Ch.200Volume 15 (2)

There’s no problem at all. At a glance, it might really seem like nothing is happening.

But when people with questionable backgrounds, especially politicians, say such things, their credibility approaches zero.

When someone who hasn’t said anything until now suddenly makes such a statement, anyone would be suspicious.

Moreover, it’s not just a few specific individuals being quiet—an entire country has been silent before showing this reaction, which indicates something unusual is happening.

The Kingdom of Animus was founded 300 years ago through Hick’s heroic achievements, but hasn’t shown any significant movements since then.

While they might have been focusing on internal development, it’s been not decades but centuries, so it’s time for them to turn their eyes outward.

If they’ve been preparing for war while avoiding others’ attention, it would be like a bolt from the blue for other countries, forcing them to urgently dispatch personnel.

[Is truly nothing happening? The Empire of Minerva, Kingdom of Teres, and many other countries are sending delegations to Animus…]

[Historically, when civilizations are established, culture naturally develops. Politics follows the same pattern, and Animus must be experiencing this phenomenon.]

[War is an extension of politics. We must prevent their gaze from turning outward.]

With Animus’s single statement that “there’s no problem at all,” the world was once again stirred up. If political chaos is truly occurring within Animus, other countries must remain vigilant.

Humans in particular must be cautious, given their history of massacring beastkin during the racial wars. This is an era where wars are waged on flimsy pretexts.

This means they need to understand the internal situation somehow to prepare. It’s fair to say we’re facing a somewhat tense situation.

The fact that there was no reaction after the release of Biography of Xenon Volume 15 has snowballed into something much bigger.

[Was the Chief Warlord assassinated due to political issues, as described in the Biography of Xenon?]

[Our concerns are increasingly becoming reality. Could Xenon have predicted even this?]

[Animus has shown no significant movement since its founding. Given the aggressive racial characteristics of the beastkin, this cannot be ignored.]

While everyone was offering various predictions, attention naturally turned to me as well. The general opinion is as follows:

As described in the Biography of Xenon, a beastkin who was betrayed for political reasons returned and challenged the Chief Warlord to a Holmgang. As a result, the position of Chief Warlord became vacant, causing internal chaos.

While traditions and culture are important mediums for uniting a race, beastkin culture can be considered somewhat barbaric.

‘Holmgang’ is a cultural practice where the victor can claim everything from the defeated, including their life. While this might work for scattered tribes, it creates numerous problems in an established nation.

As in the Biography of Xenon, if someone challenges the Chief Warlord—essentially the king—to a Holmgang and wins, the subsequent impact cannot be ignored. When a nation’s pillar is constantly shaken, it won’t be long before everything falls apart.

[Will they abandon tradition and culture for the sake of the nation? Or will they maintain them to the end, ultimately returning to their original state?]

[The beastkin consider Holmgang sacred, believing that Harth, the goddess of creation and nature, watches over it.]

[Maintaining culture and tradition is good. But as seen with Alfheim’s Council of Elders, stubbornly clinging to tradition leads to obsolescence.]

As a result, people once again began to deeply consider tradition and culture.

Should they maintain tradition and culture while living stable lives? Or should they appropriately resolve the irrationality and inequality embedded within those traditions and cultures to move forward?

With Alfheim and the elves serving as a timely example, numerous scholars presented their opinions based on this, triggering another social phenomenon similar to the mixed-blood situation.

“What’s this now?”

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment as I read the newspaper articles. They were quiet for a while, but now they’re making a big fuss among themselves.

The delegations dispatched to Animus haven’t even returned yet, but they’ve already concluded there’s a problem—based on content from the Biography of Xenon, no less.

In the past, I would have gone crazy over this, but now I can just laugh it off. I’m practically in a state of semi-abandonment.

‘Should I ask Leona about this?’

I’d like to ask Leona, who’s closely related to this situation, if there really is a problem in Animus.

She takes pride in being a beastkin. Yet she suppressed that pride to enroll at Halo Academy.

After pondering deeply about Leona, I folded the newspaper and stood up. It’s best to stay out of it for now, as unnecessary meddling could arouse suspicion.

‘For now…’

I might as well go get something to eat. I’m currently in the research lab.

Elena has temporarily left to discuss something with another professor, and Cindy is sprawled out sleeping on the sofa across from me.

Even after earning her degree, she still seems tired—I feel like the dark circles under her eyes have gotten even darker.

It would be a shame to wake her up, so I’d better get food on my own.

*Creeak*

I carefully opened the door to avoid waking Cindy and stepped outside the lab. And…

“…Huh? Cherry?”

“Ah, hello…”

I ran right into Cherry, who was waiting outside the door. I recognized her immediately by her pink hair reminiscent of cherry blossoms and her lifeless eyes.

