Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 59 : Maria Timmons (3)

Maria Timmons (3)

For a moment, I didn't quite understand what Ravin was saying. Who exactly did he want me to take with me to Eintban?

"... What did you say?"

"I would like to ask you to take Maria with you when you go to Eintban."

"Can I ask why?"

At my question, Ravin hesitated, unsure if it was all right to tell me.

At that moment, Maria stepped forward and spoke.

"I'll explain, Count."

"It seems there's a special reason."

"Yes. It's because of my bloodline."

Maria took a deep breath and began.

"My mother is not the same as my brother's. My mother was... demonkin."

I already knew that from the profile.

But I pretended to be surprised.

"Demonkin?"

"Yes, to be precise, a succubus. My biological mother was a succubus, and I was told she disappeared after giving birth to me."

As I stared at her, Maria seemed to understand my gaze and added,

"My brother does not have tainted blood like I do, so you don't need to worry. His mother was a normal human who, unfortunately, passed away from disease."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with your bloodline."

"... Excuse me?"

"I just don't understand why you need to go to Eintban with me."

So, Maria's bloodline is that of a succubus.

But that alone doesn't explain why she has to come to Eintban with me.

'Besides, I already have a half-dragon companion. A half-demonkin isn't much in comparison.'

I thought of that certain princess, who was probably reading in the mansion while sipping tea at this moment.

Riya really spent her days like she was on vacation, holing up in her room unless it was to see me.

[It's just a dragon's nature. Dragons are lazy by default. Their favorite pastime is counting their gold in their lair.]

Thanks to explanations like this from Grancesia, my romantic image of dragons from legends had long since crumbled.

"To put it simply, I want to travel by your side because it's safer."

"Safer? Because your abilities don't work on me?"

"That's right. Until now, other than family, you're the only one who can look me in the eye without showing any strange emotions."

I see. Not a perfect explanation, but a convincing one.

"And the reason I need to go to Eintban is that I've learned my mother is there."

"Didn't you say she was a succubus?"

Maria slowly nodded.

"Our Merchant Guild has been looking for information about my mother, but it wasn't easy to find. Recently, we heard of a beautiful woman with pink hair being seen in the capital of Eintban."

Maria gently touched her own hair with her finger.

Pink hair certainly isn't common.

But seeing how certain she seemed, the information she received must have included more than just hair color.

There's no way sharp Maria would move on just that clue.

"What do you plan to do when you meet your mother?"

"First, I'll question her. For abandoning me after giving birth."

"And after that?"

The answer was gentler than I'd expected.

I'd thought she might harbor sizable resentment toward her mother for abandoning her.

"I want to learn how to use my abilities. Judging by what my father told me of her personality, she'll surely teach me."

"She must have had quite an unusual personality."

"I heard she had a curious nature and lost interest quickly. So, since I have stronger abilities than a normal succubus, she'll be curious about me. I just need to learn how to use my powers then. After that, I won't linger."

To cut ties so cleanly like that...

She seemed frighteningly cold.

'That's exactly the personality described in the synopsis.'

Maria's personality, as described there, was simple.

Cynical and determined—she would use any means necessary to achieve her goals.

She tolerated any humiliation necessary, so long as it didn't involve her own feelings toward her goal.

That's how she managed to control Count Bellen—and in the end, even turned the House of the Count upside down and grew the Timmons Merchant Guild.

'In the end, she uses Fabian to utterly destroy even the House of Count Bellen for her revenge.'

What a terrifying woman.

'Except for Monet, why are all the women around me so scary?'

[Hey, I'm not that scary, okay? I'm the Saintess!]

'Only when it suits you, huh.'

After reflecting on everything Maria had said, I nodded.

"Fine. I'll allow you to join me when I go to Eintban."

"R-Really?"

For the first time, Maria looked at me in surprise, breaking her previously cold expression.

"It's no matter to me. But in exchange, the Merchant Guild will cover all travel expenses."

"Of course. We've already amassed capital from mithril trading, so you won't need to worry about funds."

Her face was still expressionless and her voice emotionless.

But faintly reddened cheeks betrayed her excitement.

[You agreed more easily than I thought!]

'Honestly, the biggest reason I helped Ravin was because of her. Maria will be a huge asset if I make her one of my people.'

Until now, with the help of the synopsis, I'd gained information others didn't have and used it to my advantage.

But that luck wouldn't last forever—eventually, I'd hit a wall.

In fact, at the Empire's Founding Festival, if Riya hadn't helped, I'd have had a hard time stopping the calamity of disease and demons.

'But if Maria is at my side, that changes things.'

As long as I could make use of her intelligence, I could maximize the effectiveness of my foreknowledge of future events.

'... Her personality is a bit scary, but if the synopsis is right, it shouldn't be a problem.'

Maria always paid back her enemies, no matter how long it took, but was infinitely kind and loyal to her allies.

She would even put herself at risk for those she cared for—especially for Fabian.

A consummate merchant, and yet someone who didn't suit the word at all. That was Maria Timmons.

"Then we'll depart in two days, so be ready by then."

"Understood. You plan to travel incognito with the Merchant Guild, right?"

"That's right."

Eintban is a closed country.

