Chapter 160: Winter Break (4)

“Hello! Our cutie! Good morning!”

“Hello, Adelia noona. It’s a good morning.”

After a day passed, Adelia began her activities as the escort knight of our family. Since it wasn’t an official situation, we continued to speak informally as usual.

I quickly glanced at Adelia’s simple attire, consisting of a shirt and leather pants, and then shifted my gaze towards her face. I wasn’t sure what conversation she had with my mother, but her expression had become much brighter than before.

Feeling slightly relieved by her appearance, I asked about her well-being.

“Did you sleep well last night? Was the bed comfortable?”

“Oh, it was really good! I fell asleep as soon as I laid down.”

“That’s good to hear. So now you’ll be receiving training from Father, right?”

“Yes. As an escort knight, I need to be sensitive to my surroundings, so I’ll be focusing on that aspect. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Watching Adelia’s self-assured demeanor, I recalled Father’s training methods. Not only me and my siblings, but occasionally even the young men of the estate had received training under Father.

And there was one commonality. Every time we received training, the sound of agony always resonated throughout the mansion. I also begged Father to spare me initially, but he didn’t pay any heed and continued with the training.

Well, at that time, unlike Dave and Nicole, I had a weak body, so my father quickly discontinued it. In fact, I know that he was shocked by the fact that I collapsed once and suffered for several days.

‘But still, Adelia completed all the assistant duties, so it should be fine.’

To be honest, someone like Adelia probably had a high chance of easily passing the Navy Knights entrance test. I found out by observing the sparring matches held every weekend, but Nicole and Adelia had incredible stamina.

Even though they sparred with non-stop training students from morning until dinner, they were perfectly fine, just sweating. Although there were occasional breaks, their stamina remained unchanging, like steel.

“Alright. So, during the vacation, the daily routine is to receive training from Father, right?”

“That’s right, but... When did you say you’re going to Helium?”

“Probably after lunch tomorrow, Mr. Gartz will personally come to pick us up. Have you seen Mr. Gartz, too, Noona?”

“The demon with horns shaped like a sheep, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm...”

After hearing my response, Adelia pondered for a moment and then spoke with a slightly hesitant voice.

“Um... Why are you going there? Just a simple visit?”

“Yeah.”

How would I explain that I’m going to see Cecily’s parents and spend the first night with her? For now, it’s better to smoothly pass over it.

However, I needed a more definite excuse. It was a moment when I was about to add an explanation after my response.

“Are you going on a date or something?”

“Huh?”

“Well, actually, I heard from the Baroness yesterday. You’re dating the Demon Princess, right? It’s not official, though.”

Adelia spoke to me with her characteristic bright smile. Momentarily taken aback, I could only respond with a bewildered voice upon hearing that my mother had informed her.

“...My mother told you?”

“Yeah. Just in case I misunderstood, she told me. You’re engaged to that white-haired noblewoman, not the Demon Princess, right? I should’ve realized it earlier.”Thê source of this content n/o/v/(el)bi((n))

Adelia confidently spoke, placing her hand on her waist. I silently observed her face, adorned with a cheerful smile.

I couldn’t tell if she genuinely didn’t care or if she was suppressing her feelings with patience. There was no reaction whatsoever, only her distinctively self-assured smile.

‘...Is it really okay?’

Adelia’s behavior towards me had always been confusing in various ways, but it was yesterday when I became certain as she came to be my escort knight.

Adelia, she has a romantic crush on me. The human heart isn’t something that can be hidden by pretending. After realizing it, those aspects came to me more strongly.

So, I thought there would be some reaction when she found out about the romantic relationship between Cecily and me, but there was none at all. What on earth did she discuss with my mother yesterday?

‘I guess I can’t ask right now.’

Asking without reason could make things awkward. Moreover, Adelia was starving for “affection” due to her miserable home environment. Even if it’s not me, she can continue a happy life by meeting a warm-hearted man. Not someone like me with complicated relationships with women.

Above all, I must eventually reveal that I am Xenon. The scope of the investigation was narrowing, and it won’t be long before my true identity is revealed by the Holy Kingdom Xavier.

If that happens, there is a high possibility that Adelia will be used by the Kingdom of Ters as well. I can almost guarantee that it will happen.

“Well... I’m not sure if I should be relieved...”

“Oh, don’t worry. Even though it may seem like that, my lips are heavy.”

