Ch.129Half-Blood (1)

As mentioned consistently, Biography of Xenon Volume 12 was released quite early. It came out just barely two weeks after Volume 11, which was enough to surprise many readers.

Due to the unexpectedly quick release, all kinds of speculation circulated, but readers simply appreciated it and looked forward to what story would unfold this time.

And Biography of Xenon Volume 12 developed into a lovely and touching story that comforted readers who were greatly shocked by Kayre’s death.

At the beginning, it created anxiety by showing the current state of the Elf Queen Elisha, who had become devastated after Kayre’s death. Despite several months having passed since Kayre died, Elisha’s condition showed little improvement.

Not only was she unable to properly attend to her duties, but occasionally she would break down in tears and wail. Her unstable mental state was evident, breaking readers’ hearts.

It raised concerns that perhaps the tragedy of Kayre and Elisha might repeat itself with Xenon and Meri.

However, as if mocking such reader expectations, the scene where Meri confesses to Xenon washed away all those anxieties like melting snow.

And that wasn’t all.

A profound quote appeared that resolved all the hesitations between different races due to inherent limitations—almost as if the author was encouraging those with such concerns.

[I don’t want to live with regrets like someone else. Even if it might be just a fleeting moment for me, I’d rather live a life of longing than a life of regret. So that I won’t suffer from painful memories but can always live remembering those times. I want to fill a part of my life with your existence, Xenon.]

This was the shy confession that Meri, the female protagonist of Biography of Xenon and an elf mage, made when she called Xenon to a secluded place. The sincere feelings she had kept deep in her heart.

Until now, they had only indirectly expressed their feelings for each other, never directly. Like many couples, they lacked courage.

But having witnessed the tragic narrative of Kayre and Elisha with her own eyes, Meri was able to strengthen her resolve. To prevent such a tragedy from repeating itself.

She mustered a tiny bit of courage so that she could live longing for her loved one rather than living with regrets in the distant future.

[How many people can muster such courage? And how are those who have actually experienced such things living their lives?]

[Xenon’s small encouragement to those who hesitate. This encouragement will have a big impact on couples who are on the edge.]

[A beautiful yet sorrowful but extremely realistic story. A warm confession only possible in Biography of Xenon.]

Another interracial couple, Jin and Lilly, had confirmed their feelings for each other even before meeting Xenon, so there was no issue.

Thanks to Lilly, Jin was able to escape his miserable life, making it possible for him to focus solely on her.

The rediscovery of Jin and Lilly’s obvious love led to a vertical rise in the popularity of demons, announcing what is commonly called a “boom.”

Lilly accepted Jin, who was at risk of becoming a devil at any time, and Jin suppressed his inner darkness and devoted himself to Lilly. It’s a romance that can’t help but catch one’s eye.

Of course, readers don’t know that this was also a setting that Issac created without much deep thought. But the character interpretation was so good that even Issac had to nod in agreement.

This incident further improved the already improving perception of demons. Especially the keyword “sincerity” fit demons perfectly, creating tremendous synergy.

For a demon to gather courage and confess means it’s a pure sincerity without a trace of darkness. People claiming to date demons had already been appearing recently, and this added fuel to that phenomenon.

[After the release of Volume 12, the number of humans confessing to elves has increased dramatically. Most fail, but news of success is not uncommon.]

[Moreover, cases of elves confessing to humans are also not uncommon. In such cases, contrary to the above, most succeed.]

And this wasn’t just limited to demons but applied to elves as well. While some say love between elves and humans is something that only happens in novels, not everyone thinks so.

Although chosen by the gods, elves are ultimately just people, mortal beings with emotions.

Commonly perceived as arrogant, elves are actually pure beings and, when it comes to “love,” they are just as sincere as demons.

[Elves are famous for looking at only one companion throughout their lives. But what would they feel when they choose a human as that companion?]

[Is it truly happiness to fill the remaining years with longing for 100 years of happiness?]

However, as pointed out by critics who reveal such sharp realities, love between elves and humans is not easy. The difference in lifespan clearly exists, and nothing in this world is eternal.

