Chapter 221

Making someone their apostle was no simple matter for a deity. That’s why Gramaticus used the phrase “a pity to have raised” in this context. The apostle was the sole channel through which a god could act upon the earth, and also a consumable that needed constant maintenance and repair. Significant initial investment was required to properly utilize one. And the investment? Naturally, it was divine power.

The power of gods cannot interfere directly on earth. However, through humans, albeit inefficiently, some influence could be exerted. This method was irreversible and inefficient in terms of investment return. Yet, it was the only way, which is why Gramaticus initially chose the ‘most influential’ human on this land to make his apostle.

“But he didn’t listen.” This was where Gramaticus erred. The emperor seemed to obey, but cunningly avoided the worst situations, using the divine power only where he wished, with minimal harm. Gramaticus desired destruction, but Kalus managed to achieve great feats, feats great enough to earn him the title of Grand Emperor.

“Still, this one will be different. He’s not of this world.”

A murmur of anticipation followed. The adventurer named Seojin could fulfill his desires. Grand Emperor Kalus was of this earth, but Seojin was not. Adventurers were beings whose identity was unknown even to the gods. They disrupted the world’s laws at will, quickly becoming its dominant force.

“…Indeed, he is a superior human. So, he must despise the people of this place as I do. A pleasing conclusion.”

Slow applause followed, a habit of Gramaticus when satisfied with his judgment. Grand Emperor Kalus lost his apostleship. The invested power was unrecoverable, but from this moment, he would return to being a powerless human. Gramaticus believed the capabilities of the new apostle could easily dominate such a human.

Thus, Seojin encountered.

A new class change quest appears!

All quest conditions have been met!

Hidden Class: Apostle of the Evil Deity is now available for selection!

It was the long-awaited message for the class change quest. Accepting this would mean he’d replace Grand Emperor Kalus to become the Apostle of Gramaticus.

Your current job Silver Tongue will be forfeited.

This action is irreversible.

Freedom in gameplay may be restricted. Apostle of the Evil Deity is a job bound to NPC Evil Deity Gramaticus.

*Refusing quests from the affiliated NPC can result in severe penalties.

*Quest rewards may vary based on your relationship with the affiliated NPC.

*You may lose your job due to actions by NPC Evil Deity Gramaticus.

*In such a case, your level and stat points will remain, but your class will revert to Novice.

A series of warning messages followed, as if fearing misunderstanding. The system provided detailed information to ensure players understood the full context, likely listing all potential issues post-class change.

“…”

Seojin didn’t accept immediately. He reviewed the details carefully, ensuring nothing was missed. After thoroughly reading through five times, he finally felt confident.

“XXXX. XXXXXX”

He expressed gratitude appropriately, considering Gramaticus could still reverse this decision.

And then

Class change quest accepted

Hidden class: Silver Tongue lost

*Job penalties are removed.

*Job skills are deleted.

New class: Apostle of the Evil Deity.

*All stats increase by 300%.

*The stat ‘Malevolence’ has been added.

*You can no longer accumulate Dharma points.

*Karma increases by 50,000!

A tremendous change enveloped Seojin. All of his Silver Tongue traits vanished, replaced by new ones. The status window updated, his skill structure transformed, and stat points tripled.

And significantly, ‘Hmm, I can’t see the light properly.’

The world turned black and white. Colors were indistinguishable, discernible only by shades of light and dark. A dark aura swirled around him, and it wasn’t just Seojin who changed.

“We welcome the apostle.”

“We welcome the apostle.”

The voices of the imperial guards under red masks were clear, no longer a guttural moan. Normal conversation would be difficult now. It was evident, given the loss of his Silver Tongue’s traits, that Seojin would now speak their language.

Yet, thankfully, one thing was left.

Friends List

The system’s convenience features available to players remained intact. Whispers among friends, joining parties, and trading seemed unaffected.

Gramaticus is greatly pleased.

Gramaticus hopes you will work for him.

The youthful voice was no longer heard. The traits of a Silver Tongue, the innate sense to easily learn all languages, were gone.

