Ch.337Safety Insensitivity (1)

Kate and Cherry. Like Marvel’s Thanos and DC’s Joker, it’s a combination comparable to nuclear fusion.

One is problematic because she’s too bright, while the other is problematic because she’s too dark. However, they share one thing in common: both have extremely low self-esteem.

Cherry, it’s understandable that your self-esteem is critically low, but Kate might seem surprising. However, if you look a little deeper, you’ll notice that she also has low self-esteem.

As evident from her behavior so far, she would even end her life if Luminus or I ordered it. Not once has she put herself first.

Of course, in Luminus’s case, it’s understandable to worship him since he’s a god who directly bestowed grace upon her. The problem is that her devotion is so extreme that it erodes her self-esteem.

Even if I advise her to live her own life, Kate would surely answer that serving Luminus and me is her life.

Perhaps this is why she gets along surprisingly well with Cherry. In a way, Kate could be considered an outgoing version of Cherry.

Like light and darkness, they’re polar opposites yet share strange similarities. If Kate hadn’t been assigned as a guard knight, would she have spent time with Cherry?

Instead, it might have worked out well since neither of them had any friends. Occasionally, when she has time, Kate might invite Cherry to her dormitory for conversation.

Looking at this combination, I wonder if there could be anything more dangerous, but it’s not actually dangerous in reality.

Unless mistakes pile up like Chernobyl or I make a serious error, catastrophe won’t break out.

‘I just need to do my job until then.’

With familiar hand movements, I typed and wrote the 26th volume of Biography of Xenon. There were too many loose ends to tie up, which caused a slight delay.

But after meeting with Cherry, except for my teaching assistant duties, I have free time. Elena has also granted me more free time since learning my identity.

That doesn’t mean I’m slacking on my teaching assistant duties. I have a conscience and can’t skip them just because I’m Xenon.

However, I’m still not used to receiving various looks, including admiration, every time I enter class. Especially when I enter the second-year class—Marie’s class.

One of their classmates was Xenon. If someone who didn’t know heard this, they’d think it was nonsense. It’s such an unbelievable story.

‘That Jackson was quite interesting.’

I paused typing for a moment and recalled what happened earlier. More specifically, about Jackson who’s been keeping quiet lately.

Everyone might remember that Jackson hit on Rina and Cecilly right after enrollment and got rejected. It was quite humiliating.

When these girls showed interest in me, he started picking fights and even made strange comments during events. Lilly’s absurd claim that I would end up with Xenon, not Jin.

He spouted such nonsense in front of the original author, which angered me and I calmly retorted. Then he blushed and ran away.

‘After that, group assignments came out…’

Marie, Rina, Cecilly, and finally Jackson. An impressive lineup indeed.

I almost took the blame because of some troll, but Jackson actually did take all the blame. Honestly, it’s unlikely that the three before him would properly do group work.

Marie might be able to do some, but Rina is an imperial princess, and Cecilly is a demon who’s just starting to integrate into human society. I heard he really lost his temper then.

‘Now he won’t even make eye contact.’

After time passed and my identity was revealed, Jackson’s reaction when I first entered the second-year class was quite amusing.

When I deliberately looked at him, he quickly turned his head away. His efforts to avoid eye contact at all costs were entertaining to watch.

Seeing this, I thought about teasing him but quickly gave up. He seemed a bit pathetic, and we hadn’t had any contact since the group assignment.

Moreover, there’s no way Jackson would dare bother me. If he did, he’d fall into the abyss—who would be crazy enough to do that?

I’ve also heard that while he’s still arrogant, he rarely hits on women anymore. Apparently, he learned life’s bitter lesson during the group assignment.

‘Come to think of it, I wonder how that Aira woman is doing.’

The female student who trolled during the group assignment and was called a bitch when I exploded. The thoughtless woman who insulted soldiers despite coming from a military family herself.

As punishment, she enlisted as a regular soldier rather than a knight, but I wonder how she’s doing now. According to imperial law, even those from high-ranking families must serve for two years without exception.

In other words, she has about half a year left until discharge. I hadn’t been interested enough to know, but I should ask Dave or Nicole about it.

‘There haven’t been many big changes.’

Although I haven’t attended all classes yet, not much has changed. As always, I perform my teaching assistant duties and write the Biography of Xenon whenever I have time.

If anything has changed, it’s that I have more time to write the Biography of Xenon. Other than that, there are no significant changes.

While thinking about other things, I glanced down. The content I had typed was displayed in a hologram-like window.

The content of Biography of Xenon Volume 26, as I mentioned before, is about the final battle with Pride, Lucifer. Lucifer, who spread his half-wings and stepped into the authority of a transcendent being.

I’ve already planned how the final battle with Lucifer will proceed, but what I need to focus on most is what comes after.

Starting with Wrath, followed by Gluttony, Lust, Envy, and finally Pride. These are the Seven Deadly Sins that will be vanquished by Volume 26.

Therefore, the remaining Deadly Sins are Greed and Sloth. Here, Greed is a dwarf, and Sloth is the vessel that will contain the soul of the great demon Diabolos.

As you can tell from the Seven Deadly Sin called Greed, Greed’s name is Mammon. Sloth is Belphegor.

