Chapter 404: The Die is Cast(3)
Chapter 404: The Die is Cast(3)
Anna, the matriarch of the Maishal family, had been fraught with worry lately. To be precise, her anxiety had begun ever since Volume 27.
It wasn't due to any internal or external family matters. On the contrary, the family was flourishing daily with the support of the Imperial Family, and their territory was developing at a remarkable pace.
Unprecedented events were unfolding: the Temples of Luminous and Mora were being constructed within the same estate, and the region had become the first in the world to unveil the new cultural phenomenon known as "film."
All of this was possible, of course, thanks to Xenon's Life, the masterpiece written by her proud youngest son, Isaac.
Even before Volume 5—the point where the series' potential truly exploded—she had been deeply enthralled by the charm of Xenon's Life. In particular, the heterodox and intense romance between a demon and a priestess had kept her heart in a constant state of yearning.
She couldn't describe how moved she was when their love deepened and they eventually shared their first night together. The scene had been so profoundly touching that it had even suppressed the carnal stirrings it provoked; that was the extent of her immersion.
However, that touching moment was short-lived, as a new despair struck: a vile Great Demon, whom she could have torn apart with her bare teeth, attacked Lily.
In truth, a similar crisis had occurred before. There was the incident where Jin’s chest was pierced by his own father, Gluttony. Fortunately, that had turned out to be a blessing in disguise, aiding Jin’s awakening. But this time was different. A Great Demon’s wedge had been driven straight into Lily's heart.
If even the World Tree couldn't withstand the pollution and withered, there was no way a mere priestess could endure it. To make matters worse, it was said that if the corruption spread throughout her entire body, she would turn into a demon.
At first, Anna didn't want to believe it, but considering the origins of the demon race, it was a logic she had no choice but to accept.
‘Isaac will find a way to resolve it, right?’
Anna had wanted to rush to Isaac the moment she finished Volume 28. However, she knew that would be a nuisance, and Isaac might be disappointed in her on a personal level.
Though she was his mother, in the face of Xenon's Life, she was merely an ordinary reader. Aside from offering minor advice or subtly hinting at her wishes, she couldn't bring herself to pressure him.
Furthermore, Isaac had once fled to Helium to avoid exactly this kind of situation. That was why she was holding back this time.
‘Right. If he breaks them apart like this, he’ll be cursed by everyone.’
While she thought that, Anna also knew deep down that the tragedy of Jin and Lily’s love failing would actually elevate the literary quality of the work.
What kind of race were the demons? Were they not a race defined by tragedy and sorrow? This wasn't just limited to Xenon's Life; it was the nature of the race itself. Until the appearance of Xenon's Life, they were a people who had struggled to see the light, yet remained unacknowledged by anyone.
It had been said that Jin alone embodied every tragedy a demon could experience, which gave a glimpse into just how compelling a character he was.
‘They’re finally starting to find a little happiness. He absolutely cannot ruin it like this.’
If he did, it wouldn't just be Anna; every Jin-Lily fan across the globe would rise up in revolt. Other readers would be equally horrified. In fact, when someone had previously incited a rumor that Jin and Lily would never end up together, it had caused an absolute uproar.
There was even a story about an adventurer who had broken down in tears while drinking. It was such a significant event that it was featured as a major headline in the newspapers. Of course, to scholars, it was nothing more than a fascinating subject for research.
"If they really don't end up together, your big brother is a demon. Right?"
"Awoo?"
"Yes, yes. You think so too, Lily?"
"Pah!"
Anna spoke in a tender voice to the baby lying in the cradle. There was no way the infant Lily could understand her, but the child laughed brightly as if she enjoyed the attention.
Seeing that smile, the lamentation in Anna's heart seemed to fade slightly. Since the child's upbringing was entirely entrusted to a wet nurse, Anna didn't find it particularly taxing. Still, she performed all her maternal duties without fail, such as visiting her like this or breastfeeding.
Moreover, she had very little work lately, allowing her to enjoy this kind of leisure.
Knock, knock—
[My Lady. It is Hubert, the butler. Mail has arrived from the publisher.]
While she was playing with Lily, someone knocked on the door. Judging by the voice, it was the butler.
She told the flailing baby Lily that she would be right back, then stood up and headed toward the door. Upon opening it, a distinguished elderly gentleman with a very impressive mustache appeared.
It was Hubert, the butler dispatched from the Imperial Family. He was currently in charge of the overall management of the mansion.
"Yes, Butler Hubert. You said mail arrived from the publisher?"
