Chapter 161: Back to Helion(1)
Chapter 161: Back to Helion(1)
As you all know, this is my second visit to Helium. However, the last time I was here, I came to settle the manuscript theft incident and had to leave immediately, so I didn't have the chance to look around.
So, I plan to take this opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of Helium. Cecile mentioned that I only need to show up at the royal palace in the evening, so as long as I'm not late, I'm fine.
The only disappointing thing is that Adelia couldn't come with me. I asked Gartz, but he flatly refused, saying she wasn't part of the plan.
He explained that since Adelia is essentially an outsider, it would be difficult to grant her entry. When I broke the news to her, she was disappointed but took it well, saying she had expected as much.
Instead, she told me to stay safe and encouraged me to have as much fun as I wanted, saying she’d be training under her father until I returned. I felt a bit more at ease seeing her send me off with such a spirited expression.
And so, after passing through the immigration inspection office via Gartz's teleportation, I officially entered Helium. From there, another teleport brought us to the capital of Helium, 'Pandeum.'
In the ancient language, Pandeum means 'Cradle.' Considering the origins of the Demon race, it’s a perfectly fitting name for a capital.
Pandeum is home to the royal palace as well as the villa where Cecile and I settled the manuscript theft. Being the capital, it’s a place with a lot of foot traffic.
"It’s changed so much in just a few months, hasn't it?"
"In what way, sir?"
"There are so many other races here now, not just Demons."
I realized that things weren't just different—they were completely transformed. For starters, about a third of the pedestrians on the street weren't Demons, but other races.
Most were humans, but there were also dwarves, beastkin, and surprisingly, even a few elves. When I visited after the exhibition, there were only Demons, but now it was a diverse mix.
It was a stark contrast to the time before Xenon's Chronicle was published, when other races wouldn't even dream of setting foot here, calling it a place where devils lived.
"That is only natural. Thanks to our benefactor, the perception of Demons is improving by the day. And during the exhibition, we were able to show that we possess great artistic talent as well."
"You mean the Matrix Theater Troupe? What have they been up to lately?"
"The same as always. They are traveling the world, performing plays that utilize magic. For the record, they announced that plays related to Xenon's Chronicle will only be performed at the exhibition."
"They didn't really have to go that far."
"I entirely agree."
For some reason, Gartz nodded his head in fervent agreement. I had been impressed by the collaboration between the Matrix Theater Troupe and the Lirus Orchestra during the exhibition, so I could only imagine how he, a Demon, felt.
Nothing has been confirmed regarding when the next exhibition will be held, but there’s a tacit understanding that it will be an annual event. Furthermore, since I’ve already stated that my birthplace is the Maishal Territory, there’s a high probability it will be held in the same location.
I was looking around the streets of Pandeum, which seemed brighter than before, when a thought occurred to me, and I asked Gartz.
"By the way, what about Cecile? Can you tell me when she’s coming?"
"Princess Cecile is currently waiting at the royal palace. I have been ordered to escort you while you explore Helium to your heart's content."
"I should head there before dinner, right? I also need to visit the temple once."
"Then I shall inform the Princess in advance."
Gartz closed his eyes slightly, seemingly relaying the message to Cecile via telepathy. Not long after, he opened his eyes and spoke to me.
"The Princess says that is fine. However, she insisted on coming to pick you up personally when it is time to go to the palace."
"Thanks. So, I can just wander around anywhere until then?"
"Yes. If there is any food you wish to eat or items you wish to buy, I shall pay for everything."
"You don't have to go that far..."
"You didn't bring any money anyway, did you?"
"... ..."
He’s unnecessarily sharp. When I let out an awkward laugh, Gartz nodded as if he’d expected it. In the end, I decided to borrow some money.
Anyway, since I had time until evening, I began exploring Pandeum in earnest. I planned to take note of anything that could be used as a reference for Xenon's Chronicle.
First, I observed the pedestrians. As I mentioned, there were various races among them, not just Demons. Humans were particularly numerous.
Up to this point, it was just a normal scene of daily life, but what caught my eye was the large number of people who looked like couples.
They were walking arm-in-arm, chatting happily, or showing signs of affection. There seemed to be an unusually high number of couples consisting of a Demon and another race.
I heard that inter-species couples were on the rise, but...
As I’ve mentioned before, with the romance of Jin and Lily being re-examined, the popularity of Demons has skyrocketed. They are no longer seen as ticking time bombs that could explode at any moment, but as a race that suppresses their inner evil and acts with total sincerity.
And when that sincerity is directed toward love, it turns into pure devotion. Because of this, people have come to perceive Demons as the epitome of devoted lovers.
Furthermore, most Demons are handsome or beautiful, much like elves, and their individual martial prowess is formidable. They were only held back by the 'devil' frame until now; objectively speaking, it would be strange if they weren't popular.
And their physiques are all so...
The men were all tall with broad shoulders, and the women had particularly prominent chests and hips.
This isn't because I'm a pervert; these are characteristics I noticed every time I looked at a Demon. Even Gartz, who looks lean, is slightly taller than me and has very broad shoulders.
