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

#030Reader Mode

#030

“I mean, I am…”

“Does it bother you?” he interjected sharply, cutting off my response. My eyes widened, taken aback.

Is he trying to push me into a corner?

“So, the Saint, Adna, and I – we all make you uncomfortable, right?”

“Well, it’s not quite like that…”

“Come on, who’d believe you’re okay with that look on your face?”

No seriously, if he’s only looking for one answer, why bother asking in the first place?

He’s definitely trying to back me into a corner.

“Feeling uncomfortable at the mere mention of an Apostle’s name suggests you’d be even more affected when an Apostle wields their divine powers.”

What kind of flawed logic leap is that?

“You’re looking unwell, and I bet it’s because Adna unleashed her divine power earlier…”

It was because of the scattered dust, not divine power.

No alert window popped up, so the divine power didn’t affect me.

Anyone would be shaken near an explosion, divine power or not, alright?

“Be honest, divine power makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t it?”

What’s really making me uncomfortable here is your pushiness.

“No, I just can’t sense divine power at all. I’ve never been uncomfortable around it….”

“See? That’s exactly why it’s dangerous. You’re unable to even avoid it.”

Wow, so this is what gaslighting¹T/N: The term gaslighting is slang that refers to a form of psychological manipulation that makes someone doubt their own sanity or perception of reality. feels like.

He’s pushing me into a corner for not being able to sense divine power, making it sound like an allergy.

As if being near divine power worsens my state – what am I, a hellish demon?

If this keeps up, I’m going to end up labeled as a lost cause, a dangerous element.

I felt a sense of urgency and scrambled to find a way out of his relentless questioning.

“You’ve got it all wrong. I’m really okay. I look pale because I was shocked to find out I’m outside of the Order and can’t see divine power, not because of the divine power itself….”

“You don’t need to pretend.”

Wow. Interrupting someone while pretending to care really gives me the creeps.

“It’s not your fault. It’s probably because of the restrictions placed on you by the Being that’s observing you.”

Nope, no such restrictions exist.

Even when the Saint himself blessed me with comfort, the pop-up windows were annoying, but it didn’t actually make me feel sick.

How do I prove that I’m genuinely fine?

“Especially since you can’t even accept Blessings of Healing or Comfort, pretending to be okay might just cause you to collapse unexpectedly, leaving us helpless to assist.”

“I’m not pretending, I really am okay….”

“Are you? Truly?”

The sixth Apostle interrupted, pushing further.

“If you are truly fine, then spending an entire day with Adna shouldn’t be a problem, right? In fact, it should be wonderful. What could be safer than being right next to an unbreakable wall? You wouldn’t have any reason to dislike that, right? Right?”

Is this Apostle guy insane?

He’s a master at cornering people with just a few words. This isn’t his first rodeo.

If I agree, I look suspicious. If I disagree, I’m labeled as a heretic allergic to divine power.

My brain kicked it into high-gear, desperately searching for an escape route.

In moments like this, I need to challenge the question itself and flip the script…!

“See? You can’t even answer a straightforward question. That just shows you’re not alright.”

Seriously? What the actual f*ck?

He won’t even give me a second to think.

This guy really is something else.

“Don’t lie to yourself. Ignoring it doesn’t change the fact that it affects you.”

This is really disgusting.

He sounds so concerned, but…

In reality, he’s just trying to trap me and paint me as a doomed heretic…

“…Then what do you suggest I do?”

“What I recommend is…”

I cut off the sixth Apostle mid-sentence, pressing my point.

“Do you want me to leave the Order? I said I’d stay, even if I just do chores, but that’s not good enough for you? Because I’m different? Because I can’t accept blessings? Because I’m an outsider to the Order?”

“No, that’s not what I was trying to say…”

Can’t this guy take a hint?

“It’s not my fault. Even the Saint said I haven’t sinned… So, am I beyond hope, no matter what I do?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that…”

“I told you, I’m fine. If divine power really is a problem for me, the Apostles, the sages, they can just purify me. At least let me die in the Order’s embrace…”

I put on a show, voice trembling, eyes brimming with pretend tears.

“Is even that too grand of a dream for someone like me?”

I bowed my head, letting the tears drop to the floor.

If I could make a break for the door and call for the Saint…

“… Sigh.”

My escape plan was abruptly foiled by an unexpected hug that came out of nowhere.

?!?!?!

I was completely startled, my body freezing in place as I felt a hand gently press down on my head.

His hand cradled the back of my head, coaxing it to rest securely against his shoulder. His other arm wrapped around my waist, a soft yet firm hold. In this vulnerable position…

If I try to resist, I’d be immediately restrained.

He had me perfectly immobilized, my arms trapped by my sides and my body so firmly held that wriggling free was impossible. The classic duck and slip away technique, a staple in self-defense classes, was useless here. And with our chests pressed so closely together, even reaching for my necklace would be a challenge.

He’s skillfully eliminated all my options for escape or calling for help!

And the worst part is, if anyone walked in now, they’d think he was just comforting me.

This guy… he’s frighteningly meticulous.

It’s like he knows how to commit the perfect crime without raising suspicion.

“Don’t cry.”

His voice was a gentle murmur, seemingly full of empathy.

“I apologize. I didn’t realize how uneasy you were feeling, and I said too much.”

“…Let me go.”

“I will, once we clear up this misunderstanding.”

Wow! What the f*ck?!

Is he actually saying he won’t let me go until I’ve succumbed to his gaslighting?

