Chapter 308: Isaac(2)
Chapter 308: Isaac(2)
My introduction was calm—neither flashy nor particularly elegant, despite the scale of the event. To put it kindly, it was frugal; to put it bluntly, it was underwhelming.
Commoners weren't the only ones present; dignitaries from all over the world had gathered in one place. In the context of my previous life, it was as if a president and all the major cabinet ministers had assembled.
Furthermore, these were people whose authority and power far exceeded that of a president. Unlike a president, these were figures who could sway an entire nation with a single word and, by extension, exert a massive influence on the world.
While Kate’s Sanctuary Declaration had signaled a grand beginning, my introduction thereafter was as ordinary as could be.
To be honest, the proceedings would have gone just as smoothly if they had put any eloquent speaker in my place instead of me. That’s how monotonous it was.
So, should it be considered a failure? That’s a bit debatable.
After all, the Q&A session—arguably the most important part after the self-introduction—remained.
Inviting people only to dismiss them in less than ten minutes would be seen as a slight by anyone. Thus, I held a Q&A session to both draw out the time and address their curiosity.
Since Kate was extending the Sanctuary at intervals, there was no risk of any incidents.
However, while the Q&A session proceeded, the nobles were moved to a waiting room.
In my heart, I wanted to hold the Q&A session with the commoners and nobles together, but this was done to preserve the nobles' prestige.
During my introduction, I had said I hoped everyone would enjoy themselves together, but reality and ideals are two very different things. I wasn't so foolish that I couldn't distinguish between the two.
No one would dare voice a disagreement with my words, but I’m sure there were those who harbored internal dissatisfaction.
Moreover, while I wanted the Xenon Biography to be read by everyone regardless of age, gender, race, or class, I had never made such claims regarding social interactions.
Above all, the nobles gathered here weren't just any nobles; they were the kings of their respective nations or held equivalent status.
Even if I was Xenon, I had to maintain basic etiquette. As the saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." It was better to treat nobles as nobles.
The waiting room was fully prepared and as spacious as any ballroom. That’s why the venue was moved there.
So, my current task was to answer the commoners' questions one by one. With the nobles gone, the commoners felt no pressure and fired off questions in rapid succession.
For the record, Voice Amplification Magic wasn't necessary. Kate had already set things up when she declared the Sanctuary.
If magic produced a desired result through complex formulas like programming, Holy Power achieved it through prayer alone.
Of course, that doesn't mean magic is at all inferior to prayer. It’s just that Kate’s Holy Power is abnormally strong.
"Then, how did you conceive the steam locomotive? Did that also come from your head?"
"I just thought, 'Wouldn't it be convenient if something like this existed?' and created it based on that. I never dreamed it would actually be invented, though."
"Are you sure you aren't someone from the future?"
"Hardly. I just have a somewhat vivid imagination; I'm not what you're thinking of."
Right from the start, I was put on the spot by a difficult question. Even after I answered, the person who asked didn't look like they quite believed me.
Still, since a Sanctuary had been declared, it would be hard to call it a lie. Besides, before I was Xenon, I was a noble. That meant I couldn't be treated lightly.
I smoothly moved past that and on to the next question. Since it was one question per person, the process went quite well.
In particular, I saw several members of other races among the crowd, and each of them threw unique questions my way. For instance, an Elf who looked like a scholar asked...
"Lord Xenon, you seem to have a deep knowledge of magic. Is it possible for you to offer some advice?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know the first thing about magic, sir."
"But it was described so precisely in the book. Especially the Motion Recognition Magic that Mary showcased; it was a huge topic of conversation even in Albenheim. How do you explain that?"
"Motion... what?"
"Motion Recognition Magic. The theory that magic can be triggered by a simple gesture. Isn't that also a theory you were the first to think of? Recognizing a specific motion for a frequently used or efficient spell, and then manifesting it immediately upon performing that motion. If that also came from your head, you must know the basic principles."
How should I know that, sir? I really don't know anything. I responded with an awkward smile.
I had momentarily forgotten, but the Elf's question brought it back vividly: this was a fantasy world.