I blinked in confusion at seeing her waiting in front of the research lab.

Checking the time, it is around when classes end. But it’s a bit strange that she was waiting right outside the door just as I was coming out.

“Did you come looking for me for something?”

“No. I… I mean, I wanted to have lunch with Assistant Issac…”

“With me?”

“Yes. Assistant Issac usually goes to eat around 12:30, right? So I waited as soon as my class ended.”

“…”

What’s this creepy feeling? I flinched when Cherry said this with a slight smile.

Actually, Cherry waiting for me outside the lab wasn’t uncommon. But this was the first time she’d mentioned my daily routine like this.

Could she really become a stalker? Considering her unstable mental state, it’s not entirely impossible.

“…Hm?”

The goosebumps on my arm subsided momentarily as I noticed the papers she was carefully holding. I had been so focused on her face and eyes that I only just noticed them.

Unlike the papers that had been torn to shreds and stepped on before, these manuscript papers were very clean, as if newly written. It seems she’s made the revisions I suggested.

Pointing at the papers, I spoke.

“Cherry. Is that the revised version?”

“Yes… I wanted to show it to Assistant Issac today… Hehe.”

Her shy laugh was truly pretty, but her lifeless eyes created an eerie atmosphere.

Still, compared to when she moved stiffly like a doll, she’s clearly improved. Back then, she was practically like a moving corpse.

Seeing Cherry gradually becoming more lively, I smiled and decided to have a meal with her.

I could check her manuscript at the same time, so there shouldn’t be any problem.

“Alright. Since we’re here, let’s go eat together. I can check it after we finish.”

“Yes… Thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, you can buy me a meal sometime.”

I said it as a joke, but I actually plan to pay for everything.

I should at least do this much for a budding talent who was trampled to the point of no return and has just barely sprouted again.

Cherry blinked slowly at my joke, then raised the corners of her mouth and quietly murmured.

“…I could give you something better than a meal.”

“What?”

“I could give you something better than a meal.”

“Really? What is it?”

To my question, she maintained her smile and answered in her characteristically gloomy voice.

“I’ll give it to you someday. It will be really delicious.”

“Um… okay.”

As soon as I heard her answer, my gaze shifted to Cherry’s chest. Despite being covered by her school uniform, her large bust rivaled Cecilly’s.

Surely she’s not referring to herself as a dessert or something like Cecilly does? I don’t know if I’m possessed by some perverted demon, but my thoughts are drifting in that direction.

Of course, Cherry isn’t as seductive as Marie or Cecilly, so that possibility is almost non-existent. She probably really means she’ll give me something more delicious than a meal.

‘…My mind is in the gutter.’

What am I thinking about a girl with an already unstable mental state? I shook my head from side to side.

Like Adelia, Cherry’s dreams and hopes were torn to shreds due to an unfortunate family environment, and she’s just barely recovered.

Having such strange fantasies about such a girl is something I shouldn’t do as a colleague and senior.

“I’ll look forward to it. Are you making it yourself?”

“…Yes.”

“Can you tell me a little about what it is?”

“It’s hard to explain, but…”

Cherry trailed off, then smiled broadly and said shyly.

“It will definitely smell like cherry blossoms.”

“Cherry blossom scent… That’s unique.”

Given the cherry blossom scent, she probably wants to give me food that reminds me of her. It’s both touching and cute.

I looked forward to the food Cherry would gift me someday as I walked with her. First, we need to eat…

“…Cherry?”

“Yes?”

“Sigh… Never mind.”

Cherry was walking while holding onto my long hair. With her following me like this, we naturally attracted stares from those around us.

Actually, this isn’t the first time Cherry has grabbed my hair. She did it when we first met, and she continues to grab my hair whenever she sees me.

I scolded her sharply for this once, but she just tilted her head in confusion, showing no signs of breaking this habit(?). I’ve half given up on it now.

“Do you like my hair that much?”

“Yes… it’s soft… and red… and smells good… and tastes good.”

“What?”

What is she saying now? I turned to Cherry in shock.

But Cherry just tilted her head as if wondering why I was looking at her, blinking her eyes slowly.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

I must have misheard “looks good” as “tastes good.” I continued walking toward the cafeteria with an uneasy feeling in my heart.

“Mmm…”

Ignoring the strange sound from behind me.

*****

Exactly three days later.

[The Chief Warlord of Animus has been assassinated! Just as in the book, a tribal chief dissatisfied with policies challenged him to a Holmgang…]

[Since then, Animus has fallen into chaos. Holmgang challenges are being recklessly issued left and right…]

[The foundation of the nation is being violently shaken.]

“Ah. Shit. Again?”

There really is no peace these days.