Chapter 280: I Guess (3)

Three days had passed since Cecily began her closed-door training, and the training that was expected to last for a week had already ended.

It was quite a rough training, and according to what I've heard, the training ground was nearly half-destroyed to the point where it needed a complete overhaul.

Due to the black mana, even simple magic wielded by demons is incredibly powerful. Therefore, I heard the buildings are designed to be very sturdy.

Even simple buildings are as solid as city walls, so one can only imagine how strong the training grounds for royalty are. Yet, such a training ground was half-destroyed.

I wonder what kind of enlightenment she achieved, but since it's an intensely personal matter, I have no intention of asking.

What's important now is to show the manuscript to Descal and Cecily. The manuscript for volume 21 is complete except for the final proofreading.

I could finish the proofreading while Cecily was washing up and changing clothes, so I proceeded with the work with a relaxed mind.

The plan is to show the manuscript to Cecily first, rather than Descal. The reason for this is that Descal doesn't have the time.

I may forget this occasionally, but Descal is the King of Helium. Helium is currently very busy, with no spare time to lose.

Of course, if I requested a meeting, he would come running, but I don't want to go that far. So, I plan to meet with Cecily first, who has more free time.

However, even if I show her the manuscript, I have no intention of changing the story. It is only to discuss how much time is needed for any necessary adjustments. Given the recent clear precedent of the Alvenheim half-blood incident, it's essential to be cautious.

Knock knock knock

"Isaac. It's me. Can I come in?"

While I was reviewing and proofreading for typos, Cecily knocked on the door. I had told her to come whenever she was free, and it seems she came right away.

As soon as I heard the knock, I silently looked at Adelia. As soon as Adelia met my gaze, she nodded and headed towards the door.

Creak—

As soon as Adelia saw that the person at the door was Cecily, she opened the door wide. I lifted my head to see Cecily, who had appeared for the first time in three days.

She was wearing the usual black dress she always wore at the palace. A dress that was so revealing at the chest that I didn't know where to look.

"Then, have a good time."

Adelia, who had opened the door wide, bowed slightly and left the room. This was something I had arranged in advance.

Soon, only Cecily and I were left in the bedroom. Normally, one might think we were left alone to do something inappropriate. But today, I really called Cecily to discuss matters without any lewd intentions.

Tap tap tap-

As soon as Cecily and I were alone in the room, she slowly approached me. The clear sound of her shoes reached my ears.

As she came closer, I paused from organizing the manuscript and looked back at Cecily, sensing something odd. She was smiling, the same playful yet seductive smile she always showed when looking at me.

However, the atmosphere was different. Besides the allure, her aura felt stronger. I had felt something similar half a year ago when she entered her evil cycle and we spent the first night.

"Why did you call me?"

While I was staring at her blankly, Cecily had already approached close enough to be in front of my nose.

She bent down slightly to meet my eyes, perhaps deliberately. This exposed her deep cleavage, capturing my gaze. I blinked in momentary embarrassment.

Maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed larger than three days ago.

Her black dress, clearly custom-made, struggled to contain her size, with a bit of flesh peeking out. Just three days ago, it fit snugly, but now it seemed to be bursting at the seams.

"Isaac?"

"Oh, sorry. Ahem."

I almost made a mistake. Or perhaps I already had. At Cecily's call, I quickly gathered my wits and cleared my throat.

My face felt slightly warm from the embarrassment. Her entire aura had changed so much over the past three days.

What kind of training had she undergone to enhance her beauty and figure so much? Usually, strength increases with training, not appearance.

Humans noticeably slow down aging, but Cecily is a demon, a race inherently far from aging.

"Um... Noona?"

"Yes?"

"You look even prettier than before. What kind of training did you do over the past three days?"

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked her directly. The change was beyond my comprehension. Cecily smiled warmly at my question and replied in a gentle voice.

"It's all thanks to you, Isaac."

"...Because of me?"

"Yes."

I felt even more puzzled. I hadn't done anything. Unless she meant squeezing me like toothpaste every night, which she hadn't.

She had entered closed-door training and instructed that no one be allowed in. We couldn't have had any contact over the past three days.

As I tilted my head in confusion, Cecily smiled faintly and snapped her fingers lightly.

When she snapped her fingers, a chair materialized out of thin air with a "pop" sound. It seemed she had summoned a chair using spatial magic.

"Let's move past this part. So why did you call me?"

Cecily asked as she gracefully sat in the chair she had summoned, her beautiful smile still on her face.

