Chapter 427: Failure(1)
Chapter 427: Failure(1)
"Phew..."
I let out a long, heavy sigh. I was currently inside the Temple of Mora.
After running and running from a completely unexpected situation, this was where I had ended up.
Of all places, I had fled to a temple. My conscience pricked me so much that I felt incredibly sorry to Mora, but I had no other choice.
If I went back to the mansion, my mother would be waiting for me, and wandering around elsewhere would only add to the chaos.
In the end, the temple was my only option, and the Temple of Mora happened to be the closest.
[He went into the Temple of Mora!]
[What do we do? We can't be disrespectful to Lady Mora.]
[Nothing we can do. Let's wait until he comes out.]
I could hear people's voices from outside. This was exactly why I had hidden in the temple.
No matter how reckless someone might be, they always had to maintain their manners in a temple. One wrong move, and you could be scolded by a god or struck by divine punishment.
In truth, my frantic entrance was disrespectful enough in its own right, but there was no reaction, as if such a small thing was acceptable.
The only issue was the stares from the believers active in the temple. Fortunately, they were generous enough to let it slide with a gentle smile.
'...I'll visit often later.'
I offered a silent apology to Mora. Even though she held me in high regard, I had still been disrespectful as a human being, so an apology was necessary.
As if in response, the candles illuminating the dim temple flickered ever so slightly.
Since they swayed despite the lack of a breeze, it was clearly Mora's answer. Seeing as they didn't go out completely, it seemed she had graciously forgiven me.
[Everyone, back away! This is an insult to Xenon!]
[If you keep this up, Xenon will be angry! Please, just be quiet for a moment!]
I could hear Adelia shouting outside. Perhaps because of her naturally husky voice, her tone sounded quite sharp.
However, even though she was holding the line like a lone warrior, these people wouldn't back down unless I stepped forward myself.
Setting the ending aside, the mere fact that they had seen me 'in the flesh' would make it impossible for them to hide their excitement.
The news that I had been staying indoors due to the attack by demon worshippers had long since spread far and wide. And in such a situation, I had suddenly appeared?
To a man, they were all in a state of "Ah, I can't miss this," and were bound to come rushing in.
'At least it's a relief they can't touch me directly.'
It was the same during the chase earlier. People only chased after me; they didn't actually try to grab me.
Among the mourners(?) who had entered our territory, there were not only skilled humans but also members of different races.
No matter how strong Adelia was for her age, it was impossible for her to block that many people alone.
Furthermore, as my mother had threatened earlier, she had declared that anyone who harmed me would be banished from the territory.
Because of this, even though people followed closely behind me, they couldn't catch me, and now that I had fled into the temple, they were waiting outside.
If I had realized this a bit sooner, I would have fled to the mansion. But it was already too late.
'Should I wait until Cecile or Lina hears about this?'
This was the height of being a nuisance. Above all, even if I returned with someone's help, I'd just be back at square one.
First, I needed to calm the people out there. I had to turn this from a funeral into a sort of fan meeting.
There was no need to worry about the threat of demon worshippers either, as Luminous and Mora were personally watching over our territory.
They were probably eating popcorn right now, enjoying the show.
Whoosh—
See? The flickering candles proved it. I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
Anyway, according to the pilgrims who visited our territory, the divine power here was several times more concentrated than usual.
In other words, this land was saturated with divine power. A demon worshipper's strength would drop significantly just by stepping foot here.
'Still...'
I couldn't hide the corners of my mouth turning up as I laughed silently. I hadn't had the luxury to think about it in the heat of the moment, but this situation reminded me once again of my standing.
It was a reaction similar to, yet different from, when I first revealed my identity. Back then, the reaction came from being mistaken for a prophet or a regressor rather than an author, but today felt different.
As an author, seeing these adorable readers protesting to change the ending... even if their methods were a bit extreme, it was touching.
To think they were so deeply immersed in my work that they would even hold an event like this. The only flaw was that the mastermind was none other than my mother.
