#182

The guy standing back there had really stabbed me.

And it wasn’t even a situation where Distortion was active.

‘Even if it was a situation open to misunderstanding, there’s no way to excuse the fact that he just went full-throttle and stabbed me in the eye.’

However, since I had already taken such a guy as a Vassal, I was a bit reluctant to explain exactly what had happened.

It would be like telling someone that a burglar broke into my house and I almost died, only to end the story with, “So, I ended up living with that burglar.”

I’d inevitably be asked why on earth I made such a choice, and frankly, I had no answer.

“…I fell into a trap set by the Distorted One.”

“Fabio, there’s no need to protect a guy like that! Why can’t you just say it! Say that he did it!”

“Hey. Shut your mouth.”

“Am I making things up? Trash!”

‘Callister, please….’

If it looks like I want to just move past this, couldn’t you just stay quiet?

Andrea has sacrifice-related PTSD because of Adelaide.

Specifically, he’s the kind of person who loses his mind when an innocent person bleeds because of someone who deserves to be punished.

‘I finally cleared the Distortion, so it would be troublesome if he became hostile toward Pandemonium instead of Athanas.’

“…Are you currently being threatened?”

“No, really, I’m not. That, Pan—no, Marcello Teres and I….”

‘Fuck, how am I supposed to explain this?’

People who knew each other in a past life?

From the same hometown?

Close friends?

An acquaintance?

“…We were originally allies.”

“Originally, you say?”

“It’s difficult to explain in detail. Regardless, it’s true that he had no intention of harming me. There’s evidence. You see, the Distorted One wants to obtain ‘disappointment.’ Much like how the Plague God spreads epidemics. For example—and this is a situation I don’t even want to imagine—suppose Andrea attacked Alicia without recognizing her. If he realized a beat too late that the opponent was Alicia, how do you think he would feel? Those are the emotions the Distorted One loves. Guilt, despair, grief…. So, the fact that the Distorted One set a trap actually proves that Marcello is someone capable of feeling guilt….”

As I spoke, I felt a bit of a reality hit.

‘Why the hell am I defending this bastard?’

In my heart, I wanted to say that I had become a horrific mess—that losing an eye was nothing compared to it, and that I was shivering in pain and not okay at all.

“Fabio, are you alright?”

“…Yes. Of course. This eye will recover soon, so you don’t need to worry.”

But Andrea didn’t need to know the inner workings of that.

He already looked like he’d aged several years in an instant because of today’s events.

‘Above all, even if he knew, he couldn’t really help.’

“Allies, huh. I don’t particularly like that word. Aren’t those things made to be broken?”

‘Fuck, that’s only because you’re a piece of trash who constantly backstabs people in strategy games.’

“I wish it felt something stronger, something that can never be canceled. What’s more tight-knit than the Oath of the Peach Garden? We didn’t just agree to die on the same day; we agreed to be together even after death.”

“…Andrea. Please do not misunderstand. That man possesses a soul that cannot be embraced by the Embrace of Order, so there was only one way to pull him from the hands of an evil god. This is strictly temporary.”

“What? Temporary? Does ‘temp’ stand for ‘temporary protection until death’? You’re already thinking of throwing him away the moment you bring him back? I didn’t know you were such a bad person, hyung.”

‘Fuck, can’t he just shut up for once?’

What does that make me look like when you’re acting like that next to me?

I felt like my insides were flipping from irritation.

Andrea stood up, grabbed my arm, and glared at Pandemonium. He tilted his head back slightly and wrinkled the bridge of his nose with a look of utter disgust.

“…Why is that man calling you ‘hyung’, Fabio?”

‘Out of all that information, he tackles that first?’

“That’s… a bit complicated to explain. Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”

“No, this is a matter that must be treated with extreme seriousness. Fabio, do you know why gods severely punish those who commit Sacrilege?”

‘…Because they’ll die if their concept collapses?’

“This is knowledge one only learns after being ordained as a Bishop, but Fabio, since you have already committed the taboo of becoming a god in a human body, you must know now.

