Apostle of the Void

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 51: Wintering (2)

Arzen made his way to the dock area and stopped a sailor to ask about his destination.

“*Marind* village? Well, to get there, you need to take the downward shuttle. Just a heads-up: if you take the express, it’ll pass right by Marind, so make sure to take the circular line.”

At the circular line dock, the boarding procedures were already in progress.

He was informed that the circular line only operated once a day.

As he hurried to the ticket counter, the attendant shook her head.

They were already at full capacity.

At that moment, a young man approached him.

“Are you planning to take that boat? If so, would you like to buy my ticket? Something urgent came up, and I can’t go.”

Arzen felt a twinge of unease.

It seemed like a kind offer, but in reality, the guy was in a hurry himself.

He hated people who openly tried to deceive him more than anything else in the world.

“So you’re saying if I don’t buy it, you’ll lose all your money, right?”

“Uh?”

“Then it has to be half price or I’m not interested. Sorry, but I’m currently unemployed and have plenty of time on my hands!”

“What are you saying? If you don’t want it, I’ll just find someone else.”

“Oh, can you really find someone else? The ship is about to set sail! The bell’s about to ring!”

The young man realized the situation and turned pale, but society is often cold, and capitalism is even colder.

“Ha ha ha! Thank you for going out of your way to get me a ticket at half price! Have a great day!”

Thus, Arzen managed to buy the ticket at half price, using the underhanded tricks he learned from the Divine Guillotine!

“Ugh… Just you wait! I’ll remember your face!”

As the crew checked the tickets, one of the sailors tore the ticket in half and handed it back to him.

This was to prevent double usage.

Onboard, there was a diverse mix of people.

There were adventurers who looked like swordsmen, tourists who appeared to be a couple, and many merchants.

When it was the turn of the central lighthouse to give signals, the dock workers untied the ropes.

The ship gradually drifted toward the river.

Arzen leaned against the railing, savoring the scent of winter and the breeze that rushed across the surface of the water.

He loved being on a ship.

More specifically, he loved being on the water.

Water was originally a symbol of bondage.

There had been days when he couldn't escape the Divine Guillotine, trapped by the vast ocean.

However, the moment he could board a ship, water transformed from a symbol of restraint into a sign of freedom.

He enjoyed the swift movement across the waves, traveling from one side to the other in an instant.

He loved the rapidly changing scenery and the frothy white trails left in the ship’s wake.

“Hey, how long until we reach Marind village?”

He asked a sailor who was folding the oars and setting the sails.

The sailor replied in a disinterested tone, “That’s the last stop almost, you’ll have to wait three days.”

At that point, an elderly couple who looked like tourists chimed in.

“Oh my, you’re going to Marind?”

“Yes.”

“The autumn festival just ended, didn’t it? It won’t be very beautiful right now. It’s best to visit in the summer or autumn when it’s lively.”

“I’m going because I accepted a logging request. Is it a famous place?”

“Oh my, don’t you know? It’s really famous. It’s the place where the hero party’s breath still lingers. It’s also known as a vacation spot where the Dragon Lord would often rest. The twilight and wine there are quite renowned.”

The elderly couple continued sharing stories about Marind village.

They explained that Marind is famous for its wine festival and is known as the origin of twilight flowers that bloom in the evening light. There are also many legends tied to historical figures, making it a bustling destination for tourists. These figures included members of the old hero party and the Dragon Lord.

“Oh, and it’s also the place where the fiery Achillea visited during her youth. Even now, her charming figure is preserved in paintings.”

“!”

“However, if you want to buy wine that bears that painting as a label, it’s a bit pricey. They add a significant premium.”

So, this was a tourist spot where the wealthy gathered?

‘Historical figures sure have a knack for making money! That kind of premium is ridiculous!’

Arzen resolved that if he became famous, he would also put a premium on his very appearance.

‘Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be tourist season right now. I wanted to spend the winter in a quiet place, and it looks like I’ve hit the jackpot.’

