Chapter 407: Shock and Horror(3)
Chapter 407: Shock and Horror(3)
By now, everyone likely knows that I practically fled to the Imperial Palace the moment the despair-inducing Volume 29 of Xenon’s Biography was released.
However, the plan changed slightly upon my arrival. I was supposed to have an audience with the Emperor immediately, but something came up, and it was postponed.
I didn't mind. I had shown up unannounced anyway, so staying for a few days wasn't an issue. Lina did mention that the delay wouldn't last more than two days at most.
So, what was I to do in the meantime? Simple. I would work on the long-awaited Volume 30 while monitoring the public's reaction.
Perhaps because I had planted a time bomb and run away, I hadn't looked at a single newspaper yet. Besides, I had been too preoccupied with the thought of facing the Emperor to care.
But now that I had some unexpected free time and a bit of breathing room, I asked Lina to bring me the papers.
She gave me a peculiar look as she handed them over, but I chose to ignore it.
Oh, and I also asked for a copy of Volume 29 for Mari and Adelia. Since I had left for the palace just before the official release, they hadn't had a chance to read it yet.
"Isaac."
"Yeah?"
"Just what goes on inside that head of yours to make you write such a horrific story?"
It didn't take long for Mari to glare at me with eyes that said, Are you even human? Though, in another sense, her gaze held a hint of awe.
As I blinked at her, I glanced behind her. Adelia was there too, looking hesitant, her eyes reflecting the same sentiment as Mari’s.
It seemed they had finished the ending of Volume 29 while I was busy with the newspapers. I quietly folded the paper and looked them straight in the eye.
"Did it leave an impression?"
"Impression? It was beyond cruel! Don't you agree, Adelia?"
"It was... certainly cruel. Enough to leave a deep scar on the readers' hearts."
"Hmm."
I scratched my chin at their unique reactions. Unlike most people, these two enjoyed Xenon’s Biography purely as a work of literature.
They didn't view it as a book of prophecies or a record of future events like some others did.
Because they focused solely on the story itself, they reacted this way. Even for them, this development must have been quite a shock.
"But it fits Jin's character, doesn't it? I know some parts might be hard to swallow, but I'll explain everything in Volume 30."
"Are you saying it could get even more cruel?"
Mari asked urgently, her voice laced with disbelief. Her expression screamed that the current volume was already more than enough and wondered how much more ruthless I could get.
I pondered the plot of Volume 30. In a way, she was right.
Volume 30 would explain why Jin hunted and devoured the Demon Worshippers like a beast, and the reasons behind his descent into madness.
Furthermore, as Jin's soul merged with Diabolus's, the two would neutralize each other, leading to a significant improvement in Lily's health.
As a result, Lily would regain consciousness, but the moment she opened her eyes, she would instinctively realize that Jin's soul was in grave danger.
I can just say a god told her.
Meanwhile, the battle between Xenon and Jin—who had consumed Diabolus's soul—would continue.
However, Xenon would be stuck on the defensive, unable to bring himself to point his sword at Jin, causing the fight to drag on.
It would be a desperate struggle: Xenon screaming for Jin to snap out of it, and Jin repeating that he would protect the brightest light.
That alone would likely fill an entire volume. I needed to describe Jin's journey, and the battle scene itself would be quite long.
"What are you thinking about? Are you plotting the plot for Volume 30?"
Had I been lost in thought for too long? Mari leaned in close, prodding me for an answer.
I was momentarily dazed by her stunning beauty, but I soon let out a small chuckle and shifted my face slightly.
Peck.
I gave her a light kiss, causing Mari’s large eyes to blink in surprise. Her cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.
I chuckled at her cute reaction and answered softly. No matter how much I loved her, I couldn't reveal the final ending.
"How would you like it to end, Mari?"
"...You're really mean. Do you think I'll just let this go because of that?"
Mari huffed and crossed her arms, turning her head away peevishly.
However, the faint blush on her face and the slight twitch of her lips made it easy to tell how she really felt.
Behind her, Adelia watched with a slightly envious gaze. I let out a soft laugh before speaking quietly.
"Don't worry, I expected the ending to have an impact. Though I'll admit, the reaction is a bit more intense than I anticipated."
"Intense? Some people are calling you a literal devil!"
Just as Mari said, the newspapers were full of such talk. They claimed that only a devil could carve such a deep wound into human hearts.
Of course, that was mostly metaphorical; hardly anyone seriously believed I was a devil.
Luminous and Mora had practically certified me as a Saint(?), and I currently had Cardinal Kate guarding me.
It was just a testament to how brutal the ending was.
"It just means the story left a deep impression on them. Besides, there have been other tragedies in the book."
"That's true, but... most of those were side characters. Jin and Lily have been the protagonists since Volume 1. They're in a completely different league."
"Do you think so too, Adelia?"
"Yes. And... I've always been partial to the Jin-Lily pairing..."
Adelia answered in a dejected voice. I noticed she was clutching Volume 29 tightly to her chest.
Despite the difference in gender, Adelia felt a strange sense of kinship with Jin due to his miserable past.
I’d heard that she wanted a man like Jin—someone who, like Lily, was warm and possessed a heart that could embrace everything about her. In fact, she used to be terrified of the fact that she was an illegitimate child.