Before Order was established, those who claimed to be gods were mostly leaders of a single tribe. The problem was that people didn’t remember very well who the king from 200 years ago was, or who the king from 180 years ago was, and what the difference between them was. Therefore, people began to worship the previous kings as a single entity, and thus a fickle ‘god’ with dozens of husbands and hundreds of children was born.

Such primitive gods are mostly capricious, cruel, and consumed by madness. Since they didn’t even know who they were, they acted inconsistently whenever the opinions of their believers diverged.

This is exactly why a god absolutely needs proper priests and scriptures. If you don’t want to be torn into pieces or go mad, you must teach all your followers to serve you in the correct way. Do you understand?”

‘…Then what about the souls of the dead kings? Did they all merge into one?’

“Fabio. If you let that man call you ‘hyung’, at some point, you will perceive ‘Marcello Teres’ as your actual younger brother. If you originally had siblings, you will no longer be able to recall them, and those memories will merge with your memories of him. Especially since Marcello of the Teres family is far more famous than your past, there is a high possibility that your origin will be distorted. At some point, you will have been born not with light-blue hair, but as an abandoned bastard of the Teres family.”

“Hmm. That sounds okay? I think it’s not bad.”

‘What kind of stupid thing are you saying!’

He’s saying my memories will be fabricated!

For me, it might just be an increase in ‘Memories’ that appear as text, but….

“It’s already someone else’s life full of fake memories, so what does it matter if a few more are added? I like it. Fabricated memories are still memories.”

“…Which is why you must not carelessly take such a thoughtless person as a Vassal.”

“…….”

“Fabio, you need a proper priest. A priest who thinks only of you and will write scriptures for you.”

“Me! I’ll do it! I’m confident that no one thinks of Fabio as much as I do!”

“Of course, that priest must be scholarly enough to author scriptures.”

“Haha, I have a degree! I forgot what I studied to get it, but! Anyway, I’m smart!”

“If that is not possible, you must write them yourself. Fabio, keep this in mind. You must always keep a Record so that you do not forget who you are. However, do not write them in prose. The scriptures of those outside of Order are all devoured and rewritten by the ‘God of Records,’ leaving nothing of the original form.

They say the Record has lost its power because it has fallen out of the Lord’s favor, but the same thing could happen at any time. When there is something to remember, compose a poem, or set it to a melody and make it a song. Only the heretics who memorized their scriptures in that way did not lose their gods.”

“Wait a moment, Andrea. I really appreciate the advice. But I….”

‘I don’t intend to live as a heretical god to that extent.’

Andrea placed a hand on my shoulder and continued.

“Fabio. For a human to claim to be a god is a deviation from Order. However, if you succeeded a god who originally existed, it doesn’t matter. There are many forgotten gods whose believers have vanished. If you find such an Altar and maintain the lineage in name only, then get recognized as a proper god, you can enter under Order through formal procedures.”

‘…Isn’t that kind of like forging an ID using the resident registration number of a missing person?’

Is it okay for a Bishop of Order to tell me a method like this?

No, maybe he knows because he’s an expert on the law?

“First, it would be best to change your name. A mundane name does not suit a god. There are many people with the name ‘Fabio.’ When offering prayers with such a non-unique name, you must attach a modifier. Otherwise, there is a high possibility the prayer will scatter without reaching you.”

‘A modifier…?’

The Iron Wall of A… something like that?

I have to think of one and attach it myself?

‘Honestly, I lack the cringe-tolerance for this.’

Still, I roughly understood why it was necessary.

In a game where duplicate nicknames are allowed, if you send a message using only a nickname, there’s a high chance it’ll go to the wrong person.

Just like an ID or a serial number, a unique identifier is needed.

“…However, for now, the fact that it’s a common name might actually help you. It makes it harder for others to find you. I believe simply changing it to a spelling not commonly used in names will be sufficient. Other ways heretics offer prayers to their gods without being caught include….”

