I have a lot to say, but I'll start with the most important point. I used to be a writer. A fantasy novelist who was not well-known but still had a large fan base.
Of course not now that I've been reincarnated.
I had no idea why I had been reincarnated out of nowhere, but the memory of my death was clear.
My heart suddenly throbbed as usual while I was writing a novel, and I soon found myself unable to breathe.
I believe it was a heart attack. Since I lived on my own and was independent, no one could help me.
Well, it wasn't a shame or anything.
In the first place, my family was involved in a car accident shortly after I began university, leaving me alone. In a way, it was a lonely death.
What bothered me was the fact that I couldn't finish the work I was working on. My death would be known, but I only felt sorry for the readers.
So, as soon as I realized I had been reincarnated, I began to consider writing a new work based on my previous life's memories to alleviate my boredom.
Until I realized that this was a world that was frequently referred to as 'fantasy.'
"...what should I do?"
All I had to do now was fold and live.
Fortunately, I was born into a noble family in a world set in the Middle Ages.
Although it was a manor in the quiet countryside, it had everything and the cost was hundreds of times less than being born as a commoner.
Commoners were commoners because they are low-class citizens who dared not stand up to nobles.
Furthermore, I was born as the youngest, rather than the eldest, son in the family, and I was living a leisurely life free of power struggles.
"Well...."
And then I returned, and time has passed, and I am now 16 years old.
I was reading a thick book on the finned bed.
Reading was one of my previous hobbies, so I naturally accepted it here.
The issue is...
"Fuck. What exactly does this mean?"
Each book was a compilation of literary works. Or should I say it was a collection of poems written by poets?
Even popular romance novels were difficult to comprehend due to their highly expressive and unreadable content.
To put it bluntly, it was like an SAT English test filled with meaningless words. The legendary English test, which even foreigners who speak English as their first language cannot pass.
"Damn it. That is why it is only read by nobles."
I became enraged and threw the book away. My head hurt because I had to solve problems with each sentence I read.
Just right in my head! It would be great if you could just write it down so I can imagine it. What's more amusing is that reading was a basic culture among the aristocrats.
It's almost as if...
– Have you read this work? What are your thoughts on this part?
– I believe it is about this and that. How about Count?
-I hold a different opinion. I mean...
Read the book and then have a 100-minute discussion about it.
When I asked my parents about it, they explained that it was a test of how deep the culture was. I'm completely speechless.
Above all, I heard that nobles were adamant in their assertions, and that fights frequently erupted when opposing viewpoints were not met.
Hearing this, I reminded myself that it was also a bountiful year and I was delighted.
"Isn't my past life a fantasy to these people?"
I muttered to myself as I looked down at the battlefield.
Monsters, elves, dwarves, beasts, demons, and so on could also be found here. There were various races.
The racial characteristics were also distinct from what I was used to, but there were some similarities.
Whether elves evolved naturally, dwarves were agile, or beasts resembled animals.
The 'Demons,' on the other hand, were a little different, and they were rejected and despised by the people of this world as 'the cursed ones.'
The demons were descendants of the 'devil' who brought this world to the brink of ruin in the distant past.
If you look at this cut, you might think it's a silly story, but the problem stemmed from the demons' distinct racial characteristics.
Maybe it's because they inherited the devil's blood, and if they didn't overcome their 'desire,' they completely become a 'devil.'
If they become a devil, it is nothing more than a monster that destroys things at random.
People who are closely related to demons all met tragic ends as a result of these racial characteristics, and the demons also cursed their own fate and wished to live as 'humans.'
Even if they claimed to be a high priest or do not transform into a demon, they had strong inherent power and were in the process of establishing their own country, having a large and small impact on those around them.
"Hmm..."
I think I'll come up with something amusing.
There are gods in this world and priests who borrow God's power. So, what if we could properly connect the fundamentally opposed demons and priests?
I believe it was more enjoyable than I anticipated.
'What gets deeply embedded in a person's mind is a tragedy.'
A love that was impossible to realize. A love story between a priest and a demon would draw a lot of attention.
And it would be magnificent back-to-back. For example, you could become a demon to protect someone you care about, or even to stop the other person by giving up your body.
In my previous life, my readers referred to me as a professor at Satan University..
"Oh, it's quite a thing."
I needed a book that was easy to read because I only read books like the English test for the SAT.
But in this day and age, I'd rather write it down myself than have such a book.
