Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 125 : Gods and Devils (2)

Gods and Devils (2)

The place we were headed to was the port city of Linken, located to the west of Setram.

According to Jade's information, Sehenz is currently staying in Linken, making various preparations to close the demonkin corridor.

“Clay-nim, wouldn’t it be easier if you just rode on my back and flew?”

Mersaya spoke to me with a rather exhausted face.

Well, it was understandable—she had been walking for over ten hours.

“That would draw too much attention. Plus, ever since the last incident, there are security measures everywhere.”

“Ugh…”

After I took a tour of Setram with Mersaya, the many magic towers scattered throughout the city had prepared large-scale anti-air shields.

Of course, if I pushed it a bit, we could break through, but it would inevitably draw immense attention.

Trying to rendezvous with Sehenz while avoiding Setram’s watchful eye, I didn’t see the need to go that far.

“I’m not used to walking…”

Mersaya moved side to side, grabbing her sheep-like curled horns.

It seemed to be her own way of showing she was extremely tired.

Grancesia, witnessing her, couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

[What kind of dragon is that weak?]

‘She’s spent her whole life flying or moving by magic—no wonder she’s not used to walking. Especially with all the running earlier.’

We had moved to a magic tower near Setram’s border and had been traveling on foot ever since.

Using a magic tower inside Setram meant that the clergy manning it would inevitably uncover our identities.

Not only that, but we had been crossing several mountains, minimizing contact with people as much as possible to avoid Setram’s gaze.

‘Honestly, just keeping up with us is praiseworthy, isn’t it?’

[So why did you even bring her? It’s like taking care of a child.]

Despite being a fully grown dragon, Mersaya had the demeanor and behavior of a child.

I was the only one who knew the reason after I checked her profile later.

Even so, it wasn’t a particularly compelling reason.

‘Anyway, a dragon can always act as a secret weapon.’

[Like maybe when we don’t care about standing out?]

‘Exactly.’

We needed to be careful only on the way there—on the way back, not so much.

‘Still, those two are as fresh as ever.’

Kisea and Ian, following behind, didn’t show a hint of fatigue.

Thanks to them, I felt a deep sense of reassurance that’s hard to describe.

After about two more days of travel, unlike before, we could taste the humid, salty air.

“Wow! It’s the first time I’ve ever seen the sea!”

Kisea beamed widely, admiring the sight of the sea in the distance.

While this humid air made me uncomfortable, Kisea didn’t seem to mind at all.

“With this heat and humidity, you sweat a lot if you train here.”

Ignoring Ian’s murmured comment, I checked the synopsis.

According to what I’d previously checked in Setram, there should be a new synopsis entry.

‘As expected.’

After checking the synopsis, I nodded.

==

Chapters 184~203, ‘Gods and Devils’

==

There was only a single episode taking place in Linken, but the content was quite substantial.

Thanks to that, it was easy to get an overview.

‘...Just as I expected?’

[What do you mean?]

‘That is…’

I calmly explained to Grancesia as we slowly walked toward Linken.

At the entrance to Linken, several soldiers and Holy Knights in gleaming white armor stood out.

“Amazing. I knew Setram’s influence was great, but not to this extent.”

Ian observed the scene, slightly awed.

The empire’s influence was enormous too, but never directly interfered in other nations.

On the other hand, Setram seeded clergy everywhere within kingdoms under its influence.

Even Linken, for instance, was a city of Daidalua, known as the maritime kingdom.

The fact that they would even interfere with law enforcement in a foreign country showed just how overwhelming Setram’s influence really was.

‘No wonder this continent is called Setram’s territory.’

As I surveyed the city, Kisea, also looking around, spoke up.

“But how do we get in? We can’t go through the front, right?”

“We can’t just walk in.”

“We can’t?”

Given that Inquisitor Jerta had tried to kill me, I was likely classified as a ‘heretic.’

That meant there was no telling how the clergy inside Setram’s territory would react if we bumped into them.

That was part of why we’d been careful all the way here.

Kisea looked puzzled by my vague answer.

Instead of explaining, I tapped the horns of Mersaya, who was panting beside me.

“Saya, can you do what we talked about before?”

“Ah! Yes, yes!”

It would be hard to operate in Setram as ‘Clay Vanhart.’

So, I had already asked Mersaya to prepare a solution.

Taking a deep breath, Mersaya gathered her magic power and cast a single spell.

“Polymorph!”

Polymorph was a spell that only dragons could cast and was permitted solely to them.

Many spells had been handed down from dragons to humans, later adapted for human use, but Polymorph was not among them.

It remained the exclusive domain of dragons, with unmatched effectiveness.

As the shining blue particles of magic surrounded and were absorbed by me, I felt my appearance beginning to change.

I grew taller, gained more muscle.

While my body felt a little off, I managed to adjust.

“How is it?”

When I showed my altered form to Ian and Kisea, both stared at me in shock.

“You can use that spell on others, too?!”

“So I’ve heard.”

Of course, since I wasn’t a dragon, Mersaya had to recast it on me at regular intervals.

The body itself was different from my original, so it felt a little strange.

I couldn’t adapt instantly like dragons did.

“But your face…”

Kisea murmured with a somewhat uncomfortable look.

“What about my face? Did you Polymorph me into someone weird?”

