Chapter 171: Forbidden Magic(2)
Chapter 171: Forbidden Magic(2)
Arwen almost snorted the moment she saw Piren’s body flinch. On the surface, he was presenting a grave matter regarding forbidden magic, but his inner motives were as black as coal.
The 'Fusion'—or rather, 'Unification'—mentioned in Xenon Biography was certainly a very dangerous magic in theory. Unification itself was no different from offering oneself as a sacrifice, and furthermore, it indiscriminately absorbed surrounding energy, so its impact could never be ignored.
However, Piren’s true intention was not to warn of the dangers of Unification. One could easily guess his motive by carefully reflecting on the process of fusion described in Xenon Biography.
If it were merely a matter of a forbidden spell appearing in a book, it would have sufficed to mention it casually during the upcoming administrative session. Making such a scene and even committing a breach of etiquette felt excessive.
Furthermore, Piren already knew that Unification was a magic that only Elves could use. For someone like Piren, who had governed Albenheim for hundreds of years, banning a specific magic was a simple task.
Moreover, since her recent speech, public sentiment toward the Queen, Arwen, had surged. If Arwen were to strictly order a ban, the citizens would follow suit without question.
‘The problem is that the fusion happens with a Dark Elf, not another Elf.’
The issue lay in the fact that the subjects of the fusion were an Elf and a Dark Elf. Although it had been somewhat overshadowed by the half-blood incident, the appearance of Dark Elves was drawing significant attention from readers.
Who were the Dark Elves? Another branch of the Elven race with the same roots but entirely different cultures and traditions.
Occasionally, they appeared in human society to purchase necessary goods or for investigation, but such occurrences were rare. Because of this, humans would look at Dark Elves with wonder or express their curiosity directly whenever they encountered them.
As such, Dark Elves were originally one of the races not well known to the world, but many focused on them once they appeared in Xenon Biography. They wondered if Xenon knew a great deal about Dark Elves.
And the setting for the Dark Elves, written based on information provided by Siris, was so similar to reality that it was almost identical. From being specialized in ambushes rather than frontal combat to the ability to permanently conceal their bodies.
If there was a difference, it was the titles of their ranks, but that could be overlooked. The biggest issue was the relationship between Elves and Dark Elves.
Though buried under the half-blood crisis, Xenon Biography explained in detail why the relationship between Elves and Dark Elves was poor and what incident led to the Dark Elves' expulsion from Albenheim.
Thanks to this, the fact that the Dark Elves chose exile themselves to avoid fratricide became widely known. A historical truth that had been buried deep within the Holy Land was revealed through Xenon Biography.
Elven scholars, as well as humans, began serious research into whether this was truly a fact, and there were even rumors that some had traveled to the regions where Dark Elves resided.
For now, things were quiet as people gathered evidence for verification, but the moment it was proven true, Albenheim would be swept by another wave of shock.
‘The Dark Elf issue is actually manageable.’
Arwen expected that matters related to the Dark Elves would proceed smoothly. After all, hadn't she been interacting with them behind the scenes for this very purpose?
In fact, she felt like she should bow down and thank Isaac. Despite the Dark Elf, Rain, stealing the manuscript, he had portrayed them favorably in Xenon Biography.
Therefore, the fusion of an Elf and a Dark Elf depicted in Volume 14 could be seen as representing the true integration of the two races. In a moment of crisis, they set aside the conflicts that had divided them and fought together against the evil threatening the world.
As the saying goes, "A light rain soaks the clothes." Though the effect was currently minor, if Albenheim's perception of Dark Elves began to shift bit by bit, it was only a matter of time before they returned to Albenheim.
No matter how hard Arwen worked, if the citizens of Albenheim remained reluctant, assimilation with the Dark Elves would be nearly impossible. However, if their perspective changed through Xenon Biography, they could clear up misunderstandings and take a step forward together.
And Piren planned to censor Volume 14 of Xenon Biography to prevent that by any means necessary. The presence of forbidden magic was merely a pretext; his actual intentions were utterly insidious.
"Phew... Council Member Piren."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
"Is this truly because of the Dark Elves? An Elf and a Dark Elf fused in this book; you surely know what that signifies. It represents the two races, separated by past fratricide, becoming one for a common purpose. This must be a very sensitive matter for certain individuals who insist on blood purity."
"Dark Elves are those who hide in the shadows. We cannot trust those whose very forms are unseen."
When Arwen pointed it out sharply, Piren seemingly decided there was no longer any point in hiding it and voiced his true thoughts. Arwen almost let a look of pathetic disappointment cross her face but managed to suppress it.
In the end, that cursed pure-bloodism hadn't gone anywhere. While Unification was certainly a dangerous and forbidden magic, even that was nothing more than a 'pretext.'
