Ch.279Unfair Treatment (2)

Cecilly had entered into a training regimen for reasons unknown. And with strict instructions that no one was to disturb her.

That included not only me but even her parents. You could call it closed-door training like what sometimes appears in martial arts novels.

But the problem is that I have no idea why she’s doing this. Usually, people enter closed-door training because they’ve gained some insight or are seeking one, but this doesn’t make sense.

Up until now, Cecilly had been spending time with me or showing her mother around Helium. There hadn’t been any particular process that would lead to some kind of enlightenment.

What kind of insight could she possibly have gained that made her start closed-door training? Even Deskall Isillia Vin and Isillia Draught Vin were tilting their heads in confusion, so I couldn’t even begin to figure it out.

“So how long do you think it will take?”

“Cecilly said she’d be done within a week… but this kind of training often makes you lose track of time, so I’m not sure.”

“She’ll be finished before school starts again, right?”

“I told you, I don’t know.”

I continued typing on my typewriter while answering Marie’s questions. Marie was hugging me tightly from behind, but it wasn’t distracting at all.

If anything, the soft feeling of her breasts pressing against me seemed to help me concentrate better, and the scent coming from her was stimulating my brain.

This close physical contact was Marie’s way of showing affection, so I couldn’t coldly push her away.

Besides, since I was sitting on Marie’s thighs, there was no risk of my work being exposed.

“Isn’t it heavy for you?”

“It’s a little heavy, but I’m fine.”

“Isn’t it usually the man who puts the woman on his lap?”

“If I sat on your lap, I’d probably keep poking you with my stick, so this can’t be helped.”

By “stick,” she clearly meant that. Indeed, if a beautiful woman like Marie sat on my lap, it would be difficult to control myself.

Even if Adelia were standing right in front of us with her eyes wide open watching. Adelia was currently observing us with a somewhat envious gaze.

For reference, although Marie said she was fine, I was actually tensing my buttocks and legs just in case I really was too heavy for her. Like sitting on an invisible chair.

Thanks to this, Marie could comfortably express her affection by rubbing her cheek against my broad back or sniffing me.

“Mmm~ The peach scent is really nice. I liked the lilac scent too, but peach isn’t bad either.”

“I’m sure Lady Marie likes anything about the young master.”

“As expected of big sister Adel. You understand my heart so well. Do you want to sit here too?”

“I’ll pass.”

Even as the two women chatted, my work didn’t stop. Volume 21 is currently nearing its conclusion.

After Jin accepts the evil within himself and literally devours his gluttony, just before becoming a demon, he regains his full sanity with Lilly’s help.

Sakran’s dying words—not to fear becoming a demon to protect someone precious—turned out to be foreshadowing.

‘For demons, the evil within is like another self…’

While Gluttony was being devoured by the demonized Jin, Jin was engaged in a fierce battle with himself internally.

Gluttony was merely a sacrifice for Jin’s awakening, and the real enemy was the evil within.

For demons, the evil within is inseparable like a shadow. Until now, demons have only suppressed their inner evil, never thinking of subjugating it.

In that sense, I’m anticipating some backlash from Helium when Volume 21 is published.

Why? Don’t worry. I heard directly from Mora. There have been demons who went berserk with rage and hatred, but none who maintained their sanity.

Of course, I’m not completely without concerns. As everyone knows, Biography of Xenon is currently treated as scripture or prophecy.

This means there might be demons who try to follow Jin’s example and subjugate their inner evil after reading Volume 21.

I’ll discreetly mention this to Deskall or Cecilly before publication, perhaps by showing them the manuscript first.

If any demons try to imitate what they read in Volume 21, I’ll ask them to stop it desperately.

Jin in Biography of Xenon is a special case, and not all demons can subjugate their inner evil.

If handled carelessly, this could cause social chaos in Helium, similar to the mixed-blood incident in Alfheim.

‘The inner evil is like a color-inverted version of a demon…’

The most distinctive features of demons are their night-sky dark hair, blood-red eyes, and horns.

In contrast, the inner evil completely reverses these color schemes.

Snow-white hair with black sclera, blue eyes, and skin so pale it has a bluish tint. Even black fingernails.

Finally, even the horns aren’t black like a demon’s, but blood-red, as if to prove they’re completely steeped in evil.

Being the inner evil, the horns are much larger, and they even have wings, the symbol of demons. It’s literally the embodiment of evil.

Despite being the inner evil, the overall color scheme is “white”—the complete opposite of demons, who have a dark image but yearn for goodness.

*Swish*

After finishing all the descriptions, I glanced behind me. Marie, who matched my description of “white,” was rubbing her cheek against my back.

If I added a few elements to the current Marie, she would complete my image of the inner evil.

But Marie looks so kind that she would seem more like a mischievous child than a demon.

“Marie.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Nothing. Just wanted to call your name.”

Mischievous? That word doesn’t do justice to such a lovable woman.

I chuckled and started typing on the typewriter again. When I put my hands on the keyboard, Marie rested her cheek against my broad back.

