Ch.151Unexpected (3)

Who are demons? According to historical records, demons are invaders from another dimension 3,000 years ago who committed various evil acts and had both major and minor impacts.

During the Demon War, all races fought desperately to protect this world, and they were barely able to drive the demons away thanks to the gods who protected this world. However, various incidents occurred during that time.

It’s a well-known fact that demons are the origin of the demon race, and the gods, feeling threatened by the demon invasion, gifted the elves with the seed of the World Tree. That seed sprouted and has stood firm until now, 3,000 years later.

Research on demons flourished afterward, but interest inevitably faded as time passed. The environment naturally caused attention to shift from demons to other races.

Humans, being creatures of forgetfulness, turned their attention to other races in less than 100 years, and even for long-lived elves, 3,000 years was enough time to forget the incident.

Moreover, after the Race War 300 years ago, an event that changed the fate of all races, no one thought seriously about demons anymore. Everyone only cared about other races.

3,000 years was far too long. Since it was history worthy of being recorded in “literature,” it would be fair to say that hardly anyone except scholars delved deeply into it.

[Currently, the leadership of countries that have realized the seriousness are tracking down demon worshippers… requesting support from each religious order.]

[Church of Luminus: Demons are monsters that should never be associated with. We will definitely track them down.]

[Meanwhile, Helium is also tracking hardline demons who have disappeared…]

Until the events in the Biography of Xenon began to become reality.

While the contamination of the World Tree’s roots could be dismissed as coincidence, finding traces of demons is something that cannot be ignored. Demons may be creatures that only appear in literature, but they have a history of turning the world not just into a wasteland, but into a sea of fire.

Although civilization and military power have developed far beyond what they were 3,000 years ago, demons are extremely powerful. Even elves were pushed into a defensive position and had to receive the seed of the World Tree from the gods, which should give you some idea of how formidable demons are.

Above all, the most frightening aspect of demons, according to literature, is their endless numbers and varieties. There are mentions of how numerous they were, with blackness filling one’s entire field of vision.

As such, it can be said that demons are impossible to completely eradicate unless the dimensional gate is closed, even with advanced civilization and technology. Even the Demon War 3,000 years ago didn’t defeat all the demons but rather cut off the connection between dimensions and forced them back.

Therefore, the discovery of demon traces means that there are people attempting to connect dimensions.

“Haah…”

While the world was in turmoil because of demons, I sat on my dormitory bed and let out a deep sigh. I was currently reading a newspaper published today.

Usually, newspapers come out once a day with regular subscriptions, but given the current situation, they’re being published every 3-4 hours.

Today, when I returned from Elena’s laboratory, there was a thick stack of newspapers. As I read through them one by one, the content was quite remarkable.

Discoveries of demon traces somewhere, or non-demon race individuals using magic related to dark mana, and so on.

As a result of delving into details that had been overlooked until now, connections to demons were being proven one after another.

Notable examples include ritual sites in secluded caves or strange symbols on particularly troublesome monsters.

To make matters worse, they even discovered what’s estimated to be a “summoning circle” from several hundred years ago. The ritual site was difficult to find because it was constructed deep underground.

Although events similar to those in the Biography of Xenon haven’t occurred, the world is currently at peak vigilance regarding demons.

I was worried that the demon descendants, the demon race, might be harmed, but they’re actually being very helpful in tracking down demons.

This is because dark mana, which demons use, can also be used by the demon race, making it more sensitive. Because of this, the Church of Mora is collaborating with Helium.

‘This is really driving me crazy…’

I read through the incidents reported in the newspaper carefully and lamented inwardly. I had unintentionally hit two home runs in a row, and there was nothing I could do about it.

People are speculating that I’m either a prophet or someone from the future, and even when I protest that I’m not, they don’t believe me at all.

Instead, they’re making their own assumptions about why I’m not revealing my identity. In particular, the opinion that a god has placed restrictions on me is receiving the most support.

