#024

‘Could it be that the depiction of the Order Sect in the game was intentionally distorted?’

As I pondered why the Order Sect wasn’t as primitive as described, I couldn’t help but reach that conclusion.

Among the hardcore players of Conclude, there weren’t many who were originally strategy game enthusiasts, and the reason was simple.

‘Enemy settings cannot be changed.’

The starting point of Conclude and the state of the Order Sect at that time were always identical.

Since there was no difficulty adjustment feature, the Order Sect reacted the same way if you employed the same strategy.

Thus, while the means to clear it were diverse, it was essentially a game with only one single stage.

Because of this, once the optimal victory guides for each Othergod began to surface, the strategy enthusiasts lost interest and mostly returned to the games they used to play.

I remember some guy lamenting that there was no reason they couldn’t add different maps or difficulty settings in the time it took to create 16 types of Othergods; he said if they just let players design the maps, he could have played this game for another ten years. If I recall, the playtime he verified right before quitting was 2,500 hours.

Considering that post was uploaded about a year after the game’s release, that guy played “Idan-Love” for seven hours a day.

‘Hardcore strategy gamers are truly terrifying…’

Even after that, he would occasionally appear on the Conclude forums asking if there was any news about DLCs or sequels, saying that if only the next strategy game from this developer came out, he might even be able to quit Paradox Interactive games. But there were no large-scale updates.

‘Maybe he got dragged here too…’

He’s the kind of guy who would be the first to bite if a pop-up announced an update.

If he was brought here, he’d probably be a reserve contractor for the War God.

Since he was the type to purely immerse himself in game guides, the one who hasn’t given up on the game might actually be him.

‘No, there’s no way a loser who refuses to go to shops without kiosks because he’d have to talk to the clerk could become a leader who leads wars.’

That guy was the one who said he liked Paradox games because they didn’t have things like PvP.

Didn’t he say he stopped playing online games after he smashed his keyboard in a rage because some guy wouldn’t move off his own corpse until the very end in a game set in a windy country?

I thought he was joking, but later, when we became friends on a gaming platform, I saw that there wasn’t a single game with competitive elements in his library, and I realized it was true.

Because he’s that kind of person, it’s more likely he threw the game away the moment he found out Conclude had turned into PvP.

Come to think of it, wouldn’t he think I’d be dragged here too?

‘But he’d never imagine I came as a reserve contractor for Happiness…’

If he found out, he’d probably be baffled, asking if I really chose something like that for a game where my actual life was on the line, considering how obsessed he was with finding weird playstyles.

‘I didn’t know it would turn out like this either…’

Even if I had known, I wouldn’t have chosen the Mother God.

But if I absolutely had to choose, I probably would have picked the Mother God, whom I’d played more, rather than Happiness…

‘Now that I think about it, that guy must have become some overpowered male character.’

In medieval warfare, it is absolutely essential for the supreme leader to lead the campaign in person.

Therefore, the Cult Leader of the War God had to be a fierce general with the physical prowess to avoid being ground down even on the front lines.

Furthermore, to build military achievements, it was advantageous to be in a position to mobilize private armies, such as a Margrave or the heir to a famous knightly house.

Unless they were absurdly kidnapped like me and had no time to pick traits, they would have started with the conditions they always used.

In contrast, I…

‘I must never let it be discovered that I am Fabio.’

A serf, with shitty traits, and an apostle of Happiness, whom no one has ever successfully guided to victory.

If that guy saw this, he’d definitely laugh his head off, saying these conditions wouldn’t appear even with random selection.

‘Still, it would be nice to meet him.’

However, since he lacks social skills, he probably committed some eccentric act immediately upon possession and has already become a person of interest.

Only because it’s me that I haven’t been caught as not being a serf despite becoming one overnight.

Finding him wouldn’t be hard, but the problem is what happens after I find him.

With his acting skills, he wouldn’t be able to treat me like “Serf 1” the moment I reveal my identity.

A person of interest showing a peculiar attitude only toward “Serf 1,” with whom there is no reason to interact?

I’d be flagged right along with him.

‘Sorry, but I want to live.’

I had long since thrown away the mental victory of thinking it’s better to die before the world turns into a complete mess.

An Order Sect that is powerful and broad-minded enough to embrace heretics, despite having eyes that can recognize them, in a medieval era that isn’t even that primitive?

