#080

‘How should I answer?’

“Of course… I do. You are a hero of legend, and the Savior of Order.”

‘And the protagonist of a game I played for over 200 hours.’

It was impossible not to have special feelings.

“…I said special feelings, but the specific nature of those feelings will differ from person to person. Some may be moved by your journey and cheer you on, while others may thoroughly enjoy the parts where you suffer. There are even those who consider it their life’s goal to die by your hand, so please don’t be too surprised if you encounter them later.”

“And what about you?”

“I….”

…I did like the ‘Athanas’ in the game. A strong, noble, and tragic hero.

But that was liking him as a ‘character.’

In reality, he was a man I wouldn’t want to be entangled with.

One might respect General Gyebaek as a great figure, but that doesn’t mean they’d want to be born as General Gyebaek’s child.

‘What was my first thought when I saw Athanas?’

This guy becomes the Heretic Butcher in the future? This slack-off who looks like he just wants to hide away and sleep? The world must be truly peaceful… I think that’s what I thought.

Realizing that I had been completely deceived by Athanas in reality made me flush with embarrassment.

“…Nothing particularly special. I originally intended to live quietly in hiding, so I was a bit flustered when I unintentionally got entangled with you. That’s all.”

I pulled Athanas’s hand away from my face.

‘Come to think of it, why does this bastard touch other people’s faces so casually?’

So damn rude.

“Anyway, have you encountered anyone suspicious around you? Anyone whose attitude changed overnight? Starting from about six months ago.”

“…Nothing comes to mind immediately.”

‘Did they not approach Athanas? No, they must have checked. There probably wasn’t anything strange at the time they checked.’

“…Did anyone ask why you were going to the Branch Office?”

“I was asked where I was going when I left my post, but I never revealed my destination.”

“Any signs of being followed?”

“At least, I’ve felt nothing. Though I might not know if someone more skilled than I am followed me.”

A groan escaped my lips.

I thought there would be clues around Athanas.

‘Still, getting him to cooperate openly like this is an unexpected gain.’

I had no idea where to start the investigation.

“…Aside from me, do you know anyone else who might receive a Revelation?”

“Ah!”

‘Adelaide!’

“The Gray Saintess, Adelaide! Why didn’t I think of her?”

“…The Gray Saintess?”

“Has she not appeared in your dreams yet? After the Saintess died, there was a girl who took over the position of the Saintess despite lacking the aptitude. She was called the Gray Saintess because only half of her black hair turned white. She is someone who saved Order along with you….”

Athanas didn’t know Adelaide!

I felt a strange sense of disappointment that was hard to put into words.

Was it the heart of an otaku who had seen a scene where two protagonists pass each other by without recognizing one another in a world where tragedy was prevented by everyone’s efforts?

Surely… surely that is happier, but still….

“Do you know where I can find her?”

“…She should be at the orphanage now. I heard she was from the Capital Church’s orphanage.”

“Then at this point, she hasn’t even turned fifteen.”

“She was sixteen eight years later, so she must be eight now.”

“Eight years old….”

Athanas knit his brows.

“…That is an age where it would be better not to have such terrible memories.”

‘That’s true.’

Even if Adelaide had memories of ‘Die Heretic!’, she was too young to be asked for help. What could a mere eight-year-old do? As expected, it would be better not to visit….

“Still, it would be best to meet her once. If she is having nightmares like I am, she must be very confused.”

“…That’s true. I didn’t think of that. Then I will go to the orphanage alone.”

While I was pondering a plausible reason for me to visit the orphanage, Athanas asked.

“Wouldn’t it be better if I accompanied you?”

“No! What on earth are you talking about!”

My voice rose instinctively at the stupid remark.

“Athanas, you going to meet Adelaide is practically announcing that your memories as the ‘Savior of Order’ have returned! Didn’t I tell you that would be dangerous?”

“…In a situation where there are no clues like now, I think stimulating the opponent to move first is also a good method.”

“That’s only when your life isn’t on the line! Do you have spare lives?”

Athanas shut his mouth after the reprimand.

I calmed my anger slightly and continued.

“Athanas, the enemies know the you from eight years in the future. They think of you as Athanas, the terrifying Heretic Inquisitor who shows no mercy, and they will never let their guard down.”

“…Do I become that terrifying?”

‘Is that what you want to ask right now?’

I was about to get annoyed, but then I remembered that Athanas was only twenty years old.

Based on the fact that the prefrontal cortex develops until age 25, Athanas should be seen as still possessing adolescent characteristics, such as a lack of impulse control and an inflated ego.

‘…Right, he’d be curious. He heard he’s a future hero. How could he not be curious?’

“Yes. The Apostles of the Evil God tremble at the mention of your name and have laid layers of traps solely to kill you. To make you hesitate even slightly, they even took those who believe in Order as hostages. Many threatened that if you killed them, thousands of innocent people would die with them. But nothing could stop you.”

