Ch.4Uneasy Beginning (2)

I’ll let someone talk about me. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of an entrance ceremony?

“Finally, I wish infinite glory and blessings to all students who have enrolled in our Halo Academy…”

What else could it be? The principal’s speech. Or should I call him chancellor here.

Anyway, it seems that long and boring speeches remain unchanged no matter where you go. I don’t know if I’m the only one bored, but the eyes of the freshmen standing next to me are sparkling with excitement.

The chancellor of Halo Academy, supposedly the finest educational institution in the Empire of Minerva, must be a person of high standing, and these students might appreciate his kind explanations.

To me, he’s just a well-built old man saying nice things. I wish this time would pass as quickly as possible.

‘How much money did they pour into this place?’

The entrance ceremony is being held in the main hall, and its scale is intimidating. It’s about the size of two regular gymnasiums combined.

I assume they expanded the capacity because there are not only freshmen but also parents and people who came to see promising talents. Still, it’s an enormous size no matter how you look at it.

‘…I can’t see anything.’

Above all, I can’t see the chancellor’s face on the stage. Not just the chancellor, but also the faces of those sitting in chairs beside him.

Part of it is because I’m sitting in the back, but I also have poor eyesight. My vision naturally deteriorated from reading and writing books every day.

It’s not terrible though—I can manage daily life just fine. Otherwise, I would have gotten glasses long ago.

I experienced enough discomfort with glasses in my previous life, so I’ve been taking care of my eyes diligently.

“…Therefore, I wish you all good fortune. That is all.”

As the chancellor finished his speech, thunderous applause erupted. I was startled as I had been spacing out, and automatically joined in the clapping.

As the applause died down, just when I thought we might finally be heading to our dormitories, an announcement echoed through the hall. By the way, that’s being broadcast using magic.

[Next, we will proceed with a statement from Princess Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin of Helium.]

Damn it. I can’t believe there’s more.

While I was grumbling to myself, the main hall began to stir.

-Is she really enrolling? A demon?

-I feel a bit uneasy about it, despite everything…

-Wow… she’s incredibly beautiful.

It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but you probably know that perspectives toward demons have changed through my Biography of Xenon. But this is the extent of that change.

I can’t even imagine how much discrimination they faced before. Demons were always treated as walking time bombs, so it must have been severe.

Perhaps that’s why demons rarely venture outside of Helium. Cecilly’s decision was that radical and bold.

‘…But I still can’t see anything.’

Even squinting and focusing on the stage, I couldn’t make out the princess clearly. Actually, it would be strange if I could see her face in detail from this distance, but to me, she’s just a moving black mass.

Around me, people are showering her with praise—beautiful, gorgeous, busty, sexy, and so on. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see any of it.

I should have sat in the front. This is all because of my habit of always sitting in the back in my previous life.

Woong-

[Ah. Ahem. Hello everyone. Nice to meet you. I am Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin, Princess of Helium.]

Wow. Her voice is truly amazing. She could be a radio star.

I wasn’t the only one who thought so—the hall fell silent the moment Cecilly opened her mouth. How beautiful must her voice be to quiet a noisy hall in an instant?

Meanwhile, Cecilly continued her speech in an alluring and rich voice.

[As you all probably know, you might still find it hard to believe. After all, I am a demon, considered the darkest being in the world. Some of you might still feel uncomfortable, and perhaps some even despise me.]

Perhaps because her words carried such a strong appeal, I pushed aside my distractions and began listening seriously. Others seemed to share my sentiment, all adopting solemn expressions and listening attentively.

Cecilly seemed to scan the audience once before expressing her feelings with a powerful voice.

[Then one day, after a certain book was published, the view toward demons changed. That book portrayed us not as unpredictable time bombs, but as pitiful beings who wished to be human. Through that story, it directly revealed the desperate wish we hold.]

“Hmm…”

I smiled awkwardly. Hearing those words directly, not from someone else, made my face flush.

I wonder if Cecilly knows that the author of the Biography of Xenon is in this hall. She probably wouldn’t know even if the sky fell down.

[So, just as shown in the book, I will show you all. That we demons can laugh, talk, feel sad, and be happy just like humans. I will definitely show you. Thank you.]

Words that reveal her will and determination rather than empty platitudes.

Truly impressive. In this moment, “impressive” was the only word that came to mind.

Could I do something like that if I were in her position? I can definitely say no. I haven’t lived a life as tumultuous as Cecilly’s, nor do I have her courage.

‘…Not bad.’

I sincerely cheered for Cecilly as she descended from the stage. When I read about it in the newspaper, it seemed absurd, but now my heart was touched.

If a female protagonist from a novel appeared in reality, she would be exactly like that. I couldn’t help but think how remarkable she was.

‘I wish I could have seen her face properly.’

