#052

“…Anyway, you’ve realized that I’m pathetic. That must mean you’re better than I am.”

That was true.

Since 95% of humans likely had better acting skills than this guy, it was only natural.

“Hmm…. Then I will give you some advice based on common sense.”

“Yes.”

“First, if you have no reason to speak to someone, do not speak to them.”

“But….”

“That’s why I’m telling you to create a reason to speak to them. And before that, you must have a natural reason to be in that place. For example, since this is a library….”

“…I would have come to read a book.”

“Do you read books often?”

“I suppose so….”

“It looks that way. However, coming to read a book isn’t a very good objective. That’s because it gives you no reason to talk to the other person. If you had read a lot, you could start a conversation by saying a few words about the book the other person is reading, but since you haven’t….”

I pondered for a moment before continuing.

“…It would be better to say you came here to slack off.”

“Slack off….”

“Isn’t it because you looked idle that you ended up agreeing to a request like this? If you’re idle in a place where people can see you, you have to grant various requests, so you sought out a place where there are no people because you hate that. That’s why you’re in this Branch Office. If that’s the case, it gives you a reason to speak to me.”

“What kind of….”

“Couldn’t you just say that you come here often but that you’ve never seen my face before?”

“And then…?”

‘Just how much do I have to spoon-feed him?’

“Well, you’ll have to think about the rest yourself. Isn’t there someone around you who is exceptionally sociable? Try thinking about how a person like that would speak.”

“…How would you start the conversation if it were you?”

“No, I told you to think for yourself! Are you going to ask me or someone else every single time something like this happens in the future?”

‘No matter how peaceful the worldline is, is it really possible to be this stupid?’

Athanas from Die Heretic! wasn’t like this.

Because of the meme that he just swings the Divine Hammer first, he was sometimes portrayed as a single-celled organism in parodies, but that was clearly a distortion and a fabrication.

The Athanas depicted in Die Heretic! was definitely an intelligent man with quick judgment.

‘Is he under some kind of intelligence debuff?’

“I see. I misspoke. Thank you for the advice. What you’ve told me so far has been a great help.”

‘…He is polite, at least.’

Well, he’s still young, so it could happen.

I felt a bit more generous.

“…If it were me, I’d start by saying I want to get closer since I come here often. Then I’d ask if he could wake me up when it’s time to stop napping.”

Athanas’s eyes widened.

“Wouldn’t it be unpleasant to receive such a request upon first meeting?”

“So what if they’re unpleasant? Is there a need to be on good terms with that person? You just need a pretext to start the conversation.”

“Is that so….”

Athanas thought for a while, then asked me.

“Is there… any way to gain someone’s favor?”

‘At this point, he should pay me whenever he asks.’

Shameless bastard.

Does he think my answers are free?

“…If the other person is a woman, there’s a simple way.”

“What way is that?”

“Just act a bit shy and ask if they’d like to have a meal together because you like them. Since you’re on the handsome side, there’s a high probability you’ll gain their favor. Of course, if you don’t want a deeper relationship, you’ll have to tactfully decline after the meal.”

“Are you telling me to ask them on a date?”

‘I guess the word “date” exists in the Dark Realm too.’

To be precise, the word in the common language of this place that means “date” is what sounds like “date” to me.

Considering that free love is one of the concepts invented in the modern era, the very existence of the concept of dating in the Dark Realm was quite fascinating.

‘Well, it’s a world where even Priests are allowed to fall in love, so I’m sure many people go on dates.’

“That’s right. There’s nothing better than a date as a reason to speak to someone for the first time.”

“But why does the other person have to be a woman?”

‘……?’

What is he talking about?

Does the Athanas of this world have a double-digit IQ?

“Then are you saying you’d ask a man on a date?”

Even after hearing my words, Athanas just blinked his eyes blankly.

“…Is that not allowed?”

“Huh? What on earth….”

I was about to say something in disbelief, but suddenly a suspicion crossed my mind that the word “date” might mean something different from what I knew.

I am hearing and speaking in Korean right now, but the language here is certainly not Korean.

The word currently translated as “date” might be used in the Dark Realm to mean a broader sense of meeting. Perhaps meeting a friend is also called a “date.”

After a brief moment of thought, I chose a word that wouldn’t cause a misunderstanding.

“…I mean, romance between men is forbidden, isn’t it?”

“Pardon?”

“What?”

“What does that mean?”

Athanas had an expression as if he had heard something truly bizarre.

I was flustered.

‘Wait, did I say something strange?’

In the Middle Ages, the persecution of homosexuals was as famous as witch hunts.

In the medieval era, if you wanted to kill someone, you accused them of being a witch if they were a woman, and if they were a man, you accused them of homosexuality.

So naturally, the Church of Order would also…

‘…Eh?’

Come to think of it, I had never seen a doctrine in the scriptures of the Church of Order that forbade homosexuality.

I hadn’t seen any cases in the Book of Precedents where people were punished for homosexuality.

Which means….

‘Could it be that homosexuality… is tolerated?’

In a medieval land?

Homosexuality?

Is OK?

‘What on earth is this….’

No, I mean….

The Dark Realm isn’t exactly the real Middle Ages….

But it’s a….

A religious state, right?

If it’s a religion, then homosexuality….

‘…Doesn’t necessarily have to be forbidden, does it?’

Since homosexuality was permitted in Ancient Greece.