Stories that would only exist in a fantasy setting had a very high chance of actually happening here, and the same went for combat and magic.
Especially for someone with a high thirst for knowledge like this Elven scholar, they would strive to figure it out no matter what.
"Hmm. I see. It seems to be a difficult matter to discuss."
However, the Elven scholar nodded in understanding, having reached some conclusion on his own.
Worried that my lack of knowledge had been exposed, I felt a bit nervous and immediately moved to the next question.
The Elven scholar's question had been particularly arcane; the questions from others were more ordinary.
"May I ask why you chose a human as the protagonist? Is it because you are a human yourself, Lord Xenon?"
"That's part of it, but it's also because, in my view, humans are a peculiar race. Whether you call it grit or tenacity, they might be brought to their knees, but they never truly surrender. I liked that grit, so I made a human the protagonist. Next?"
"Why did you kill Kair?"
"..."
There were occasional unusual questions, but I was able to handle them smoothly. Still, a crisis always finds its way.
Just as the Elven scholar had asked me about magic, this time, a Demon woman threw a difficult question at me.
"How did you know that the Inner Evil could be subjugated? For hundreds of years, we Demons never even considered such a thing."
"It's only impossible because you think it's impossible. And since the Xenon Biography is a novel after all, I can make the impossible possible. Though I didn't expect Princess Cecile to actually pull it off."
"May I ask what your relationship with Princess Cecile is? I heard you attend the Academy together..."
"I'm sorry, but it's one question per person."
Fortunately, I was able to cut her off. The Demon woman looked disappointed by my firm handling, but it was no use.
After that, the Q&A session continued smoothly, and just as I was beginning to feel relieved...
As we reached the very end, the person who asked a question was none other than a Beastkin. He had a face that looked generally like a dog.
Seeing that he looked more animal-like than Leona, he seemed to be a pure-blood rather than a mixed-blood. Feeling a slight spark of interest, I gestured toward him.
"Please, go ahead."
"Thank you. Lord Xenon, you clearly depicted the strengths and weaknesses of each race in the Xenon Biography. This is a very personal question, but what do you think of us Beastkin?"
"About the Beastkin?"
"Yes. I would like you to answer without any pretense."
"Hmm..."
It was an interesting question that pointed out a blind spot in the Xenon Biography.
Certainly, compared to the Elves or Demons, the depiction of the Beastkin in the Xenon Biography felt somewhat lacking.
The characters themselves were certainly charming, but the representation of the 'Beastkin' as a whole was deficient in many ways.
The Elves are arrogant, but they have the pride and skill to back up that arrogance. The Demons possess the self-respect to face their Inner Evil.
The Dwarves seem skilled with their hands at first glance, but they lack creativity. This was sufficiently depicted in the steam engine episode.
Finally, the humans. Perhaps because Xenon is the protagonist, they show far more strengths and weaknesses than other races.
A race of contradictions, where good and evil seem clearly defined yet become blurred depending on their interests.
The protagonist of the Xenon Biography, Xenon, is clearly good in anyone's eyes, but I had provided sufficient explanations throughout.
On the other hand, the Beastkin... while their screen time wasn't short, they were only depicted as a race that was boisterous yet clung to tradition.
Wrath, Satan, showed an impressive end, but that suited the character of 'Wrath,' not the Beastkin as a whole.
Could that really be said to have fully explained the charm of the Beastkin? Like that man's question implied, I didn't think so at all.
"What I think of the Beastkin is... Ah, before that, what is your profession?"
"I am a warrior."
A warrior—meaning a soldier. As expected, you shouldn't judge a person by their appearance; despite his soft, puppy-like face, he possessed great strength.
I organized my thoughts for a moment and then told him what I thought of the Beastkin.
"This is what I think of the Beastkin: A race whose instincts were suppressed for the sake of survival."
"..."
"The Founding King, Hik, managed to build a civilization despite the oppression and massacres by humans. However, the moment a nation and civilization are established, savagery must be abandoned. And for the Beastkin, savagery is directly linked to struggle. I believe the reason every single Beastkin is called a warrior is because of this fighting spirit. It's about proving one's worth through struggle and letting one's instincts burst forth."