There was nothing I could do, so I jumped out of bed and went in search of one.
'Ah. If I write this incorrectly once, I must rewrite it.'
Because of the times, neither a proper ballpoint pen nor a pencil was invented.
As a result, I was forced to use ink and pen, but fortunately, the paper is well developed.
After all of the preparations were completed, I pondered how to write the introduction.
The language was not an issue. If I typed Korean in my head, it was automatically translated into this world's language, and the grammar was the same as in Korean.
"First and foremost, the background is simple..."
It felt a little strange writing a fantasy novel in a fantasy world.
Since I'm bored, I am using it as a hobby; If it goes well, it's good; if it doesn't, no need to worry.
Because my family was wealthy enough, there was no need to make a living as writers.
"Okay. I'll do it."
With a light heart, I played with the pen.
Despite the fact that this was a fantasy world, I felt as if I were writing a regular fantasy novel for the reincarnated me.
'I'm not going to comment on this.'
I decided not to think about whether or not to show it to my family in the near future.
"Even if the setting is the same, I'll have to turn the entire story into fiction."
Because, after all, this was a work of fiction. Well, well.
* * *
'Demons' are the devil's descendants. This is an unchangeable truth, and they had been cursed.
Even the devil's horns, red eyes as bright as blood, and black mana with a hint of ominousness.
Each one resembles a devil, and if they lose their reason, they would transform into a true devil, which is why people avoided them.
As a result, even if they formed a country, other countries refused to recognize it, and if it hadn't been for ridiculous power, they would have dealt with it sooner.
Even the demons had silently accepted this heinous discrimination, but they were striving to live as humans.
However, when these efforts were futile, when there was a lull, the demonized demons caused damage, so their hopes were naive.
Until a book appeared in the world.
– A novelist who established a new paradigm. What is his name?
– A hero epic that will be remembered for a long time. It does, however, contain tragedy and sorrow.
– Powerful expression and readability that can be imagined in the head. An easy-to-read book for people of all ages.
Xenon's biography.
It was an unannounced novel that was published one day.
I thought it was just a literary novel at first, but after a rumor that a nobleman read it all day and night, it spread.
The overall plot revolved around the Great Devil who brought the world to the brink of ruin in the past, a group attempting to resurrect the demon, and a hero who stops it.
On the surface, it appeared to be a typical hero's epic, but the fact that it had a strong connection to the 'Demons' drew attention.
– A book about the sad fate and loneliness of demons.
– As a half-human, half-demon creature, it expresses the hopes of demons who live alone and are rejected by both sides.
– Following the sin of 'Sakran,' which touched many readers' hearts. He sacrificed himself as a human, not a demon.
Following the one demon's sacrifice, the only story in the newspaper was about that. It was so moving that even people who didn't usually cry said they did after reading this part.
Above all, this was a story that made even those who despised demons cry out in sorrow and regret.
– Injustice and discrimination against demons. Is it genuinely moving?
– Those who wish to live as humans rather than demons. We turned them into demons.
What's more surprising was that people's attitudes toward demons had shifted dramatically.
Most people initially treated demons as devils, but that changed after Xenon's biography was published.
From a ticking time bomb with no idea when it would detonate to a despondent race yearning to be human.
They are not demons, but rather beings who have been doomed since birth.
Because of this incredible transformation, the country of demons, 'Helium,' expressed its appreciation for the Xenon's biography.
– I'm not sure who it is, but please accept my heartfelt gratitude. This person understands the demons' tragic fate better than anyone else.
– Sincerity is defined as the desire to serve someone while overcoming their desires. All demons learned moderation from this single sentence.
The King of Helium, known throughout the world as the 'Demon King,' also expressed his gratitude to the author of the book.
As the story progressed, the writer who was breaking millions of people's hearts was now...
"This... is what's happening."
Reading the newspaper made me sick.
"I still have some time left to finish...?"
How should I proceed?
– – – Chapter 1– – –
My impression of seeing the newspaper could be described in one word.
Even if something was wrong, it's been wrong for a long time.
I was just writing a book for killing time, and the world was already in chaos. In this world, science was not well established, and there was no radio, let alone a smartphone, so only newspapers informed the world of news.
However, the theme of the book I wrote had made headlines in this newspaper. I couldn't help but be bewildered.
"Hahahaha! As expected, my eyes weren't wrong! Good Job! Our youngest son"
While I was reading the newspaper with a stupid look on my face, I heard a loud laugh in front of me.
