Ch.212Volume 16 (2)

The identity of the sauce Cherry gifted me was sap from the cherry blossom trees, which are both a specialty product and symbol of the Roseberry family.

While sap is typically extracted from maple or painted maple trees, Cherry explained that the cherry blossoms in this world are different and produce sap.

When processed, this sap can be made into cherry blossom-scented sauce or perfume, and despite its unique taste, its strong fragrance makes it suitable for bath products as well.

The slightly salty taste is because she brought the pure extract. However, she doesn’t know why it has a subtle sweetness.

According to Cherry’s explanation, using the raw extract directly isn’t a problem. She just recommended diluting it because the concentration is very strong.

She informed me that since the sap can only be extracted during a limited period, it commands quite a high price. Of course, even the raw extract has a cherry blossom scent, so it must be quite expensive.

This is also why she brought it in an ordinary container. Her family gave her an entire container to use as bath product or perfume.

The processing method isn’t difficult either. You can use the raw extract for cooking or simply dilute it in mana-infused water.

Her promise to give me something better than food was certainly no slip of the tongue. Though I probably won’t use it right away, I plan to store it for now.

‘I couldn’t possibly give this to someone else.’

It’s not proper etiquette to give away a gift given with goodwill to someone else. Moreover, Cherry gave me this extract at considerable expense.

I should show proper respect so she won’t be disappointed. Since my body already emanates a lilac scent, I won’t use it as perfume, but I’ll definitely use it as a bath product.

I made up my mind to give Cherry a gift in return someday and began going about my daily life.

A few days later, Biography of Xenon Volume 16 was released to the world. It was the equivalent of two volumes in length, which was met with cheers from many people.

[Xenon. Is he a golem who writes without eating?]

[Readers are expressing both surprise and concern at the enormous volume compared to previous works. If he’s writing at this pace after injuring his wrist with the elves…]

[Is this a failure in volume control? Honestly, I’d like him to keep failing like this, but for his health…]

Biography of Xenon typically averaged about one and a half finger joints in thickness.

However, this time, due to volume control failure and to advance the plot quickly, it became as thick as an index finger.

For reference, the standard for the index finger was mine, and as I mentioned before, my fingers are long and pretty enough to be called slender and fair.

So you can roughly imagine how thick it is. I was a bit embarrassed since I hadn’t expected to write so much.

Perhaps it was due to Luminus’s divine power enhancing my unique concentration. A highly plausible hypothesis.

[In fact, if Xenon puts in the effort, this much volume would be easy. So for the next one too…]

Oh no. Not a chance.

The newspapers suggested that Volume 17 should be released in the same way, but unfortunately, that’s not possible.

The fundamental reason Volume 16 came out so thick was a failure in volume control.

Moreover, it doesn’t contain the message I wanted to convey, and it focuses on Satan’s tragic past with almost nothing about the protagonist.

Although Xenon confronts Satan toward the end and they engage in combat, Kaind interrupts and challenges him to a Holmgang, and so on.

Because I wrote in a trance-like state, the quality is lower compared to other books. Still, people seem mostly satisfied with the increased volume.

Anyway, setting aside the praise for the volume, I checked the reviews of the content itself.

[The scene where Satan, who symbolizes anger, resolves his anger at the end is very impressive.]

[Who is more demonic? The one who turns someone into a demon, or the demon itself?]

[As Satan’s example shows, we make someone a demon. Even if there’s no sin, there is ‘responsibility’.]

[It’s easy to break a person. But it’s difficult to stop such a person.]

[When the anger that blinds eyes and ears disappears, one will see their surroundings.]

The reviews were as I expected. It would be impressive to see Satan, who lived consumed by anger, have his rage quelled thanks to Kaind.

Moreover, Satan is a victim who became a perpetrator. He’s a tragic figure who turned his blade due to betrayal by his country.

Historically, such types of people are abundant. Especially cases where people seek revenge after being betrayed by someone they trusted.

[Revenge is just a process; the moment you make it your destination, your life becomes no different from a demon’s.]

[The only way to resolve anger is through love, as Kaind exemplifies. Only the love of family, siblings, partners, and people can subdue anger.]

[Though the process wasn’t good, Satan ended his life as a warrior of the beastmen.]

[End not as a demon, but as a member of a family.]

As you know, there’s a scene where Kaind challenges Satan to a Holmgang, and during the process, they reveal their inner feelings to each other.

