Chapter 92

■ Chapter 91. Exhibition (3) □ ᓚᘏᗢ

"Excuse me for a moment."

"Huh?"

My party and I approached the male demon who was having a tender conversation with a human woman and called out to them.

The demon stopped his conversation with the human woman, whom I presumed to be his lover, and turned his gaze to me.

If Gartz's horns resembled those of a sheep, this man's horns were long and curled upwards.

His appearance was characterized by the black hair and red eyes typical of demons, and unlike Gartz, Cecil's bodyguard, he was robust and had a hearty, passionate demeanor.

The human woman, whom I presumed to be his lover, was not as beautiful as Mari and Cecil, but she still had a refined and delicate beauty.

However, the significant difference in their builds meant that the woman was almost clinging to the man's arm.

"...What is it?"

The demon initially asked with a full dose of suspicion, but his expression softened when he saw Cecil.

It seemed that with another demon present, he concluded that we did not approach with any ill intentions.

However, the woman, whom I presumed to be his lover, remained on guard. In fact, as soon as the demon's suspicion eased, she clung even tighter to his arm.

I stared at the woman, who clung to the demon's arm like a cicada, and then turned to face the demon.

Finally, I met his eyes, which were as red as Cecil's, and voiced my curiosity.

"There's something I'd like to ask."

"Ask?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... I don't know what the noble gentlemen are curious about, but I will answer sincerely."

The man seemed to have immediately recognized us as nobles from our appearance and attire.

However, he did not seem to know that Cecil was the princess of Helium. Since there are classes in Helium society, similar to human society, it was understandable that a commoner like him would not know who Cecil was.

"Lai..."

Meanwhile, the woman, who was still clinging to his arm, called out to the demon with a worried voice, looking even more anxious upon realizing we were nobles.

The demon, called Lai, smiled softly and gently patted her head.

Encouraged by the comforting gesture from her sturdy boyfriend, the woman seemed to relax a bit.

I watched their close bond with growing curiosity and tried to reassure her.

"We're not bad people. We just have some genuine questions, so there's no need to be so wary."

"...I understand."

"Thank you. You said your name is Lai, right?"

"Yes. I'm Lai Estor."

"I'm Isaac Duker Mysal. I was just wondering how you ended up in our territory."

In response to my question, Lai stared at me intently, then glanced at Cecil. He then spoke in a calm voice.

"It seems you're curious because I'm a demon."

"Exactly."

"Hmm..."

Lai, using his other hand to scratch his chin, while the woman clung to his arm. I waited silently for him to speak.

If Cecil hadn't been there, he might have harbored some suspicion upon hearing my question, but he showed no such signs.

Perhaps Lai had realized that this was more of an interview.

Still, as a demon, he must have had a wealth of experiences, so it wouldn't be easy.

"First, the reason I visited your territory is the same as others. We are fans of the Xeon Chronicles. That's all there is to it."

"Indeed. Then, may I ask a more personal question?"

"Sure."

"Lai, as you know, demons couldn't reveal themselves freely before the publication of the Xeon Chronicles. They would often be treated harshly if their true identity was discovered."

As I explained, Lai maintained a calm expression, while the woman's suspicion grew stronger.

It seemed she trusted Lai absolutely, and the idea of treating him as a demon was uncomfortable for her.

I glanced at the woman and then got to the point.

"But things changed with the publication of the Xeon Chronicles. The perception of demons changed completely, and the frequency of being treated as demons decreased significantly. So, my question is this: When did you leave Helium, what kind of life have you lived, and when did you meet your lover?"

"Is that what you wanted to know? Well, I feel a bit embarrassed now. Hahaha."

Lai laughed heartily, completely dispelling his suspicion. The woman also seemed to relax a bit.

Then, Lai seemed to gather his thoughts and began to share his life story with a bright smile.

"As you said, I'm from Helium. I came to human society about 5 years ago. With magic to hide my identity, I was careful and had no problems. During that time, I met many people and formed various relationships. Of course, there were times of crisis. I often had to cut ties when my true identity was discovered."

"Why did you leave Helium?"

"It's nothing much. I just couldn't stay still, feeling restless. So, I took the risk and left."

Lai seemed to have a natural adventurer's spirit.

It's hard to say whether he was brave or reckless for embarking on an adventure knowing the discrimination demons faced.

"Most demons who left Helium experienced tragic events. Was it worth it?"

Cecil, who had been listening quietly, asked Lai in a tone that suggested she didn't quite understand.

Unlike me, who spoke politely, Cecil used a more casual tone with Lai. After all, he was one of her subjects, so there was no need for formalities.

"That's..."

Lai looked at Cecil, and his gaze instinctively dropped. His very male reaction almost made me chuckle, but I managed to hold it back.

Then, he forced himself to look at Cecil's face and spoke, though his eyes kept drifting downward.

"Ahem. It wasn't that it was worth it, but I left to find something worth it. Demons live longer than other races, so living only in Helium wasn't enough. Although I've experienced both good and bad things, I'm currently experiencing good things."

"You mean your lover?"

