July 3rd, 2023
Arwen’s national address had a significant impact not only in Alvenheim but also worldwide. Although the elves seemed well united on regular occasions, they exhibited signs of division during times of crisis.
This division can be observed not only in the racial war but also within Alvenheim itself, revealing cracks in various places. The cracks are so numerous that they went unnoticed even by the elves themselves, resembling time bombs ready to explode at any moment.
Furthermore, the recent mixed-bloods incident showed signs of further division, but Arwen’s speech successfully concluded it and began the process of true unity among the elves.
The content of the speech primarily focused on integrating pure-blooded and mixed-blooded elves, but upon closer examination, Arwen urged the elves to rid themselves of the ‘arrogance’ that they would miss. Arrogance is considered their true enemy, tarnishing the honor of their ancestors.
Thanks to this, the elves of Alvenheim have been prompted to think deeply, ultimately resulting in significant changes throughout the country.
Naturally, neighboring countries are keeping a close eye on whether Alvenheim will truly become united. Particularly, the human nations were observing, as if the elves achieve unity, it would create various difficulties for humans.
During the racial war, the reason the human side could claim victory was their unity. Despite appearing divided by various political maneuvers and power struggles, they managed to unite.
Moreover, the same can be said for the Devil War 3000 years ago, and even to this day, ‘tenacity’ and ‘unity’ are indispensable identities for humans.
Although humans possess innate abilities that are inferior to other races, their unyielding spirit and unity in the face of adversity are their greatest strengths.
But if the elves were to possess this strength, who knows if it may become a source of concern in the future, although it may not be evident at present.
[If the elves become united, it could become a significant threat in the distant future.]
[When other races hear this, it feels almost provocative.]
[Will the elves truly change?]
I am currently paying attention to the changes in the elves, just like the evaluations mentioned above. Some are wary of the elves, fearing that they might dominate the world in the distant future. Others assert that the elves are just elves and that arrogance cannot be eliminated.
Amidst these various evaluations, there is a common assessment, which is the content of the speech. Particularly, the phrase mentioned at the end, “by the elves, for the elves,” has been reiterated several times. It encapsulated the essence of the previous speeches and received praise for deeply engraving a simple sentence in people’s minds.
Of course, it was Isaac who wrote all of this, but people thought Arwen had done it.
“Isaac.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re the one who wrote that speech, right?”
Except for a very small minority.
*****
Cecily’s condition worsened, so she promptly returned to the Minerva Empire. Then Cecily went back to Helium with Gartz and anticipated tomorrow. The next day, when it arrived, Cecily and I enjoyed a date together. Marie had her hands full with classes, but thanks to her willingly giving way, we were able to enjoy ourselves.
There were students who looked at us with strange glances, but we ignored them now. After all, even if we called it a date, all we did was have a meal together or wander around the academy.
“Isaac.”
“Yes?”
“You wrote that speech, right?”
Suddenly, Cecily asked me such a question. We were in a soundproofed room to have coffee, so there was no chance for the sound to leak outside.
I was slightly taken aback by Cecily’s question but quickly responded calmly.
“You knew?”
“I just guessed. I didn’t really think about hiding it.”
“You know Arwen, Noona. Besides, you’re observant, so I thought you would find out someday.”
There was no falsehood in my sincere words. I had predicted that Cecily, at her level, would discover the fact that Arwen had come to find me.
Moreover, there was also Siris, the messenger connecting me and Arwen, so it was definitely not a wild guess.
“Surely you didn’t just help her, right? She has a strong sense of responsibility, but she caused you a great deal of harm.”
“I know. That’s why I asked her to teach me some magic.”
“Magic?”
“Yes. Specifically, I asked her to write down the types of magic and their effects. The magic of elves and demons is quite different.”
“Hmm.”
Cecily’s expression showed that she understood my answer. However, it was only for a moment, and she asked in a tone questioning if that would be okay.
“Is that enough? Arwen’s speech to the nation was successful, and it provided a significant opportunity for Alvenheim to progress. In my opinion, you deserve more rewards, don’t you think?”
“What rewards? I already have everything I want.”
“Um…”
Cecily rolled her reddened eyes and got lost in thought at my words. Meanwhile, I calmly waited while sipping my coffee.
