Chapter 302: Foreshadowing(1)
Chapter 302: Foreshadowing(1)
My return to the Minerva Empire went off without a hitch. It was so smooth, in fact, that it felt almost eerie.
If you've read enough novels, you're probably familiar with the cliché where an unidentified assassin launches a surprise attack just before the protagonist makes it back home.
Even though I had revealed my identity as Xenon, I had still insulted a king, so I half-expected something to happen along the way. I suppose I’ve just read too many stories.
Then again, with teleportation stations readily available, any such attack would have drawn a fierce protest from the Minerva Empire.
Besides, I wasn't alone; I had Lina with me. The Ters Kingdom wouldn't dare act so recklessly under those circumstances.
At any rate, once I returned to the Minerva Empire and Halo Academy, I waited for the disciplinary measures that were sure to come.
I wonder if Hiriya will even show up at the Academy.
The rumor that I had slapped Hiriya had long since spread throughout the entire school. With so many witnesses, it would have been more surprising if it hadn't.
Rumors tend to get inflated, but public opinion was surprisingly decent. The general consensus was that while my slapping her couldn't be justified, Hiriya was also in the wrong.
My image among the professors was fairly good, and I wasn't disliked by the students either. I was just that "red-haired guy" who stood out a bit.
However, since very few people actually knew much about me, I was slightly worried that all sorts of strange rumors might start circulating.
Lina said she would handle things properly, but rumors have a way of distorting into something bizarre. Furthermore, it was unclear if Hiriya would even return to the Academy.
Her mental state had already crumbled into dust before we left; would she really come back?
The original reason Hiriya had transferred to Halo Academy was to improve relations with the Minerva Empire, but that reason had completely vanished.
Still, it didn't matter to me whether she returned or not. Hiriya wasn't the one I needed to worry about right now.
"You really went for it, didn't you? Thanks to you, things are going to get very complicated on our end."
"It was something that needed to be done sooner or later. And from the Empire's perspective, isn't it a good thing? You got what you wanted without lifting a finger."
"I wonder. It’s great that the Ters Kingdom is collapsing on its own, but we have to think about what comes after. I don't think Ters will fall immediately, either. Being a cultural powerhouse, they'll find a way to scrape by somehow."
As Lina said, what I should be most concerned about were the events yet to come. I had revealed my identity, but only to the Ters Kingdom, and even then, it was still technically at the stage of suspicion.
However, with the release of Volume 22 of the Xenon Biography only a day away, it wouldn't take long for that suspicion to turn into certainty.
Since I had already indirectly spoiled the contents of Volume 22, the nobles gathered at the trial would be half-convinced that I was Xenon.
Of course, if the nobles banded together or if Friedrich applied pressure, they might be able to stop the rumors from leaking out.
It wasn't entirely impossible; power can only be wielded as long as there is a country to rule, and the situation was such that the nation itself might be shaken.
But among all those people, would there really not be a single person who would let something slip? I highly doubted it.
Until then, all I had to do was wait quietly or continue my studies. And, while I was at it, continue serializing Volume 23 of the Xenon Biography.
For the record, Volume 23 would feature the battle between Xenon and Envy, and from there, I would gradually start dropping massive plot hooks regarding 'Pride.'
I wonder if I should adapt this a bit.
The problem was that by the time I started unraveling the hooks for Pride, my identity would likely be public. I questioned whether I should actually write this.
This wasn't just anything; it was closely linked to 'Mythology,' making it a bit delicate to handle.
The Elves, in particular, would likely be the most sensitive to it. Not that they would find it offensive—rather, it was designed to give them a massive 'hype' boost.
‘The ancestors of the Elves were Angels who served by the side of God. However, they committed a great sin, lost their wings, and fell to the Mortal Realm.’
That was the legend passed down through mythology. The Elves' ancestors, the Angels, had rebelled in the 'Heavenly Realm'—the world of the gods—and were cast down after losing their wings.
However, this myth was contradictory to the Elves in many ways. When Elves introduced themselves, they always mentioned being a race chosen by God.
Many scholars argued that even though they had rebelled, they were ultimately the Angels God loved most, which is why He granted them His blessing.
But I had a slightly different idea. To be precise, I was going to add a very deep, hidden backstory to it.