It’s a shame that my poor eyesight prevented me from seeing her face. Well, since she’s also a freshman, I might run into her sometime.

[This concludes the 1012th entrance ceremony of Halo Academy. Freshmen, please check your assigned classes. Classes will begin tomorrow. That is all.]

Finally, the long entrance ceremony ended. I’ll check my class assignment later; first, I plan to go to the dormitory.

I remained seated while people rushed out of the hall. I planned to leave after most had gone to avoid getting pushed around.

“Issac!”

“Huh?”

“Over here, over here!”

Just then, I heard someone calling my name. Unless they were calling someone with the same name, it was a voice I recognized, so I had to turn my head.

When I turned, I saw a man with the same red hair as mine and hawk-like golden eyes waving his arms. Next to him stood a woman with navy blue hair and the same golden eyes.

As soon as I confirmed their faces, I ran toward them with a broad smile. I couldn’t help but smile with joy.

“Brother! Sister!”

“It’s been a while, Issac.”

“Have you been well?”

My brother and sister. Their names are Dave and Nicole.

My brother resembles our father, giving off the image of a strong warrior, while my sister takes after our mother, making her quite beautiful.

“What brings you here?”

“What else? We came to see our youngest brother’s entrance ceremony.”

Nicole answered in a gentle voice, slightly bending her waist. The reason she bent down was to match my eye level.

Though I don’t know about her face, she inherited her physique from our father, making her very tall. She’s probably taller than most men.

“Have you been doing well? How are Father and Mother?”

Dave asked about our parents.

I met his golden eyes and answered kindly.

“They’re the same as always. I think they’ll be like that forever.”

“Really? Our parents… I guess they really love each other that much.”

Dave chuckled and then looked around. There were still many people who hadn’t left the area.

Dave leaned in slightly and asked me in a whisper.

“I’m sorry to ask this right after meeting you, but can you tell me when the next volume will be released?”

“… …”

Just as I expected. I momentarily froze before making a disappointed expression.

Seeing my reaction, Dave panicked and began rambling excuses. Beside him, Nicole’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah, no! Of course! Seeing our youngest is more important! But I can’t help being curious…”

“Shut up. Is a book more important to you than your brother? You’re making him feel bad. Issac, you can ignore that idiot. Okay?”

“…Okay.”

For reference, if I include my age from my previous life, I’m older than both of them. But I don’t care about such trivial matters.

It would only complicate things if I did, and these two have more mature aspects than I do. Or maybe I just wasted my years.

“Ahem… Anyway, I’m sorry. You must be under a lot of stress, and I misspoke.”

“No, it’s fine. By the way, did you hear the speech from the Princess of Helium earlier?”

In situations like this, changing the topic is the best option. Upon hearing my question, Dave shifted his gaze toward the stage. Nicole and I followed his gaze.

The Princess Cecilly was still on the stage. And beside her was Princess Rina, whom I had seen at the academy entrance.

The two women were talking about something, both with bright expressions.

“She certainly has the qualifications to be a princess. I couldn’t do that in front of everyone.”

“Hmm… right?”

“So how do you feel? After all, it’s thanks to your book that the Princess of Helium stood on that stage.”

Nicole asked subtly. But I couldn’t answer easily.

Should I say it doesn’t feel real, or that it feels strange?

When I heard the speech, I was touched, but now I feel awkward. Is it really like that?

The reason I feel this way is partly due to my previous life, but mostly because the current me has no worldly experience.

I’ve never witnessed discrimination against demons with my own eyes, nor do I know what incidents demon-transformed demons have caused. I don’t even know much about the common sense of this world.

“…Honestly, it doesn’t really hit me. As you both know, I’ve never been outside and just read books at home. Without anything to compare it to, I’m not sure.”

“Oh, you. As I’ve said many times, don’t put yourself down too much. You’re our family’s precious treasure. Understand?”

Nicole gently stroked my head after hearing my answer. Looking at her face, she was smiling contentedly.

I also smiled brightly, living up to her expectations. Nicole then lightly pinched my cheek.

“If you need anything, ask me or your brother. We might not be able to help with your major, but we can help with daily life.”

“Okay. Got it.”

“When you’re at the academy, focus on your studies. Don’t feel pressured to write. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good boy. Our Issac.”

Nicole tends to see me as a child. Actually, not just her, but the entire family does.

Although I’ve been an adult for a long time, they’ll probably treat me like this until I die. Still, I don’t feel too bad about it. Maybe it’s because I suddenly lost the family I could rely on in my previous life.

The bond between family members is truly warm and lovely. Since I realized this belatedly, it’s even more precious to me.

“We should go now. Contact us anytime if you want to find us.”

“Alright. I’m going.”

I waved my hand vigorously as I moved away from them. They also waved back, sending me messages of encouragement.

