How To Live As A Writer In A Fantasy World

Demonic worshipers are shrouded in mystery, possessing abilities that defy the world’s common sense.

One of the most notable examples is necromancy.

Even necromancy itself was treated as top-secret until it became publicly known.

Necromancy does not completely resurrect the dead, but it is a deeply unethical practice.

Scholars are divided on whether it should be classified as magic or sorcery.

While rituals, akin to sorcery, are required to practice necromancy, its systematic structure resembles magic.

Thus, necromancy has become a hallmark of demonic worshipers, and its dangers are widely recognized.

However, necromancy is not merely the ability to animate corpses.

While that is the publicly known aspect, it encompasses a variety of abilities.

For instance, necromancy can summon the dead to converse with their spirits or temporarily transfer the practitioner’s soul elsewhere.

Mastery of necromancy can even allow the practitioner to transfer their soul into a new body upon the expiration of their current one.

Consequently, some demonic worshipers have used this method to extend their lifespans, leading to their involvement in human trafficking.

This trade serves not only to offer sacrifices to the “Father of All Things” but also to find suitable bodies for themselves.

However, this heinous method was so exclusive that only a tiny fraction of demonic worshipers practiced it, leaving its existence virtually unknown.

“Mother! Stay with me! Someone, get a priest, quickly!”

“Why did she suddenly collapse? What did you do to her?”

“What could I have done? She just fell over as I reached out to stop her rushing in!”

Chaos erupted at the entrance of Halo Academy, where knights stationed at the gate scrambled in confusion around an elderly woman lying motionless on the ground.

They shook her body and attempted first aid, but the woman showed no signs of life.

[That’s because she’s dead.]

Overlooking the frantic scene was a man whose lips curled into a smirk.

At first glance, he might be mistaken for a wizard, but his appearance was strikingly peculiar.

His entire body was pitch black, as if stained, and his features were unnervingly plain.

He was completely naked, yet devoid of reproductive organs, resembling an unfinished sculpture.

His face was smooth like an egg, with only a mouth present, creating an eerie impression.

[I must move before she arrives.]

Muttering to himself, the man slipped past the commotion into the academy.

The elderly woman had been nothing more than a decoy to buy time.

His true target was within the academy: Isaac, his greatest adversary.

[No matter how favored he is by false gods, he cannot guard his soul.

I’ve gone to great lengths for this moment, through countless nuisances.

All to accomplish this grand endeavor.]

The man reflected on his efforts to eliminate Isaac.

Normally, he would have transferred into new bodies like changing clothes, but the exposure of his human trafficking operation had rendered such practices nearly impossible.

The Minerva Empire, once his haven, had launched an extensive crackdown, supported by neighboring nations.

Should the operations be fully dismantled, the slave trade would be eradicated.

Thus, he had personally intervened.

[Living in that body won’t be so bad.

I’ve heard there’s no shortage of beauties around, including the Elf Queen.

I should’ve done this sooner, haha.]

The man—or rather, the soul—let out a lecherous chuckle as he advanced toward Isaac’s location, filled with anticipation.

Although the revelation of demonic worshipers’ existence was a significant blow, the specifics of their abilities remained largely undisclosed.

Even when possessing the elderly woman earlier, the church’s priests failed to detect him, not even the Grand Inquisitor, Kate.

Only in his exposed spiritual form might they notice him, but while possessing a host, special measures were required to identify him.

[Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will be victorious.

Nothing’s changed since the past.]

He had gathered every piece of information available about Isaac, including his divine favor.

Attempting possession without preparation would have been futile, given Isaac’s powerful divine protection.

However, he had offered numerous sacrifices to breach that divine barrier.

Once that was overcome, seizing Isaac’s soul would be a trivial matter.

Divine protection was merely a shield; it could not alter the essence of a soul.

Years of switching bodies had taught him this, leading to important revelations.

[Good thing he’s human.

If he were another species, this wouldn’t even be possible.]

For possession to succeed, the host had to be of the same species and gender.

A human soul attempting to inhabit an elf or demon’s body would likely collapse under the strain, as the shorter lifespan of humans would cause severe mental dissonance.

While beastfolk were somewhat compatible, their animalistic instincts often caused issues in daily life.

Thus, his necromantic possession required a host of the same species and gender.

Though it was possible to possess a different gender temporarily, it would not last long.

Over centuries, he had sought suitable hosts, even using the elderly woman’s body for this grand endeavor.

[Is that the place?]

Finally, he arrived at the dormitory where Isaac resided.

The dormitory boasted luxurious architecture and impenetrable security, but it was no match for a soul.

His abilities, closer to sorcery than magic, allowed him to infiltrate with ease.

Smiling grimly, he entered the dormitory.

No one could see or sense him, and even walls posed no obstacle.

[Once I take his soul, the rest is mere play.]

When a body is taken, its original owner either ascends to the afterlife or wanders the mortal realm.

For all intents and purposes, the original owner dies.

The man would then simply find a new host as needed.

He began searching the dormitory room by room, starting with the first room in the hallway.

[Not here.]

It turned out to be the room of Isaac’s fiancée, Marie, who was currently away at class.

He passed through the wall to the next room, only to freeze at the sight before him.

“Stand up! You must not collapse from something so trivial!”

“Huff… huff…”

“There are many stronger than me in this world!

Get up, now!”

“Y-yes…!”

A booming voice like a lion’s roar resounded, directed at a female knight collapsed on the ground.

It was Hawk and Adelia. While Hawk hardly broke a sweat, Adelia lay flat on the ground, gasping for breath.

Even so, she never let go of the sword in her hand. Her grip symbolized an unyielding determination that refused to give up.