‘Restrictions my ass. I remember my entire past life.’

Although it’s a different world, I remember everything from my past life. My school days, my parents’ death in an accident, and even my own death from a heart attack while using the computer as usual.

I am a reincarnator, but I’m definitely not someone who has returned from the future or a regressor. But these people just won’t believe me.

Out of frustration, I sent several letters, but they were completely ignored each time. In the end, I had no choice but to decide to stay quiet until the situation calmed down.

‘But the demon problem is… quite serious.’

While the contamination of the World Tree’s roots is a significant issue, demons can be considered even more severe. Whether out of curiosity or for a specific purpose, demons are beings that should absolutely never be summoned.

Just think about how much damage a demon race member causes to their surroundings when they transform into a demon. The Demon War 3,000 years ago was when such beings poured out in masses.

Because of this, the various religious orders, especially the Holy Papal Kingdom of Sabre, are moving most actively. Other countries, including the Empire of Minerva, have set aside their conflicts for the time being and begun tracking down demons.

The same goes for adventurers and mercenaries. From what I’ve heard, they’re offering large rewards for reporting locations or items related to demons.

Of course, only after checking whether there are traces of “dark mana” or not.

Anyway, the whole world is currently swept up in a frenzy of tracking down demons.

And as a bonus, the Biography of Xenon is being treated as a book of prophecy.

‘If only I had included Cecilly’s illustrations…’

I took my eyes off the newspaper and pondered for a moment. I had originally planned to include illustrations in volume 13, but due to time constraints, the plan was changed to include them during the full-scale battle with Lilith.

Not just Lilith, but the other Seven Deadly Sins as well. They’re important villains in their own right, so it’s a kind of favoritism.

But considering the current situation, I’m worried that including Lilith’s illustration might harm Cecilly.

Given that the Biography of Xenon is being treated as a book of prophecy, people might think of her as Lilith.

‘…I should include the illustration during the defeat scene.’

Still, Lilith has a heartbreaking backstory—she struggles to live in order not to forget the man she loves. This is revealed just before Xenon ends her life.

Of course, I don’t know if this phenomenon will continue until then. Lilith’s defeat is scheduled to take place after the beastmen part.

For now, the priority is to be careful and wait until the situation calms down. I should just act as usual.

‘Given the time, I should meet the kids first.’

I hadn’t finished reading the newspaper, but it was almost time for the last lecture to end. Since today is Wednesday, we have a regular meeting and dinner appointment, not a date.

I specifically designated Wednesday for my personal time, and Marie readily agreed, feeling that everyone needs their own time.

Back then, she didn’t care what I did, and even if I went on a date with Cecilly, she would only be a little jealous but not mind much.

Of course, the next day we would head straight to the inn without mercy. In fact, whenever I have a date with Marie, the destination is always the inn.

So, as I set aside the newspaper I had been reading intently and headed toward the lecture hall, I timed it well—students were streaming out of the classroom.

Among them, of course, were familiar faces. I approached them with a sense of delight.

Just then, Rina, having noticed that I was coming, greeted me with her characteristic gentle smile.

“You came at just the right time?”

“Yeah. How was class today?”

“Don’t even ask. No matter how many times I listen to philosophy, I can’t understand what it means.”

This was the response from Marie, my girlfriend. As always, she linked arms with me and grumbled.

I patted the head of the cute and lovely Marie and then shifted my gaze. Cecilly smiled brightly when our eyes met.

I responded with a smile to her beautiful smile, which was captivating no matter how many times I saw it.

“Are we going to the café first?”

“Yeah. Let’s do that. It’s too early for dinner.”

“Where are we going?”

“The usual place.”

Afterward, the four of us headed to the café we frequently visited. In the past, our combination would have attracted various gazes, but now people were so used to it that we didn’t feel any stares.

We chatted on the way to the café, and that continued even after we arrived. In fact, since the room was thoroughly soundproofed, we didn’t need to be mindful of others.

