Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 63 : One Who Dreams of the Future (2)

One Who Dreams of the Future (2)

Creak!

As I opened the wooden door and stepped inside, a gratingly unpleasant noise echoed thanks to the old hinges.

Some of the people inside the building turned their attention to Maria and me.

"What the hell? Who's that punk?"

"He just looks like some rich kid from a good family..."

Rough-looking men with fierce expressions looked us up and down as if appraising us.

At first, they only reacted to me, but when they saw Maria follow in behind, I heard a faint snicker.

There was so much chatter that I couldn't catch all the words, but it seemed they thought I was a knight escorting Maria.

Well, considering Maria was a petite girl whose head barely reached my chest, it was no wonder.

'And with her face covered, it's only natural they assume she's a noble in hiding.'

[Tch. Judging by appearances alone—shows what kind of skills they have.]

Grancesia clicked her tongue, mocking those mercenaries.

From my perspective, they seemed to be somewhat skilled, but in Grancesia's eyes, they were nothing but laughable.

"Hey! I don't care how rich that lady is—we're expensive!"

"And why is her face all covered up? Let us see a little, will you?"

Sneering laughter echoed through the room.

It really showed just how lawless the security in Lintrea was.

"They treat me like a noble, yet they dare to say things like that. How absurd."

"This place might as well be outside the reach of the law. Anyway, did you find anything?"

"No. I don't think what we're looking for is on the first floor."

I looked around as well, but I didn't see anyone with a noteworthy profile.

Most of those present were extras—none were involved with Rutia.

"So, is this everyone in Black Skull?"

"Why are you asking? Got a job for us or something?"

At my words, a muscular man with a massive build abruptly stood up.

His already fierce face was even more intimidating thanks to multiple scars.

I gave the man a faint mocking smile.

"No. I just figured, if this is all you've got, it really says a lot about your mercenary band's level."

"You little bastard...!"

At my remark, several mercenaries immediately shot to their feet.

Especially the one right in front of me—he turned red with anger and swung his thick fist without warning.

Pow!

"Guh!"

The mercenary's body was sent flying, crashing through several tables before coming to a stop.

That was the signal.

Mercenaries who'd been seated sprang up as one, rushing toward me.

"Arrogant bastard! Don't think you'll walk out of here alive!"

As they each gripped their weapons and charged, I leisurely balled my fist and adopted a stance.

'No need to bother drawing my sword for this.'

Most of them were basic sword users, with only two Sword Experts among them.

No need to be scared, even if they came at me in a group.

Whack! Thud! Bam!

"Argh!"

In an instant, three mercenaries tumbled across the floor, their front teeth broken.

The completed attack was a blend of Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art and New Star.

Even before, New Star was already unmatched for speed—but with Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art added, it became so fast it was impossible to follow with the naked eye.

Witnessing this up close, the mercenaries finally realized something was terribly wrong and hesitated.

"What's with all this commotion!"

Then, someone came downstairs and shouted loudly.

'That must be him.'

I nodded as I checked the newly arrived man's profile.

As expected, those below were just underlings—the real deal was elsewhere.

"S-Sorry, vice-captain. That kid provoked us and..."

"Tsk. Opening your mouth without gauging your opponent's strength—what else did you expect?"

The man called vice-captain clicked his tongue, glaring sharply at Maria and me.

"What the hell is going on? Things sounded lively down here."

This time, a woman's voice was heard.

About six mercenaries followed behind the vice-captain, descending lazily from the second floor.

'As expected—these are all people mentioned in the original work.'

Each of the six mercenaries who'd come down was highly skilled.

'Five Sword Experts, with two advanced-rank among them...'

If you included the vice-captain who came down first, that made seven.

These were likely the core members of the Black Skull mercenary band.

'For a mercenary band, they're excessively luxurious.'

Well, that's probably why they could fight calamities alongside the protagonist.

As I calmly watched, the vice-captain frowned.

"... I see you have skill, but to come into a mercenary band's base of operations and make a scene takes guts."

"Better ridiculed than someone's pushover."

"Sometimes, backing down is the right answer."

"But not this time, right?"

When I responded lightly to the vice-captain's words, his eyebrows twitched.

At that, among the six standing behind him, an exclamation of admiration burst out.

"What a bold big brother. But... who's the girl behind you?"

The only female among them stepped forward and grinned.

Pink hair and red eyes.

Even without checking her profile, I knew who she was.

It was Rutia—Maria's mother.

[... Tch. Did she just call you big brother? At her age, is she serious?]

'Aren't you seventy, too?'

[My heart is always young. And at least I don't act all flirty like her. Ugh—makes my skin crawl.]

For me, both of them were equally so, but I decided to let it go.

Anyway, as I'd expected, Rutia appeared to be in her late teens.

She wore light clothes and had an overall agile look—it was obvious at a glance she was quite skilled.

'She's hiding the fact she's a succubus.'

Naturally. Succubi are clearly demonkin.

"... Are you curious about who I am?"

Then, Maria, who had been quiet, murmured softly.

Though her voice was as emotionless as ever, I could tell Maria was supressing her emotions to an extreme.