Though she must have found it heavy after all, this time she positioned herself between my legs rather than on my thighs. The chair was wide enough to make this possible.

Marie’s increasing affection warms my heart. Strangely, it seems to help me concentrate better.

‘First, Gluttony exits here, and then Envy appears…’

As the newly established setting for Envy came to mind, I glanced at Adelia. She was standing still, waiting for my orders, seemingly not bothered by her legs getting tired.

In her maid uniform, she always looks appetiz— I mean, different.

She willingly allowed me to use her as a motif for the character. Unlike her, Envy is a character with extreme tendencies.

In truth, anyone would become extreme after experiencing such consecutive tragedies. Like Wrath and Satan who have already exited the story, Envy’s goal is revenge, but with a notably pessimistic personality.

She shows a completely opposite personality to Adelia, who always displays a bright side while suppressing her emotional wounds.

“Is there something you wish to say?”

Perhaps I was staring too obviously. Adelia tilted her head and asked me with a questioning expression.

Every single one of her gestures is so charming that my heart naturally races. I hope Marie doesn’t feel this heartbeat.

“…Hmph.”

Seems like she did. Marie’s hug tightened, which confirmed it.

Is there such a cute and lovely jealousy? I gently held Marie’s hand to reassure her and spoke.

“It’s nothing. I just had something on my mind.”

“I bet you were thinking about how pretty big sister Adel is. It’s so obvious.”

It seems our jealous Marie is properly upset. But since this happens often, Adelia just gives a wry smile without looking flustered.

As the number of women around me increases, Marie’s jealousy grows day by day, but this too is part of Marie’s charm.

Just look at how she’s holding me tightly like a feisty cat, refusing to let go. Despite her words, she’s the woman who loves me most in the world.

“Marie.”

“What.”

“You know without me saying it, right?”

“Hmph.”

She snorts haughtily. But the way she rests her face against my back shows that my feelings have been conveyed.

“Do you like maid uniforms that much?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“If you like it, I’d be happy to wear one for you. You don’t think I couldn’t pull it off, do you?”

“…”

That’s actually quite appealing.

“Judging by your heartbeat, I guess I’m right. Fine. I’ll be generous. Marie Housen Reckyless, daughter of the Reckyless ducal family, will overcome her embarrassment and wear it for her beloved husband.”

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“So you don’t want it?”

“…I didn’t say I didn’t want it.”

Because of behavior like this, I sometimes forget that Marie is the daughter of a ducal family. Since our first meeting, she’s had a personality far from authoritative.

Thanks to that, she could become my first woman. I smiled gently and indulged her whims.

“I should suggest it to Cecilly when she comes out. Big sister Adel will join in too, right?”

“If that is what the Lady wishes.”

“…Do you really have to do that?”

When I asked with an incredulous expression, Marie giggled mischievously.

“I want to see Issac struggling too. Besides, I can’t handle you alone anymore.”

“How about building up your stamina?”

“Your stamina will increase faster than mine, don’t you think? I’m not a wild horse like big sister Adel, how could I keep up?”

“Ahem…”

Upon hearing the “wild horse” comparison, Adelia cleared her throat and turned her head away. She must be remembering how she behaved like a beast at night, unlike during the day.

By the way, Marie seems to have either resigned herself to or adapted to the fact that I’m intimate with other women.

Well, given my position, she probably realized she couldn’t have me exclusively. She confessed to me even before knowing I was Xenon, and I suddenly feel sorry for her.

As I silently held her hand, perhaps she sensed my feelings. Marie buried her face against my back and quietly spoke.

“Now I can tell what you’re thinking just by hearing your heartbeat. As I always say, as long as you love me, my heart won’t change or be hurt. Even if more women join us. Understand?”

“I’ll love you without reservation.”

“Then… Issac. Can I ask for one thing?”

“What is it?”

I’m willing to grant her request. I conveyed this meaning by answering immediately.

Then Marie, with a slightly expectant voice, stated what she wanted.

“We’ll get married after graduating from the academy, right?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll wear a wedding dress then, won’t I?”

A wedding dress, the flower of marriage. As soon as I heard those words, I immediately understood what she wanted.

Marie is sincere about marriage if nothing else. I too have vowed to do my best when it comes to marriage.

I smiled gently and spoke to reassure her.

“Zeltra, was it? The person who made the dress you wore at the gathering a year ago.”

“Huh? You remembered that?”

“I remember everything because you were so beautiful then.”

This isn’t flattery; it’s true. I even remember how she changed her hairstyle to a ponytail that day.

Marie was so moved by my words that she remained silent for a while before hugging me tightly.

Then, with a slightly moist voice, she said quietly:

“…I’m so glad I met you, Issac.”

I responded with just a smile. At the same time, I looked up at Adelia.

She too was wearing a happy smile, as if sharing Marie’s sentiment.

‘Big sister Cecilly must feel the same way?’

Our happy daily life continues steadily.

******

Demons, like elves, have basic specs far superior to humans. Not only physical conditions but also the ability to freely use magic.