She had wondered why he had come to the audience chamber alone, leaving behind the council members he usually traveled with and even committing a breach of etiquette, but nothing had changed. To put it bluntly, he had barged in blindly because he was feeling the fire under his seat.
"But Your Majesty must also know. Unification is an extremely dangerous magic. Now that the truth is out, there is no reason to hide it. We must move quickly to ban its publication before this forbidden magic spreads widely."
"I must ask if you think that is realistically possible. Albenheim has been interacting with other nations for decades. Furthermore, the demand for Xenon Biography has recently skyrocketed even within Albenheim. And you want to block it suddenly? You know as well as I do that such an act would undermine our credibility in diplomacy."
In Albenheim, Xenon Biography used to be a book read only by a select few, but demand had exploded after Volume 12.
First, the fact that the heroine, Mary, was an Elf drew immense interest, and the tragic narrative of Kair and Elisha created a social ripple regarding 'half-bloods.'
Above all, the fact that it had—even if by coincidence—revealed the pollution of the World Tree's roots was more than enough to capture the Elves' attention. Thanks to this, the publisher was enjoying blissful days.
"Of course, I am well aware. However, while the publisher is one thing, isn't the Minerva Empire in an ambiguous position to be mentioned? Even if Xenon is from the Maishal territory, no one knows where he currently lives. The rights to Xenon Biography belong to the publisher, not the Minerva Empire."
But Piren was not easily deterred. As he said, Xenon—that is, Isaac—had only stated he was from the Maishal territory, and the Minerva Empire held no authority over him.
If Isaac had revealed his identity and affiliated himself with the Minerva Empire, it might be different, but for now, the situation remained unchanged. Furthermore, the moment the higher-ups caused harm to the publisher, there was a high probability that the worst-case scenario—a 'hiatus'—would occur.
Having tasted the bitterness of a hiatus and its effects before, the Minerva Empire was forced into an awkward position. It was a book selling like wildfire in their own country, yet they had absolutely no authority over it.
The most the Minerva Empire could do was collect taxes from the publisher. They conducted surprise inspections every month to squeeze out whatever they could, but since the publisher's president was a seasoned veteran, they didn't gain much.
"Therefore, even if we in Albenheim conduct censorship, the damage will fall solely on the publisher; the impact on the Minerva Empire can be considered negligible. Since we have the pretext of forbidden magic, there should be no problem with censorship."
"A pretext, you say..."
Arwen murmured softly at the word 'pretext' that Piren had repeatedly mentioned. Up until Volume 13, she could ignore whatever nonsense he spouted, but this time, the pretext was solid.
Forbidden magic was a power that should never even be mentioned in books. There were 'books' about necromancy, but no 'grimoires.' If it was described in any detail, it had to be burned without exception.
And the fusion depicted in Xenon Biography was somewhat ambiguous. The process of fusion was not detailed and was filled with rather abstract phrases.
Was this alone enough reason for censorship? She agonized over it for a long time before letting out a sigh she had been holding back.
"I refuse."
"But..."
"Do you truly not realize how much of a stir Xenon Biography is causing? Do you think that by censoring it, you can actually stop the spread of forbidden magic?"
There is a saying: the more you are told not to do something, the more you want to do it. Scholars and mages with high academic passion often made such mistakes.
Censoring Xenon Biography was fine in theory. There was an excellent pretext because it contained forbidden magic.
However, scholars or mages already dispatched abroad might hear the news and question it. They would wonder, Why is this considered forbidden magic?
Above all, the biggest flaw was that it was already spreading widely in the human world. Countless Elves already lived in human society, and some were of mixed blood.
The powerful force and influence of a culture that had already seeped into the roots could never be stopped by something as trivial as 'censorship.'
"Furthermore, even Isa..."
In her slight agitation, she almost said his real name. Arwen quickly used her wits to continue naturally.
"...even children read this book. I question whether censorship is even possible. Do you not realize that you will only end up increasing illegal copies?"
"..."
"You said it earlier. That Dark Elves are untrustworthy. Surely, you aren't thinking that the Dark Elves will harbor a grudge and use Unification to threaten our Albenheim?"
"...The possibility is not zero. However, Your Majesty. Do you truly trust them? Those whose hearts are as dark as their appearance?"
Piren attacked them fiercely, mentioning the Dark Elves' skin color. At this, Arwen gave a light snort.
She didn't know who was calling whom dark-hearted. He was the one with the most devious inner motives.
"They are far more trustworthy than those who are blinded by the light and see nothing. At least they have the ability to pierce through the darkness and see the truth."
"..."
"The matter of censorship is dismissed. Leave the Xenon Biography imported into Albenheim as it is. Do you have any final words?"
"...Your Majesty. Do you truly plan to let them into Albenheim? It has been over hundreds of years since they were exiled. In hundreds of years, it is highly likely that even their culture and traditions have changed."
