Rise of the OtherGod Apostle: Not a Cult Leader, but a Serf?!
#153
T/N: Thanks for the coffee Maggie! （＾∀＾●）ﾉ
#153
[SYSTEM: The trait ‘Heaven Above, Earth Below, I Alone Reign Supreme’ has nullified the status effect ‘Ultimate HappyHappy.’]
The dense wall of text vanished, leaving only a hazy afterimage that clouded my thoughts. I struggled to process what had just happened.
Ultimate HappyHappy?
Why? How? How the hell did Happy God manage to—?
“It seems I asked for something unreasonable,” the Saint said.
[SYSTEM: The trait ‘Heaven Above, Earth Below, I Alone Reign Supreme’ has nullified the status effect ‘Blessing of Solace.’]
The moment the Saint released my hand, I instinctively brushed away the “remains” clinging to my skin. White fragments scattered across the floor like broken porcelain. I didn’t even consider retrieving them. Instead, I found myself staring at the Saint’s face—at that ornate mask hiding whatever expression might lie beneath.
What’s going through his mind?
Does he understand that touching a unit with a play log transfers memories? Did he deliberately let me touch it, knowing that would happen?
If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t have asked me to reveal Perpetua’s final thoughts, would he?
The Saint can read play logs.
He also knows that calling another player’s username opens a ‘chat window.’
So his awareness of ‘memory synchronization’ isn’t surprising.
But still…
Why?
Why would he ask me that question specifically?
Maybe he couldn’t decipher what ‘Ultimate HappyHappy’ truly was? No, something more concerning…
Shouldn’t he have warned me first?
If not for the mental ‘firewall’ protecting my mind, the Saint’s actions would have driven me into the same ‘HappyHappy’ state. I would’ve been reduced to a mindless husk, incapable of thinking about anything except HappyHappy, facing an instant Game Over.
Inheriting memories from someone who’s gone insane is essentially being infected by their madness.
And yet… was he certain I’d survive the experience?
…Or does my wellbeing simply not matter to him?
Beneath the ornate mask, his visible mouth curved into a gentle arc—a smile too perfect that it looked painted on. Something about that artificial expression sent a quiet chill through me, as if my blood were gradually turning to ice within my veins.
“You requested information about Perpetua’s personal relationships, right?” the Saint asked, his tone frighteningly casual as he turned the box upright again.
I watched in silent horror as the scattered white fragments—the ‘remains’ that had rolled across the floor—reversed their journey, drawn back into the box like footage rewinding.
Telekinesis…
An Apostle of Order can freely wield the powers of the god they serve.
And suddenly, I understood why the emergency system activates whenever you encounter an Apostle—why it basically says run. They’re beings you can’t fight; fleeing is your only option. They are the undying ones, those who don’t truly perish even when killed, those with the overwhelming power to permanently banish others from this world.
…Maybe the only reason he kept me alive was because I was merely a curiosity to him—an anomaly worth studying because I didn’t get a ‘Game Over.’ From the Saint’s perspective, the fact that I didn’t go insane might seem like nothing more than a system error.
When he closed the box, it made a delicate clattering sound that echoed my unsettled thoughts.
“As requested, I’ve compiled the information in writing,” the Saint said, reaching into what appeared to be empty space before drawing forth a scroll. He extended it toward me with an elegant gesture.
I accepted it without unrolling it, clutching it tightly against my chest like a shield.
“Th-thank you… I’ll take it with me and read it in my own time.”
His actions were full of contradictions, but I wasn’t in the mood to analyze them right now. All I wanted was to crawl back to my room, burrow under the covers, and scream what the actual hell into my pillow until my throat hurt.
“I’m afraid you’ll need to read it here.”
“…Pardon?”
“The information is restricted to those of Archbishop rank and above. Technically, you shouldn’t even be allowed to see this, but I’m making an exception.”
What could possibly be in this thing?
Why would they restrict access to information about some noble girl’s social circle?
Unless… unless someone so wicked that their very existence was erased through Oblivion still lurks in the Dark Realm? And Perpetua knew them?
A cold chill ran through me.
