Chapter 125: Consultation(3)
Chapter 125: Consultation(3)
The consultation I received from Siris proved to be incredibly useful. Not only did I learn about the general lifestyle of the Dark Elves, but I also gained insight into their abilities, their history, and, most importantly, their core ideologies.
While Dark Elves value tradition and history just as much as regular Elves, they tend to be much more open-minded. This stood in stark contrast to the Elves of Albenheim, who remained stubbornly set in their ways unless a major crisis forced them to change.
However, their intergenerational conflicts were much the same. It seemed the Dark Elves worried that their traditions and culture would vanish if they ever integrated with Albenheim.
Interestingly, this sentiment was prevalent among the younger generation of Dark Elves rather than the older one.
Furthermore, the rift between the two races remained deep, as Albenheim had cast the Dark Elves out in the distant past.
Currently, Arwen was making steady preparations for unification, but even those efforts had been derailed by Rain’s hard trolling.
As a result, the relationship between the Elves and Dark Elves could be described as "close yet distant." They shared the same roots, yet were forced apart by bitter discord.
‘And even now, things aren't exactly friendly between them...’
According to certain texts, Elves have long ears so they can hear the voice of God more clearly. Following those scriptures, Elves take meticulous care of their ears and go to great lengths to restore them if they are ever damaged.
In contrast, the Dark Elves had a custom of cutting their ears in half as a sign of contempt for Albenheim—the nation that had once massacred and eventually exiled them in their arrogance. They even wore earrings to keep track of their age.
If the Elves of Albenheim had been taught the historical truth, things might be different. However, the Elder Council, desperate to hide such an ugly reality, had buried the past deep and continued to treat the Dark Elves as "heretics."
It wasn't just the Council, either. Since the Elves of Albenheim were educated from a young age about the sacred meaning of their ears, they tended to look upon Dark Elves with pure loathing.
In fact, whether they were of the old or new generation, the general sentiment toward Dark Elves was abysmal.
The reason I knew all this was because Arwen had told me the truth. She had accidentally discovered historical records hidden away even from the Holy Land, and through them, she learned the ugly reality of their past.
Unlike other Elves, Arwen possessed an exceptionally progressive mindset precisely because she knew the truth.
‘It’s perfect material for me.’
In Xenon Biography, a conflict arises between the hero leading the Elves and the hero leading the Dark Elves.
Fortunately, the Elven hero learns the historical truth and eventually accepts the Dark Elves. From there, they work together to reclaim a besieged Albenheim.
I wondered if this would truly help bridge the gap between the Elves and Dark Elves, but I suspected it would have a significant impact. After all, public perception of the Demon race had already done a complete 180-degree turn; I doubted the Elves would be any different.
Anyway, after receiving excellent consultation from Siris, I sent her on her way. As a side note, things got a bit awkward right before she left when she asked if I was really going to put her in Xenon Biography.
In truth, adding a character like Siris wouldn't disrupt the story, so I planned to have her make a few appearances—perhaps not as a hero herself, but as the successor to one.
And so, I continued working on Xenon Biography, preparing for the next volume. Time flew by, and soon it was Friday, the day the exams ended.
"Ugh, so annoying. Why does the professor have to make the questions so hard?"
"It’s an exam, that’s why. So, do you think you did well?"
"I don't even know. But I never missed a class, so I should at least get an average grade."
Mari, sitting next to me, grumbled as if the exam had been harder than expected. Despite her complaints, she was busy cutting her steak into small pieces and popping them into her mouth; apparently, her hunger outweighed her frustration.
I watched her with a faint smile before speaking quietly.
"You're smart, Mari. I'm sure you'll get a good grade. I'm certain of it."
"I don't think you're one to talk, Isaac."
A familiar voice came from across the table. I turned my head.
As always, Cecile sat there, her beauty as captivating and alluring as a single black rose. If it were just her, it would be one thing, but there was an unexpected guest sitting beside her.
"Exactly. When you say things like that, it just sounds like humblebragging."
