Chapter 284: Bombshell(3)
Chapter 284: Bombshell(3)
Perhaps because of the voice amplification magic, Cecile’s voice echoed throughout the square like a resounding toll.
Five seconds had passed since her unexpected remark. For those five seconds, a deathly silence settled over the square.
It was a literal bombshell. This was on a completely different level from when Arwen revealed she was a mixed-blood; it wasn't just a ripple on a calm lake, but the omen of a massive tsunami.
"What… did she say?"
"Xenon’s woman?"
"Hey. Did I just hear that right?"
At the unimaginable bombshell of being "Xenon’s woman," the crowd instantly began to stir.
Musk and Arwen. They were the only two people believed to know Xenon’s true identity. That was a fact the public firmly believed until now.
But that rule had just been shattered by Cecile’s statement. Now, there wasn't just one or two, but a third.
Above all, the mention of being Xenon’s "woman" carried a weight of influence entirely different from the others mentioned before.
"W-what is she thinking?"
"..."
Beside me, Marie was so flabbergasted that her jaw hung open in shock. Cecile’s bombshell had delivered a blow that was impactful in many ways.
Someone’s "woman." To most people, that implied a formal romantic relationship.
In other words, Cecile had just announced to the world that she was dating Xenon—me.
I had no idea what she was thinking, but this behavior was completely different from how she usually acted.
"Is it true?"
"No way… wait. She’s a Demon princess, so maybe it is possible."
"Then really…"
"Is that why he portrayed the Demons so favorably?"
The murmuring grew louder, and the opinions being shared became increasingly diverse.
At first, there was disbelief, but as they compared her claim to the portrayal of Demons in the Xenon Biography, it began to gain credibility.
However, the shock of the bomb she had dropped—comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon—remained. A sense of skepticism still permeated the air.
Cecile seemed to sense the reaction as she slowly scanned the audience. Though she was too far from the podium for me to see clearly, she wore a confident smile.
I’m sure she didn’t say this without thinking…
If she were going to say something like that, she would have consulted me beforehand.
Blurting it out without any discussion could worsen her relationship not only with me but especially with Marie.
Currently, at the Academy, Marie and I are officially dating, while Cecile and I are in a secret relationship.
While we occasionally hang out in a group with Marie and other acquaintances, we almost never go around just the two of us in public.
Therefore, Cecile saying such a thing wouldn't necessarily narrow down the list of suspects for Xenon's identity, but it was nerve-wracking nonetheless.
I decided to wait and see what else she would say, forcing myself to stay calm.
[I’m sure you are all surprised. You must be bewildered by my sudden claim of being Xenon’s woman. But please, stay calm and listen to me until the end.]
Cecile continued her speech, maintaining her characteristically seductive voice. Thanks to her words, the commotion died down.
It seemed she had dropped that bombshell specifically to command maximum attention, but I was curious to see how she would follow it up.
[Before the Xenon Biography was revealed to the world, we Demons had to live with bated breath. Within Helium, we could laugh, talk, get angry, and enjoy ourselves just like any other race. But the world’s gaze was cruel. Not only did they see us as devils, but in the past, they went beyond mere perception and made definitive judgments that led to terrible tragedies.]
The terrible tragedies the Demon race suffered in the past. Anyone with even a slight interest in history would know what incident she was referring to.
A massacre fueled by human madness. It wasn't the Beastkin massacre committed during the Race War, but a historical fact that occurred even before that.
The Holy Nation 'Savior' had slaughtered Demons under the pretext of completely uprooting the "Devil's Seed"—the so-called "Root Plucking."
The name might sound strange, but the reality behind it was horrific. Furthermore, looking back at that name with historical knowledge was chilling.
"Ahem."
"Hmm."
Did they realize her speech was targeting them? Awkward reactions came from the VIP section where the representatives of the Holy Theocracy sat.
Even if she insulted them openly like this, they had nothing to say. After all, the Fallen Cardinal incident had only recently occurred.
Currently, Kate was carrying the Holy Nation on her back; if even she had abandoned the Luminous Order, it was a major incident that could have resulted in the entire organization being uprooted.
With almost no right to speak and Cecile hitting them with historical "fact bombs," they could only remain silent.
It wasn't as if she was being rude, either. She wasn't openly mocking them; she was simply stating that a tragedy had befallen her people.
[We Demons were a race born into tragedy from the start. Every day, we had to fight the devil hiding deep within our hearts, and sometimes the pain was unbearable. But we, too, have people we love and people we wish to protect. For their sake, we suppressed our inner evil. To protect those we love.]
[This did not change even after the Xenon Biography was released. Thanks to that person, our race was able to step into a brighter world, but the fundamental problem remains. Just as no living being knows their own future, we Demons are always at risk of being swallowed by the evil within. This isn't just what you think; it's what we Demons believe as well.]
