated.

“Alright, then—” I said, reaching for the handle to close it.

But before I could, the door jerked open with a heavy thud.

“Hold on a sec. I should probably get going too.”

…The f*ck?

I tipped my head back, and sure enough, there he was—looming behind me, grinning. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t explain, just stepped past me into the hallway like this was the most normal thing in the world.

Like some crazy little shithead who thought this was all a joke.

Why the hell is this lunatic stepping out now?!

Is his sense of timing completely broken?

Can he not see how incredibly bad this looks?

Elamin’s eyes were practically vibrating, he was so stunned.

“Oh, yeah. Almost forgot. Got a little something for you too.”

Before I could even blink, Pandemonium turned back and grabbed my hand. He casually slid a ring off his pinky and slipped it onto my finger.

I went rigid, my brain short-circuiting on the spot.

“W-W-What…?”

“To make it easier for you to find me later.”

Why the hell are you giving me this now, you absolute bastard?

Pandemonium only grinned wider, clearly getting a kick out of the mess he was creating. His grip on my hand tightened, and before I could even think of pulling away, he raised it to his lips, brushing a soft kiss over the ring.

Then, with that same infuriating, shameless swagger, he straightened up, offered Elamin a brief, polite bow, and strolled down the hallway without a care in the world.

…This f*cking guy.

I could practically feel the lasers of a dozen stares burning into me. No need to look; I knew every single person in the hallway was gawking.

Elamin turned to me, his expression a potent mix of confusion and expectation. He was clearly waiting for me to explain… something. Anything.

Wordlessly, I yanked the ring off my finger, holding it between two fingers like it was cursed.

“…This is a misunderstanding.”

“……”

“I swear….”

Elamin pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a slow, controlled breath, like he was trying to gather every last shred of patience he possessed.

“…Let’s go inside first.”

The second the door clicked shut behind us, he turned the lock and let out another epic sigh, this one loaded with enough exasperation to deflate a blimp.

“Are you aware of the significance behind that ring?”

“…No?”

“In noble families, each individual has a single, personalized ring, engraved with their name, meant to remain with them for life. There are only two circumstances in which they would willingly part with such a precious item.”

“…And those are?”

“The first is to authorize an urgent order in their name—used when there’s no time for a formal letter or when a messenger’s identity needs to be verified. The second…”

>> 「 Oh, by the way, that ring grants a weak version of telekinesis. It also has an inventory function. It’s pretty important, so don’t lose it.」

…What the hell? Why would he just hand me something like this without even asking?

“It’s a pledge of support,” Elamin explained. “A guarantee that the noble family will use all its power and resources to aid the recipient, no matter the circumstances.”

So basically, it’s like a debt token in wuxia novels?

“It’s not something one hands over without serious consideration,” he stressed.

“I see.”

“…And for House Teres, this solemn promise is even more sacred.”

“…There’s more to it?”

“The tale of House Teres’ founding patriarch is widely known. After an herbalist saved his life, the patriarch offered him his signet ring, vowing, ‘You have my eternal gratitude. Present this to my family, and whatever you desire shall be yours.’ Andwhen the herbalist finally came to claim his reward, his request was simple: ‘Allow me to remain by your side.’”

…So he asked for a job?

Well, that makes sense. Even if he had demanded wealth, without the strength to protect it, he’d only become a target.

For someone in his line of work—often isolated in the wilderness—security was worth more than gold.

So honestly, securing a stable job was the smarter choice—

“…And so, in what was considered a remarkably lavish wedding for its time, the patriarch married the herbalist, treasuring him as his husband for life.”

…Wait. That’s what he meant by staying by his side?

I’d been expecting a classic wuxia dynamic up until now, so this plot twist completely blindsided me.

Normally, in these kinds of stories, the herbalist saves some noble young master, gets a debt token, and later returns—not for romance, but to ask for resources to establish a medical hall or secure a position in court.

Not… end up as the young master’s wife.

“If you think there’s been a misunderstanding, it would be best to return the ring,” Elamin said, extending his hand. “Just in case, give it to me. I’ll make sure Sir Casimir returns it to him properly.”

“…Sir Casimir?”

…Does Pandemonium really stand a chance against the Inquisition Commander?

What happens if he loses? If he gets a Game Over?

I don’t even have a way to earn points…

“Pardon me, but is this really something worth troubling the Commander with? I imagine she has far more pressing concerns.”

“Do you not know what the former heir of House Teres has done?”

His eyes flickered toward my hand—halfway to my neck before I even realized I was reaching.

“Tell me… on your neck…”

>>「If shit hits the fan and you need a way out, just flash that thing to anyone and tell them to take you to House Teres’ territory. The acting patriarch will make sure they’re rewarded nicely.」

This f*cking bastard.

He could have waited until Elamin left before doing all of this.

Now I’m completely screwed.

I wanted to curse him out so bad, but with Elamin standing right here, I couldn’t send a reply.

“I’ll think about it!!”

“…Pardon? Think about what—?”

I pushed Elamin out the door, locked it again, and took a deep breath.

“PANDEMONIUM!!”

T/N: Translation Updates:

*The God of War’s pronoun has been changed from “they” to “he.” While the original text doesn’t explicitly state his gender, Fabio calls him things like “전쟁 새끼” (roughly “war bastard”), which is a term usually used for men.

*Casimir’s name is often accompanied by 님 (-nim), an honorific in Korean that conveys respect and politeness, typically used for esteemed individuals. Rather than repeatedly using “Commander Casimir,” a more appropriate translation is ‘Sir Casimir’ since she’s a knight.