章 10: Melen, Music and ¿Vision?

Chapter Connected to This...

Arranging everything, Merlin turned around, revealing his bare backside, covered only by the "Gladius Patris," which he had found among some bushes extinguished by the fire.

With only his sword, nothing on his body except his dignity and multiple wounds, Merlin set off for Melen.

Meanwhile, the cloak that had accompanied him since the beginning of his journey lay worn on a cross, with a beautiful violet flower by its side.

.....

Shortly after the incident, Merlin quickly returned to Melen, where he went to the inn and ended up falling asleep.

He woke up later, completely naked, with his trusty sword resting beside him.

Merlin turned over in bed, staring at the ceiling in frustration.

"Damn it... I don't have any clothes left. I can't go out like this, in the buff," he muttered in annoyance.

With no options, he decided to call for the innkeeper.

When the woman entered, her eyes widened at the sight of Merlin, completely naked, covering just enough with his sword, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"Uh… hello, ma'am…" Merlin started to speak, but stopped when he noticed the woman was doing her best to avoid looking at him, focusing on anything other than his face. "My eyes are up here, by the way…"

The woman, still startled, finally let out a small laugh, breaking the tension of the awkward moment.

"Well, sir, it looks like you need more than just a bed for the night, don't you?" she said, amused but maintaining her composure.

Merlin nodded, sighing.

"Yeah, some clothes wouldn't hurt…"

The innkeeper chuckled lightly, promising to bring him some clothes while he waited. She left the room with a playful smile, leaving him alone in his discomfort.

Merlin sighed, leaning back against the wall, as he looked down at his sword resting over his "little friend."

"If this keeps up, I'll end up getting used to being naked…" he muttered, letting out a small ironic laugh.

A few minutes later, the innkeeper returned with a simple set of clothes: a linen shirt, some tight pants, and slightly worn boots. Merlin stood up and gratefully took the garments, offering a smile.

"Thank you, ma'am… I promise next time you see me, I'll be more presentable."

The woman laughed again before leaving the room.

"As long as you're wearing something, that's enough, dear. And by the way, congratulations… seems like you're well-equipped down there," she said, giving him a thumbs-up before stepping out. Unfortunately, her husband wasn't as equipped, but she loved him just the same.

Now dressed, Merlin walked over to the window of the small room. From there, he could see the daily life in Melen: merchants selling their goods, adventurers walking down the cobblestone streets, and the hum of conversations filling the air.

As he watched the scene, memories of the forest began to flood his mind: the girl, the fire…

"I wonder if she's okay…" he murmured, a trace of concern in his voice.

But he quickly shook those thoughts out of his head.

"Now's not the time to think about that," he told himself, giving his cheeks a light slap to snap out of it.

He decided to try something he had felt while in that "beastification" state. Closing his eyes, he let mana flow through his body. Soon, he felt something on his head. He ran his hand through his hair and noticed two large fox ears.

Curious, he took off his pants and focused the mana on his spine. After a moment, he felt a large white fox tail sprout from his back.

"Just as I thought…" he murmured, satisfied with his discovery.

Merlin had found a way to manifest his semi-beast features. He could bring out his tail and ears if he concentrated mana on them, as if unlocking an internal restraint that kept them hidden.

"I'm half human-renard, so it always felt weird not having visible ears or a tail. But it seems to make them appear, I need to focus mana on those parts…" he commented, moving the tail and ears naturally in front of the mirror.

For some reason, he now felt complete, unlike before, when he felt that something was missing.

"I guess my beastly side was uncomfortable being repressed. That might explain what happened last night…" Merlin reflected, as the memories of the previous events briefly flooded his mind.

Though he remembered the fury and massacre of the bandits, he felt no remorse. He surprised himself with the lack of guilt, but attributed it to his outcast class and his ability to adapt to the environment. He had already adapted to the "cruel" environment of this world.

Shaking off those thoughts, Merlin fully dressed and decided to head towards Gorim's forge. There were still many matters to resolve.

.... Present ....

"God, what one has to do to avoid a fate worse than death. Luckily, I learned how to manifest my semi-human side," Merlin thought, looking at his tail for a moment. He recalled the moment he learned it was a bad idea to keep his "urges" under control.

Snapping out of his memories of the forest, Merlin saw all the people around him, waiting for him to sing while he remained dressed as a woman...

Looking closely at those present, Merlin recognized a couple of faces.

