Apostle Candidate (2)
〈 Chapter 43 〉
Apostle Candidate (2)
Merhen: Pioneering Fate
A famous web novel serialized in Korea.
This tale, depicted with vast world-building, intricate storylines, and a multitude of characters, began in Korea and never lost its popularity overseas.
The 'Mirvabila Empire,' whose goal was to summon the demon races they fanatically worshipped and bring apocalypse to the Arkena Continent, waged war against the 'Human Alliance Forces' of the Arkena Continent.
The story of Merhen: Pioneering Fate begins twenty years after the end of the 'Arkena Great War,' which claimed countless human lives.
"So, you're saying this world has the exact same setting as in that novel?"
"That's right."
The place names in the established background, the names of the characters who appeared—they were all identical.
It was astonishing that it included detailed accounts of the heroic tales of the six great heroes who brought the Arkena Great War to its conclusion, as well as in-depth character profiles for Riod Olivion and Iliana Kenifer.
But the most shocking revelation was the existence of the man who became a companion to the 'protagonist.'
"Alex Armitas is a member of the protagonist's party...?"
"You really haven't read the novel? How is that even possible?"
"Let me sort this out for a second. So, in that novel, Alex becomes the protagonist's companion, and you, Princess, have possessed a character from the story that the protagonist and Alex's group create?"
"Exactly."
Yuria explained that from the moment Eunhyeon appeared, she'd been wracking her brain over the question, What exactly is Eunhyeon's true identity?
One possibility she'd considered was that he might be an 'otherworld reincarnator' like herself.
He knew the location and details of the Arkys Great Labyrinth, which hadn't yet been reported to the adventurer's guild or the kingdom. He also seemed close to Alex, one of the novel's key figures.
Moreover, this man—who didn't even appear in the web novel Fate's Merhen (apparently a shorthand for Merhen: Pioneering Fate) and had no connection whatsoever—was disrupting the original story's flow. Her suspicion that he was a devoted reader of Fate's Merhen, just like her, gradually turned into conviction.
But seeing Eunhyeon make a face like he knew absolutely nothing—not even Fate's Merhen—left Yuria flustered instead.
"No, if you haven't even read the original, how did you know about the Arkys Great Labyrinth? And how did you meet Alex? I thought for sure you approached him because you knew he was a key figure who becomes the protagonist's companion."
And what about that insane power you showed earlier? How did you even learn something like that? I've struggled endlessly just to pick up basic magic since coming to this world...
Reality had been far from kind to Yuria, who mistakenly believed she'd reincarnated into this world after dying on Earth.
As royalty, she possessed exceptional mana reserves and affinity, but adapting to the new concept of 'magic' had required tremendous effort before she could even begin to grasp it.
If she hadn't had the memories and knowledge of Yuria the princess after reincarnating, it would have been no different from being thrown alone into this world right from the start—she wouldn't have been able to communicate, read, or anything.
Had only her past life's memories revived without her current ones, she might have gone mad in a world where language and culture were utterly alien.
But Eunhyeon realized this was the consideration of the gods.
"Ha... "
Eunhyeon felt a ridiculous sense of absurdity upon hearing the most baffling fact in over four hundred years of eternal life.
This world is from a novel? No, no. At least I can be certain of that much.
Eunhyeon, who had witnessed the end of Earth with his own eyes and knew well the structure of this world restored by the seven gods, could assert it confidently.
It's the opposite.
It wasn't that he'd crossed over from Earth into the world of a created novel. Rather, her memories of reincarnation had simply been awakened.
In that case, the ridiculous novel called Merhen: Pioneering Fate that she'd read on Earth—crafted to convey this world's story to her—must have been the work of the god who summoned Yuria here.
Even delivering prior knowledge of this world through something like a web novel... Goddess, is that even possible?
It's not impossible. I don't know the details of that 'web novel,' but it seems someone wove a tale even capturing fragments of future events as a consideration for the girl who awoke in this world with nothing.
Eunhyeon nodded slightly at Verdandi's speculation.
It was the moment many questions unraveled.
Though utterly unforeseen, he considered it valuable information nonetheless.
"Hey. Are you even listening? I'm asking what the hell is going on."
Only after organizing how much truth to reveal to Yuria did Eunhyeon finally speak.
"There's nothing special about how I came to know Alex. We just happened to run into each other a few times."
"For 'just that,' Alex seemed to trust you an awful lot..."
Yuria narrowed her eyes at Eunhyeon, unconvinced, but when he offered no further explanation, she didn't press.
"As for knowing about the Arkys Great Labyrinth, it's because I'd been here once before. That's when I learned the purpose behind its creation and the final words left by its master on the third floor."
"So... you're saying you've cleared the final trial on the third floor?"
"No. But I did obtain information about the labyrinth. That's why I chose not to take the trials."
"Why? The rewards inside are filled with rare materials and magitech artifacts of immense value."
"Because they weren't mine to claim. The legacies left on the third floor by Arkys are all items meant to be inherited by the successor puppeteer. That's also why I didn't approve of you, Princess—a non-puppeteer—using my help to just grab the rewards and leave."
