Chapter 1: This Isn't Right(1)
Chapter 1: This Isn't Right(1)
My thoughts upon seeing the newspaper could be summed up in a single sentence.
Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
I had written that book merely to kill time, but suddenly, the world was in an uproar. In this world, science was so underdeveloped that there were no radios, let alone smartphones; the only way to get news was through the newspaper.
And yet, this very newspaper was running a front-page feature on the book I wrote. I couldn't help but be flabbergasted.
"Hahahaha! I knew my eyes hadn't failed me! That’s my boy! My youngest son!"
As I stared blankly at the paper, a boisterous laugh erupted from across the table.
With my face still frozen in a daze, I looked up from the newspaper.
He had red hair that grew out like a blazing lion's mane and a meticulously groomed beard. His golden eyes shone like those of a bird of prey.
This middle-aged man, exuding the rugged masculinity of a veteran hero, was Hawk Ducard Maishal.
He was my father.
"Oh, honestly, dear. I’ve told you all along. Isaac is much better suited to being a scholar than a knight."
The beautiful woman beside him playfully tapped Hawk’s thick arm, acting coy.
She had long, navy-blue hair reaching down to her waist and delicate, doll-like features. Uniquely, her eyes were a striking shade of purple.
By now, anyone would have guessed it, but this woman—who looked to be in her early thirties at most—was my mother, Anna Ducard Maishal.
"Our Isaac is truly amazing. Everyone says they want to find you."
My mother smiled elegantly and offered her congratulations with a look of pure happiness.
I’m sorry, Mother. But those words don't help me at all.
The words climbed up to my throat, but I barely managed to suppress them. I didn't want to ruin this warm, harmonious atmosphere for no reason.
I just gave a socially awkward, foolish smile.
"...Could you please keep my identity anonymous for as long as possible?"
Still, I needed at least one final shield. I made the request to my parents in a timid voice.
Since my parents were the ones who helped me publish the novel anonymously in the first place, it might still be possible.
To be honest, I didn't want to get caught up in any unnecessary noise. The newspapers were already in a frenzy; I couldn't even imagine what it was like outside.
"Well, now. I’ll do it if you want, but won't your identity be revealed before long anyway?"
"Why is that?"
"Even if your father is a noble, I’m just a mere Baron. You don't have to look far—even the Imperial Family is searching for you."
"Ah."
I understood immediately after hearing my father's explanation. No matter how much of a noble my father was, he was a 'Baron,' the lowest of the five ranks of nobility.
Furthermore, my father was originally a commoner knight who became a noble by racking up terrifying achievements, making his status as a "proper" noble somewhat ambiguous.
In other words, if those at the top were determined to find me, I would be utterly defenseless.
"But don't worry too much. I know what you're concerned about. I’ll do everything in my power to block them."
Perhaps reading my anxious expression, my father smiled gently and stroked my hair. His hand was rough and calloused, but the touch made me feel at peace.
"I’ll also keep an eye on things at my tea parties. I don't want our Isaac to have a hard time."
"Mother..."
What wonderful warmth. I looked at my parents with a moved expression.
The reason I was able to accept them as my parents was precisely because of this warm affection.
Soon, my mother wore a satisfied smile and spoke to me in a soft, sweet voice.
"So, Isaac. Can Mother ask you just one thing?"
"What is it?"
"When is the next volume coming out?"
"..."
"I'm waiting for Lily and Jin to get together."
Give me back my emotional moment.
I stared blankly at her beaming face before dropping my head.
Emotions aside, there was a truth I could never bring myself to tell my mother.
Jin is the final boss, Mother...
Among the characters in the Xenon Biography I wrote, there was a supporting couple with a romantic subplot. They were 'Lily' and 'Jin,' whom my mother had just mentioned.
For the record, Jin was a Demon, and Lily was a priestess—specifically, one revered as the next Saintess.
On the surface, it might look like a poignant romance, but in my past life, I was a man known as a "Professor at the University of Satan."
In the final stages, Jin is scheduled to accept the remnants of the Archdemon to completely annihilate it, thereby ascending to the role of the story's true final boss.
The protagonist, his mental state shattered, eventually defeats him—and as a bonus, Jin's dying words are a desperate call for Lily.
...I'm truly fucked.
It was fine for my family to read my novel. But hearing it from their own mouths made my heart tighten.
Should I change it to a happy ending now? The thought crossed my mind, but there were already too many seeds and foreshadowing planted to turn back.
Well, there was still time before the ending, so my life should be safe until then.
"Honey. Isaac is about to enter the Academy; don't pressure him too much. What if the story goes in a weird direction because of that?"