"Indeed. It appears to be Volume 29 of Xenon's Life."
"Really?!"
At Hubert's words, Anna's purple eyes widened. Her expression was filled with joy and anticipation.
"Yes. However, peculiarly, a separate letter arrived with it."
"Huh? A separate letter?"
"It seems the publisher's president has something he wishes to say."
Hubert handed Anna the package and the letter respectively. Anna thanked him, closed the door, and returned to her seat.
As he said, it was a bit strange for the letter to be separate rather than inside the package. Anna sat down next to Lily's cradle and checked the letter first. Even though she was dying to know what happened next, it seemed better to read the letter first.
‘It’s a letter addressed to Isaac.’
If it was a letter for Isaac, she needed to inspect it. Anna slowly and carefully opened the envelope. This wasn't being meddlesome; it was one of her necessary duties. While it surely would have been vetted before reaching this point, she was performing the final check.
[Greetings, Head of the Maishal Family. Thanks to the kindness the Maishal family has shown us, our publishing house has...]
Fortunately, it wasn't a threat but a genuine letter from the publisher. The handwriting was unmistakably Musk's. The first paragraph was, as usual, filled with excessively polite greetings. It felt a bit much, but from the publisher's perspective, it was only natural.
Anna skipped past the long-winded pleasantries to find the main point, wanting to know what Musk, the president of the publishing house, wanted to say.
[The reason I am writing is that I am curious as to how Sir Xenon intends to conclude the story. Since Baron Hawk delivered the manuscript personally, there is no chance of demon worshippers tampering with it, but we are nonetheless concerned.]
"...?"
What was this about? Anna blinked her purple eyes. She couldn't quite grasp what he meant.
As Musk said, the possibility of demon worshippers interfering was impossible. Baron Hawk had personally brought the manuscript for Volume 29. Furthermore, Hawk had relayed Isaac's request: Do not read the manuscript in secret this time. It is a matter of courtesy to the other readers.
In other words, it was impossible for demon worshippers to intervene. Yet, the fact that he had gone so far as to write a letter suggested something unusual was afoot.
‘...Just what is the ending like?’
Anna looked at the package, which presumably contained the first print of Volume 29. What kind of story could possibly warrant such concern?
[I would be grateful if you could review the story once and send the conclusion to our publishing house via letter. At first, we wouldn't have believed it ourselves if Baron Hawk hadn't delivered it personally. Please take care of your health, and we will await the final conclusion. Sincerely, Musk.]
This had never happened before. Usually, the moment a manuscript for Xenon's Life arrived, Musk was too busy rushing to print it to do anything else.
Her curiosity became unbearable. Anna hurriedly placed the letter gently on the cradle and tore open the package.
"Ahm."
"Oh? Lily! No! That’s dirty, dirty!"
While she was opening the package, Lily almost put the letter in her mouth, but Anna managed to stop her just in time. Even as an infant, the child's strength was noticeable.
Finally, after getting everything ready, she faced Volume 29 of Xenon's Life. What kind of plot could possibly make Musk worry this much?
‘Surely it’s not what I think?’
Volume 28 had ended with Jin setting out on a journey and a hint that Xenon would follow him. Naturally, the goal was to find a way to heal Lily. Therefore, the general plot of Volume 29 would likely show Xenon following in Jin's footsteps. This was what most readers expected.
What Anna feared most was either Jin or Lily meeting their end. She didn't want to see that. She would rather Jin spend his entire life nursing Lily until they died together. That would be an ending befitting the tragedy of the demons.
‘Lily turning into a demon and Jin killing her... no. Rather than that, maybe he becomes a demon... no. That’s not it either. If that happens, there was no reason for Jin to go on the journey.’
Her mind was a jumble of thoughts. Anna squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before glancing at Lily. The baby had fallen fast asleep, perhaps exhausted from her earlier flailing. She looked like such an angel.
Anna smiled warmly at the sleeping Lily, who was blissfully unaware of the world's troubles, and then carefully turned the page.
The beginning was as expected: Xenon slowly following Jin's trail and the stories of the people he met after the war. After meeting them one by one and asking about Jin's whereabouts, Xenon learned exactly where he was headed.
‘The Grey Desert.’
In reality, this was the place where demons first appeared and where the once-powerful Kingdom of Gerios had stood. Unlike ordinary deserts, the sky there was perpetually covered in dark clouds that blocked all sunlight, and countless dead lay buried beneath the sands.
Since Xenon's Life was modeled after reality, the Grey Desert naturally existed in the book as well.
‘My goodness. The demons were actually humans?’