The structure of the circular line was a bit different from the ships that traversed the ocean.

There weren’t separate cabins; most of the ship was an open area.

If the cold river breeze became too much, he could retreat inside to rest.

While there were no beds, just seats, he could lie down as people gradually disembarked at each stop.

Arzen went downstairs to the open area and spread out his scriptures.

To draw out the full power of a miracle, he needed to memorize all its verses completely.

Techniques like spell compression could only be used effectively when supported by complete memorization.

‘The Void… This miracle speaks entirely differently from the existing ones.’

The key words in the Void miracle revolved around "disparity" or "enlightenment."

While he could understand that disparity related to the power of the Void, he had no clue what enlightenment was truly asking for.

‘What am I supposed to comprehend? I don’t quite understand yet…’

The nice thing about miracles is that if you don’t get it, you can just shut up and memorize!

‘Right now, I only know six verses. There isn’t much to review… but I can’t suppress my excitement!’

He wanted to experiment with the power of the Void as soon as possible.

‘Especially with the new power I obtained, Explosive Evil!’

He named it Explosive Evil because it exploded like a demon. No arguments accepted.

As Arzen admired the riverside scenery, he would retreat inside when he got too cold and recite the miracle of the Void.

He also reviewed everything he knew about Tersia’s miracles.

Thus, by the dawn of the third day, the shuttle reached Marind village.

* * *

The crew first tied the ropes to the dock and lowered the gangway.

Arzen jumped down onto the gangway, carefully checking the contract he had received again.

The request came from the Green Witch of Marind village.

‘For this intermediary request, I should find the client first.’

The village looked lively.

It was impressive how the hills were turned into terraced vineyards.

The village nestled snugly beneath those vineyards.

A vast open space stretched from the dock to the village.

A few shanties were set up in that area.

Arzen stopped a woman who was saying goodbye to her husband at the dock and asked for directions to the witch's hut.

“You just need to go to the hut between the vineyards.”

The witch’s hut stood alone near the terraced vineyards.

The Green Witch was not only the village's teacher and doctor but also its leader.

It was only natural for the witch's hut to be built in a location where it could overlook the entire village.

As winter approached, Arzen crossed the bare vineyard and soon arrived at a cabin.

A girl was coming from the opposite direction, her shoulders laden with branches.

With a blank expression, she asked, “Who are you?”

“How unfortunate that you don’t recognize me! I am Arzen, a future Bronze rank adventurer!”

“I’ve never heard that name before.”

“I said I’m a future Bronze rank, didn’t I?”

“That’s completely unbelievable.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought a request would come in soon, so I was expecting someone. Please come inside.”

Gasp… Could she be a witch?

Arzen felt a chill run down his spine.

‘No, it can’t be!’

Witches didn’t wear pointed hats or carry wands, right? He hadn’t seen anything like that.

And a witch wouldn’t do such menial work as gathering firewood herself.

If she had to, she could easily do it with telekinesis.

‘Is my happy winter already leading me into trouble? No, don’t panic! Opportunities only appear when you’re not afraid!’

Sweating profusely, he stepped inside the cabin, and his mind suddenly felt at ease.

The air was filled with the bittersweet scent of herbs, the rich aroma of aged wood, and the dust of old books… It was a comforting blend that soothed his soul.

The girl unloaded the firewood from her shoulders into a box and washed her hands.

Watching her was like sitting on pins and needles.

“Um… Miss Witch? I must have misunderstood something…”

“Yes, but it’s too late for apologies.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry! Without the hat and wand, I just…”

“Well, I’m not a witch yet.”

“?”

“You said you’re a future Bronze rank, right? I’m a future Green Witch. Aren’t they the same?”

The girl’s blank expression twisted slightly into a smirk at the corners of her mouth.

That expression had a strange power that evoked an overwhelming sense of shame in anyone who saw it.

Arzen felt a surge of indignation.