Being able to freely use magic means being proficient in mana control.

In addition, thanks to the existence of “Dark Mana,” which has stronger output than regular mana, their destructive power is unrivaled.

Because of this power, demons can only train in places with thorough defensive measures.

If they accidentally release their power under the pretext of experimentation, the surroundings would be more than just destroyed—they’d be completely obliterated.

For this reason, all buildings constructed by demons boast formidable durability.

Even ordinary buildings are basically reinforced against physical damage and contain magic, so imagine how much more fortified the royal palace is.

This is no exaggeration—if a large meteor were to fall on the palace, it would remain intact as long as it was properly intercepted.

Not only is the palace itself durable, but the interior is no different.

To prepare for contingencies, training grounds and personal training rooms have been installed deep underground, with magic added abundantly to allow individuals to fully express their power.

In other words, even if someone causes trouble or even transforms into a demon, there would be no problem.

That is, if they’re an ordinary knight-level demon who has undergone training.

“Haah…”

At the center of the training room, which was not just devastated but completely half-destroyed and tattered.

At that center, a woman let out a heated moan. The area around her was damaged as if dozens of bombs had exploded.

The ground was covered with numerous craters, and the walls were deeply split as if cut by something.

And what about the ceiling? It too was riddled with holes like the ground, with debris falling down.

Despite being reinforced against physical damage and equipped with defensive magic, the training room was severely damaged to the point where restoration was almost impossible.

*Flutter*

At that moment, something black surrounding the woman spread wide open. It looked like bat wings but was even darker.

Something that could only be seen in literature, and only when a demon has completely transformed into a devil.

A woman with devil wings appeared in the training room located deep underground in the royal palace of Helium.

“It worked…”

The woman smiled fervently as she looked at the wings, the symbol of a devil. Not only the wings, but the woman’s appearance was distinctly different from other demons.

Where there should be white sclera, it was filled with black, and her horns were much larger than those of ordinary demons.

Moreover, her horns were completely filled with red—a symptom that should only appear during the evil cycle.

Anyone would see her as a demon who had become a devil, but the woman began to show a completely different aspect from such demons.

“Ah…! He was right! How… how is this possible…!”

The woman, clasping her hands tightly, revealed her joy without hiding it. She looked like a devil on the outside, but strangely, she was maintaining her “sanity.”

A demon who becomes demonized turns into a monster without reason. This is an undeniable fact that all races, not just demons, are mindful of.

However, she clearly has reason despite becoming a devil. Something that shouldn’t happen—or more precisely, something that couldn’t happen—has occurred.

What’s even more surprising is that this isn’t the end. After briefly being moved by her suddenly transformed appearance, the woman quietly closed her eyes and began to concentrate.

*Shaaaa*

The wings, large enough to cover her entire body, gradually transformed into black particles. Along with this, her horns, covered in red, also began to shrink.

By the time the wings had completely disappeared and the horns had returned to their normal size, the woman slowly opened her eyes.

When she opened them, the black-filled sclera returned to its original appearance. The blood-red irises still expressed their presence.

The identity of the woman who had just transformed into a devil was none other than the Princess of Helium, Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin.

Having just experienced an unbelievable reality, she spread her hands.

Her hands, which had been calloused from sword training, were somehow beautifully maintained. And that’s not all.

‘Somehow my breasts seem to have gotten bigger too…’

Perhaps the succubus blood became more concentrated after completely subjugating her inner evil? For some reason, her figure seems to have improved even more.

It’s noticeable even without checking in a full-length mirror.

To test if she was truly rational, she closed her eyes tightly. First, she focused on the inner evil she had been restraining so much.

‘…I can’t feel it.’

She couldn’t feel it at all. The source of evil that had tormented her during every evil cycle.

Her kind heart, which was determined never to break for the sake of her loved one, had completely subjugated the inner evil, just like Jin in the book.

At first, she doubted if this was possible, but she finally accomplished it.

“Haah…”

Cecilly exhaled a hot breath at the more fulfilled energy than before. She even tried negative thoughts just in case, but no evil was felt.

All that remains now is to wait for the right time. She was about to step forward with an excited heart when she became aware of the state of her clothes.

Although it was an internal battle, its impact seemed to have manifested externally as her clothes were beyond torn—they were in tatters. If she returned to Issac like this, she would certainly be suspected.

That mustn’t happen. When Volume 21 is released and Helium falls into confusion, that’s when she needs to step forward and show.

That they shouldn’t fear the inner evil, but strive to overcome it. Just as Arwen directly confessed to being of mixed blood during the mixed-blood incident, she too must show it.

‘How can I repay this grace?’

Cecilly thought of Issac, who had made all this possible, as she walked away.

Her feelings for Issac seemed to have deepened to the point where she could live as his sex slave for life if he wanted.

‘I want to have Issac’s child soon.’

With a strangely strengthened desire, Cecilly gently rubbed her lower abdomen and walked back with light steps.

It had been only three days since she entered training.