Ch.11Cecilia (2)

Demon Race (魔族).

Descendants and symbols of demons, characterized by horns, red eyes, and dark mana.

3000 years ago, when demons drove the world to ruin, they committed indiscriminate atrocities to satisfy their desires, regardless of race.

Beyond murder and rape, they shocked the world with horrific acts including human experimentation and various other terrible deeds.

The Demon Race was born through these horrific circumstances—either from pregnancies resulting from demon seed or mutations caused by mana introduced through experimentation. Uniquely, only humans transformed into the Demon Race.

Many theories exist about why only humans were affected—not elves, dwarves, or beastkin—but the most plausible hypothesis concerns human “uniqueness.”

Humans have shorter lifespans and naturally weaker physical abilities than other races, but possess tremendous “learning capacity,” which unfortunately worked against them in this case. Moreover, humans had a much clearer distinction between “light” and “darkness” than other races, making them more susceptible to demonic influence.

[Beings destined to become demons.]

[They pretend to be human, but demon blood flows through them.]

[They must be eradicated.]

However, humans and other races refused to recognize the Demon Race as victims or “humans,” instead labeling them as “demons.” Indeed, since they could transform into demons when unable to control their rage or desires, rejecting them was quite straightforward.

The Papal Kingdom of Sabre even committed an unprecedented massacre, indiscriminately slaughtering the Demon Race under the pretext of eliminating all demonic seeds. From Sabre’s perspective, demons were beings who not only denied God but attempted to bring Him down, so both hardliners and moderates united against them.

After this madness, the Demon Race split into two factions.

One group truly became “demons,” seeking revenge against the world, while the other pursued restraint, trying to live as “humans.” However, the demonic faction was soon eradicated, vanishing from the world.

What happened to the remaining faction—those who pursued restraint and wished to be human?

While Sabre and other major powers waged war over ideological differences, the restraint-seeking Demon Race seized the opportunity to establish Helium. Though most countries refused to recognize Helium, those who pursued restraint and honed their powers were formidable.

They were so powerful that attacking them would leave a country vulnerable to others, making it impossible to move carelessly. Eventually, people decided to deal with them when the opportunity arose.

The amusing part was that over 1000 years had passed since that decision.

Yet discrimination against the Demon Race never disappeared during that time. After all, humans weren’t the only race that despised them.

It seemed the Demon Race’s wish would never be fulfilled.

Until a certain book appeared in the world.

*******

Born as the princess of Helium and daughter of the Demon King, I suddenly wondered:

Why is our Demon Race discriminated against by other races? Why must we, who outwardly appear no different from humans, live with such harsh treatment?

Above all, why must we live as “humans” rather than any other race?

Most of the Demon Race are born in Helium and end their lives there. One might think we’re like frogs in a well, but those who venture outside typically experience terrible tragedies.

At minimum, they lose loved ones or are betrayed by them, leading to demonization. They return to Helium after experiencing discrimination too terrible to speak of.

The worst cases are those killed without question, treated as demons. Outside Helium, being killed simply for being of the Demon Race is common.

“Father. Father.”

“Yes? Why are you calling me?”

“Why must we live like humans?”

In the year I turned 20.

I asked the King of Helium—my father—if we really needed to live like humans.

Father looked surprised for a moment, then smiled a bitter smile. He gently stroked my head with his strong, rough hand.

“Cecilly. Do you know how our Demon Race came to exist in this world?”

“I know demons did terrible things to people, resulting in the birth of the Demon Race. And only humans became demons.”

“Yes. Our ancestors were originally human. Even now, we’re closer to humans than other races. So we must live like humans to be treated as people.”

“But do we really need to live like humans now? Can’t we just live as the Demon Race?”

Father smiled more deeply at my questioning. Then he bent his knees slightly to meet my eye level.

As if to remind me of my demon heritage, my face reflected in his blood-red eyes like a mirror. After facing me for a while, he gently held my shoulders and gave an answer I couldn’t understand.

“That is our Demon Race, Cecilly.”

“…”

“You may not understand now, but someday you’ll comprehend your father’s words. That realization will surely help your ‘life’ greatly, so never forget it. Understand?”

“…I understand.”

I couldn’t grasp Father’s words even after 80 years. I thought I never would.

Until the book that completely changed the Demon Race’s life appeared. I was certain the lesson in that book was the realization Father mentioned.

But Father shook his head and said no.

“Cecilly. That book certainly revealed our tragedy and changed our lives. But it’s not the identity of the Demon Race I’m talking about.”

What could it be then? How was Father defining us?

I carried this question in my heart even as I entered Halo Academy. I prayed I would find the answer in human society, which I was stepping into for the first time.

However…

“No.”

Why would you, who aren’t even of the Demon Race…

“The Demon Race cannot become human.”

Dare to say such a thing?

I stopped walking toward the dining hall and looked at the human man before me. A human with striking red hair and golden eyes visible even from a distance.

