Ch.281Unfair Treatment (4)

Everyone has probably heard this phrase on the internet: “It was there, but now it’s gone.”

It’s a phrase commonly used for absurd situations where something that clearly existed suddenly disappears.

But the opposite situation is equally perplexing. Either way, you end up being labeled a liar.

That’s the situation I’m currently facing. I’m confronted with the utterly nonsensical scenario of something existing that definitely didn’t before.

The demonization of demons appearing in the soon-to-be-released Biography of Xenon, Volume 21. Specifically, the story about subduing one’s inner evil to become completely whole.

Remember the “unification” demonstrated by two elf heroes during the demon invasion of Alfheim in the Biography of Xenon?

Even then, unification was purely my imagination. A concept born from thinking, “Maybe it’s possible in a fantasy world?”

But now I’m told it’s a forbidden magic that was lost because it was too dangerous. There are even movements trying to theorize the symptoms that occurred during unification.

This alone is ridiculous enough, but this is clearly about a concept—no, magic—that “existed.”

The difference between having a precedent and creating one is enormous.

People instinctively harbor a deep fear of the unknown. Few are willing to take a step forward when they don’t know what lies ahead.

That’s why this is different from revealing existing lore. Revealing lore isn’t creating precedent; it’s uncovering what was already there.

The corruption of the World Tree’s roots, the existence of demon worshippers, the Reaper organization in Helium, elf fusion, corrupted Cardinals, and so on.

Throughout all the Biography of Xenon releases, many revelations have occurred, but never once did I create precedent.

[How will you explain the Magic Engine?]

‘That existed on Earth too. Considering water pumps were invented, it wouldn’t have taken long to invent them here either.’

As I said, the Magic Engine—or steam engine—exists on Earth too. Still, it’s surprising nonetheless.

But demonization, demons subduing their inner evil, has no precedent.

While there have been cases of being consumed by evil and going berserk after losing all reason, there have never been cases of maintaining rationality as Cecilly showed me.

Above all, beyond demonization itself, there’s one thing I absolutely cannot comprehend.

‘How can it be exactly as I described? This doesn’t make any sense.’

Cecilly told me that her inner evil had completely opposite image colors from Jin in the Biography of Xenon.

Unlike the black-haired, red-eyed demons, her inner evil had white hair, white eyes, with pitch-black sclera.

Even Cecilly’s demonized appearance matched the book’s description exactly. Cultural differences aside, this feels like God is deliberately messing with me.

So I went to Mora and confronted her. I asked if this made any sense, if I was unknowingly some kind of returnee.

This incident crosses the line, beyond what could be called a mere coincidence—it’s unprecedented.

[I understand what you’re saying. But inner evil is merely an emotion within your mental image.]

‘Mental image?’

[Yes. Try imagining what I look like. You’ve read many mythological texts, haven’t you?]

I followed Mora’s sudden suggestion, though I found it strange.

According to the mythological texts I’ve read, Mora is a beautiful woman with black hair and blue eyes.

Additionally, she has a mischievous beauty. Her appearance suits a smiling face, like an obedient tomboy.

[I’m actually prettier than that, but I’ll let it slide this time.]

Ah, I see. So she can see the images I imagine.

[Anyway, my image appears in your mind just as you imagine it, right?]

‘Yes.’

[That’s what a mental image is. Your own thoughts are projected as they are. The same applies to inner evil.]

‘If that’s the case…’

[It means the appearance of Cecilly’s inner evil changes according to her imagination.]

Cecilly confessed to me during her demonization that she had stolen and read my manuscript out of curiosity while I was napping.

After that, she went into seclusion for training, which matches the timing perfectly. And if inner evil manifests as a mental image as Mora explained…

‘Even so, isn’t this still too much of a stretch?’

[The stretch wasn’t made by me, but by that child. I’m not at fault here, am I?]

‘You just said you weren’t!’

[I said I wasn’t at the moment, not that I was completely innocent.]

Is it just me, or is this conversation going in circles? I rubbed my face in frustration at this situation I simply couldn’t accept.

