Apostle of the Void

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 3 - The Void, A New Possibility of Life (2)

“<Orvenheim> is at the edge of the continent, so it’ll take about three weeks to get there. I’ll be counting on you until then. But, come to think of it, I didn’t catch your name.”

His name… the name his mother gave me…

Saying that name to someone felt too foreign and terrifying. His lips quivered with fear, opening and closing several times. The fear that had been instilled in me since childhood crept into his mind.

- Didn’t I tell you not to get too close to others?

That’s why he couldn't easily reveal his real name.

“We just met. No need for formalities... just call me Zen.”

Despite the rudeness in his response, Ulman only burst into hearty laughter again.

“Zen, huh? Alright, got it! Now, how about doing something about that smell? The horses are suffering! Come on, let’s wash up!”

Ulman was a boisterous man who always laughed heartily. His son, Lok, was just as talkative, taking after his father.

After washing up in a nearby stream, Ulman lent me some of his spare clothes. They were far too large for his small frame. The shirt fell past his knees, and he had to tie the pants with a belt several times to keep them from slipping down.

It looked ridiculous, but it was better than the bloodstained and dirty clothes he had been wearing.

They were from the Linne Merchant Guild. Members of the Linne Guild traditionally wore anachronistic conical hats, and they lent me one as well.

‘Are these people really good humans?’

One could think it was only natural to repay someone who saved their life, but he had lived a life where the “natural” had never come easily.

Because of that, at some point, he started to feel a bit more at ease around these merchants.

Sitting in the back of the wagon, chatting with Lok, became part of his new routine.

“Hey, what’s your adventurer rank?”

“Steel.”

“Steel? Isn’t that the lowest rank? How can you be that strong and not be ranked higher?”

“Shut up, you don’t know anything. Steel is the coolest rank. The steel ID plate can even be used as a weapon in emergencies.”

He gripped the adventurer ID tightly, pretending to hit Lok on the head, making him laugh uncontrollably.

“That’s why he hasn't bothered to rank up.”

“Are you sure you’re not just weak?”

“What’s with that defiant look? For someone like me, silver or gold rank means nothing.”

“Hmm.”

“I just like staying at Steel rank. It’s the perfect rank for those who want to enjoy life while being an adventurer.”

“Hmmmmm.”

Lok squinted suspiciously.

For adventurers, rank determined social status. The higher the rank, the more burdensome responsibilities came with it.

That’s why, in the Divine Guillotine, they had registered me as a ‘porter’ early on, giving me no contribution points.

Without contribution points, an adventurer couldn’t rank up.

“Enough of this. Hey, you, come here.”

“Ouch! It hurts! Dad, the steel-ranked adventurer is hitting me!”

“Don’t worry too much, even if he’s steel-ranked. In two days, we’ll be on the Fire Dragon Road, and there won’t be much danger. If there is, even a steel-ranked adventurer should suffice. A steel-ranked adventurer, at least.”

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He really sounded like a merchant, didn’t he? The way he twisted his words was no joke.

“Do you want to die? For real? I’m staying at steel rank because I want to!”

The father and son exchanged glances before bursting into laughter again.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.”

“He-he-he-he.”

“Ha, the ones I should’ve thrown in a pot and chopped up weren’t the gnolls, but these guys…”

Of course, it was just a joke. How long had it been since he laughed and joked around like this?

But he still didn’t fully trust them.

‘In this world, trusting someone you’ve just met makes you a fool, and being deceived makes you an even bigger fool.’

He always stayed awake at night. During the day, he napped in the wagon.

Once, while he pretended to sleep, Ulman, who was on watch, approached me. He was ready to smash his head in with the scripture if he tried anything funny.

But all he did was cover me with another blanket.

‘I still don’t trust him.’

When it was his turn to stand guard, he spent a long time absentmindedly fiddling with the Void Scripture.

‘This feeling still feels strange. And who, or when, attached it to me with chains?’

The scripture, which had grown twice as thick, was now bound to his waist with a silver chain. From the moment he summoned the Void Bugs, this chain had been unbreakable—like a shackle around a slave’s neck.

Of course, that was a bit of an exaggeration. The scripture could transcend the physical realm; he could make it disappear when he wanted to.

‘I should memorize the incantations. I need to be able to chant them in an instant if necessary.’

He opened the scripture. The newly recorded miracles of the void were strange. Except for the page that summoned the Void Bugs, a bizarre mist clouded the other pages, preventing me from seeing them.

‘Does this mean I can’t use them yet? How stingy.’

Perhaps it was telling me not to be greedy and to start by memorizing the basics.

I, Rodenkal, have created the void, and this power allows one to peer beyond the events of this world.

『The Book of Stirring』.

his eyes lingered on the first line written on the page.

‘But who is Rodenkal, really?’

Among the Lords of Light, also known as the <Ones Who Came>, there was no god named Rodenkal.

What is this power?

The one who said, "You have been chosen," was likely one of the <Forgotten Kings>, but could this really be the power of the Abyss?

‘No, why would the Abyss’s power kill its own subordinate, Hydra? And the Abyss Kings are sealed away…’

He didn't know who or what it was, but he was grateful.

After all, this was the first god to ever answer his prayers.

‘I should offer a prayer of gratitude… Is that what you expected me to say?’

Reveal more miracles, please. No need for a god to be so stingy.

“What are you doing, bro?”

As he clasped his hands to pray, Rock’s voice broke the silence. It seemed the early morning light had woken him.

“Why are you staring at a blank page? Gonna doodle or something?”

“Are your eyes broken? You really see nothing?”

“What’s there to see? Some joke where only good people or adults can see it? That’s not gonna work on me. Dad’s always hiding his erotic books, you know.”