In other words, it was perfect for asking difficult questions.

“Isaac. You’re reading the newspapers too.”

“Of course I am. They’re coming out every 3-4 hours.”

“What do you think? People are calling you a prophet or someone from the future these days.”

Marie, sitting next to me, asked with half curiosity and half interest. As I could only give a bitter smile, Cecilly, sitting across from me, chimed in.

“I’m curious too. The stories in your book are coming true one after another. Are you really a prophet or someone from the future? Or maybe a reincarnator?”

I snorted at that question and immediately refuted it. While I am a reincarnator, I can say I’m not since I came from a different world.

“Absolutely not. If I were either of those, I would have invested in stocks or something, not written novels. I’m not that great a person anyway. It’s all just coincidence, I tell you.”

“For a coincidence, the situations match up quite precisely.”

Rina elegantly sipped her coffee and quietly joined in. Her eyes were full of mischief, but her tone was somewhat meaningful.

Half joking, half serious, you could say. Of course, it’s unfair from my perspective.

“It really is a coincidence! And the appearance of demon traces everywhere is a story with plenty of realism. It’s been 3,000 years—3,000 years! I mentioned that warnings existed even before the Biography of Xenon came out, but experts had been ignoring them until now. They knew but pretended not to know because they were distracted by other things.”

“Hmm… that’s true. I heard there were reports that were skipped out of laziness. In fact, demons were always a threat; it’s just that no one paid attention to them. Cecilly, what’s the situation in Helium like?”

“Helium is no different from other places. Instead, they’re tracking traces of hardline demons who were hostile to the human alliance 300 years ago. The investigation results will probably come out soon.”

Hardline demons are a faction that was hostile to the human alliance during the Race War 300 years ago. True to their name, they hate humans and even commit crimes against them.

Usually, demon race members become demons involuntarily due to despair and sorrow, but hardline demons often become demons for revenge.

Because of this, they were a major headache for the human alliance during the Race War, but fortunately, they were safe thanks to the help of moderate demons, that is, Helium.

Also, although hardline demons were almost wiped out due to the Race War, a small number escaped and are hiding around the world. Even now, Helium is in charge because it could be too costly for humans to handle.

“The world is really in turmoil. The contamination of the World Tree is one thing, but demons… Would a Second Demon War really break out in the distant future?”

“It’s not impossible. It’s been 3,000 years, after all. In fact, it wouldn’t have been strange if a second major attack had occurred in between. They even discovered demon ruins estimated to have been built 500 years ago. We weren’t aware, but there were many dangerous situations in various ways. Fortunately, they all failed, but the magic circles installed at ritual sites have been evolving day by day.”

“It’s fortunate they failed, otherwise…”

“A catastrophe might have struck. It’s fortunate that connecting dimensions is difficult even for elves and the demon race; if it were easy, we would have been invaded long ago.”

As Marie and Rina’s conversation suggests, the world is currently experiencing a rapid surge of interest in demons. Things that were once considered legends are appearing in reality one after another, making it impossible not to be interested.

Because of this, research related to demons is also actively being conducted. However, books related to demons have been mostly lost over time and remain in classical form, causing many difficulties.

The most intact ones might be in holy sites. But I’ve heard that holy sites are currently oversaturated.

“Oh, by the way, Isaac.”

“Yes?”

“When are you planning to include illustrations? I’m ready anytime.”

While Rina and Marie were talking, Cecilly asked me. She was asking when I would include Lilith’s illustration, that is, Cecilly’s picture.

We had originally decided to include it in volume 13, but due to time constraints, it was postponed. I’m planning to visit Helium during the upcoming vacation, so I could draw the picture then.

“Illustrations? What illustrations?”

Marie tilted her head and looked puzzled. Come to think of it, I hadn’t told Marie about this.

As I was about to open my mouth, Cecilly smiled brightly and answered clearly, as if she were boasting.

