What the Hell Is This Bullshit? (2)

I could laugh and let it slide when it came to discussing pairings. Some might think the subject of Jackson's proposed battle of logic was strange, but to put it in perspective, it was like this.

Just as one might interpret the relationships between characters in a literary novel during language arts class, The Chronicle of Xenon was written in a similar format. Moreover, unlike the other novels in this world, it did not explain things in a roundabout way, but made everything immediately apparent, so the relationships between the characters were fairly clear.

A great many people knew what the relationship between the protagonist Xenon and the heroine Mary was, as well as the relationship between Jin and Lily. If Xenon's companions and allies were included, however, things became quite complicated.

"Fuck. What?"

But Jackson's statement was so absurd that, as the original author, I simply could not understand it. I normally refrained from swearing even unconsciously, yet this was enough to make the words slip out of my mouth on their own.

Perhaps Jackson had not expected me to swear, because he looked slightly surprised, but that lasted only a moment. He raised his index finger as though to say, See? and began explaining with his characteristic arrogant expression.

"Judging by the fact that you swore, it seems you were impressed as well. Still, I suppose no one could have predicted that Lily would go to Xenon. Doesn't everyone think so?"

"Well... Now that you mention it, it does sound like you're right."

"Their fundamental natures are different, so it can't be helped."

When Jackson asked everyone for their opinions, the general mood was one of agreement. I could vividly picture my common sense waving its hands in disbelief before packing up and leaving.

Had they been brainwashed, or was there something they had not brought up yet? However, since it was not just one or two people but most of them agreeing, I suspected the latter. These people were not idiots, and they would not have been so easily convinced by just that one point.

I barely managed to calm my boiling anger before asking Jackson. I wanted to shout at him right away, but this was not the time.

"...Is that all? Just because Lily shows an interest in Xenon?"

"Of course not. Unlike the world we live in, the world of The Chronicle of Xenon still has discrimination against demonkin. Lily is also a promising priestess within the Church of Light. That alone would be enough, but I consider Jin's birth even more important."

"His birth?"

The heat that had been boiling inside me cooled rapidly, as though I had just been doused in cold water.

Until a moment ago, I had been listening while thinking, What the hell is this bullshit? But after hearing the birth Jackson had 'mentioned,' the situation changed.

That was because Jin's birth was one of the most important pieces of foreshadowing in the story's future development.

Perhaps Jackson had read my expression, because he grinned and continued explaining in a triumphant voice.

"Exactly. Most people probably didn't notice because it was mentioned in passing, but Sakran, the leader of the demon hunters, said this to Jin: 'Demonkin with horns as large as yours and such a high concentration of black mana are exceedingly rare.' Moreover, the demonkin in The Chronicle of Xenon have the characteristic of having their demonic blood gradually diluted with each passing generation."

"... ..."

"Putting all of that together, the conclusion is obvious. Jin was born not of two demonkin, but of a true demon and a human. That means the characteristics of a demon would inevitably stand out more strongly in him."

"Wow..."

Clap- Clap- Clap- Clap-

I applauded him in genuine admiration. The beginning had been strange, but everything that followed fit perfectly with the story I had intended to tell.

In reality, unlike other demonkin, Jin was a demonkin who was infinitely closer to a demon than to a human. His mother had been raped by a demon and had no choice but to give birth to him, and he had grown up suffering severe abuse from childhood.

The demon who had raped Jin's mother was not an ordinary demon, either. He was the embodiment of 'Gluttony' among the Seven Deadly Sins, and possessed the ability to steal the power of others, befitting his title.

That ability was inherited by his son as well. Much later, Jin would use it to absorb the power of Diablo, the false final boss and archdemon. Naturally, the power would consume him afterward, and he would be tragically defeated by Xenon.

'So he isn't completely stupid.'

His actions were rude and obnoxious, but it seemed he was not stupid, either. In fact, he was closer to being a devoted reader who had read The Chronicle of Xenon more diligently than anyone.

Even so, being a devoted reader did not excuse being rude. Besides, Jackson was in a situation where he possessed both good fortune and misfortune at once. His good fortune was that I was the original author of The Chronicle of Xenon, and his misfortune was that I was the original author of The Chronicle of Xenon.

Jackson seemed pleased that I had even applauded him in admiration, because he wore an increasingly smug expression. He radiated the confidence of someone expecting me to look up to him.

"What do you think? You'd better say whatever you have to say now."

"So what you're saying is that Jin and Lily can never end up together because Jin's birth and Lily's position conflict with each other?"

"Yes. You heard me..."

"But it makes no sense for Lily to turn away and go to Xenon over something like that."

I cut Jackson off mid-sentence and made my opinion clear. He had not expected me to deny it so firmly, because a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

Jackson's deduction was genuinely excellent, but unfortunately, as the original author, I had to refute what needed refuting. His explanation sounded plausible enough that many people might interpret the story differently from what I had intended.

