Chapter 227: Book 17(2)
Chapter 227: Book 17(2)
Volume 17 showcases the sweet romance between Jin and Lily while simultaneously unfolding the incidents occurring within the Holy Kingdom.
The Holy Kingdom is originally favorable toward the creation of the Alliance, but they recoil upon hearing the news that they must ally with the Demon race. Their reason is simple and clear: Demons can turn into devils at any moment.
As mentioned before, the readers might know the truth, but the characters within the book did not witness Sacran’s noble sacrifice firsthand. Only a few priests who watched his final moments treat Demons as humans; those at the top remain unchanged.
The situation is so dire that even Jin, who has served as Lily’s guardian knight since childhood, is not trusted. Jin himself is used to such discrimination and remains unfazed, but given the circumstances, the situation is undeniably frustrating.
Furthermore, as the saying goes, stagnant water is bound to rot. It certainly doesn't help that the Cardinals are all stubborn, elderly men, making progress agonizingly slow.
Eventually, Jin and Lily put the formation of the Alliance Army on hold and head to an inn to spend the night... only to be ambushed before they can settle in. Volume 17 concludes with them discovering a clue regarding the mastermind behind the attack.
I’ve scattered foreshadowing and clues about the culprit throughout the text, so anyone with decent deductive skills should be able to realize who the true criminal is. It won't be an issue anyway, as the full truth will be revealed in Volume 18.
[The Holy Nation of Savior hereby informs you that, under the name of Lord Luminous, the contents of 'The Life of Xenon' are entirely unrelated to our nation.]
"Sure you are."
This was the 'official statement' issued by the Holy Nation of Savior as soon as Volume 17 hit the world.
Yes. An official statement, of all things. Since they were the first ones to clamor about how The Life of Xenon was a book of prophecy and how Xenon was a regressor, they must be feeling the heat.
Now that the discriminatory gaze toward the Demon race has largely faded, Helium possesses a level of power that makes other nations salivate.
They have a talent for craftsmanship that rivals the Dwarves, a singular devotion to Mora similar to how Savior worships Luminous, and individual Demons whose strength is comparable to tactical weapons.
Each of these is a sweet fruit, and since the nation of Helium possesses them all, getting on their bad side would inevitably lead to massive losses.
However, due to its nature as a 'Holy Theocracy,' Helium wouldn't suffer a fatal blow even if they were criticized, but other nations have no choice but to be mindful of them.
[The Demons in the book are still discriminated against. That makes their affection feel even more poignant.]
[An attack on the Saintess of the Order, and within the Holy Kingdom itself. This is by no means normal.]
[Is there a power struggle happening within the Holy Kingdom?]
Readers also began to question and analyze the ambush. After all, a Saintess should be treated with as much reverence as a Pope by the Order, yet she was attacked.
Consequently, the Holy Nation of Savior found itself in a crisis. Fearing the sparks might fly toward them, they not only issued explanations but also firmly declared in the name of Luminous that such a thing could never happen.
Since "Why is this real?" moments had happened so often, the readers didn't seem to fully believe them, but they let it slide for now, as if giving a pass to a nation built for a 'God.'
Indeed, for a priest to collude with a devil behind God's back was something they considered impossible. Setting aside the pollution of the World Tree's roots and the Demon Worshippers, this was an incident occurring within a Holy Theocracy.
They firmly concluded that such a thing was impossible, as one must undergo rigorous screening and receive Luminous's permission to become a Cardinal.
Of course, while becoming a Cardinal is difficult, falling from grace afterward is easy. The higher one's power, the easier it is for morality to erode and for one to be swayed by desire.
Volume 18 will provide an explanation for that, and as Luminous mentioned, the world will be turned upside down.
[The night was ruined by the attack, but there's still hope.]
[They basically confessed that they have feelings for each other. It's all because of those damn attackers...]
[I believe they'll get together in Volume 18.]
The progress of the Jin-Lily couple also received a lot of attention. As I’ve said before, Jin and Lily are just as popular as the protagonists, Xenon and Mary.
Even my mother said she was more drawn to Jin and Lily than the main characters, which made me realize just how high their popularity truly was.
Furthermore, they had never directly revealed their feelings to each other until now. Jin was busy hiding his affection, and Lily, while noticing his heart, was quietly waiting.
But with Volume 17 as the turning point, an impatient Lily essentially confessed to Jin first, so for the readers, it must have been a "strike up the band" moment. The fact that their night was ruined by the attack?
