Chapter-13

Belial, swirling the dark liquid in his goblet, let out a hearty snort. "The paladin means your disguise, fire-breather. Don't tell me you haven't mastered the art of shapeshifting yet? Every decent demon worth their horns can transform into a human guise."

A spark of understanding flickered in Roland's eyes. He knew demons from his isekai knowledge often possessed the ability to shapeshift, appearing as charming humans to manipulate or infiltrate human societies. However, in his unique isekai experience, he hadn't been sent to another world as a monster or demon. He was just… Roland.

"Oh," he said, a slow realization dawning on him. "Right, shapeshifting. Well, I, uh…" He trailed off, feeling a pang of self-consciousness. Unlike the shape-shifting demons he'd seen in countless isekai anime, he hadn't been granted such an ability.

"I don't actually have a human form," he admitted sheepishly. "I'm just… me."

Belial and Eldric exchanged a surprised look. This was unexpected. This all-powerful fire wielder, capable of unleashing a literal sun, couldn't even manage a simple human disguise?

He glanced at Belial, his curiosity piqued. "So, Belial, how exactly does this shapeshifting work? Is it a spell you have to cast, or is it more… instinctive?"

Belial, still chuckling at Roland's predicament, took a swig of his dark drink. "For demons like myself," he explained, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "shapeshifting is a natural ability. It's in our blood, see? Allows us to blend in with humans, manipulate them, exploit their greed. It's all part of the demonic charm, wouldn't you say, Eldric?"

Eldric nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Shapeshifting is a powerful tool for demons, allowing them to infiltrate human societies and sow discord. But," he added, a playful glint in his eyes, "it doesn't always work as intended. Some demons, bless their pointy ears, tend to underestimate the nuances of human appearance."

Roland couldn't help but chuckle. He'd seen his fair share of hilariously bad human disguises used by villains in his isekai shows. 

Roland scratched his head sheepishly, the revelation about shapeshifting leaving him feeling a bit out of the loop. "Huh, so it's like a built-in demon perk? Like, demonic night vision or a prehensile tail?"

Belial, practically choking on his drink, slammed his goblet on the table with a resounding thud. "Prehensile tail? What kind of bargain-basement demon are you dealing with? Shapeshifting is an art form, fire-breather! It's about subtlety, about blending in seamlessly with the human sheeple." He gestured dramatically at the surrounding patrons, most of whom were now eyeing them with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation.

Eldric, ever the diplomat, chuckled nervously. "Perhaps a less… demonstrative display, Belial?"

Belial waved his hand dismissively. "Relax, paladin. These good folks have seen worse. Now, back to you, Roland. You just gotta focus, you know? Think real hard about being human. Imagine the soft, squishy flesh, the complete lack of horns… well, ideally." He shot Roland a pointed look, a subtle reminder of his fiery mane.

Roland furrowed his brow, picturing himself in a pair of khakis and a sensible button-down shirt – the epitome of human-ness according to his isekai knowledge. He concentrated with all his might, willing himself to transform.

Silence descended upon the tavern as everyone watched the spectacle unfold. Belial crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. Eldric held his breath, a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Then, a puff of smoke erupted, momentarily obscuring Roland from view. When the smoke cleared, the patrons of the Howling Cauldron stared in disbelief.

Instead of a human, Roland stood there… as Roland. Only slightly different.

His hair, once a fiery orange, was now a dull, mousy brown. His eyes, the color of molten lava, had become a watery blue. He even sported a pair of thick-rimmed glasses that seemed to have materialized out of thin air.

Belial burst into laughter, a deep, booming sound that echoed through the tavern. Eldric, after a moment of stunned silence, joined in, his laughter tinged with amusement.

"Well," Belial wheezed, wiping a tear from his eye, "you certainly captured the… essence of humanity. The crippling lack of fashion sense, the questionable eyewear…"

Roland, deflated, looked down at himself. He didn't feel any different. No newfound human squishy-ness, no ability to blend in with the crowd. In fact, he looked suspiciously like a stereotypical isekai protagonist trying to blend in at school.

"Maybe," he mumbled, a hint of resignation in his voice, "shapeshifting isn't for everyone."

Frustration gnawed at Roland. He glared at his reflection in a nearby tankard, the watery blue eyes and mousy brown hair mocking him. "Alright, alright," he muttered, clenching his fists. "Let's try this again."

This time, Roland closed his eyes, focusing not on generic humanness, but on the essence of choice. He imagined a blank space before him, a strange inner world bathed in ethereal light. And then, there they were – three shimmering cards floating in the air.

Intrigued, Roland reached out with his mind, examining each card. The first flickered to life, revealing a picture of a man with flowing blonde hair, a sculpted jawline, and an air of smug confidence. Roland grimaced. He'd seen his fair share of these generic isekai pretty boys, and frankly, the idea held no appeal.

He moved on to the second card. A vision of a stunning woman materialized – flowing auburn hair, captivating eyes, and a figure that would turn heads in any world. Roland paused for a beat, then shook his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, I don't think Belial would appreciate that much competition in the looks department."

Finally, his gaze landed on the last card. This one held a simpler image – Roland himself, back on Earth. Black hair, sharp blue eyes, a lean frame that stretched over six feet. A familiar face, one that held the spark of determination he recognized in himself. It wasn't a model's face, but it was his, and suddenly, it felt perfect.

With a surge of will, Roland focused on this image, willing it to fill his being. A warm tingling sensation spread through him, followed by a satisfying crackle of energy. He opened his eyes, a newfound confidence radiating from him.

The patrons of the Howling Cauldron gasped. Roland, no longer the awkward isekai protagonist with bad disguise instincts, now stood before them a changed man. His hair had darkened to a rich black, his eyes gleamed with a newfound clarity, and his frame exuded a quiet strength. He wasn't a pretty boy, nor a glamorously beautiful woman, but something more – a hero in the making, a man who, despite his shortcomings, had embraced his true self.

Belial, his laughter momentarily halted, stared at Roland with a newfound respect. "Well, fire-breather," he rumbled, a hint of amusement laced with his words. "Seems you finally figured it out. Though, I have to say, you do have rather… pedestrian taste in human appearances."

Roland smirked a genuine one this time. "Maybe being myself is all I need," he replied, his voice firm. He glanced around the tavern, taking in the strange sights and sounds with a newfound sense of purpose. "So, what's next on the agenda for this interdimensional pub crawl?"