I really don’t want to know this…
How did my half-assed excuse manage to hit a landmine? This is worse than Minesweeper when you hit a bomb on your very first click.
Maybe I should just say I’ve changed my mind and prefer blissful ignorance?
“If you don’t want to read it, that’s your choice.”
“…Apostle Adna.” I turned to look at her.
“Why are you even curious about your past life? Are you planning to track down someone you once loved to rekindle some unfinished romance? Or seeking revenge on someone you hated? You are not Perpetua. Perpetua is dead. You cannot replace the dead.”
I wasn’t planning any of that.
I wasn’t even that interested in Perpetua to begin with.
He just asked if I had any requests, so I made something up on the spot.
“Even if you feel uneasy or experience déjà vu, don’t investigate it. Ignore it. What happens if you face the truth and your mind breaks? No one will be able to save you. Solace and Oblivion don’t work on you.”
Adna fixed me with her cold, doll-like stare.
“From where I stand, you’re already cracked.”
…So basically, you think I’m a little crazy?
It seemed unfair, but from Adna’s perspective, I guess it made sense.
Nobody asked me to, but I still got my arm cut off without anesthesia and donated it.
No sane person does that.
Sure, she misunderstood because I left out crucial context… but right now, I welcomed the misunderstanding.
“If you’re saying it like that, Apostle Adna…”
She cut me off. “Then I’ll stay by your side until you’re okay again.”
“Pardon?”
I was just going to claim temporary insanity and retreat to my room…
“You really don’t need to go that far…”
“No. Right now, you’re easy prey. Just ripe for the picking. A relic isn’t enough to protect someone as naive as you. If some wicked creature told you to take it off and come closer, you’d probably do it.”
“I wouldn’t…”
“Wouldn’t you? Then why did you go to the Research Director? You’re hesitating to open that scroll, yet you didn’t flinch when your arm was cut off. Don’t tell me you weren’t scared. So why didn’t you call for the Saint? Better yet—did it even cross your mind to ask if this was truly something Order wanted? From the start, you were on the wrong path. If you genuinely wanted to draw closer to Order, shouldn’t you have come to me or the Saint?”
“……”
“You’re being foolish. Stubborn, blind, and weak. Your judgment is irrational, contradictory, and self-destructive. How could I possibly leave you alone?”
The anxiety hit me all over again, like it had never left. Something was going seriously wrong.
“I, I’m sorry, Apostle Adna. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. Next time, I’ll—”
“It’s fine. I’ll be by your side from now on,” Adna stated firmly.
“…For how long?”
“Until you get better.”
Right, but what exactly does “better” mean here?
I glanced nervously at the Saint. He just smiled silently, showing absolutely no intention of stopping Adna.
“I really can’t take up that much of your time, Apostle Adna.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Won’t your presence beside me attract attention?”
“Now you’re worried about that?”
“Of course—”
“The Research Director already made you one of his test subjects. And that’s not all. The entire Cathedral is buzzing with rumors that you received a marriage proposal from the Teres heir. You’ve already failed spectacularly at staying low-profile.”
“That wasn’t… actually a proposal,” I tried to explain.
“I heard he gave you a ring with his name engraved on it. Is that not true?”
“That’s not what the ring meant.”
“Fine, let me rephrase then. The entire Cathedral is talking about how Marcello of House Teres handed over his one and only ring to someone who can neither give him an heir nor become his spouse, and asked that person to stay by his side.”
Shit.
I wanted to deny it again, to say it really wasn’t like that… but I couldn’t reveal the actual reason he gave me that ring. Because telling me to find him when the Cathedral descended into chaos… was the same as telling me to betray Order.
Damn you, Pandomonium.
Making me endure this kind of humiliation.
My face twitched with shame.
“Has that story really spread that far? The entire Cathedral is talking about it?”
“Haven’t you been outside?”
“…No.”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t left my room since it happened.
That probably explains why Athanas had been bringing meals to my room instead of inviting me to the dining hall.
“If you were a woman who could marry and have children, it wouldn’t have caused such a stir. People would have assumed he just needed someone to produce an heir and chose whoever was available. But you don’t fit either category. That’s why it became such a hot topic—because it makes no sense.”
