#133

“Is something the matter?”

Athanas gazed at me blankly.

I answered honestly.

“I just have no idea how to clean up this situation.”

“First, we must hand that ‘Watched One’ over to the Inquisition. They will handle the rest.”

“…If we do that, Athanas, you’ll be the one under investigation.”

The existence of the ‘Watched Ones’ and the ‘Othergods’ is a top-secret matter shared only between the apostles and the Knight Commanders.

The very fact that Athanas knows about it would be problematic.

“I intend to testify that I suspected him of having an affair and breaking a lover’s oath, and that I was attempting to capture the partner. In that case, the punishment will be limited to the unauthorized removal of a Sacred Relic.”

‘…He’s going to turn this into a crime of passion?’

“It was a coincidence, but since I have the merit of capturing a heretic, I believe that mistake will be considered a mitigating factor. As for you, Fabio, you were simply in danger, so you will receive no punishment.”

Athanas answered smoothly, as if he had already thought it through.

‘Does attempting private vigilante justice count as a mitigating factor?’

Then again, this is the Dark Realm, where a duel is permitted by customary law if someone strips off a lover’s garter.

The reason was a bit awkward, but that actually made it more effective.

Even if they asked why he did it, he could just insist he was blinded by jealousy.

‘In the first place, they probably won’t try to dig too deep into this incident.’

Just as the Saintess didn’t pry into why she had called me, this would likely pass without much fuss.

Because it’s still the Tutorial.

Hearing Athanas’s plan, the cleanup felt easier than I had expected.

I was almost impressed that he had planned this far ahead.

‘But what about this guy?’

If Reyes were dragged away by the Inquisition, he would certainly suffer a ‘Game Over.’

Even if the sentence wasn’t death, the ‘Player Athanasuki’ I saw today would vanish forever.

‘…So?’

Didn’t I think I should trigger a Game Over once I got the information?

Why does this bother me so much?

‘Am I regretful that there might be more information to gain?’

I could get that from the strategy game enthusiast.

He might mock me, but it would be less mentally draining than dealing with the unpredictable Reyes.

‘Because I haven’t saved Adelaide yet?’

They said Adelaide was a Vassal of the Distorted One.

If so, attempting to save her might actually lead to her death.

Because as soon as the Tutorial ends, the Saintess might want to purge all ‘heretics’ within the Capital Church.

In a situation like this, pretending not to know would be the best way to prolong the life of Adelaide—or rather, Alicia.

‘…Because I feel like Reyes hasn’t done anything bad enough to deserve death?’

Regardless, Reyes had been cooperative with me.

That’s why handing him over to the Inquisition felt unpleasant.

This was likely the biggest reason.

‘But even if he lives, he’s just a toy for the Distorted One.’

Even now, a ‘Helper’ is tampering with Affinity to manipulate a person’s heart at will….

What if he succeeds in his contract with the Distorted One and becomes the Cult Leader?

Reyes wouldn’t even know what he originally wanted or what kind of person he used to be.

‘And in the end, he’ll suffer a terrible betrayal.’

I had no way to save Reyes.

Perhaps, from Reyes’s perspective, a Game Over right now might be the happiest ending.

But….

“…Isn’t there any other way?”

“Is there a reason why this man should not be handed over to the Inquisition?”

Athanas asked in a calm voice.

“Well, he was… more helpful than I expected….”

“Was there anything dangerous that happened to you while you were with him?”

“…….”

I couldn’t bring myself to say yes.

If it weren’t for the Sacred Relic the Saintess gave me, I would have died from excessive bleeding.

“Seeing as you cannot answer, it seems something dangerous did happen.”

“…….”

“Nevertheless, if there is a reason why you wish for him not to be handed over to the Inquisition, I would like to hear what it is.”

I had no choice but to remain silent.

Because there was no reason that could possibly persuade Athanas.

“Is it a circumstance you cannot tell me? If so, I will ask no further.”

My stomach churned.

“It’s not that. It’s just….”

Athanas waited silently for my next words.

“…It’s an irrational reason that I can’t even justify to myself, so I was embarrassed to say it.”

“Did you fall in love with him at first sight?”

“What?”

“I am joking.”

‘What kind of joke is that….’

As I grimaced, Athanas smiled softly.

“I am saying that even such a reason is fine. I wish for you to tell me only the truth.”

‘The truth.’

There wasn’t even a need for a complex truth.

I lowered my gaze.

Every time I looked at Reyes’s wide-eyed expression, my heart felt like it was sinking.

‘Even knowing he’s not dead, I feel this way….’

Naturally, I am not used to people dying.

I have never even seen a corpse.

“…I’m afraid of someone dying.”

I looked away from Reyes.

“To be precise, I’m afraid of someone dying because of me.”

“Fabio, even if that man is executed, there is absolutely no reason for you to feel guilt.”

“I know. I know very well that there’s no need. I told you it was an irrational reason.”