As it turns out, Satan also felt sorry toward Kaind, and Kaind carried guilt for not being able to stop Satan.

Eventually, as time passes, Satan’s anger subsides, and he surrenders, unable to bring himself to defeat Kaind.

In fact, he could have subdued Kaind, but he didn’t because every time he did, Kaind would steadfastly rise and express his determination to fight to the end.

He had cut the throat of his father who betrayed him, but he couldn’t do the same to Kaind, who was his brother and true family.

[It reveals the beastmen’s trait of deeply cherishing family. On the other hand, it also shows their merciless aspect toward betrayers.]

[The character of Satan shows the current state of beastmen, while Kaind shows what beastmen should aspire to be.]

[Sometimes, it’s not strength or intelligence, but sincerity that gives trust to the subject.]

Light was also shed on the relationship between Satan and Kaind. It seems to be because it dealt with brotherly affection rather than the romantic love shown so far.

Though they were driven to point swords at each other due to their respective circumstances and tragedies, brothers are brothers. If not for their father’s greed, the brothers would have lived happily without separation.

This also led to occasional “what if” scenarios. If the chief hadn’t been greedy, Satan would have become an excellent warrior of Hickton, and Kaind would have governed the state well.

[Unlike previous battles, this one is one-sided and desperate. Yet at the same time, it’s poignant.]

[It showed that even without flashy and intense battles, it can leave a deep impression.]

[Their fists and claws must have contained numerous emotions.]

Many people also favorably evaluated the Holmgang between Kaind and Satan itself.

Unlike before, it’s not intense, and Kaind is one-sidedly beaten, but it directly expresses the sorrow of brothers and touches the heartstrings, or so they say.

Some praise it as one of the top three battle scenes of all time, while others argue it’s not as good as the final battle with Sacran.

Due to the volume being packed like a heaping bowl of rice, nearly two volumes worth, people’s critiques were diverse.

So much so that more people read it in parts rather than all at once because it was too long.

By the way, before formal publication, I received this letter from the publisher:

[Hello, Xenon. I am Musk Grid, the president of Grease Publishing. The reason I’m writing is that the manuscript you sent is too voluminous… (omitted)… Therefore, I recommend dividing it into two volumes. Ah, of course, this is just a recommendation; if you wish, you can publish it as is.]

From the publisher’s standpoint, it would be much more profitable to sell it as two separate volumes. It’s actually enough content for that.

But I requested they sell it as one bundle. I’m sorry to the publisher, but there’s no good place to break it, and if it sells out, the middle part might be missing.

The printing house introduced new technology, so books rarely sold out, but that was before Volume 12; recently, they’ve been selling out frequently.

The reason, as everyone knows, is because of the “Why is it like this?” phenomenon. Starting from Volume 12, the “Why is it like this?” phenomenon began in earnest, and people of all races started buying indiscriminately.

Now, not only humans but other races are buying it like hotcakes, so the printing house can’t help but shout “We can’t keep up!”

Because of this, the publisher urgently contracted with several printing houses, but it’s still not enough as it’s selling worldwide.

‘Still, they’re doing good business.’

The publisher’s president is a man of integrity. Or at least not foolish enough to cut open the goose that lays golden eggs.

Despite nobles and even elves coming to inquire, he hasn’t given even a clue about my identity. That’s how steadfast he is. He might be evading taxes, but I can overlook that level of corruption.

The publisher’s president might be sulky, but readers gave enthusiastic cheers, so this is fine in its own way.

[Kaind has become the new chief of Hickton. What will his course of action be? Will he abolish traditions that are no more than bad practices, or will he maintain them? Attention is focused on his future moves.]

[The demon side will also be on alert as one of their executives, Satan, has fallen. Though anger has been resolved, other sins remain intact.]

[Which sin will be confronted next?]

It hasn’t been long since Volume 16 was released, but already many people are anticipating Volume 17. Fortunately, the plot itself is well-structured, so I just need to write it.

If the divine power I received from Luminus also affects concentration, it won’t take long to be released. It would be nice if they could just wait quietly until then… but it wouldn’t be the “Why is it like this?” phenomenon without this.

But here, a problem arose.

“Hey! Help me out here!”

“No. What’s with the sudden… By the way, when did you get back?”

“That’s not the issue!”

Leona, who returned from Animus. As soon as she found me, she grabbed my shoulders and shouted.

“I’m about to become the chief!!”

“…?”

Now she’s creating a “Why is it like this?” phenomenon herself.