But just as there is love that transcends national borders, love that transcends races always appears. When many news stories poured out like a flood, shocking confessions began to emerge one after another.

[There are beings born between elves and humans… They are living normally in Alfheim.]

[Half-elves look no different from elves in appearance. If anything, their ears are slightly shorter.]

[Elves who don’t live in Alfheim but in human society hide their ears through magic like Meri in Biography of Xenon. To prevent social confusion…]

It was the appearance of half-elves, hybrids born between elves and humans, which had been strangely absent.

While there were occasionally hybrids born between humans and beastkin, and between humans and dwarves, hybrids born between humans and elves had never appeared throughout long history.

Human civilization has been built up for 3,000 years, and furthermore, 300 years ago through the Racial War, they clearly recognized each other’s existence.

Yet the absence of hybrids during this long period was somewhat strange, and through these confessions, the reason was revealed.

[If mixed with human blood, one faces all kinds of insults within Alfheim. So most tend to hide it.]

[My mother urged me never to reveal that my father was human. She has no regrets about loving my human father, but she fears the gazes of others…]

[The lives of half-elves are generally similar. When their human parent dies naturally, they return to Alfheim for education. While Alfheim opens educational paths for fellow elves, it strictly prohibits half-elves. Because half-elves are not pure-blooded.]

[My father and mother were happy. Even now, they don’t regret their choice then, and they vow not to forget even if they remarry.]

The reason was Alfheim’s uniquely rigid customs. Alfheim is famous for its strict attitude toward outsiders, and half-elves were also treated as outsiders.

Elves who know this custom well live in human society until their human partner dies naturally, and afterward return to Alfheim with their children.

Until the Racial War, elves essentially treated humans like monkeys. Therefore, the treatment of half-elves couldn’t be said to be good even in empty words.

Adapting to human society is equally difficult in many ways. Their inherent beauty made them vulnerable in various ways, and hiding their identity was also a task.

But with the emergence of Biography of Xenon Volume 12 and the surfacing of stories about interracial love, half-elves could also raise their voices.

Their stories varied, but one thing was the same: love between humans and elves might not be ordinary, but it was passionate and intense.

Interestingly, children born between humans and elves are at least three or more. And they are similar in age.

While elves consider sexual intercourse as a kind of ritual, humans are a race with formidable sexual desire. What if the object of love is an elf, famous for their beauty?

Naturally, nighttime activities become frequent, and many children are born. It might be embarrassing from an elf’s perspective, but due to their racial characteristic of devotion to their partner, they tend to accept everything.

Here, all the children closely resemble the characteristics of elves. They also inherit human adaptability, making life in Alfheim not difficult.

[Then do they also inherit humans’ remarkable learning ability? Interest in half-elves is increasing…]

[Rumors that one of Alfheim’s Warchiefs is also a half-elf…]

[How will Alfheim treat half-elves in the future?]

Is this what they call the butterfly effect? Issac had only written a story about love between races, but the situation was flowing in a strange direction.

Stories of love between races naturally transitioned to reality, planting seeds of questions, and those seeds bloomed in reality, revealing further questions.

And the fruit or flower of that was the emergence of half-elves. People who had to hide due to Alfheim’s outdated customs.

It was an implicit custom that had been passed down only among half-elves since long before the Racial War, so even Arwen was unaware of their existence. Only elves belonging to the older generation knew.

Even if such customs had faded, the council of elders, full of racial supremacists, would likely have strongly opposed it.

Half-elves, mindful of the stubborn and inflexible nature of elves, did not act rashly.

Instead, most half-elves grow up in human society before transitioning to Alfheim, resulting in significantly different ways of thinking in many cases. Whether that’s good or bad.

Anyway, in this chaotic situation, seeing the emergence of half-elves, Issac…

“What is this? Some kind of fantasy coming out?”

He was bewildered while reading the newspaper.

*****

I’ve watched all kinds of reactions while releasing Biography of Xenon. At first, I was surprised by the intense reactions, but now I can just let them pass.

However, the emergence of half-elves was completely unexpected, a kind of butterfly effect situation.

Romance between elves and humans appears in Biography of Xenon, and based on that, the number of elves or humans who gather courage to confess increases.

