June 14th, 2023
Volume 12 of Xenon’s Biography was released quite early. It surprised many readers as it came out shortly after the release of Volume 11, just a mere two weeks later.
Due to its rapid release, various speculations circulated among readers, but they embraced the fact that good things sometimes come sooner and eagerly anticipated what story awaited them this time.
And so, Xenon’s Biography Volume 12 unfolded as a wholesome and touching story that consoled the hearts of readers who were deeply shocked by Kair’s death.
Initially, the story depicted the current state of Alisha, the Elven Queen, who was worn out and devastated after Kair’s passing. Despite several months having passed since Kair’s death, Alisha’s condition did not seem to improve in any way.
Not only was she unable to fulfill her duties properly, but she also occasionally shed tears and lamented. Her mental state revealed her grieving self, causing great distress in the hearts of the readers.
Perhaps this tragedy between Kair and Alisha would be reenacted in the lives of Xenon and Mary, raising concerns among readers. However, as if to mock such expectations, the scene where Mary confesses her feelings to Xenon happened, washing away all those worries.
But that wasn’t all.
A wise saying emerged, seemingly supporting those who struggled with the inherent limitations of inter-species love, resolving all their worries. It was as if the author was cheering on those who carried such burdens.
[I don’t want to live a life full of regrets. Maybe it will be a fleeting moment for me, but I want to live a life of longing rather than regret. To be able to reminisce about that time without suffering from painful memories. I want to fill a part of my life with you, Xenon, with your existence.]
The embarrassing confession that Mary, the female lead of Xenon’s Biography and an elven sorceress, had brought Xenon from a dark place. A sincere confession that had been deeply hidden in her heart.
Until now, they had indirectly expressed their feelings for each other but had not directly revealed them. Like many men and women, it was because they lacked courage.
However, witnessing the tragic saga of Kair and Alicia with their own eyes gave Mary the strength to solidify her feelings. To prevent such a tragedy from being repeated in her own life.
Instead of living with regrets in the distant future, she mustered up a great amount of courage to live while longing for the person she loved.
[How many people can muster up such courage? And what kind of life do those who have actually experienced such things live?]
[A small encouragement from Xenon to those who hesitate. This encouragement will have a significant impact on the hesitant men and women.]
[A beautiful yet melancholic, and highly realistic story. Made possible by being a part of Xenon’s Biography, it is a warm confession.]
In the case of another couple of different races, Jin and Lily, there were no issues as they had confirmed their feelings for each other before meeting Xenon.
Thanks to Lily, Jin was able to escape from a miserable life, and he could focus solely on her.
The love between Jin and Lily, which was so natural, was rediscovered, leading to a surge in popularity for demons and paving the way for what is commonly referred to as a “rise to fame.”
Lily accepted Jin, who could become a devil at any time, and Jin, for her sake, suppressed his inner darkness and dedicated himself to her. It’s a romance that can’t help but catch your attention.
Certainly, readers were unaware that even this was a setting made by Isaac without thinking much, but the character interpretation was so well done that even Isaac nodded in approval.
As a result of this incident, the perception of demons, which was already improving, improved even further. Especially the keyword ‘sincerity’ fit perfectly with demons, creating tremendous synergy.
For demons, confessing with courage means a pure sincerity, without even a trace of ulterior intentions. Recently, there have been more and more cases of demons entering into relationships, which fueled this phenomenon.
[Since the release of Volume 12, the number of humans confessing to elves has increased rapidly. Most cases end in failure, but news of successful confessions are frequently heard.]
[Furthermore, there have been frequent cases of elves confessing to humans. In these cases, the majority of them are successful, unlike the previous scenario.]
And this applies not only to demons but also to elves. Love between elves and humans may seem like a story that can only exist in novels, but not everyone is like that.
Although they are chosen by the gods, elves are ultimately little more than humans, mortal beings who experience joy and sorrow.
While there is a common perception that elves are arrogant, they are as sincere as demons, especially when it comes to ‘love.’
[Elves are known for devoting themselves to a single partner for a lifetime. However, what kind of feelings arise when they choose a human as their companion?]
[Is filling the remaining years with longing truly happiness for the sake of a hundred years of happiness?]
However, as critics pointed out, love between elves and humans is not easy, as it came with a harsh reality. There is clearly a difference in lifespan, and nothing is eternal in this world.
However, just as love can transcend borders, love that transcends races always emerges. As numerous news stories poured out like rushing water, shocking confessions began to appear one after another.
