After the storm, the sky is always clear. As if nothing happened after a storm that seed to sweep away everything, only a peaceful atmosphere remains at the scene.
However, the storm is powerful enough to sweep away everything in its place. The trunk of a giant tree deeply rooted in the ground was weakly broken in half, and the civilization that people have built was relentlessly destroyed by the power of nature.
So people endure the storm to see the endlessly clear blue sky. Whether the storm is a literal storm or another kind of storm.
I too almost collapsed like a tree trunk in the storm, but I was barely able to withstand it thanks to Nicole’s sincere comfort. After that, only a clear sky without a single cloud shone on , giving a refreshing feeling.
Currently, Xenon’s Biography is in the process of writing its 9th volu, and if writing continues up to the 10th volu, it will take about a year to complete. And since I decided to take a break until my 3rd year of high school, my period of rest is guaranteed for at least a year.
For so reason, perhaps because of that thought, I was able to write my manuscript smoothly. Although I have a terrifying concentration that once I grab sothing, and I see it through to the end, there is another reason why I have beco more resilient.
[Ah Isaac, I heard news from your sister. The prince and princess are looking for you. Fortunately, they mistook for you as the author, so that’s a relief. However, I also heard that you’re feeling down. I would love to visit the academy, but I don’t have the ti. (Omitted). Our family supports you completely. Even if your writing isn’t going well, we don’t mind. All we want is for you to not forget to smile. Don’t be too upset by using as a shield. I’ll gladly be your shield. A father is soone who his children can rely on.]
It was a letter that arrived from ho a few days later, a letter that contained my father’s sincere words.
He usually writes simple letters that are easy to understand, but this ti my father sent a long letter that was almost as long as my mothers’s, and I couldn’t help but shed a tear as I read it.
I am both happy and sorry to know that I have such reliable people in my life. I wonder what these simple words an to them. “Xenon’s Biography”, a new work, or my studies. I am my parents’ proud son.
Thanks to this determination, I achieved the feat of writing the ninth volu in just one month, which was originally expected to take two months. I checked carefully for any mistakes due to writing too quickly and sent it ho.
As an extra precaution, I included an explanation for the coffee stains on the manuscript, so that my parents, who love their children so much, would not misunderstand.
But as a month passed, things had also changed. Just like how a daunting task of assignnts and exams awaited college students during that one month, it was the sa for academy students.
“How was the exam?”
“Well… it was a bit difficult. I guess there are limits to just morizing things. The topics were sothing I couldn’t even imagine.”
It was the day of the history exam that everyone had been so nervous about.
Cecily and I were discussing the exam outside the classroom after we had both finished.
Cecily had a slightly disappointed expression, indicating that the exam had been more difficult than she had anticipated. As she said, the history exam was not just about morizing historical facts.
Professor Elena had laid a foundation of historical knowledge during her lectures and explained what could be learned from history and what should be learned. It was like a lecture that focused on the subject of history itself rather than just historical knowledge.
And the topic of this history exam was as follows:
[Describe your own interpretation of history.]
It may seem simple on the surface, but it is a cruelly difficult essay question that requires careful consideration of whether to write in a simple and concise manner or to provide a detailed explanation.
Cecily, who had grumbled for a mont, turned to and asked with a curious voice.
“Isaac, wasn’t it difficult? You wrote it down quickly and handed in the test paper.”
“You saw that?”
“Of course I did, you were the first one to finish. What did you write?”
There is a famous saying related to history that is ntioned without fail in every lifeti. Although it is not clear who said it first, it is a phrase that is firmly engraved in people’s minds.
Upon hearing her question, I replied in my characteristic blunt voice, “History always repeats itself. That’s all I wrote down and ca out. What about Cecily?”
“Of course…”
“You’re not going to tell , are you? I already know.”
Before Cecily could play her prank, I spoke up first. She was montarily taken aback, then looked at with a puzzled expression.
From my observations of Cecily so far, she had a habit of raising the corners of her mouth before playing a prank on . Seeing that, I had a hunch that she was going to play a prank, so I preempted her.
“How did you know?”
Cecily asked , clearly surprised and half-confused.
As expected, people often fail to recognize their own habits, I thought to myself.
I stared at Cecily’s rare look of confusion for a mont before quietly opening my mouth.