His facial features were delicate—pretty rather than handsome—and his slender build gave him an androgynous appearance. He was pretty enough to be mistaken for a female student in disguise.

‘…Why?’

My mouth felt bitter, as if I’d swallowed medicine. But curiosity dominated my thoughts first.

This was the human I’d been interested in since the Professor Magnar incident—the man who argued that it wasn’t the Demon Race that was dangerous, but magic users themselves.

Coincidentally, Rina, the Imperial Princess of Minerva and the first human I befriended, also showed deep interest in him, so we naturally grew closer. But we rarely had opportunities to talk alone.

From our conversations today, I learned he was quite considerate. I’d felt it before—every word he spoke lingered in my mind.

It was the same now.

“…Issac.”

“Yes, Lady Cecilly.”

“Do you realize there’s a contradiction in your answer?”

The red-haired man—Issac—had just told me that I looked human, that I didn’t look like a demon at all.

Yet he said the Demon Race couldn’t become human. This was truly contradictory.

While I was trying to understand the meaning behind his words, Issac blinked several times before speaking.

“Lady Cecilly.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever heard a human say they want to become human?”

“What?”

What a strange question. I gave him a puzzled look and shook my head.

I wasn’t sure what Issac wanted to say, but it was best to listen carefully. His words often contained much wisdom.

When I shook my head, Issac pressed his lips together briefly before speaking in a calm voice.

“You probably haven’t heard it, and you never will. Because humans are born human. The Demon Race is born as the Demon Race, so they should live as the Demon Race.”

“Then let me ask you again. What exactly do you think it means to live as the Demon Race? We’ve constantly strived to live like humans. And we will continue to do so.”

Like Sacran who sacrificed himself in the Biography of Xenon, most of the Demon Race yearns to live as humans. They want to mingle with people, laugh, talk, and enjoy life like ordinary humans.

That is the wish of the restraint-seeking Demon Race—their noble destiny. That’s what I’ve always thought.

Until a year ago, I only thought about it without putting it into practice, but thanks to the Biography of Xenon, I seized the opportunity. I didn’t want to kick that chance away.

But Issac, seemingly unaware of my feelings, maintained his nonchalant attitude and answered.

“Yes. That is what I think the Demon Race is, Princess of Helium.”

“…So what exactly is it? Everything you say is full of contradictions.”

I was starting to get annoyed. I wondered if he was mocking me.

I didn’t understand why he was using the same eloquence that had humiliated Professor Magnar, but I felt suffocated with frustration.

I waited for Issac to speak again, but his lips showed no sign of opening.

I was about to turn away, unable to wait any longer.

“A being that can become the brightest light, but also the most hideous darkness.”

“…What?”

His tightly closed lips opened, and words I couldn’t easily dismiss flowed out.

As I stood dumbfounded by his words, Issac spoke once more.

“A race that knows they cannot become human, yet desperately wishes to be human—more human than anyone else.”

“…”

Ah. I see.

“This is what I think the Demon Race is, and how they live as ‘people,’ Lady Cecilly.”

So that’s what Father meant.

The Demon Race knows well they cannot become human. But they yearn to become human more desperately than anyone.

Therefore, unless they become demons, the Demon Race must be more human than humans themselves. Humans are born human, so they don’t have the desire to become human.

The Demon Race can truly become demons, but conversely, they can become more human than anyone else.

While I was lost in thought, Issac shrugged with a composed expression and continued in his usual calm voice.

“Well… not just the Demon Race, but other races probably don’t know what they truly are either. After all, people are ultimately judged by other people. Please understand that what I just said is entirely my opinion.”

“…”

“Lady Cecilly?”

“What? Oh, yes, yes. I heard you. Thank you.”

I quickly came to my senses at Issac’s call. He smiled brightly when I regained my composure. I stared at his smile with a dazed expression.

That smile truly shone as brilliantly as the sun in the blue sky. It also felt more beautiful than any jewel.

So beautiful I wanted to reach out and cherish it.

“Shall we go eat now?”

At his question, I responded with a genuine smile, not a playful one.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

“Huh? Suddenly speaking informally…”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m older than you anyway, right? Rina speaks informally too, so it doesn’t matter, right?”

“Well… I suppose it doesn’t matter.”

It was certainly no illusion that dinner tasted especially delicious that day.

******

After the pleasant dinner with Cecilly, I returned directly to my quarters without incident. Cecilly had gone ahead, saying she needed some time to think.

‘But I’m sure I’ve heard those words somewhere before…’

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d heard the words I said to Cecilly somewhere before. If my memory wasn’t failing me, I’d heard them recently, but I couldn’t remember where.

Later, when I returned to my quarters and checked my manuscript for revisions…

“Oh sh…”

I couldn’t help but curse out loud when I checked the manuscript. My expression instantly soured.

Because…

“So those were my own words.”

The advice I gave to Cecilly was written verbatim in my manuscript.