[There are already children born between elves and humans… They live perfectly fine in Alvenheim.]
[There is nothing different about hybrids in terms of appearance compared to elves. If anything, their ears are slightly shorter.]
[Elves living in human society instead of Alvenheim hide their ears through magic, just like Mary in the tale of Zenon, to prevent social upheaval.]
It was the appearance of the half-bloods, a being born between elves and humans, which was incredibly rare.
Occasionally, there were hybrids born between humans and beastmen or humans and dwarves, but there had never been a hybrid born between humans and elves throughout their long and extensive history.
It had been a staggering 3,000 years since humans built civilization, and even further, 300 years ago, they became acutely aware of each other’s existence through the war of races.
However, it was somewhat strange that there were no hybrids in this long span of time, and the reason was revealed through these confessions.
[Due human blood mixed in, they face various insults within Alvenheim. That’s why most of them choose to hide.]
[My mother strictly forbade me from revealing that my father is human. I have no regrets about loving my human father, but I am afraid of the opinions of those around me…]
[The lives of hybrids are mostly similar. When their human parents pass away, they return to Alvenheim for education. Alvenheim allows education for pure-blooded elves, but strictly prohibits it for hybrids because they are not pure-blooded.]
[My father and mother were happy. Even now, they do not regret their choice back then, and they promised not to forget each other even if they remarry.]
The reason for this was due to the rigid customs unique to Alvenheim. Alvenheim is famous for its strict attitude towards outsiders, and it treated even half-bloods as foreigners.
Elves who were well aware of this tradition chose to live in human society until their human companions pass away, and afterwards, they return to Alvenheim with their children. Until the era of the racial war, elves practically treated humans like monkeys. Therefore, it was impossible to disregard the treatment of half-bloods as mere empty words.
It was equally challenging to adapt to human society. Their inherent beauty posed various risks, and hiding their true identity was also a task. However, when Volume 12 of Xenon’s Biography was released and stories of love between different races gained prominence, even the half-bloods could raise their voices.
Their stories were diverse, but one thing remained the same. The love between humans and elves, while not common, was equally passionate and intense.
Interestingly, children born between humans and elves often numbered at least three or more. Moreover, they tended to be of similar ages. While elves viewed sexual relationships as a kind of ritual, humans were a race with insatiable sexual desires. Now, what if the object of their love was an elf known for their beauty?
Naturally, there would be frequent nights and a large number of children. It may be embarrassing from the elves’ perspective, but they generally accepted such sacrifices made for their companions.
In this case, all the children inherited the characteristics of elves. They also inherited humans’ adaptability, making it easy for them to live in Alvenheim.
[So, do elves inherit humans’ astonishing learning ability as well? There is an increasing interest in hybrids…]
[One of the chiefs of Alvenheim is rumored to be a hybrid…]
[How will Alvenheim treat hybrids in the future?]
Is the butterfly effect applicable in this situation? Isaac had simply written a story about love between races, but the situation was flowing in a strange direction.
The story of love between races naturally transcended into reality, planting the seed of doubt, and that seed sprouts another question in reality.
And the fruit, or rather the flower, of that question was the appearance of hybrids, in other words, half-elves. People who were inevitably forced to hide due to Alvenheim’s old customs.
It was an implicit tradition that had been happening among hybrids long before the race war, and even Arwen herself was unaware of their existence. Only the elder elves, belonging to the old generation, knew about it.
Even if such customs have faded, it is highly likely that they would have faced strong opposition in the council filled with supremacists.
The half-elves were cautious and did not act rashly, noting the inflexible and uncompromising nature of the elves.
Instead, most half-elves grew up in human society and transitioned to Alvenheim, so they have significantly different ways of thinking. Whether it’s good or bad.
In any case, in the midst of this confusing situation, Isaac, who witnessed the appearance of half-elves, said…
“What’s this? Is it like a fantasy coming-out?”
He was bewildered as he read the newspaper.
*****
I have been observing various reactions with my own eyes since the release of Xenon’s Biography. At first, I was taken aback by the intense response, but now I can pass by it with indifference.
However, the appearance of the half-elves was completely unexpected, like a kind of butterfly effect. In Xenon’s Biography, the romance between elves and humans unfolded, and as a result, the number of elves who mustered up the courage to confess their feelings increased.
Naturally, a question arised regarding the existence of half-elves. While other hybrid beings, excluding demons, were relatively common, it was peculiar that only hybrids born between elves and humans were nonexistent.