First, there was the god Apollo, with his classic laurel crown that matched his blonde hair. Dressed in party clothes, he observed Merlin with an expression of disappointment.

"I thought he was a man, but it's a woman. Tsk," Apollo muttered, dropping into a chair, resigned to waiting for the music.

Next to Apollo was the goddess Aphrodite, with her short blonde hair and her signature delicate figure. She, on the other hand, smiled enthusiastically.

"Hohoho~ What a beautiful woman! She definitely has a place in my family just for that beauty," Aphrodite said, with that seductive voice that was so characteristic of her.

Merlin couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Aphrodite, of course… and Apollo too. But wait, there's someone else…" Thinking, he looked away and saw a familiar figure.

Demeter, the goddess of the largest family of farmers in Orario, was present. No, not martial arts cultivators, but food cultivators. She was a mature woman with long golden hair and vibrant orange eyes. Her figure was imposing, with well-defined curves, and she wore a long pink dress that highlighted her charms. Looking at her, Merlin could only think of one word: milf.

After scanning the rest of the crowd, he didn't recognize any other gods in particular.

He took a deep breath, and without further ado, stood up and walked to the stage. His voice shifted to a softer, more feminine tone, adapting to the character he had assumed for the occasion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I hope you've enjoyed the party. Now, without further ado, I ask for your attention to listen to a few songs. Enjoy."

Merlin positioned himself in front of the stage and began to sing, immediately capturing the attention of everyone present.

[Stay With Me - Miki Matsubara]

|For you... Yes, my love, for you...

For you, my love... for you, for you...|

He paused briefly, grabbing the guitar while manipulating mana threads to play other instruments at the same time, creating a surrounding harmony.

|I am me, and you are you,

You said that last night, that's how you felt.

You, with that gray jacket,

The one that always has that coffee stain,

Just like always...

Our reflections in the window glass...|

The melody flowed smoothly, as Merlin, now completely absorbed in the song, observed the audience and began to move, letting his body follow the rhythm of the music. His voice, deep and melancholic, filled the space, enveloping everyone present in an atmosphere of nostalgia.

|Stay with me...

Knocking on the door at midnight,

I beg you not to go home tonight.

The seasons are changing right before us...|

As he gripped the microphone tighter, his movements became more fluid, synchronized with the beat. The energy in the room began to shift, and both the gods and adventurers present couldn't take their eyes off him.

|Stay with me,

As we hum together,

This moment is just ours.

I swear that, as long as I live,

I'll never forget this.|

|There are many ways to love,

That's what you told me last night.

Winter has come for the second time,

But your heart is still so far away...|

The feelings Merlin let out with each word resonated throughout the room, connecting with everyone present. His voice conveyed every emotion, every sensation that the song stirred within him.

|Stay with me...

I knocked on the door at midnight,

A hole opened in my heart,

The seasons change, and we're here, before them...|

With the microphone in hand, Merlin continued dancing, his movements perfectly accompanying the music, as the eyes of the crowd followed his every step. Mortals and gods alike, both fascinated by the intensity of his performance.

|Stay with me...

Loneliness weighs so much...

The needle on my old record player

Keeps playing the same melody, over and over...|

And Merlin continued, letting the song flow without restraint.

|They say love and attraction are two different things,

That's what you said last night,

As the second winter fell...

Your heart drifted further and further away...|

Finally, after a few more notes, the song came to an end.

When the last note of the song faded away, silence filled the room for a brief moment. The faces in the crowd were a sea of emotions: some looked moved, others fascinated, and many simply surprised.

Suddenly, an explosion of applause broke the silence. The gods and adventurers present clapped enthusiastically, some even standing from their seats to show their appreciation.

Afrodite was the first to speak, letting out a delighted laugh as she gracefully applauded.

"Oh, dear, not only are you beautiful, but you also have a wonderful voice!" she said, looking at Merlin with bright eyes. "My family will always have a place for you. What a divine talent!"

Apollo, though still disappointed for mistaking Merlin for a man, couldn't help but acknowledge his musical skill. He crossed his arms and, after a sigh, nodded his head.

"You have an extraordinary ability to touch people's hearts," Apollo commented. "It's rare to find a mortal with such talent."

Merlin, still in his female disguise, felt a warmth spread through his body, not only from the ovation but from the sensation of having connected with the audience in a profound way. The gods' words and the enthusiasm of the adventurers were proof of that.