'Was it like this for Conan Doyle?'
The incident that birthed the legendary quote: "Then why did you kill Holmes?" Compared to that, this was cute.
Back then, people threw stones every day until not a single window in his house was left intact, and they even held actual funerals like the people outside.
To top it off, it's said he was once beaten with a parasol by an elderly couple while walking down the street. They called him a wicked man for killing Holmes.
Beyond that, subscriptions to the publisher plummeted, and his other books were completely overshadowed.
Amidst all those incidents, his own mother delivered the final blow, eventually forcing him to resume the series.
'Wait. If this continues, will my future books be overshadowed too?'
World War II? Screw that. Our priority is saving Jin. There was a real possibility of this happening.
Didn't Conan Doyle face a similar situation? For some reason, the memories were coming back vividly.
For over ten years until he resumed the series, he released other books, but everyone just clamored for him to bring Holmes back to life.
If you eat something spicy, you need to drink water or milk to feel better; to solve this, there was no answer but Jin's resurrection.
Moreover, the upcoming World War II arc would be even more "spicy" than Jin's death, certainly not sweet.
"Sigh..."
I sighed in frustration. Fortunately, having the precedent of Holmes meant I could avoid a long, drawn-out battle.
Furthermore, unlike my previous life, my face and the address of my mansion were well known here. Considering the impact of the Xenon Biography, it wasn't that far-fetched.
It would be better to just bring Jin back quickly and tone down the bitterness. I'd make it part of the official story, not just a side story.
'If the fans want it that much, I should gladly oblige.'
However, I intended to give them a stern lecture. While this event brought me joy and touched me as an author, I also had to be strict.
When fans cause trouble through immature behavior, they aren't the only ones who get criticized. I planned to make that point very clear.
Quickly organizing my thoughts, I pondered over the side story—the true epilogue. Then, a good setting came to mind, and I jumped to my feet.
"Excuse me, Priest. May I use a private chapel?"
"Of course."
After receiving permission from the priest working in the temple, I headed straight for the chapel. I had something specific to ask.
[So... you're asking if tearing off a part of a soul reduces one's lifespan? Naturally. You're removing something that was originally there.]
'Are there any side effects?'
[It's not without them. One's power might weaken, or as I just said, the lifespan could be drastically shortened. Since you're reducing the size of the soul, various side effects appear.]
'Then, how big of a role do memories play in composing a soul?'
It didn't matter if the lifespan dropped to a human level. As long as the memories could be kept intact.
In fact, it would be a proper happy ending if Jin and Lily could live happily together and grow old together.
[Memories form the largest pillar of what composes a soul. Think about why people don't remember their past lives. Memories are identity and the driving force.]
'What about me? Even if it was an accident, I kept my memories.'
[That's because you died so young... Your original lifespan in your past life was supposed to be 97.]
"..."
I had no will to live back then, so why was I destined to live so long?
When I fell silent for a moment, Mora seemed to contemplate for a bit before letting out the hidden truths one by one.
[Besides that, the partner you were destined to meet, that partner's family and friends, and so on. The fates and lifespans of countless people were tangled into a mess. It's no wonder the gods of Earth were so furious.]
'I... see.'
Wasn't this side the one most tangled? A soul that crossed over by accident had completely upended the world.
But that wasn't the important part, so I decided to move on. What I needed to find out was whether I could maintain Jin's memories.
'Anyway, is it possible to just... pluck out Jin's memories and keep them?'
[It's possible. Just like using a sieve to filter out impurities, you just need to create a path that only memories can pass through and filter them. It's much easier than separating them from a Great Demon's soul.]
'And the side effects of that?'
[Losing most of his power is a given, and his lifespan will be shortened, so he won't live very long. Maybe 200 years at most?]
I should have asked sooner. I felt like sighing at the thought that I had taken the long way around for nothing.
Still, I couldn't blame Luminous or Mora; they only answered the questions I asked.
They gave advice occasionally, but that was a rare exception. Furthermore, wasn't Jin a fictional character?