“Is it really okay?”

It was a somewhat ambiguous question. Adelia might have noticed that, she flinched at first and then answered forcefully.

“Don’t worry. If it’s true, let me go to Helium with you. I’m your knight, so this much is fine, right?”

“Well, I’m not sure about that. I’ll ask Mr. Gartz tomorrow.”

“Alright. I hope a positive answer comes back. I’ll be going now.”

“Okay. Take care. Don’t push yourself and get hurt unnecessarily.”

“Sure. Sure. Don’t worry, noona, I’m tough.”

“If you say you created a unique script just because you were bored... Doesn’t that mean you created a writing system?”

Oh, damn. Can it really turn out like this?

I was taken aback by my father’s sharp observation. As the former head of the Navy Knight Order, he had exceptional powers of observation and judgment. However, I had also sharpened my wits more than once in the past. I calmed myself down and spoke in a nonchalant tone.

“You could say that. As I mentioned earlier, it doesn’t have a significant meaning, though.”

“Can you write down my name for me?”

“Yes.”

According to my father’s request, I wrote down his name using the magic pen and notebook that I always carried with me. Soon enough, the name ‘Hawk Ducker Michelle’ was written in the notebook, and I tore out the page and handed it to my father.

As soon as my father received the paper, he put on his glasses and stared intently. I felt my heart pounding inexplicably due to the tension.

“It feels like... some kind of shape. Why are there so many lines... Is this really a letter?”

“Yes.”

“Will you put it in the Xenon Chronicles?”

“Um... I’m not sure. There isn’t really a suitable place to use it.”

It wasn’t a lie, it’s sincere. I don’t feel the need to include Korean in Xenon’s Biography at all, and it doesn’t fit in terms of plausibility either. But if I was to include it, I might say that 99% of it was made up to make it easier when using magic.

Humans would create characters for more accessible and efficient magic, in preparation for a full-fledged war against devils.

The difficulty of magic lies not only in complex calculations but also in the fact that magic itself is not standardized, as it was not developed by humans but passed down from demons. This is because demons, like elves, can use magic effortlessly.

‘It’s amusing from my perspective.’

It would be funny to hear people in this world shouting “Fireball” or “Ice Arrow” in Korean. While I was silently chuckling to myself, my father glanced at his name written on the paper and placed it on the desk. Fortunately, he seemed to let it pass without saying anything.

“Alright, I understand. Send the manuscript to the publisher soon.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Well, I will be going now.”

Father also seemed to be getting up from his seat, probably to go train Adelia. As he stretched my body, a loud cracking sound reverberated throughout, presumably due to sitting at the desk for so long.

“Would you like to give training a try while you’re at it?”

“I’ll pass, thank you.”

“Sigh... I see.”

I have to give it my all tomorrow, so is there any need to do something that will drain my energy? My father will only feel disappointed if I firmly refuse, and he won’t insist any further.

‘By the way, should I try it?’

I thought to myself, having such unnecessary thoughts.

I planned to visit Helium and seek direct advice about using Hangul for magic from Lady Mora. It could have been risky, as it might make magic even more difficult. Being a complete outsider to magic, I might even face criticism.

And so, a peaceful day of vacation passed.

“Hello, Mr. Gartz. Long time no see.”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Isaac.”

The next day, Gartz teleported directly to our mansion.

“By the way, what’s that in your hand?”

“It’s eye drops. Do you sometimes experience dry or blurry eyes?”

“How did you know?”

“As Mr. Isaac enjoys reading and even writes novels, I could easily anticipate it. That’s why I brought the eye drops. They were personally made by the pharmacist of Helium Palace, so they are highly effective.”

“...”

While bringing me a very useful gift, it was indeed an appropriate present as my vision had been gradually declining recently.

“Thank you. I’m sorry for just receiving it.”

“No, it’s fine. Instead...”

“Instead?”

“Cough-“

Gartz coughed awkwardly, then spoke in a timid voice.

“Regarding... Xenon’s Biography...”

“Xenon’s Biography?”

“...It’s nothing. Let’s go to Helium first.”

“?”

What did he want to say?

Translators note:

There were 2 chapters today

Sorry for choppy releases last 2 weeks, I got an internship and was busy adjusting to a new daily schedule. Unfortunately there will only be 4 chapters per week for some time but it will go back up to 5 at the latest in september.