Apostle of the Void

Chapter 4 - The Void, a New Possibility in Life (3)

“You idiot! If you can’t even hold the reins properly, how do you plan on living later, huh?”

The Ranoa Great Bridge is one of the world’s Eleven Wonders.

There’s no other bridge in the world that could match its sheer scale and grandeur.

Countless people passing between the two continents were all chuckling, their eyes fixed on Arjen.

To be precise, on the ‘hopelessly clumsy apprentice merchant who, according to the act, was getting a proper scolding.’

“Good grief, this is driving me mad! I told you to just hold the reins firmly! Is that so hard? How are you going to hold on to the women who’ll leave you behind later, huh?!”

The customs inspection was being conducted by the Republic\'s guardians—the witches.

“What’s with that kid?”

The woman who seemed to be the eldest among them was going through the paperwork.

“When you entered, it was just you two, father and son. Who’s this?”

“He’s an orphan who was attacked by gnolls. I felt so bad for him that I took him in to help him live like a decent person, but look at this poor idiot—so hopelessly clueless. Hey, you fool! Why aren’t you greeting the witches?”

“...Hello.”

“With such a timid personality, do you think he can really be raised as a merchant?”

The witch standing on the left expressed concern.

Ulman bowed his head, full of flattery.

“You’re right. I’m worried about that too.”

The witch standing on the right stared intently at Arjen, her face partially obscured by the shadow of her hat.

‘Could she recognize me? What if she asks why someone from the Divine Guillotine is here? They say their eyes and ears are everywhere across the continent.’

Thump, thump, thump, thump…

His heart felt like it was about to explode.

“Gwen, what do you think?”

“I don’t feel any malicious energy from him. It’s quite surprising.”

“So, he’s not a criminal.”

“I can even sense a hint of something holy. It feels unfamiliar, but at the same time... familiar.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have a death wish, apprentice?”

“Sorry for being just an apprentice!”

“Ran, mark it down that a merchant from the Linne Trading Company picked up an orphan of unknown background, and let them through.”

A merchant’s credibility is based on the reputation of the trading company they belong to.

Ulman’s Linne Trading Company was one of the top three in terms of size, reputation, and credibility.

So, as long as the record was made, there would be no procedural issues.

If any problems arose, they would track down the case based on this record.

And while it wasn’t a common occurrence, it also wasn’t rare for merchants to take in promising orphans as apprentices.

“You’re clear!”

Only when the witches were far behind them did Arjen finally let out a huge sigh of relief.

‘We made it. We crossed the Ranoa Great Bridge.’

Without revealing his name—Arjen—to anyone, and quietly at that.

“Don’t get mad at me for using rough words and hitting you a bit earlier. It was all part of laying the groundwork. It was all for the sake of a convincing act.”

“Still, Dad, you hit him pretty hard.”

“Well, yeah, they say you have to fool yourself first if you want to fool others. So, I just… got carried away.”

Arjen’s heart was still pounding heavily.

The tension wasn’t from anxiety but from excitement.

“…It’s okay.”

The biggest hurdle to starting a new life was indeed the Ranoa Great Bridge.

To pass it so easily must have been thanks to Ulman’s divine acting.

He managed to string together words that he could never have managed in normal speech.

“Uncle Ulman, I’ll trust you now. You’re a good merchant.”

“Haha, flattery won’t get you anywhere, you know. I’m embarrassed, so stop it.”

It was the first time Arjen had spoken like that, and Ulman, feeling the emotion, awkwardly rubbed under his nose.

There were no particular problems passing through the small towns after the bridge.

Since the witches at the bridge had thoroughly checked their identities, the town’s guards had no need to waste time.

The real issue arose when they reached the city gate of the starting city, Orvenheim.

Not from the outside, but from within.

“Actually, we didn’t really need a guard. We only needed one for a few days. What did you do after that?”

“...?”

“Instead, we’ve provided you with meals for three weeks, so it seems we’ve already paid our fee, don’t you think?”

Lok tilted his head.

“Dad?”

Ulman continued.

“And we’re taking the gnoll skins, too.”

“!”

“You sold an unidentified person’s passage through our trading company’s credibility, so I think we deserve some compensation, don’t you?”

So it’s the same with all humans.

Speechless and heart pounding.

Just when he was about to appear kind and sincere, Ulman’s face, hidden by the hat, seemed to be shaded with a cunning smile.

It wasn’t just because of what Ulman said.

It was because that expression was one he had seen far too often at the Divine Guillotine…

“Dad, why are you suddenly like this?”

If I cause a commotion here, it’ll be my ruin…

‘He’s got my weakness perfectly in his grip. I’ve been completely outplayed. Truly a merchant. Better than anyone at practical matters.’

But since he got them across the Ranoa Great Bridge, he can have this.

Arjen, clenching his fists on his knees, lowered his gaze emptily.

“Fine, Uncle. Take everything. Getting us here is enough.”

“Are you serious about what you just said?”

Yes, you bastard.

I’d rather not accept it because it’s dirty.

“No backing out later?”

Silence.

