Added on to all the phantom's apprentice stuff is Nilp's behaviour. First he says that the apprentice is someone who is dead to the village but still talking, however that isn't the case for anybody as everyone is on the alive list. Then clarifies by saying that while they can talk they don't count in the village tally - but again I think anyone like that wouldn't be in the alive list. And then, after all that, reveals, except with a

which sort of suggests that he's not actually serious. Finally he votes for me but we have no reasoning.
All in all, I'm a little confused by this and I don't think he is what he is potentially trying to claim he is.