Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 58 : Maria Timmons (2)

Maria Timmons (2)

It had been about two months since I began training under Damian.

After being beaten up day after day, I managed to learn up to the third technique.

"It took me over a month to master Crescent Moon Slash, but I finished the next two techniques in just ten days each..."

I muttered in disbelief after successfully executing the third technique.

It had taken me over a month just to master the first technique, Crescent Moon Slash, so it had felt hopeless at first, but I found myself bewildered at how the following techniques took only ten days each.

Just then, perhaps hearing my muttering, Damian approached to explain.

"It's only natural. All the techniques of the Moon Severing Divine Sword are built on a single foundation. Once you master one, the following techniques become much easier to learn."

"So that's how it is."

Damian crossed his arms and regarded me quietly.

"Weren't you leaving for Eintban in a few days, if I recall correctly?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Hmm... I see. There was something I wanted to try, but I suppose I'll have to put it off for later."

Try?

I couldn't help but wonder what kind of attempt he meant, if he sounded so disappointed.

"What attempt are you talking about?"

"I was devising a way to blend the magic power manipulation of Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art into the Moon Severing Divine Sword techniques, and I was just beginning to figure things out."

Damian's answer was astonishing.

Not because I didn't know what he meant. For instance, my footwork, Meteor Step, was also created based on that very method.

However, that was only possible because I understood the concept of 'profile', which is intrinsic to the nature of this world.

Normally, people are not even aware of their given profile—they can't break free from the world's pre-assigned fate and settings.

But Damian continued to speak as if it was no big deal.

"I've encountered countless martial artists and experienced their skills, but nothing compares to Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art. I was really looking forward to seeing how my Moon Severing Divine Sword would change when combined with it... It's a shame."

He truly seemed disappointed.

Well, it was understandable. From the start, he had always shown great interest in the Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art embedded in my movements.

'He really seems like your devotee.'

[Ugh, this is kind of embarrassing...]

'What's so embarrassing? He respects you, and he even became Sword God in the end, you know.'

[But when I think of what I said to Lugal, I feel like I regret it, and it scares me.]

Unexpectedly, Grancesia showed a vulnerable side when it came to mentioning bonds from her past.

'Come to think of it, I wonder if Damian knows why you're trapped in the ring?'

[... Probably not.]

Previously, I had asked Grancesia why her soul was sealed within the Eye of Shimosha.

Ridiculously, she had no idea how it had happened. She didn't even seem to remember how she had died.

Even Michelle, who inherited Grancesia's legacy, did not know the truth about her death.

'But still, he's the only one who witnessed your life firsthand. Isn't it at least possible?'

Then again, Damian was a person from centuries ago, from the era when Grancesia was still alive.

If anyone knew, it might be him.

"Sir Damian."

"Hmm?"

"There's something I'd like to ask about Lady Grancesia."

When I mentioned Grancesia's name, Damian looked at me with a pleased expression, as if to say, ask anything.

"Was there anything strange about Lady Grancesia... when she passed away?"

"Strange, hmm..."

Damian stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"All I heard was that Lady Grancesia suddenly passed away one day."

"Ah... is that so?"

As I showed my disappointment, Damian quickly added,

"But that makes no sense."

"What do you mean?"

"Lady Grancesia was the closest to divinity. Her flesh was nearly immortal, and her power was earth-shaking. To say she died of old age? That doesn't add up."

"She was that extraordinary?"

"At the time, if Lady Grancesia had lived on unchanged to this very era, it wouldn't be strange at all."

Though it sounded exaggerated, I couldn't say I was entirely unconvinced.

Even now, centuries after her death, Grancesia's remains had retained their youthfulness.

Grancesia, embarrassed by Damian's continued praise, let out an awkward cough.

[Ahem. That's not what matters right now, is it?]

'You're right—what bothers me is how unclear your memories are.'

Why is it that, although she has memories of other things, only those related to her death are fuzzy?

My guess was that something had interfered at the moment of her death.

'And...'

There was a vague thought in my mind that it might somehow be tied to 'Father's possession'.

* * *

For the remaining time, I performed a final review under Damian. I learned the basics of the fourth technique, and memorized the forms of the fifth and sixth techniques.

'I need to master up to the sixth technique by the time I return from Eintban.'

In order to learn the Moon Severing Divine Sword through Setting Addition, defeating Lugal would be the biggest challenge.

To raise my chances of success even a little, I needed to master more of the Moon Severing Divine Sword techniques before then.

'Just learning like this is already an incredible achievement for me...'

But I couldn't be satisfied with that.

If I stopped there, I would never reach Fabian's level of swordsmanship.

If I merely learned swordsmanship just like Fabian, it would be impossible to surpass him, the protagonist.