That wasn't a problem. The most important thing was that they no longer hid their hearts.
Readers are already salivating, convinced that the two will surely end up together and that a lovely child will be born between them by the finale.
'Not a chance.'
Jin is the final boss. This is an unchangeable fact that I will steadily push forward.
A work must end in tragedy to be deeply engraved in the readers' minds. Like Sacran, Jin will end up sacrificing himself to protect the one he loves.
I'll probably get cursed at and even scolded by my mother, but I have no intention of changing it. If it feels a bit too harsh, I can just release a side story.
Until then, I'll keep scattering foreshadowing and bait to instill a sense of dread in the readers. I'll adapt the very famous cliché known as the 'Death Flag' into The Life of Xenon.
'By the way, why did Kate go back? Did she actually understand what I said and leave?'
I paused while writing Volume 18 to wonder about Kate's whereabouts. She returned to Savior less than two days after Volume 17 of The Life of Xenon was released.
Since I gave her that very famous proverb from my past life—that it's darkest under the lamp—she might have realized something.
However, from what I've seen of Kate so far, she lacks common sense and is very clumsy with human relationships. Naturally, her social skills are somewhat deficient as well.
It's a bit strange for someone like her to sense something and return to Savior. Unless she has a sharp side that I'm unaware of.
'She'll figure it out.'
From my perspective, it's a pretty good situation since the "seed-milker" who was constantly after my seed is gone. Mary also seemed relieved when she heard the news of Kate's return.
What I need to do now is write Volume 18 and prepare for the anniversary. I've already subtly asked Mary what she wants most.
'But that gift is really...'
I smiled bitterly, recalling the 'gift' Mary wanted most. She said she didn't need anything else; she just needed me.
She grew up as the daughter of a Duke with nothing lacking, and she said if she needed anything, she could just use her family's influence.
Thanks to that, I'm the one in a bind. How can I satisfy Mary? I've already used my mother's help to buy high-end cosmetics, but the fact remains that her number one gift is me.
Perhaps her possessiveness has grown stronger lately because of the increasing number of women around me. Regardless, I have to find a way.
'...Should I make a coupon or something?'
It sounds like a crazy idea, but it might actually be a good gift... would it? I don't know. In my past life, I would have searched the internet and bought a suitable gift, but here, options are extremely limited.
I'll just give her the cosmetics as the anniversary gift and the coupon as a bonus. I'll write a handwritten letter to go with it, too.
In my past life, people might have cringed at a handwritten letter and told me not to give such a gift, but this isn't Earth. This is a mid-to-late modern era filled with sensibility and romance.
'Let's see. There are about ten days left until the anniversary... and I have to go see Lady Mora soon.'
I've already asked Cecile to help me visit Mora. For the record, she—not Gartz—will be the one taking me to Helium personally.
Originally, I planned to ask Gartz, but she said she would take me herself as a sort of long-awaited date.
I didn't mind, so I readily agreed. I have to arrive on time no matter what to avoid turning into a woman.
'But knowing Lady Mora's personality, she'll probably try to pull some prank again...'
If she pranks me, I'll tell her I'm never coming back. She might grumble a bit, but if she realizes I'm serious, she'll reluctantly accept it.
For now, let's just write. I need to finish Volume 18 quickly so the bugs hiding within the Holy Nation of Savior will crawl out into the light.
'Oh, right. I should be getting a letter from Arwen soon, too.'
I have way too much to do.
*
Meanwhile, around the same time, inside a carriage returning to the Holy Nation of Savior.
Cardinal of the Holy Nation of Savior and seed-milking—no, Grand Inquisitor Kate sat in the carriage with her eyes quietly closed.
Clad in her white armor with her eyes shut, her appearance was so holy and beautiful that she could easily be mistaken for a Saintess.
Her hair, reminiscent of a golden field, was tied in a single braid, and her long eyelashes created a mysterious atmosphere. She truly looked the part of a 'Saintess,' a scene like a painting.
Her face, due to her characteristic expressionless mask, seemed far removed from any worldly agony. A young priestess sitting across from her spoke softly.
"Cardinal Kate."
"..."
At the priestess's call, Kate slowly opened her eyes and met her gaze. Her grass-green eyes seemed to hold a firm resolve.
Then, she broke into a bright, radiant smile and spoke quietly.