Eventually, she made a pensive expression and spoke with a disappointed tone.
“Well, I guess that’s true. You really have everything. Still, I wish you were more ambitious.”
“Ambitious, you say…”
I pondered while setting down my cup of coffee. Perhaps due to the influence of my previous life, I was not particularly ambitious, as Cecily mentioned.
I’ve already achieved everything there is to achieve. Could there be room for more ambition? If anything, I would like to delve deeper into history.
However, even that is being conveyed through the series of books located in the Altenheim Sanctuary, thanks to Siris. This has increased my knowledge and served as a reference for Xenon’s Biography.
If I have any ambition at the moment, it would be for more people to read Xenon’s Biography and develop the Michelle territory into a cultural hub. In reality, these are the only two ambitions I have.
‘To do that, I’ll need to complete the 13th volume, and even beyond that, finish the entire series.’
I’ve already written about half of the 13th volume. Like the previous 12 volumes, I’ve already planned everything, and what remains is the invasion of Alvenheim, or as referred to in the book, Elvenheim.
If Elvenheim were to be invaded, Alvenheim threatened to censor, but honestly, it doesn’t matter. It’s Alvenheim that will suffer, not me.
Moreover, considering Arwen’s disclosure, it seems more like an arbitrary decision by the Council of Elders. Politicians should grasp public sentiment, but they are undermining it themselves.
‘If it’s not possible, I should send a letter.’
I know well through my past life in China how oppressive it is to censor culture. What’s even more absurd is that despite cultural censorship, people continue to seek it until the end.
I wonder if a similar phenomenon is occurring in Alvenheim as well. Perhaps this will lead to the citizens of Alvenheim also harboring discontent towards the Council of Elders.
I snapped out of my thoughts and stared intensely at Cecily. She was patiently waiting for me to speak.
At the moment, I didn’t have any great ambitions, but it seemed like something had changed since I looked at her. It was also something I had been curious about all along.
“I didn’t have it before, but it seems like I have one now.”
“Really? What is it?”
“Horns.”
“Horns?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded and pointed at Cecily’s horns with my finger.
“Can I touch the horns just once?”
“What, what?”
“I’m asking if I can touch the horns just once. I’ve been curious about them for a while.”
I heard from Cecily the meaning behind demons allowing others to touch their horns. It was like a confession, saying that even if you become a devil, I will love me forever. This is not only to satisfy my personal curiosity but also to show my feelings towards Cecily. It’s been a while since our last date, and I think I should do something like this.
Cecily, at first, hesitated but then quietly spoke up.
“…Y-You can touch them.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I said a few months ago that I’ll do anything you want. Whether it’s my horns or my body, it doesn’t matter.”
Cecily kindly responded, placing her hand on her chest. There was a slight blush on her cheeks, indicating her nervousness, and her voice trembled slightly.
For demons, touching their horns is similar to emotionally connecting with someone. In fact, emotional connection holds more value than physical interaction. It is natural to value emotional connection, as it tends to affect them more on a mental level.
As soon as Cecily gave her permission, I stood up from my seat and sat next to her. Cecily seemed startled when I sat right beside her, lowering her head and assuming a reserved posture.
She subtly moved her head toward me, as if subtly indicating for me to touch it, which was incredibly cute, especially after the sneezing incident. It felt like she was urging me to pet her head.
Is it that all women who fall in love are cute, or is it Cecily’s and Marie’s personality that makes them like this? While I was looking at her face, my gaze shifted to the horns near her temples. Slowly, as the evil cycle approached, the proportion of red occupying the horns seemed to be greater than black.
swoosh
“Hmm…”
As I cautiously touched the horn, Cecily twisted her body and made a purring sound like a cat. It seemed like she could feel my touch even with her eyes closed.
However, as I heard before, the horns have no sensation. She is simply finding comfort in me touching her horns.
‘It’s hard.’
The demon’s horns, which I touched for the first time in my life, were indeed hard. It’s natural for horns to be hard, but I expected a different feeling.
For a while, I gently caressed Cecily’s horns and then moved my other hand to hold her face. Slowly, I turned it and positioned it to face me.
When I turned my face, Cecily opened her previously closed eyes and gazed at me. Her reddish eyes were strangely moist and filled with intense emotions.
I always think this, but she is truly beautiful, to the point where words like that fall short.