"Oh my. Author Isaac? Did I perhaps commit a discourtesy...?"
"Oh, come on!"
When I finally barked out in shame, my parents burst into laughter, each in their own characteristic way. Meanwhile, my face was turning redder by the second.
"I'm sorry, dear. Anyway, will you be entering the Academy for Literature rather than Martial Studies?"
My father stopped laughing and asked me. I calmed my excitement and thought about the Academy I was about to enter.
The Academy—specifically, 'Halo Academy'—was the top educational institution in this country.
As the premier institution, it boasted an incredible curriculum, which was essentially the same as a university in my previous life.
The only difference was that it was divided into two tracks: Martial Studies, which focused on physical power, and Literature, which focused on intellect.
Why would I ever go into Martial Studies?
Since monsters existed in this world, it was full of creatures that made tigers, lions, and even elephants look like 'nothing.' And I, unlike the protagonists of other novels, had zero talent for combat.
In the past, my father had trained me harshly, wanting me to become a knight like him, but he gave up because I was so weak and sickly.
"Yes. I prefer Literature over Martial Studies."
"Hmm... I see. However, daily physical training is mandatory. Understood?"
"Of course."
I was already doing physical training regularly. It didn't just build stamina; it also built endurance.
Thanks to that, I, who couldn't sit in front of a computer for thirty minutes in my past life, now had the concentration to write for three hours straight. That was how I was able to publish one book every month.
Though I had developed severe calluses from writing with a nib pen, it wasn't something I needed to worry about.
"Do you plan to keep writing even after you go to the Academy?"
This time, my mother asked the question. She seemed worried that I would focus too much on my studies once I entered the Academy.
Normally, a parent would want their child to focus on their studies, but my mother was the opposite—she was more worried about my novel.
It was a bit absurd, but considering the impact my novel had, it was understandable.
"Well... I have to keep writing. It's not like I won't have any free time. But instead of every month, it'll probably be one book every one or two months."
"That's a shame. But do focus on your studies. Your older brother and sister will be there, so call them if you need anything."
"Yes."
Since Halo Academy was a place every noble had to attend, my siblings were there.
However, they weren't there as students, but as Teaching Assistants. 'Teaching Assistant' was a sort of position that only a few outstanding students could hold.
Furthermore, though they were called assistants, they were already considered the elite of the elite, with numerous knight orders keeping a close eye on them.
"Still, it's quite fascinating. Your brother and sister both became knights, yet you're a writer."
"He must take after me. I was quite the writer in my youth, you know."
"Then shall we have one more? I'm curious to see how the next one turns out."
"Oh my! Really, dear! Isaac? Your father and I are going out for a bit, so we'll see you later~"
My parents left my room, arm in arm. I blinked, feeling as if a storm had just passed through.
"...Whew."
A deep sigh escaped me. I still couldn't wrap my head around how this had happened.
I had simply written a story using the skills from my previous profession, but the ripple effect was terrifying.
No writing today.
Muttering that, I unfolded the newspaper I had neatly tucked away. As soon as I opened it, it was packed with news about my work.
Occasionally, there were blurbs from famous figures criticizing the work for lowering the quality of literature, but they were completely buried.
...Is this really something to be praised this much?
The positive reviews were one thing, but I couldn't believe that the treatment of Demons had changed.
It had been 3,000 years since demons nearly swallowed the world, and the history of Demon discrimination spanned well over 1,000 years. It was hard to believe that such discrimination had vanished because of a single novel I wrote.
In fact, it felt more plausible that my work had actually flopped, and my father had pulled strings behind the scenes so I wouldn't be discouraged.
The impact was so nonsensical that I was actually having those thoughts.
"Sigh... I should just finish it quickly and move on to something else... Huh?"
As I listlessly flipped through the paper, one piece of news caught my eye.
"..."
Don't give me that bullshit. Fuck.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Cecile, before I am the King of Demons, I am your..."
"I'll be fine, Father. I've already finished all my preparations."
In a dark space illuminated only by a faint light, a man and a woman were talking.
Hair as black as pitch, blood-red eyes that glowed even in the dark. And finally, horns protruding from their heads like devils.
They were Demons.
"This is my choice. And you know as well as I do, Father, that now is the perfect time for the different races and the Demon tribe to establish a friendly relationship."
The beauty with ebony hair reaching down to her waist spoke to the man.
Matching her alluring voice, her beauty was elegant and breathtaking enough to be called fatal, and her figure was mature enough to stir the dark desires of any man.
Because of this appearance, she exuded an aura that could bewitch people's hearts even while standing still.
"That may be true, but..."
At her question, the man in front of her crossed his arms and gave a bitter smile.