The man alternated his gaze between the two of them and instinctively realized he was in the right place.

[Red hair and golden eyes. A young man, they said, so this isn’t him.]

Though his appearance bore similarities to Zenon, he wasn’t young. As the man moved to pass by them—

“… …”

Was Hawk aware of the man’s presence? He stared intently in the man’s direction.

Hawk, who generally had an impression of boldness, now had a scowl so fierce it exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

Even the man, who knew they couldn’t see him, felt himself shrink under the oppressive atmosphere.

Despite being in a spirit form, he felt like a herbivore before a lion, his blood running cold.

“Hah… hah… what are you looking at?”

“Nothing. It must’ve been my imagination.”

“Then, I’ll continue.”

“Carry on.”

Fortunately (or perhaps not), it seemed to have been a misunderstanding. The man stood frozen in place as Hawk resumed the training session.

Could this be what people meant by “my knees are weak”?

He had merely locked eyes with him, but it felt like he had stuck his head into a lion’s jaws.

[What kind of bloodline is this…?]

The man hurried out of the room. A lion truly begets lions; even the father was extraordinary.

Perhaps there was something peculiar about this lineage. Shivering, the man moved to the living room.

[There he is…]

As soon as he entered the living room, he spotted the source of all this commotion—Isaac.

Isaac was napping on a small bed set in the living room. His long, vibrant red hair, now untied, gleamed.

[…Annoyingly handsome.]

The man grumbled at the sight of Isaac, sleeping soundly, oblivious to the world.

With sharp features, a high nose bridge, a sleek jawline, and perfectly proportioned eyelashes of just the right length, Isaac possessed an annoyingly stunning face.

His long hair even made the man momentarily mistake him for a woman.

Despite having possessed numerous bodies over the years, it was rare to encounter someone as striking as Isaac.

He had gained fame and fortune through Zenon’s chronicles and even attracted beautiful women, including his fiancée.

More than being a formidable foe of demon worshippers, Isaac was an infuriating existence.

The man nodded, satisfied that his decision to carry out this grand undertaking had been right.

Once he took over Isaac’s body, everything Isaac owned would belong to him. Even if he was caught, it wouldn’t matter.

If necessary, he could harm Isaac’s body to make threats, and as a last resort, he could simply escape.

Just imagining people sobbing over the empty shell of Isaac’s body sent a thrill through him.

[But… who’s this?]

Before seizing Isaac’s body, the man looked at the figure Isaac was holding like a doll.

The individual had red hair like Isaac and an appearance so beautiful it was difficult to determine their gender.

What stood out most were the sprout on their head and the wings on their back.

Judging by their appearance, they were undoubtedly an angel from the records, but the man dismissed the idea as impossible.

In his centuries-long life that transcended human lifespans, he had never encountered an angel.

Perhaps Isaac had a hidden child, and he had given the child wings. Of course, those wings had to be fake.

[But wasn’t he said to be under 20? Then who is this?]

While the man was puzzled by this unexpected detail, it happened.

Flash—

The figure sleeping in Isaac’s arms, Ariel, suddenly opened her eyes. Her golden irises, resembling Isaac’s, glowed brightly.

She turned her gaze directly at the man in his spirit form, staring straight at him.

If Hawk’s earlier glance had been a coincidence, Ariel was unequivocally looking at the man.

[W-what…]

As the man flustered, Ariel wriggled out of Isaac’s embrace.

Even as she moved, Isaac remained fast asleep.

Given how mentally exhausted he had been, he clearly needed this rest.

Ariel climbed down from the bed and stretched her tiny hand toward the air.

Grab!

[W-what?!]

She had caught him—or rather, he had been caught.

The man panicked as Ariel held onto his spirit form.

In his centuries of existence, there had only been a handful of beings who could even see his spirit form, let alone touch it.

And those beings had only been able to see him, not physically interact with him.

But Ariel had physically grabbed him.

What on earth was going on? As the man reeled in shock, Ariel, clutching his leg, blinked and made her move.

“Ahh.”

Nom—

Ariel put the tip of his spiritual foot into her mouth. She didn’t stop there.

“Slurp, slurp, slurp.”

Like someone savoring a delicious treat, she began sucking him up, starting from his foot.

She moved past his knees, then his thighs, and eventually reached his groin.

[Aaagh! L-let me go!]

Though he was in spirit form, he seemed capable of feeling pain, screaming and struggling.

No matter how hard he tried to escape, it was all futile.

He even reached for Isaac in a last-ditch effort to take over his body, but it was useless.

Just as he almost touched Isaac, his hand slowly pulled away as Ariel started consuming his torso.

[W-what… what is this girl?!]

“Slurp.”

[This… wasn’t… part of the plan!]

Swoop—

Finally, Ariel devoured the last bit of his spirit, including his head.

Following Isaac’s teachings, she chewed thoroughly before swallowing it down.

“Burp.”

A satisfied belch escaped her lips.

Pfft—

Followed by an adorable little toot.

As Ariel let out a cute fart, she turned around.

Unlike the ominous dark spirit from earlier, a pure white aura floated up into the air, dissipating into the ceiling.

Ariel watched quietly until the aura disappeared before turning her gaze back to Isaac.

Through it all, Isaac remained sound asleep.

“Yawn…”

Ariel yawned and wriggled her way back into Isaac’s embrace, snuggling against him.

Isaac instinctively wrapped his arms around her as if nothing had happened.

The father and daughter duo continued their peaceful slumber, as if the chaos never occurred.

“Isaac! Isaac! Open the door, quickly!”

Outside, Kate banged on the door, arriving too late to witness the spectacle.