Chapter 425: A Funeral, Not a Festival(1)
Chapter 425: A Funeral, Not a Festival(1)
I'm posting the Leona illustration! I think you all know what's going on, haha.
*
While Isaac stood dazed, watching a funeral instead of a festival, two beautiful women faced each other in the guest room.
Lina, the Imperial Princess of the Minerva Empire, and Cecile, the Princess of Helium. Both were renowned beauties and individuals close to Isaac.
"Is that so? Then what happened?"
"Well, what happened was..."
To an outsider, the two beauties appeared to be having a friendly, harmonious conversation. However, a closer look would reveal that wasn't quite the case.
Though they shared a strong connection through Isaac, the relationship between the two was incredibly delicate.
Had it not been for Isaac—and more specifically, had Lina not been destined for a political marriage with him—they might have been ordinary friends.
Even if they had attended the Academy together and Lina had helped Cecile adjust to human society, diplomacy demanded strict boundaries.
Furthermore, Helium had only recently entered the international stage, yet it was already being evaluated as having potential rivaling that of Albenheim.
Both Lina and Cecile were well aware of this, which naturally cast a strange, heavy atmosphere over the room.
To Cecile, Lina was a precious friend—the first person to speak to her at the Academy—but as time passed, she realized the princess was a formidable woman.
Lina felt the same. If international affairs were stable, it might be different, but the current situation was rapidly shifting.
Of course, neither intended to do anything that would cause the other harm. That was a sentiment they both shared.
However, even if they didn't cause harm, they had to ensure they didn't suffer a loss. If they could gain an advantage in the process, all the better.
"So, how did Helium react? You know, when the truth about the origin of demons being human spread."
Lina asked as she quietly set down her teacup. The slight curl of her lips and her sharp, cat-like eyes were particularly striking.
In response, Cecile gave a soft smile and shifted her gaze to her tea. It was coffee, boasting an exquisite balance of sweetness and bitterness, brought directly from Helium.
Maintaining her smile, she looked up to meet Lina’s eyes directly.
"It was absolute chaos. As you know, we all believed demons were invaders from an entirely different dimension. My people, the Demon Clan, were the direct victims, so our very ideology was nearly shaken to its core."
Cecile shook her head as if the memory still haunted her, causing her ample chest to sway slightly.
Lina almost let her gaze wander toward Cecile's chest but managed to restrain herself. While she wasn't lacking by any means, she felt she fell short compared to Cecile.
Meanwhile, Cecile recalled the time when Volume 29 of Xenon Biography was released. In it, Xenon tracked Jin and uncovered the origin of demons piece by piece.
The unbelievable truth—that the origin of demons was human—had sent shockwaves not just through Helium, but through the entire Demon Clan.
The Demon Clan had been transformed into their current state by the demons' influence; in exchange for immense power, they were burdened with a ticking time bomb that could detonate at any moment.
Not only that, but they had endured endless discrimination following the Demon War. They had believed all of this was due to a curse laid upon them by the demons.
But when Xenon Biography revealed that the demons were originally human, it brought about immense confusion.
"Fortunately, we were able to settle things. The fact that the demons were the perpetrators and our clan was cursed remains unchanged. If anything, things improved because it became clearer that we are also humans—that is to say, 'people.'"
"I suppose that's true."
The truth revealed this time acted as a stake driven into the heart of the Demon Clan's identity. Until now, they had firmly believed their origins were human.
Xenon Biography hadn't changed the Demon Clan's perception; rather, it confirmed that their origin wasn't demonic. This was a sentiment accepted not only by other races but by the Demon Clan themselves.
The noble conviction of living as humans despite the ticking time bomb in their hearts.
With such a truth coming to light while they held onto that conviction, it was as if a long-held wish had finally been granted in the truest sense.
It was only natural that Cecile's love and respect for Isaac deepened. Now, they could live proudly as people without having to worry about anyone else's opinion.
"But it hasn't been confirmed if that's actually the truth yet. Isn't Helium forming a separate investigation team?"
"We were going to. But three days ago, the Savior sent a delegation. They even brought a Cardinal and three Archbishops with them."
"...They sent that many people in a delegation? From the home country?"
"Yes."
Lina’s eyes widened at the composition of the delegation the Savior had sent to Helium.
It was only natural to be surprised; in terms of the Minerva Empire, it was the equivalent of sending Duke Rekilis and several ministers.
