Chapter 318: Education (2)

Chapter 318: Education (2)

If I’m pondering over a scene that will appear at the end of volume 24, it means that volume 23 has already been released.

The main plot of volume 23 revolves around the final showdown between Envy and Xenon in a kingdom on the brink of destruction. Throughout, numerous arguments and logical exchanges take place.

Envy justifies his own revenge while acknowledging his misdeeds, and Xenon views Envy not with anger but with pity. Despite both being taught under the same sky by the same mentor, they ended up with completely opposite fates.

One is destined to bring about the world’s ruin, while the other is destined to save it.Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

The contrast between their situations is stark, yet ironically, Xenon understands Envy’s motivations. Xenon recognizes that he, too, could have ended up like Envy, being his perfect arch-enemy.

However, understanding the pain doesn’t equate to empathizing with it. To be precise, Xenon chose not to empathize. Despite Envy’s heart-wrenching circumstances, the fact that he committed evil acts remains unchanged.

Thus, Envy and Xenon face each other. Their meeting place is the audience chamber. The chamber, stained with blood from Envy’s massacre, sees Envy himself seated on the throne after slaughtering his kin with his own hands.

To his right lies his father’s severed head, and to his left, the head of the brother who took his beloved. The beloved, who ended her own life, is seated on the queen’s throne. Envy calmly awaits Xenon in this grisly scene.

Crafting that scene took immense effort. I aimed to convey the feeling of approaching a king while also evoking the sense of confronting a dungeon’s master. In the end, Envy declared himself ‘king’, even though the kingdom was on the verge of being reduced to ashes by demons.

Thus began a light debate between the two. Realizing that they could not reach an understanding, they moved into a full-scale battle. Particularly, the words Envy spoke to Xenon just before the battle stuck in the minds of many:

[I didn’t choose to be born into this world. I didn’t choose to have such parents. I didn’t choose to live this kind of life. I never wanted to be born into this world.]

These words echo the miserable life of Envy and represent the feelings of illegitimate children who still suffer. The perception of them is so low that it’s considered natural for illegitimate children to be abandoned at birth because they could cause discord and significant turmoil in families.

Of course, there are some noble-minded individuals who take responsibility for their illegitimate children, but they are very few. Most consider them a ‘blemish’ and discard them mercilessly. In extreme cases, assassins are sent to cleanly remove them.

As Envy mentioned, illegitimate children are forced to live unwanted lives, perfectly fitting the case of a victim turned perpetrator. If they had been helped to live like human beings, they would never have become like this.

[Friedrich, lauded as a romanticist by the public, had his flaws. It’s no different for other royalty or nobility.]

[If they couldn’t control their lower bodies, they should at least take responsibility for the children.]

[Historically, there have been many cases similar to Envy’s.]

[If a devil invasion actually occurred, there would be countless people who would become like Envy.]

As a result, interest in illegitimate children has significantly increased. The tragic past of Envy, combined with the reality of Friedrich, has brought this issue to the forefront. Although the perception of illegitimate children was abysmally low, it has become clear that they are ‘victims’ rather than ‘potential perpetrators.’

[After Friedrich’s shocking confession, more people are revealing that they are illegitimate children of nobles...]

[I’m not asking for responsibility. I just want to live like a human being.]

This topic being covered in “Xenon’s Biography” has had a significant impact in reality. Many people have come forward to confess the secrets of their birth, reminiscent of the mixed-blood situation in Alvenheim.

The percentage of nobles is about 0.01% to 0.3% of the total population. It seems small, but remember that the human population alone is in the billions.

[Nobles denying their children and people insisting on temple verification. What is the truth?]

[It’s the same for commoners. Desire is equal among all genders and ages.]

[Unlike human nations, Alvenheim and Helium are quiet... The same goes for Animers and Makina.]

Elves naturally have a more reserved nature and less sexual desire compared to humans, and as known, demons have immense self-control.

Dwarves are the same. They are a peculiar race that would rather touch steel than engage in sexual relations. Beastmen... let’s skip them. Their instincts as beasts and their culture are far removed from the concept of illegitimate children.

Just describing it as ‘they shared a night together’ and moving on? Would the readers be satisfied with that, especially when they’ve been eagerly waiting for this scene? Absolutely not. Moreover, this is the most crucial part of the characters’ relationship, so it can’t be glossed over.

“While I can manage the length... to do that, I’d need to include psychological descriptions for Xenon and Mary as well. But Mary is an elf, right? Even though there’s no formal ritual due to the war, I know nothing about elven sexual practices...”

“Hmm... that’s true.”

Another issue is Mary’s (the elf) psychology. While Jin is fine thanks to Cecily’s advice, I don’t understand the mind of an elf. Elves, with their temperate dispositions, regard sexual relations as a kind of ‘ritual’. This is why their birth rate is extremely low.

I can’t even ask my acquaintances about it. Although Elena and Cindy are my companions, they’re not the type I can ask about such things.

‘Arwen is...’

There’s Arwen, but I’m too embarrassed to ask her. I know she has romantic feelings for me, but regardless, how could I suddenly ask her what she thinks about the first night? Even if it’s for “Xenon’s Biography,” it might make things awkward.

“Just ask her.”

“Huh? Ask who?”

“Ask Queen Arwen. You’ll end up with her sooner or later anyway.”

“.....”

It seems our dear Marie doesn’t mind. Whether she’s half given up or simply accepted it, she no longer cares who I’m with. As I looked at her in astonishment, she shrugged her shoulders and joked.

“Why are you making that face? It’s pointless to be jealous at this point. So stop worrying about me and just ask her. I’m curious too.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious. I’ll do anything if it helps you.”

From the look on her face, she seemed to mean it. I stared into Marie’s blue eyes before shifting my gaze elsewhere.

Others seemed to agree with Marie’s opinion, nodding or responding with silence. For a moment, I felt the urge to ask for Arwen’s opinion as well, but she would probably consent anyway.

“...So, should I really call her?”

I glanced around nervously as I pulled a summoning scroll from my desk drawer. The scroll, of course, was for summoning Siris.

When I received yet another affirmative response, I hesitated a few times before tearing the scroll. It had been a while since I last summoned Siris, so I wondered if she would respond.

A short while later...

“W-what did you say? F-first night? Suddenly?”

Arwen asked back, her silver-gray eyes wide in surprise. Her face was deeply flushed, and her long, elven ears twitched aimlessly up and down.

‘...She’s adorable.’

She looked truly adorable.

Translators note:

Chapter titles are back!