Chapter 384: A Stroke of Luck(1)
Chapter 384: A Stroke of Luck(1)
In a completely unexpected turn of events, Lina had discovered the truth about my past life. However, the revelation passed over smoothly without any major issues.
Lina wasn't the type to have a loose tongue and blab such a secret to others, and she had already been harboring similar suspicions anyway.
She mentioned that this single fact made everything else click into place, so I suppose it was a fairly positive outcome.
Furthermore, she planned to implement several new policies based on the stories I told her, so Lina ended up gaining quite a lot from the exchange.
Regardless of those developments, time continued to flow. The event was in full swing, and Volume 28 of Xenon's Life was published without a hitch.
[A cruel ending that stabs readers in the back just when they thought it was over.]
[We expected the final gate, but an even greater tragedy was waiting.]
[The ending for Jin and Lily that readers have been longing for—how will it unfold?]
[Will it end in tragedy like Kair and Elisha, or will a miracle occur?]
As soon as it was released, reactions began pouring in exactly as I had anticipated.
Diabolus, a Great Demon who was somewhat one-dimensional compared to the Seven Deadly Sins, was defeated by Xenon’s party. As far as plots go, it was a standard, solid story.
However, as his vessel was being destroyed, Diabolus unleashed one final, desperate struggle. He fired a stake imbued with the foulest darkness.
Every reader predicted he would aim for Xenon, but the projectile veered off course right in front of him.
The target of that sudden curveball was none other than Lily. Because of that unexpected twist, even Jin failed to react in time.
[A stake filled with foul darkness. Will Lily be able to purify it?]
[Even the World Tree couldn't withstand the demons' corruption. It'll be nearly impossible for Lily to purify it.]
[Don't worry, it'll be fine if the God helps them.]
[Didn't Jin also awaken after being struck down by Gluttony?]
Jin and Lily were a couple that many people loved and were deeply invested in. Naturally, the ending of Volume 28 left many in a state of shock.
While some worried that they might not end up together, others consoled themselves by pointing out that since Jin had returned from the brink of death, Lily would surely do the same.
The ending was so shocking that it even slightly overshadowed the ongoing event.
Since most of the event participants were die-hard fans of Xenon's Life, such a reaction was only natural.
I wonder what the reaction will be when Jin appears as the final boss.
The contents of Volume 29 would mainly focus on the post-war recovery process and Lily’s dire condition.
As one critic noted, the demons in Xenon's Life possessed a darkness so foul it could even corrupt the World Tree.
No matter how much Lily was hailed as a Saintess, purifying it through her own strength alone was impossible.
[Is Diabolus truly gone for good?]
[Only his vessel was shattered; his soul is likely wandering somewhere or has returned to his original world.]
[A victory that left nothing but scars. Besides, there must be demons far stronger than Diabolus lurking in the World of Demons.]
[Unless the soul itself is annihilated, there is no fundamental solution.]
In fact, Diabolus’s soul hadn't been completely destroyed. Just before his vessel broke, he threw out a hook, claiming he wouldn't die and would return.
That single piece of foreshadowing left many people feeling anxious and hollow. They felt that despite making such great sacrifices, they were ultimately still being toyed with by the demons.
Of course, they had no idea that Jin would end up "eating" that bait quite deliciously.
[Will this story end in happiness or misery?]
[The end of a hero is always tragic. It has been that way for everyone so far.]
[Why can't they just be happy?]
Volume 28 was a segment designed to instill anxiety in the readers. They waited for the next volume with bated breath, fretting over what the future held for Jin and Lily.
I was well aware of their anxiety, but unfortunately, Volume 29 wouldn't be coming out anytime soon.
There was something far more important than writing Xenon's Life to attend to now.
"So, Ariel. Even if you read someone's mind, don't say it out loud. Okay?"
"Why?"
"People feel embarrassed or get angry when their inner thoughts are exposed. It's considered rude."
"Instead, if there's someone with bad intentions toward Daddy, tell me secretly. Got it?"
It was none other than Ariel’s education. Currently, Mari and I had Ariel sitting on the bed as we worked hard to teach her.
Reading thoughts was fine, but she must never speak them aloud even if she knew them.
However, if a stranger harbored ill will or spoke ill of me, she was to let me know in secret.
Ariel was a smart child, so I thought she would listen without question.
"Why?"
"What part don't you understand?"
"Can't I just say it right then? They're saying bad things about Mommy and Daddy."
I had momentarily forgotten that she was essentially a newborn.
I had taught her various common sense through her education so far, but her understanding of human relationships was still very narrow.
Whether it was a lack of tact or a judgment that it wasn't worth considering, she tended to blurt out whatever she read in someone's mind.
"Ariel. You're right, but if you say it right away, it might make things difficult for Mommy and Daddy. Do you like causing trouble for us?"
"No. I don't like that."
"Then..."
"But I hate people who badmouth Mommy and Daddy even more. I'm going to say it right away."
She was also surprisingly stubborn. Mari gave a troubled smile at Ariel’s persistence.
Ariel’s logic was this: she could tolerate not blurting out the thoughts of people she was close to.
However, she could not stand anyone insulting those close to her, including me. If they did, she was going to call them out immediately.
It was a very childlike way of thinking, but the fact that she possessed mind-reading made it a major concern.
Should I call this a 'fire-attribute' daughter?
It was certainly helpful, but there was a high chance things would spiral in a strange direction. Yet, when I suggested she stop using mind reading altogether, she refused.