Furthermore, just as the Savior held the Church of Luminous as its state religion, Helium held Mora as its own. Both nations were deeply rooted in religion.
In other words, a delegation carried far more weight for them than for other countries. Helium must have been incredibly startled.
"...Wasn't it dangerous? I expect the relationship between the Savior and Helium is quite poor."
"Your guess is right. One of our nobles openly asked why the descendants of those who slaughtered our ancestors had bothered to visit."
"..."
Lina gave a bitter smile at those words. Making such a reckless statement to a delegation was a clear sign that they had no intention of being friendly.
It was understandable. In the past, the Savior had branded the Demon Clan as demons and carried out massacres. It was a slaughter committed blindly, fueled by fanaticism.
Fortunately, it was barely stopped thanks to Luminous's mediation, but the Demon Clan still carried that pain.
Since their lifespans were nearly as long as those of elves, such massacres felt as recent as something that might have happened in one's grandfather's generation in human terms.
"Luckily, my father mediated immediately, so nothing serious happened. The Savior's side was also in the process of atoning for what they did in the past."
"Then, can you tell me what was discussed?"
"It's similar to your situation. They asked to be given command of the exploration."
Similar to your situation. This meant she was aware that a similar proposal had been made to Minerva.
Normally, this would be a secret that would make one flinch, but Lina simply nodded as if it were nothing.
As Cecile said, it was true that a delegation from the Savior had visited the Empire, and the delegation had spoken in advance.
In other words, Cecile also knew what the Savior truly wanted.
The conquest of the Grey Desert—the demonic zone where the truth lay buried. They wanted to explore it together.
"Did you give permission?"
"We had no choice. Helium has had almost zero international cooperation like this. Even if we can't hold the command, it will be a great help."
"I imagine there was a lot of backlash?"
"Of course there was. We don't fully trust the Savior either, so we sent a few people along for reconnaissance purposes."
"...Is it okay to tell me that?"
Lina felt a bit awkward at how easily Cecile revealed classified information.
Anyone with a working brain knows how important information is, especially regarding an unknown territory where little has been revealed.
The fact that they sent scouts was a significant piece of intelligence, yet Cecile had stated it openly.
"Well, why not? Honestly, we in Helium don't care about anything else; that truth is what's most important. Above all, it was written in Isaac's Xenon Biography, wasn't it? There's no way we couldn't believe it."
Cecile displayed a level of trust in Isaac that went beyond mere reliance and bordered on fanaticism.
It was a reaction similar to that of a zealot, believing his words were the truth and everything.
Lina watched this in real-time with a dazed expression before quickly composing herself.
She already knew that Cecile's feelings for Isaac were far from ordinary.
"In my heart, I wanted to run to Isaac the moment that truth appeared in the book. But I realized it was a pointless gesture. These are his words—could they possibly be a lie? Of course not."
"Uh... right. I suppose."
It felt like her obsession had worsened today, but perhaps it was just an illusion. It seemed her fixation had grown stronger in the time they hadn't seen each other.
Lina picked up her teacup as she watched Cecile hug herself happily.
It was an action to maintain her composure, as she felt a strange twisting sensation in her heart for some reason.
Well, I suppose it's only natural.
She organized the information in her head until Cecile snapped out of it.
Judging by the circumstances, it wasn't just Cecile; the entire Demon Clan likely felt the same. If the truth were revealed this time, the Demon Clan could be officially included in 'humanity.'
Under the pretext of being cursed by demons, those often called 'old-fashioned' had refused to officially categorize them as humans.
This was especially true for the elves—specifically, the old generation elves. Queen Arwen would likely handle that matter.
Currently, Helium looks strong, but they have many shortcomings. This will be especially apparent in terms of academics.
Helium was evaluated as a sleeping lion, but it would be more accurate to compare them to a young cub.
They had been semi-forcibly isolated for over a thousand years; while their culture might be fine, they would be significantly behind in terms of academic study.
They would likely have their greatest weakness in 'mathematics.' This was something Lina had discovered while taking classes with Cecile at the Academy.
Cecile excelled at everything else, but she uniquely struggled with math. If even a princess of the nation was like this, one could only imagine the state of the common people.
Of course, that was only in the beginning; now, she had improved by leaps and bounds and held the top rank. To reiterate, it was simply a lack of prior knowledge; she was by no means unintelligent.
Knowledge isn't something that appears out of thin air; it is the result of accumulated information merging to create new insights.