I’ll discuss this with Deskall, but the shock he’ll receive will be far greater than mine. He’ll also give a speech after Volume 21 is released.

Just as Arwen confessed to being a half-blood during that crisis, Cecilly will show her demonization to the people.

I have no idea how to handle this situation that’s so far removed from what I expected.

[No need to overthink it. As I said before, there’s nothing that will threaten you or those you love in the near future.]

‘But last time you said there would be a crisis for me?’

[That’s a personal crisis. The crisis my brother and I mentioned is something that would threaten your future itself.]

Gods have the power to glimpse the future. Using this, they can inform their cherished believers when a crisis approaches.

However, depending on divine power, they can give either ambiguous prophecies or direct information like they do with me.

Also, it varies depending on the magnitude of the crisis, so it’s far from omnipotent.

Still, I could breathe a sigh of relief knowing there was no immediate threat to me or my loved ones.

This means that even if Cecilly’s speech has a significant impact on Helium, nothing harmful will happen to her.

[As I said before, just knowing the future itself greatly influences the future. I’m telling you about the future with that in mind.]

‘You’re talking about the time paradox, right?’

[That’s what they call it on Earth, I suppose. What you know is correct. Choosing one from infinite ‘choices’ and revealing it to your present self. Through that choice, the branch of the future is created and events occur. We call that ‘fate’.]

‘…That’s complicated.’

It’s strange for a mere mortal like me to understand transcendental beings like Mora. Even in my previous life, time paradoxes were full of contradictions and difficult to understand.

Space might be different, but even in mythology, ‘time’ is known as a power that only gods can barely manage.

However, no matter how much a god can turn back time, slow it down, or manipulate it to speed up, they cannot stop the ‘flow of time’ itself.

‘Anyway, there won’t be any problems if Cecilly performs demonization in front of people, right?’

[No problem. In fact, demons will be delighted. Demons are well aware that they’re like time bombs, so they always carry anxiety. Being able to completely overcome inner evil is remarkable in itself. Cecilly will become a clear precedent.]

Demons are a cursed race from birth. For demons, inner evil is the culprit that makes their lives tragic.

Because of this, they’ve struggled to properly express emotions and have been somewhat reluctant to meet other races. This remained true even after the publication of the Biography of Xenon.

Fortunately, things have improved considerably since the exhibition, and we can often see them mingling amicably with other races.

But even so, they know better than anyone that they themselves are like time bombs.

Living like ordinary humans, experiencing joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure while completely excluding inner evil—that would be the lifelong wish of demons.

‘I wonder what kind of speech Cecilly will give.’

And Cecilly will completely fulfill that wish through her speech.

However, it will likely be quite different from Arwen’s speech. Demonization is fine, but the timing is problematic.

The nobles and citizens of Helium will question when, where, and how Cecilly suppressed her inner evil.

This is the key issue. Depending on how she resolves these questions, the speech will either end successfully or leave lingering doubts.

Arwen was a half-blood herself, and I was able to help her, but with this Helium speech, there’s not much I can do.

[You don’t need to worry about that. It will just be an interesting situation.]

‘…Mora?’

It’s unsettling when Mora, not Luminus, speaks like this. Especially since she left a clear precedent with my mother’s visit to Helium.

But as expected, Mora had no intention of telling me more and smoothly changed the subject.

[Even if I tell you, nothing will change. So I won’t say anything.]

‘…Do as you please.’

I don’t even have the energy to respond anymore. She does care for me, but her mischievousness is worse than Cecilly’s, making her difficult to deal with.

I sighed deeply inside and spoke to Mora in a somewhat tired tone.

‘How many more times will I have to go through this? We’re now in a situation where self-fulfilling prophecies are occurring.’

[Maybe once or twice more?]

‘Are you saying even you can’t be certain?’

[The future changes according to your choices. But there’s nothing threatening, just annoying things, so don’t worry.]

‘That’s a relief then.’

I guess I just have to go with the flow, living as my consciousness guides me. I sighed again.