I took my gaze away from the newspaper and raised my head in a dazed frenzy.
Red hair that had grown like a mane and a well-kept beard. Golden eyes gleamed like a raptor.
Hawk Ducker Michelle was the name of this middle-aged man who exuded masculinity like a veteran warrior.
He was my father.
"Yes indeed. I have already told you. Isaac excels as a scholar rather than a knight."
A beautiful woman clapped Hawk's thick arms and made a fuss next to me.
Long indigo blue hair down to the waist and doll-like facial features. Her eyes were unusually purple.
Everyone would have noticed at this point, but the woman who only appeared to be in her early 30s was my mother, Anna Ducker Michele.
"My Isaac is great too. Everyone says they are looking for you."
My mother smiled gracefully as she congratulated me with a happy expression on her face.
'I'm sorry, Mother. That doesn't help me at all.'
The words above rose up my throat, but I barely suppressed them. Because I didn't want to ruin this peaceful atmosphere for nothing.
I just laughed awkwardly like an idiot.
"...Can't you keep it anonymous?"
But shouldn't there be a last line of defense? In a timid tone, I inquired of my parents.
It was possible because my parents assisted me in publishing my novel anonymously.
I'm telling you right now that I don't want to get caught up in a noisy environment. Even the newspapers are making a big deal about it right now, but I have no idea what's going on outside.
"Okay. If you want, I'll do it, but your identity will be revealed sooner or later."
"Why?"
"Even if your father is a nobleman, he's just a baron, and with the imperial family looking for you, how long do you think it will go on?"
"Ah."
My father's explanation made sense to me. My father was a Baron, the lowest among the five ranks, no matter how noble he was.
Furthermore, my father was a common knight who rose to aristocracy through a couple of serious achievements, making it difficult to say that he was a proper aristocrat.
So, if you're determined to find me from above, it means I'm helpless.
"But, don't worry too much. I understand your worries. Your father will put an end to this as soon as he can."
My father softly smiled and patted my head, as if he had read my worried mind. The calluses felt rough and hard to the touch, but my mind was at ease.
"Mom will also investigate the situation as thoroughly as possible at the tea party. Mom wants Isaac to have a good life."
"Mother..."
How warm was this warmth? With an emotional expression, I looked at my parents.
The reason why I was able to recognize them as parents were because of this warm warmth.
Then my mother smiled and said to me in a gentle voice.
"So Isaac. Can mother ask this one thing?"
"What is it?"
"When is the next episode coming out?"
"... ..."
"Your mother is waiting for Lily and Jin to get together."
It drained all of my enthusiasm.
I lowered my head, wistfully looking at her smiling face.
Her emotions were touching, but there was something I couldn't bring myself to tell my mother.
'Jin is the final boss, Mother.'
There were supporting actors who rode a love line among the characters in Xenon's biography. These were 'Lily' and 'Jin' mentioned by my mother.
For reference, Jin was a demon, and Lily was a priest who was also revered as the next saint.
Looking at it alone, it may appear to be a passionate love line, but in my previous life, I was called a professor at Satan University.
In the final act, Jin will accept the remnants to completely destroy the Great Evil and establish himself as the story's final boss.
The main character, whose mental state has been shaken, is defeated, but the fact that he desperately seeks Lily through his will is an added bonus.
'...it's really fucked up.'
It was okay for my family to read my novel. However, when I hear it from their mouth, my heart trembles.
Should I change it to a happy ending now? That's what I thought, but I can't do that because I have a lot of double-track and bait that I had done so far, making it impossible.
I have time left until the ending anyway, so my life will be stuck until then.
"Honey, don't put too much pressure on Isaac because he's going to enter the academy soon. What if the story goes awry?"
"Oh, writer Isaac? I'm sorry if did something wrong..."
"Oh, come on!"
In the end, when I shouted out of shame, my parents burst into laughter that matched their personality. On the other hand, my face was reddening in real-time.
"I'm sorry, dear. Anyway, are you going to enter the academy with literature rather than martial arts?"
My father stopped laughing and asked me. I calmed my excitement and thought of the academy I would attend in the future.
The Academy, or 'Halo Academy', was the best educational institution in the country.
As the best educational institution, it boasts a huge curriculum, just like the universities of my previous life.
It was divided into two categories: martial arts, which emphasized strength, and literature, which emphasized intelligence.
'Why would I go into martial arts?'