Helium was weak in that area and needed more in-depth academic resources.
It would be difficult for a scholar from the Demon Clan to go to Yggdrasil, but...
Yggdrasil was the holy land of knowledge, where scholars from all over the world gathered to exchange opinions and critiques.
In particular, Albenheim was the cradle of all civilization, and its academic development was immense. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say all foundations came from Albenheim.
The basics of all studies originated from Albenheim, and humans had used their unique adaptability to make those foundations solid.
Our Empire can provide the framework.
In exchange for building a solid framework, they would receive various forms of support from Helium. First and foremost would be agricultural methods and the systematization of alchemical knowledge mentioned by Isaac.
Helium's agricultural methods were exceptionally well-developed. Take the crop called 'soybeans,' for example; despite their harsh environment, their population was steadily increasing.
It was a stark contrast to Albenheim, where crops grew well even if you just tossed seeds on the ground. That place was an exception because the land itself was a cheat code.
"Speaking of which, Cecile. Helium's agricultural methods are quite well-developed, aren't they?"
"Huh? Agricultural methods?"
"Yes. Farming. I don't know if you've heard, but the Empire has suffered a severe famine recently. Yet Helium has managed to steadily increase its population despite being settled in such a barren environment. Can you tell me the secret?"
At that question, Cecile blinked her red eyes and spoke with blunt honesty.
"There isn't really a secret. We just drop lightning magic from the sky when it rains."
"...What?"
"Do you know the spell called Lightning Storm? It's a bit of a difficult spell, but if you use it whenever it rains, the crops grow well on their own. However, the output has to be extremely high, so it would be difficult for anyone who isn't from the Demon Clan."
"..."
Lina couldn't hide her absurdity upon hearing the answer. Come to think of it, the Demon Clan was a race just as proficient in magic as the elves. Magic really was a cheat.
Anyway, to think they had to use magic with an output comparable to actual lightning. She sighed at the hopeless answer.
Of course, it wasn't impossible if they gathered enough manpower. There were many brilliant mages in the Empire.
But it would be better to drop lightning through sorcery like the Animus. It was a highly inefficient endeavor for humans.
...In the end, humans have no choice but technological advancement.
Forget magic. It would be better to go all-in on science and engineering, like the world Isaac lived in.
To do that, they needed cooperation with Machina, not Helium.
Until then, I'll just have to get help from Helium to drop some lightning or something.
Lina felt momentarily depressed by the racial differences she hadn't felt in a long time, but she quickly snapped out of it.
It was unfortunate, but reality was reality. Humans had to move forward in their own way.
"I see. I'll have to find another way. Oh, by the way, I heard you also plant something called soybeans? I heard they're good for the soil."
"Yes. There's a limit to dropping lightning, so we tend to plant soybeans as well. But how did you know soybeans are good for the soil?"
Cecile couldn't hide her curiosity. Soybeans were a special crop that only grew in Helium, and they weren't currently well-known.
In the first place, when people interacted with Helium, they focused only on magic and didn't pay attention to farming like Lina did.
Yet, for her to know this meant she had either investigated separately or...
"Isaac told me. He said soybeans leave certain nutrients in the ground that can slow down the depletion of the soil's fertility."
"As expected..."
At the expected answer, Cecile nodded with a smile.
It was nonsense to claim he wasn't a prophet. He had stayed in Helium for a few days, but there had been almost no exchange of knowledge.
On the other hand, Lina mistakenly thought Isaac knew because he had stayed in Helium for a few days. It was a completely different issue from him coming from another world.
As their mutual misunderstandings deepened, Cecile maintained her swirling smile before speaking softly.
"Lina."
"Go ahead."
"Do you really think Isaac is a prophet?"
It was a question that might have felt a bit out of left field. Lina took a sip of tea to organize her thoughts.
There was surely a reason Cecile was asking such a question. It likely included her personal feelings of love.
Eventually, Lina set down her teacup and looked Cecile straight in the eye. Cecile still wore her characteristic, sultry smile.
The two beauties stared at each other for a long time. In the strange atmosphere, Lina was the first to speak.
"No. I don't think so."
"Then..."
"Instead, I think of him as a higher-dimensional being."
Cecile looked puzzled at Lina's subsequent answer.
A higher-dimensional being. That meant...
"Do you think Isaac is an angel in disguise?"
"It's not that. I don't know how to express it, but it's certain he's a higher-dimensional being."