Since it was an uncertain future, it would have been awkward for them to answer, so it couldn't be helped.
'...Thank you. I feel much better now.'
[Don't mention it. We enjoyed the show, so it's all good.]
'I knew you were watching.'
[Tee-hee.]
Mora laughed playfully like a mischievous young girl. It seemed she found this situation quite entertaining.
It probably wasn't just Mora; the other gods were likely the same. I let out a deep sigh, feeling like I had gone in circles.
'Surely they didn't withhold the information on purpose...'
[...]
'Lady Mora?'
[Did you say something?]
'Um... no.'
Surely not. I comforted myself with that thought and cut off the communion with Mora.
[Giggle.]
I thought I heard Mora laugh playfully right before the connection broke, but I decided to ignore it. Since all the solutions were found, all that was left was to stand before the people.
I stood up and walked out of the chapel. As soon as I stepped out, I ran into an unexpected person.
"Cecile?"
"Ah. So you were here."
Cecile, who should have been at the mansion, had entered the temple. It seemed she had come here after hearing the commotion outside.
It was perfectly fine for her to enter the temple, as she was a devout believer of Mora and was publicly associated with me.
Of course, unlike Mari or Arwen, it hadn't been officially announced, but rumors were already circulating through the grapevine.
In other words, Cecile's actions only added credibility to the rumors, but there was no need to worry about that now.
"Did you just finish talking to Lady Mora?"
"Yeah. I had something to think about. How's the situation outside?"
"People are still gathered. It looks like they're planning to wait until you come out."
"Then could you go out and tell them I'll be out soon? I need a moment to organize my thoughts."
Cecile nodded at my request and immediately headed out of the temple. I watched her retreating back before patting my chest.
Excluding the time I revealed my identity, I had rarely appeared before the public officially.
Especially in an unexpected situation like this. So, I felt a bit nervous.
'I'll say thank you, and also give them a stern scolding...'
I comforted myself and started walking. Unlike the interior of the temple, which was lit only by candles, the exit was incredibly bright.
As soon as I stepped into the bright light, what greeted my eyes was an uncountable crowd of people. Starting from the bottom of the stairs, a massive number of people were huddled together.
At the bottom of the temple stairs, the knights were blocking the way, having apparently heard the news. Those people were really suffering because of me.
"Th-there! It-it's Xenon! Xenon is out!"
"Really? Oh? It really is him."
As soon as I appeared, the crowd began to buzz instantly. I forced an awkward smile and looked down the stairs.
Behind the knights acting as a barricade, my acquaintances were standing in a row. Starting from Cecile, whom I had just met, to Mari, Lina, Adelia, and finally, my mother.
They were all very familiar faces, but among them, the one who stood out the most was undoubtedly Leona.
Unlike the others, Leona was mixed in with the crowd, but since she was at the very front, I could recognize her at once.
"Xenon! Do you have no intention of bringing Jin back to life?!"
"We don't care about historical accuracy! At least let him meet his child!"
"Even if it's just communicating through their souls, please, just let them meet...!"
As I showed myself, the people began to clamor. Even if I wanted to say something, it felt like it would all be drowned out by the noise.
This makes me look like some kind of cult leader. Some people were even shedding thick tears.
I scratched my head in embarrassment and waved my hands up and down, signaling them to calm down.
I had to calm them down somehow if I wanted to say anything.
"..."
"..."
"..."
It actually worked. As if they understood my gesture, the crowd fell silent in an instant.
Suppressing my surprise, I cleared my throat and opened my mouth.
"Hell—"
Wait. If I do this, the people in the back won't be able to hear me.
As soon as that thought occurred to me, I glanced at Cecile at the bottom of the stairs. Among the people here, Cecile was the only one proficient in magic.
Cecile seemed to understand the meaning of my gaze and simply snapped her fingers. Then, the energy around me seemed to ripple before settling down.
"Ah. Ah."
My voice began to sound loud, as if a microphone had been turned on. This was enough.