‘The ancestors of the Elves were not exiled to the Mortal Realm for committing a sin; they tore off their own wings and voluntarily became mortals. All to make the Mortal Realm a warmer place.’
This could be seen as a hidden history, much like that of the Dark Elves, one that would fundamentally shift the flow of mythology and the origin of the Elves.
It was a hypothesis I could propose because I had delved deep into the history and mythology of this world, and it was also a common cliché from my previous life.
An immortal who gives up their power and authority to become a mortal in order to protect the world. Such characters usually appeared as supporters of the protagonist.
It’s pretty good, but...
I scribbled with my magic pen on the notebook where I organized the plot. This was a hook that would appear in Volume 24, not 23.
Volume 23 was filled entirely with the battle scene against Envy, so there wasn't much to worry about there. I just had to highlight Envy's miserable life.
Among the battles Xenon faced, this was intended to be the most desperate portrayal, second only to Jin, who would appear as the final boss.
Is it really okay to touch the mythology?
I had triggered several "Why Is This Real?" moments so far, but I had never touched the realm of mythology. In a world where gods like Luminous, Mora, and Hirt actually existed, mythology was not something to be trifled with lightly.
However, nothing would make 'Pride' more compelling than this setting. According to the setup, Pride loathes the ancestors who chose to become mortal, believing them to be fools.
And he harbors the ambition to attach wings to himself, overthrow the Heavenly Realm, and rule the world—never imagining that this would bring about total destruction.
Specifically, he was slated to have wings as black as a demon's, rather than the white wings of an angel.
The gods haven't said anything so far...
So it should be fine to write. If it were a problem, they would have sent a warning themselves.
With that thought, I was able to plan the development with a lighter heart. What if it turned out to be a "Why Is This Real?" situation?
What else could I do? I'd just have to accept it. Honestly, I gave up after Cecile's demonization.
Besides, the setting of voluntarily tearing off one's wings to become mortal might provide a profound realization to the usually arrogant Elves.
If it’s good, it’s good; it won't have a negative influence. That was my judgment.
By the way, should I give Elena and Cindy a heads-up?
Elena and Cindy were my closest acquaintances at the Academy, after my inner circle. The knowledge they provided had become excellent nourishment for the Xenon Biography.
Before long, news that I might be Xenon would start to trickle out, and it felt disrespectful not to tell them.
Since I was planning to announce it in front of everyone anyway, telling just the two of them wasn't a bad choice.
The decision was made; all that was left was to act. I put the notebook with the plot summary in my drawer and pulled out my manuscript.
Evidence that could prove I was Xenon. The people at the trial didn't believe it, but wouldn't Elena believe me right away?
With a slightly nervous heart, I made my way to Elena's laboratory. Since the disciplinary action hadn't been handed down yet, I was free to move around.
Before long, I revealed my identity to Elena and Cindy, who were busy researching data in the lab...
"Actually, we sort of expected it."
"Pardon?"
"I've been suspicious ever since that pink-haired girl came to see you. After that, every time I asked, you gave such suspicious reactions. I just didn't know it was actually true."
Truly, the reaction I got was utterly anticlimactic. Cindy didn't even give a proper response, busy as she was being her usual limp self.
Instead, I was the one who got flustered and asked if they weren't surprised, to which Elena gave a very Elena-like answer.
"It would be a lie to say I'm not surprised. But how should I put it..."
"Since we've been spending so much time together... it just feels kind of neat..."
"Cindy's right. If we didn't know you, it might be different, but it's more like that kind of feeling. Like finding out the person you work with is actually a queen in disguise?"
I think I understood what they meant. I was dumbfounded by their casual reaction for a moment, then I let out a chuckle.
"So, can you tell me what's going to happen in the future?"
"Are you trying to write a thesis?"
"Yes."
"No."
"Tch. You can't even do that for us?"
"I'm not a prophet, you know."
I felt a bit silly for having hidden it, but conversely, my mind felt more at ease.
A few days later, when Volume 22 of the Xenon Biography was revealed to the world:
[Shocking! Count Kamar of the Ters Kingdom: "I know who Xenon is!"]
[Xenon's identity is none other than a noble of the Minerva Empire. Hailing from a family characterized by red hair...]
[Is his claim the truth? As all eyes are focused, the Minerva Empire...]
The bait I wanted had been cast.