I let out a long sigh.

“I’m sorry. Please don’t mind me. Now that I’ve said it, I sound like a fool.”

There is no way to save Reyes.

To use a metaphor, he’s a raccoon with rabies.

Is it a kind act to release a captured rabid raccoon back into the wild just because you’re reluctant to euthanize it?

‘That’s just total trolling.’

No matter how I thought about it, handing him over to the Inquisition was the right answer.

Once I did it, I would probably be surprisingly fine. I’m damn good at self-justification.

“…If it bothers you that much, how about submitting a petition to postpone the execution? Even for heretics, immediate execution is rare. If they do not deny Order during the trial process, it may end with a sentence of corrective labor.”

It was something not even worth considering, yet Athanas gave it serious thought.

I was very grateful for that sentiment.

“…It doesn’t matter what punishment he receives. From the moment he’s captured by the Church of Order, he’s as good as dead.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I heard that when a Watched One is condemned, they forget who they were and go mad. They said that happens when one loses the qualification to participate in the game.”

“…Does that apply to you as well, Fabio?”

‘Me?’

Well. Probably, right?

I never saw a warning window when I joined the Church of Order, but that might be because the Saintess had no intention of condemning me.

Because the ‘Happy Cult Evangelist’ hasn’t committed any crimes yet.

If I commit a new crime now, a ‘Game Over’ will probably pop up.

“I’m not entirely sure, but I believe there’s a high possibility.”

Athanas furrowed his brow.

“Who decides whether the qualification to participate in the game has been lost? Under what circumstances is the qualification lost?”

“That is….”

Losing the Sacred Relic, being condemned by an apostle, and when an Othergod refuses the contract—there were three, right?

After hearing my explanation, Athanas’s expression became very grave.

“Even if the qualification is lost, is it impossible to avoid going mad?”

‘Is he asking if it’s possible to avoid the Game Over itself?’

Wouldn’t that be difficult?

The one executing the Game Over is the System.

‘Even the Othergods and the Saintess follow the game’s system….’

“…It is likely impossible.”

“So it is not certain.”

Athanas seemed to think for a moment, then spoke.

“I have changed my mind. We shall not hand this man over to the Inquisition.”

‘Suddenly?’

“What is the reason?”

“I must find a way for a Watched One to escape from an Othergod.”

“But why….”

“It is to save you, Fabio.”

Athanas took my hand and spoke with a serious expression, as if he were confessing his love.

“I will stop you from living as an Othergod’s toy and then dying, no matter what it takes.”

“Uh, the Othergod who summoned me seems to have completely forgotten my existence. You don’t have to worry about….”

“They may have made you believe that, waiting for the moment you feel safe to plunge you into despair.”

I blinked blankly.

‘Does Happy God have that kind of intelligence?’

Probably not.

But explaining this to Athanas would be quite difficult.

If I claimed that while all other Othergods are evil, only the one who chose me is stupid and harmless, it would just look like I’d been hit by a ‘Distortion’ or something.

‘…Still, keeping Reyes alive to learn more about the Othergods or the System seems like a good idea.’

The more sources of information, the better.

That way, cross-verification is possible.

‘No, even without that reason….’

Just the thought that Reyes wouldn’t suffer an immediate Game Over made my heart feel lighter.

“Then what do we do now?”

“I intend to find the right person, hand over this man’s custody, and request cooperation.”

“The right person?”

Instead of answering, Athanas picked up a piece of broken wall from the floor and hurled it out the window.

‘What the?’

“…Athanas?”

“If you wait a moment, they will be up shortly.”

‘Who?’

Did he leave a companion outside the building before coming in?

And he just called them by throwing something?

‘Did he have a companion other than me?’

He could have given me a heads-up.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit slighted, I heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

“Isn’t this too much? Throwing a stone all of a sudden!”

“…Callister?”

“Ah, Fabio! You remembered me. I’m touched.”

Callister grinned as if he were glad to see me.

‘Why is Callister here?’

I looked back and forth between Callister and Athanas.

Athanas must have forgotten Callister when he left the Main Hall….

‘How do these two know each other?’

“This man was constantly following you around. When I warned him not to linger, he made the excuse that the Head of the Research Institute sent him, and that he had to follow you to fix your arm immediately if its condition became strange.”

“…Callister was constantly around me?”

“You didn’t seem to notice, so I didn’t bother telling you.”

“Uh….”

It was a bit shocking, but since it was the Head of the Research Institute, it wasn’t incredibly surprising that he’d do such a thing.

He’s a man who even wiretaps people inside the Main Hall.

More than that, something else was bothering me now.

“Then the ‘right person’ is….”

“Of course, I am referring to the Head of the Research Institute.”

He’s going to send Reyes to that madman, the Head of the Research Institute?

‘…Isn’t biological experimentation more horrific than execution?’

Chapter 134