Chapter 145 - North Korean rabbit

Chapter 145

Evangeline was intoxicated with a sense of victory.

Arpad’s voice, whispering low, resonated.

“Hilia.”

For a moment, her face nearly contorted, but she could still manage a genuinely joyful smile.

At this moment, she was using the power of the divine artifact belonging to Morpheneia, the goddess of night and dreams.

It was the same power she had used to control Lord Beltain during the trial.

In the meantime, Archbishop Bio had further cultivated and strengthened the artifact’s power.

As a result, it had become possible, albeit briefly, to even steal the appearance of another.

‘The humiliation I endured was worth it.’

Her recent meeting with Hilia, which she had forced herself into despite the humiliation, was also for this very moment.

Only after the divine artifact had directly captured Hilia’s appearance could it mimic that form.

Whose appearance she stole was not important.

What mattered was that it was Arpad who was holding her here now.

‘Yes. A man of Arpad’s caliber is worthy of being my man.’

He was too good for Hilia.

‘For me, the true protagonist of this world!’

Evangeline recalled a conversation she had had with Archbishop Bio not long ago.

* * *

The Archbishop had summoned Evangeline to a remote, dilapidated temple.

He had even urged her to be careful not to let her movements be discovered.

Evangeline, dressed in shabby clothes fit for a commoner, swallowed her complaints.

‘What important matter could there be to call me to such a place?’

Archbishop Bio was kneeling reverently before an old book placed on an altar in a secretive room in a corner of the temple.

Facing it, he began with a sudden, unexpected statement that left Evangeline bewildered.

“This world is gravely amiss. A dragon is ultimately but a single creation of the gods, a mere beast. Yet, on the pretext of inheriting that bloodline, the descendants of beasts wield control over the Empire and the continent, using the ownership of the plains as leverage. The great masters of the world lie forgotten.”

“…You know I don’t need you to explain every grievance you have with this world or your purpose, don’t you? I didn’t come here to listen to tedious talk. By the way, why did you call me to such a place?”

The Archbishop said something unexpected.

“Do you know why I have cooperated with you, observed you, and tested you?”

“Well… because it would help us both achieve our goals.”

Evangeline felt a deep displeasure at his use of the word ‘tested.’

It was because she realized the arrogance and unpleasantness she often sensed from him were precisely that.

The Archbishop slowly shook his head. His long, black hair swayed lightly.

“If that were the case, it would have been better to observe the situation and join hands with the Crown Princess instead. There would be no reason to hold on to you as you are now.”

“…Don’t be ridiculous! If I’d known you called me here to insult me like this, I would never have come!”

Evangeline turned her face, flushed with shame and humiliation. She seemed ready to leave right then.

At that moment, a completely unexpected question seized her by the nape.

“I saw a rift between your soul and body. A peculiar phenomenon. One never found in ordinary humans.”

“…What on earth are you talking about……?”

“What is your name?”

“…Evangeline Ruth. Surely you didn’t still not know my name?”

“That is not it. What is the true name your soul possesses?”

Evangeline felt a chill run down her spine.

That shock and fear were not greater than the astonishment caused by the Archbishop’s following words.

“…I wonder if this pronunciation of your true name is correct. Isn’t it ‘Yushina’?”

“H-how do you know that?!”

She had not misheard. Clearly, the Archbishop had said ‘Yushina.’

The Archbishop smiled brightly and took out the old book from the altar.

The book, nearly as large as a shield, looked as if its pages would crumble and fall apart at any moment.

The Archbishop activated the divine artifact of Despoina he carried in his bosom. As the green light flowing from the gem touched it, the book began to glow.

The Archbishop turned the pages and showed her.

The book had more blank pages than written ones.

Even the pages with content were densely filled with characters Evangeline could not read.

Though she could not read them, Evangeline knew those characters were the sacred language used in the temple.

“This is……?”

“It is the <Book of Fate>, woven by the five goddesses.”