I wonder if this is also closely related to the black mana that only Demons use. Even elves have various body types, but Demons were universally superior in their physical condition.
I scanned the Demons one by one with curious eyes, and unable to contain my inquisitiveness, I asked Gartz. It was a bit embarrassing, but I felt I had to satisfy my curiosity.
"Mr. Gartz. This might be a bit of an awkward question, but can I ask you something?"
"Anything is fine. What are you curious about?"
"Well... are Demons naturally all in such good shape? It seems like even the average citizens have incredible physiques..."
"Ah. That is deeply connected to our history and way of life."
"History?"
I was embarrassed at first, but that feeling vanished the moment he mentioned history. Only my sense of inquiry remained.
Gartz seemed to organize his thoughts for a moment, blinking as he looked at me, before he spoke. Of course, since his face was covered by a mask, I couldn't actually see his mouth moving.
"As you may know, our beginning was very arduous. We helped one another, but we were like ticking time bombs that could go off at any moment. After all, we were the generation directly influenced by the devils."
"Right."
"Because of this, in the early days when we had nothing, only the strong could survive. The anxiety of not knowing when one might turn into a devil. The severe wariness from other races. The barren land. And finally, the monsters that remained in the land we fled to. All these factors combined meant that among men, only those with great martial prowess survived, and among women, only those who could inherit the seeds of such men and bear children well survived. Many died, but the second generation of Demons being born was far more numerous."
Even without being Demons, humanity bore many children during ancient agricultural societies. Furthermore, that custom can still be seen today in rural areas where farming is the primary focus rather than cities.
However, one question arose. Cecile had said that the pregnancy rate for Demons was extremely low, but Gartz's explanation made it sound otherwise.
What happened here? I asked him, full of curiosity.
"I heard that the pregnancy rate for Demons is very low? And that it's even harder because of the Malice Cycle."
"That is likely why they were able to have many children back then. They would have been barbarians with nothing to their name. Also, being the first generation, their bodies were closer to humans, and their Malice Cycles would have been very short. The Demon race as it exists today was born after a long, long time had passed."
"Hmm. That makes sense."
I was convinced immediately. In any case, it seems the foundation was built on the principle of survival of the fittest.
While one could say their genetics are excellent, the desperation behind them could not be ignored. The superior physical condition of the Demons could be seen as a scar passed down from the past to the present.
"As they continued to survive and civilization was gradually established, the time came when they had to suppress their inner evil. Have you heard from Princess Cecile about how we suppress the inner evil?"
"I heard you usually exercise self-control through meditation."
"That is correct, but to meditate deeply, one must provide stimulation or pain to the body. However, since we cannot resort to self-harm, we had to push our bodies to the limit."
"In what way?"
"It is simple. You have likely split your legs into a straight line to improve flexibility. It is commonly called stretching."
"I do that regularly as well."
"We practice a much higher level than that. There is a pose where one supports the body's balance on one leg and extends the other leg straight up toward the sky, and another where one pulls one leg behind the head. There are various other positions as well."
Is he talking about yoga? In reality, yoga is extremely effective for mental training.
Usually, if you deliberately make your body uncomfortable and try to meditate, it’s easy for your concentration to break because of the pain. However, if you endure that pain and continue to meditate, your mental strength naturally becomes stronger.
As mental strength grows, so does endurance, so it’s only natural that this would be beneficial for Demons.
No wonder they all have such great bodies.
I wasn't just being polite; the Demons had literally developed yoga 'to survive.' Add to that the genes passed down through survival of the fittest since ancient times.
In a way, it might be natural that their physiques are exceptionally good. I marveled at this newly discovered origin of the Demons and thanked Gartz.
"Thank you. I've learned something new thanks to you."
"It is nothing. I am simply glad it was of help."
"So Demons must be very flexible, then? Since you meditate while doing high-difficulty stretching."
"Yes. If you wish, I can instruct you. It is also a great help for mana circulation."
"I'll ask Cecile about it later."
I should put this in Xenon's Chronicle too. It’s about time the spotlight shifted to Jin as well as Xenon.
If it’s revealed that the reason for the Demons' superior mental training is yoga, I wonder if it will spread throughout the world. Or maybe it’s already spreading by word of mouth.
After that, I began walking down the street under Gartz's escort. People stared because of this damn red hair, but I ignored them completely.
"By the way, Mr. Gartz. You mentioned that the security in Helium isn't very good in the evening, right? Because some Demons who can't endure the Malice Cycle come outside."
"The situation has improved recently with the invention of medicine. Even if someone crawls out due to the Malice Cycle, the followers of Mora usually take them to the temple quickly. Still, given the nature of the night, it can be dangerous, so people generally avoid wandering around."
"Hmm... Doesn't the Temple of Mora open around 6 o'clock?"
The Temple of Luminous in the Minerva Empire opens at 6 AM and closes at 6 PM. Of course, they operate 24 hours a day for emergency patients, but people can't go there to pray.
So, I figured the Temple of Mora would operate from 6 PM onwards. Unlike Luminous, Mora was the Goddess of Darkness.
"No. The Temple of Mora is always open, at least in Helium. After all, a Demon can be consumed by their inner evil at any time, anywhere. Furthermore, like elves, we can manage just fine without sleeping for several days."