Ulman, who had been staring at Arjen, finally sighed deeply.

“This isn’t going to work, no it won’t. You’re just a complete fool, even if you’re just playing the role. I’m really worried, so I can’t just leave you here. Isn’t that right, Lok?”

“Exactly, Dad.”

Arjen tilted his head, unable to follow the flow of the conversation.

“What are you talking about?”

Why did his expression suddenly revert to its original one?

“It’s not really a joke, but I wanted to see if you could manage on your own in this harsh world….”

“?”

“These days, it’s a time when people will cut off others’ noses when they’re not looking. I was hoping you’d get angry and demand what’s rightfully yours.”

Ulman smirked.

As the first twilight cast its glow on the rattling wagon, it filled the road with mysterious particles.

At that moment, as soothing as the beautiful and enchanting twilight, a warm, fuzzy feeling caressed his heart.

“Take this for now. It’s the payment for this job.”

“Wow, Dad. Isn’t this nearly twice as much?”

“And take this too. This is the amount I’ve estimated for the gnoll skins, bought at the average price.”

Holding the thick purse of money, Arjen blinked in astonishment.

It was incredibly surreal.

This was the first time in his life he had received fair compensation for his labor.

“But you said you weren’t going to give it….”

“Come on now! What do you think of the Linne Trading Company? I told you it was a test. Just take it. And, well, if you have no work here, how about crossing the sea with us?”

“...The sea?”

“It’ll be about a month. Once we cross the continent, I can send you as an apprentice for dismantling by-products. I’ll connect you with the finest craftsmen in our company.”

He would be leaving for somewhere.

Leaving this land with no memories of home.

Did those with proper homes and workplaces have a strong aversion to leaving their homes?

But Arjen didn’t have such feelings.

He wanted to leave this land and go anywhere.

Anywhere would do.

‘But I haven’t had a place to go, so I couldn’t go, I just couldn’t.’

If he had known how to shout.

If he had known how to be excited.

He would surely be shouting now.

‘I also want to go beyond the sea,’ he would say.

But he couldn’t.

Because he didn’t know how.

With a voice that could barely be heard, he could only respond like this:

“…I do want to go.”

Only his fingers and lips, conveying his sincerity, trembled.

“Then it’s decided. But if problems keep arising because of your identity, it’ll be troublesome. Lok, go with him to the Adventurers’ Guild. After finishing up, come to the company building.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“Adventurers’ Guild?”

“It’s better to get a new adventurer identification. Don’t worry. With our company’s recommendation letter, it’ll come through quickly.”

Ulman’s trading company was the Linne Trading Company.

During the era of the ‘Seven Capitals, Six Sects, and Three Flows’ when seven cities, six sects, and three factions divided and ruled the continent, it was a powerful influence as a distribution center.

On the way to the guild, they arrived at the "Plaza of Beginnings," a city known by the nickname "The City of Beginnings."

Lok, pointing excitedly at the statue in the middle of the plaza, spoke up.

“Look, that’s it. The Grand Mage Lin! The founder of our company received a great favor from Lin, which is why our company’s attire and name are as they are.”

The statue, worn by the ravages of time, depicted the hero party that had saved the world 400 years ago.

Even in this age, their achievements are not easily forgotten, and there’s a reason for that.

It’s likely due to the development of printing technology and the emergence of various unofficial histories and novels about them.

In the adventure stories Arjen had read, there were also legends of the \'Five Adventurers,\' who had helped the Rista party.

‘Hmm, a hero party…’

Arjen glanced at the statue as he crossed the plaza.

‘I wonder if there will come a day when someone remembers me like that?’

Perhaps that day might never come.

But it’s okay.

If he could just enjoy an ordinary… an ordinary life, that would be enough.

“Lok, give me the identification tag. Just in case we run into trouble.”

Arjen placed his hand on the identification tag, which was hanging around his neck like a beast’s leash.

- If you take that off on your own, you’ll get beaten again.

The long-ingrained fear struck his chest as a shapeless pain.

‘The Divine Guillotine isn’t here. And Garrison died back then.’

After several attempts to calm his breath soaked with cold sweat, he finally managed to remove the chain.

Lok, who was turning the identification tag around and inspecting it, raised his eyebrows.

“Your name isn’t Zen, but Al? Zen was just a nickname!”

“Nickname?”

“I had a nickname my mom used to call me when I was little… It’s amazing you had one too.”

A nickname from his mother…

Though his memories of his parents had grown faint, that word left a sharp tremor.

‘A nickname…’

There had been no nickname.

His father and mother always called him Arjen.

The Divine Guillotine simply called him Al.

‘Anyway, the only ones who knew my real name were the five officers who came to investigate back then… Those guys all died in the desert.’

The officers hadn’t revealed Arjen’s real name to the adventurer team.

If the name leaked, the ‘Red Pilgrims’ would come after them, so it was only natural.

‘In other words, none of those bastards knew my name.’

Well, there was one person…

There had been one normal person among the Divine Guillotine officers.

But at some point, they vanished. That person’s name was Kyrke.

- Do you like adventures?

