Chapter 36

■ Chapter 35. The Problem is Alcohol (2) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

The Chronicles of Xenon, a book that has had a profound impact on the world.

On the surface, it appears to be a simple tale of a hero, but the story it contains is profoundly deep. It portrays the maligned races, often treated as demons, as unfortunate beings and reveals the light and dark sides of the nobility in a straightforward manner.

Until now, novels have been convoluted and filled with complex words, but the Chronicles of Xenon takes a completely different approach. Its vivid and evocative writing style, along with its memorable scenes and messages, makes it a captivating read.

Most importantly, it was entertaining. The story of a commoner leading an ordinary life who encounters a fateful event, awakens his talent, and grows into a hero who saves the world, along with the charming main and supporting characters.

This made the Chronicles of Xenon a popular book that could be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age, gender, or race.

And the readers are most curious about one thing along with the next volume of the Chronicles of Xenon.

Who is the author of the Chronicles of Xenon? Who could have written such a book?

Many critics have offered various opinions, but the most credible hypothesis is that the author is an elderly sage. In particular, the hypothesis that the author is an explorer who has traveled the world and accumulated diverse experiences has gained significant traction.

Teenagers who need parental care and those in their early twenties who have just entered society were naturally ruled out. This is because the Chronicles of Xenon contains too many scenes that require a wealth of experience to write.

At least, unless the author has lived in another world.

"...Why are you asking that?"

Isaac, a red-haired man with half-open eyes, asked Cecilie in a slurred voice. His golden eyes, which once shone like amber, had lost their luster and become dull, and his usually gruff voice lacked strength.

His face, like his hair, had turned red, clearly indicating that he was drunk. His appearance was drastically different from his usual self.

'He's so cute.'

While thinking he was cute, Cecilie also recalled the suspicious circumstances she had noticed before. First, the callus on his middle finger, as mentioned by Lina, which is a sign of frequent writing.

Just as a knight's hand becomes calloused from holding a sword for a long time, the callus on his middle finger is a sign of holding a pen for a long time. It's a callus that would take at least a year to form, not just a couple of months.

Of course, Isaac, who has the habit of recording notes, could easily have such a callus. Additionally, he had mentioned that he likes studying, so this point could be overlooked.

Second, Isaac's indifferent attitude toward the Chronicles of Xenon. While he clearly likes the Chronicles of Xenon like others, he doesn't show the same level of enthusiasm. He reads it more as a hobby.

However, based on the conversation he had with Jackson earlier and his overall attitude, it was clear that he had a deep understanding of the Chronicles of Xenon. The fact that he seemed to know the story almost entirely suggested a level of passion, yet he appeared unusually indifferent.

Finally, the identity of the demons that Isaac mentioned last time.

'It's similar to what Xenon said to Jin. Is this really a coincidence?'

In the story, Jin, another protagonist, ponders the identity of the demons after witnessing the sacrifice of Sarkan, and Xenon helps alleviate his doubts. While others might think Xenon is just encouraging him, this context is not easily overlooked by Cecilie.

Isaac defined demons as "the most human-like beings who, despite knowing better than anyone that they cannot become human, desperately wish to become human." The words Xenon said to Jin are as follows:

Xenon's words resonate with what Isaac said to her.

If Isaac were indeed the author of the Chronicles of Xenon, the evidence would be shockingly consistent. However, this alone is not enough to be conclusive.

Most importantly, Isaac is currently 17 years old, just entering adulthood. While he may be knowledgeable, he cannot have a wealth of experience.

Moreover, Isaac has mentioned that he has lived at home and rarely gone out. Yet, the Chronicles of Xenon is filled with stories that require a lot of experience or direct observation.

Due to these decisive pieces of evidence, the claim that "Isaac is the author of the Chronicles of Xenon" cannot be substantiated. Cecilie shrugged in response to Isaac's question.

"I was just curious. You like reading and writing, don't you? I thought maybe you write books too."