To get ahead of him, I needed to possess everything about the Moon Severing Divine Sword—even things that Fabian didn't know.

[At least you're learning at a smooth pace, considering your natural talent, so don't worry. You'll scrape by.]

'I hope that's supposed to be comforting?'

[Yeah.]

Then, don't say things like "considering your talent" or "you'll scrape by" anymore.

Honestly, even without saying it, I felt tense. If I could, I would have liked to delay my trip to Eintban a bit longer, but that was out of the question.

"Count Vanhart, don't worry about the mithril mine and have a safe trip."

Ravin, who sat in front of me, beamed at me.

Since the mining and distribution of the mine began, his face had grown brighter by the day.

"All right, I'll leave that to you."

"Thank you. And..."

"And?"

I asked, sensing there was more. Ravin gestured to the Merchant Guild members standing behind him.

A well-dressed woman stepped forward.

She wore her hood deep enough to cover her face, for some reason.

'Who is that?'

Ravin wouldn't introduce just anyone to me without reason.

As I widened my eyes to view her profile, the woman hesitated before slowly lifting her hood and greeted me.

"Hello, Count."

A young girl with soft pink-blonde hair and eyes.

But she was very much an adult, and someone I already knew.

"This is my younger sister, Maria."

It was Maria Timmons—Clay's supporter and one of the heroines.

'To think I'd meet her like this.'

The suddenness of the encounter left me a bit flustered, but she was indeed one of the main cast.

Grancesia, seeing Maria, spoke in a slightly curt tone.

[She's kind of pretty.]

'Not just kind of—she's incredibly pretty. Well, she's a heroine, after all.'

No way a main heroine would be plain. Even Monet, though uncertain to be categorized as a heroine, possessed great beauty.

"..."

Maria, according to the profile, was barely a year younger than me, but at first glance, she looked like a young teenager.

"... Count."

"Hmm?"

"You don't seem surprised to see me."

Her voice betrayed little emotion, making it hard to read, but I could somehow sense Maria's unease.

She seemed quite flustered at the moment.

'Why's that?'

Ravin also seemed oddly tense, gripping my hand as if he trusted me deeply.

"As expected of you, Count. You're so calm even meeting my sister..."

"Huh? Well, it's not something to be that surprised about, is it?"

I answered nonchalantly as I looked through Maria's profile again.

'Ah...'

As I read further down, I understood Ravin and Maria's reactions.

==

〈Maria Timmons〉

Age: 19

Gender: Female

Role: Merchant Guildmaster Timmons' younger sister. Fabian's supporter (main cast)

Possessed Abilities: Inborn Charm, Merchant's Instinct

Special Trait: Main cast of the novel 'Sound of the Sword'. Fabian's supporter, and the eternal maiden who loves him.

She is blessed with Inborn Charm and cursed with a constitution that prevents her from aging past a certain point.

Younger sister of Merchant Master Ravin Timmons; she supports Fabian with overwhelming resources and her own extraordinary talent.

Of half-demonkin heritage, her mother was a demonkin (succubus).

==

It was right there—in her possessed ability, Inborn Charm.

From the explanation, it was clear why Maria covered her face, and why Nior wanted her.

'It looks like the succubus blood is working a bit too strongly.'

The effect of Inborn Charm is simple.

Anyone who meets her or sees her face becomes attracted to her, one way or another.

Of course, "attraction" doesn't only mean one thing, and in Maria's case, since she hasn't learned to control it, the charm mainly affects the "opposite sex".

[It's like an enhanced version of the 'allure' ability that succubi have. You could probably use it in more diverse ways...]

'For a merchant, it's an unrivaled ability.'

Maria's ability wasn't something vague like Monet's fortune.

Because it was a phenomenon caused by her constitution, improving it would allow her to use it more deliberately.

'Half-demonkin, huh.'

This had never been mentioned in Ravin's profile.

So the answer was clear.

'Now I see why Ravin hadn't introduced Maria to me until now.'

With a sister like that, of course he'd worry.

'... But why hasn't her ability worked on me?'

[There are lots of possibilities, but I'm not sure. Most likely, because it's an ability derived from demonkin blood, it doesn't affect someone like you who possesses Divine Blood and my relic.]

Anyway, what mattered was that Maria's charm didn't affect me.

"If I'd known this, I would have introduced her sooner. I figured you wouldn't be swayed, being an extraordinary person, but still..."

Since I didn't know the reason, I couldn't say much.

But Ravin didn't seem to care why. That Maria's ability didn't work on me wasn't important to him.

"Count."

Ravin looked at me with some hesitation, then spoke seriously.

"Would you be able to take Maria with you to Eintban?"

That, too, was an unexpected request.