‘Mammon’s model is the dwarf itself…’

The reason Greed, or Mammon, turned to the demon side is quite simple. They say once someone tastes money, they can never escape—Mammon is exactly that case.

Dwarves in particular amassed enormous wealth during the racial war. This was because there was no better workforce than dwarves when it came to crafting items or constructing buildings.

But this led to one negative perception: that dwarves would make any weapon as long as they were paid enough.

Dwarves are naturally a race that enjoys crafting things, but crafting inevitably requires “money.”

As some poor inventor said, the most important things in production are budget and time. If either is missing, a proper result cannot be achieved.

Therefore, dwarves have a keen sense for money if nothing else, and sometimes this goes to extremes and causes friction.

No wonder Makina is the country merchants dislike the most. Dwarf products guarantee quality, but trading is very strict.

‘And they take immense pride in their creations.’

Mammon can be described as a Seven Deadly Sin that maximizes both the desire for money and the desire to create. His masterpiece was Sloth.

A vessel that can contain a transcendent being’s soul. This alone is enough to stimulate a dwarf’s desire.

But as too much greed becomes poison, Mammon’s end is miserable. He was destined to be devoured by his own creation, Sloth.

As the name suggests, Sloth normally doesn’t move at all, but gradually awakens as Diabolos’s soul is placed inside.

The first thing it says upon awakening is “I’m hungry.” That’s why it devours Greed who was right beside it.

‘This part is fine. What comes next is crucial…’

The conclusion is approaching, but ironically, Jin’s final boss transformation hasn’t been fully worked out yet.

As I’ve said from the beginning, the final boss of Biography of Xenon is not Diabolos but Jin. Diabolos can be considered a fake boss.

Jin devours Diabolos’s soul to prevent it from being scattered across the world. He consumes souls just like his father, Gluttony.

‘But I need a justification for consuming Sloth. A very clear and convincing justification.’

The fake final boss battle is simple. The protagonist and his companions fight against Sloth, which contains Diabolos’s soul. That’s it.

It will honestly be a more anticlimactic battle scene than previous fights, but it’s necessary for the twist that follows.

So here I need a justification for Jin’s transformation into the final boss.

‘…Honestly, there’s no one but Lilly, right?’

Lilly falls after allowing Diabolos to land a hit. A fatal curse takes root in her.

A curse that will inevitably lead to death unless Diabolos’s soul is completely destroyed.

No. That’s not enough. With Lilly, it’s obvious she would sacrifice herself, so I need to be even more cruel.

For example… a demon seed. If the demon seed activates, she becomes not a “demon race” but a “demon.”

It’s only because Lilly is a saint that she hasn’t already become a demon—an ordinary person would have long since transformed.

‘The reason healing is impossible is because he’s a great demon with authority equal to a god.’

Hmm. Hmm. This justification is good too. A story that can tear readers’ hearts to shreds.

I gleefully wrote in a notebook rather than typing. But it seems the story until the conclusion will be delayed a bit more.

Jin will travel the world to find Diabolos’s soul, while Xenon and Mary will nurse Lilly.

After much deliberation, Xenon and Mary track Jin at Lilly’s request. Jin, anticipating their actions, leaves messages in various places.

After a long journey, the place where Xenon and Mary arrive is…

‘Where should it be?’

This is a bit tricky. I also need to explain how Jin tracked Diabolos.

If Sloth were still alive, it might be different, but since the vessel was destroyed, Diabolos’s soul must be wandering this world.

The key is how to track this. Fortunately, there’s someone perfect for this field.

‘I should ask Luminus directly.’

I should ask the god directly. Someone who experienced the demon war would know.

After finishing my rough notes, I stretched. After stretching, I asked Adelia who was standing behind me.

“Adel. What time is it now?”

“It’s 3:30 PM.”

“Still a while until dinner.”

There’s quite some time until dinner, but I’m feeling peckish. I licked my lips and asked Adelia.

“Do we have any cookies left?”

“No. We’re out of ingredients too, so I need to buy some. Same with milk.”

“Really? Then let’s go together.”

“No. I’ll go by myself. What if something happens if you go out unnecessarily? Besides, we’d have to call Kate too.”

When I said I’d go with her, Adelia immediately refused. Adelia alone would be fine, but the moment I step out, security would need to double, which is why she said that.

Not only that, if I were to go out, Kate would have to accompany me too, which would consume mental energy in various ways.

We never know when, where, or how demon worshippers might attack. Even if not demon worshippers, I would face various dangers the moment I step outside.

“It’s just right in front, can’t I go?”

“No. If you need anything, just ask me. That works, right?”

“That’s true, but…”

Adelia is my personal maid, but I don’t want to treat her like a servant. She’s a woman I’ve even spent nights with—I feel reluctant to order her around for trivial matters.

“By that logic, aren’t you in danger too?”

“The danger is the same, but guarding is harder. They have to worry about you, not me.”

“Fine… I understand. Go ahead then.”

“Yes. But you have to stay put. Don’t open the door for anyone who knocks. Understand?”

I’m not a child. She sounds like a parent talking to their child.

After seeing off Adelia who left to buy cookie ingredients and milk, I threw myself onto the bed.

‘By the way, are demon worshippers really targeting me?’

As time passed, I began to wonder.