Chapter 271: Run Away(1)
Chapter 271: Run Away(1)
Adelia’s "night service" wasn't just for the night; it was simply service. It stretched past the night, through the dawn, and well into the morning.
Fortunately, since she had completely abandoned defense to focus entirely on her offense, her stamina drained twice as fast, which saved me from collapsing first. Even then, I truly thought it would eventually come to an end.
That was, until Adelia finished tidying up and took a shower, only to start putting her maid uniform back on. I don't know where she learned it, but she began slinking her way under my desk.
By then, I knew exactly what she wanted and had no choice but to indulge her. The fact that she was wearing the maid uniform instead of being bare made it impossible not to be entranced.
There was a moment of absolute crisis when Marie came looking for me in the bedroom, but fortunately, I managed to navigate the situation wisely.
"There. Now do you believe I’m Xenon?"
"It... it wasn't a lie..."
"Why would I lie to you, Adelia?"
At any rate, after our first night together finally concluded in the morning, I presented her with the evidence that I was Xenon.
I showed her everything from the original manuscripts to the letters I’d exchanged with the publisher. Finally, I showed her the mountain of fan letters I had received.
Perhaps overwhelmed by the evidence I laid out, her sky-blue eyes shook as if an earthquake were occurring within them.
"Well? What do you think?"
"I, I'm not sure... It's still hard to..."
Adelia looked dazed, as if the reality was too much to process. Seeing her like that, I fell into thought.
How could I explain it in a way that would truly resonate with her? How could I say it so that it wouldn't feel like a burden, but instead bring a bright smile to her face?
After much deliberation, I found the right words. It was something deeply connected to her family history, yet not so blunt as to trigger her trauma.
I gently stroked Adelia’s hair as she remained in her daze. At my touch, she looked up at me, seemingly spellbound.
"How about this? The Ters Kingdom—the place you hold so much love and hate for. Even that kingdom will have to bow its head to me."
"Even... the Ters Kingdom...?"
"Yes. I haven't gone public with my identity as Xenon yet, but what if I do in the future? Then, instead of you clinging to the Ters Kingdom, they’ll be the ones clinging to you. And the power of choice will belong solely to us. Do you get it now?"
"..."
Perhaps it was because I had gently poked at her trauma while simultaneously offering a resolution. A smile began to ripple across Adelia’s face, as if she were indulging in a thrilling fantasy.
The side she had once begged for acceptance would now be the one begging her. There could be no reversal more exhilarating than that—especially when it involved the people who had inflicted such deep trauma upon her.
As Adelia wore that mysterious smile, I moved my hand from her hair to caress her cheek. Then, I spoke in a sweet, declarative tone.
"So, you don't need to focus on the Ters Kingdom anymore. Just focus on me. You’re my exclusive maid, after all. Understood?"
"...Yes. I mean, I understand, Young Master."
"Like Marie said before, you came to me even before you knew I was Xenon. So, I’m going to do everything in my power to help you. That means you can't go back there just because you have lingering regrets, okay?"
"That place doesn't matter to me anymore. My body and soul belong to you, Young Master."
"Mhm."
Now that is an incredibly provocative thing to say. I almost lost control and pounced on her again, but I managed to suppress the urge.
"Then, if you ever require my... services, please call for me at any time."
Smooch!
Adelia followed up with a surprise kiss that nearly snapped my remaining thread of reason. Usually, I was the one to initiate, but this time, it was her.
Her taking the initiative meant she had opened her heart completely. The moment I realized that, I gave her a deep, lingering kiss in return.
As if she no longer intended to hide her feelings, Adelia responded in kind. It was her way of signaling that she was no longer bound by blood ties and was ready to build a new family.
"Go and get some rest now. You must be exhausted."
"But..."
"Uh-uh. I’m not leaving until you’re asleep."
After that, Adelia fell into a deep slumber that lasted the entire day as the exhaustion finally caught up with her.
No matter how formidable her stamina was, anyone would collapse after focusing entirely on offense without pacing themselves.
In the end, unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness, she fell fast asleep while still wearing her maid uniform. I waited quietly by her side until she drifted off completely.
She looked so adorable that I couldn't help but play a few pranks—poking her cheek with my finger or stroking her hair—as I kept watch over her.
As I’ve mentioned before, Adelia was full of unexpected charms. Just changing her clothes transformed her from dignified to cute, and even her personality seemed to shift.
This was true not just in daily life, but at night as well. She was shy at first, but once she got used to it, all reservations vanished, and she was the one taking charge.
Shy by day, bold by night. Those words suited Adelia perfectly. Perhaps the personality she showed at night was her true self.
