Chapter 433: This is Why Fantasy...(2)

Chapter 433: This is Why Fantasy...(2)

Since there seemed to be no sign of the misunderstanding being cleared up, I had no choice but to explain the country I used to live in: the Republic of Korea.

I told them of the tragedy where the entire nation was reset by the Japanese Occupation followed by the Korean War, and how it was further divided in half.

Fortunately, thanks to aid from the United States, the country managed to become somewhat self-reliant. Now, sixty years after the civil war, it has risen to the ranks of the great powers.

Though there is much debate, any country that ranks in the top ten out of over a hundred and twenty nations can certainly be called a powerhouse.

As for military strength, thanks to the unique situation of being a divided nation, we were able to increase it indiscriminately without facing any interference.

Even though being sandwiched between giants like China, Russia, and Japan is a drawback, objectively speaking, South Korea is more than qualified to be called a major power.

"I don't believe it."

"Such growth in just sixty years? At least make it sound plausible."

"Of course, it might be possible since the environment is different, but... after being ruled by another country?"

They didn't believe me. Even when I explained in more detail, they still looked skeptical.

At first, I was dumbfounded, but South Korea is indeed a very peculiar case. The poorest country in the world rising up to become a global power?

It really was the kind of story you'd only see in a novel—nothing short of a 'miracle.' There’s a reason it’s called the Miracle on the Han River.

Of course, even after that, North Korea provoked us from time to time, and a massive economic crisis like the IMF hit, but South Korea remained strangely resilient.

Perhaps because of that, I wanted to explain more. However, it felt like it would take too long, so I stopped.

More importantly, the family discussion had to end there because a distinguished guest had arrived.

"My beloved!"

"You're here?"

Arwen, the Queen of Albenheim and a small, cute elf, had visited our mansion. As always, she was wearing a silver-grey dress that accentuated her excellent lower half.

As soon as Arwen saw me, she came rushing toward me, oblivious to the fact that Keir was behind her. Her long ears flopped vigorously up and down as she ran.

When I spread my arms with a bright smile, Arwen tucked herself right into them.

Because she was so petite, she was practically hanging onto me.

"Nothing difficult has happened while I was away, right?"

"Nothing, except for your absence. But now that we have met, even that sorrow has vanished."

"Mmm..."

I gave an awkward smile at Arwen’s straightforward expression of affection and looked behind her.

Keir, who had followed as her aide, wore a somewhat gratified smile before bowing his head and disappearing.

It seemed he was making himself scarce so the two of us could have some quality time. I had to admit, the man was quick on the uptake.

And so, while Arwen and I were sharing a cozy moment in each other's arms, I gently pulled her away.

Silver-grey eyes sparkling like the Milky Way. Cheeks flushed red. And finally, those twitching ears.

Her appearance, like a living doll, naturally warmed my heart. I softly caressed her cheek.

"Let's go to my room for now. I have so much I want to talk about. Especially from my side."

"A-Already? B-But my beloved... it is still morning... O-Of course, I am always prepared!"

Just what on earth is she thinking? I couldn't help but be flabbergasted as Arwen's face turned as red as a sunset in an instant.

Elves are famous for their stoic nature, but since she's a mixed-blood, she seems to have a passionate side like a human.

However, contrary to her expectations, it wasn't that kind of business. There was already someone else in the bedroom besides Arwen.

"I'm sorry, but it's not that. It's a different topic."

"Ah... I see."

"Are you disappointed by any chance?"

"N-No! It is nothing like that!"

"I don't think so."

After teasing Arwen for the first time in a while, I headed to the bedroom with her. She poured out all sorts of excuses behind me, but I let them go in one ear and out the other.

Still, I could understand her heart a little; unlike the other women, Arwen had fewer opportunities.

Unlike Cecile, who was relatively free, Arwen was the Queen of Albenheim, so it couldn't be helped. Was it a relief that she was an elf?

