Chapter 235: Balance(2)
Chapter 235: Balance(2)
Speaking of balance, you can't leave out the concept of "rivals." These are individuals so powerful that it's difficult to rank one above the other, and whose symbolic significance is equally matched.
In my previous life, there were many such rivalries: Lion vs. Tiger, AK-47 vs. M16, Naruto vs. Sasuke, Pouring vs. Dipping, Cao Cao vs. Liu Bei, and so on.
Let's just ignore the weird one that slipped in there. Regardless, a rival is a rival.
People love to pit similar types of power against each other and debate which is superior. If they didn't, the examples I just mentioned wouldn't even exist.
If you look at the internet occasionally, you'll see users fighting all day long over "VS" matches. Especially when it's hard to determine a winner, the arguments can last for days.
In this way, even if the rivals themselves couldn't care less about the public's opinion, third parties are often busy tearing each other apart. This world I've been reincarnated into is no different.
While various rivalries have existed throughout history, there is one long-standing(?) rivalry that has persisted from the Demon War until now.
It is the Elves vs. the Demons. Just hearing it makes one's heart swell with anticipation.
The Elves are, without a doubt, the race chosen by God and the symbol of light. Conversely, the Demons are the race stained by devils and the symbol of darkness.
Both races possess abilities that are peerless compared to others, yet curiously, they have rarely clashed directly.
However, they both have close ties to humanity. The Elves were once thoroughly "educated" by humans during the Race War, and the Demons' very origin is human.
In truth, even if they were called rivals, most people chose the Elves when pitted against the Demons. Or rather, it's more accurate to say they had to choose the Elves.
After all, until the appearance of the Xenon Biography, Demons were persecuted and didn't dare show themselves to the world. No one knew what kind of backlash they would face if they chose the Demons.
But after the Xenon Biography appeared, the situation changed. Since people could now form a connection with the Demons without worrying about others' opinions, they could openly compare their strengths and abilities.
Because of this, one philosopher described it as: "Elves are noble, and Demons are sublime." It was a quote so fitting that no one dared to challenge it.
Furthermore, as new volumes of the Xenon Biography are released, the perception of Demons is skyrocketing. This is because Sacran's sacrifice, as well as the pure love story of Jin and Lily, is casting a brighter light on the Demon race.
Does that mean the perception of Elves is declining? Not at all.
Although I showed the darker side of the Elves through the "Council," I also depicted their nobility through the actions of the two heroes who sought to destroy the World Tree.
Moreover, through the impartial actions and excellent policies of Queen Arwen of Albenheim, public opinion is gradually shifting toward a positive view.
As a result, readers—and by extension, the general public—have begun to wonder.
Who is truly stronger? The Elves or the Demons?
I'm just as curious about this myself. While the Elves and Demons won't clash head-on in the book, I still need to adjust things to maintain a proper balance.
Originally, there were complaints about why there were no Elves when a Demon (Jin) had appeared, but those complaints vanished once Mary's identity as an Elf was revealed.
Instead, the demands for more screen time for certain characters have doubled. Especially since Volume 12, people of all races have become obsessed with the Xenon Biography, making that sentiment even stronger.
In other words, a fandom—specifically, a toxic fandom—has begun to crawl out of the woodwork. Even my own mother is rooting for Jin, so I can only imagine how other readers feel.
These rivalries have existed for a long time, but they've intensified since the release of the Xenon Biography. Occasionally, I see news in the papers about disputes and fights breaking out over this very topic.
It seems people are the same everywhere; as the popularity of the Xenon Biography rises, so does the influence of its fandom.
What's noteworthy is that even humans have joined the fray, alongside the Elves and Demons. Even though the protagonist of the Xenon Biography is human, they're busy bickering over whether Elves or Demons are stronger.
Humans naturally harbor a longing for things they cannot achieve. That longing has gradually grown and spilled over into the Elf vs. Demon debate.
Even if Elves are noble beings, some humans dislike them for being arrogant, and even if Demons are sublime, some humans hate them because of their devilish origins.
In a situation where it's impossible to determine superiority, adjusting the balance is, in a way, the natural next step.
Since Xenon is the protagonist, I don't have to worry about power creep for him, but I've reached a point where I have to handle the other main and supporting characters with care. Why?
Because my book is treated like a book of prophecy, I have to be careful, or people will start talking again. To make matters worse, a Demon princess and an Elf queen are watching me closely.