Demeter, the goddess of harvests, smiled sweetly from her seat.

"That song reminded me of hard times..." she commented, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. "Thank you for that moment, I remembered many of my children."

Merlin responded to everyone with a slight bow, trying not to show how much the attention affected him.

Merlin stood in front of the crowd, preparing to perform a song that, unknowingly, was deeply and inexplicably connected to him.

"Well, folks, I hope you enjoy this last song of the night," he said with a slight smile. "Now, without further ado, let's enjoy."

[THERE IS A REASON, Konomi Suzuki ; No Game no Life:Zero]

Taking various instruments and sitting in a chair in front of the stage, Merlin began to speak in a soft, melodic voice.

—This is a story from six thousand years ago, a long and chaotic war that devastated the Earth...

The audience's gaze was focused on him, captivated by his words. The atmosphere filled with anticipation.

—No one remembers the details, there are no records from that time... —Merlin continued, his fingers caressing the guitar strings—. But I am the only one who remembers.

He began to play a soft, nostalgic melody, each note resonating with an emotional weight that entranced everyone present.

Soon, Merlin started to sing.

Where should I begin to speak?~

Even if you grow tired of listening~

I won't let you say it's the end~

Even if the urge to write subconsciously~

Ends up breaking everything~

We can start anew, the impossible~

There's a reason we meet in this world~

There's a reason we sense, a magnetic wave~

Where will the world go if we hurt each other?~

...

Pausing for a moment, Merlin stood up and, with a strong voice, continued.

.....

So the reason I cry for love~

Is because you are there~

It's because I can only call on you~

I'll begin to sing for love~

So we can survive together~

I'll always be with you~

.....

Looking towards Lake Melen, Merlin continued singing with passion.

....

When I looked at the blue sky, I noticed the ocean below was like a crystal-clear mirror~

No matter where you are~

No matter what shape you take~

No matter how much time has passed~

I will find you~

So what will you do?~

Let's go against this fate suspended in the air~

There's a reason we meet in this world~

There's a reason we sense a magnetic wave~

If we're drawn to each other, where will we go?~

.....

Closing his eyes, phrases came to Merlin's mind, phrases that connected him at a fundamental level...

"Open complete code, constructing..."

"Calculating unknown combat procedure... in progress."

"Let my thoughts and heart transfer to a machine, give me life."

"I'll wager it all, in these 251 seconds."

Coming out of his memories, Merlin continued with a strong tone filled with love and passion.

.....

So the reason I fight is for love!~

It's because you're here with me~

It's because only I can protect you~

I'll keep praying for love~

So no one gets hurt~

I'll always be by your side~

...

Closing his eyes, a series of images flooded Merlin's mind.

|"The loss of support is not a failure."

"We are machines, the support of the soul."|

Continuing to sing, the phrases kept coming to Merlin.

.....

Let's go beyond all the hate

|"There's no life, there's no death"

Let's abandon any false sense of justice

Open Code Org000 Open, begin the ****|

...

Opening his eyes, just as he saw a hand turning to bones as it reached for an object, but the hand never stopped, Merlin continued to sing with passion.

.....

So the reason I cry is for love~

It's because you're there~

We'll always be together~

For love~

I can keep moving for love~

If you're here with me~

Because I can only protect you~

I'll keep praying for love~

So we can survive together~

Always, we'll always be together~

When the last note faded into the air, Merlin stopped the song and looked at the crowd before him.

Many people were crying, while others applauded with overflowing emotion. Without saying another word, Merlin bowed slightly in gratitude and, with a serene calm, stepped off the stage, disappearing behind the curtain.

"Was that hand...? What did I see?" he thought, looking at his own hand with a mix of bewilderment and curiosity.

The memories of what he had witnessed during the song lingered in his mind, but they were confusing, fragmented.

Shaking his head slightly, Merlin pushed those thoughts aside for the moment and continued walking, with the sole purpose of reaching the tavern.

There, in that usual refuge, he would transform back into his human, normal form, once again concealing his true identity.

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[End of Chapter 10]

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Hello, I loved this chapter, although I know that there are parts of the song that are different, but it is a song that is Japanese, translated into Spanish, and then translated into English, so obviously there will be problems, that is why I recommend that you go to youtuber and listen to it, you will not regret it.

Thank you for giving me such beautiful music Miki Matsubara, may you rest in peace

[2670 words]