“This little brat is treating an adult like a fool! I’m an egalitarian who can knock out anyone—man, woman, old, or young! Come here, you little squirt!”

But the girl calmly turned her gaze into the cabin.

“Master, I just got back.”

“Hmm?”

“A lumbering adventurer has come.”

The girl stepped inside the cabin.

Soon, a hunched old woman appeared.

With the girl’s support, the old woman used her other hand to lean on a cane, barely managing to shuffle along.

‘She must be at least a hundred!’

Her back was bent, and her face was filled with wrinkles.

“Who?”

“It’s Arzen, Madam Witch!”

“Hmm?”

“It’s Arzen, revered Madam Witch!”

“Arzen?”

“It’s Arzen!”

“Ah, Alzen!”

Has she really gotten so old that her hearing is gone too?

‘Ah, I don’t want to grow old…’

Arzen was horrified inside, but thanks to the survival skills he learned in the Divine Guillotine, he didn’t show it at all.

“Welcome! So you want to date our Peggy, huh?”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

So the girl’s name is Peggy.

“Sit down! When a man loves a woman, he needs courage! Don’t come asking for permission like this; you should make your move first!”

“I didn’t think it through and ended up like this…”

“You must be hungry! First, have some fruit! Do you like grapes?”

“I’ve never had them, but I think I would like them.”

“Hmm?”

“I like them!”

“Great! The grapes harvested in the fall are right here! I’ll wash them for you.”

He wondered how she could wash the fruit with that body…

But as the old woman whispered a spell, water swirled around in an instant.

Not a single grape fell from her grasp; it was an impressive display of magical control.

“Eat!”

It was his first time tasting grapes.

In truth, grapes were among the more expensive fruits.

Wine, especially the high-end types, could be ridiculously pricey compared to beer or ale.

As he hesitated, not knowing how to eat them, the girl plucked a grape and demonstrated.

“To eat a grape, you pull it gently from the stem. You can peel off the skin and just eat the inside. Chew once or twice to enjoy the juice, then swallow the whole thing.”

At first, it felt awkward… but it turned out to be simple.

More than anything, it was delicious.

Could such a sweet and tangy fruit exist?

The way the grape slid down his throat was absolutely delightful.

“You’ve eaten. That’ll be 10 silver coins.”

“Are you crazy? Was that a forced sale?”

“Just kidding.”

“Doesn’t suit your taste? Eat up!”

“It’s delicious!”

“Good, but who are you again?”

“It’s Arzen, Madam Witch.”

“Arzen?”

“Yes, Arzen!”

It seemed easier to let her call him that than to argue each time.

“Alright, Arzen, eat as much as you want.”

“Madam Witch, weren’t you nicknamed the ‘Green Frog’ in your youth?”

“Hmm? Are you asking for frog meat? I’ll go catch one right away, so wait!”

“Grapes are enough! Thank you very much!”

“You’re the first person to have a pleasant conversation with my master. Everyone else is terrified.”

The girl suddenly broke into a smile.

It was a type of smile that couldn’t be expressed through her previous blank expression.

“Ah, I’ve had to placate these trash for years, so this is like eating cold stew.”

Talking to a hard-of-hearing old woman was as easy as picking your nose.

And since she was giving him grapes right from the start instead of resorting to violence, it felt like he could dance while having this conversation.

While Arzen enjoyed the grapes, the girl nodded disdainfully as she checked the request form.

“So you claimed to be a future Bronze rank, but in reality, you’re just leftover scraps from the Steel rank.”

“Watch your mouth! I’ve earned the qualifications for a promotion to Bronze rank in just six months! That’s unprecedented, a super-fast promotion!”

“Pfft.”

“Pfft?”

“Even though I don’t want to welcome a Steel rank, I have to say that on the occasion of your visit to our village.”

“Well, if it’s just a formality, shouldn’t you hide your true feelings?”

“Being honest is my virtue. After you finish all that, I’ll tell you the location and details of the request.”

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]