Ch.162Once More Helium (2)

The food in Helium was truly diverse. From insect dishes born out of impoverished lives to foods that emerged with the advancement of civilization.

The demon race began in such miserable poverty that even saying they were desperately poor would be an understatement, and traces of this remained everywhere. Not just in food, but in their distinct cultural elements as well.

After the Demon War ended 3,000 years ago, the demon race literally built their civilization to survive, resulting in many fundamental differences. For one thing, the people tend to be positive, optimistic, and bright in personality.

When I asked Gartz Balack about this, he explained that negative thoughts can make one more susceptible to inner evil, so most maintain a positive mindset. Because of this, if someone manages to anger a demon, it’s usually the other person’s fault.

Secondly, they don’t get angry easily. As you might have guessed, this is because they practice patience-requiring training methods similar to yoga from childhood, resulting in a high level of mental discipline.

Lastly, this has changed recently, but originally demons were very cautious when dealing with other races. They recognized themselves as potential dangers who could turn into demons anytime, anywhere.

However, after the appearance of the Biography of Xenon, they developed a kind of pride that made them more proactive when dealing with other races.

Of course, just as humans have vastly different personalities, not all demons are the same. There are those like Gartz who are stoic and restrain their emotions as much as possible, showing that demon personalities also vary.

It’s a kind of stereotype. For example, like how Koreans are known for eating spicy food and having impatient personalities due to their “hurry-hurry” culture.

“Mr. Gartz.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“I haven’t asked until now, but do you have a family?”

I paused my exploration of Helium and sat down on a nearby bench to ask Gartz. Sitting beside me at my request, Gartz blinked a couple of times at my question.

“Family… you ask?”

“Yes. I’ve been asking about demons, but I don’t know much about the person right next to me. So I got curious.”

Thanks to Gartz, I’ve learned a lot about Helium and demon culture, but I know almost nothing about him personally.

I only know that he’s a knight personally appointed by Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin and that he’s exceptionally skilled. Beyond that, I don’t know much.

Since we had plenty of time left, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to ask before heading to the temple.

“I have my parents and a younger sister.”

“Are you married?”

“I have a fiancée with whom I’ve promised a future.”

“How old are you?”

“132 years old.”

Demons are recognized as true adults when they reach 100 years of age. It’s a testament that they’ve lived as humans without becoming demons until they’re 100.

Their physical growth is no different from humans, and socially they also take up professions around the age of 25. Being 100 years old is more about mental adulthood.

For this reason, demons can marry after turning 100. The reason being that before taking responsibility for another person, one must thoroughly manage oneself first.

By the way, as expected of a long-lived race alongside elves, his age was much higher than his appearance suggested. Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin also said she was 105, so he’s much older than her.

“Maybe it’s because I’m human, but you’re quite old. Are you considered young among demons?”

“I’m a rookie among rookies, having just become an adult. Especially since demon culture respects age, I’m actually a rookie.”

The reason demon elders are respected is probably because they haven’t turned into demons over all those years.

Still, 100 years is a length of time I can’t even imagine. It’s so distant that the word “remote” fits perfectly.

I gazed at the people walking around Helium. Their faces were blooming with smiles, and children were running around the streets.

As I felt before, Helium is bright and vibrant. It doesn’t feel like a place where demons live; apart from the horns, it exudes a strong human warmth.

I wonder if it was like this before the publication of the Biography of Xenon. I watched a demon child walking happily holding their parent’s hand, then asked Gartz.

“Mr. Gartz.”

“Yes.”

“Was Helium this bright even before the Biography of Xenon came out?”

To my calm question, Gartz answered in his characteristically blunt manner.

“It was bright, yes. But we lived with an underlying fear. No matter how much patience we cultivated or how positively we lived, inner evil remained a real threat to demons.”

“…”

“But now it’s different. Instead of avoiding evil, we’ve gained the courage to face it head-on. We’ve gained confidence that we can do it and pride in not succumbing to evil.”

If Helium before had defense mechanisms to avoid threats at all costs, now it’s bright in the purest sense.

There’s a difference between a pure smile and one with intent. And the citizens of Helium are enjoying life with pure smiles.

“…Huh?”

“…”

Just as I was raising the corners of my mouth with an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, I suddenly felt a presence beside me. Turning my head, I saw a young girl standing quietly.