Ulman, stretching and yawning, scolded his son.

“Boy, those are books you can only see when you’re an adult. You’re still a kid, that’s why you can’t see them.”

“I’m an adult now! I even kissed Senya the other day!”

“Haha, you’re certainly my son. But listen, a kiss without the tongue doesn’t count.”

“Pfft, that’s just the default option.”

Default option?

What the hell is wrong with this generation? No sense of decency at all!

“So, bro, how far have you gone?”

Me…?

Well, I’ve barely managed to talk to anyone properly.

“Rock, you little rascal! How dare you ask a devoted priest such things, huh? Priests are supposed to remain celibate until the end!”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Hey, I’m not actually a priest. No issues here.”

“Oh really? Sorry, Zen. In that case, let me congratulate you in advance on eventually graduating from virginhood.”

“Yeah, Zen is pretty handsome… No, actually, he’s kinda pretty. Almost prettier than girls, so I bet every woman who’s crossed paths with him has fallen for him.”

“You know me well.”

Arjen nodded slightly. It was true that women who got too close or showed him too much kindness usually ended up half-dead at the hands of the Divine Guillotine.

So Rock wasn’t completely wrong.

“When I first saw you from a distance, I thought you were a beautiful girl.”

“Is that why you ran over to introduce yourself, Dad?”

“Ahem.”

Being mistaken for a girl was nothing new. It must have been his father’s elf heritage showing through in his features.

‘But still…’

Arjen glanced down at the scripture.

Was this really only visible to him? Why was Rodenkal hiding their true identity?

‘Could it be that they don’t want the other gods to notice?’

For some reason, he felt a kinship with that.

A being who would never fully reveal itself to the world, much like himself now.

Perhaps it’s better to respect that will.

‘Fine, I won’t tell anyone about you, Rodenkal. But in exchange, how about revealing a few more miracles?’

Of course, there was no response.

Over the next two days, they were ambushed three times. The attackers weren’t anything special—mostly gnolls from the forest. But it was the perfect opportunity to test the power of the Void.

“Kaz tu Arcturus! Rock, get the pot boiling and chop the green onions! I’ll bring the meat!”

Ripping through the fabric of dimensions, the minions of the Void appeared.

The first one: Hivebug One!

The second one: Hivebug Two!

The third one: Hivebug Three!

Even with just these three summoned, the gnolls’ pathetic attempts at resistance turned into a grotesque display of body parts.

“Grrrrruuurrr!”

The gnolls, surrounded by the Hivebugs, screamed in agony before collapsing, utterly defeated.

Nice!

Interestingly, the Void felt quite similar to miracles. Miracles drew upon the soul, allowing communion with the heavens. Naturally, the number of miracles one could perform per day was limited, and it seemed the Void operated the same way.

Looks like two Void summons per day is the limit.

After using the Hivebugs twice, Arjen felt his chest tighten, and his head throbbed with dizziness.

Only two uses per day, huh?

Yet, there was no frustration or disappointment. Without this power, he wouldn’t have made it here—he would have died in that ancient desert.

This power is a new possibility for life.

One encouraging thought was that the Void seemed to draw from a different source than holy miracles. In emergencies, he could use both. Arjen decided to name this power “Kongryeok,” or Void Force.

“Wow, Dad! Look at this! The gnoll’s hide is perfectly skinned!”

Ulman examined the neatly laid-out hides and gave a genuine word of admiration.

“Zen, you’d make a perfect skinner for our merchant caravan. You’d be sitting on a pile of money in no time.”

After entering the Fire Dragon Road, Arjen found himself dozing off more and more in the wagon.

It was a truly pleasant time.

The warm sun, the gentle rattling of the cart, the cool breeze…

he used to get beaten for dozing off like this.

At first, he would jolt awake in a cold sweat, afraid he’d be struck. But no fists were waiting to pummel him.

Slowly, he allowed himself to relax against the side of the wagon, though the nightmares would likely stay with him forever.

By now, he felt much closer to the merchant father and son.

Finally, the majestic sight of a bridge spanning the great strait came into view.

“Hey, bro, that’s the Ranoa Bridge. Once we cross it, we’ll be close to Orvenheim.”

Arjen’s heart began to pound.

The urge to run away gripped him.

he thought he was ready…

The Ranoa Bridge was the gateway to the southern republic, famous for its strict and thorough inspection process.

Orvenheim is located at the northern tip of Tashin Island.

Tashin Island and the Adrion Continent are connected by the Ranoa Bridge, making it the gateway to the continent.

As such, the witches who guard the Republic’s security keep a very strict watch over those passing through.

‘If I get caught here… If word reaches them that I’ve crossed…’

As Arjen clutched his head in both hands, curling into himself, Rock whistled.

“Dad, Zen’s shrinking!”

“Zen, come sit here at the coachman’s seat.”

The coachman’s seat? Sweat poured down like rain.

“Mister, that’s the most visible spot! I should be hiding in the back with the luggage.”

These bastards… Were they planning to hand me over to the executioner all along?

‘I trusted them! I was just starting to believe in them, but in the end, humans can’t be trusted…!’

However, Ulman, with a hearty and reassuring laugh, patted Arjen’s shoulder and said, “Don’t worry and trust me. From now on, you’ll see the legendary merchant Ulman perform a magic trick of a lifetime.”

“Bro, don’t believe that part. My dad calls himself a legend.”

“You little brat! Can’t you read the room? Zen was about to be completely convinced!”

These guys…

For the first time, Arjen let out a genuine, unguarded laugh and completely dropped his suspicion toward the father and son.

‘Alright, I’ll trust them. Let’s give it a shot.’

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]