During Kyrke’s first year, things had been a bit more bearable…

She was also the one who first gifted him an adventure novel.

‘If I use the name Arjen… could I meet Kyrke someday?’

The curt receptionist checked the receipt and the company’s recommendation letter, then looked up at Arjen.

“Is this really the name? Please verify the spelling.”

“Yes.”

After some paperwork, the receptionist soon handed over a metal identification tag.

- Arjen

Arjen carefully touched his real name engraved on the tag.

‘Arjen…’

Using his real name felt like being reborn.

No, it even felt like time had turned back to before his parents died.

- Arjen?

- Arjen!

- Arjen~.

The warmth of his mother hugging him while calling his name.

Her voice telling him to eat…

Just the name alone brought those memories back so vividly.

“Are you sure that’s all you need?”

“Yeah, this is enough.”

“Well, if you’re okay with it, then it’s fine.”

He couldn’t know the thoughts of his parents when they chose this name.

But…

He felt he might understand his mother’s feelings when she called his name.

- Arjen, come here. Today’s your favorite, olive pasta!

Though it was as cold as ever, the metal against his neck felt strangely warm.

At least, that’s how it seemed.

He carefully tucked the name tag into his collar.

At that moment, the boy wore a faint smile, one he didn’t even realize himself.

* * *

The Linne company’s ship was a sailing vessel with three sails.

It was amazing that they could navigate the open sea with only the sails and no use of oars.

Arjen’s life on the ship involved watching and working hard as a merchant’s apprentice under Ulman.

As he began learning the work, Ulman scolded him sharply whenever he made mistakes, unlike before.

Dealing with expensive goods seemed to make everyone more harsh.

Is it the way of merchants to be gentle with customers but yell at subordinates?

Arjen felt he could never do it.

‘Damn, I can’t handle this.’

Lok, Ulman’s son, already looked like a seasoned merchant.

It seemed everyone had their own nature.

‘If becoming a dismantler means enduring what Ulman and his kind do, then I’ll definitely pass.’

Still, it was nice that the cabin was quite spacious since they didn’t need rowers.

Lok and he had their own space.

Lying in the net hammock that swayed with the sea waves, Arjen pondered his future.

‘Yes, becoming a dismantler wasn’t what I originally dreamed of.’

Adventure…!

He wanted to adventure…!

At that moment, Arjen felt a thrill that jolted him upright.

“Yeah, I can become an adventurer with this name, Arjen!”

Ulman and Lok had said that there was no mention of anything related to the Void in this holy scripture.

This meant there was no risk of being caught in heretical interrogation.

“Even without the power of the Void, I have experience from rolling on the line of death at the Divine Guillotine, one of the Four Great Guilds. I could make a living just with my healing powers.”

The power of the Void could be trained and used secretly.

As time went on, he would gradually gain know-how.

“Heh heh heh…”

A steel adventurer who appeared like a shooting star.

No one knew his true identity, but he seemed to wield divine miracles like a major figure.

“That feels pretty good, doesn’t it?”

His only known way of life had been as an adventurer.

“Most of the memories that come to mind when I think of adventurers are quite miserable… But, not all of them were bad.”

The mage he met before heading to the <Falling Desert>…

“It would have been fun if we could have been friends.”

He acknowledged it.

At some point, he had clearly yearned for the life of a proper adventurer.

“That was when I had nothing, not even a penny!”

Now things were different.

Arjen had gained the immense backing of the Void.

He was no longer a powerless orphan, a crybaby, or a child dragged around like a slave.

“Rodenkal reportedly slaughtered S-rank monsters like Hydra and A-rank monsters like Basilisk using faceless demons, right?”

Even the eleven platinum-ranked adventurers, who were called the strongest in the world, could not do that.

“Even Olrat, who was ranked 4th in platinum, was killed by Hydra.”

In other words,

Adventurers were all inferior compared to the potential Arjen now possessed.

“If I could use just a fraction of the power I saw back then!”

Forget platinum; he might even get a chance to aim for a diamond-ranked adventurer, a title that exists only once per era.

“And I’ve got experience from living among those trash.”

Though his current rank was steel, his experience and skills could easily be considered gold.

The overwhelming potential of the Void!

Arjen saw it as if fate had chosen him to be the king of this era.

“Kahaha! The greatest wealth, power, and honor! I’ll grab it all! I’ll reign from the top!”

Adventurers could amass wealth if they succeeded.

By subduing high-level monsters or finding artifacts, one could touch immense fortunes.

The <Divine Guillotine>, once one of the Four Great Guilds, used to rake in money to the extreme.

“It’s funny that even after making such a big score, they end up back at the bottom…”

But that’s precisely why they get involved.

Who is Arjen?

He had been watching the <Divine Guillotine> closely since he was young.

“I could write a book on how to rise from the bottom of adventurers!”

Arjen lifted his upper body, deciding the direction of his life.

Embracing the holy scripture of the Void.

This wasn’t merely holding the scripture; it was embracing a new possibility in life.

“Alright, I’ve decided! I’ll rise to the top of this beast kingdom and make my mark before I’m 30!”