Because monsters existed in this world, there were monsters like tigers, lions, elephants, and other 'like' monsters. And, like the main characters in other novels, I have no talent for raw strength.
In the past, my father trained me harshly to become a knight like him, but he gave up because I was so mischievous.
"Yes. I prefer literature to martial arts."
"Hmm....I see what you mean. Instead, daily physical training is essential. Okay?"
"Of course."
I did physical training on a regular basis. Because physical exercise improved not only physical strength but also patience.
Previously, I was able to concentrate on writing for 3 hours after only 30 minutes in front of the computer. As a result, I was able to publish one book per month.
However, because I wrote with a pen tip now, calluses were deeply etched, but I didn't have to be concerned.
"Do you intend to continue writing after you go to the academy?"
This time, my mother asked me a question. She looked worried that I might enter the academy and focus on my studies.
As a child, it was natural for me to focus on my studies, but my mother, on the other hand, was more concerned about my novel.
It was a bit absurd, but considering the ripple effect of my novel, it was understandable.
"Well... I have to write. It's not like I don't have a break. Instead, I think one book every month or two would be better, even if it's short."
"It's a shame. But focus on your studies. You have your siblings there, so call them if you need to."
"Yes."
Halo Academy was a must-attend for nobles, and so had my siblings.
However, not only as a student but as a teaching assistant. A teaching assistant was a position that only a few outstanding students could hold.
In addition to that, they could be said to be among the talents that many knights are already paying attention to.
"By the way, it's amazing. Your brother and sister are all knights, but you're a writer."
"It must be like me. I was also quite good at writing when I was young."
"Then shall we have another child? I wonder what will happen this time?"
"Oh, my gosh. Isaac? Dad and Mom are going out for a while, so see you in a little bit–"
My parents left my room hand in hand. I blinked as if a storm had passed by.
"...Hoo."
The ground had vanished, and only sighs could be heard. I was still baffled as to how this happened.
I just used my previous life's job to write, and the repercussions were terrifying.
'I'm not going to write today.'
I murmured and unfolded the finely folded newspaper. As soon as I opened the newspaper, it was full of news about my work.
Sometimes, some famous people criticized the quality of literature, but it was swiftly buried.
'...Is this something worthy of such praise?'
Despite the favorable reviews, it was hard to believe that the treatment of demons had changed.
The devil devoured the world 3,000 years ago, and demons have discriminated been against by humans for more than 1,000 years. However, it was difficult to believe that such discrimination had vanished after only one novel.
In fact, my work was neatly buried, but it was reliable that my father worked behind the scenes so that I wouldn't be heartbroken.
The ripple effect was at an unbelievable level, to the extent that it made me think like this.
"Whew... Let's finish it quickly and do something else...huh?"
While flipping through the newspaper, there was a piece of news that suddenly caught my eye.
– Cecily Drat Aicilia Bean, Princess of Helium. She's going to attend the Halo Academy. Minerva Empire also granted permission.
– Now that the discriminatory gaze towards demons has been alleviated due to the influence of Xenon's biography, for the friendship of each country...
"... ..."
Don't be such a jerk, eighteen.
{T/N: The word is '십팔' which translates to '18'. The number eighteen is pronounced Ship-pal (십팔). If you say this number with even the slightest error in pronunciation, it sounds like the F word in Korean (shi-bal / 씨발). It's so similar that '18' is often used as slang on chat rooms to replace the F word}
* * *
"Are you sure you'll be okay? Cecily, before I am the king of the demons, I..."
"It's okay, Dad. Haven't I already made all the preparations?"
A man and a woman were conversing in a dimly lit room.
Jet-black hair, blood-red eyes that glowed in the dark. Finally, even the horns protruded from his head like a demon.
They were demons
"This is my choice. And Dad also knows that now is the right time for other tribes and demons to form friendly relations with each other, right?"
A beauty, with her ebony hair up to her waist, said to the man in front of her.
In line with her alluring voice, her beauty was elegant and beautiful that it could be called fatal, and her body was mature enough to stimulate the dark minds of many men.
Because of her appearance, she exuded an aura that would tear people's hearts even if she were still.
"That's right..."
The man in front of her crossed his arms and smiled bitterly at her question.
It seems that the age difference between them wasn't much, but the demons had a longer lifespan compared to original humans. So, it was not at all strange that demons had a relatively young appearance.
Descaldrat Eisilia bin Helium, the woman's father and the man known as 'The Demon King,' responded while looking at his daughter.