After bowing my head to Cecile in thanks, I looked at the crowd waiting for my words.
When I revealed my identity, there were only high-ranking individuals, but now, a massive crowd had gathered regardless of gender, age, race, or class.
Should I say it felt new? Even though they were people gathered for an event that wasn't quite an event, I felt a surge of emotion.
"Hello, everyone. I am Xenon, the author of the Xenon Biography. I didn't expect to meet you like this... but anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Whoooo!"
"It's Xenon! Xenon!"
When I bowed politely and greeted them, a loud cheer and applause erupted. It was an incredibly intense welcome.
Perhaps because of the commoner's mindset that had stayed with me from my past life until now, my face felt hot.
At some point, it had turned into a fan meeting rather than a funeral, but I still had to maintain my manners.
These were people who were immersed in my novel, which had zero productivity, and even poured their love into it; I had to provide a service that would satisfy them.
"I am well aware of why you have gathered here. It's... because of Jin's death, right? Am I wrong?"
"Yes!"
"Can you bring him back to life?!"
"If you let him meet Lily, I'll do anything you want!"
When I directly mentioned the fundamental cause of the event, excited people began to appear one by one.
I waved my hand down to signal them to calm down. Fortunately, they listened to me perfectly, and it soon became quiet.
"Now, now. I know very well that you love the Xenon Biography, especially the Jin-Lily couple. However, there's a part I don't quite understand. They are merely fictional characters, so is there a need to show such a reaction...?"
"Don't talk nonsense! Everyone knows the fact that you are a prophet!"
"The characters in a prophecy are as good as real people!"
"..."
So this is how the synergy works. I was left speechless by the people who firmly believed that Jin was a real person—specifically, a person of the future.
I couldn't grasp the thought process of the people in this world at all. I didn't actually commit a murder, so why are they acting like this?
'I suppose it's understandable, but...'
In terms of my past life, I would have been someone who predicted World War II. Starting from the Great Depression in America to the rise of Nazi Germany. And finally, the German-Soviet War.
If there were a book that predicted all of this, who wouldn't believe the author was a prophet? The author might deny it, but others wouldn't believe him.
When I thought of it that way, it made sense. It would be better to just give up cleanly.
No matter how much I denied being a prophet or a regressor, they would never believe me. Since I couldn't lie either, I was truly in a dilemma.
'Ah, whatever. Let it be.'
I smiled benevolently, having reached a state of nirvana. Prophecy or whatever, I just wanted to throw it all away, but I had to endure.
Instead, I had to say what needed to be said.
"Yes... fine. Since you believe so, I'll let it slide. It's not like you'd believe me even if I appealed to you now."
"So why did you kill Jin?"
It was a gentle and soft voice. However, that voice particularly dug into my ears and felt like it was striking my brain.
Because the person who asked that question was my mother. Seeing her ask such a question with a kind smile made me feel like my mental state was crumbling.
I forced myself to maintain my trembling smile. I almost burst into a laugh filled with futility.
"...The reason I killed Jin was, as critics have said, to increase the quality of the work. You all didn't deny that the character was completed, even if you mourned Jin's sorrow, did you?"
"Well... that's true."
"I've never wanted to hit critics as much as I did then."
"It's frustrating... but it's true."
Good. If it continues like this...
"Still, there's nothing worse than killing Jin."
"How could you do that when you're not even a demon?"
"He doesn't even know that Lily is pregnant with his child. If he had just known that before he left, he would have had at least a little hope..."
Not a chance! Stories making me out to be a piece of trash began to pop up one after another.
I laughed hollowly inside. The hope I had barely managed to grasp crumbled helplessly.
Did Conan Doyle endure this for over ten years? I was truly impressed by his strong mental fortitude.
It would be one thing if it were hate comments like on the internet in my past life, but these people had thrown anonymity aside and were putting their whole hearts into it.
I never imagined that sincerity could hurt more than hate comments. I suppressed the rising irritation as much as possible and continued.