For now, since Jin is the final boss, he will show a sublime sacrifice, and the nobility of the Elves will be portrayed similarly. Like a certain race from a certain game, I plan to show what true "coolness" is during the operation to retake Albenheim.
But even here, balance is a stumbling block. Both races possess monstrous abilities by human standards, so I have to be extremely cautious with my descriptions.
'Didn't Cecile say before that if she truly unleashed her power, she could blow away a mountain?'
This is partly because Cecile is so strong she's slated to be the next Demon King, but it's also largely because Demons use "Black Mana," unlike other races.
Since Black Mana was originally the power used by devils, the first generation faced numerous issues. Fortunately, with the generous support of Mora and through generations of refinement, only purity remains.
As a result, the Demons are particularly notable for their "firepower." If other races, led by the Elves, use 10 mana to produce a force of 10, Demons produce a force between 15 and 20.
That doesn't mean they lack accuracy or delicacy, either. Because the Demons recognized themselves as the most dangerous beings, they have consistently spared no effort in practicing "restraint."
Thanks to this, they possess the ability to craft magical items on par with Dwarves and can make barren environments fertile. In many ways, they are a race close to being all-rounders.
Looking at it this way, one might think Demons are an overpowered race that surpasses Elves, but Elves possess abilities that are just as impressive. They may lag behind in raw firepower, but they surpass Demons in the field of magic.
As the race that established the first civilization, their depth of magical knowledge is peerlessly superior to any other race.
Take basic arithmetic, for example. Let's say instead of 1+1, you have 15x27.
While a human would have to struggle with mental math, a Demon or an Elf would have the answer instantly. For them, that level of mental math is as simple as 1+1.
However, for something complex like 2415x1172, even a Demon would have to calculate it step-by-step, whereas an Elf—to exaggerate slightly—could calculate it in the blink of an eye.
In other words, while they share similar abilities up to a certain level, the Elves hold the upper hand at higher realms of mastery.
Their accuracy, delicacy, and margin of error are beyond question. Since each has its own strengths and weaknesses, it's impossible to easily rank one above the other.
Specifically, Jin is set to clash head-on with "Gluttony," and Mary is scheduled for a showdown with "Lilith."
As for the Elf who serves as a high-ranking official of the Seven Deadly Sins and represents "Pride," Xenon will handle them.
Even though this is a fantasy world where combat power varies and elemental matchups exist, as I've mentioned, I want to maintain strict historical accuracy—or rather, world-building consistency. In other words, I need consultation from both races.
For the Demons, I can get knowledge through Cecile and Gartz, but the Elves are the problem. Siris is a Dark Elf, so she's out of the question, and Elena and Cindy are scholars who are far removed from being combatants.
This means there's almost no one closely associated with "combat." Arwen is an option, but she's currently very busy with state affairs.
'I did send a letter, though...'
I had reached out to Arwen for help regarding the Xenon Biography, adding that she could refuse if she was too busy.
Arwen had also mentioned before that she would visit me when she had time. The problem is that she's an Elf, so I have no idea when "when she has time" actually is.
First, I need to understand the power of the Demons in more detail. So, what I need to do now is...
"So, you're asking me for a favor?"
"Yeah."
I need to learn from Cecile exactly how strong the Demons are, in even greater detail than before. I've done my own research, but asking the person herself is the most efficient way.
Furthermore, she isn't just "strong"; she's strong enough to shatter a mountain with magic. When it comes to strength, Cecile cannot be left out of the conversation.
In the first place, she is the model for Lilith, one of the Seven Deadly Sins. She is the perfect person to consult and can help me with the balance.
I'm almost finished writing Volume 18, and from Volume 19 onwards, the characters will begin facing the Seven Deadly Sins in earnest, so it'll be easier for me if I familiarize myself with everything beforehand.
So, I came to a cafe alone with Cecile to get some advice while also going on a date. Cecile seemed very satisfied, so the conversation flowed smoothly.
"Hmm... So you're going to use me as a reference for the battle with Lilith?"
"Yeah. Lilith isn't just a Demon; she's a Demon who became a devil. I thought it would be good to reference your martial prowess."
"Who's going to fight her? Xenon, as expected?"
"No. Mary's going to face her."
"Hmm..."