“Noona, did you know?”
“…What?”
“You surprisingly have cute aspects. Like the last time when you sneezed, and even now. You’re really adorable.”
“… …”
As I spoke sincerely, Cecily’s face rapidly turned red. Even her blood-red eyes were buried in her flushed complexion, evidence of her embarrassment.
Yet, she didn’t avoid eye contact, which was typical of her. If it were Marie, she would have turned her head, ashamed and embarrassed, and yelled out.
In response, I gave a small smile and slowly brought my face closer. With one hand gently touching the horn and the other hand holding Cecily’s face.
As I brought my face closer, Cecily closed her eyes once again.
Soon, something soft and tender could be felt on my lips. Feeling that sensation, I slightly opened my mouth.
Cecily responded by cautiously parting her lips, allowing us to cover each other’s lips.
“… …”
“… …”
For a while, a deep kiss continued. I could feel Cecily’s body tensing up in real-time, but I paid it no mind.
Our tongues didn’t intertwine forcefully. Mixing our tongues would be for another time, not in this narrow space.
This kiss was merely a prelude. The summer vacation wasn’t going to last much longer, so this was a preliminary step to give her something to look forward to.
I gently touched Cecily’s horn while continuing the kiss, and then cautiously pulled away our lips. The sweet aroma of coffee lingered in my mouth.
“Ha… Ha… Huh…”
Was it because she held her breath while we kissed? Cecily let out a breathless sigh and wore a dazed expression.
Unlike the last time when I didn’t touch her horn, now, as I kissed her while caressing the horn, she seemed emotionally stirred. I smirked and noticed that I was still touching her horn.
I had suspected it, but now there was a higher proportion of red compared to a moment ago. It seemed that along with the kiss, the desire intensified.
“Noona.”
“Huh… Yeah?”
“Can you hold on until the vacation?”
During the vacation, I had plans to officially visit Helium. I needed to observe Cecily’s fighting style firsthand for Xenon’s Biography, and explore various places in Helium.
And I had to do it according to her wishes. To do so, it would be best to meet Cecily’s parents and explain the situation in detail.
“…It’s hard.”
Cecily responded to my question by lightly hitting her chest with her fist and pouting. Still, it seemed that she didn’t feel entirely unpleasant as she smiled.
While letting out a shallow laugh, I didn’t stop touching her horn. It had a peculiar addictive quality, and since Cecily enjoyed it, it was difficult to stop.
“Noona.”
“Yeah, Isaac.”
With a happy smile on her face, Cecily responded to my call. I paused for a moment, admiring her beautiful appearance, before speaking.
“I told you that I named Lilith after you.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m planning to include illustrations of her in Volume 13. Can I use you as a reference?”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
Upon hearing that I would not only use her as a reference for a character but also as a model for illustrations, Cecily’s eyes widened. Well, being a model for illustration is quite different from being a reference.
Although I have some experience with drawing, there is a world of difference between drawing while looking at the actual person and drawing based on imagination.
If possible, I wanted to draw all the Seven Sins as illustrations, but it would be difficult in many ways, so I at least wanted to include Cecily as an illustration.
“It’s fine, but is it okay for me to?”
“There’s no one who suits the role of Lilith as much as you.”
“Well, then it’s an honor for me. Will you be the one drawing the illustrations?”
“Yeah. It may not be perfect, but it’ll be better if I draw while looking at you.”
“Sigh…”
For some reason, Cecily exhaled a hot breath. I briefly glanced at her face, filled with curiosity.
Cecily’s red eyes were even deeper in color than before. It was as if she had discovered prey, like a fierce predator about to explode with desire.
Even the horn I am currently touching was the same. Except for the tip, it is completely covered in red.
“While doing this… how can I resist…”
“… …”
“Isaac…”
“…Yes, Noona.”
She grabbed my face with both hands and uttered words that seemed to admit a defeat to her desires.
“Can’t we just do it here?”
And followed by a firm response.
“No.”
“Just once…”
“No. If you keep doing that, I won’t touch your horn anymore.”
“Hmm…”
Fortunately, Cecily obediently withdrew.
******
When Arwen gave her national speech, the publishing company that released Xenon’s Biography was busy with a packed schedule. They had no time to rest amidst the overflowing workload, whether it was a national speech or any other matter. Even the printing press, which was developed with advanced technology, was printing books like crazy.