That was likely why this development hit her so hard. I could certainly understand.
"The next volume will have the full story, right? About how Jin ended up like this."
Adelia glanced at me tentatively and asked very cautiously. Her characteristically husky voice reached my ears.
It seemed she was clinging to a shred of hope. I replied nonchalantly.
"Yeah. I'm going to describe Jin's feelings in great detail."
"I see. Actually, I can understand the direction of the plot. I’d gladly sacrifice myself for the person I love, too. It’s just that the method was a bit... shocking."
Seeing her sky-blue eyes trembling slightly, it was clear she had suffered some serious emotional trauma. I wondered if it was really that bad.
As I’ve mentioned before, the books in this world were usually so dense they felt like philosophy textbooks or CSAT English passages.
Even setting that aside, it was strangely difficult to find books that dealt with 'tragedy.'
The few tragedies that did exist were mostly found in explorers' memoirs—things like losing a comrade due to a mistake.
The same goes for their mythology.
On Earth, myths—especially Greco-Roman mythology—are full of various tragedies. The most famous, of course, is the epic of Oedipus.
In this world, however, there were almost no works that focused on tragedy, aside from actual heartbreaking history.
Given the era, literature should have been reaching its peak, but for some reason, its development was strangely sluggish.
Or maybe my story is just too dark for them.
On Earth, this would be the kind of story where people would just say, "That's sad," and move on. People there had long since built up a strong resistance to such tales.
If they read the kind of soul-crushing works famous for making the author look like a sadist, they’d probably cough up blood.
Actually, no. They might just become total wrecks. Some endings are so haunting they’re talked about for years; this might be one of those.
Even without that, they’d probably lose their minds if they encountered the sheer volume of tragedies common on Earth.
In fact, this was just the tip of the iceberg. The World War II arc I planned to write later would be utterly devoid of hope. How can there be hope when everyone around you is dying?
"So, how would you like the story to continue?"
With those thoughts in mind, I asked Mari and Adelia. I asked, but I had no intention of changing the plot.
I was merely seeking their opinions; Jin's death was already set in stone.
If his soul were untainted, I could have him reincarnated like Kair, but there was no such opening for Jin.
Furthermore, I had already prepared a side story as a sort of insurance policy. If the backlash became truly unbearable, I planned to write it in a hurry.
"If it ends well, we’d feel better as readers. But the critics say Jin’s character can only be completed through his death..."
"Is there really no way? You could at least leave a glimmer of hope."
Unlike Mari, who seemed half-resigned, Adelia jumped at the bait. Since she had projected her own life onto Jin's character, she seemed quite desperate.
I thought about the plot again. A glimmer of hope... I would leave one.
However, it would be far from what Adelia was expecting. I shrugged and played it off with a joke.
Even saying I’d leave a "glimmer" would be a major spoiler, so it was best to play dumb.
"You'll have to see in the next volume. Actually, I'm planning to send Volume 30 to the publisher soon."
"Really? Already?"
"Yeah. If I keep people in suspense for too long, they'll just get anxious. It's better to give them closure quickly."
Did my answer sound positive to her? Adelia’s gloomy expression brightened instantly.
She seemed to be spinning a happy ending in her head. I felt a bit sorry for her, but it wouldn't be a purely happy ending.
First, Jin would regain his senses for a moment and recognize Xenon. However, by merging with Diabolus's soul, his body would be in a state where he could die at any moment.
Moreover, unlike Diabolus, who was practically a god, Jin was just an exceptionally powerful Demon—a Demon who happened to carry a thick strain of devil's blood.
Therefore, unless he was completely obliterated, Diabolus would eventually resurrect and ravage the world again. Jin had to die to ensure Diabolus's perfect destruction.
How should I describe him becoming god-like? Maybe thunder and lightning would be best?
Thunder and lightning have long been depicted as the power of the gods. In this world, too, lightning was seen as a form of divine punishment.
So, when Jin regained his senses, the sky would be filled with dark clouds, and lightning would strike continuously.
However, he wouldn't be able to control it. It would be a fitting way to depict the incomplete power of a god.
And at the very end, when a sword is thrust through his heart and he's stumbling along...
He would encounter Lily, who had followed his trail.
And the moment they held hands, he would turn to dust and scatter into the air.
Mm. Perfect.
I nodded, wearing a satisfied smile at what I considered an excellent plot development. Seeing that, Adelia...
"Is there anything you want to eat? There's a kitchen in the guest suite, and we have chefs on hand."
"I'll have some cookies, then."
She hurried off to prepare some snacks, buoyed by her own hopeful delusions.
I watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning my gaze elsewhere.
My eyes met Mari’s, who was still watching me with a cryptic look.
"Isaac."
"Yeah?"
"You're lying, aren't you?"
"I haven't told a single lie."
I had intentionally chosen words that were hard to decipher, knowing this would happen. Even Mari, with her innate ability to read people, wouldn't be able to grasp my true intentions.
Still, she seemed to suspect something as she sighed and shook her head.
"Honestly... you're a real devil."
"It's better than everyone dying."
"That would just be trash. Being a devil is better than being a hack writer."
Fair enough.