Ch.386Cow’s Backward Steps (3)

While the world, including Issac, was caught up in an unexpected fandom war…

There are always people who remain unaffected even when the world is in turmoil over unexpected issues. For example, those who have no interest in the Biography of Xenon…

“Will this really damage him?”

Or those who take pleasure in watching the Biography of Xenon fall.

In complete darkness where nothing was visible, a man asked in a cautious voice in a space illuminated by only a single candle.

The voice sounded quite young, but due to the darkness, only his silhouette was barely discernible.

However, as they say even the shadow of a beautiful person is handsome, his high nose bridge and sharp jawline gave hints of his good looks.

“Things like this should be dismantled slowly from within. Like dropping a drop of ink on pure white paper, quietly infiltrating is all it takes.”

The unidentified person facing the young man. With a voice that made it impossible to determine whether they were male or female, and a robe covering their entire body.

Though they looked suspicious to anyone, the man didn’t mind. Such appearances could easily be achieved through magic.

With this in mind, he clasped his hands together, pondered briefly, and then spoke carefully to the figure before him.

“May I speak frankly?”

“Speak.”

“It feels too trivial. To think we went through such lengthy preparations for just this…”

The rumors spreading about the Biography of Xenon. To the man, what they were doing seemed childish.

Merely causing division among fans rather than directly attacking Issac. They even spread rumors secretly from various places to avoid being traced.

With such funds and manpower at their disposal, he couldn’t understand why they would do something like this.

It was no different from playing pranks when they could have launched a full-scale attack.

“Like the green youth you are, your insight is lacking. Or is it because this is your first time with such matters?”

The stranger laughed silently at those words and retorted with a seemingly condescending nuance. Clearly looking down on the man.

The man’s eye twitched, apparently displeased by such an attitude. But getting upset now would do no good.

Trying to regain his composure, he asked back in a curt tone.

“Isn’t this your first time as well? There’s never been a work like the Biography of Xenon in history.”

“Yes, you’re right. But I’ve carried out and succeeded in countless methods of silently killing heroes.”

“…”

The man kept his mouth shut at the chilling response.

Before the relatively peaceful era of today, this world could rightfully be called the age of heroes.

With mana and magic in existence, individual power was often strong, and power was concentrated accordingly.

Moreover, with numerous wars breaking out before and after the racial war, there’s no need to explain how important heroes were.

To have mastered ways to silently kill such heroes—the man suddenly realized how dangerous the demon worshippers he belonged to truly were.

“Heroes naturally attract followers. Followers can be strong shields, but sometimes they become poisoned daggers. Besides, even heroes aren’t perfect. Even Icare was manipulated by the Senate during the racial war and eventually imprisoned.”

“Icare? But elves…”

“Do you think elves have no desires? Pride is the ultimate sin. You don’t need to infiltrate deeply to use them. They’ll self-destruct on their own.”

Currently, demon worshippers are being eradicated, but none have appeared in Alfheim.

Even Phiren, who openly opposed Arwen, wasn’t affiliated with demon worshippers.

Rumors say he raged, claiming it was an insult to him to borrow power from “such beings,” a very elf-like statement.

He committed his acts purely(?) out of a desire to monopolize power.

“Elves are easier to manipulate than humans. They’re so narrow-minded that once they’re incited, they believe till the end.”

It’s true that demon worshippers played tricks during the racial war. Through cunning strategies, they provoked Icare to confront the Senate.

It was like flicking a small spark into a room full of gunpowder.

“And this time is the same. If you can’t break through, make them come to you, or slowly crumble them from within. Moreover, for artists, honor is everything. If that honor is tarnished, their defenses will naturally weaken.”

“Even if they weaken, the guardians by his side are formidable. Kate Cardinal is by his side, and many countries, including Helium, protect him. And even the plan one of you worked so hard on failed.”

“That was a completely unexpected situation.”

The stranger nodded, seemingly agreeing with the man’s accurate points. Honestly, the plan the man mentioned should have succeeded with almost 100% certainty.

That plan was to take over Issac’s body. In this world, even necromancy is considered a malicious magic that people avoid delving into.

But demon worshippers are a group with deep knowledge of necromancy and sorcery. They can routinely perform acts against the natural order.

Yet the plan failed, causing more confusion than shock. They wondered if they had made a mistake, but couldn’t identify the cause.

The soul had completely disappeared. They had prepared a body in case of failure, but it never returned.

‘He must have been stronger than expected, being blessed by false gods.’

For now, that’s all they could think. They couldn’t have dreamed that a legendary angel actually existed.

Therefore, the demon worshippers formulated another plan. If they couldn’t destroy from the outside, they would gradually break down from within.

An empire that falls from external attacks can be rebuilt, but if it crumbles from within, there’s no solution. This is a truth that has been universally accepted since ancient times.