"It's because I can't believe it either. I know that the way people look at our people has changed since the book appeared in the world. But the emotional gap doesn't heal easily."
As Descal said, the discriminatory gaze towards demons had greatly decreased, but the conflict that had occurred in the meantime was still deep.
There were still demons who turned into devils in the world, and there were people who were harmed by those demons. Even if the damage was unintentional, problems arise from the moment it occurs.
At that, Cecily, the daughter of the Demon King and the only princess of Helium, smiled and opened her mouth with timid words.
"Did you read Xenon's biography too? Remember what Sakran said at the end of the fifth volume?"
"... -.."
Descal did not reply.
That scene left a lasting impression on himself as the Demon King.
At the same time, it imprinted on the readers of the book as a 'race that wants to prove to be human' rather than a 'demon'.
At that moment, there was an evaluation that Sakran was the true protagonist, and no one else.
Meanwhile, Cecily was the first to speak up when there was no answer from Descal.
"Sakran looked at the people he had protected in his final moments and said, Don't be afraid to become the devil yourself for the sake of your loved ones. That is true human courage and sacrifice. I die not as a demon, but as a human. He said."
"..."
"Despite the fact that it is a fictional story, I do not believe it is fiction at all. The author of this story must have been very grateful to our people in the past. Otherwise, he would not have written such a moving story that fully revealed our people's pain and suffering."
– Cecily, with her hands, clasped tightly together and a glum expression on her face. She was so moved that she didn't realize what kind of face she was making.
But if Isaac saw this, he would think to himself:
I believe I saw that in a game. I wrote it without thinking about it because it was from my previous life and there would be no plagiarism issues.
Cecily, on the other hand, had no way of knowing. She had simply mistaken herself.
Descal looked at Cecily with a complicated expression, who was drowning in her imagination and gently touched him.
"...Sakran is the head of the 'Demon hunter' that kills his demonized people. As you may know, there is a secret organization in Helium that carries out the same mission."
In Xenon's biography, there was a group that punished people who had become demons because they couldn't overcome their desires.
{T/N: It kind of goes like this – the demon folks aren't originally a demon. They have demon blood in them because they are the descendants of the Great Devil. However, if they cannot overcome/or lose to their desires, they turn into demons/monsters and kill/harm/cause damage.}
The name was 'Demon Hunter' and it was set to have a much stronger power than other demons by accepting some of the power of the devil.
However, the problem here was that there were associations that carried out similar tasks in Helium.
"You mean 'Reaper'? Of course, I know. My guess is that the author of this book probably got the favor of a member of the Reaper."
Cecily nodded, falling into the illusion of being alone again.
If Isaac saw this situation, he would say the same thing as before.
I've seen that in a game too. It was really written without any meaning or intention.
However, as previously said, it was sad that they had no way of knowing Isaac's heart.
"This is why outsiders are questioning whether demon hunters really exist. Thanks to this, they have been able to use this as an opportunity to come out in the open."
Those who had turned into demons were killed by the same people. Just by looking at this, you could see how strong the Reaper was and how holy and noble the organization was.
Also, the Reaper suffered from terrible mental pain whenever they killed a demon that was originally their kin. So, the Reaper had a much higher rate of suicide than being drunk with power and turning into a demon.
Due to the specificity of this mission, they were active in the dark, but after the release of Xenon's biography, they had the opportunity to come out in open.
Furthermore, some high-ranking demons who read the book even suggested that it be officially established. There was no such thing as good news for a Reaper who accepts their holy destiny and works without any reward.
"Anyway, if that's your will, then don't be discouraged. Instead, don't be so sure that the author in the Minerva Empire. If he has published it anonymously, there's a good chance he's a hidden sage. Even if you meet by chance, be polite."
"Dad. I'm an adult now, too?"
Cecily shook her hand at Descal's worried words and trembled softly. Still, Descal couldn't hide his expression.
He only had one daughter, but he was anxious as a father because she was so playful.
Her beautiful appearance was dark and insidious, and her sly, lustful hands reached out. There's no need to worry about that, either.
Cecily had the ability to easily blow up a mountain. She was not stated as the next demon king of Helium for no reason.
"Ah- I want to meet you soon. Benefactor of our demons..."
Cecily clasped her hands tightly, looking forward to meeting the author.
Descal shook his head at her appearance, which was no different from a serious illness.
– – – End of Chapter– – –