"...Actually, I was moved by your support. It's true that the Xenon Biography is currently enjoying peak popularity, but I never thought you would personally hold an event like this."
As I said that, I gave my mother a slight glare. My mother, knowing full well what sin she had committed, avoided my gaze.
Following that, I let out a sigh filled with various meanings and maintained silence for a moment before looking around at the people again.
There were faces mixed with strange anticipation, and some were worried that I might say I wouldn't bring Jin back to life.
"...Yes. I will bring him back."
I nodded a few times and opened my mouth.
"As you wish, I will bring Jin back to life. I have just received advice from Lady Mora, so you don't have to worry."
"Yes!!"
"Thank you! Thank you!"
"He can finally be happy! I can see him being happy!!"
"Whoooo!!"
As soon as the words that I would resurrect Jin left my lips, the entire territory was filled with joy.
Some cheered, some cried, and some had refreshed smiles.
I still didn't understand if it was something to react to this much, but before that, I had something to tell them.
When I held out a hand as if to tell them to calm down, it became quiet in an instant, as if they had never cheered.
However, the smiles on people's faces showed no sign of disappearing. Well, as long as they were happy.
"I'm very grateful that you're happy... but I hope this kind of thing doesn't happen in the future if possible. Jin's resurrection is possible because I managed to find a breakthrough, but things that are truly impossible, like resurrecting him as an angel, are simply not possible. And fortunately, no accidents occurred, but please refrain from actions that cause harm to those around you. You aren't the only ones who get blamed for this. I hope you can show a slightly more mature fan culture."
I had seen news like this in the newspaper recently. That there was an adventurer who went on a rampage out of anger when the rumor—not just a rumor—that Jin would die spread.
Of course, those incidents were buried once the rumors were proven true, but I sincerely hoped nothing like that would happen again.
"If you ignore this warning... I have plans of my own. I will write an ending far worse than anything you could imagine."
"An even... worse ending?"
"Th-there's something worse than this?"
"How could he..."
The area in front of the temple fell into instant chaos at the mention of an ending worse than Jin's death. It wasn't just the crowd; even my acquaintances looked shocked.
I waited in silence until they calmed down. Once the crowd settled, I took a deep breath and spoke carefully.
It was a threat of sorts, but also a plea to prevent future incidents. If they were going to threaten me, I planned to "repay" them very politely with the final product.
"Lily getting hit by the Stake? That's nothing. I'll have the Stake ignite, killing everyone around her, including Mary."
"Uh..."
"Oh my god..."
People were already covering their mouths in horror or staring blankly in shock. But it was too early to be surprised.
"Then, Xenon barely manages to kill Jin and returns, only to find Mary dead and Lily still on a rampage. With his mind on the brink of collapse, he's forced to kill Lily... but her final words are about wanting to see Jin. In the end, they never reunite, and Xenon loses the woman he loves. Finally, having lost all hope, Xenon ends his own life."
"..."
"..."
"How about that? You don't want an ending like that, do you? So please, refrain from such behavior in the future."
There is always a rock bottom below rock bottom. No one dared to speak after I laid out a bad ending far more horrific than Jin's death.
Of course, I wouldn't actually write such an ending—more importantly, I couldn't. I wouldn't be able to handle it myself. I'd rather cut off my own hand than write an ending where the heroine is taken by another man. I experienced that once in the past, and the mental trauma was so severe I lived like a ghost for a while.
'Right. Now to wrap this up...'
Just as I was about to finish...
"I-I knew it... Author Xenon definitely came from the future..."
"Huh?"
What are they talking about?
"Th-there's no other way he could imagine such a nightmare! Just what kind of life did you lead before this?!"
"He lived such a tragic life that he actually thought Jin's death was a good ending..."
"Since he considers sacrifice to be a given... I suppose it's only natural..."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
"Isaac..."
"We need to make him happier."
"No wonder he's been unintentionally charming all those women... This was why."
"He has such deep scars that he needs many people to help him heal."
This is why I need a bastard like the United Kingdom around.