If a count from another nation entered without clear purpose, there would surely be resistance.

Traveling with the Timmons Merchant Guild to hide my identity was the smarter choice.

"Understood. I'll prepare the necessary identification as well. If you have any companions to add, please let me know in advance."

"Will do."

With that, preparations for Eintban were complete.

An unexpected companion had joined, but Maria would never be a burden.

'Now, for the last thing...'

All that remained was to retrieve "that" from the fairy forest.

* * *

"Welcome, Clay Vanhart."

As soon as I arrived at Kiten Forest, Beatrice greeted me with a bright smile.

Thanks to all our conversations while coming and going from the dungeon, Beatrice and I had grown quite close.

To the point where, despite being the fairy queen, she'd allowed me to call her by name.

"Yes, Beatrice. I came to say goodbye before leaving on a long journey."

"You say that, but you're really here to receive that, aren't you?"

"That's just a bonus."

"Fufufu."

Beatrice laughed like a girl and raised her right hand.

A bright light gathered and began to take the shape of something long and slender.

"Clay Vanhart, human chosen by the Sword of Man Genova. I bestow upon you the scabbard made by all the fairies of our southern lands."

At last, Beatrice was holding an antique wooden scabbard engraved with silver.

"This is the fairy scabbard, 'Agatram'."

Anyone could tell at a glance this wasn't an ordinary scabbard.

Through my Eye of Insight, I could see spiritual energy flowing through it, mana swirling in spirals.

"The material is fairywood, protecting our domain—my own body—and the hair of countless fairies, all worked into the scabbard's engravings."

Fairywood, the source of Beatrice's power, had strength unlike any normal wood.

As tough as orichalcum, yet light, and conducting mana as well as a mana stone.

I thought that, unless I unleashed Genova, this scabbard itself might be more valuable than the sword.

==

〈Agatram〉

A scabbard crafted from the fairywood of the southern fairy queen, Beatrice, and the hair of countless fairies.

Grants the bearer resistance to poison and disease, as well as fast recovery.

Also allows the owner to more effectively absorb surrounding mana and aids mana control.

==

[That's totally overpowered!]

'Isn't it...'

Grancesia muttered in a dazed voice.

I couldn't help but agree.

The scabbard's abilities were enough to leave even me—who'd known most of them in advance—speechless.

The parts about disease and poison were useless to me, but even leaving those aside, its value was enormous.

[I doubt there's a better scabbard out there. I don't think even Damian has used anything that good!]

A scabbard even the Sword God Damian had never used.

'Well, it's mine now.'

Doing my best to maintain a neutral expression, I accepted the scabbard from Beatrice.

"Thank you, Beatrice. I never imagined you'd give me such a marvelous gift."

"We didn't expect to create an item this incredible, so there's no need for so much gratitude. It's all your good fortune."

As I slowly sheathed Genova, the scabbard adjusted itself perfectly to the sword.

The more I looked at it, the more miraculous it seemed.

Simply wearing it, I could feel a subtle flow of mana gathering around me.

'A single scabbard really does change the quality of your life.'

No wonder people use the best items they can.

"You said you're headed to Eintban, right?"

"That's right."

"Then I pray for your good fortune. To my knowledge, there's another sword like yours there."

Beatrice was right.

Fabian would also obtain another sword in Eintban.

The Sword of Boundary, Solaris.

That sword was in Eintban.

* * *

Two days later, the day of departure for Eintban.

Riya looked at me with a sullen face.

"... You're telling me, your escort, to stay behind?"

"But we don't know what Nior might attempt."

"Would he really do something like that?"

Common sense dictates that the House of Count Bellen wouldn't pull anything after a warning from the imperial princess.

"But thanks to you, Nior has lost Count Bellen's trust and his position as heir is shaky. No one knows what a cornered rat will do."

"I suppose... you could be right."

Riya sighed softly.

Then she gazed out the mansion window at the Timmons Merchant Guild carriages outside.

To be precise, at Maria, waiting for me with longing.

"Hmph."

Riya's pupils narrowed like a lizard's.

Proof that she was in a rather bad mood.

Even so, the fact that she didn't refuse my request suggested how much she respected me.

"If it really gets dangerous, I'll ask for your help, so don't worry too much."

"What I'm worried about is... Never mind. All right, I'm used to waiting anyway."

Normally, she always had a graceful smile, but now she sounded like a petulant teenage girl. Honestly, I found this side of Riya more approachable.

[Weren't you originally planning to take that lizard girl with you, too?]

'Maria is coming along. Their personalities wouldn't mix well, would they?'

[True. Both of them have prickly personalities.]

'It's not that bad...'

At any rate, there were several reasons for not taking Riya.

As I just explained to her, it was partially a precaution, but I also doubted she and Maria would get along.

'If it really gets bad, I can always warp here via the Magic Tower.'

After arriving in Eintban and assessing the danger, there were ways to summon her if necessary.

It would put me in her debt, but it couldn't be helped.

"Take care of the mansion."

"Yes, leave it to me. But... heh, well."

Riya did what she always did, covering her lips with her hand as she smiled softly.

"This makes me feel like the lady of the house in my own way. It's not a bad feeling."

... Well, if she's happy, that's good enough.