And naturally, one question arose: the existence of half-elves. While hybrids with other races except demons were common, only those born between elves and humans were absent.

‘It’s amazing how it’s not too forced.’

Even in my previous life, someone’s wrong word could escalate into a major incident, linked like sausages. Wasn’t a president detained because of that?

If someone fuels the spark, adding firewood makes the rest easy. Biography of Xenon is that spark.

‘By the way, children always resemble elven characteristics…’

According to testimonies, half-elves live long like pure-blooded elves and are beautiful in appearance. Especially if the human parent has a specific outstanding ability, the elf gains corresponding learning ability.

That means if the human was a knight, they excel in swordsmanship or various martial arts; if a mage, in magic; if a cleric, in divine power. And that’s compared to pure-blooded elves.

‘Mendel would weep if he heard this.’

Genetics between races that chew up and swallow Mendel’s genetics. Whether only elves are like this, or if there’s variation among individuals, more research is needed, but I guarantee it can never be understood with the genetics of my previous life.

But that’s not what’s important. Currently, Alfheim is in chaos over the treatment of half-elves.

As mentioned before, half-elves have knowingly or unknowingly blended into Alfheim, and with talents that devour genetics, many have risen to high positions. There are even rumors that a Warchief is a half-elf, causing social confusion.

One might ask what’s the big deal, but in this era, “pure blood” carries a very important symbol. Without going far, we can see how Adelia is treated by her family.

Of course, half-elves are a slightly different case. However, in Alfheim, there are racial supremacists like the council of elders, and there’s also a gap between new and old generations.

And if factions are divided between pure-bloods and mixed-bloods? For Alfheim, it would feel like their head is not just aching but breaking.

In a way, it’s a very natural social phenomenon, but it can be seen as appearing too suddenly.

‘Even so, a sales ban seems a bit much.’

Moreover, at the end of Volume 12, I dropped a hint that Alfheim would be invaded. That the home and sanctuary of elves, Alfheim, would be attacked by demons.

Eventually, unable to just watch, Alfheim has issued a statement saying they would ban sales if the story continues in this direction. They have sufficient justification as it has caused social confusion.

However, as can be seen from long history, this too is a natural occurrence and one of the hardships that must be faced someday. Soon I’ll write about dark elves too, and I wonder if they’ll be eager to hide that as well.

‘It’s somewhat Chinese-like.’

This reminds me of China from my previous life, notorious for cultural censorship. However, the difference is that in China, citizens participated, while in Alfheim, they don’t.

Probably by now, there’s strong resistance within Alfheim too. I feel a bit sorry for inadvertently fueling the conflict between old and new generations.

‘At this rate, if I write about illegitimate children in Biography of Xenon, will there be a MeToo movement?’

With events like the Jeiros Revolution having occurred, it’s not an impossible story. I light the spark, and the rest is for agitators to pour oil on.

However, this issue could engulf the entire country in flames, so caution is needed. Although I resent the Teres royal family for breaking Adelia’s heart, I shouldn’t follow emotions.

‘The illegitimate child issue… I’ll put it in the sequel.’

I’m talking about the sequel to Biography of Xenon, not World War II content. I just need to expand the world view and carefully coordinate to avoid setting conflicts.

I stared at the newspaper with breaking news pouring out due to Volume 12, then slightly shifted my gaze.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder if Arwen is okay?’

******

Far from okay.

“Your Majesty! Can you remain still seeing the current situation?! Please look after state affairs!”

“Even if it’s a fictional story, Alfheim being attacked is absolutely unacceptable. Moreover, will you just watch as half-breeds operate in Alfheim?”

“We must quickly expel those dirty hybrids. Otherwise, the continuation of our elves, chosen by the gods, might be endangered!”

“… …”

It was enough to drive one crazy with the council of elders badgering.

Arwen’s eye twitched as she stared at the council of elders pleading before her. Previously, she had just thought of them as old fogeys, but today changed that.

‘Disgusting old fogeys.’

Disgust was added. And one more thing.

‘I’m a half-blood too, you bastards.’

She clearly recognized that all the rotten elements of Alfheim were in the council of elders.