Cecile fell into thought at the answer that Mary, not Xenon, would be the opponent. Meanwhile, I took the time to leisurely admire her beauty.
When was the last time I was alone with Cecile like this? Recently, between Adelia and the joint attacks with Mari, we rarely had time just for the two of us.
Since Mari was always first, Cecile had stepped aside more times than I could count. Feeling a bit guilty, I planned to be as considerate as possible today.
"If I were to truly unleash my power... well, Mary is quite strong too, right?"
"She's the heroine and an Elf, so you could say she's on the stronger side. She has a lot of combat experience, too."
"Hmm... but it's still vague. Why don't you start by thinking about how many people in the world are as strong as I am?"
"Aha."
That answer made perfect sense immediately. It might sound a bit arrogant, but this was Cecile, after all.
The reason I believed her so readily was that I had witnessed a fraction of her power with my own eyes in Helium. A beam shot out from her index finger like a laser, and a rock the size of a house exploded.
So, I should slightly nerf Lilith's martial power and instead apply it to Gluttony—that is, "Beelzebub."
"Got it. Then I'll only use your fighting style as a reference for Lilith. I'll give the raw power to Beelzebub."
"Huh? Beelzebub? Who's that?"
"Ah."
I accidentally let slip Gluttony's real name. As I realized my blunder, Cecile's eyes narrowed, and she asked me in a voice filled with suspicion.
"That wouldn't happen to be the name of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, would it? Their names are revealed every time one appears."
"...Sorry."
"A year ago, I was spoiled by Lina, and now I've been spoiled by the author himself."
I had unintentionally dropped a spoiler. One might ask why a name is so important, but Demons like Cecile treat the Xenon Biography almost like holy scripture.
Naturally, even the names of individual characters are important, and the real names of major figures like the Seven Deadly Sins haven't been properly revealed yet, with a few exceptions.
Furthermore, Gluttony, Beelzebub, is Jin's biological father and a being with martial power rivaling that of Pride.
I was planning to drop a massive bombshell related to him at the end of Volume 18, so I had made a very big mistake.
Also, while everyone would associate Beelzebub with "Gluttony," the people of this world have no idea. A single name would lead to a whole chain of realizations, and I had accidentally revealed that fact.
Unaware of my inner turmoil, Cecile swept her hair back and spoke in a tone that suggested she would forgive me just this once.
"Well, if it's not that important, I'll forgive you. I can overlook a name."
"...But it is important."
"..."
When I, the author, confirmed its importance, Cecile's body instantly froze. Her deep red eyes were filled with a mix of absurdity and dismay.
I was the sinner and the bad guy for blabbing my mouth. Under her stinging gaze, I lowered my head. I couldn't find the courage to look up.
"Sigh... Isaac."
"Yeah..."
"Let's go to your room and think about this slowly—very, very slowly. Got it?"
"...Got it."
So it ends up like this. I let out a hollow laugh internally and stood up. We probably wouldn't do that sort of thing as soon as we entered the room.
Cecile shared her body with me to express her love; unless she was in her vice cycle, she wasn't as uncontrollably lustful as Mari.
In other words, we were really going to my room so I could get a lecture. And after that, she would probably show me a sign of apology.
I trust everyone knows what that sign of apology would be... It looks like I won't be getting any writing done today.
As I walked with her arm-in-arm and reached the door of my dormitory, Cecile suddenly paused, looking puzzled.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"There's someone inside right now."
"What?"
I couldn't help but be startled by the news that someone was inside my private dormitory. A dormitory is strictly a private space, and no one should be able to enter without a key.
The fact that someone was inside... was not a matter to be taken lightly. Furthermore, the manuscript for the Xenon Biography was inside the room.
If it was an intruder, the situation was serious. I hurriedly unlocked the door and stepped inside.
As soon as I entered, a thick scent of lilacs wafted over me. A moment later, I spotted the person standing at my desk, reading the manuscript for Volume 18.
Just then, the person sensed my presence and looked toward me in surprise.
"Who...!"
"Uh, uh..."
"...Hey. Huh?"
And as soon as our eyes met, we were both equally shocked. Because...
"Arwen?"
"Y-You?"
Arwen, who was supposed to be busy with state affairs, was there. And she was holding the unfinished manuscript in both hands.
As I stared at her in a daze, Arwen quickly placed the manuscript back on the desk and cried out urgently.
"I-I didn't see anything!"