"Yes, Believer Aisha. What is it?"
"I... I was wondering why we are returning to the capital. Have you perhaps completed your pilgrimage...?"
The priestess, Aisha, asked about the reason for their return in a very cautious voice. She knew that Kate had set out on a pilgrimage to find Xenon.
But returning to Savior before the pilgrimage was even finished didn't make sense. A pilgrimage is a very important mission for a member of the clergy.
Unless there were exceptional circumstances, returning without completing the mission was enough to draw suspicious glances.
"Could it be that you found Xenon...?"
"No. That is not it."
At Aisha's hopeful question, Kate shook her head and answered firmly. She had found Xenon—that is, Isaac—but she had granted his request and did not reveal it to the world.
More importantly, she was returning because something more urgent than Xenon had arisen. Kate looked at the puzzled Aisha, then smirked and asked suggestively.
"Believer Aisha."
"Yes?"
"What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase 'it is darkest under the lamp'?"
Kate repeated the advice she had heard from Isaac word for word. Aisha blinked, then tilted her head in confusion.
"Well... I'm not sure. I don't even know why it would be dark under a lamp..."
It was the expected answer. Kate's smile deepened as she slowly closed her eyes again.
Aisha looked bewildered, unable to fathom why Kate would say such a thing, but Kate did not elaborate.
In the meantime, Kate replayed Isaac's advice and the newly released volume of The Life of Xenon in her mind several times.
'If the story in the book is the truth...'
Although Kate lacked in human relationships and common sense, her analytical and observational skills were unexpectedly exceptional.
After all, she was the one who had found the Demon Worshippers hiding in the capital of the Minerva Empire. She collected rumors and information, unearthed clues one by one, and tracked them down.
She hadn't attained the positions of Cardinal and Grand Inquisitor for nothing.
'The mastermind must be someone who hasn't prayed recently and lacks faith. Someone who masks themselves with a kind smile and uses the authority of a Cardinal as a shroud.'
She had already accurately pierced through to who the mastermind was. In other words, she had anticipated everything that would happen in Volume 18.
When Volume 18 is released, the Holy Nation of Savior will surely be in an uproar. The news that someone colluding with devils is among the Cardinals will break.
And Kate would root out such a person and deliver divine punishment. Of course, if she delivered punishment out of the blue, it would cause her great harm as well, so she planned to proceed slowly.
She had at least fifteen days left. She had to drag them out into the light before Volume 18 of The Life of Xenon was released so they couldn't hide like insects.
'That's why he only told me. He must have trusted me.'
Isaac must have predicted this and informed her. An instruction to find the one defiling Luminous's name and crush their head.
It would be too late to look for them after Volume 18 came out. That was why he had indirectly told her to return to the capital quickly and get to work.
'Lord Isaac is surely someone who came from the future. That's why he couldn't say it directly.'
Not only that, but Kate had also gained another conviction. Until now, people had speculated that Isaac couldn't reveal his identity because of a 'restriction' placed on him by God.
They believed he was informing them of future events through the medium of a 'book' because they were incidents a single human couldn't handle alone. The pollution of the World Tree's roots and the Demon Worshippers were examples of this.
Above all, Isaac had given her advice that sounded like a proverb: 'It is darkest under the lamp.' He could have just said there was a corrupt priest in Savior, but he expressed it indirectly.
Therefore, there was only one conclusion. Isaac was definitely someone who had returned from the future and was unable to speak directly due to the restrictions placed by God.
A 'Messenger' chosen by 'God,' a 'Saint' blessed by 'God.' And finally, a 'Holy Man' who would save the defiled world.
If Isaac heard them, he would have been horrified by the string of titles, but at least that was what Kate thought.
'To think I dared to try and receive the seed of such a person...'
She was still far from worthy. Kate stroked her belly hidden beneath her armor.
To receive his seed, she had to hone her faith even more and eliminate all filthy things. To do otherwise would be a discourtesy and an insult to the Saint chosen by God.
So, the priority was the 'purification' of Savior. For a nation built under the name of Luminous, it was currently defiling that name in the shadows.
It was unforgivable. Kate felt a faint surge of anger in her heart, but it quickly turned into peace as she thought of Isaac.
'Please wait, Lord Isaac. I will follow your instructions.'
Following Isaac's words was the same as following Luminous's words.
'And someday, your seed...'
A pure 'madness' began to take root in Kate's heart.