“Does that mean I didn’t save the civilians?”

Athanas seemed a bit shocked.

I quickly defended the ‘Heretic Butcher.’

“It was a situation where you had no choice. Someone had to make that choice. Hesitating was exactly what the enemy wanted. In a situation where Order has collapsed, you cannot make a choice where nothing is lost. Athanas, no one can deny that you were a hero who made the right, albeit difficult, choice.”

“…But I suppose I didn’t meet a happy end.”

Hearing those words made my heart go cold.

I fumbled and grabbed Athanas’s hand.

“I misspoke. That is something that hasn’t happened. And it will become something that won’t happen. Because I will prevent a situation where you have to make such a choice. So….”

Athanas’s hand was warm.

He wasn’t a mass of polygons, but a human made of flesh and blood.

“…You are not that Heretic Inquisitor. You won’t be able to become that either. How can you be the same person when the things you’ve experienced are different? You are a young and inexperienced rookie Holy Knight, and in a peaceful world where Order hasn’t collapsed, you’ll at most become a slightly older Holy Knight. You’ll never become a hero. Because there will be no opportunity for that.”

Athanas looked at me for a long time without answering.

Then he asked.

“Do you… feel that I am young and inexperienced?”

‘…Is that the part of my speech that bothered you the most?’

What a total kid.

My heart, which had been cold, grew hot with irritation again.

“Do you have a problem with that? If you have a problem, then be more prudent….”

“No, it’s fine.”

‘Being treated like a kid is fine?’

“Because it means you believe I will get better. I will strive to meet those expectations.”

Seeing Athanas’s face as he smiled while saying those words gave me a slightly ominous feeling.

‘He already looks down on me….’

How much more is he going to ignore me later?

‘…Maybe there won’t be much difference.’

If Athanas is currently a 15kg medium-sized dog, I could be called a 15g mouse.

‘I’m already a single bite….’

Even if Athanas evolved into a 150kg Epikion, his impression of a 15g mouse wouldn’t change much. He’d just go from being a single bite to something that isn’t even enough for a palate cleanser.

While I was thinking this, Athanas spoke.

“…Anyway, there’s a high possibility that the ‘Watched Ones’ are paying attention to me, right? In that case, there is a good method.”

“What method?”

I asked without much expectation.

“Doing something that the ‘Athanas’ they know would absolutely never do. Then wouldn’t they move to find out what happened? I think it’s a way to draw a reaction while keeping the ‘Watched Ones’ off guard.”

I was impressed by the surprisingly brilliant idea.

“That’s a great idea! So, what ‘thing you would absolutely never do’ are you going to do?”

“…I would like you to think about that. Because I don’t know what kind of person the ‘Athanas’ the Watched Ones see is.”

‘That’s true.’

If I’m a player, it has to be news that would definitely draw aggro….

‘If he says he’s quitting as a Holy Knight, it would draw massive aggro.’

But that’s rejected because spreading a false rumor could make things blow up.

First of all, I’m already going to have an interview with the superiors about whether anything is going on.

A shocking event that wouldn’t have a huge negative impact on Athanas but would spread a big rumor….

‘…There’s nothing but private life issues.’

The setting that the Heretic Butcher actually had a lover would be a piece of bait that would make any player go crazy.

Of course, the big challenge is where to find this fake lover….

‘…Do we actually need to be seen together? I could just make up a first love I left behind in my hometown.’

Come to think of it, I’m currently in a setting of being some nameless ‘Count’s’ mistress or something.

There seemed to be no big problem in pretending Athanas had someone like that.

“How about pretending you have someone you love?”

At my words, Athanas’s eyes widened slightly.

I continued.

“Everyone would be greatly surprised to hear that the ruthless Heretic Inquisitor actually had a lover he loved. And since you have no memories of being the Heretic Inquisitor, they’ll think you’re just playing around with love in your current situation! Athanas, if you’re okay with it….”

“…Fabio, are you okay with it?”

“Huh? Me?”

‘Why wouldn’t I be okay?’

“Even if it’s fake, pretending to date me….”

“What?”

I was so surprised that I bolted upright from my seat.

“No, what on earth are you talking about! I just suggested making up a person you love! Like how I go around saying I’m a Chanter serving some Count! Like a first love in your hometown! Or a woman you promised to marry before becoming a Holy Knight! Why would I date you?”

“…Since I’ve spent all my time here in the Capital Church, I cannot make up a first love in my hometown.”

“You could have fallen for someone you saw once while on a mission!”

“Wouldn’t it be too unnatural to go around saying now that you really like someone you saw on a past mission?”

“Then….”

Athanas stood up and approached me.

I reflexively stepped back from his approaching footsteps until I hit the wall.

“…Instead of thinking about it in a complicated way, wouldn’t it be solved if you became my lover? We’ve already… spent a night together.”

From other people’s perspectives, that is. At Athanas’s words, I felt like screaming.

‘Stop talking bullshit!’

Chapter 81