[However, because the Xenon Biography expressed those feelings so well, we were finally able to stand not as devils, but as individual people. As you can see from me, I enrolled in the Minerva Empire’s Halo Academy, and to this day, we maintain active exchanges with neighboring countries. Furthermore, at the exhibition, we showed you just how strong our Helium culture is.]
[Despite this, the true enemy of the Demon race still remains within. Like Gluttony’s plan in the Xenon Biography, the inner evil could be provoked, turning all the Demons of Helium into devils. Such a terrible tragedy may no longer occur thanks to our benefactor, but the fundamental problem has not been solved. Yet, without us noticing, the answer was already present in the Xenon Biography.]
[I speak of Lilith, the woman from the Xenon Biography who represents Lust among the Seven Deadly Sins and who, like any other Demon, became a devil through tragedy.]
I told you, that was a setting error. I couldn't help but give a bitter smile as I listened to Cecile’s speech.
I wanted to confess in a letter that it was a mistake, but I couldn't, especially since the readers were praising it as a brilliant piece of foreshadowing.
Even if I denied it, I doubted they would believe me. For now, I decided to let it go since it was working out for the best.
[Lilith became a devil after losing her lover, but surprisingly, she maintained her reason. It is normal for a Demon who becomes a devil to lose their sanity and become a monster consumed by rage and grief, but she did not. Everyone might take it for granted since she is a Demon who went over to the devil's side, but this alone can be seen as a great change for our race.]
[Since then, Jin has subjugated his inner evil and made it his own power, and with the belated rediscovery of Lilith’s portrayal, Helium is currently in an uproar. One side believes the inner evil can be subjugated, while the other believes it is too difficult. Because the fate of Helium is at stake, an internal conflict with no room for compromise is ongoing.]
Just as Cecile said, while Helium appeared peaceful on the surface, it was quite chaotic.
They had rarely fallen into political turmoil like Albenheim or the Animus, and the current situation transcended mere politics.
The fate of an entire race, not just a nation, was on the line. With the release of Volume 21, a new "ideology" had emerged, creating many dangerous elements.
Would Cecile choose "Restraint," or would she choose "Control"?
This issue was the core of this speech and would determine the future of the Demon race, not just Helium.
[I, Cecile Drat Aisilia bin... shall follow the benefactor’s prophecy.]
And Cecile chose "Control" over the "Restraint" that had been maintained since the founding of Helium.
For other races, it might not matter, but this was a situation that could potentially create a massive political opposition within Helium.
As if reflecting that, the Helium nobles sitting in the front rows were whispering to each other. Some even crossed their legs, their faces full of dissatisfaction.
In the increasingly serious atmosphere, I wondered how Cecile would navigate this. If the speech ended like this, it would be a total failure.
Far from preventing a split, it could even put Cecile’s own position at risk. What on earth was she thinking, dropping such a bomb from the very beginning?
[You probably don't understand. You're wondering what what I just said has to do with being Xenon’s woman, and furthermore, why I chose Control.]
Cecile didn't lose her relaxed smile even in the unsettled atmosphere. Instead, her face brightened even more, as if signaling that she was heading toward the climax.
Then, she slowly scanned the audience whose attention was fixed on her, and her eyes met mine.
Red eyes filled with love, affection, warmth, and tenderness. The moment I met those eyes, I realized her intention.
[And this is...]
Cecile trailed off and slowly closed her eyes.
[My answer.]
Fwip!
Demon wings unfurled wide from her back. At the same time, the horns on her head began to grow, and their color turned a deep crimson.
The ability gained by completely subjugating the inner evil: Demonization. Literally accepting the power of a devil to become one.
"W-what?!"
"Th-th-that...!"
"A d-devil? The Princess is a devil?!"
As soon as Cecile transformed, the expected reactions erupted. Her Demonization was information known only to me and her parents.
"I-Isaac?! What is that?! What’s happening?!"
It wasn't strange for Marie, sitting beside me, to be horrified. I should probably pretend to be shocked too, but...
"Explain it, quickly! What’s going on?!"
"Ugh. This is a bit..."
Could you let go of me first? I understand you're shocked, but I can't speak properly while you're grabbing my collar and shaking me back and forth.
I had to act somehow, but Marie’s intense reaction made it difficult.
Meanwhile, I managed to check the reactions of others. Overall, it went beyond surprise to the level of horror, but the most aggressive reaction, naturally, came from the Savior side.
Though muffled by the surrounding noise, I could hear things like "We must exorcise her immediately" and "This is a grave matter." The priests were pleading with Kate.
However, Kate remained motionless in her seat, instead telling them to calm down.
As I always thought, she seemed to possess a formidable personality.
[I’m sure you are all surprised. Right now, I must look like a devil to anyone’s eyes. But look at me. I am looking at you with my own eyes, and I am maintaining my reason perfectly.]
