Chapter 117: Punishment(2)
Chapter 117: Punishment(2)
Albenheim of the Elves, Makina of the Dwarves, Animus of the Beastkin, and so on. Just as there are various races in this world, there are many nations representing them.
Since humans have such a large population, they have various countries like the Minerva Empire, the Ters Kingdom, the Duchy of Bellua, and the Holy Nation of Savior. Most other races, however, have only one nation. This is due to the natural tendency of people to gather with their own kind, much like humans do.
However, the case of Helium should be viewed a bit differently. As everyone knows, unlike other races, the Demon race did not exist from the beginning; they emerged as a new race after the Demon War.
Because they were heavily influenced by demons and were close to them in nature, they have a tragic history of facing harsh discrimination and even being massacred by humans. For this reason, they were fugitives until the founding of Helium, unable to even establish a proper foundation.
But as they say, opportunity always comes to those who wait. While the other races were busy keeping each other in check, the Demons found a suitable piece of land and founded Helium. They transformed even the barren land into a breadbasket through magic, achieving dazzling growth in the blink of an eye.
As a result, 'Helium' was established on the land where the Demons had fled. In fact, the first King of Helium founded the nation for their own safety, and he had the ambition to willingly give up the land if other races would only accept them.
Of course, the hatred toward the Demon race was no joke, so as time passed, they simply became a powerful nation in their own right. Even during the Race War, they had made such overtures, but they were ignored, with others claiming the demons were trying to deceive them with sweet words.
Because of this, Helium's founding ideology was somewhat unique compared to other nations. It was not built for the sake of grand development, but as a cradle for fugitives.
However, as time passed and since the publication of the Xenon Biography, things have changed 180 degrees. Helium is now preparing to become a nation in the truest sense of the word.
"Our Helium is no longer a cradle for fugitives; we have completed our preparations to move forward as a single race. That is why we have begun 'diplomacy' in the language of this world. A few days ago, a delegation from Helium visited the Ters Kingdom and presented them with local specialties as gifts."
"What were the specialties?"
"Silk woven with magic. Since our people honed their magic just to survive as fugitives, we can boast that we are superior to anyone else when it comes to crafting magic-related items."
"Even more than the Dwarves?"
"If the Dwarves' ability is concentrated on craftsmanship itself, you can consider us as having focused solely on magical items. For example, while a Dwarf can turn even a basic sword into a masterpiece, we Demons may lack inherent crafting skills, but we compensate with magic to create a masterpiece. We use magic to enchant the blade, increasing its cutting power or durability."
Just hearing it, I couldn't help but think they truly were a broken, overpowered race. I looked at Gartz, who had given the explanation, with genuine admiration.
"Then isn't that much better than Dwarven products?"
"Not necessarily. While a sword made by a Dwarf has excellent inherent cutting power and durability, ours requires the injection of mana for those effects to manifest. Furthermore, there is no race in this world that can match the Dwarves in weapon manufacturing."
"Still, it's impressive nonetheless. Was this unknown until now because you couldn't engage in diplomacy?"
"Yes. Since we have sent a delegation and gifts, they will soon take notice. And since it has been revealed that the director of the Matrix Theater Troupe is a Demon, they will also realize that we have a deep appreciation for the arts."
I didn't forget to look around even as I listened to Gartz's explanation.
A day had passed since Gartz visited our mansion, and I was currently walking through the streets of Helium. Just as humans imitated the civilization of the Elves, the Demons had imitated the human lifestyle, making the streets very similar to the ones I knew.
There were roads where carriages passed, and various buildings were erected alongside them. The architectural style was also similar to what I had seen in the capital of the Minerva Empire.
The only difference was the people walking the streets. Every single one of them had black hair and red eyes, and the horns on their heads were not identical but varied slightly.
Still, it was a place where 'people' lived, so the streets were lively. The sight of children running around with bright smiles was enough to give me a sense of peace.
There's really no difference at all. How are these people 'demons'?
The reason I was able to reach Helium so quickly was, of course, thanks to Gartz's magic. Once all the preparations were complete, he greeted my parents and then reached the border of Helium via teleportation. And naturally, we entered after going through the basic immigration procedures.
The soldiers (warriors) were startled to realize I was human during the immigration process, but Gartz gave a plausible excuse that I was a tourist, so we were able to pass through surprisingly easily. Instead, they didn't forget to give a few warnings.
First: If it is discovered that one has 'intentionally' used discriminatory language or behavior toward the Demon race in Helium, they will be punished even if they are a foreigner. Since it was basically about racial discrimination, I didn't think much of it.
Second: Avoid wandering around at night or dawn if possible. When I asked why, they said there are quite a few Demons who wander at night because they cannot endure their dark cycles.