Furthermore, even though she was a mixed-blood, her sex drive was relatively low, so she never clung to me. Just emotional interaction, like with Adelia, was enough.

And it's hard to do it anywhere else.

As everyone knows, elves consider sexual intercourse a kind of ritual. Perhaps because of that, they are quite conservative.

She told me not to do it unless we were in Albenheim, specifically in the Elodia residence. I remember how absurd that sounded when I first heard it.

Anyway, moving on, I arrived at the bedroom door while holding Arwen's hand.

Whether she was having strange thoughts again or not, Arwen's fair face was already as red as it could be.

Knock, knock, knock—

I knocked lightly on my bedroom door, waited a moment, and then opened it immediately.

If you're wondering why I knocked on my own room, the reason was simple.

"Ah. You're here?"

"......Huh?"

"The Queen is here as well."

Because Cecile was already waiting in my bedroom. Unlike Cecile, who welcomed us with a beaming smile, Arwen looked beyond bewildered—she looked downright panicked.

I kept telling her it wasn't like that; had she been secretly hoping for it? I led her, still in a daze, and sat her down in a chair.

On the table already prepared were delicious refreshments and even warm coffee.

"I'd like to talk just the two of us, but I think this conversation is going to be quite long. Is that okay?"

"I... I am fine with it, but why is Princess Cecile here?"

"I was wondering the same thing, Your Majesty. So, Isaac. Can you explain now?"

I had only told Cecile to wait in the bedroom without giving her a detailed explanation of the situation. That's why she asked such a question.

Hearing her question, I sat down in a chair as well. As soon as I sat, two pairs of eyes fixed on me.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The reason I called only these two was very simple. Unlike the others, Cecile and Arwen shared a similar misunderstanding.

They had roughly guessed that I was from another world, but they didn't realize it was a completely different world.

I planned to clarify that first.

"Mmm... first, there's something I want to ask you both."

When I spoke in a serious voice while clasping my hands, the two women gave me blank stares.

I observed their expressions closely before quietly opening my mouth.

"What... do you think my true identity is?"

"True ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠identity?"

"Your identity?"

"Yeah. I mean, where I came from, and what I was doing there before I came here. You have a rough idea, but you don't know the details, right?"

As if they finally understood my point, they both let out an "Ah" in unison.

Then they looked at each other before turning their gaze back to me.

"......Are you planning to tell us?"

"......Really?"

Those were the reactions of Arwen and Cecile, respectively. I nodded my head heavily at their questions.

"Yes. Now that the Xenon Chronicle is finished, the book I'm going to write next is deeply connected to it. So I thought it would be better to reveal it before any strange misunderstandings arise. Before that, I want to know what kind of person you've mistaken me for."

"..."

"..."

Whether they were shocked by my confession or not, neither said a word. They just kept their mouths shut and stared at me intently.

Cecile thought of me as a blessing sent by God, and Arwen was under the illusion that she was a character within the Xenon Chronicle.

I couldn't imagine how shocked they would be when I revealed the whole truth here.

I expected Cecile to be the most affected. The grace the demons received through the Xenon Chronicle was immeasurable.

But how horrified would she be if I revealed that the Xenon Chronicle was just an ordinary, old-fashioned novel in my world?

To be honest, I was a little scared. Mari and my family could move past it because they believed in me as a person, but Cecile and Arwen were completely different.

"To tell you in advance, I was a very ordinary person in my world. I was a writer just like I am now, but I wasn't famous like this. I was a commoner, not a noble, and I was far from being a fighter."

"..."

"..."

"If you're disappointed, I'm truly sorry. All I can do is apologize. But I'm confessing now because I felt like I was deceiving you by delaying it any longer."

I was much ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more nervous than when I revealed it to Mari and my family. Naturally, because to these two, 'Xenon' held more significance than 'Isaac.'

I waited quietly for them to speak first. They would need time to organize their thoughts.

Just as my heart began to beat louder from the tension, Cecile was the first to speak.