It’s human nature to want to roll around in this world even if it’s a field of dog shit, but once I realized it was actually a lush green lawn, my desire to die vanished completely.

‘And come to think of it, that bastard just left me behind among the Mothergod Fanatics even though I clung to him pathetically, saying Conclude would be ruined if he left.’

Is there any reason I should go out of my way to find him first?

In this heretic-friendly, broad-minded Order Sect, nothing bad should happen…

‘Anyway, the depiction of the “Order Sect” in Heretic Slayer and Conclude was just a distortion and a setup.’

The reason for the distortion?

Simple.

The “Being above the Othergods,” presumed to be the game creator, didn’t release the game just to create hardcore pseudo-regressors who would dominate the Dark Realm.

That’s why they intentionally made the game so that too much couldn’t be known about the Order Sect.

‘Perhaps they wanted to create reserve contractors who knew just enough… but not too much.’

Even I would rather watch 16 people who know things haphazardly engage in a chaotic death game than watch a hardcore player do a time attack with zero tension because they know every single Hidden Piece.

If that was truly the intention, truly important information would not have been released in the game.

That’s evident from the fact that information about the process of becoming a Concluder wasn’t released…

The setting that [Matters regarding the Othergods in the Order Sect are the ultimate taboo, and knowing them is a sin punishable by death] was likely a kind of fake to prevent players from immediately abandoning the game and surrendering to the Order Sect.

‘Thumbs up, Antonio! Sorry for doubting you!’

Assuming the Order Sect is rational, appointing heretics as Heretic Inquisitors is a terrifyingly wise choice.

They probably do it because they know that by accepting some, they ensure the heretics can never unite as one to oppose them.

The fact that the Saintess of the Dark Realm is excessively kind and gentle, like a Saintess from some God-World Genre, was also perfectly understandable if the Order Sect was sufficiently powerful.

‘Is this what they mean by tolerance coming from abundance?’

If I thought I had to defeat the Order Sect, this would be a truly infuriating situation, but from the position of someone who has already defected, it couldn’t be better.

Long live the Order Sect.

‘O Loclem, you are the light that enlightens this primitive Middle Ages, the Order, and the hope.’

What would have happened if some other god, not Order, was the Main God?

If some maggot-god like the Goddess of Healing was the Main God, I’d probably be racking my brain right now to find a way to die instantly so that no one could ever treat me.

“This is my private Training Hall.”

Apostle Adna, who had remained silent while walking, spoke and opened the door.

‘Wow, Apostle-rank people have private training halls. Amazing! As expected of the Order Sect, leading the way in organizational culture!’

“I couldn’t think of a better place to speak quietly… Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Adna removed her face ornament and sat on a backless chair.

I sat facing her.

And silence flowed.

“I was told to guide you on matters you should be cautious of… but I do not know what I should guide you on.”

‘What am I supposed to do if you don’t know?’

Can you become a Paladin even with a low intelligence stat?

Did she go all-in on durability to become an iron wall?

‘No, she’s probably in such a high position that she doesn’t know how to handle menial tasks like guiding a newcomer.’

There’s no way the rational and logical Order Sect would make a dimwit an apostle. I quickly brushed away the blasphemous thought.

An apostle is a core executive, like a company officer and director.

An executive was tasked with guiding a new employee who started today.

It was natural that she didn’t know what to explain.

“In that case, I will ask Inquisitor Nasir. There are also items I am meant to receive…”

“Nasir? That man will not do.”

“Pardon?”

“Only a few have been permitted to know about what lies beyond The ‘Stars’. He knows nothing.”

‘Come to think of it, they said they’d only inform the apostle-rank and the commander about my existence.’

Was the reason they tasked the Fifth Apostle with the menial job of delivering cautions because it was a top-secret matter?

“Since I do not know how much you know, I do not know what I should inform you of.”

“If you consider me an ignorant fool who knows nothing and tell me everything…”

“No, sometimes ignorance is the most helpful.”

That’s from the perspective of someone within the Order.

Because the doctrine algorithm is embedded in their subconscious.

But for me, if I don’t know, it’ll be obvious I’m a heretic.

“But I… am one who exists outside of Order, so if I do not learn even the trivial and obvious things, I cannot help but look strange.”

“…In that regard, you may learn from that Inquisitor. Since he was originally outside of Order, he will be better at teaching you.”