If it's a fellow Demon, they can help upon discovery, but a foreigner might accidentally get hurt. Hearing that story immediately made me think of Cecile, who had pushed me with incredible strength.
Lastly: Do not even approach the vicinity of Helium's royal castle unless specifically authorized. They informed me that a strong barrier is active, making it dangerous for a human, who is not a Demon, to approach.
One might wonder why we went through immigration procedures when teleportation is available, but Helium's outer walls are basically covered by a massive veil that makes teleportation impossible. Unless precise coordinates are entered, it is almost impossible to infiltrate via warp or teleport.
When I asked Gartz about the principle, he said it involves irregularly twisting the flow of mana to increase the failure rate. Of course, it was a complex magic even for Demons, so there was no way I would understand it just by listening.
"Mom! Mom! Look at that! That red-haired man is a human, right?"
"Shh! Come here. You shouldn't do that!"
Then, the thoughtless shout of a child reached my ears. Turning my head, I saw a young woman, presumably the mother, hurriedly stopping the small child.
Perhaps it was because I was walking boldly without even wearing a robe. Not only did several people glance at me occasionally, but curious children even shouted openly.
I suppose I stood out even more because I was a human with red hair, which is rare in this world. Furthermore, since the Demons all shared the characteristic of black hair and red eyes, my appearance was particularly striking.
They really do look young since they're Demons.
The woman stopping the child was so young that one might mistake her for an older sister. It must be because their aging is slow, as they are a long-lived race along with the Elves.
I suddenly wondered how one distinguishes the age of a Demon. Since Elves are a race chosen by God, they instinctively know when they look at someone, but I was curious about the Demons.
"Mr. Gartz. Can Demons instinctively distinguish each other's age like Elves?"
"It is difficult to distinguish instinctively, but we can usually guess by looking at the color of the horns. Young Demons mostly have black horns, but elderly Demons have horns with a light gray tint. Also, as one gets older, the frequency of the dark cycles decreases, and their desires tend to be fewer."
"Still, it must be hard to tell."
"That is why many mark their horns or carve their age through tattoos. Being old means they have fought and triumphed over their inner evil for a long time, so they tend to be respected by many Demons."
Indeed, more Demons die by becoming actual demons than by natural causes. So, it would be a perfectly natural culture for elderly Demons to be respected.
After that, I continued to listen to Gartz talk about the Demon race. Perhaps because I had arrived in Helium, my curiosity about them was growing rapidly.
When I was with Cecile, I was too busy thinking about other things, but now I could focus solely on the Demons, so I asked this and that.
"Are there any difficulties whenever you use black mana? Like the inner evil running rampant if you use it excessively."
"In the distant past—that is, for the first-generation Demons—that was the case, but it is fine now. Still, we tend to be prepared just in case."
"There are almost no first-generation Demons left, right?"
"As of now, there are virtually none. Unless demons cross over from another dimension and sow seeds like they did during the Demon War, a first-generation Demon will not be born. By the way, Benefactor. May I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
When Gartz, who had been answering diligently, requested a question, I looked straight at him and gave my permission. His red eyes were so indifferent that it was difficult to read his thoughts.
Gartz then opened and closed his mouth repeatedly before asking me in a cautious tone.
"In your eyes, Benefactor, what kind of place does Helium look like?"
"Helium?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
I looked around at his question. Helium, where the Demons lived, was little more than a sanctuary for fugitives in the beginning, but in the centuries since, it had evolved into a powerful nation that would not yield to anyone.
Of course, diplomatically they were like a frog in a well, but there was a high probability they would soon gain the upper hand. Thus, Helium would leap forward as a country with infinite potential for development and a powerful voice.
But that was only when looking at Helium's national power; inside... it was no different from the nations of humans. The sky was incredibly blue, and beneath it, people were busy going about their business.
Some people who had never even been to Helium claimed the red sky was always ominous, or that murders happened every day because demons lived there, and so on. All sorts of bizarre rumors circulated, but after actually setting foot here? I found myself questioning them.
Helium was a place that, more than anywhere else, smelled of people living their lives.
"I don't really have any special thoughts."
"When you say you don't have any special thoughts..."
"It's exactly the same as what I've seen so far. A country is established, kings and nobles rule that country, and the people act according to that rule while enjoying their lives. The end."
"... ..."
"I don't know what kind of answer you wanted from me, but this is what I think. It's a place that smells of humanity."
"...Haha."
At my answer, Gartz let out a hollow laugh. I had always thought he was stoic and entirely devoid of emotional expression, so it was surprising to me that he laughed.
Gartz then wore a somewhat satisfied smile and spoke quietly.
"I have been rude. It seems it was too obvious an answer for you, Benefactor."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. A place that smells of humanity... those words truly touch my heart."