Though he didn't look much older than the woman, Demons naturally lived longer than humans. Thus, it wasn't strange at all for a Demon to have a relatively youthful appearance.
The man, Descal Drat Aisilia bin Helium—the woman's father and the man known to the world as the 'Demon King'—looked at his daughter and replied.
"It's just that it hasn't sunk in for me yet. I know the perception of our kin has changed since that book appeared in the world. But deep-seated resentment does not heal easily."
As Descal said, while discriminatory views toward Demons had drastically decreased, the rift caused by past conflicts remained deep.
There were still Demons who had turned into devils in the world, and there were people who had been harmed by them. Even if it wasn't intentional, the moment damage occurred, a problem was born.
At that, Cecile, the Demon King's daughter and the only Princess of Helium, gave a soft smile and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Father, you've read Xenon Biography too, haven't you? Do you remember what Sacran said at the end of Volume 5?"
"..."
Descal did not answer.
That scene had left a deep impression even on him, the Demon King.
At the same time, it had imprinted on the readers that Demons were not 'devils,' but 'a race that wishes to prove their humanity.'
There were evaluations that in that moment, Sacran, and no one else, was the true protagonist.
When no answer came from Descal, Cecile spoke first.
"In his final moment, Sacran looked at the people he had protected and asked: 'Do not fear becoming a devil for the sake of those you cherish. For that is true human courage and sacrifice. I die not as a devil, but as a human.'"
"..."
"Even if it's a fictional story, I don't believe it's entirely fiction. The author who wrote this must have received a great favor from our kin in the past. If not, they couldn't have written a story so moving, one that captures the sorrows of our people so perfectly."
Cecile spoke with her hands clasped tightly, her expression ecstatic. She was so swept up in emotion that she didn't realize what kind of face she was making.
However, if Isaac had seen this, he would have thought to himself:
I just saw that in a game. I only wrote it without thinking because it was from my past life, so there wouldn't be any plagiarism issues.
Unfortunately, there was no way for Cecile to know that. She was simply lost in her own delusion.
Descal looked at Cecile, who was lost in her imagination, with a complicated expression before quietly adding his thoughts.
"...Furthermore, Sacran is the leader of the 'Devil Hunters,' who execute kin that have undergone demonization. As you know, we have a secret organization in Helium that performs the same duty."
In Xenon Biography, there is a secret society that executes kin who could not overcome their desires and turned into devils.
They are called 'Devil Hunters,' and the setting is that they have accepted a portion of the devil's power, making them far stronger than other Demons.
The problem here was that Helium actually had a secret organization that performed a similar mission.
"You mean the 'Reapers,' right? Of course I know. It's just my guess, but the author of this book was likely saved by a member of the Reapers."
Cecile nodded, falling back into her private delusion.
If Isaac had seen this, he would have said the same thing as before.
I saw that in a game, too. I really wrote it without any meaning or intention.
But as mentioned, since they had no way of knowing Isaac's heart, it was simply a pity.
"Because of this, people outside are starting to suspect if Devil Hunters actually exist. Thanks to that, we've gained an opportunity to bring them into the light."
A Demon executing their own kin who turned into devils. This alone showed how strong the Reapers were, and how holy and noble the organization was.
Furthermore, the Reapers suffered terrible mental agony every time they executed a former kinsman. Because of this, the rate of Reapers taking their own lives due to mental pain was far higher than those turning into devils from being drunk on power.
Due to the nature of their mission, they had been active in the shadows, but since the release of Xenon Biography, they had gained the chance to move into the light.
Furthermore, several high-ranking Demons who had read the book even suggested that since things had turned out this way, why not officially establish the order? For the Reapers, who accepted a holy destiny and operated without any reward, this was the greatest stroke of luck imaginable.
"Anyway, if that is your will, I won't stop you. But don't be so certain the author will be in the Minerva Empire. Given that it was published anonymously, there's a high probability it's a secluded sage. Even if you happen to meet them, be sure to show proper respect."
"Oh, Father. I'm an adult now, you know?"
Cecile waved off Descal's worried words with a joke. Still, Descal couldn't hide his expression.
Part of it was because she was his only daughter, but Cecile was also quite mischievous, which made him anxious as a father.
Would some lecherous, desire-filled hand reach out, lured by her beautiful appearance? There was no need to worry about that.
Cecile possessed enough power to easily blow away a mountain. She wasn't mentioned as the next Demon King of Helium for nothing.
"Ah~ I want to meet them soon. The benefactor of our Demon tribe..."
Cecile clasped her hands together, looking forward to the day she would meet the author.
Descal shook his head at the sight of his daughter, who seemed to be in the throes of a serious obsession.