At the very least, I wanted to avoid having my character interpreted in some strange way whenever possible.

"...What exactly doesn't make sense?"

When I contradicted him, Jackson spoke in a low voice filled with displeasure. It seemed he was not happy that the deduction he had poured his passion into had been rejected.

Of course, since parts of Jackson's deduction were correct, it was only right to acknowledge them.

"As you said, there are suspicious aspects to Jin's birth. They might become a major obstacle later. No, they definitely will become an obstacle. The fact that his demonic traits are more pronounced than those of others means that he is closer to a demon than to a human."

"... ..."

"But do you really think Lily would not know that? If she has been with him since childhood, wouldn't she remain by his side even knowing the truth?"

There were many reasons Jin and Lily's love story was so heartbreaking, but one of them was their relationship as childhood friends. Jin had been abused even by his biological mother, who called him a demon, and had suffered greatly simply because he was demonkin.

If he had continued growing up that way, he really would have become a 'demon,' but after he happened to form a bond with Lily, his life changed completely. It is often described as being saved.

Lily also fell in love with Jin after witnessing the extent of his devotion, but their positions and circumstances kept them from approaching each other easily.

"And the favor Lily showed Xenon was closer to goodwill between one person and another than romantic interest. In particular, Xenon stopped Jin from becoming a demon several times, didn't he? From Lily's perspective, he must be someone she is deeply grateful to. Besides, Jin and Lily understand each other's feelings very well. There are plenty of descriptions of them occasionally looking at each other and smiling, or subtly holding hands."

"... ..."

"More importantly, Lily has given Jin flowers several times. Do you know what kind they were?"

Jackson furrowed his brow as though thinking hard after hearing my question. To give him the answer in advance, the flower Lily had given Jin was a lily.

A lily has several meanings in the language of flowers, but the most prominent one is undoubtedly 'pure love.' As her name suggested, Lily was openly expressing her love for Jin.

"A white flower, a lily. And a lily's meaning is unwavering love—in other words, pure love."

An answer emerged after a short while. But it came not from Jackson, but from one of the people who had been watching our situation intently.

I turned my head toward the person who had answered. He was a handsome young man with brown hair neatly swept back. Judging by his height and the sturdy build visible beneath his formalwear, I assumed he was a martial-arts student.

He had sharp eyes, and his chin was so slender it looked as though it could cut. Overall, he had the appearance of a coldly handsome man.

In any case, I should finish what I was saying. I shifted my gaze from the brown-haired man back to Jackson. Jackson had pressed his lips shut, apparently at a loss for words after hearing the meaning of the lily.

"By giving Jin lilies, Lily is emphasizing that her feelings will not change. Jin knows those feelings, which is why he devotes himself to her more than anyone. So even if the two of them cannot end up together, it is impossible for Lily to go to Xenon, at least for now. That would completely contradict the story's logic and Lily's characterization. The name Lily itself is proof of that."

"... ..."

"Even so, my admiration earlier was sincere. You noticed foreshadowing that other people would have easily overlooked and realized that Jin's birth was unusual. Honestly, even I was a little surprised by that."

"Ghk...!"

I had meant it as a compliment, but apparently Jackson did not take it that way. When he pressed his lips tightly together and began turning red, I wondered for a moment whether I had said something wrong, but I soon realized why.

When I said, 'Even I was a little surprised by that,' I had spoken from the standpoint of the original author, but Jackson had no idea that I was the original author. Thus, he could take my words to mean that I was above him.

Still, what could I do? Once words had been spoken, they could not be taken back.

Besides, considering how Jackson had picked fights with me all this time, I did not feel any need to correct myself. He could have his little meltdown on his own.

"Then do you also think Jin and Lily cannot end up together?"

As Jackson's face flushed, someone asked me a question. It was the brown-haired man who had answered about the meaning of the lily a moment earlier.

I took a moment to consider as I looked at him, appreciating his pleasant baritone and impeccable manners—unlike Jackson's. Telling him the future development exactly as it was felt like giving away a spoiler, and my conscience pricked me.

Moreover, in the worst case, this might give someone a lead to trace me. I had distinctive features that made me unforgettable after a single meeting. I wanted no part of that.

After thinking it over, I spoke, making it clear that this was only my hypothesis.

"Who knows? Only the author would know for sure, but I would lean toward the view that they won't end up together."

"Why is that?"

"Jin is the very embodiment of a knight devoted to Lily. If she were in danger, he would willingly give his own life for her. There are actually occasional descriptions to that effect."

"Ah! Is that what you mean? Jin's monologue about how he would gladly become a demon for Lily's sake?"

This guy even knew that. I flinched at the brown-haired man's bright expression as he answered.

He looked cold, as though he would never show a single emotion, but now that I looked at him... His eyes were sparkling, and he seemed to possess an extraordinary passion for this particular subject.