As Xenon defeated the undead one by one and delved into the ruins of the ancient kingdom, he gradually realized the truth about the demons. Starting with the shocking revelation that demons were once human, to the fact that they were seeking the resurrection of Diabolus. Finally, he realized that Jin had grasped all of this and was trying to prevent Diabolus's resurrection.
‘Ah. So he joins forces with Xenon here to stop the resurrection?’
That would be fine. Anna nodded. However, for Lily to be completely healed, Diabolus's soul had to be entirely annihilated. In reality, that was an impossible task. Perhaps Xenon would snap Jin out of it, shouting that Lily needed him now more than ever.
Anna nodded in approval at the plausible story and turned the page. But in her concentration, she had momentarily forgotten what Musk had written in his letter—the story he had begged Isaac to reconsider.
[H-help me...]
[While investigating the ruins, a voice suddenly reached his ears. It was a voice on the verge of being scattered by the wind, but he barely managed to hear it.]
[The moment Xenon heard the sound, he rushed toward it. Praying that it wasn't Jin's voice.]
However, the atmosphere was growing increasingly strange. The deeper he delved into the ruins, the more somber the mood became, punctuated by a voice that heightened the tension. Anna gripped the book tighter, her hands trembling with an unknown dread as she slowly turned the page.
[What Xenon encountered was... a corpse. No, it was a person who looked as if their entire body had been torn apart by a beast.]
[Flesh had been ripped from the neck by teeth, blood gushing like a waterfall, and an arm and a leg had each been torn away.]
[There wasn't a single intact part of the body. Even the limbs that remained bore the marks of teeth.]
[It was a miracle the person was even alive. The problem was that while this one was barely clinging to life, the others around them...]
The place Xenon rushed to upon hearing the voice was a literal hellscape. Judging by their appearance, the victims were presumed to be demon worshippers, but their state was horrific. There were wounds that looked like they had been mauled by a beast, and intestines were spilling out from their abdomens. Some corpses even had their ribcages completely exposed, with their internal organs entirely missing.
Even the Great Demon, Diabolus, had never committed such atrocities. This wasn't the work of a mindless monster; someone had eaten these people alive.
[G-Gluttony... Gluttony has been resurrected...]
[He will eat us... He will consume every last soul of the Great Demons...]
"Gluttony?"
Why was Gluttony suddenly appearing? Anna furrowed her elegant brow. Hadn't Jin defeated Gluttony long ago?
But looking at the described carnage, no one but Gluttony would commit such acts. Gluttony was, quite literally, one who gained power by absorbing others. She couldn't predict the development even a step ahead. Xenon also swallowed hard, moving forward despite an inexplicable fear.
And what he faced was...
[...Jin?]
[Grrr...]
It was Jin, devouring a corpse ravenously like a beast, his appearance vastly different from before. His mouth was smeared with the flesh and blood he had been consuming, and along with demonic wings, his eyes were stained pitch black.
One look was enough to instinctively know that something had gone terribly wrong. At the same time, many things became clear. The fact that Jin was the biological son of Gluttony, and that Lily could only be saved if Diabolus's soul was completely annihilated.
And finally... that Jin would sacrifice anything for Lily.
[Must protect...]
[Jin? Is it really... you, Jin?]
[The brightest light... must be protected...]
Even when Xenon asked to confirm, Jin only repeated his words like a beast that had lost its sense of self.
[The brightest light must be protected...]
His words revealed his profound, agonizing love for Lily.
[Even if I must become the foulest darkness...]
And with those final words.
[Kuaaaaaah!]
He let out a beastly roar and lunged at Xenon.
"..."
A truly shocking conclusion. Anna’s jaw dropped in horror.
It was a development that didn't just defy all reader expectations—it shattered them. Yet, ironically, it was an ending where every single piece of foreshadowing was paid off. It perfectly completed Jin's character while ruthlessly exploiting the fact that he was Gluttony's child.
It was so thorough that she wondered if a human could even conceive of such a thing. Now she understood why Diabolus had been portrayed as such a dull character.
Anna stared at the ending for a long time before whispering softly.
"...Did I give birth to a demon?"
The plot was so dark that she couldn't help but think so.
And she wasn't the only one.
"Fuck. What's with this plot? Was this really written by a human?"
"How could this happen... It makes sense, but still..."
"He'll save him, right? He wouldn't make them fight like this and then not save him, right? Please tell me he saves him."
"A demon... A demon has appeared..."
It was a development so cruel that most readers who finished the book thought the exact same thing.