"Yes. She is the only person who has stayed by my side, even knowing I'm a demon. And that was before the Xeon Chronicles were published."

The story of Lili and Jin in the Xeon Chronicles was not just a fictional tale.

I had expected that such beings might exist in this vast world, but meeting them in person was a strange feeling.

I watched the two of them, who were exuding a cozy atmosphere, and smiled gently.

"What a romantic story. I never thought I'd see something like this from the Xeon Chronicles in real life."

"Hahaha. I've heard that story countless times already."

"Then, when did you start being able to reveal your true identity as confidently as you are now?"

"Of course, it was after the fifth volume of the Xeon Chronicles. Before that, I had to hide my identity."

The perception of demons changed significantly with the climax of the fifth volume, a scene that has been widely discussed, the sacrifice of Sarkan.

Since then, the perception of demons has completely changed, and it's likely that they started revealing their true identities from that point.

"Still, is it okay? The Xeon Chronicles have changed the perception of demons, but the deep-seated conflicts from the past are hard to resolve."

Cecil's question. As the princess of Helium, she was somewhat free from discriminatory views, but she didn't know the situation of the common people.

This concern was natural, as the period during which demons were oppressed by other races lasted for 1000 years. During this time, the emotions of both sides were not diluted but maintained.

Moreover, there was a history of demons being massacred in Saver, where they were definitively labeled as devils. The conflict between the two sides must be deeper than a canyon.

"True. Thanks to the Xeon Chronicles, life has become easier, but there are still discriminatory views. A month ago, I couldn't stay at an inn or take a job because I was a demon."

"..."

Hearing Lai's story, I was reminded of the racial discrimination that was prevalent in my previous life.

While racial discrimination is strictly prohibited in most countries, unfortunately, news of crimes due to racial discrimination still occasionally surfaces.

In this world, there must be even more severe racial discrimination than in my previous life.

"...We still have a long way to go."

Cecil smiled sadly after hearing Lai's story. Indeed, while things have improved compared to before, the preconceived notions about demons still persist.

Lai, seeing Cecil's sad smile, reassured her.

"Don't worry too much. While there are still negative views about us, demons no longer have to be afraid. As you know, the Xeon Chronicles have given us a sense of pride."

"...You knew who I was?"

"Of course. Only the royal family can wear that necklace. I apologize for not recognizing you sooner."

I confirmed the necklace Cecil had worn today after hearing Lai's words.

It looked like an old, worn silver necklace, but it seemed to have a special meaning for demons.

'Now that I think about it, did she wear that necklace at the event?'

My memory isn't the best, so I can't remember if she wore it then. At the time, Cecil's daring dress was the only thing I could remember.

"No. It seemed like you and your lover were having a good time, and I feel like I interrupted."

"Absolutely not. It was a pleasant conversation."

"Then, one last question. In what direction do you think our demons should move forward?"

"As I said earlier, following what the Xeon Chronicles taught us is enough. Being born as a devil but moving towards the light, becoming more human than anyone else. Isn't that enough?"

Lai answered with a proud smile, a response that only someone with firm beliefs could give, free of any doubt.

The content I wrote in the book has provided a direction for certain people to follow. It's a truly satisfying result.

"...You're right. That's our demon identity. Anyway, thank you for answering my questions."

"I hope you find your light, Princess."

Lai offered a kind word to Cecil and gently embraced the woman clinging to his arm.

It seemed that Lai found his light by forming a bond with this woman.

Although they will eventually part due to the difference in lifespans, he won't regret it.

For this moment, it will be a beautiful memory for them.

"Light..."

Cecil murmured softly and slowly turned her head to me. I also faced her.

After staring at my face for a while, she smiled and then turned her gaze to Lai.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, I've rediscovered what light means to me."

"I'm honored to have been of help."

"Honored? Well, we'll be going now. Oh, what's your name?"

"...Veronica Echens."

"Veronica, stay close to Lai. Demons like us tend to wander when the light leaves us."

"...Yes."

A timid response, fitting her appearance. Cecil, hearing Veronica's answer, smiled and turned to me.

"Let's go now."

"Yes. Mari?"

"...Okay."

Mari, even when called by me, didn't look at me but kept her gaze fixed on Cecil.

Even when she answered, it seemed like she was still on guard. Moreover, she crossed her arms, making her body even more compact.

I felt a strange sensation but was puzzled by Mari's expression, which was filled with deep suspicion.

It seemed she had some thoughts after listening to the conversation between Cecil and Lai. While I was thinking this, Mari, who had been staring at Cecil, called out to her in a quiet voice.

"...Cecil."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Are you having some strange thoughts?"

Cecil, hearing her question filled with anxiety, blinked and then smiled.

She half-closed her eyes, making her red eyes glow eerily, and answered in a subtle voice.

"Who knows? I don't know what question you're asking."

"You..."

"Hmm... Mari? How about we have a private conversation now?"

Cecil said this and then looked at me to finish her sentence.

"It might be important for you."

I might be imagining things, but it seemed like the red light in her horns had intensified.