New quest

New quest

New quest

…

Messages flooded in without pause, outlining the duties of an apostle that Grand Emperor Kalus had avoided: cause meaningless deaths, collapse well-functioning states, and prepare portals for demons to enter.

The rewards for these daunting tasks were immense, starting with hundreds of gold or even legendary equipment. However, Seojin’s interests lay elsewhere.

‘It remains the same.’

At the bottom of the quest list, despite becoming an apostle of the evil deity, the quest Seojin had received early on still existed, retaining its label as a Main Quest.

Main Quest: The Root of Evil

*An empty void and two red eyes that evoke a sense of unease are known as symbols of the evil deity Gramaticus.

*Darkness must be eradicated. Vanquish the apostle of the evil deity and restore the glory of light to Salevania.

*Primary Objective: Eliminate the Apostle of Gramaticus

The situation remained as it was, tasked with killing the apostle of Gramaticus. It was an ironic scenario, yet precisely what Seojin had hoped for. Then, it happened.

Clank!

The heavy iron door opened. Seojin’s gaze reflexively shifted in that direction, clashing with that of a haggard-looking man. “* * ** * **!”

The man shouted, but his voice failed to reach Seojin.

He wasn’t alone. Knights clad in heavy plate armor stood by, prepared for confrontation.

Gramaticus is immensely pleased!

New quest

‘The emperor.’

The situation was clear. The haggard man was none other than Grand Emperor Kalus. The knights around him, even in such dire circumstances, remained the elite of the elite, loyal to the emperor. Now free from the apostleship, Kalus seemed intent on dealing with the demons in his basement first.

-Flappy.

It wasn’t the time to die. Seojin sent a message, and fortunately, Flappy responded.

-Hey! What should we do? Just say the word!

-Explain the situation. Show up and intervene.

-What’s happening! Quickly!

-I have no intention of following Gramaticus’s orders.

Seojin summarized the situation, expressing disinterest in being an apostle of evil, a role far removed from the emperor’s concerns. Simultaneously, he instructed the imperial guards, now on high alert.

“An order to all minions here: kill yourselves immediately. Use any method possible, be it dissolving or whatever else.”

Screech! Screech!Screeches filled the air as Gramaticus’s minions executed Seojin’s command, resulting in a sudden spread of black mist and hundreds of red masks rolling on the cold stone floor.

Gramaticus is horrified!

Gramaticus is furious!

Debuff: ‘Divine Punishment’

*Vision blurs.

*All stats decrease by 99%.

*Speech is impossible.

*’Curse of Agony’ does not apply! Exceeded the threshold of pain tolerance! Pain is ignored!

Seojin couldn’t see and collapsed, unable to stand. His mouth, as if glued shut, wouldn’t move. Yet,

-What?

Adventurers were immune to divine wrath.

-He’s panicking. Says… what are you thinking?

-Tell him we’re on the same page. I’m under a curse and it’s painful, so let’s hurry up the conversation.

-Painful?

-It will look that way to them.

The conversation through Flappy continued, with messages of Gramaticus’s rage following, though Seojin paid them no mind.

-I was asked to defeat the apostle of evil, found out it was you, the emperor, and also that you haven’t succumbed to evil… Something like that.

-What’s your plan exactly? He asks.

A nearly immediate response returned. The emperor seemed very receptive. There was no need to delay further.

-Move me. To the Pantheon.

* * *

The fierce battlefield quickly calmed. The empire’s forces sheathed their swords, and adventurers withdrew without a second thought. This was the work of two men: Grand Emperor Kalus and the adventurer Seojin. They had perfectly controlled their forces, and those who had been fighting to the death moments before now stood quietly, parting tens of thousands to make way.

Accompanied by the knights, the emperor and a few Great Reds guild members carried Seojin at a brisk pace.

“Isn’t that our guild leader? What’s going on?”

“…Joined forces with the emperor? Against an evil deity?”

Most players and the imperial forces alike were still unclear on the exact situation, acting on complete trust in their leaders. Excluding the person involved, in the midst of this, only one person fully grasped what was going on: James.

“Is this what it’s come to?”

The creator of Midgard muttered in disbelief, dazed.