I'm the Only Totem in Another World - Chapter 154

Chapter 154: The Calm Before the Storm （1）

[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: Recent status of a village near the Capital.JPG

（Picture of an empty village with no people）

No demons or worshippers. And it’s not just this village, it’s all the villages.

The bastards abandoned their crops and livestock, so Paladins who haven’t joined the Close-Range Spy Raid or aren’t part of the Tribal Federation can probably come and take some secretly?

（Picture of hens pecking at feed）

How about taking a chicken with you this time? They’re not infected, and they’re healthy]

Good. The post is complete.

“Ugh…!”

I laid the zombie I was controlling down in a corner of the house and returned to the totem. It’s so convenient because I can control it again as long as I maintain the blessing, even if I don’t feed it or make it poop.

Now, let’s check out the comments.

━ Comments ━

[Morning Tent Erection Knight: Oh Sanz lol you’re doing well]

[I Trusted the Monkey Man but: Let’s proceed with the house robbery~!]

[LuluTV: I’m craving boiled chicken fr fr]

ㄴ [Dairy Cow Bikini Dance: Gotta make it into a silkie chicken so I can have eggs every morning]

[Petit Noah: The chickens are so cute!]

Good. I’m proud of myself for getting five comments in such a short time. Is this the life of a celebrity?

“What’s going on? You seem happy.”

Rake tilts her head.

━ Well.

What’s going on? Nothing much, just doing some ‘alibi creation’ work.

After Rake and Hanna almost found out my true identity, I thought a lot about how to manage the virtual persona ‘Sanz,’ or rather, my alternate character.

It’s too late to say, ‘Actually, Sanz is a fictional character I, Malak, created~’. Sanz exists, and I had to prove he is a Paladin.

The method I chose was ‘Zombie Control’.

Two days ago. After the Dark Cloud Demon subjugation, I took out Asha’s zombie, which had been locked up in the warehouse, and controlled it outside of Symphony.

I carefully went out at dawn and told the guards, ‘I suddenly wanted to practice this blessing,’ and they let me go.

It’s a perfect crime since Rake or the possessed aren’t in a position to hear the guards’ reports.

It was so easy to move around since there were no demons, demon worshippers, or even Demon’s Eye. I came all the way to an area a bit far from the Capital with a free pass.

It was easy from there. I attacked a group of lower-ranking demons and their worshippers who were still camping out because they couldn’t join the Capital.

After killing them all, I just had to cast the ‘Zombie Control’ blessing on a healthy adult male worshipper who will now play the role of Sanz.

Even after returning Asha, I moved the zombie ‘Sanz’ to the vicinity of the Capital. I didn’t control it directly, just gave it the command to ‘go there’.

When I thought it had reached a suitable place, I possessed the zombie, entered the community, and posted, just like now.

[Ultra Sanz Crazed for Nighttime Massacre Mode: It’s Malak-nim’s messenger, Sanz-nim]

I just wrote some random things and posted it. I immediately got a private message from Hanna.

Just like now.

[Not a Netkama: What the]

[Not a Netkama: You said you don’t take pictures]

[? When did I say that]

[I said selfies were burdensome]

[Not a Netkama: Suspicious]

[Not a Netkama: What’s the reason for suddenly posting now after not doing it all this time?]

[Not a Netkama: And two pictures at that]

Our suspicious Hanna. I knew you’d say that, so I prepared an excuse.

[To send the information I send only to Malak-nim to you guys too]

[Malak-nim said it’s okay to share now that we’re officially cooperating with the possessed]

It’s a flimsy and somewhat plausible excuse, but it’s a reason that can’t be outright dismissed.

Doubting me is doubting the otherworldly god Malak. I decided to just trust the sturdy Malak shield.

[Not a Netkama: Malak Malak Malak all the time]

[Not a Netkama: Then post a selfie now]

Why that selfie again? Are you that curious about my face?

[Nope]

[Not a Netkama: Did Malak-nim tell you not to post selfies?]

Sarcastic.

[I told you before. I don’t like revealing my face online]

[Not a Netkama: No]

[Not a Netkama: I’m part of the Tribal Federation now too]

[Not a Netkama: Until when do you plan to keep up the act? You don’t even come to the headquarter, don’t send selfies.]

The translation is, ‘Until when do you plan to keep hiding? You don’t even come to the headquarters, don’t send me selfies.’