Because the Dark Realm has many similarities to medieval Christian society, I must have unconsciously assumed that its concepts of sexuality would be similar to Christianity.

But….

‘Homosexuality is tolerated…?’

My head felt dizzy.

‘Why didn’t I know this?’

Was there a depiction of it in the game that I just overlooked?

‘No, if anyone had discovered such a depiction, the internet would have exploded.’

A medieval religious world-view where homosexuality is allowed?

This was the kind of bait that even people who don’t play games would jump on to leave a comment. If people had fought over such a topic in the community, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.

‘So that means such a depiction never appeared in the game.’

Of course, in Die Heretic!, there was no room for homosexuality or heterosexuality.

In a world that is perishing, you have to kill heretics; who has the leisure to talk about romance?

And in Conclude….

‘The System only displays legal marriage relationships.’

Things like dating or secret relationships weren’t expressed at all.

Therefore, there was no way to know who was dating whom.

And there was no need to know.

‘Since it’s a strategy game in the first place….’

Unless they’re named units, only their titles appear, not their names, so of course romantic relationships wouldn’t show up.

The reason marriage relationships are shown is simply to provide information that allows for “strategies” utilizing noble families. Exceptionally, if there is an illegitimate child born with a “bloodline,” it is expressed in the family tree.

‘But whether it’s an illegitimate child or marriage, it’s only possible between a man and a woman.’

Then isn’t it natural to think that romance is also only allowed between men and women?

I clutched my head.

‘To think the Dark Realm was a world where same-sex romance was possible!’

It was shock and horror.

No, of course, it’s not that I felt betrayed by the fact that homosexuality is possible, or that I suddenly wanted to carry a sign saying “Repent!”

What does it matter if others are heterosexual or homosexual?

Especially to “Fabio,” who has a charm of 30, it’s completely irrelevant.

But… but still….

‘The reason the Chanter dorms had soundproofing Blessings was perhaps….’

…Let’s not think too deeply.

“I’m sorry. I was mistaken about something.”

“…Do you come from a place with a culture that forbids romance between men?”

“Yes, well…. Something like that. I’m really showing that I’m a newcomer to the Capital Church.”

“Still, it’s strange. You must have received the Blessing of Order when you received your Ordination….”

At Athanas’s words, I screamed inwardly.

‘Shit!’

That goblin bastard again!

I’m making it obvious that I’m a goblin!

‘Do you just automatically start taking homosexuality for granted the moment you receive a Blessing!’

If you’re horrified by bugs crawling under the skin, you’re a heretic!

If you’re surprised by priests in same-sex relationships, you’re a heretic!

‘Isn’t pretending not to be a heretic too high of a difficulty level?’

Athanas asked.

“…By any chance, did you not receive the Blessing of Order?”

“W-what are you talking about! To utter such a serious insult….”

I bolted upright from my seat.

“You are truly rude. I no longer wish to converse with such an impolite person.”

“…I am sorry. I misspoke.”

I did not accept the apology and turned away.

‘I must leave this place before any more strange points are discovered!’

If this is a test, the Saintess or the apostles will handle the situation on their own!

“Wait.”

“I clearly stated that I no longer wish to converse.”

“…I wish to converse with you.”

“I said I don’t want to!”

“Fabio!”

‘Shit.’

Athanas grabbed one of my wrists.

I strained to pull my captured arm away, but with a strength of 30, it was nowhere near enough.

“Fabio, where are you really from?”

“How do you even know my name? I never told you….”

“Even if you didn’t receive the Blessing of Order, if you were from Richelon, there’s no way you’d be confused about such a thing. The County of Richelon was Imperial territory even a hundred years ago.”

I broke into a cold sweat and shifted my eyes.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about…. Y-you! What is your identity? How do you know my name and origin? Who did you hear it from?”

“…I heard it from Elamin. Just as you said.”

‘Stop lying!’

I felt betrayed.

This bastard even knows how to act calmly!

“Because your body cannot receive the Blessing of Order, does the Saintess’s Blessing not work on you either? Is that why you feared the healing priests so much? Because you were afraid it would be revealed that the Blessing doesn’t work?”

“What….”

“…What kind of being cast such a terrible Curse on you?”

I felt a profound sense of incongruity.

If all of this were a test “ordered” by the Saintess, Athanas would not say such things.

If he had heard from the Saintess that I was an “existence outside of Order” whom the Saintess’s Blessing does not work on, he should not ask such a question.

Either he should have been instructed not to be curious about my identity, or he should already know that I am a “Watched One.”

Only then did I consider the possibility that none of this was a test.

If so, Athanas’s behavior was….

“…Those words, that you wouldn’t fail next time.”

My body trembled.

“Did you mean that next time, you would deceive me according to the advice I gave you?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“How… many times has it been?”

[Regression] consumes Health.

“How many times has it been that you are in such an exhausted state? Just how many times have we had this conversation….”

I stopped mid-sentence and clamped my mouth shut.

‘I made a mistake.’

The more I speak, the more information the opponent gains.

I’ve already made two mistakes.

I’ve revealed that I know about the existence of Regression, and even the fact that using Regression consumes Health.

I placed the hand that wasn’t held over my chest.

As if trying to steady my startled heart….

“Stop it.”

Athanas grabbed my right hand as well and pulled it down.

“S-stop what? You’re the one who should let go of my arm. You said you wanted to talk! Why are you holding onto me so forcefully….”

“Because if I don’t hold you like this, you’ll call the Saintess.”

Chapter 53