She had been emotionally unstable due to her horrific upbringing, but Adelia was a woman who deserved more than enough love.
Because she grew up without that love, she craved affection—like those kisses—whenever her true personality surfaced. And I had accepted all of it, satisfying her desires.
Anyway, I’m glad the temple was built in the territory.
During the break, I planned to spend peaceful time with Marie, Cecile, and Adelia. Perhaps Marie and Cecile would even give Adelia more time out of consideration.
It was only because it was our first night that she hadn't paced herself; once Adelia got used to things, she might become more than I could handle.
Still, Adelia had a patient personality, the type to bottle things up and let them out all at once, so the frequency would likely be low. You could call her the "rechargeable" type.
I intended to regularly receive Holy Power, not just for Adelia, but for the other girls as well.
During my fierce battle with Adelia today, I felt a genuine fear that I might actually be drained to death. And it wasn't as if the possibility of more women being added to the mix was zero.
I need to work hard on my writing, too.
I gave the sleeping Adelia’s hair one last stroke before getting up from the bed. The main event was over, but the exhibition hadn't fully concluded.
As Cecile mentioned, the film would be screened at the theater for several days, and the judging of the artworks displayed at the exhibition wasn't finished yet.
As I mentioned before, the judging was being done anonymously, with only the works on display.
Just like the famous saying that people will applaud even if a famous person takes a crap, the power of a name is terrifying.
It might seem unfair to some, but shouldn't things at least be "equal" for everyone? At the very least, it was better to exclude the influence of names at the Xenon Exhibition.
Should I head to the temple today?
Cardinal Kate had been living at the temple since its completion. If I went there, she would likely come out to greet me personally.
I needed to replenish my Holy Power anyway, and I wanted to have a conversation with Lord Luminous, so a visit to the temple was essential.
The Temple of Mora was said to be fully completed within fifteen days, so I could visit then.
Actually... would it be faster to run away to Helium first?
Volume 20 was set to be released along with a Side Story. Normally, the Side Story would have come out much earlier, but as you know, it was delayed slightly because the publisher moved to our territory.
But thinking about it, releasing the Side Story and Volume 20 simultaneously might actually be better. The impact of Volume 20’s ending would be doubled.
Just before Jin’s chest is pierced by Gluttony, his memories from the Side Story would flash before his eyes like a revolving lantern. The readers would surely be horrified by that scene.
That’s actually not a bad idea.
I moved carefully so as not to wake Adelia and returned to my own bedroom. As much as I wanted to stay by her side, I had work to do.
When I returned to my room, silence greeted me. The warmth and scent of a night of passion were gone, and the bed was neatly made.
It seemed someone had tidied up while I was taking Adelia to her room.
Did one of the other maids do it?
That was the most likely explanation. I looked at the bed, which was exactly as it had been before the act, and then headed to my desk.
The moment I sat down, the "service" I had received from Adelia flashed through my mind, but I quickly shook it off.
What mattered now was the progression of Volume 20. I had already written about half of it, but adding more detail now would further improve the quality.
Clack, clack, clack—
Thanks to the Holy Power, my mind was clear even after staying up all night. It meant I could continue writing steadily without losing focus.
I was a bit tired, but it was nowhere near enough to break my concentration. It was better to push through and sleep at the right time rather than having my days and nights flipped.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knock at the door broke my concentration. I looked away from the typewriter and toward the door.
"Isaac. Can I come in?"
Judging by the sultry voice, it was definitely Cecile. I wondered what business she had with me.
"Come in."
"Pardon me, then."
With my permission, Cecile slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Instead of the dress she wore at the exhibition, she was in a black one-piece that covered her entire body.
The fabric was light and flowing, yet it still failed to conceal her ample chest. Then again, finding clothes that actually fit her must be a challenge.
I glanced briefly at her noticeably prominent chest before shifting my gaze to her face.
Judging by her beaming expression, she had come for a reason.
"What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to see what you were up to~"
Cecile skipped over like a rabbit and came to my side. Her energy seemed high, as if something good had happened.
I gave a small smirk and discreetly moved the manuscript I had already printed. No matter who it was, I had no intention of showing the manuscript yet.
Cecile pouted her lips as if offended by this, but she quickly cheered up when I affectionately stroked her horns.
As expected, Cecile didn't need anything else; just stroking her horns was enough to melt away any anger.
"Where’s Marie?"
"She’s looking after Lily right now."
"Aren't you going to see her?"
"I’ll have plenty of time to see Isaac’s children a year from now, so I should save my energy."
"..."