Are you excited? Lots of typos. Are you typing on a keyboard in the air?

Or did you use voice recognition but spoke too fast or unclearly, so it didn’t recognize it properly?

[Relax~ Take it easy~]

[Not a Netkama: Are you joking right now?]

[Not a Netkama: Okay]

[Not a Netkama: Don’t send it]

[Not a Netkama: I’m not curious anymore]

[Not a Netkama: I’ll just die fighting demons without ever knowing]

[Why are you dying?]

[Not a Netkama: Dying is faster, I guess]

Tsk. She’s really pissed. This friend has a hard time controlling her emotions. It would be rude to think it’s that time of the month… wouldn’t it?

Hanna is the type to sulk for quite a while once she gets upset. I won’t be getting a reply for a while.

[Save your appearance for the joy of reunion]

[Don’t make fun of me even if I’m uglier than you think]

I closed the message window.

When all of this is over, when the time comes for the truth to be revealed, it will be okay to reveal my identity.

But… how much should I reveal?

That Malak and Sanz are the same person, and that he is just an ordinary possessed person chosen by Jin Malak?

I would feel relieved to say that, but how would Hanna feel? What about the others who learn the truth?

The god they risked their lives to believe in and follow was actually a possessed person. I would be devastated and horrified.

…What would be the reaction of Rake, who followed me more devotedly than anyone else?

Would she try to tear me apart, saying how dare a mere human deceive her? She might stare at me with a look of betrayal and burst into tears.

Both scenarios break my heart just imagining them. Anyway, it was clear that Rake would be hurt if she found out, so…

When the moment of truth comes, what should I do?

Ah, my head is getting complicated. End. That’s it for today’s thoughts. If I go any deeper, it’ll become pointless rumination.

I might end up staying up all night lost in useless thoughts like I did when I was a kid.

━ It’s late. Rake, go in.

Spacing out and falling asleep is the best in times like this. My head will be clear when I wake up tomorrow morning.

“I want to sleep here tonight. Is that okay?”

Rake hesitated and stroked Totem No. 1.

━ It doesn’t matter.

Rake, you’ll be fine sleeping in this cold, hard place, right? I gave her permission.

It was when I was about to turn off the community and go to sleep.

“…If you have any worries, you can confide in me. I am Malak-nim’s guardian.”

Rake whispered softly. It seems she sensed my emotions.

Worries. You’re involved in this worry, you know. That’s why it’s hard to talk about it.

I can’t ask, ‘Even if you know I’m not Malak but his chosen representative, will you not kill me?’

━ It’s not time yet.

The end of this war is approaching. A white lie or a truth that may lead to ruin.

When the time comes, I’ll have to choose one, whether I like it or not. But for now…

━ Wait a little longer. I’ll tell you then.

I need to sleep.

“I can wait as long as it takes. Because you are Malak-nim.”

I fell asleep feeling Rake’s warmth as she leaned against the totem.

▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄ ▄

“Let’s stop here for today. Everyone, go home.”

Rachel, who had finished all her administrative work for the day, got up from her seat.

It’s a law that the leader has to leave first so that the people below don’t feel pressured and can go home.

“Good work.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Goodbye.”

The people who had been helping her with her work were happy to leave on time.

“Phew.”

Rachel left the office and stepped outside. It was a little chilly, probably because it was nighttime.

“I’ll escort you.”

“It’s not that late. It’s okay today.”

Rachel gently declined the barbarian warrior’s escort.

The Tribal Federation already had heightened security because of the murderer Paladin. No one would try to commit a crime unless they were crazy.

Rachel walked leisurely towards her house. Until she saw a man standing in front of her door.

“…?”

Rachel flinched a little, but she was able to relax after taking a closer look. The man waiting for her in front of her house was Goja Buro the Paladin.

“Rachel.”

Goja Buro called Rachel’s name in a calm voice.

“What’s the matter?”

Rachel, her body trembling slightly at the voice she had been waiting for so long, asked curtly. It was revenge for him ignoring her for days.

“I didn’t have the courage to speak to you.”

Goja Buro slowly took off his helmet.

“I’ve… changed a lot. So much that you wouldn’t recognize me.”

Goja Buro’s face was a mess of scars. There were scars that looked self-inflicted and others that looked like they were from fighting a powerful enemy.

“Don’t I look ugly?”

Goja Buro laughed sadly.