“Yes. You know Lilith who appears in volume 13? You know that I’m the model for that Seven Deadly Sin, right?”

“Of course I know.”

“Isaac is going to include illustrations of the Seven Deadly Sins, and he said he would use me as a reference. He originally wanted to include it in volume 13, but it was difficult due to time constraints.”

“…I see. So that’s it.”

Marie listened to Cecilly’s story, nodded slowly, and then turned her head to look at me. I didn’t have the courage to meet her eyes and kept my head stiffly upright, but…

“Isaac?”

“… …”

“Is that true?”

I couldn’t help but close my eyes at Marie’s chilling question. When I quietly opened my eyes afterward, I saw Cecilly covering her mouth and laughing softly.

It was truly not devilish but mischievous, and I almost laughed, but I managed to suppress it because Marie was glaring at me.

Marie looked at me and Cecilly alternately in the slightly subdued atmosphere, and then smiled deeply. She seemed to have thought of something.

“…Well. It doesn’t matter. Our situations are similar anyway.”

“Huh? You too?”

“I’m not going to include pictures like you. Instead… I’ll include our deep~~ relationship that we’ve had so far…”

“Pfft!”

Before Marie could finish her sentence, Rina, who had been drinking coffee, spat it out. Naturally, all eyes turned to her.

“Cough! Cough! Hack!”

Rina was coughing continuously as if something had gone down the wrong way. She hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped around her mouth, which was covered in coffee.

I was about to get up to pat her back when Rina, while coughing, asked as if she couldn’t believe it.

“Cough! Is that… Cough! True?”

“You mean putting my and Isaac’s night activities in the book?”

“Cough! Cough! Yes… Is that… allowed?”

“Why not? There’s nothing wrong with it. Right?”

Marie grabbed my arm and asked in a subtle voice. Whether intentionally or not, she placed my arm between her breasts, and I could feel the soft sensation through her clothes.

As I could only give a bitter smile, Cecilly patted Rina’s back, which seemed to calm her down, and Rina cautiously asked.

“In which volume… will it appear?”

“Huh?”

“I’m asking in which volume it will appear. It’s going to be later, right?”

I wonder why she’s asking such a thing. I looked at Rina, whose face was red, perhaps due to choking, and answered.

“Nothing has been decided yet. I plan to write it in the latter part, but…”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“Absolutely not.”

For some reason, Rina was strongly opposed. Usually, Rina would just let it go no matter what story I wrote, but this time she was firm.

It was a moment of curiosity rather than displeasure. Marie seemed to have similar thoughts and asked in a puzzled voice.

“Why are you saying it’s not allowed? Is it because minors might read it?”

“That’s not it, but…”

“But what?”

I thought she might have a surprisingly conservative personality. Rina coughed once in response to Marie’s continued questioning, then stared at us.

Then her face rapidly reddened, and covering her face with both hands, she said in a voice as quiet as an ant passing by.

“…Gently.”

“Huh?”

“Write it… gently. Then it will be okay.”

“… …”

“If you write it wrong… and give the wrong knowledge… think about the influence of your book…”

So that was it. Even in my past life, many people who didn’t receive proper sex education and only watched pornography faced significant problems in real situations.

Moreover, this is the medieval era where sex education hasn’t properly developed. Nobles tend to be thoroughly taught by their parents or tutors, but commoners are not.

Currently, Marie and I are getting spicier. We passionately mixed our bodies on our first night, and now that we’re used to it, it goes without saying.

“Hmm… I guess you’re right. But don’t worry. I won’t be too explicit.”

“…Okay.”

“Is there any censorship or anything like that?”

“That’s up to the publisher. The state doesn’t usually step in to censor culture unless it’s really necessary. The publisher will probably attach a warning on the first page.”

That’s a relief. As expected, the problem is with Alfheim’s council of elders.

While I was thinking about that, Marie seemed to have realized something strange and asked Rina.