As she said that, Cecile licked her lips and gently stroked her lower abdomen with one hand.
Her reaction, like a predator eyeing its prey, left me feeling a bit uneasy.
In the past, I would have dismissed it as a joke, but given Cecile’s recent behavior, she seemed dead serious.
I had a strong feeling that we would need to have a very serious conversation eventually.
"Phew... Cecile. No matter what you think of me..."
"I know. But Isaac, you’re someone who came from another world, aren't you? What else could that be but a gift and a blessing from the gods?"
"..."
What kind of delusion is this woman having on her own? I looked at Cecile with a bewildered expression.
However, Cecile’s reaction was somewhat unusual; she clasped her hands together with an ecstatic look on her face.
Her eyes sparkled like rubies, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks. I felt like I’d seen that reaction somewhere before... who was it?
Right. Kate. It was very similar to the look of fanaticism Kate showed toward me.
"It’s fine even if you deny it. Either way, you’re the savior who rescued our Demon race. If this fact ever spreads, it will be recorded in the history of Helium like this: 'The gods took pity on the Demons and bestowed a blessing upon them, and that blessing was a Saint who crossed over from another dimension.'"
"...Aren't you taking it a bit too far? It’s not like this is some myth."
"Great 'history' is always recorded with exaggeration. Myths are no exception."
"I can't really argue with that."
I let out a hollow laugh, looking like I was at a loss for words. In truth, I could understand why Cecile was reacting this way.
If this were my past life, I would have dismissed it as nonsense, but this was a world where three gods—Luminous, Mora, and Hirt—actually existed.
Furthermore, there were even "demons" who were presumed to have come from another dimension. It was a setting where the idea of a god going out of their way to bestow a blessing wasn't far-fetched.
Wait. If Kate finds out about this...
If even Cecile was like this, how much worse would Kate get? She was already pleading with me, calling me the light that would save the world and begging me to spread the "Seed of Light" far and wide.
If it got worse, it would only get much worse, never better. To make matters worse, the reason I ended up here was because of a mistake by a demon worshiper.
Because of that one mistake, the gods had reincarnated me with my memories intact, and from there, the Xenon Biography was born and led to the present...
Thinking about it, the plot is actually ridiculous.
The progression seemed impossibly smooth yet messy at the same time. If I wrote a novel with this as the theme, I’d have a story ready in no time.
Even if I revealed the fact that I was Xenon, I felt I had to keep the fact that I was a reincarnator hidden as much as possible.
The Xenon Biography alone had already advanced the science and culture of this world by a significant margin.
In such a situation, I couldn't even begin to imagine the impact of releasing a novel about World War II.
"Phew..."
"Is something troubling you, Mr. Saint?"
"Oh, stop it."
Regardless, Cecile was busy teasing me. When I frowned, she giggled like a mischievous child.
"I’m sorry. But Isaac, you’re the person I love most in the world. I just want you to know that. I don't care how many more women you have."
"Even Arwen?"
When I mentioned Arwen, whom she was clearly wary of, Cecile flinched visibly.
She then wore an awkward smile and answered with difficulty.
"...I’ll have to think about that pint-sized Elf Queen. But are you really going to accept Queen Arwen too?"
"I don't know."
It wasn't an evasive answer; I truly didn't know anymore. It was certain that Arwen also harbored romantic feelings for me.
But I didn't know the reason why. I didn't know what kind of conversations had taken place within Albenheim, but it was clear that Elven Communism had played a role.
A sigh escaped me at the thought of a future that was so bright it was blinding, yet utterly opaque.
If I had known the power of culture was this great, perhaps I would have become a historian instead of a writer. That thought crossed my mind.
Still...
I turned my head to face Cecile. When our eyes met, she gave me a beaming, happy smile.
If I had become a historian, I wouldn't have been able to see this smile, and furthermore, the Demons would still be persecuted to this day.
It’s exhausting, but I don't regret it. That was my conclusion.
I slowly reached out and gently stroked Cecile’s cheek before moving up to caress her horns, which were beginning to turn red.
As I stroked her horns, Cecile leaned her face into my hand, as if savoring the sensation. It was like a cat acting cute.
"Oh, right. Cecile. Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything for you, Isaac."
"I’m planning to release the Side Story and Volume 20 simultaneously in fifteen days. I’d like to visit Helium briefly then."
"Why our country?"
At Cecile’s question, I gave a bitter smile and told her the truth.
"Because if I don't, I think my mother might beat me to death."
*
The Xenon Exhibition concluded as a resounding success. This was thanks to the significantly increased number of attractions compared to the previous exhibition, as well as the improved infrastructure of the territory.