Leaving the warm reunion behind, I headed first to the dormitory. The location of the dormitory had been explained by the guide assistant before the entrance ceremony.

“Lululu~”

The thought of resting comfortably in the dormitory today put me in a good mood.

*****

Meanwhile, in the main hall that Issac had left.

On the stage of the main hall, two beautiful women, as beautiful as elves, were chatting with bright expressions.

One had jet-black hair and blood-red eyes, while the other had golden hair and blue eyes, each exuding a different charm.

Especially the woman with jet-black hair had horns sprouting from her head, making it obvious to anyone that she was a demon.

Yes, they were Cecilly, the Princess of Helium who had enrolled in Halo Academy, and Rina, the Princess of the Empire of Minerva.

They were laughing and genuinely enjoying themselves like ordinary girls.

“Kyahahaha! Really, that… Oh right. Lady Rina. Do you know that scene? The part where Merry kicks the ruffian.”

“Ah~ Of course I know. I think the name of that kick was…”

“Hectopascal Kick. I heard it’s one of the names of storms in that world.”

“Pfft! I remember. It was so satisfying.”

Rina, the Princess of the Empire of Minerva and a fellow freshman with Cecilly, laughed gracefully.

She wanted to laugh out loud like Cecilly but maintained her dignity as a princess. It was actually Cecilly who was unique for laughing heartily without caring about others’ gazes.

“Lady Rina must be an ardent fan of the Biography of Xenon? You know such details.”

“Of course. Honestly, is there anyone who hasn’t read the Biography of Xenon at least once? I can guarantee it. But…”

Rina paused and looked Cecilly up and down. She was so beautiful that the word “beautiful” seemed insufficient—everything about her was perfect.

If Rina herself had pushed her innocent image to the extreme, Cecilly had pushed her mature image to the extreme. Especially one area stood out.

That was her chest, or breasts. Rina’s were quite large, but Cecilly’s… further explanation is omitted.

The only flaw was that she was a demon, but honestly, with such beauty, she would have melted the hearts of countless men even without the Biography of Xenon being published.

Rina managed her expression as best she could and asked Cecilly.

“…What does Lady Cecilly think about the author of the Biography of Xenon?”

“The author?”

“Yes. He not only eased the fate of demons but made it understandable to everyone. Isn’t he essentially your benefactor?”

Rina had also treated demons like bombs until the Biography of Xenon was published. She had actually been attacked by a demonized demon when she went outside the palace.

Since then, she had thought of demons as people wearing the mask of a devil, but everything changed after the Biography of Xenon was published.

“I was also attacked by a demonized demon once. Since then, I trembled at the mention of demons. But after this book came out, the view toward demons changed.”

“… …”

“Even I think this way now, so I’m curious about what Lady Cecilly thinks.”

Hearing that question, Cecilly first looked dumbfounded, then soon wore a gentle smile.

They say nothing is more beautiful than a smile filled with sincerity. That’s exactly what Cecilly was showing now.

While Rina was inwardly admiring her beautiful smile, Cecilly placed her hand on her chest and spoke.

Her blood-red eyes flickered with a mix of nostalgia and affection, creating a poignant wave.

“Benefactor… that’s far from enough. That person is the only one who saw us demons as humans, not devils. I’d like to give everything I have.”

“To that extent?”

“Yes. We demons have a history of being treated as devils for over 1000 years. Do you remember what Sacran said at the end of volume 5?”

“Ah. That part…”

Although it’s not yet complete, if readers were to pick the most memorable scene from the Biography of Xenon, they would undoubtedly choose the very end of volume 5. That scene perfectly represented the lonely fate of demons.

Cecilly, still immersed in the lingering impression, spoke in a low voice.

“I… want to be like Sacran. A demon who dies as a human, not a devil, even in the final moment.”

“… …”

“Then what does Lady Rina think of the author?”

“Ah, I…”

Rina was momentarily flustered and avoided Cecilly’s gaze. Hearing her inner thoughts made Rina feel small.

However, perhaps due to her quick wit as a princess, Rina hastily blurted out an answer.

“Someone I’d like to lock up in the palace and make write all day?”

“…Pardon?”

Ah. I made a mistake.

Rina belatedly realized she had misspoken and quickly covered her mouth. But once words are spoken, they can’t be taken back.

Cecilly stared blankly at Rina’s pale face turning red in real-time, then burst into laughter.

“Puhahahahaha! What was that! Was that your honest opinion?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“I thought it was strange when I read it in the newspaper, but you were serious!”

“P-please listen to me!”

And so, the friendship between the two women deepened even further.

“Achoo!”

Issac, who was writing in his dormitory, suddenly sneezed.

“Ugh. Oh, shit. Got spit on it.”

He tore up the manuscript that had been smudged with ink from his saliva.