I could accept lore revelations as they come, but this is the first time I’ve experienced a self-fulfilling revelation, and it’s breaking my mental fortitude.

My mental state seems to be recovering a bit as I vent my frustrations to Mora, but there’s still one problem left.

Cecilly has definitively concluded that I’m a reincarnator. Like catching a mouse while a cow steps backward, she realized I’m a reincarnator despite being the one who caused this mess.

She had been suspecting it since Arwen’s statement, but this incident confirmed it completely.

Of course, it’s not awkward or uncomfortable. I was planning to reveal the fact that I reincarnated to my family someday.

But it was burdensome. Kate already worships me to an extreme degree, and now Cecilly has become similarly excessive.

Saying things like I’m a saint who crossed from another dimension to save demons, that I could only cross over because the gods went to great lengths, and so on.

Half right and half wrong statements make it awkward to reveal the truth hastily.

[Why don’t you just tell her? It’s hard to deny it anyway.]

‘I’m planning to tell only Cecilly for now. For the rest, I need to lay the groundwork slowly.’

[What about Arwen?]

‘Does Arwen think I’m a reincarnator too?’

[Hmm… she’s a bit complicated. You know about parallel worlds, right?]

Why is parallel world suddenly coming up?

[She thinks you crossed over from a world where heroes like Xenon never appeared in the Biography of Xenon. She thinks you experienced both the story of the Elf Queen and Kayre, and the story of Xenon and Merry.]

‘No. That’s absurd…’

[Think carefully about all the kindness you’ve shown her. I wonder if she’s mistaken or not.]

Are you mocking me or teasing me? Anyway, I’m dumbfounded that Arwen would think such a thing.

Perhaps my elevated status in various ways, Arwen’s misunderstanding, and the hint about reincarnation created this perfect synergy.

Moreover, since Arwen is the Queen of Alfheim, she might have become even more immersed in this idea. It’s not entirely impossible.

I felt my head throbbing more and more, and I laughed hollowly inside. It’s easier if I just give up. I think it would be better to write without any thoughts or emotions from now on.

‘Haa… I understand. It’s easier to give up.’

[Good thinking. You know stress is the root of all illness, right?]

‘Of course I do. Ah, I have one more question, may I ask?’

[Ask anything.]

‘I’m curious about what changes occur when demons like Cecilly defeat their inner evil.’

[It depends on which demon’s descendant they are. In her case, she’s a succubus descendant, so her figure and aura become more sensual. Her body also becomes specialized in absorbing life force. You know what I mean, right?]

I certainly do. Yesterday, when I had relations with Cecilly, I was thoroughly drained.

It’s embarrassing to say this, but Cecilly’s insides have evolved from before. To exaggerate slightly, it feels like 3-minute curry.

Add to this her stamina and desire comparable to during her evil cycle. If I hadn’t received divine power in advance, I would have slept all day.

‘So does that mean every day will be like that…’

[No, that’s not the case. Subduing evil means gaining its power. Desire is included in that power, that’s all.]

‘Will the evil cycle proceed the same as before?’

[Most things remain the same. The only difference is maintaining rationality when becoming a demon.]

I was afraid Cecilly might be in heat every day, but thankfully that’s not the case. If it were true, Mora would have seriously warned me.

I breathed a sigh of relief inside and slowly planned for the future.

There’s not much to plan besides Cecilly’s upcoming speech in the near future.

As for confessing about being a reincarnator, I can gradually lay the groundwork from now on. It would be strange to suddenly say, “I’m a reincarnator.”

After discussing various things with Mora, I received divine power and was about to return.

[Oh, by the way, one piece of advice: a major turning point will come in the near future. It will be quite important for you.]

‘A turning point?’

[Yes. A turning point is approaching, and the future will change depending on the choice you make.]

‘Is it a bad future?’

To my anxious question, Mora answered in a very rare serious voice.

[Both paths will involve some hardship. There won’t be danger, but you’ll be very busy.]

‘Can you tell me when it will come?’

Her answer followed.

[In a month.]

It wasn’t a distant future.