A wide variety of artworks were on display, as both renowned artists and aspiring ones attended.
If you only looked at that, you might think it was no different from any other exhibition, but the noteworthy point here was the absence of names.
To be precise, it featured the unique approach of displaying only the works without revealing the artists' names until the exhibition was completely over.
Because of this, visitors could focus more on the works themselves rather than the names, and furthermore, several artists with great potential were discovered.
[A rule befitting a culture enjoyed by all.]
[Though not perfectly fair, it exudes equality.]
[A hand was extended so that the sprouts hidden in the shadows of the masters could see the light.]
[An exhibition that even the masters were highly satisfied with, showing no particular complaints.]
Surprisingly, even the masters of the art world, who were sensitive to the value of their names, were satisfied rather than disgruntled. This was because the Xenon Exhibition was given a clear "theme."
The most troublesome thing for artists when selecting a work is the "theme." Just as a dish needs great ingredients to taste good, art is the same.
Even if you’re given delicious ingredients, if you burn them all, it just becomes food waste. In other words, "basic skills" were the most important factor in the Xenon Exhibition.
In that sense, while the masters could churn out masterpieces even with their eyes closed, rookies often lacked those basic skills.
Even if one creates their own new path, the basics are always important. A creation made without basics is nothing more than a monstrosity.
[Matrix Theater Troupe presents a new paradigm to the world of theater!]
[A novel technique of showing pre-recorded videos to the audience instead of a live stage.]
[The passionate performances of the actors, combined with the directing of the Matrix Theater Troupe and the sweet music of the Lirus Orchestra, have created a masterpiece like no other in the world.]
Naturally, the Matrix Theater Troupe’s film also drew worldwide attention.
People had been anticipating what kind of stage the Matrix Theater Troupe would present this time, and they delivered a performance that met those expectations.
While some expressed concern that theater might decline as a result, those voices were quickly silenced.
Theater had its own charm, and film had its own. In particular, the unique merit of theater—being able to see the actors' performances in real-time—played a significant role.
Amidst the warm reviews being exchanged, a letter that captured the world’s attention arrived at the publisher.
[The Matrix Theater Troupe must produce the next installment immediately.]
It was a letter from Xenon—that is, Isaac. The above was a brief summary of the long letter, which made it clear how satisfied he had been.
As a result, the Matrix Theater Troupe began producing the film once again with the support of Helium.
Since they were producing it step-by-step starting from Volume 1, as mentioned before, people held great expectations in their hearts.
However, there was one country that could not be left out...
[Albenheim: We will help as well.]
[It hurts our pride, but we will cooperate for the sake of a better work.]
It was Albenheim. Surprisingly, they chose "cooperation" over competition.
Until then, the Elves had persecuted the Demons just like other races, but they were secretly wary of them.
While not as deep as the Elves', the Demons' magic was more advanced in terms of diversity.
In short, the Elves, who had implicitly considered the Demons their rivals, were the ones to bow their heads first.
[We will produce the Demon Invasion part.]
[We can create a work that is just as good as the Matrix Theater Troupe’s.]
But of course, it wasn't that simple. Albenheim immediately launched a political offensive.
However, it was hard to call it a purely political attack. To produce the Demon Invasion part, Albenheim’s cooperation was necessary no matter what.
No matter how much one could disguise themselves with magic, there were limits. Furthermore, since it was a war rather than a single battle, the Elves' magic was a necessity, not an option.
The Matrix Theater Troupe, as well as their sponsor, Helium, were aware of this and couldn't help but deliberate.
They were confident in Sacran’s sacrifice, but they wondered if it was right to hand over the Elf part to the Elves. It was a moment of dilemma in many ways.
Eventually, the debate quieted down with the response that they would discuss it. But there was something even more important remaining.
[This time, the Side Story and the main story will be released simultaneously.]
[According to Xenon, it is recommended to read the Side Story first and then the main story...]
[The Side Story tells the past story of Jin and Lily.]
What was bound to come had arrived. Furthermore, not just the Side Story, but Volume 20 was being released.
People around the world were ecstatic at the news that two new books in the Xenon Biography were coming out at the same time.
Helium, in particular, showed the most intense reaction, as Xenon had asked the publisher to ensure the books were released in Helium first.
It could be seen as a gesture of gratitude for the gift the Demons had sent previously.
However, there was one true goal...
"Aaaah!! No!!"
And that was to buy time.
Exactly one day after Volume 20 was released.
"Isaac!! Isaac, where is that boy?!"
The voice of Anna, the mistress of the house, rang out thunderously through the Maishal Mansion.