‘It’s interesting how it doesn’t feel forced at all.’
Even in my past life, one wrong word from someone could cause significant incidents. That alone led to the arrest of a president in the past.
If someone provides the spark, and fuel is added to that, things tend to blow up. Xenon’s Biography was precisely that spark.
‘By the way, children always inherit the characteristics of elves, huh…’
According to testimonies, half-elves live long like pure-blooded elves and possess beautiful appearances. Especially if they inherit specific abilities from their human parent, elves can easily acquire corresponding skills. If the human parent was a knight, they excel in swordsmanship and various martial arts. If they were a mage, they excel in magic, and if they were a priest, they show prowess in divine powers. This is in comparison to pure-blooded elves.
‘Mendel would burst into tears if he heard this.’
Mendel’s Law and the like are the genetics of inter-breeding races, constantly discussed and chewed upon. I’m not sure if only elves do this or if there are individual variations among humans, but I can guarantee that it cannot be understood through the genetics of my past life.
However, that’s not the important issue. Currently, Alvenheim is in an uproar over the treatment of half-elves. As I mentioned before, half-elves have quietly integrated into Alvenheim and many individuals with a talent from genetics, among other things, have risen to high positions. Even the rumors of a half-elf being the Warrior’s Commander became rampant, causing social turmoil.
You might ask, “So what?” But in this era, “pure blood” holds great significance. You don’t have to look far, just look at how Adelia’s family treats her.
Of course, half-elves are a slightly different case. However, there are still those in Alvenheim who hold supremacist views like the Elder Council, and there are differences between the new generation and the old generation.
But what if this division extends to pure-blood and mixed-blood factions? As Alvenheim, it would be more than just a headache—it would be like it being split in two.
In a way, it could be seen as a very natural social phenomenon, but it appeared too suddenly.
‘Isn’t a ban on sales going a bit too far?’
To make matters worse, in the climax of the twelfth volume, Alvenheim was said to be invaded. Alvenheim, the homeland and sanctuary of the elves, was under attack by devils.
In the end, if the story unfolds like this,, the situation will reach the point where Alvenheim will issue a declaration banning sales. It has caused social chaos, so there is ample justification.
However, as can be seen from its long and extensive history, this is also a natural occurrence and one of the hardships that must be faced someday. Soon, I will also write about the Dark Elves, and I wonder if they will be in a hurry to hide that too.
‘It feels somewhat like China.’
Because of this, I was reminded of China, which was notorious for its cultural censorship. However, the difference is that China involved its citizens in the censorship, while Alvenheim did not.
Perhaps even now, there may be strong opposition within Alvenheim. I felt a little sorry for fueling the conflict between the older and younger generations.
‘What if I write in Xenon’s Biography about the issue of half-blood children? Will that lead to a MeToo movement?’
Considering that events like the Jairos Revolution have taken place, it is not an entirely impossible story. I can ignite the spark, and the instigators can add fuel to the fire.
However, this issue needs to be handled carefully as it could engulf the entire country in flames. Although the Ters royal family, who have torn Adelia’s heart apart, are despicable, I should not act solely based on emotions.
‘The issue of illegitimate children… should be included in the sequel.’
I am referring to the sequel of Xenon’s Biography, not the one about World War II. By expanding the universe and diligently reconciling the settings to avoid conflicts, it can be achieved.
As I glanced at the newspapers pouring out breaking news due to Volume 12, I suddenly looked away.
‘Come to think of it, is Arwen doing okay?’
******
Just what could be okay.
“Your Majesty! Are you just going to stay still even after seeing the current situation?! Please take a look at the state affairs!”
“Alvenheim is being attacked, even if it’s just a fictional story, it’s something that should never happen. How can you calmly observe the activities of the half-breeds in Alvenheim?”
“We must quickly drive out those filthy mongrels. Otherwise, the existence of our chosen Elven race, blessed by the gods, may be in jeopardy!”
“… …”
As if the Council of Elders wasn’t already enough to drive her mad, Arwen looked at the begging elders in front of her with indifference. Previously, she had only thought of them as old-fashioned bastards, but today, things had changed.
‘Disgusting old bastards.’
Disgust had been added. And one more thing.
‘I am a half-blood too, you bastards.’
She clearly realized that all the rotten ones from Alvenheim were present in the Council of Elders.
Translators note:
The big reveal from Arwen!