Long straight hair, round red eyes, and a pink rabbit doll held tightly in her arms. She had horns similar to Gartz’s but much smaller.

She was truly a little lady who deserved the adjective “cute,” and she was staring at me intently.

I blinked at the girl who had appeared silently, then smiled kindly and said:

“Hello?”

“Ah!”

When I greeted her warmly, she flinched and stepped back. Hugging her rabbit doll tightly, she presented an irresistible cuteness.

Then, as if watching my reaction, she pointed at me and exclaimed:

“Red!”

“Red?”

“Mommy said! When black turns red, it’s dangerous! Our hair is black, but yours is red!”

Is this a child seeing a human for the first time? Although visits from other races to Helium have increased recently, this might still be her first encounter.

It seems that all demons have black hair, and she’s mistaking my red hair as a sign of the evil phase.

But does that only apply to horns and not hair? I briefly held back Gartz, who was about to step forward, and continued talking with the girl.

“Is it because my hair is red?”

“Yes!”

“But child, I don’t have horns, do I?”

“Huh?”

When I mentioned I didn’t have horns, the girl blinked. Then she stared at my face intensely before speaking in a very confused voice.

“Huh? Wh-why don’t you have horns? And your eyes are sparkly-colored?”

“Sparkly-colored? What’s that?”

“Sparkly-colored is sparkly-colored. It sparkles, doesn’t it?”

The innocence of children is truly incomparable. Calling gold “sparkly-colored.”

I couldn’t hide the fatherly smile that naturally formed as I continued my conversation with the girl. I’m not sure when her parents will come, but it shouldn’t be long.

“May I ask the name of this cute little lady?”

“My name is Amy. What’s your name, hornless big brother?”

“Call me Issac Dukar Mayshall. And big brother doesn’t have horns because I’m human.”

“Human?”

“People without horns, like me.”

“So humans like you don’t have horns and have bright red hair? And sparkly-colored eyes too?”

She must be asking this because all demons have black hair and red eyes.

“No. There are people with red hair like me, and others with white or sparkly-colored hair. Unlike demons, humans have various hair and eye colors.”

“What does ‘various’ mean?”

“It means many different colors. And…”

“Amy!”

In the middle of our conversation, I heard a woman’s urgent call. Looking up, I saw a demon woman who looked exactly like the girl hurrying towards us.

The woman immediately picked up Amy and faced me. Her expression was as urgent as her voice.

“I’m sorry. Did Amy say anything rude?”

“No, not at all. Your daughter seems curious about my hair.”

“Mommy, Mommy. Is it okay that this big brother’s hair is red?”

“Sigh… Amy. I’m really sorry. This is her first time seeing a human since she started talking…”

“It’s fine. It was actually fun.”

I wonder if Lilly will be as cute and adorable as this child when she’s born. The woman apologized repeatedly and left with Amy, who waved at me while being carried by her mother.

I waved back at Amy as she moved away. This will likely remain one of the most memorable moments from my visit to Helium.

‘Should we head to the temple now?’

As we wandered around Helium, the sky was gradually turning navy blue. Unlike the Empire of Minerva with its distinct four seasons, Helium is cool or cold year-round.

It’s a very harsh environment for human habitation or basic farming, but the demon race built their civilization through tenacious vitality and excellent magic.

In many ways, their “perseverance” is not at all inferior to humans. Perhaps it’s natural since their origin is human.

“Shall we go to the temple now?”

“Yes, understood.”

“By the way, Mr. Gartz, seeing that child made me wonder: do demons also go through puberty?”

“We usually call it the ‘little devil’ phase. It’s an emotionally unstable period and a very dangerous stage in the growth process, hence the name.”

“That sounds cute somehow.”

“I find it unsettling.”

Following Gartz’s guidance, we walked to the temple of Mora. As evening approached, the weather became noticeably chillier, causing our breath to form visible vapor.

Fortunately, I wasn’t cold thanks to the thermal magic-infused clothes I was wearing. These clothes were a gift from Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin, but they’re apparently common in Helium. They’re expensive due to their attractive design.

In the Empire of Minerva, I would have had to pay a high price, but in Helium, even ordinary civilians can easily use magic, so such items are naturally commonplace.