Because he was a being from a world where civilization was several stages more advanced than this one. A person from a world where science replaced magic—a world that was currently absolutely unimaginable.
She swallowed the rest of her words, but to Lina, Isaac truly was such a being. Xenon Biography was one thing, but the man himself was extraordinary.
He insisted he was just an ordinary person, but the very fact that he came from such a world made him anything but ordinary.
Of course, if Isaac had been a nobody, a mere commoner with no reputation, most people would have ignored him. But now, he held global status.
His knowledge would undoubtedly have a significant impact on the world, both large and small. Lina curled her lips into a smile, rested her chin on her hands, and spoke secretly.
"That's why I don't want to give up. I want to stay by his side and see what kind of knowledge he possesses and what kind of solutions he has."
"...Don't tell me you've started to truly love Isaac too?"
"It's not quite like that yet. I'm just interested in the person himself. Still, after we have our political marriage and live together, I'll probably develop romantic feelings. He's handsome enough, and seeing how he handles you all, he... he's probably good in bed, too. Right?"
Lina stammered at the last part, seemingly embarrassed to say it herself. Her face turned slightly red, as if she were ashamed of what she'd just said.
But it didn't mean much to Cecile. Staying by his side meant the days she could spend alone with Isaac would decrease.
For some reason, it felt like a powerful new rival had appeared. She wondered if Mari knew about this.
"Does Mari know?"
"She probably doesn't yet. Just know that what I want is Isaac's knowledge. Got it?"
"I wonder..."
Cecile muttered as if she didn't quite believe it, then stared intently at Lina. She then let out a chuckle and spoke as if it were absurd.
"I'm not sure if you'll be able to do that. You still don't know what kind of man Isaac is."
"I know he's a womanizer."
"Then why are women drawn to him? Think about it carefully."
"Because he's handsome, has a good body, and he's Xenon?"
"Those are secondary factors. His true charm is..."
"Fine. Don't say it. We'll be here all day if you start talking about that."
Lina waved her hand and stopped her immediately. Indeed, if she had to listen to Cecile's praise of Isaac, time would fly by.
Besides, she had said that, but in truth, she also harbored a slight romantic interest in Isaac.
How should she put it... a feeling of her heart fluttering just by being near him? Her secrets had been discovered, and her mask completely stripped away whenever she was in front of him.
She could reveal her true self without being bound by politics. This was his greatest strength and his charm.
Mari must have been the first to approach him because of this.
Lina gave a bitter smile. A fate where she had no choice but to wear a mask because she was born an Imperial Princess.
She had lost her closest friend because of that fate, but thanks to Isaac, that relationship had been restored.
There had been an unpleasant incident in between, but fortunately, it was resolved well. In many ways, he was a man who could be called a blessing for both her and the Empire.
Is it okay... to be a little greedy?
It might be difficult because of the sins she had committed, but couldn't she stay with him under the pretext of gaining knowledge?
That way, not only Mari but also Cecile would be at ease. Lina quietly sipped her tea, hiding her expression as much as possible.
Knock, knock, knock—
[Hey, guys. I heard you were here. It's me, Mari.]
In the brief silence, a familiar voice reached their ears.
They didn't know when she had arrived, but it seemed Mari, who was treated as the main wife, had come.
Lina and Cecile looked at each other before turning their gaze toward the door. It was Lina who gave the permission.
"Come in."
[Then I'm coming in.]
Click—
When the door opened, Mari, wearing a simple white dress, came into view.
"Oh? And she is..."
"A-Ah, hello? Hehe."
Leona was with her as well. It seemed she had coincidentally run into Mari while moving in.
Despite the chance meeting, Mari shouted at them before they even had a chance to exchange greetings.
"Anyway, have you seen the situation outside? It looks like they're about to do something fun!"
"Something fun?"
"Yeah. Something fun."
"What is it?"
At Lina's question, Mari thought for a moment before shrugging and giving an ambiguous answer.
"A festival that's like a funeral, I guess?"
"...Ah."
"Pfft."
Lina let out an exclamation as she realized something, while Cecile burst into laughter.
Unlike Isaac, they could roughly grasp what was happening.
"By the way, where did Isaac go?"
Where else would he have gone?
"As of this moment, we shall hold a funeral for Jin. First..."
"..."
He was watching the funeral-like festival in real-time.
If I go back to the mansion now, I'm screwed.
The timing was truly terrible.