Conversely, as civilization and society advance, the standing of the Beastkin will only diminish. However, no one, including myself, knows how long that will take.
Look at my previous life. Even in the modern era when the Industrial Revolution broke out, martial might was king. Imperialism spread across the world, and the number of countries suffering as colonies increased.
Of course, that resulted in the birth of the Nazis and Hitler, and the outbreak of World War II, but thanks to that, imperialism completely faded away.
"I'd like to say more... but I'll stop here, as I fear the conversation might turn unpleasant. Was that a sufficient answer?"
"It was more than enough."
Though I didn't say it, it wouldn't be long before the Beastkin bared their fangs.
The Beastkin population is steadily growing, while humans are failing to show the same unity as before.
Especially for the sake of food, which is the most urgent issue for the Beastkin, they will have no choice but to wage wars of conquest. History proves this, so it is an event that will happen someday.
And I plan to write about this in another novel. It will be a sequel to the Xenon Biography and a work to further expand the world-building.
"Next person?"
I took the final questioner after that.
"When will Jin and Lily finally get together?"
"..."
I ended up receiving the hardest question to answer.
Once the unexpectedly grueling Q&A session was over and I returned to the waiting room where the royalty and nobles were gathered...
"Lo-Lord Xenon!!"
"Huh?"
A familiar voice pierced my ears. An urgent cry, thick with the sound of tears.
Turning my head, I saw a very familiar woman rushing toward me from afar.
The woman running toward me with a face that had become as haggard as could be was none other than Hiriya.
Her former beauty had faded somewhat, but she exuded a certain decadent charm. With tears welling in the corners of her eyes, she even gave off the vibe of a tragic heroine.
Of course, none of that mattered; the fact that she was charging like a bull was quite startling. Even the people nearby were so shocked they couldn't even react.
At this rate, Hiriya would have reached me, but...
"You may not."
Not Kate, who was guarding my side, but Adelia, who appeared out of nowhere, stood boldly in front of me.
As my exclusive maid, it wasn't strange for her to protect me, but her silent appearance was a bit surprising.
Had her skills improved in that short time? Even during the Q&A session, she had been guarding me from a slight distance, merely keeping herself hidden.
"S-Sister?"
Hiriya’s eyes went wide with shock as Adelia blocked her path. She stole glances at me behind her.
Meanwhile, Adelia gave Hiriya instructions in a businesslike voice. I could only see her back, so I didn't know her expression, but it was likely stoic.
"Do not approach Lord Isaac any further."
"Please, just once...! Just let me see him once! At this rate, it'll really...!"
A princess pleading with a guard knight while calling her 'sister,' and a guard knight calmly rebuffing such a princess, whatever the circumstances.
It was a situation that clearly suggested a complex history, and various gazes focused on us.
I felt a slight annoyance toward Hiriya for creating such a strange atmosphere from the start, but fortunately, there was a hand to restrain her.
"That's enough, Hiriya."
Hiriya’s older brother and the Crown Prince of the Ters Kingdom, Laos. He placed a hand on her shoulder with a stiff face.
Hiriya looked at him with a bewildered expression as Laos’s hand landed on her shoulder.
Laos looked at her with a pathetic expression for a moment, then shifted his gaze to meet mine as I stood behind Adelia.
"..."
"..."
The two of us exchanged silent stares for a while. Laos’s lips twitched before he spoke quietly and politely.
"...My sister has caused a disturbance. I am truly sorry. Hiriya."
"N-No! You can't! Lord Xenon! I'll do anything, so please show mercy...!"
Hiriya struggled, but Laos dragging her away was faster. I stared blankly at the two of them as they moved further away, then looked around.
As I scanned the room, everyone was looking at me with peculiar expressions. Since there were likely more people who didn't know the circumstances than those who did, it was a natural reaction.
I gave an awkward smile and bowed my head toward them. The situation had turned into a mess, but I still had to do what I came for.
"Hello, everyone."
Now, only one thing remained.
"My name is Isaac Ducard Maishal, the author of the Xenon Biography."
Networking.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
...To be honest, it probably won't mean much.