"......So, what you're saying is...... the Xenon Chronicle is truly a work of fiction?"

Her voice carried a complex, subtle tone, tinged with disbelief. I raised my head as soon as I heard those words.

When I looked up, I locked eyes with red pupils filled with confusion. A gaze mixed with all sorts of complicated emotions.

Meeting that gaze, I nodded silently. At that, Cecile became even more flustered.

"W-Wait a minute. Then, even if the Xenon Chronicle is fiction, is the fact that you came from another world true?"

"Yes."

"How? How did you cross over? I don't understand that. The Xenon Chronicle is fiction, but you, Isaac, came from another world. It feels like the pieces don't fit."

"I-I am thinking the same. Are you truly not from the same world as the Xenon Chronicle?"

It seemed Arwen had been under almost the exact same misunderstanding as Cecile. I nodded at their questions and asked back.

"As I said earlier, what kind of being did you think I was? That's what I'm most curious about."

"I thought you were a being who crossed over from a world where the Second Demon War had broken out."

"I thought similarly. However, I believed the Xenon Chronicle was truly a record of the future. If a person from the future crosses over to the past and changes that future, then that future eventually ceases to exist."

The reason they fell into such a misunderstanding was none other than Arwen. Ever since her comment about Elven Communism, she had asked me if I was from another world.

Since it was a question that pierced through my heart, I couldn't give any answer at the time, and unfortunately, Cecile had been right there next to her.

Even if I wasn't from the future, the fact that I had crossed over from another world was an undeniable truth.

However, hearing Arwen's words, it seemed she had mistaken me for coming from a sort of 'parallel world.'

And now, it was time to clear up all those misunderstandings one by one.

"I see. But I didn't come from a world like the Xenon Chronicle. As for where..."

"How?"

"Huh?"

"How did you cross over? To me—no, to us—this is the most important part."

Just as I was about to speak, Cecile cut in with an urgent voice. I could feel an uncharacteristic sense of desperation.

Looking at Arwen after Cecile, she seemed to feel the same way. To them, how I crossed over was more important than what kind of world I came from.

I was slightly taken aback, but I figured it wouldn't be bad to explain this first.

"You've probably heard the news. The underground temple where a demon worshipper's summoning ritual was deduced to have taken place. You know it, right?"

"I know of it."

"I am aware of that news as well."

"Then do you also know that the summoning ritual was only half-failed?"

Both of them nodded at my question. I knew the Minerva Empire had strictly controlled the press to prevent global chaos.

However, since it would be difficult to suppress the media of the entire world alone, they had explained it to the leaders of each country. I heard this from Lina.

Feeling relieved that the explanation would be easier, I continued in a quiet voice as before.

"Then the explanation will be simple. Half-failed means half-successful. And the result of that success is me."

"What?"

"Y-You?"

"Yes. A soul summoned from another dimension by a demon worshipper's summoning ritual. That's me."

After that, I slowly told them about everything up to my birth, including Grandfather Clark. Cecile knew Clark, but Arwen didn't, so it took a bit longer.

I lived an ordinary life after losing my parents in my previous life, and then I died of a heart attack. But it turned out I was caught up in a summoning ritual.

The gods took pity on me and allowed me to reincarnate here while maintaining my memories. The result is me, Isaac Ducard Maishal.

"......So, I'm revealing it to you both now. So that there are no more strange misunderstandings. And...... so that you don't experience even greater disappointment."

"..."

"..."

"Still, you must be very disappointed. I'm not as great a person as you expected—"

"Ha."

It was just as I was about to offer an excuse that wasn't really an excuse. Cecile let out a scoff, as if she found it absurd.

I couldn't help but flinch at that reaction. I was afraid that what I had feared was happening.

While I sat there unable to even lift my head, Cecile made a statement completely different from my expectations.

"Not a great person? You know that's nonsense, right?"

"Uh... Noona?"

"You really are... how should I put it? Like an onion? The more I peel, the more mysterious you become. And yet you have no idea how incredible you are."

