Ch.199Volume 15 (1)

# Biography of Xenon Volume 15 is generally closely related to the beastmen.

It marks the starting point where Alfheim is occupied by demons, and humanity, feeling a sense of crisis, plans to establish an allied army.

The elves, with their homeland already occupied, are sharpening their blades of revenge against the demons, while the demon race, whose lives have been drastically changed because of demons, are in a similar situation to the elves.

Humans and dwarves have also suffered numerous damages from demons and know that a terrible calamity will arrive soon, so they contribute to the establishment of the allied army. However, there was a variable here – the beastmen.

There’s a perception that beastmen are aggressive and barbaric, but that’s old news, and since establishing their nation, they’ve interacted with many countries.

However, just like in reality, the beastmen in the novel were also at odds with humans, so their relationship is very poor. Although they maintained diplomatic relations with some human countries, they couldn’t help but distrust them.

Above all, human political machinations provided the catalyst for ‘Satan’ to become ‘Wrath’ and cross over to the demon side. Naturally, the beastmen couldn’t help but distrust humans even more, believing they used dirty tricks.

In this situation, Xenon’s group heads to the beastmen’s country, Hickton, to request their help in establishing the allied army. The beastmen are essential because each warrior possesses military power no less than that of an elven warrior.

The result?

The Warchief warns them not to talk nonsense, declaring that as long as Xenon’s group represents the alliance, they will never join it.

Xenon’s group tried their best to persuade him, but the Warchief ignored them completely. He distrusted humans to the end because of the incident related to Satan.

Each beastman was an outstanding warrior, making them essential for the allied army. However, the Warchief was so adamant that Xenon’s group was about to give up.

Until Kaind, the Warchief’s son and Satan’s half-brother, offered help to Xenon’s group.

Kaind was physically weak by nature but could wisely overcome various crises using his exceptional intellect.

However, for the beastmen, who still had a strong survival-of-the-fittest culture despite establishing a nation, they couldn’t help but view Kaind unfavorably.

They openly said that they left him alone only because of his status as a prince; otherwise, they would have dealt with him long ago.

Despite such contempt, Kaind survived steadfastly using ‘intelligence,’ which could be stronger than physical power. Given the beastmen’s characteristic of detesting politics, Kaind’s existence played a very significant role.

He sweet-talked the Warchief with his eloquence and made a proposal to Xenon’s group that made them think hard. In the end, Xenon’s group, unable to accept the proposal hastily, stayed in Hickton for several days.

During those days, Satan led an army to attack and challenged the Warchief to a Holmgang.

Through the Holmgang, the Warchief was humiliatingly defeated, and Satan beheaded his father, the betrayer, and proudly returned to his main camp.

The story ends here, depicting the chaos that unfolded in Hickton due to the absence of a leader.

[The Warchief hated politics but used it to kill his son who was a threat. The epitome of irony.]

[Politics is essential for a nation. But the fate of those who only avoided it.]

[Who will Hickton establish as its leader? Someone strong in combat as per tradition? Or Kaind with his excellent political skills?]

After the end of Volume 15, the overall reaction was lukewarm. The story was generally interesting, but it was related to the beastmen who didn’t interact well with humans.

Elves had been actively interacting since Arwen’s rule, so there was much mutual knowledge, and the demon race had made a strong impression just through Sakran’s story.

But not the beastmen. Since there was no way to know exactly what was happening internally, people simply accepted it as “Oh, I see.”

It wasn’t a complete failure in terms of popularity and evaluation, but the reaction was somewhat ordinary compared to before.

[Could the reason Animus is silent be because, like in the novel, the Warchief accepted a Holmgang challenge?]

[Animus is politically in turmoil. It might really be silent because of that.]

Of course, conspiracy theories couldn’t be left out. People are speculating that similar events to those in the novel have occurred in Animus.

Although it was just speculation, people couldn’t help but cast suspicious glances at Animus, which had been too quiet until now.

Amid these speculations, Animus maintained its silence without stating its position until the end.

“So how do you feel? The reaction is completely different from before.”

“I’m so happy about it.”

I really liked these reactions. Whenever a new volume was released, all sorts of absurd news would break out, giving me a headache, but strangely, it was peaceful this time.

They say once a person tastes stimulation, they can’t quit, but not me. Rather, every time I tasted stimulation, stress piled up to the point of driving me crazy.

However, there were still gazes suspecting me of being a prophet or a regressor, but it was clearly better than before. Thanks to that, I could find some leisure.

“That’s strange. Others would be disappointed if the reaction was poor.”

Rina, sitting across from me, spoke with a surprised expression. From her perspective, she might think that way.

But just as one wants water or milk when spicy food is too strong, I feel similarly.

Having tasted only stimulating flavors recently, I wanted to find a plain taste. The reaction to Volume 15 was exactly that.

Sometimes, one needs to have a period of rest without stress.

“That might be true. But it’s been like that from Volume 11 to 14. I just want to have peace of mind now.”

“Says the person who killed Kayre?”

“…”

When Marie, sitting on my right, casually dropped this truth bomb, I was left speechless. Honestly, that was an unavoidable part for the story’s development.

Kayre had to die for Elisha to collapse mentally, and for Merry, who watched it from the side, to confess to Xenon.

Thanks to that, an unprecedented social chaos called the mixed-blood incident occurred, but it was well resolved, so no problem.