Originally, Xenon’s Biography was the most popular book among humans, but starting from the 11th volume, it spread widely regardless of race. The transcendent love story captivated the hearts of readers.
Thanks to that, the CEO of the publishing company once again sat on a fortune. However, they were currently facing a difficult situation.
“So, what you’re saying is… you want me to show you the letter sent by Xenon?”
“That’s correct.”
Because of the elves right in front of them.
Elves visiting a publishing company was unheard of until now, and moreover, renowned individuals from prestigious Alvenheim families came to the publishing company. They belonged to the upper echelons of the elven nobility, so the president couldn’t help but be cautious. Furthermore, Alvenheim even issued a declaration demanding modifications to the content of the 13th volume.
The CEO, dressed in luxurious silk clothing, looked at the confident elf in front of them and replied with a professional smile.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t show it to you. It’s already been burned.”
“It would be best not to lie, human.”
“Why would I lie? There are people who can trace it just by the handwriting, so it must be erased.”
The CEO mentioned an actual incident. There are all sorts of people in the world, and among them are those who are skilled in tracking.
Of course, it’s practically impossible to track based on handwriting alone, but after the incident of the stolen draft last time, they had to be cautious in everything. Burning all the letters? It’s a lie, just as the elf said. Each and every letter holds great value, so how could they casually burn them?
However, they had no choice but to lie in order to prepare for the worst. You can’t split the goose that lays the golden eggs.
“If it’s money you want, I’ll give it. If you want, I can even provide the dew of the World Tree willingly.”
“The dew of the World Tree…”
“It’s one of the main ingredients for elixirs.”
That does sound tempting. The elixir is known as a panacea, capable of saving even a dying person.
However, its price demands a heavy toll, to the point that even wealthy nobles have to endure great expenses to purchase it. If the elixir holds such value, what about its main ingredient?
The CEO’s mind raced quickly. However, they soon concluded that it would be a loss.
The dew of the World Tree, appearing at an official auction? Such things usually appear on the black market rather than in regular auctions, and there are countless cases where people don’t receive their money properly.
With a business smile, the CEO spoke kindly.
“I apologize. Even the dew of the World Tree is out of the question. It’s impossible to give something that doesn’t exist.”
“Do you not understand the great value of the dew of the World Tree?”
“I understand. That’s why I’m declining.”
The CEO, who had gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations to grow the company, perceived the actions of these elves as an attempt to curry favor.
‘Can’t they see how busy I am? And they are demanding a letter from me?’
The CEO had a history of firmly rejecting the demands of personnel dispatched from the palace. Even proposals from esteemed figures of the empire were turned down, let alone personnel from other countries.
Above all, the CEO disliked these elves. They were incredibly arrogant, with condescending gazes. Who would accept their proposals?
“Hmph. Don’t you understand the seriousness of the situation? You will regret it.”
“I’ve already told you before, I cannot provide what doesn’t exist. You mentioned that you come from a prestigious family in Alvenheim. Could you please tell me your name?”
“I am Kalas Shadowsinger.”
“I see.”
Who is that, anyway? The CEO maintained a friendly smile but was annoyed internally.
“Anyway, I will make sure to visit again soon. It would be nice if you brought a letter then.”
“I will send a message to Mr. Xenon.”
“Understood. I will come back exactly three days later.”
The elf who appeared to be the representative concealed his appearance as he spoke. The other elves did the same.
The CEO’s friendly smile vanished instantly as the concealed elves disappeared through teleportation. He then turned his gaze to the opposite side, his expression becoming stern, and glanced discreetly to his side.
Standing beside him was his loyal secretary and trusted employee, Matthew. He seemed slightly nervous, with cold sweat running down his face.
“Matthew.”
“Yes, yes!”
“Transcribe all the letters that Xenon wrote.”
“Understood… me?”
“And transcribe all the upcoming letters as well. Return the rest of them, rejecting them all. It would be good to inform them about our situation in the process.”
After giving those orders, the CEO licked his lips and muttered softly.
“Some things never change for these damn elves.”
Translators note:
5/5
All test done, even went to my country’s capital to take jlpt.
Anyway, now I can focus on translating.