It was Lina, the Imperial Princess of the Minerva Empire. Several months had passed since the successful exhibition, and her beauty had only blossomed further.
Her cute, puppy-like features remained, and her eyes, which were exceptionally large compared to others, sparkled like sapphires. On top of that, she possessed a figure that even a school uniform couldn't hide.
Though our relationship had started on rocky ground, we had become quite close after the exhibition's success. The biggest factor was the restoration of her relationship with Mari.
In the past, Lina would have been too self-conscious to join us, but now that she and Mari were close again, she acted like an ordinary friend. It made the effort I put into reconciling them feel worthwhile.
"I don't know what you two are thinking, but I'm not that smart. Just think of it as having a different perspective."
"That in itself is amazing. You aren't a noble who received higher education like us, are you, Isaac?"
Lina spoke with a bright smile. She wasn't being sarcastic; everyone at the table except for me was a high-ranking noble.
The quality of education they received from their families was on a different level, so it was natural for Lina to think that way. My "intelligence" was only possible because I was a reincarnator.
I shrugged at Lina's words and replied playfully.
"It is an honor for my family that Her Highness thinks so highly of me."
"...Stop it. It’s so awkward I could die."
When I spoke formally as a joke, Lina grimaced as if she had the chills. It had been months since she had set aside her power and authority to act friendly, so she tended to recoil whenever I stood on ceremony.
Lina was deeply repentant for her past mistakes toward me, and since I liked that she was quite sensible for a princess, I teased her like this from time to time.
One only had to look at how the Ters royalty treated Adelia to see the difference. At the very least, Lina wasn't cold-hearted like them.
‘Though that’s assuming there are no illegitimate children.’
In Minerva, the only publicly known members of the Imperial family were Leort and Lina. However, looking at the Ters Republic, it was unlikely that there weren't hidden children like Adelia.
Furthermore, fitting for a medieval setting, a husband's infidelity was often tolerated while a wife's was strictly forbidden by law, so many men kept mistresses. I had heard that this tendency was even stronger among the higher classes.
‘Not that I’m one to talk.’
I looked back and forth between Mari, who was diligently eating her steak, and Cecile, who sat across from me. Both were my lovers and life partners.
It was a relief that we had reached an amicable agreement; with anyone else, they would have been tearing each other's hair out by now.
"By the way, Isaac. When is Volume 12 coming out?"
Suddenly, Mari looked up from her steak and asked. At the same time, Lina and Cecile both turned their gaze toward me. Since we had booked a private room, we could speak freely about such things.
I thought about her question for a moment. It had only been ten days since Volume 11 was released, but Volume 12 was already nearly finished.
Since I had already established a solid plot and structure, and had even received consultation from Siris, the writing was going smoothly. Plus, with few distractions, I could focus entirely on my work.
Most importantly, Volume 12 was a bit of a breather; the real story would kick off in Volume 13.
"It should be out soon. It’s a bit of a transition volume."
"Really? That’s so fast. When did Volume 11 come out again?"
"Exactly fifteen days ago. Still, it’s amazing. Can you really write that fast? It can't be easy putting the imagination in your head into words."
Lina's eyes widened at the news that Volume 12 would be out soon. I pondered how to answer her.
To be honest, it wasn't that hard by my standards. In my past life, I had raised my standards by reading various books and honed my writing skills through copying practice.
As long as I had a decent subject, writing wasn't a struggle. If I had to pick a difficulty, it would be the first paragraph.
The direction of a story can change drastically depending on that first paragraph, so I always had to give it a lot of thought.
"I don't know. It’s hard to say. As long as you choose the right words and grammar, writing isn't that difficult."
"...That somehow sounds very annoying."
"Agreed."
"That's just how geniuses are, I guess."
The three of them spoke in unison, calling me annoying. I felt a bit speechless but just shook my head.
Since I couldn't reveal that this was only possible because I was a reincarnator, I suppose I just had to live as an "annoying" person. I wondered if the day would ever come when I could tell them the truth.
Just as I was about to cut another piece of steak, I remembered something I had forgotten. I swallowed my food and spoke to Cecile.