"Ugh."
Yuria winced as if struck in a sore spot.
She was well aware her intentions hadn't been entirely pure.
"I had no choice."
"A marriage alliance from a foreign land was the trigger for your flight, right?"
"I didn't want to be sold off to some man I'd never even met."
"But as royalty, surely there are responsibilities and duties you must fulfill."
"Even so..."
Yuria clenched her fists, agonizing in silence, while Eunhyeon quietly warmed himself by the campfire, waiting for her to speak.
"If I hadn't recalled my past life's memories, and knew nothing of the kingdom I was to be sold to or the man who would become my husband, I probably wouldn't have made such a reckless choice. In Fate's Merhen, Yuria marries the heir of the Saviros Ducal House in the Kingdom of Lendir."
"Not exactly a great political match."
"Do you know about the Saviros Duke?"
"Somewhat. Besides, marrying into a ducal house instead of another royal family doesn't look good. The Saviros line has no other heirs, and I hear he already has one fiancée. Sending a kingdom's princess as a concubine rather than a proper wife... Is this the consort's judgment?"
"Mother doesn't know the real Saviros. On the surface, he's reputed as an upright duke enriching his lands and supporting the kingdom. She has no idea he's a lecherous scum who buys young women with money and status."
"Have you tried persuading her?"
"How? I'm the only one who knows his truth from the original novel's story. You think she'd believe me without evidence? She'd probably scold me for slandering a fine man. And... this marriage alliance involves a lot at stake."
"I can guess the reasons. Solidifying her position while protecting you by drawing in foreign influence to support your brother as crown prince."
In this world, noble political marriages carried myriad meanings.
How many nobles married to bolster prestige, under the guise of protection, or—truly—for love?
Rather, Riod and Terezia are the rare case.
They loved, relied on, and respected each other; the husband honed his skills for her sake, while the wife devotedly supported him, elevating his status and influence as a noble.
"The consort aims to build a faction to protect you while pulling in foreign powers to back your brother's investiture as crown prince."
"Yes..."
Yuria sighed in frustration, affirming it.
Harshly put, it was selling off her daughter, but Helena didn't know Saviros's true face.
Believing the outwardly impeccable duke would help crown her son while cherishing and caring for Yuria even as a concubine—that was her decision.
From Helena's view, it secured her son's standing while ensuring her daughter's happy marriage.
In her haste to catch two rabbits at once, she'd overlooked suspicions and hidden truths.
"That's why you decided to run away. Not to be protected through a foreign alliance, but to gain the power to protect yourself. You resolved to enter the labyrinth for the heart of the puppeteer Arkys?"
"Yes..."
Yuria nodded weakly at Eunhyeon's words, which pierced her thoughts precisely.
She didn't want to be a burden, at least.
Hating her own fragility that required selling herself abroad for protection, she yearned to grow strong enough to defend herself. Her first step: recalling dungeon locations from Fate's Merhen, planning an expedition for 'relics,' and—in her impatience—making an unreasonable request of Alex, leading to this sloppy venture.
"Both the consort and you are mistaken."
"Pardon?"
"You assumed it was impossible without even trying to persuade her."
"But..."
"I know. Your reasoning stems from the 'future' laid out in that Fate's Merhen novel. But not everything in this world flows exactly as in the story."
Eunhyeon's very existence proved it, as did her flight to the Arkys Great Labyrinth at this time—content absent from the original.
"You didn't consult your Royal Guard knights either. At least if you'd shared prior intel on the labyrinth properly, they might have adapted accordingly. Prior information is one of the most crucial elements in an expedition."
"But the info I have is suspicious, with no verifiable source—who would believe it?"
"When it comes to trust, the source doesn't always matter. During today's expedition, did any party member question the info I provided or demand its origin?"
"...No."
"Even if the source is dubious, even from someone as shady and unknown as me. Trust between people often hinges on emotional bonds that reason can't fully explain."
Like how Alex and Elenoa, despite Eunhyeon's mysterious and suspicious nature, sought his aid.
Or how the Royal Guards placed inexplicable trust in him for providing vast intel and leading the party through the Arkys Labyrinth.
Merddin and Aisha followed orders from a man they'd never met without complaint—until crashing the party.
It stemmed from Eunhyeon demonstrating overwhelming power from the start, his veteran-like experience in expeditions, yet never arrogance; far from scorning the less capable, he clearly intended to let them gain experience and grow.
"Trust is vital in human relationships. Even if your exclusive knowledge lacks credibility, proof, or a clear source—making it utterly suspicious—those who trust and cherish you will believe your words. Try clashing with it once."
"Ah..."
Yuria listened blankly to Eunhyeon, letting out a small sigh.
"If you lack confidence in yourself, strive to become someone worthy of trust from many. Become the kind of person others follow without doubt, proving your reliability."
Eunhyeon glanced at the night sky before continuing to Yuria, who listened quietly.
"Lead people with faith and expectation; repay that faith and hope, and it returns as blind new faith and greater expectations."
It was a single phrase to forge resolve in Yuria, who held the potential of a 'protagonist.'