“Excuse for a mont.”
“huh?”
My companions and I approached the demon man who was having a friendly conversation with a human woman and called out to them for a mont.
The demon stopped talking to the human woman who appeared to be his lover and turned his gaze towards . If Gartz’s horns were like those of a sheep, then this man’s horns stretched up long and twisted. He had the characteristic black hair of his demon race and, unlike Cecily’s escort knight, Gartz, he had a sturdy build and a flamboyant and passionate appearance.
The human woman, who was assud to be his lover, was not as beautiful as Marie and Cecily, but she revealed a graceful and adorable charm. However, as the man was a little bigger than her, she was holding onto his arm, almost hanging on him.
“…What can I do for you?”
The demon asked with a lot of suspicion at first, but as soon as he saw Cecily, his expression softened considerably. It seed he had concluded that at least I hadn’t approached them with any malicious intent since he had another demon beside him.
However, the woman who was assud to be his lover still didn’t let her guard down. Instead, as soon as the demon beca slightly less guarded, she clung to his arm even more tightly.
I looked at the woman who was attached to the demon’s arm like a cicada and turned my head to face the demon. Eventually, I asked a question out of curiosity, facing his reddish eyes, like Cecily’s.
“There are a few things I’d like to ask.”
“Things you’d like to ask?”
“Yes.”
“Well… I don’t know what the nobles are curious about, but I’ll answer with sincerity.”
The man seed to have seen through our nobility just by looking at our appearance and clothes. However, he didn’t seem to know that Cecily was the princess of Helium. Since there were also social classes in Helium like in human society, if this man was a commoner, he might not even know who Cecily was.
“Rai…”
anwhile, the woman who was still holding onto his arm called out to the demon with a worried voice. Her face beca even more anxious as she realized that we were nobles. The demon nad Rai gave her a gentle smile and patted her head. She seed a little relieved by her sturdy boyfriend’s comfort.
“We’re not bad people. We approached because we were really curious, so you don’t have to be too wary.”
“…I see.”
“Thank you. Did you say your na is Rai?”
“Yes, I’m Rai Estor.”
“My na is Isaac Ducker Michelle. I was just curious about how you ca to our territory.”
Rai looked at sharply before glancing at Cecily and then spoke calmly.
“Seems like it’s because I’m a demon.”
“Exactly.”
“Hmm…”
Rai scratched his chin with a hand that wasn’t holding onto the woman. I waited patiently until he opened his mouth.
If Cecily wasn’t here, he might have had so doubts after my question, but there was no sign of that. Perhaps Rai didn’t realize how close this was to an interview.
However, as a demon, he must have experienced many ups and downs.
“The reason we visited your territory is the sa as everyone else’s. We’re both fans of Xenon’s Biography, that’s all.”
“Of course. Then, if I may ask a personal question?”
“That’s fine.”
“As you know, demons couldn’t reveal their true appearance until the release of Xenon’s Biography. They were often treated harshly if they were discovered.”
The more I continued my explanation, the more doubtful the expression on the woman’s face, while Rai’s expression was calm.
It seed that she trusted Rai absolutely, and it was uncomfortable for her to treat him as a devil.
I glanced at the woman and then got to the point.
“However, Xenon’s Biography changed everything. The perception of demons has completely changed, and they are no longer treated as devils. So my question is this. When did you co out of Helium, what kind of life did he lead, and when did he et his partner next to him?”
“Was that what you were asking? I’m embarrassed that I doubted you. Hahaha.”
Rai laughed heartily, as if completely dispelling any doubts he had. Thanks to him, the woman seed to be less suspicious as well.
Then, Rai seed to organize his thoughts and began to recall his life story with a bright smile.
“As you said, I’m from Helium. I ca out to human society about five years ago. There was magic to hide my identity, so there were no problems as long as I was careful. During those years, I t various people and made many connections. Of course, there were dangers. Many tis, I found myself in difficult situations, but I always managed to overco them.”
“Why did you co out of Helium?”
“It’s nothing special. Being only in helium, my body ached and I couldn’t stay still. That’s why I took the risk and ca out.”
Rai seed to have a natural adventurer temperant.
I’m not sure if I should call them brave or reckless for embarking on an adventure despite knowing the discrimination that demons face.
“Have demons who ventured outside of Helium not experienced enough tragedies to warrant such risk?”
Cecily, who had been listening quietly, asked Rai with a sowhat puzzled tone. Unlike , who used polite language, Cecily spoke informally to Rai, as he was one of her own people, there was no need to use honorifics.
“Well, that’s because…”
Rai looked at Cecilie’s face as she asked the question, but instinctively his gaze dropped downward. She barely managed to stop herself from snickering at his very male response.
“Ahem. We venture out not because there is sothing worthwhile, but to find sothing worthwhile. Demons have lived longer than other species in Helium, so we can’t just live there. Although we have experienced both good and bad things, we are experiencing good things now.”
“Are you talking about your significant other next to you?”
“Yes. Even though she knows I’m a demon, she’s the only person who stayed by my side. That was even before Xenon’s Biography ca out.”
The story of Lily and Jin in Xenon’s Biography was not just a fiction.
I had expected such beings to exist in a world as vast as this and with so many people, but now that I had t them in person, I felt a strange feeling.