“I’m not going to teach you, okay?”
“…Fine.”
“I can’t be the only one getting pranked.”
“Hmph.”
Cecily stuck out her tongue and turned her head with a huff. She was expressing her annoyance with , but I didn’t need to pay much attention to it.
It was only a matter of ti before she played another prank on . Despite being mischievous, Cecily’s behavior was becoming increasingly tireso.
“Noona.”
“What is it?”
“Is it just that you play pranks on, or do you play them on other people too?”
So, I asked. While Cecily was usually talkative and cheerful when with Rina, she tended to play pranks a lot when alone with .
However, I was starting to get tired of it because it seed like the pranks needed to be reciprocated to be considered as such, and I had been feeling a bit uncomfortable with them for so ti.
I was starting to get confused as to whether she was treating like a toy or as a person.
After hearing my question, Cecily blinked her red eyes and then answered with a tilted head.
“What? I play pranks on other people besides Rina too. I never play pranks on people who are not close to .”
“Um… really?”
“…Why do you ask? Are you feeling upset?”
As Cecily noticed my hesitant reaction, she seed to realize that the atmosphere had beco awkward and spoke cautiously.
I stared at Cecily, who looked anxious, and rembered her age. She was a demon who had lived for over 100 years.
Having lived through those years and having seen and experienced many things, it was difficult to determine whether her unfamiliarity with certain aspects was due to her first stepping into human society or due to her upbringing.
“It’s not that I feel bad, but I wish you could tone it down a bit. Instead of playing pranks like earlier, I’d like to share interesting stories with each other.”
“…I see. Sorry. I must have gone too far.”
Cecily apologized with a remorseful expression at my request. As I saw a sign that the mood was getting dark, I quickly changed the subject.
“I have a question, though. Did you never have soone play pranks on you when you lived in the kingdom?”
Cecily is a princess of Helium. In terms of status, she is similar to Rina.
So, she would have t various people to build up her network, and so of those connections may have developed into friendships.
However, contrary to my expectations, Cecily gave a slightly bitter smile and shook her head. She ant no.
“There were hardly any besides my father. There were no siblings or anyone who could be called a friend, and everyone who approached only did so because of my power. I suppose it’s because I’m scheduled to be the next Demon King.”
“What about the maids? As a princess, wouldn’t you have maids?”
“That was the case in the past. But there were so…unpleasant incidents. At least in Helium, it’s safe to say that there is no one who would dare to play pranks on , except for my father.”
It seems that she has so unpleasant mories. Moreover, Cecily has an excellent mory, so she probably vividly rembers what happened back then.
As I looked at Cecily, who was awkwardly smiling, I quickly apologized. I had asked to change the mood, but it only made the situation more awkward.
“I’m sorry. It seems like I touched upon so unpleasant mories.”
“No, no. Thanks to that, I realized how precious this mont is. Anyway, I’ll try to refrain from playing too many pranks from now on. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“By the way, who is Isaac waiting for?”
Just like I did earlier, Cecily changed the subject to dispel the awkwardness.
I responded to her question.
“Marie. I’m curious if she did well on her test.”
“Is that all?”
Cecily looked at with a subtle gaze. It seed like she thought there was sothing going on between and Mary, but unfortunately, that was not the case at all.
I am not completely clueless, and I do know that Marie has more than friendly feelings towards . However, due to my busy schedule, I don’t have the capacity to receive her affections.
‘I’ll have to gradually reveal my secret…’
If, and it’s highly unlikely, but if Mary and I were to officially start dating, it would probably be after I disclose that I am the author of Xenon’s Biography.
Before, even if soone was my close friend, I had a mindset of keeping secrets, excluding my family. However, my thoughts have changed after receiving my family’s sincere comfort.
I still keep secrets, but I leave clues for people I trust in secret. So that even if people learn that I am the author of Xenon’s Biography, I expect nothing more than just a simple “Oh, really?” response.
Marie is one of the people who et those conditions. I’m not sure about her family background, but I’m confident that Marie is not soone who would take advantage of . It would be a surprise to reveal my secret, but that’s okay.
Of course, I have already left several clues, but let’s overlook that. That was entirely my mistake.
“That’s really it. There’s nothing else.”
“Hmm, okay.”
Cecily looked at with a skeptical expression. Seeing her lips twitch, it seed like she wanted to play a joke.