"...No, I don't write books..."

"Really?"

Cecilie swirled her wine glass, watching the wine inside slosh, then turned her gaze to Isaac.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Isaac, who usually wears his thoughts on his face, was now hard to read.

People tend to make mistakes when they are drunk, but Isaac was instead hiding more. This only made her more suspicious. Once a suspicion arises, it tends to grow.

'I'd like to use magic, but... I can't.'

Magic has endless applications. There are spells that can be used for daily convenience and those that can manipulate the mind to reveal one's true thoughts.

While these spells are complex enough that a human couldn't use them, she, a demon known as a master of magic, could use them with some effort.

However, magic is prohibited in most areas of Halo Academy, and mind-affecting spells are particularly dangerous and can have significant side effects. It's not right to pry into the mind of someone you like just to confirm a suspicion.

If he were a stranger, she might have considered it, but because it's Isaac. Isaac is special to her, and she should treat him with care.

'Humans are numerous. There might be a coincidence.'

Despite his young age, Isaac is considerate and thoughtful, but he is still 17. Moreover, the number of humans is overwhelmingly large compared to other races, so there's no need to single him out.

'Still, I need to maintain my suspicion.'

The probability that Isaac is the author is very low, but it increases slightly if he is associated with the author. Cecilie briefly considered who might be in his circle before checking on Isaac's condition.

Isaac was almost incoherent and seemed about to collapse and fall asleep. It was clear that he needed to be seated or taken care of.

"Isaac, are you okay?"

"...Yes."

"You don't look okay at all. Go sit over there and rest."

Cecilie pointed to a chair in a secluded corner of the hall. It was a perfect spot for resting, with a wall to lean against.

Isaac looked in the direction she pointed and then shuffled over. He was holding a wine glass in one hand, which made him look a bit silly, but she was more worried than amused.

She walked with him to prevent him from falling, but it still felt unsafe. He looked like a baby penguin waddling after its parent.

"The wine... is... really... good... hehe."

He was now giggling. Cecilie looked at Isaac's laughing face with a new expression.

Usually, Isaac is gruff and only shows a different expression when he plays a prank, but he rarely laughs. When he does, it's just a slight chuckle, not the silly laugh he was showing now.

'He's even cuter when he laughs.'

The more she looked, the more he reminded her of a baby penguin. Despite not being particularly small, he seemed tiny, and his distinctive appearance was endearing. Perhaps it's because he is much younger than her.

Still, she needed to prohibit excessive drinking in the future. It wouldn't be good for Isaac to become a laughingstock at such gatherings. While he might not care, she felt uneasy.

"Rest here until the alcohol wears off. Got it?"

"Yes..."

"By the way, Isaac, you really don't write as a hobby, do you?"

Cecilie subtly changed the question to a hobby, hoping to get more information from Isaac, who was drunk and not thinking clearly.

Isaac looked at Cecilie blankly and then smiled. He answered brightly.

"I don't know about that..."

"..."

Cecilie smiled faintly at Isaac's childlike response.

Usually, he seems very mature, but now he looks like a child. They say that alcohol reveals a person's true nature. Is this Isaac's true nature? It's a very desirable one.

Cecilie placed her hand on Isaac's head and spoke affectionately. Her playful side was kicking in.

"Okay. I'm going to leave, so stay here and be good. Isaac is a good boy, right?"

"Yes..."

"That's right. Isaac is indeed a good boy."

She gently stroked his head. It felt soft, as if he had taken special care of it.

Isaac, like before, giggled and showed clear signs of enjoying it.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. Stay here as I told you, okay?"

"Yes!"

Cecilie moved away, still checking on Isaac occasionally.

Isaac was sitting straight but swaying back and forth like a bobblehead doll. Cecilie felt a bit uneasy but decided he would be fine.

After a few minutes of talking to others, she heard a soft snore.

"Zzz..."

Isaac's eyes slowly closed, and he finally fell asleep.