Sensing that he could not overturn Arwen's decision, Piren continued in a calm tone. Arwen listened to him in silence, waiting to see what nonsense he would bring up this time.
However, contrary to her expectations, what Piren said was extremely realistic.
"A clash of cultures signifies a rift. Although Your Majesty views this with hope, they may not. They could be consumed by the fear that their own culture and traditions might disappear. That fear could soon cause another social upheaval, much like the half-blood incident."
"..."
"Are you certain, Your Majesty? Of the integration of two races whose branches have diverged even if their roots are the same? I wish to ask for a realistic plan, not one that relies on a mere book. The Dark Elf issue is on a different scale than the half-blood incident, so please reconsider."
From Arwen's perspective, as someone already secretly interacting with the Dark Elves, it was an absurd question. However, since the Elder Council, including Piren, had not noticed this fact until now, it was a fair question to ask.
The problem was that beneath that question, there was an underlying tone of looking down on Arwen. Even if she had Isaac's help with the half-blood incident, the Dark Elves were different.
The half-blood issue was stopped just before the branches diverged, but the Dark Elves were already in a state where the branches had split into two. Piren was asking if this was a truly achievable ideal.
‘He really is excellent at making people angry.’
After the Race War, the Kings of Albenheim had been frequently replaced before Arwen’s accession. With the Elder Council grating on their nerves like this, it was no wonder their mental strength couldn't hold out.
But she was different. Born as a half-blood and having mastered all sorts of social maneuvering, this was no problem. Arwen smiled inwardly and spoke in a quiet, steady voice.
"An ideal... Then I shall ask you in return. Council Member Piren. What is the ideal you desire?"
"Naturally, it is the peace of Albenheim. If that peace is threatened, I am prepared to do anything."
"Then, for the sake of that peace, are you prepared to stake even your own position?"
"..."
When Arwen asked directly, Piren did not answer. No, he could not answer.
"Governing Albenheim peacefully... It sounds good on the surface. But Council Member Piren. That peace is nothing more than a state of stagnation, a lack of any progress. The people will be satisfied with what they see, not even knowing what is wrong. They will always turn away from uncomfortable truths, no different from frogs in a well."
"...Does Your Majesty truly wish to break the peace? That is tyranny."
"No. I also like the current peace. But look at the humans. They achieve endless progress even as they break their own peace. Even in the Race War, the humans declared war on us and claimed a resounding victory. For progress, one must be prepared to break the peace. And yet..."
She then looked down at Piren with a condescending, grey-eyed gaze. She saw an old fogey who was just waiting to wither away without doing anything.
"What is it that you truly want? 'Peace' and 'comfort' must be strictly distinguished. You are merely looking for ways to avoid the giant storm that is approaching, without any thought of preparing for it. At least, that is how it looks to me."
"..."
"But if the typhoon grows stronger, even avoiding it will become impossible. There will be nowhere left to hide. But what about those who prepared, even at the cost of some damage? Unlike those who were completely swept away and vanished, they will stand their ground firmly. That is progress, and peace always follows a typhoon. As it always has throughout history."
After her lengthy explanation, Arwen delivered the final blow.
"Was I too difficult to understand? Then let me ask another question. Why are you in politics?"
"..."
"Do you truly believe Albenheim will become peaceful just by implementing policies that are nothing more than superficial measures? I believe it only leads to an increase in smuggling and citizens committing illegal acts."
Clench—
As Arwen delivered a direct insult that even denied the Elder Council's reason for existence, Piren’s fist clenched tight. For a politician, this was an incredibly insulting remark.
However, the fact that he couldn't even refute it caused even greater anger. The Queen, whom he had thought was a mere novice, had seen her influence grow even larger after the half-blood incident.
And the decisive reason for that growth... only one thing came to mind for now.
Piren barely suppressed the fire boiling up from within and spoke quietly. His words carried a faint trace of the rage he felt.
"...I understand Your Majesty's thoughts. We shall drop the matter of censorship."
"Very well. Do you have anything else to say?"
"I do not. However, I will personally look into Xenon's whereabouts. The fact that he knows forbidden magic itself indicates he is a dangerous individual."
He had already gone to the publisher, and now he was saying this. Arwen suppressed her inner thoughts and replied as if it were beneath her.
"Do as you wish. If you are confident you can handle the storm that will come from touching Xenon."
"I will not be broken so easily. I wish you well."
Leaving only those words, Piren turned his back and strode toward the firmly closed doors of the audience chamber. Once he had completely disappeared, Arwen let out a sigh, releasing the tension in her body.
Her mental energy was heavily drained, but it wasn't without its gains. She looked around before glancing down at her lap with a joyful expression.
Lying on her lap was Volume 14 of Xenon Biography, which Piren had failed to take back.
"Well, he wasn't completely useless."
Arwen began to read the rest of the book, humming happily.