“I heard Helium has been engaging in diplomacy for several months now? I heard the delegation gave magically woven silk as gifts.”

“You remember well. That news has spread, and many merchant groups are now traveling to and from Helium.”

“Just these clothes alone seem like they’d be in huge demand, don’t you think?”

“Yes. The Empire of Minerva has already ordered an enormous quantity of thermal clothing. They said it’s for military use.”

I could nod in agreement since I’d often seen this phenomenon in my previous life—military applications preceding public use. Considering the countless deaths from freezing during the Toxin War, the importance of thermal protection is evident.

Perhaps Helium will become as important to humans as the Kingdom of Makina, the country of dwarves. Dwarves provide weapons, while demons provide basic items like medical supplies.

For reference, Alfheim’s main trade goods are medicinal products like World Tree Dew, the raw material for elixirs. The country of beastmen, Animus, is… still not that developed in terms of civilization, so it’s ambiguous.

“Since trade has begun, are there any useful trade goods for demons?”

“For now, we’re focusing on the significance of starting trade itself, so I don’t know much. And while the Queen has approved trade with Alfheim, the Senate’s opposition is giving her a headache. There’s still a long way to go. Diplomacy doesn’t happen overnight.”

“Hasn’t the Kingdom of Makina proposed collaborating on magic engines? Demons would surely be helpful.”

“I’m not sure about that part.”

As we walked and chatted about various topics, we eventually arrived at the temple of Mora. Being twins with Luminus, the temple’s form was similar.

The difference was in the spatial distribution. While Luminus’s temple was structured to allow more light in, Mora’s temple was enclosed on all sides.

It must be dark even in broad daylight. Still, the design was fitting for the God of Darkness and Rest.

‘Funerals must be held here too.’

As the God of Rest, Mora also presides over funerals. Even followers of Luminus don’t object to Mora’s followers conducting funeral ceremonies.

In fact, if Luminus followers interfere, in severe cases, Luminus himself—not Mora—will sternly reprimand them. As a result, the authority between the two churches is strictly separated.

“Welcome. We welcome you to Mora’s place of rest.”

As soon as we entered the somewhat dark temple, a priestess greeted us warmly. She was a beautiful woman with droopy eyes and a languid impression, and of course, she was a demon.

While Luminus’s nuns wore white habits, Mora’s were very similar to the nun’s habits from my previous life. Except they were an even deeper black, almost completely pitch black.

I looked at the priestess, who seemed somewhat sleepy, and greeted her politely.

“Hello. I’ve come to worship Mora. Is there a private prayer room available?”

“Of course. It’s 5 silver.”

“Then I’ll wait outside while you pray.”

Gartz paid the priestess 5 silver and moved outside the temple. I followed the priestess and looked around the dark interior of the temple.

The atmosphere matched the title of God of Darkness and Rest, but it wasn’t completely blocked from light. Small holes allowed enough light to seep through to make out what was ahead.

Moreover, lit candles were placed throughout, giving it a somewhat eerie feeling. But strangely, it also felt comfortable—if there was a bed, I’d probably fall asleep immediately.

“This is the prayer room. If it’s too dark, you can light the candles, so make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my first time seeing a human worship Mora. I hope you have a comfortable time.”

The languid-looking priestess bowed her head slightly and firmly closed the door of the prayer room. As soon as the door closed, I looked around Mora’s private prayer room.

Unlike Luminus’s, it was pitch dark except for the light seeping through small holes. As the priestess had mentioned, several candles were set up in front of Mora’s statue.

Unlike her twin brother Luminus, Mora has a playful and innocent personality, which was depicted in the statue. While her brother wore a benevolent smile, Mora’s distinctive feature was her upturned corners of the mouth.

But the statue showed meticulous craftsmanship, allowing one to imagine her appearance. Demons have a deep appreciation for art, so they must have sculpted their deity with great care.

‘I don’t need to light candles right now.’

I could just place my head near the light coming through the holes and pray. I slowly knelt on the floor, just as I had prayed to Luminus.

Although the atmosphere was completely different, the prayer method itself shouldn’t be a problem. I put my hands together neatly and closed my eyes.

‘…Mora? Are you there…’

[You came!!! Finally!! Why so late!!]

Good grief!