“Wait, wait a moment, Andrea. I’m sorry. I’m truly grateful that you’re telling me such important facts for my sake, but I don’t have much time right now. Could you just summarize the parts I absolutely need to know?”

Andrea once talked by himself for nearly three hours without a break while explaining doctrine.

‘If a person like this became a professor, he’d teach a three-hour consecutive lecture without giving a single break.’

Normally, I would have calmly taken notes, but I didn’t have the luxury to do that in this situation.

Andrea looked at me for a long time, and then, with a slightly choked voice, he said:

“…Do not forget who you are. That is the most important thing.”

“I understand. I will keep that in mind.”

I took back the Relic of the Twisted One and tucked the snake that was lingering at my feet into my sleeve.

Pandemonium was horrified and told me to immediately twist the neck of a creature of the Distorted One and turn it into a ‘thing that used to be a snake,’ but I ignored him.

Part of it was because I felt uneasy about killing a living creature, but more importantly, this snake listened to me.

‘At least as long as I have the Relic, I can control it perfectly.’

Only a living creature can remember orders, judge the situation, and carry out a mission.

If I name it and tame it later, I might lose the Divine Power of the ‘Distorted One,’ but it could become my complete Vassal.

I didn’t know what a snake that inherited the Divine Power of the ‘Silver Tongue’ could do.

‘Maybe its tongue will get longer.’

I looked around the chapel to see if I had forgotten anything.

Since I’d volunteered for a few weeks, there were many familiar faces.

“…Andrea. I felt the Lord’s gaze from the bell tower. The Lord is looking down upon the Dark Realm. Since the apostles are also moving, there must be an Arrangement the Lord has made. Please take good care of the children while Order is momentarily paused. All problems will soon be resolved.”

Andrea smiled softly.

“Fabio, where do you plan to go now?”

“That is….”

‘I haven’t thought about it yet.’

What should I do now?

I absolutely do not want to go to the basement of the Main Hall.

Should I go to the research director’s office and do some Farming?

I could investigate the chapel where the Council was held.

Or…

‘…Should I really leave the Capital Church like this?’

If it’s a problem I can’t solve, poking around is a meaningless waste of time.

If it’s a problem I can solve, the apostles could handle it much faster and more perfectly.

I didn’t want to clash head-on with the will of the Main God.

‘Even if I leave, I’m definitely not going to the Teres family estate.’

It’s not because Pandemonium is annoying.

Going to the Teres territory is the worst choice in the current situation.

‘First of all, there’s already a god called Teres there.’

The moment Pandemonium, that idiot, suggests that people believe in me as a new god, ‘Teres’ will perceive me as a massive threat.

He would use every possible resource to try and eliminate me.

Even assuming I could mobilize the Kin of the God of War, the mere fact that a fight would break out is a huge loss for me.

‘If I want to live in hiding, it has to be a smaller, more remote place.’

As I stroked the chin of the snake secretly rubbing its head against my palm, something suddenly occurred to me.

‘Should I try going to that quiet, secluded village the Distorted One arranged?’

Andrea should remember the location.

He said it was a place guarded by creatures.

Since Athanasuki is absent until the Day the Starry Sky Opens, there’s no one to clash with.

‘I’ll go there and ruin everything the Distorted One prepared.’

So that he’ll be absolutely pissed the moment the Starry Sky opens.

Maybe Adelaide is there.

Even if she isn’t….

“Wherever you go, please be careful. And it’s cold outside, so take this….”

Andrea started to take gloves out of his pocket, then stopped abruptly.

I waited for a moment, wondering what was happening.

But Andrea didn’t move an inch, as if he were performing a mime act.

‘…What is this?’

Contamination?

Now?

Is it because I withdrew the protection of Distortion?

No, contamination doesn’t put a person in this kind of ‘pause’ state.

This is….

[The descent of an apostle has been confirmed.

According to the SYSTEM’s discretion, the ‘tutorial emergency life-saving device’ is activated.

For #% hours, the time dilation rate of the ‘Dark Realm’ is adjusted by $@ times.]

‘What?’

“What the fuck is this?”