I had just thrown out a casual remark, but it seemed to have come as a great moving sentiment to Gartz. I stared blankly at Gartz, who seemed to be lost in thought, as if savoring the moment.
Indeed, he was a soldier, and strong enough to be Cecile's guard knight. Being that strong, he must have been handling missions that threatened Helium all this time.
Now, it would be enough for him to feel that he was protecting people, not demons.
"I think I understand why the Princess showed such deep interest in you, Benefactor. Even if you weren't an author, you deserve to be respected as a human being."
"You're flattering me too much. As I said before, I don't have any special thoughts."
"That is what's most important. It means you have viewed us Demons as people all along without even consciously thinking about it."
Does it work like that? While I tilted my head in doubt, Gartz reached out into the air. Then, a book appeared in his hand.
It seemed to be magic, so as I watched with a fascinated expression, Gartz held the book out to me and made a cautious request.
"After hearing those words, it is even harder to hold back. I ask of you just this once."
"What is this?"
"It is Volume 5 of the Xenon Biography. The book where Sacran's end is depicted, and the book that began to fundamentally change the perception of our Demon race."
"Why this..."
As I looked at him with a face full of questions, Gartz spoke with his characteristic stoic and indifferent expression.
"Please give me your autograph."
"... ..."
"I originally intended to get it after the Princess got hers, but I feel like I won't be able to get it if not now."
He was so sincere that I just did it for him.
Anyway, after giving Gartz my autograph, we moved to the villa where I had made an appointment with Cecile. Since I couldn't enter the royal castle, the appointment was made at Cecile's private villa.
Her villa was located inside Helium, and surprisingly, a lush forest existed right there in the middle of the city. Gartz explained that it was called the Forest of Rest, a kind of sanctuary that only the royalty of Helium could enter, and that a separate villa existed within it.
It could be used for various purposes, such as practicing magic or calming the mind through meditation, and since a defensive barrier was also set up, there was no risk of accidents.
I was worried about entering such a sanctuary so freely, but Gartz replied that it was fine as long as Cecile had permitted it. Thanks to that, I was able to enter the forest without any worries.
"Isaac!"
Cecile was waiting at the entrance of the forest. She wasn't wearing a red dress like she did at the festival, but a black dress that revealed her shoulders and collarbones.
As Cecile came running while holding the hem of her dress, I was flustered for a moment, but since I had already made up my mind, I opened my arms and welcomed her. When I welcomed her, Cecile also threw herself into my arms with a smile like a flower in full bloom.
Thump—
"Mmm... You're really accepting me now, aren't you?"
"Now that I've even received permission from Mari, what is there to hesitate about?"
"I love you. Truly..."
As I hugged Cecile, the sensation of her chest was transmitted vividly, but I endured until the end. If it were just the two of us, I might not have been able to hold back, but Gartz was by our side right now.
No matter how much he liked me, it wouldn't compare to Cecile, whom he had to protect. I couldn't afford to destroy the goodwill I had painstakingly built up.
Thus, after sharing a deep embrace with Cecile, I slowly pulled away and looked at her face. Her red eyes, filled with affection and love, came into view.
I thought so myself, but I couldn't help but feel truly blessed. Because I had women with such outstanding individual charms, like Cecile as well as Mari.
However, I couldn't stay immersed in the emotion of the reunion forever. There was a fundamental reason why I had come to Helium.
"Noona. Where are the thieves? If possible, I want to deal with them quickly and look around Helium."
"Those people have already arrived. Let's go."
"Okay."
It seemed Cecile also wanted to decide on their treatment as soon as possible. Simultaneously with my words, she linked her arm with mine and began to walk slowly. Gartz followed behind us.
After marveling at the forest scenery, which was full of a natural feel, Cecile spoke.
"Oh, by the way. They've already decided among themselves what kind of punishment to hand down. You just need to make the final judgment, Isaac."
"Really? What kind of punishment is it?"
To be honest, I expected them to go easy on their own, not handing down a very large punishment. Since it was a problem of Elf versus human, not Elf versus Elf.
What's the big deal about stealing a manuscript? It means there was a high probability they had such a mindset.
However, the severity of the punishment Cecile mentioned far exceeded my expectations.
"A 500-year sentence."
"What?"
"They say it's 500 years of imprisonment. Since the matter is what it is, it seems even the Dark Elves handed down a heavy sentence."
"... ..."
They certainly are a fiery race. I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
To be honest, it didn't matter to me since they were strangers, but I intended to decide on their treatment after seeing their attitude of reflection.
And so, we reached the meeting place...
"...Arwen?"
"... ..."
"Why are you here?"
I was met with an unexpected guest.
The little Elf lady, Arwen, gave a bitter smile as soon as she saw me and spoke in a voice that sounded exhausted.
"...It seems we meet again."