“Right. It’s hard to believe those words coming from the person who created Sakran’s story.”

This time, Cecilly, sitting on my left, spoke to me in her characteristically playful tone. Come to think of it, the spicy flavor started appearing from Volume 5.

As she said, at that time, the demon race’s reputation was so low that it was difficult to even mention them, so it must have been stimulating to the point of numbing the tongue.

Perhaps I specialize in spicy flavors? What seems ordinary to me might be stimulating to people in this world.

“…Well, let’s move past that. I want to savor this situation now. By the way, I wonder why Animus is silent.”

“This is just my guess, but they might be going through political turmoil as described in your book. It’s a bit strange that there’s been no reaction until now.”

Rina elegantly sipped her coffee and voiced her opinion. It’s similar to what I saw in the newspaper.

After the end of the Racial War, Hick directly founded the country of Animus. It started as a small village, but as beastmen who heard rumors gathered, it grew into a city, and eventually, a nation was established.

Now, 300 years later, unlike Helium, which was semi-forcibly isolated, they are thoroughly pursuing isolationism. Very, very occasionally, they trade with neighboring countries, but even that is minimal.

That doesn’t mean beastmen are forbidden from going abroad. Right now, if you walk around the Academy streets, you can see beastmen working as security guards.

Instead, most of these are second-generation, meaning beastmen born in the human world. Like the demon race, beastmen born and raised in Animus rarely go outside.

“So we’re also feeling something’s off and dispatching personnel. Political turmoil can be an opportunity for us. We didn’t have a chance with Alfheim because the Queen handled it well, but Animus is a bit different.”

“If a gap appears, what do you plan to do?”

“Of course, we need to wedge into that gap. In the future, the enemy of humans is likely to be beastmen, not elves or the demon race. We need to weaken their power in advance.”

Rina spoke in a calm voice, but I couldn’t help but be impressed. I also judged that if humans were to have an enemy, it would be the beastmen.

Beastmen not only have a history of being massacred by humans on a racial scale 300 years ago, but each individual’s food consumption is insanely high. Even the nimble Leona can easily devour three T-bone steaks.

So, even just for food, beastmen will inevitably clash with humans in the not-too-distant future. Coincidentally, beastmen also have a birth rate similar to humans, so their population will grow to saturation levels.

‘I wonder what that Leona is doing now.’

While listening to Rina, I thought of Leona. I’m guessing she also reads the Biography of Xenon, and I’m curious about what she thinks after reading this volume.

I should probably meet her separately soon, using steak as an excuse. And ask the questions that have been piling up.

“Well, let’s stop here with the boring political talk. By the way, Issac, did you hear that news?”

“What news?”

“The news that Cardinal Kate is coming to the Empire of Minerva.”

“Ah, I know about that too. Didn’t they say she’s also visiting the Academy?”

When I tilted my head at the unfamiliar news, Marie spoke in a bright voice from beside me. It seems she’s also heard the rumor.

I know about Cardinal Kate too. She became a cardinal at a young age and became the Grand Inquisitor. And she embarked on a pilgrimage to find me.

I don’t know what she wants to do by finding me, but since she’s a clergy, I think she won’t do anything unnecessary. Besides, she won’t be able to find me anyway.

“Yes. So it’s better to be careful. If the Church of Luminus discovers you, the situation will become really troublesome.”

“It’s okay. They won’t know it’s me.”

Instead, I’m planning to visit the temple this weekend. The reason is because of the two women sitting on either side of me.

Marie, well, she says she’s been restraining herself recently, but she’s only restraining her words; she’s still as vigorous as ever. And with Cecilly, I feel like my energy is completely drained every time.

Although my stamina is improving day by day from exercising with Adelia, it’s still hard for even me to handle two women. I desperately need Luminus’s divine power.

“Still, be careful. Luminus might have given an oracle. Especially since your hair color is noticeable, it could be dangerous.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“By the way, Issac.”

“Yes?”

I turned my head at Cecilly’s call and faced her. She then spoke to me in a tone suggesting something was bothering her.

“Recently, don’t you feel like someone is following or watching you?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just now and continuously, I’ve felt like someone is following us. Do you have any idea who it might be?”

“Hmm…”

I think deeply about her question. Recently, I’ve felt like someone is trailing behind me.

It’s hard to dismiss it as just an illusion; if Cecilly is saying such things, someone is definitely stalking me.

That gaze is surely…

‘…Cherry. It must be her.’

It can only be Cherry, the underclassman with pink hair and a large chest. Since that time I comforted her once, she’s been visiting Elena’s lab whenever she gets a chance.

She even skips classes, and scolding her harshly doesn’t help.

‘But she’s a good kid…’

She’s just broken due to a family environment no less harsh than Adelia’s, but her nature itself is kind. She’s having such a hard time mentally that she can’t even express herself properly, so I’m gently coaxing her now.

Of course, stalking is wrong. I plan to call her out separately soon and scold her, telling her this isn’t right.

“No, I don’t know.”

For now, I’ll pretend not to know.

******

Two days later.

[Animus finally speaks out! Currently, there are no problems in Animus.]

Animus, which had been keeping its mouth shut until now, stated its position. At a glance, it seemed fine, but…

‘They really do have a problem.’

It was certain they had political issues. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have hurriedly issued a statement.

‘Not again?’

Please don’t do this. Let me rest a bit.