I chuckled and then looked towards the classroom door. Although a few students had co out, I couldn’t see familiar white hair.
Maybe it’s taking longer than expected because she hated history so much. Or maybe Cecily and I ca out too early.
“Co to think of it, it seems like it’s about ti for the 9th volu of Xenon’s Biography to co out…”
Just as I wondered if waiting would be boring. Suddenly, Cecily brought up the topic of the 9th volu of Xenon’s Biography, and gave a sly smile.
As for , it was a sowhat surprising topic, but since it was Cecily and no one else, it was alright. If Rina had brought it up, she would have been so shocked that my face would have turned red.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke in the most composed voice I could muster. I had sent the manuscript ho a few days ago, so the 9th volu would be out soon.
“It should co out, right? Only the author knows when it will co out though.”
“Is that so? Since they released one volu per month, maybe it will be completed around the end of the first year?”
Why are you asking that while looking at ? I couldn’t help feeling uneasy as I gazed at Cecily, whose face was full of expectation.
Since the gathering, Cecily has been looking at every ti she ntions Xenon’s Biography, which makes extrely uncomfortable.
‘…Did I make any mistakes back then?’
This even led to question myself. Otherwise, there would be no reason for Cecily to act like that. She is suspicious of as the author of Xenon’s Biography.
I gazed blankly at Cecily, who was smiling brightly, then turned my head slightly towards the classroom door. If she really doubts , I need to be careful with every word I say.
There may already be spilled water, but I can prevent any further damage from now on.
“Well, that’s up to the author’s discretion.”
“I hope it cos out soon too. I thought one month was a short ti, but it turned out to be surprisingly long.”
It had a subtle nuance of subtly urging. I tried to endure wanting to give a bitter smile as much as possible.
‘I’m sorry, but I plan to submit only up to the 10th volu and take a hiatus for more than a year.’
In fact, submitting the ninth volu in just a month is a remarkable feat for who currently has no ti.
However, I was able to submit the ninth volu in just a month thanks to the support of my family, and it will take at least two months to submit the 10th volu, followed by a hiatus of more than a year.
If Cecily doubts as the author, I expect there may be so changes after the hiatus notice. Perhaps she may even ask directly if I’m the author of Xenon’s Biography.
I will be ready for that. For now…
‘I should take a break until the end of the exams…’
I’m planning to loosen up my body, which is accumulating fatigue from consecutive assignnts and test bombs. I pressed my nose and temples tightly due to the overwhelming exhaustion.
It’s like feeling overheated from running the engine too hard. I have been exercising steadily every weekend, but it’s still physically challenging to juggle writing and studying.
Moreover, didn’t I even spill coffee on my manuscript last ti? I tend to spill my coffee easily when tired, so it’s better to be careful in many ways.
“You look very tired. Are you okay?”
Cecily seed to have noticed that I was tired and asked with a worried voice. I nodded and replied.
“Yes, I’m just a little tired. You don’t have to worry.”
“…Still, don’t push yourself too hard. No matter how important your grades are, your health is the most important thing.”
“I know already. But don’t you still have to do what you have to do?”
Even though I tried to smile, Cecily couldn’t hide her worried expression. For Cecily, I was one of her few friends, so this was a natural reaction.
But really, I was just a little tired, nothing more. So I extended my hand as if to say, “Don’t worry.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? It’s no problem if you just take a good nap.”
“…Alright. I guess I should just rest instead of doing sothing else for no reason?”
“Of course.”
Until then, I thought that my ordinary life would continue as usual.
[Xenon’s Biography, which divides human sins into seven categories. How will the religious community react?]
[The Luminous Order. The seven deadly sins are enough to reaffirm the foundation of theology. Nurous scholars are already studying and comparing each subject, and it’s surprisingly consistent.]
[Each race is responsible for a particular sin…especially the elves, who are in charge of ‘pride,’ it’s really shocking…]
[What is the strongest sin among the seven deadly sins? We will find out as the story progresses, but most readers expect it to be ‘pride’…]
Until the seven deadly sins, which were useful in the previous life, had unexpected consequences.
In response to the reaction that was on a completely different level than the previous eight volus, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
“…I hope this doesn’t end up being blasphemy and get arrested?”
Translators note:
Our boi gon did it again…
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