Shuffle.

"Who do you think I am?"

Maria slowly removed her hood.

Long pink hair cascaded down softly.

"...!"

Rutia, who had been watching us both curiously, froze.

"What's wrong, Rutia?"

The other members around her gave puzzled looks at Rutia's strange reaction.

As if triggered by their words, Rutia immediately rushed toward Maria.

Tap!

"Come with me!"

In an instant, she grabbed Maria's wrist and ran out of the building with her.

Everything happened so suddenly that the inside of the mercenary band's base instantly fell silent.

"What... What's gotten into her?"

"They look alike—wait, are they sisters or something?"

Only after a short while did the mercenaries start muttering.

Almost all of it revolved around Rutia, who'd vanished at lightning speed, and Maria, dragged away by the hand.

"Hey, who exactly is the girl you brought? I've never seen Rutia react that way..."

I simply ignored the vice-captain's disgruntled question and strolled outside.

After all, the one I needed was Rutia, not them.

* * *

Rutia and Maria were at a bar a short distance away from Black Skull's base of operations.

In Lintrea, where the security was poor, this was quite a dangerous place, but no mercenary with any sense would dare mess with Rutia of Black Skull.

"......"

"......"

The two found a table in a dim corner, exchanging glances but keeping their mouths tightly shut.

In the stiflingly awkward silence, I dragged over a chair and joined them.

"For a mother-daughter reunion, isn't the atmosphere a bit too chilly?"

"... Who are you?"

"Hm?"

She looked at me with incredulity.

"You weren't supposed to come here... And there was no mention of Maria being here."

"What?"

I'd been listening with composure, but her words startled me.

She was speaking as if she knew about the 'original story.'

'This is...'

I hurriedly checked Rutia's profile, and only then did I understand.

Why she was here.

And why she'd abandoned Maria and left.

==

〈Rutia Timmons〉

Age: 48

Gender: Female

Role in the story: Prophet (Supporting Character)

Abilities: Prophetic dreams, succubus's charm

Special trait: Mother of Maria Timmons. A supporter aiding Fabian in Eintban.

A particularly powerful member of the succubus race, possessing unique abilities.

She can see fragments of the future through prophetic dreams.

It was for this reason that she left the demonkin, gave birth to Maria, and abandoned everything to head to Eintban.

With her help, Fabian manages to defeat Sior, the winter spirit and sword's guardian.

Later, Rutia helps Fabian's party escape from Margal, the Count of Crimson Flames, a top-rank demonkin who attacks to seize the sword.

After giving Fabian her last words as they flee, Rutia traps Margal in a dream to buy them time, but ultimately dies.

==

'Prophetic dreams...'

It was a power that explained all of Rutia's previously inexplicable actions.

Why, as demonkin, she'd married the Timmons merchant guildmaster.

Why she'd left for Eintban shortly after Maria's birth.

'But rather than a general future, did she see the "original story's" future?'

In a sense, it was an ability similar to my synopsis.

Especially the fact that she only saw "fragments" of an imperfect future.

'The only difference being that she saw them in dreams.'

But right now, something else bothered me more.

'This isn't good.'

I was determined to somehow change the future and create one different from the original story.

A future where Rutia Timmons did not die.

But as soon as I saw Rutia's profile, I felt despair.

'Top-rank demonkin, huh...'

In the synopsis, it was only stated as "a demonkin who attacks to seize the sword," so I hadn't considered it a big threat.

After all, I'd already defeated advanced-rank demonkin, so I thought it would be possible somehow.

But this time, the enemy was actually a top-rank demonkin—a titleholder.

Until now, I'd overcome absurd crises more than once, but this time I had no idea what to do.

"Why don't you say something?"

While I was lost in thought, Rutia impatiently pressed me again.

"Who are you? Why are you here with Maria, when she should have been in Bellen domain?"

She was intensely wary of me. No doubt, because I hadn't appeared in her prophetic dreams.

"I'm Clay Vanhart, Lord of Vanhart territory, which borders Bellen's lands."

"Vanhart territory? But that place was already destroyed..."

"What are you talking about, mother?"

Flustered, Rutia stammered, and Maria cut her off coldly.

"The Count saved me. If it weren't for him, I would've become a maid of the House of Count Bellen."

"W-Wait, Maria. That was never your fate. You were meant for much greater..."

"Greater? Sold off as a servant? I don't know what you're talking about, mother."

Maria's gaze was ice cold. From her perspective, Rutia's words and actions were utterly incomprehensible.

"Wait, Maria."

I stopped Maria, whose emotions had flared up for once.

"You can get angry after you've heard her out."

"..."

Maria bit her lower lip hard, then nodded.

"Yes, I'm sorry. Seeing Mother brought up some emotions."

That wasn't Maria's fault. Anyone would react the same way upon meeting a parent who had abandoned them.

"Rutia Timmons, let me ask one thing at a time. Why did you abandon Maria and leave for Eintban?"

"That's because..."

I already knew why thanks to the profile, but Maria deserved to hear it herself.

And who's to say the profile told the whole story.