“By the way, Rina. Do you know how we do it when you say that?”

“Uh, what?”

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like you know we do it intensely. Perhaps…”

“N-No, absolutely not! I’m not a pervert, why would I watch what you two do?!”

Rina strongly denied it, waving her hands when Marie asked with suspicious eyes. But there’s a saying that strong denial is strong affirmation, so the suspicion could only deepen.

Still, since she denied it so strongly, I should believe her once. Besides, we only had our night activities in places with good soundproofing, so others shouldn’t have been able to see.

“…Rina.”

“Y-Yes?”

“…Never mind.”

Cecilly looking at her with a pitiful expression was just the cherry on top.

******

After all meals, including tea time, were over and everyone returned to their dormitories, Marie immediately returned to her room even though Isaac wanted to enjoy a date with her.

Isaac was puzzled at first, but when she said she had personal matters to attend to, he returned without complaint. Of course, they didn’t forget to share a loving kiss before parting.

Afterward, Marie returned to her dormitory, changed into comfortable clothes, and threw herself onto the bed. Her snow-white hair with a blue tint shone even in the darkness.

She stared at the dark ceiling for a while and thought about what had happened today.

‘…He lied.’

Cecilly had asked Isaac. Whether he was really a prophet, someone from the future, or a reincarnator.

Isaac snorted and denied it absolutely, but she could tell. She could tell that Isaac was lying.

As Marie could instinctively grasp people’s true intentions, she was able to notice that Isaac was lying. However, it was somewhat ambiguous.

It seemed like a lie, yet strangely also the truth—even Marie found it difficult to distinguish. A feeling of truth mixed with lies, and lies mixed with truth?

Moreover, she couldn’t tell which of the three—prophet, regressor, or reincarnator—he corresponded to. But it was the “truth” that everything appearing in this world now was a coincidence.

‘What could it be?’

Marie thought deeply about Isaac. His mature behavior that didn’t match his age, along with his deeply considerate nature.

It’s definitely not the behavior of someone who is only 17 years old. Above all, he’s the author of the Biography of Xenon. An author whom everyone speculates to be a sage or a renowned scholar.

When she pondered each aspect, there were more than a few suspicious points.

Isaac is a trustworthy fiancé with whom she has even mixed bodies, but he’s hiding many things in various ways.

‘He’ll tell me someday, right?’

However, Marie decided to wait. People naturally have secrets, and Isaac isn’t the type to have a shady background.

Above all, Isaac trusts her too. It was he who revealed himself as the author of the Biography of Xenon when he confessed.

Marie smiled brightly and twisted her body as she recalled Isaac’s gentle smile. If she had known this would happen, she would have just gone on a date and headed straight to the inn, but she didn’t today.

Because…

‘I didn’t know Rina… was such a pervert.’

She quickly noticed that Rina was voyeuristically watching them. Usually, Rina is good at hiding her true feelings, making it difficult to discern her true intentions, but today she showed a gap.

And through that gap, she was able to perceive Rina’s true feelings. Thinking about it, there were quite a few suspicious aspects.

If it had been before, when their relationship was at its worst, she would have scolded her, but…

‘How cute.’

Marie found such a Rina really cute. So cute that she wanted to keep teasing her.

All her previous thoughts about how to unmask Rina seemed useless now. Why hadn’t she known there was such a simple and easy method?

‘Not yet. When it’s more ripe…’

Marie gradually developed a mischievous plan while waiting for an event that would happen in the future. She would never give Isaac to Rina, but at the very least, she should receive a “punishment,” shouldn’t she?

As she chuckled with a sense of getting even and buried her face in the pillow…

[Helium side: In fact, we also have an organization similar to demon hunters. They’re called Reapers, and like the hunters in the Biography of Xenon…]

“… …”

Isaac lost his words again as he read the newly published newspaper.

‘Why are you doing this to me?’

It was a moment when he experienced not a three-strike out but a three-strike truth.