"Oh, right. Cecile-nuna."
"Yes?"
Cecile blinked her red eyes and looked at me. She looked incredibly cute with her fork still in her mouth.
"I need your help with something this time. Can you help me?"
"What kind of help?"
"As you know, Lilith is a character modeled after you. I want to reference not just your appearance, but your fighting style and things like that."
"My fighting style? No, wait. So what you said before was true? That you created Lilith while thinking of me?"
She was likely referring to when the Seven Deadly Sins first appeared. Back then, I had only asked tentatively to test the waters, so she seemed to have brushed it off.
I looked at Cecile’s face, which was now brimming with anticipation, and nodded. Lilith was absolutely based on Cecile; I had no intention of denying it.
"Yes."
"Wow...!"
As I nodded in confirmation, Cecile’s expression brightened like the sun. Her crimson eyes sparkled with emotion, looking deeply moved.
Her reaction was far more intense than I had expected, which puzzled me, but then I caught a glimpse of Lina looking on with an envious expression. Meanwhile, Cecile spoke hurriedly, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Th-then it would be an honor! To think I'm the original model for a character in Xenon Biography... It’s a dream come true for us Demons."
"She’s a villain, though. Is that okay?"
"If it’s a villain you created, wouldn't she be charming regardless? I'll definitely help. What do you need me to do?"
Was she really that happy to be in the book? Cecile showed a rare burst of passion, her eyes shining brightly.
I was a bit taken aback, but I voiced what I had been thinking.
"Like I said, I want to reference your fighting style. Lilith is a Demon who became a devil. She uses magic as well, so referencing you would be perfect."
"My fighting style... Does Lilith use swordsmanship too?"
"Yes. But it’s not flashy; it’s more of a medium for using magic or techniques."
"That’s how the swordsmanship I learned works. Humans hone techniques to make up for a lack of strength, but we Demons hone techniques to use our strength efficiently. Hmm..."
Cecile pondered for a moment, tapping her cheek with her finger, before speaking.
"We can't use magic at the Academy, so you should visit Helium during the break. I'll show you how I fight then."
"Thanks. Are we going to spar?"
"Yes. I can probably call Sir Balak to help."
As expected, Gartz was the easy target. Since Gartz also knew my identity, there was no one more suitable.
"I'm jealous. Your actual girlfriend doesn't even get to appear. Is this right?"
Mari grumbled, clearly unhappy that Cecile was getting into Xenon Biography.
With her pouting face and one cheek puffed out like a blowfish, she looked adorable. I leaned in slowly to soothe my girlfriend’s feelings.
I whispered softly into her ear.
‘There’s no need to be jealous. You know, don't you? That I’m going to write about our story. Whether it’s about the day... or the night.’
‘... ...’
‘You can look forward to it.’
Mari’s face turned beet red in an instant. I pulled back slowly with a smile.
In the past, she would have just sat there, unable to say a word...
Grope— grope—
Like a predator searching for its prey, her hand fumbled along my thigh, gradually moving toward the center.
Fortunately, since there were people in front of us, she didn't do anything too naughty, but I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
The moment Mari’s soft hand settled there, I gently caught her wrist. It was a silent signal to hold back for now.
"...Isaac."
"Yes."
"When lunch is over... you know, right?"
I knew exactly what Mari wanted. I did my best to keep my expression neutral as I spoke to the others.
"Can I head back to the dorms for a bit? I have something urgent to take care of."
"Huh? Suddenly? What is it?"
It was indeed abrupt, so Lina blinked in confusion. On the other hand, Cecile, who already knew about my relationship with Mari, seemed to have an inkling of what was going on.
I looked at the bewildered Lina, gave a small smile, and answered quietly.
"I just need to go get some medicine. I'll be right back."
"Medicine?"
Lina didn't seem to catch on. She tilted her head and asked in a voice even more confused than before.
"Are you sick somewhere? If you're in pain..."
"I'm not sick. Just think of it as... preventative medicine."
"...Preventative medicine?"
"Yes."
It seemed Lina was quite oblivious to these kinds of things.