“There are always extremists wherever you go. And there will definitely be factions that dislike these followers. Then the arrows will naturally point towards Xenon.”

“Isn’t that too far-fetched? What if Xenon explains before that?”

“Then they’ll hate those extreme followers even more. They’ll say, ‘Because of you, Xenon had to reveal the ending himself.’ Whether they fight or not, the number of followers will decrease.”

“Ah.”

The man was impressed. Indeed, if that happens, it would lead to a deadlock.

Just as Issac thought about the current situation, it’s like being cornered.

But he still wondered if even this could bring down Issac. Isn’t it just tarnishing his honor?

“Is that the end? Tarnishing Xenon’s honor?”

“It’s very important.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s how heroes have fallen so far. A hero isn’t a transcendent being like a god. They’re mortals with only one heart, and they can be disabled if their head suffers a severe impact.”

No matter how much people praise him as a prophet or a regressor, Issac is fundamentally mortal.

He receives treatment comparable to a god because he has achieved feats unimaginable to ordinary people, but he will eventually face death.

What covers this is honor. If that honor is gradually torn away, vulnerabilities will appear.

There are no perfect people in the world. This is no different for heroes, and sometimes they have severe character flaws.

“Now I understand what you mean. But it will take a long time. Besides, if Xenon gives a good ending, it might be meaningless.”

“A good ending… For example? As you know, even the World Tree couldn’t withstand that darkness. Do you think Lilly can?”

“For someone who dislikes the Biography of Xenon, you seem to know the content well.”

A question filled with surprise and mockery. The stranger responded with a calm voice.

“Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can win a hundred battles. Information is very important, you green novice.”

“…Alright, I’ll accept that. It seems we can communicate better now.”

The man suppressed the rising anger within him and spoke in his characteristically cold voice.

“Lilly is a saint beloved by the gods. Do you think the gods will stand by as such a being gradually withers away? Even Jin, who was affected by Gluttony, was restored after awakening, so it shouldn’t be different for Lilly.”

“Purification is impossible. If it were, there would be no need to create such a crisis. And you haven’t read carefully. The final description shows the stake piercing the left chest. In other words, where the heart is.”

“…”

Why does he know so well? The man was dumbfounded but didn’t show it outwardly.

Even though the stranger was covered by a robe, their voice was intensely serious. If he laughed here, he might lose his life.

“The heart is the source of life. Mortals usually die when their heart is damaged. This is no different for Lilly.”

“Couldn’t she awaken as an angel like Jin?”

“A mortal cannot ascend to become a transcendent being. Because the physical body is different.”

“Then what about extracting just the soul to become a transcendent being…”

Hissssss—

Before the man could finish, a fierce aura began to emanate from the stranger.

Feeling the pressure, the man immediately closed his mouth. He felt like his neck would be severed if he uttered even one more word.

If just releasing aura could create such an illusion, how strong must they be?

As the man gulped, the mysterious being spoke in a low, sunken voice.

It was a voice clearly containing “anger” and “hatred.”

“Watch your words.”

“…”

“Life cannot be born without a father. Even nature is just barren land without ‘seeds.’ This is the true order. It’s a truth unknown because false gods blind the eyes of ignorant mortals.”

It’s an extremely valid point. A child cannot be born without a father, and vice versa.

The man felt cold sweat running down as he sensed the stranger’s anger. But he had to say what needed to be said.

“But Xenon is an author. He can write whatever he wants.”

“…”

“If he writes it that way, what do you plan to do?”

“False gods do not lie. No, they cannot. This is a restriction the Father of All Things placed on them before leaving. This is why they can conceal the truth but cannot lie.”

Issac once asked Mora a similar question. After purifying Jin, whose soul was corrupted from devouring Diabolos, could she be reborn as a transcendent being?

And Luminus, instead of saying it was possible, explained how angels are born.

In a way, he taught Issac to make his own judgment, but it was essentially avoiding the answer.

Afterwards, Issac naturally gave up on the idea of rebirth as an angel, which was significant in many ways.

“It would be good for us if she’s resurrected as an angel. If the truth is revealed in the distant future, we can properly tarnish his honor.”

“…I see. Then why spread rumors that Xenon will kill Jin? If it’s just about Jin and Lilly not ending up together, that would be enough.”

“To cause division, we needed to do it thoroughly. Anyway, he’ll probably use some nonsensical trick to bring them together, so don’t worry about it.”

But does he know?

“Not even a real demon, if we tear them apart, we won’t be able to handle it.”

That a completely unexpected, and very shocking development will follow.

“Or perhaps it would be better if Jin dies while nursing Lilly by her side.”

That Issac is worse than a demon.

“Wouldn’t that also cause an uproar?”

“That shows how influential the two are.”

Until now, they didn’t know.