“I didn’t mean to imply you should leave the Cathedral. I never thought you’d interpret it that way. Honestly, I’d be at a loss if you ever said you wanted to leave because letting you go isn’t an option for me.”

Right. So the strategy is to keep the potential threat under close watch.

“You’re worried about being expelled from the Order, but that’s not something you need to stress over. When Lord Roklem decides to protect someone, they are bound to him forever.”

That’s exactly what the inquisitors say right before executing a corrupted believer.

“You’re already under the Order’s protection. Rest assured, you’ll be with the Lord until your last breath.”

So what you’re saying is, I’m already a life-long prisoner, and I shouldn’t worry because I’ll meet my end here too, right? Or am I just being paranoid?

“And the reason I told you to be honest… I really just meant that you don’t need to pretend everything is okay. When you aren’t upfront about your feelings, it leaves room for others to misread the situation.”

The sixth Apostle’s voice was so tender it sent chills down my spine.

“Especially when it comes to Adna, you have to be straightforward. She takes things literally. If you tell her you’re fine, even on the brink of death, she’ll believe it.”

I used to think he was just a dense childhood friend with a crush, always nagging. Turns out he’s more of a possessive, obsessive yandere type…

“So you really need to be clear about your feelings when you’re around Adna. Understand?”

The sixth Apostle whispered in my ear, and I couldn’t help but think,

I can see right through your act. You’re just trying to keep me on a tight leash.

He’s essentially telling me not to say anything that could possibly make Adna worry or misunderstand.

My earlier comment must have triggered his overprotective instincts.

“I’m only telling you this because I’m concerned about you.” he says.

Why do all these gaslighting bastards sound exactly the same?

It’s always I’m doing this for you, You’re misunderstanding me, I care about you…

“…Do you understand? Did you get what I’m saying?”

Yeah, yeah, I get it. Loud and clear.

I know he’s irritated with me being too close to Adna.

But honestly, I couldn’t care less. Just leave me out of your love story and go live happily ever after with her.

“Why do I feel like there’s still a misunderstanding…”

What’s there to misunderstand?

“How can I explain it better to you?”

Then, the sixth Apostle gently stroked my head.

His icy hand trailed down to my nape, sending a chill through me.

“…I understand, so please let me go now.”

“You do?”

“Yes…you’re saying all of this because you’re worried about me… I get it now.”

Finally, the sixth Apostle withdrew his arm from my waist and took a step back.

“…But you still look upset?”

This goddamn bastard.

Is this guy really an Apostle of the Order?

Did Lord Roklem really choose this guy?

He’s like those scumbag con artists who take your money and then have the audacity to say, “Come on, smile! You gave it freely, didn’t you? Don’t give people the wrong idea.”

“I was only trying to…” I tried to explain again.

“No, just stop. Don’t force yourself.”

He delivered such an infuriating scumbag-like line, and I had to grit my teeth to keep my cool.

Just keep it together. Deep breaths.

“…Ah.”

If only my mental stat was stronger, I could keep a good poker face…

“Did I frighten you?”

Every single word he says is triggering and gives me PTSD…

“Was I not clear enough? I am truly worried about you…”

“I understand. The sixth Apostle is concerned about me. I’ll bear that in mind.”

“No, you don’t seem to understand…”

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

This bastard? Really?

He knows I supposedly react badly to divine power – even though that’s a misunderstanding – and yet he still tried to use the Blessing of Comfort on me?

“I’m sorry. That was a mistake.”

What’s next? Is he going to hit me and say it was a mistake too?

“Please, let go of my hand.”

The blessing required physical contact to work. When he eventually let go of me earlier, his hand lingered, holding mine as he drew back.

If I tell him I’m scared, ask him to let go, and then make a run for it at just the right moment…

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

…Excuse me?

Oblivion?

Did an Apostle of the Order just try to use oblivion on me?!

I looked up at him in disbelief, and he had this Oops, my bad expression on his face.

Is this guy really an Apostle? Or is he secretly serving some other evil Othergod?

Sure, he can telepathically communicate with Adna, so the chances of that are practically zero, but still…

Does he routinely erase people’s memories when he messes up, then pretends nothing happened?

Is this the kind of thing the good guys do?

How many times has he done this that he instinctively uses it, even on someone he knows it won’t work on?

“…Did you feel something unusual just now?”

“Pardon?”

“Could you tell what I was trying to do?”

Sh*t.

Those mint-colored eyes of his darkened slightly, and my instincts kicked in.

I’m in deep trouble if I admit to noticing.

I dropped my gaze, avoiding his penetrating stare.

“I suddenly started feeling queasy…”

From now on, I am a fool who is allergic to divine power.

It’s like jumping out of the fire into a dung heap, but survival comes first, right?

So this is how I lose, backed into a corner, pretending to have a divine allergy…

I bit my lip in silent frustration.

“So?”

“…I guess divine power and I just don’t get along well.”

I let my body shudder slightly.

“Thank you… for helping me realize that.”

“……”

“I’ll go wherever you think is best, Apostle.”

I forced the words out, choking back a sob.

“Wherever that is… I’m ready to accept my fate.”

“…….”

You win, you genius gaslighter.

To this Apostle, whose name I still don’t even know,

You taught a lesson to this lowly serf who dared to mess with your precious Adna.

Look at me, crying, vowing never to do it again, ready to do whatever you ask, admitting that you’re right about everything.

Are you happy now? That is, if you’re even capable of feeling such a thing.

“…This is driving me insane.”

I heard the sound of his teeth grinding.

You’re still not satisfied?

Is this guy even human?

T/N: MC are you sure you’re not in a romance visual novel? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)