“No, it’s just… isn’t it a bit too handsome?”

“What?”

I hurriedly pulled a mirror from my bag and checked my face.

Just as Kisea said, I had a remarkably clean-cut, attractive face.

“This is way too conspicuous. You didn’t need to go this far… Mersaya?”

When I turned to look at her, running my fingers over my face, for some reason, Mersaya was looking at me with teary eyes.

“Marlon!”

Who’s Marlon supposed to be?

Mersaya shouted the name and ran into my arms.

She giggled, and all I could do was stand there awkwardly, flustered.

[What’s going on? Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?]

‘Don’t ask me.’

Grancesia snapped at me, but I had no idea why Mersaya was behaving like this.

Maybe Marlon was someone important to her?

“Marlon is the name of a waiter at Darsha’s tavern.”

While I was pondering who Marlon was, Ian, who had been standing silently, spoke up.

“…And how do you know the name of a tavern waiter?”

“A dragon in disguise confessed to Marlon and got rejected, which caused a commotion recently.”

No wonder I’d heard about the incident.

As I slowly looked down, Mersaya gave an awkward laugh.

I smiled faintly at her.

“Change it back. Now.”

“Yes…”

* * *

After another Polymorph transformation, we were able to enter Linken without issue.

Of our group, only Kisea kept her original appearance, and, as nobles from another nation, Ian and I needed only minor disguises.

Mersaya also had to erase her horns.

According to her, dragons’ horns are their symbol, and when they’re visible, it isn’t considered ‘play’ by dragons.

If a dragon hides their horns, it means they’re presenting a persona for play rather than their true self, apparently.

Dragon sensibilities were honestly hard to understand.

“But we should go by different names in the city, right?”

“Just in case.”

“Hmm. Then…”

Kisea quietly observed the disguised Ian.

He now looked like a teenage boy with striking brown hair.

“It’d be good if the names were similar to our real ones?”

“Makes it less confusing.”

“How about Gian?”

“Let’s use something else.”

It was important not to leave any clues behind.

In the end, Ian’s temporary name became the very common ‘Hans.’

“Then Clay, what should we call you? I have a name in mind.”

“What is it?”

I asked, not expecting anything too strange.

“Fabian.”

*Cough.*

When I heard the name Fabian from Kisea, I was momentarily taken aback.

What? How does she know that name?

“Why so surprised? Is it weird to use the main character’s name from the popular novel these days?”

“Oh, that’s what you meant.”

“Huh?”

Come to think of it, the novel I wrote had now spread across the whole continent, so it wasn’t odd for Kisea to know the name.

Still, hearing Kisea, the story’s main heroine, mention Fabian’s name felt strange.

‘Kisea doesn’t know I’m the author of that novel.’

Although, to be honest, the original was my father’s, not mine.

Anyway, although Kisea hadn’t appeared in the novel yet, a bit more progression and she would. I was curious how she’d react when that happened.

“I’d rather not be called Fabian. Just call me Ray.”

“That’s just one letter off.”

“That’s enough.”

I didn’t want to use Fabian.

It wasn’t just because it was the protagonist’s name, but borrowing his name left me unsettled for many reasons.

Anyway, we surveyed Linken and headed to the location where Sehenz was supposed to be.

According to Jade, he was at a tavern in a corner of Linken.

Though the Seven Heroes were greeted with cheers everywhere, things were a bit different in territories under Setram’s control.

Setram didn’t like high-profile activities, so the heroes had to stay discreet.

‘Even so, this is a bit much…’

Being a port city, Linken was teeming with people from many countries.

That meant there were severe security issues, and the tavern where Sehenz was staying was close to the slums.

“Is this really the place?”

“I’m sure.”

Even Ian seemed skeptical.

In the empire or any regular country, the Seven Heroes were as good as state guests.

What kind of country treats a state guest at a random tavern?

Creeeak.

Opening the door, the sweet scent of liquor hit my nose.

‘A den of thugs.’

Even at a glance, the tavern was filled with menacingly large, rough-looking men.

As soon as we entered, all eyes were glued to the beautiful Kisea and Mersaya.

‘Kisea, sure—but even Mersaya…?’

Mersaya looked like a girl barely into her teens.

Their gazes made me deeply uncomfortable.

Just as I was about to say something, Mersaya moved faster.

“How dare puny humans look at me like that?!”

“Squawk!”

As if her earlier exhaustion was a lie, Mersaya launched herself and kicked the man who was eyeing her, sending him flying.

It happened so fast, the rest of the patrons could only stare blankly.

“What the—?!”

“Is that girl insane?!”

Chairs clattered as the rest of the man’s group stood up.

But before they could even move, Mersaya’s tiny fist flew.

Despite being beaten up by us earlier, she was still a dragon.

Her physical ability was in a different league from humans.

It didn’t even take ten seconds for all five to collapse in a heap.

“If you dare look at me like that again, I’ll pluck your eyes out!”

Standing triumphantly with her foot on the stomach of a downed man, Kisea, Ian, and I quietly found ourselves a seat.

‘…Now I get why she got rejected at the tavern.’

It was crystal clear why she caused such a scene in Darsha too.

I had forgotten since she had been so docile, but Mersaya was the typical bully who only picks fights she can win.