His explanation was rather lengthy and passionate, but in summary, it was this:

“After the Celestial God and the Earth Mother God created the world, they gave birth to the five sister goddesses. They decided to write stories into the world, which was like a blank book. They created the humans who would live in it.”

“Their method was this very <Book of Fate>. It is written with ‘words’ in a ‘book.’”

“Every story needs a protagonist. One soul at a time is always chosen as the protagonist of this <Book of Fate>. And…….”

Evangeline—no, the possessor Yushina—felt a thrill like lightning striking her from head to toe.

“That’s… me, right?”

It had to be. Absolutely.

If the answer had been no, she might have strangled the Archbishop to death.

“Correct. ‘Yushina.’ I only managed to read that name quite recently.”

“…!”

“That is your true name.”

So it was.

She was indeed the true protagonist of this world.

Why else would she, who had read the ‘original work,’ have possessed this world? Because she was the protagonist. No other answer could exist.

The Archbishop knelt respectfully before her, who was filled with ecstasy.

“You are the one chosen by the gods. The master of fate. You are an apostle of the gods.”

* * *

Evangeline felt a renewed thrill.

“You shall restore the Empire and this continent to the right path. From the clutches of beasts, into the embrace of the gods.”

She paid no mind to the Archbishop’s fanatical words.

But one thing pleased her.

To hold the Empire, the continent, in her grasp.

That was what Evangeline fervently desired.

Evangeline commanded the Archbishop boldly.

“I must become Empress.”

“I shall do my utmost to assist you.”

The Archbishop, who acknowledged her, was different from the Empress.

When she said she did not wish to put forward a child like Ludwig, he complied.

“Such a one is not worthy of you.”

He gave her the exact answer she desperately wanted.

And for this purpose, the Archbishop had prepared a trap at the temple on the Artanua plains, pouring his heart and soul into it.

Gathering the most powerful divine artifacts and sacred power.

For someone with diluted dragon blood like Ludwig, the sacred power of a few high priests could neutralize that power.

But Arpad could not be subdued at that level.

They were currently suppressing his dragon blood and magical power only by literally grinding down this temple, the artifacts collected over time, and the lives of dozens of priests to amplify the sacred power.

“Even that will not completely incapacitate the Crown Prince. But it can weaken and confuse him for a time.”

His words proved true. The current Arpad seemed confused and disoriented, unlike his usual self.

‘At this level, did I even need to impersonate Hilia?’

Feeling the strength of the thick arms tightly embracing her body, Evangeline shook her head.

No matter how weakened and confused he was, subduing Arpad alone was impossible for her.

Despoina was the goddess of seeds and harvest. All kinds of fruition also fell under her purview.

Children as well.

Tonight, this temple was filled with the blessing spread by Despoina’s divine artifact.

The imperial folklore about this temple stemmed from the power of Despoina lingering here.

Now, that power was being exerted several times more powerfully.

“Hilia…….”

It was displeasing that Arpad called that woman’s name, but it didn’t matter.

‘If we spend this night together… I will have Arpad’s child.’

And after obtaining the child, she planned, regrettably, to dispose of the weakened Arpad.

She wanted to possess him completely, but it couldn’t be helped.

It was impossible to fully dominate him even with the Archbishop or the artifact’s power, and he was not someone who would follow her lead like Ludwig.

Evangeline tightly embraced Arpad with both arms. And she led him to the central bed.

“At least for tonight, you are mine.”

Evangeline felt a fullness of joy and satisfaction she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Arpad, holding Evangeline without a gap, seemed to put his weight on her as if to push her down onto the bed.

Evangeline’s expectation and joy shattered to pieces the next moment.

*Crunch!*

A horrible sound rang out, and the pain arrived belatedly. Blood splattered, staining the white vestments.

“…!”

Evangeline realized Arpad had bitten her cheek.

Only then did she see the man’s eyes. The pupils glowing red in the shadows were those of a maddened beast.

Those of one seized by frenzy.

Evangeline’s scream echoed through the room.

“Aaaaaaah!!!”