"I see."
"Ah. Come to think of it, I believe Lady Mora was looking for you, was she not?"
"...Yes."
I remembered that tomboyish goddess throwing a tantrum(?) for me to be found. Unlike the dignified and gentle Luminous, Mora was said to be quite mischievous and a bit scatterbrained.
She is the Goddess of Darkness, yet she has a much brighter personality than the God of Light.
"How was Helium back then?"
"It was a bit chaotic, but since it was Lady Mora, everyone just accepted it and moved on. She has always played mischievous pranks on her followers. We did inform the press, though."
"Just what kind of person is Lady Mora usually..."
"Just... well, yes. Anyway, she is a merciful being."
Seeing even Gartz look a bit reluctant, her personality must be quite unique. For a moment, I considered postponing my visit to the temple, but I dismissed the thought, fearing Mora might get sulky.
She is revered as the Goddess of Darkness and Rest, so she probably won't harm me. Though the possibility of her playing a strange prank is high.
Wait, don't Dark Elves also worship Lady Mora?
Just as I was wondering if the Dark Elves were also looking for me, a certain scent wafted into my nose. A savory, mouth-watering smell of food.
Turning my head, I saw a street stall, the kind you often see on the sidewalk. You might wonder about street stalls in Helium, but street food exists everywhere in the world.
Drawn by the scent, I slowly made my way toward it. Seeing the long line, it seemed to be quite popular.
And then...
"...W-what is this?"
The moment I discovered the identity of the savory-smelling food, I couldn't help but be horrified. I had expected the source of the savory scent to be meat, but it was something else entirely.
Insects. Yes, insects. And not just any insects.
Would you believe me if I said they were larger than rats, even larger than rabbits? Occasionally, you might see pictures of insects the size of large dogs floating around on the internet.
But right now, before my very eyes, such an insect was being cooked—as if it were a lobster—and its meat was being sold to people.
I wasn't sure what kind it was, but seeing the hard exoskeleton, it was probably something like a stag beetle or a rhinoceros beetle.
The savory smell was appetizing, but the visual was so gruesome that my appetite plummeted.
"Ah. This is Labkerke. It is one of the most popular street foods in Helium."
"...You eat this? An insect the size of a rabbit?"
"Why not? If you think about it, shrimp and lobsters in the sea are also bugs."
It’s infuriating how strangely logical that sounds.
"...Is this also connected to history?"
"Of course. With nothing to eat in a barren land, we had to eat whatever we could find. Not just insects; Helium has a wide variety of dishes. To put it bluntly, if it has legs, we can probably eat it."
It’s like they’re the China of this world. I hope they don't end up eating bats and catching some terrible virus.
Still, it’s not entirely incomprehensible. In Korea, after the Korean War, there was so little to eat that people made 'pig slop porridge' using leftovers thrown away by the US military.
Helium was likely in a similar situation. And since they value hygiene more than other countries, they probably don't eat all sorts of bizarre things like in China.
The insect dish before me was just creepy-looking; it didn't feel dirty. In fact, the meat itself was a pale pink color and looked quite tasty.
"It may look like that, but it is delicious, so please try some. I shall pay for it."
"...Is it really good?"
"It would not have become famous in the first place if it were not."
I was skeptical, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. After hesitating, I joined the long line and waited my turn.
I comforted myself by thinking of it as a unique experience that would help me truly understand the Demon race.
Soon, the long line moved quickly, and it was finally my turn. Naturally, the vendor was a Demon, and upon seeing my red hair, he gave a cheerful smile and spoke.
"Welcome, red-haired gentleman! Which part would you like?"
"Are there different types for each part?"
"Of course. Just as some people want the legs and others want the innards of a sea crab, the same goes for Labkerke. We have the head, the body, and the legs."
"...I'll have the body, please."
I felt my appetite slipping away. Do I really have to eat this?
Regardless of my feelings, the vendor skillfully peeled away the meat and exoskeleton from the body and handed it to me. He wrapped it in paper, warning me that it might be hot.
To be honest, with the steam rising and the pale pink color, it did look delicious. If only I didn't know it came from the body of an insect. I stared at the Labkerke while Gartz paid for it.
...Let's just think of it as a silkworm pupa.
Pupae look hideous, but they have a nutty flavor. Maybe Labkerke is similar.
With that thought, I squeezed my eyes shut and took a bite.
"...Oh?"
It’s good? I’m not lying; it’s actually delicious. A savory aroma, just like the scent, filled my mouth, and I could even taste a hint of umami, though I didn't know what spices were used.
I’m usually not a picky eater, but even setting that aside, this was definitely a style that suited my taste perfectly.
"It's delicious!"
"Did I not tell you it was good? You must not judge by appearances."
"Hahaha. I am glad to hear you like it. Would you like to try the head as well?"
"Ah. No thanks."
Some things are still off-limits. While chewing on the Labkerke, a question occurred to me, and I asked Gartz.
"Are there other things besides this?"
"There are fried versions."
"... ..."
"Besides insects, there are also those made from monsters..."
"That's enough."
Such is the difference in cultures.