Cecile’s voice pierced clearly through the chaos. Was it because of the Demonization? Her already seductive voice seemed to have become even more sultry.
Thanks to that, the people regained some composure and focused their attention on her. However, judging by their expressions, they all looked skeptical.
And for good reason—a Demon had become a devil. Even after the launch of the Xenon Biography, news occasionally surfaced of Demons who had turned into devils and gone on rampages.
As the noise in the square gradually subsided and silence returned, Cecile immediately began her explanation.
[Look at me. I have grown devil wings, the whites of my eyes have turned black, and my horns have grown large. To anyone, I look no different from a devil. Yet, I am maintaining my reason clearly. Does this remind you of anyone?]
—...Could it be Lilith?
Someone answered Cecile’s question as if possessed. Though it was a tiny voice, it was loud enough in the silent square.
At this, Cecile nodded and, while maintaining her Demonized state, continued in a confident voice.
[Yes. That is correct. The reason I introduced myself as Xenon’s woman, the reason I chose Control over Restraint. I have shown you that reason myself.]
So that’s what she meant. Cecile didn't mean she was "Xenon’s woman" in the sense everyone assumed.
While there had been many "How is this real?" moments so far, no person who served as a motif for a character had appeared.
But by showing her Demonization, the story changed. The motif for a character actually exists! That’s what people would say.
The decisive evidence was Cecile right in front of them, and that was why she had claimed to be Xenon’s woman.
She really used her head.
The "Xenon’s woman" Cecile spoke of must refer to the person who served as the motif for a character. In other words, it was a kind of propaganda: "I am the person Xenon used as a model!"
The likelihood of this propaganda working was very high, not only because of the status of the Xenon Biography but also because she had just demonstrated Demonization.
Furthermore, the social culture of this world was less developed than Earth's. Therefore, if the logic before and after was plausible, it would all be accepted.
The possibility of it being a lie? Ask the gods. Even the gods would take Cecile’s side.
Why? Because Cecile hadn't lied. "Xenon’s woman" meant she was my woman, so there was no falsehood.
Of course, people might ask if Cecile actually knew Xenon. But even Kate had only received an ambiguous oracle to find me; there was no way they would receive a clear oracle now.
Social, political, ideological, and finally, the presence or absence of lies. Cecile had caught every rabbit she could possibly catch.
The reason she didn't consult me must have been this confidence. I could let this slide.
...By the way, she’s basically turned the Xenon Biography into a holy scripture.
This part made me smile bitterly. However, I was resigned to it, as she had told me she would show her Demonization.
In three days, all sorts of news articles would explode. I could vividly hear the sound of my father’s workload increasing.
[As Xenon’s woman and the Princess of Helium, I, Cecile Drat Aisilia bin, declare: our race no longer needs to fear the evil within. There is no reason to fear evil in order to protect those we hold dear. As I have just shown you, there is no longer a need to stay trapped in a cage. A bird is safest inside a cage, but it was not born to die there.]
As she said those words, Cecile slowly deactivated her Demonization. Seeing her return to her original form so clearly drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.
Just the fact that she could deactivate the Demonization proved her words were true.
[Our race has only the future to move toward. Finally, all that remains is to soar high into the sky with our wings. Even if they aren't white like an angel's, we will fly with these wings dyed in pure darkness. Thank you.]
With those words, Cecile bowed politely and stepped down from the podium.
Even as she descended, a heavy silence hung over the square...
Clap— Clap— Clap—
Starting with the sound of my applause.
Clapclapclapclapclap!!!
Thunderous applause and cheers began to fill the square, mingling together.
The Demons, in particular, were more enthusiastic than anyone else, which was understandable given Cecile’s speech.
It could truly be a day of liberation, a day they could escape the fate that had tormented them until now.
It would take a long time and much effort to remove the shackles bound to a slave, but the mere fact that it was possible was nothing short of salvation for the Demons.
"Princess Cecile! Thank you!!"
"Blessings upon the Princess and Xenon!!"
"O Xenon! Thank you so much!!"
Ugh. This is embarrassing. Aside from the praise for Cecile, there was praise for me mixed in, making my face flush.
I cleared my throat, my face turning red at the praise audible even through the thunderous applause.
I wanted to cool down my face somehow, but it wasn't easy. I needed to get out of here first.
"Marie. Let’s get up..."
Just as I was about to call Marie, I suddenly felt a stinging gaze from another direction.
The moment I turned my head, I couldn't help but flinch.
Hiriya was staring at me intently, her expression unchanging.
"..."
"..."
I met her gaze silently for a moment before quickly turning my head away without even a greeting.
For some reason, I felt goosebumps all over my body. She couldn't have been watching me during the speech, could she?
...Right?
Hiriya wouldn't have that much interest in me.