Goosebumps prickled my skin.
Most people probably thought Marcello had lost his mind and randomly proposed to a male Reader.
But what about the Apostles?
Adna already knew I wasn’t a real Reader but a Watched One.
If that’s the case, wouldn’t she also consider that Marcello Teres—who ignored all the actual Readers and came directly to me with that outrageous gesture—might be a Watched One too?
“…I didn’t think it would blow up like this.”
“You seriously didn’t know?”
“Marcello just said he wanted to mess with some annoying relatives and asked for a small favor. That’s all. I only found out what the ring actually meant later when Elamin explained it to me.”
“That’s what he told you?”
“Yes. He said he only came to see me to kill time and avoid his family’s pressure about getting married…”
“Unbelievable.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s a ploy. And a transparent one at that.”
“A ploy?”
Adna, maintaining her blank expression, started saying some truly wild things.
“The part about killing time might be true. But after hanging out with you for a bit, I bet his feelings changed. He probably decided he wanted to spend his life with you.”
“…..?”
“But he must have realized that if he confessed directly, you’d feel awkward and turn him down. Because you already have someone. So he disguised it as a joke and gave you the ring under that pretense. That way, you’d actually accept it. Then, once your lover noticed the ring and got upset, he’d confront him. And when that happened—whether through a duel or persuasion or whatever means necessary—Marcello planned to eliminate the competition and make you his.”
…Wait, is Adna secretly into romantic delusions?
Or does she just think I’m an idiot and feels free to say whatever pops into her head?
Considering the series of verbal takedowns she’s given me so far, the second option seems more likely.
She warned me thoroughly about the Research Director, and I went to him anyway—so now that Pandomonium’s involved, she probably thinks pointing out how suspicious it is will just make me more stubborn.
Even if she’s trying to get me to agree with this, couldn’t she come up with something more believable?
If my charm stat was even in the triple digits, maybe I’d widen my eyes and gasp, “What? For real? He actually fell for me?!”
But Fabio’s charm stat is a solid 30.
Obviously, charm isn’t everything when it comes to love. Even someone with an utterly repulsive appearance might form a deep connection with another person if they have a genuinely kind heart.
But love at first sight? That’s in a completely different league.
If a unit with average, unremarkable looks manages to captivate another person in just minutes, the only explanation has to be some kind of mind-control ability.
Cold sweat ran down my back as I rushed to defend myself.
“I really didn’t get the impression he had any romantic interest in me…”
“Haven’t I made this clear already? Don’t trust your own instincts or judgment. To put it bluntly, when it comes to this kind of thing, your ability to read a situation is complete trash.”
T/N: It’s been a while, so here’s a quick refresher on Hapenesus’s “HappyHappy” Blessing (Is it a debuff? A buff? Players are still arguing about it!)
One of the biggest reasons why clearing Hapenesus’s route is borderline impossible is thanks to this “HappyHappy” blessing. Anyone who prays to him receives Ultimate Happiness. Unfortunately, his blessed followers instantly lose all desire to eat, drink, or engage with the world. They simply exist in a state of perfect bliss, gradually withering away while smiling, until they pass away.
This blessing basically sabotages any attempt to build the Cult of Happiness. Every time you convert someone, they get blessed and eventually die—including your Cult Leader, often before you even hit mid-game content. Fabio attempted to negotiate with Hapenesus back in chapters 1-6, asking him to modify or reduce this effect so the route could be cleared. But Hapenesus refused. Granting unconditional happiness is his fundamental nature. Asking him to change this would be equivalent to asking him to cease existing.
To work around this deathtrap mechanic, players started choosing specific ‘Traits’—like melancholy, anhedonia, and emotional detachment—which prevented the Cult Leader Unit from praying to receive the blessing. This strategy would make Perpetua become available as a playable character option.
Which brings us to why Fabio is so shaken by what shows up in Perpetua’s Memory Play Log. With her chosen traits, she shouldn’t be able to receive the HappyHappy blessing at all.
But based on her final thoughts…
Looks like “impossible” wasn’t impossible after all.