She said that even if she didn't want to, she would read people's thoughts just by looking into their eyes. In other words, as long as she didn't make eye contact, there was no risk of her reading their minds.
"Phew... Ariel."
"Yes, Mommy."
"I'm saying this for your sake. It might be fine now, but your ability could end up hurting you deeply later on. Mommy and Daddy have the ability to handle it, but you're still inexperienced, aren't you?"
Mari gave Ariel a sharp piece of advice, her voice tinged with a bit of frustration. As soon as Ariel heard those words, she puffed out her cheeks.
It was a reaction that screamed dissatisfaction. I felt an impulse to poke those balloon-like cheeks but barely managed to restrain myself.
However, Mari hadn't given that advice without thought. As everyone knew, she possessed an ability similar to Ariel’s mind reading.
Mari gently stroked Ariel’s hair to soothe the sulking child. Ariel softened slightly, and her puffed-up cheeks slowly began to deflate.
"Mommy has an ability similar to yours, Ariel. That's why I know. Sometimes, it's better to pretend you don't know what's in someone's heart. What would you do if someone you were close to was thinking something bad about you?"
"...That person is bad."
Ariel seemed to have no intention of backing down. Expecting this, Mari smiled gently and pulled her into a hug.
Ariel quietly leaned into Mari’s warm embrace. The sprout on top of her head tilted slightly, reflecting her softened mood.
"Yes, they are. But what if that person had a reason they couldn't help? Or what if Ariel made a mistake and that person ended up disliking you for it?"
"..."
"If that keeps happening, you'll eventually close off your heart. You'll have people around you, but no one to lean on. Mommy was like that until I met Daddy."
It wasn't a lie; it was the truth. Those words were all from Mari’s own experience.
Like Ariel, she was born with an innate ability to perceive people's true intentions.
Thanks to that, she was able to gain an advantage in the cutthroat world of politics, but because politics was so filthy and petty, she naturally distanced herself from it.
Instead, she maintained her characteristically lively demeanor, refusing to become like the people wearing masks.
Then time passed, she met me, and she fell for me because I always showed my true self without reservation.
"So, Mommy will help you. Your ability isn't bad at all. It's just a little special."
"......What should I do?"
Perhaps Mari’s tender persuasion worked. Ariel’s bull-headed stubbornness finally broke.
I watched the scene in real-time, feeling impressed. Since they shared similar abilities, Mari’s sincerity seemed to have reached her.
"First, let's develop the ability to think slowly. Instead of blurting out thoughts exactly as they are, think about it for just a moment."
"Think?"
"Yes. Oh, of course, you can say whatever you want to Mommy and Daddy. This is only for strangers. Okay?"
"It's hard..."
Ariel shook her head as if the mere thought of it made her dizzy. Mari found her adorable and hugged her tight.
Ariel’s face ended up buried in Mari’s ample chest, but since she performed photosynthesis, she didn't show any signs of suffocating.
"Honestly... how can a child be this cute and lovely? Seeing Ariel makes me want to have a baby soon."
"Can't you wait just two more years?"
"Do you really think there won't be any 'accidents' for two years? I don't think so."
What are you saying in front of the kid? Though Ariel probably wouldn't understand even if she heard.
I could only laugh awkwardly as Mari seductively licked her lips with her tongue.
The more we educated Ariel, the more I could feel Mari’s desires gradually growing.
"Mmph. Pah! Mommy. Can I say this?"
"Say what, dear? Oh! Maybe the names for your younger siblings that Mommy was thinking of?"
"Yeah."
"Well, do you want to say them, Ariel?"
"No. I won't."
"Oh, my. Good girl. Come here, give Mommy a kiss."
Mwah, mwah, mwah, mwah!
Ariel’s loveliness was irresistible. Mari showered Ariel’s face with kisses, leaving her mark.
Faced with that overwhelming affection, Ariel scrunched up her eyes and flailed her limbs, trying to escape.
Fortunately, thanks to her naturally powerful strength, she managed to wiggle free. Then, she crawled over to me.
I naturally gathered her into my arms and affectionately stroked her hair with love.
"Ariel. Do you want to go outside?"
"Outside?"
"Yes."
Strictly speaking, it wasn't just "outside," but going to the mansion. I hadn't shown Ariel to my mother yet, so it was better to do so at least once.
It didn't matter if Ariel’s existence was discovered along the way. She was bound to be revealed eventually, so it didn't make much difference if it happened a bit sooner.
Of course, once her existence became known, the whole world would be turned upside down once again.
I rubbed my face against Ariel’s cheek, enjoying the soft, mochi-like sensation.
"Isaac. What about me?"
"Do you want me to do it to you too, Mari?"
"Yes!"
"Come here."
Perhaps jealous of Ariel, Mari also clung to me. She began to show various signs of affection, rubbing her face against mine or playfully nipping at me.
The problem was that she wasn't just rubbing her face. Her hand had moved up to my thigh and was gently stroking it.
Everyone knows what this gesture means. Come to think of it, we hadn't done it much lately because I'd been so busy.
Mari’s room was right next door, so I could just leave Ariel with Adelia and my father.
I'm glad I made those signals in advance.
If it was through actions, Ariel wouldn't be able to guess the meaning. Just as we were enjoying our peaceful daily life...
[Xenon will kill Jin! Just like the tragedy of Kair and Elisha, Jin and Lily will never be together!]
In the midst of an already chaotic situation, a massive bombshell dropped.
Who is this guy? Is he a real prophet or something?