"......?"

I slowly raised my head at those words. When I did, I saw Cecile wearing her characteristic sultry expression.

Her reaction was far from disappointment; on the contrary, she seemed even more infatuated with me. I had no idea why.

"......My beloved."

"Yes?"

"Whew...... I really don't know. I truly don't know."

Now even Arwen. Unlike Cecile, she had an expression of disbelief.

Fortunately, the situation was much better than I had anticipated, but because it was so unexpected, I couldn't fathom the reason.

"Isaac."

"Yes?"

"I'll explain it to you slowly. Whew..."

After a brief sigh, she extended a long index finger to draw my attention.

Then, in her characteristic alluring voice, she explained calmly so that I could easily understand.

"There is a soul who crossed over here from another dimension because of a demon worshipper. That person received the blessing of the gods, maintained the memories of his previous life, and was born again here. You understand this much, right?"

"Yes."

"But that person wrote a book of prophecy and saved the world. However, that book of prophecy isn't a real book of prophecy, but a work of fiction. And you want us to believe this?"

"..."

Hearing it like that, even I wouldn't believe it. When I wore a dazed expression, Cecile also crossed her arms and snorted.

Her ample chest was emphasized as she crossed her arms, but I desperately ignored it.

"Honestly, you don't believe it either, do you?"

"It truly is a story like a novel. There is a saying that reality is stranger than fiction, but I never thought I would experience it firsthand."

Like Arwen's lament, I also completely agreed. My life itself was like a novel, after all.

Anyway, hearing Cecile's explanation, it certainly was an absurd story.

Of course, to make them understand, I needed to explain what my world was like. In fact, this could be seen as the most important part.

"You might not believe it, but everything I said is true. And the world I lived in is full of works like the Xenon Chronicle. In some ways, you could say it's more realistic."

"There's a world like that?"

"Is it a place where all the books of prophecy in the universe are gathered? If so, I could understand."

Cecile's reaction was one thing, but Arwen's comment was quite witty.

I suppressed the laughter that almost escaped for a moment. Still, the tension had eased, so I could speak more gently than before.

"It's not like that. As for what kind of place the world I lived in was..."

I repeated exactly what I had said to Lina, Mari, and my family. A world where only humans exist, and where there is no mana, magic, or monsters.

A place where humans can fly with their own creations, sail without wind or waves, and talk to people all over the world.

Naturally, I excluded anything about nuclear bombs. They would be surprised enough just hearing this; if I added that, they would never believe me.

And so, when all the explanations were finished, Cecile and Arwen stared at me blankly with dazed expressions.

They were probably imagining all sorts of things in their heads right now. Unlike before, I waited for their reaction ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with anticipation.

"Then, can you also teleport with human creations?"

"Uh... what?"

"What you described is almost impossible even with magic. So, can humans use teleportation without using magic?"

But Cecile asked a question completely different from what I expected. If humans could roam the sky and sea at will with their creations, wouldn't teleportation also be possible?

I was flustered by this and rolled my eyes before opening my mouth in a timid voice.

"......No."

The concept of teleportation—that is, instantaneous movement—is literally in the realm of 'magic.' It is absolutely impossible with Earth's scientific power.

At my response, not only Cecile but even Arwen wore expressions of incomprehension.

"Why is it not possible? You dominate the sky and the sea, so why can you not dominate space? Does that place perhaps lack the concept of coordinates?"

"The concept of coordinates... as far as I know, it was invented about four hundred years ago."

"Then can you not simply connect one coordinate to another? You can create things that fly in the sky, so I cannot understand why you cannot do that."

"Me neither. Humans can surely do it if they just put in the effort, right?"

Well, now.

"The concept itself is very easy..."

"Concept or not, I'm telling you it's an almost impossible realm for us!"

"Just what are the physicists there doing that they do not understand the concept of space?"

If Einstein heard that, he'd be clutching the back of his neck.