Watching the man and woman who exuded a lovely atmosphere, I smiled gently and spoke.
“It’s a very romantic story. I didn’t expect to see a story I’ve only seen in Xenon’s Biography.”
“Hahaha. I’ve already heard that countless tis.”
“Then, when were you able to confidently reveal your identity like you do now?”
“Of course, it’s been since the fifth volu of Xenon’s Biography. Before that, I had no choice but to hide my identity.”
The mont when demons’ perception drastically changed was during the climax of the fifth volu, a morable scene that is still talked about today, Sakran’s sacrifice.
It’s been speculated that since that scene, the perception towards demons did a complete 180, and they were able to confidently reveal their true form.
“Is it still okay though? Even though Xenon’s Biography changed the way demons are viewed, the conflicts that have occurred until now will still be difficult to resolve.”
This is a question from Cecily. She is the princess of Helium, so she was sowhat free from discriminatory looks, but she doesn’t know much about the commoners’ situation.
This worry is natural, as the persecution of demons by other races lasted for over 1000 years. This ans that instead of fading away, their emotions have been maintained over this long ti period.
Furthermore, there is a history of the demons being labeled as devils by the Savior and massacred, so the divide between the two sides may be deeper than the valley.
Therefore, the demons may still look down on or disdain others, and other races may still view them as devils.
“Yes. Thanks to Xenon’s Biography, life has beco more comfortable, but there are still discriminatory attitudes in various ways. Just a month ago, there were cases where we couldn’t stay at an inn or receive a request because I was a demon.”
“… …”
Listening to Rai’s story, mories of racial discrimination that were prevalent in my past life naturally ca to mind.
Although racial discrimination is strictly prohibited except in certain countries, unfortunately, news often cos out about cris committed due to racial discrimination.
In this world, there may be even more severe discrimination based on ethnicity than on race, so if we continue to do so, we will definitely not be doing less.
“… We still have a long way to go.”
Cecily smiled sadly after listening to Rai’s story. Although things have definitely improved since before, prejudices against demons still existed.
Rai spoke in a reassuring tone after seeing Cecily’s lancholic smile.
“But you don’t have to worry too much. Although there are still unfavorable views towards us, our demon race will no longer be covering. As the princess knows, Xenon’s Biography has given us a sense of pride.”
“…You recognized ?”
“Of course. Only royalty can wear that necklace. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.”
I listened to Rai’s words and confird the necklace that Cecily wore today. It only looked like an old silver necklace at first glance, but it seed to have a special aning to the demons.
‘Co to think of it, did she wear that necklace at the gathering?’
My mory is not that good, so I’m not sure if she wore this necklace back then. All I rember is Cecily’s dress being so striking that it’s the only thing that cos to mind.
“No. It seems you were enjoying the exhibition with your lover, but we rudely interrupted you.”
“No, it’s fine. It was actually a pleasant conversation.”
“Then I’ll ask you one last thing. Which direction do you think our demon race should go in?”
“As I ntioned earlier, if we follow the phrase in Xenon’s Biography, it’s enough. We were born as demons, but we are more human than anyone else, moving towards the light. Isn’t that enough?”
Rai answered faithfully with a proud smile on his face. It was an answer that only soone with a strong belief could make, and there was no doubt in it.
What I wrote in the book shows the direction that certain people should follow. It was indeed a proud result.
“You’re right. That’s the identity of our demon race. Anyway, thank you for your answer.”
“I hope the princess will also find her light.”
Rai gave Cecily a complint and gently hugged the woman attached to his arm. It seems that he found the light through his relationship with her.
Although they may eventually part ways due to the difference in their lifespans, they will not regret it.
At least for this mont, it will be a beautiful mory for them.
“The light…”
As Cecily muttered sothing under her breath, she slowly turned her head towards . I also t her gaze.
After staring at my face intently for a while, she smiled and then shifted her attention to Rai.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel like I’ve rediscovered what light is.”
“I’m honored to have been able to help.”
“You don’t need to. Anyway, let’s go. Oh, by the way, what’s your na?”
“…My na is Veronica Echens.”
“Veronica, you should stick close to Rai as well. As creatures of darkness like us, we tend to wander when the light leaves us.”
“…Okay.”
Veronica’s response was as timid as her appearance. Cecily giggled at Veronica’s response and then spoke to .
“We should go now.”
“Yes. Marie?”
“…Sure.”
Even though I called out to her, Marie only fixed her gaze on Cecily without looking at . It was hard to describe, but it seed like she was on guard. Furthermore, she clung even closer to my body, interlocking her arm with .
Feeling a bit awkward due to her action, I looked at Marie’s expression and couldn’t help but be wary. Her blue eyes were filled with deep suspicion.
It seed like Marie felt sothing from the conversation between Cecily and Rai earlier. While I was thinking that, Marie called out to Cecily in a quiet voice.
“…Cecily.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“You’re not thinking anything strange, are you?”
Cecily blinked her eyes at Marie’s uneasy question, then suddenly smiled.
And then, half-closing her eyes, her red eyes glistened and she replied in a low voice.
“I don’t know what you’re asking.”
“You…”
“Well… Marie? How about we have a private conversation just between us?”
After saying that, Cecily looked at and finished speaking.
“It could be sothing important to you.”
It could be my imagination, but the red light on her horns seed to have deepened.
Translators note:
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