Apostle Adna sank back into thought and entered a state of silence.

Unable to bear that chilly silence, I spoke first.

“Th-then, how about I ask questions, and if it’s something I don’t need to know, you tell me that I don’t need to know?”

“Not a bad idea.”

Adna nodded slightly.

I quickly racked my brain. This was a chance to ask for real information about the Order Sect, specifically things only high-ranking officials would know.

Of course, it would be suspicious if a mindless serf suddenly asked for secrets, so I should start with things that would be naturally answered.

“How many… Apostles are there in total? Since you said you are the Fifth Apostle, there must be at least five.”

“That is a fact you do not need to know.”

‘It starts from here?’

I was baffled.

I mean, I didn’t ask for the apostles’ personal details; I just asked for the number of apostles.

‘Wait, thinking inversely, is the number of apostles itself a secret?’

Maybe there are apostles known to the public and hidden apostles.

Like a shonen manga cliché, maybe there’s a Number 0 that no one knows about.

“Then, may I at least hear about the apostles I will encounter here in the Capital Church… the ones I am allowed to know?”

“Why are you curious about that?”

“I’m afraid I might not recognize them or make a mistake when I meet them…”

“All those of apostle-rank have received basic guidance regarding you. Therefore, they will understand even if you make a mistake.”

No, I’m saying I don’t want to make a mistake!

And I want to know the apostles’ names in advance.

I wondered if a person’s name could be weirder than the Saintess’s name, but I’m scared that it might be.

“But…”

“Furthermore, I have already informed them that you are unable to call the apostles by their names.”

Wait.

Wait a minute.

I was too flustered back then to think that far…

‘What the hell did they think when they saw me unable to pronounce the names??’

I naturally thought those names were trap cards.

But what if those were their real names?

‘Why did she emphasize that there was no need to force myself to say them?’

“Th-the reason I couldn’t call the apostles by their names was…”

“It is fine. I know it is something regardless of your will.”

It must be that the one watching over you has placed a Taboo on you.

At Adna’s words, my mind went blank for a moment.

‘Taboo?’

“Wh-why would such a Taboo… be placed on me?”

“People call the name of a god when they pray. A name, and especially the act of calling a name itself, has theological significance,” Adna explained.

“Unlike the Baptismal Name received from a priest, an apostle’s name is given directly by the god. Therefore, simply uttering an apostle’s name possesses a powerful force to dispel evil.”

No… that…

“The effect varies depending on the modifiers… For example, in a situation where a siege is taking place, if a prayer such as ‘O Ada of the Unshakable Iron Wall, protect this castle!’ is offered, the castle gates actually become firmer.”

‘Shit.’

I bit my tongue hard to keep from laughing.

“The more achievements one builds as an apostle, the more solid the power of the name becomes. Since I have not been an apostle for long, my Affinity is still low, so my name does not have such a great effect… but seeing that you cannot even call my name, it is safe to assume you cannot call any apostle’s name.”

Adna nodded to herself as she spoke.

“An apostle’s name is connected to the god… It is believed that the one watching you has forbidden the calling of names so that you do not fall into the hands of another god. Do not force yourself to call them. For we do not know what will happen if the Taboo is broken.”

Listening to Adna’s serious voice, I broke into a cold sweat internally.

‘I think I’m being misunderstood on a massive scale right now.’

The reason I couldn’t pronounce Pell… la and Ada was simply because I felt like I would spit it out laughing.

I am 100% certain that no such Taboo is placed on me.

‘But how do I explain that?’

“Actually, I’m from another dimension, and in my world, the words ‘Ada’ and ‘Pella’ have different meanings, so I couldn’t pronounce them because I was afraid I’d laugh.”

What? You ask what that means?

That’s…

After running a simulation for a moment, I completely gave up on clearing up the misunderstanding.

Explaining the meanings of Ada and Pella in front of that chilly face?

I might have confirmed that day that a person can die from sheer embarrassment.

“Thank you for letting me know! I will be careful.”

‘I am Fabio! A pitiful, ignorant serf under a Taboo whose reason is unknown!’

I might accidentally call another apostle’s name without any problem since I don’t know it, but who cares.

‘The ignorant serf doesn’t know why that happened!’

You guys can rack your brains over why some names work and others don’t!

Because I’m just an uneducated serf!

‘The truth about Ada and Pellagio shall remain sealed forever.’

Chapter 25