"Uh... I suppose that's part of it, too? In any case, Jin is willing to sacrifice his life for Lily, even if it means becoming a demon."

"Poor Jin... Do you think it will really come to that?"

"Only the author knows. Still, I hope the two of them end up together."

"When I get back to the dormitory, I'll have to look for each of those scenes. I didn't notice them while reading, but hearing it explained like this is fascinating."

When I finished speaking, the people who had been watching began exchanging their opinions with one another. Once the situation seemed to have settled down somewhat, I looked at Jackson.

Jackson looked frustrated that things had not gone the way he had expected. The fiery glare with which he stared at me made him seem rather pathetic.

'Who told you to say something so absurd?'

Again, his only misfortune was that I was the original author who had personally written The Chronicle of Xenon. If I had been someone else, his logic might well have convinced me.

His certainty that Jin and Lily would not end up together was admirable, but I could not simply stand by while he claimed that Lily, the very epitome of pure love, would go to Xenon.

I quietly spoke while staring at Jackson, who was trembling and unable even to speak.

"So, do you have anything else to say? I'm fine with whatever."

"Grrk!"

The sound of him grinding his teeth came through clearly, and Jackson walked away as though he did not even want to face me anymore. Even after he left, not a single person looked at him.

I was just about to start walking as well when—

"Excuse me, red-haired gentleman? May I ask your name?"

The cold, handsome brown-haired man called out to me, stopping me from leaving. I looked at him with slight bewilderment.

His face held what seemed to be anticipation and interest. The moment I saw it, I instinctively knew I had been dragged into something troublesome.

"...My name is Isaac. Isaac Duker Mayshall."

"Duker... Mayshall?"

"Mayshall is the Red Lion's family name, isn't it?"

"Come to think of it, Assistant Nicole is a Mayshall too."

Perhaps it was because they were martial-arts students. The moment they heard my father's surname, associated with the Red Lion, they began murmuring among themselves.

Nicole's name came up from time to time as well, and judging by that, she seemed to be famous even among the freshmen. Then again, with that face and those skills, it would be strange if she were not famous.

"No wonder... I thought your red hair and golden eyes looked familiar. So you're the son of the Red Lion. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Edin Mabi Signer, the eldest son of the House of Count Signer."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Edin. By the way, may I ask why you called me over?"

The brown-haired man who had introduced himself as Edin answered my question as though it were nothing important.

"Since things have turned out this way, I wanted to talk with you, Lord Isaac. As Lord Jackson said earlier, everyone here is a passionate fan of The Chronicle of Xenon. You seem to be one as well, so I thought it would be enjoyable if you joined us."

"... ..."

I'm not a fan. I'm the original author. I gave Edin an ambiguous smile after hearing his invitation.

Still, unlike Jackson, he was not going to pick a fight with me, and I did have a few things I was curious about, so I had no intention of refusing. Since things had turned out this way, I might as well make some connections while I was at it.

"Yes. Why not? Before that, may I have some wine? My throat is a little dry."

"Ah, yes. The wine is on that table over there."

I went over to the table Edin had pointed out. A waiter who had been waiting nearby immediately poured me a glass, so I did not even have to choose the wine myself.

The wine in the glass was a deep purple, and when I brought it to my nose, its sharp grape aroma tickled my nose.

'Shall I try a sip?'

It seemed like it would be fine to have a sip before returning. After checking whether anyone nearby was watching, I took a tiny sip of the wine.

"...Oh."

There was no bitterness at all, only a mildly intoxicating sweetness that lingered in my mouth. It was perfect for my childish palate.

Satisfied with the taste, I returned to my previous spot. The group had not broken up even after Jackson left, which made it seem that they really had gathered only fans of The Chronicle of Xenon.

As proof, most of the conversations coming from the group concerned The Chronicle of Xenon. A wide variety of topics flowed back and forth, and I was embarrassed just listening to them.

"Ah. You're back. We were just discussing something interesting."

"Something interesting?"

It seemed that a conversation had taken place while I was away getting wine. When I asked, puzzled, Edin nodded and began speaking.

"Yes. Everyone was discussing Mary's origins. As you know, Mary is a mage, Lord Isaac. But magic is an extremely difficult ability for commoners to learn. So most people believe it is likely that Mary is a noble, and not merely a noble, but someone of marquis rank or higher."

"Hmm... Is that so? What do you think, Lord Edin?"

"I suspect Mary may be connected to the elves. The Chronicle of Xenon consistently describes people's appearances, yet it always mentions that Mary's ears are hidden by her abundant hair. Elves are masters of magic just like demonkin, so hiding their ears would be easy for them."

"... ..."

"What do you think, Lord Isaac?"

What the hell was with this guy? How did he know all that?

Faced with Edin's explanation, which seemed to have every detail figured out, I could only give a dumbfounded answer.

"...I'm not really sure about details like that."

Saying that in front of such a devoted reader made my conscience ache.