While I wondered about her noticeably different aura, I handed her the organized manuscript. After all, the prettier she becomes, the more I benefit. I certainly don't dislike it. Cecily being my woman remains unchanged.

"Here. This."

"This is..."

"It's the manuscript for the upcoming Volume 21."

"The manuscript?"

Cecily's eyes widened in surprise when I mentioned the manuscript for Volume 21. Her red eyes darted between me and the manuscript on the desk, as if to confirm its authenticity. I expected this reaction.

Cecily knows well that I dislike anyone sneaking a look at my manuscripts. Now, people may treat it as a prophecy and holy scripture, but Xenon's Biography originally started as a hobby.

So, someone sneaking a peek at my manuscript feels like someone intruding on my private pastime. No one would appreciate that.

However, if a close acquaintance earnestly requests, I'm willing to show the manuscript. At least they respect my boundaries, so it's not too difficult to accommodate.

Anyway, moving on, I looked directly into Cecily's wide eyes and spoke.

"Yes. You know about that incident, right? The Alvenheim half-blood incident."

"Of course, I know. I even watched the speech with you."

"An event comparable to that might happen. If Volume 21 gets released."

"... ..."

Despite my serious warning, Cecily continued to smile. It was the same bright smile she always gave me. Her unexpected reaction puzzled me. I wondered if she didn't grasp the gravity, but that couldn't be true.

Cecily is intelligent and, as a princess of a nation, she has outstanding political insight.

One of the main reasons the demons are so united is due to their social characteristics.

Before Xenon's Biography was published, the demons were steadily building their own civilization, waiting for the day they could spread their wings. Although there were moments when cracks almost appeared, they never faced major social upheavals.

Therefore, an incident similar to the Alvenheim incident occurring in Helium should be taken very seriously.

Demons uphold restraint as a virtue and a fundamental belief, but the development in Volume 21 stands in complete opposition to this.

'Is she not grasping the seriousness because she hasn't read it?'

That might be the case. I looked at the smiling Cecily with curiosity and gestured for her to read the manuscript. Taking the hint, she reached out and picked up the manuscript.

It was only now that I noticed how clean her hands were, as delicate as jade. They should have been calloused from sword training, but they were now like the hands of someone who had never held a sword.

'Did she really achieve enlightenment?'

Sometimes in stories, enlightenment leads to shedding old skin for new or even rejuvenation. This isn't just a fictional trope but something that exists in this world too, a verified phenomenon my father had told me about.

Maybe Cecily had experienced something similar, which would explain her enhanced allure and larger bust.

The only mystery was where she gained this enlightenment. Given her proficiency in both magic and martial arts, she must have achieved it somehow.

Swish—

Cecily began reading the manuscript from the first page. It starts with a flashback of Jin and Lily's past. As death approaches, their life flashes before their eyes, leading to an encounter with their inner demon.

Jin had restrained his inner demon because of Lily, but as death nears, it emerges. Though his consciousness fades, he doesn't completely lose control of his body.

His determination to protect Lily allows him to defeat Gluttony. The real challenge begins after that.

'This is where it all starts.'

Jin confronts his true enemy: his inner devil, a mirror image with opposite colors. Unlike other demons, Jin is a first-generation hybrid of human and devil, making his inner devil exceptionally strong.

However, Jin completely subdues it through his love and dedication to Lily, even when it spews the vilest insults, suggesting she would go to another man.

Jin endures and fully subdues his inner devil, regaining his sanity and control over his demonic powers.

'After that, he can use his demonic powers freely, but...'

Let's skip that for now. The important issue is the societal upheaval that Volume 21 might cause in Helium.

"Indeed... as you said, it contains some quite significant issues."

"Right...?"

After some time, Cecily gave her feedback after reading about half of the manuscript. I was once again baffled.

Why wasn't she surprised? Before reading, it might have been understandable, but now she had read half of it.

Her expression wasn't serious at all; she was smiling brightly as if she had found something amusing. There was no sign of seriousness, just pure playfulness.

"...Noona?"

"Yes? Why?"

When I called her carefully, Cecily looked up from the manuscript and at me. She neatly organized the half-read manuscript, indirectly indicating that there was no need to read further.

Come to think of it, was Cecily always this fast at speed reading? While it varies from person to person, this was exceptionally fast.

Just when I was feeling dizzy and almost losing my mind over the incomprehensible situation, Cecily spoke up.

"Isaac."

"Huh? Did you call me?"

"I have a serious question. Isaac, you're really not from the future, right? Or are you someone from another world like Queen Arwen mentioned last time?"

"... ..."

Rather than being taken aback by the sudden question, I was more puzzled. I blinked and stared blankly at Cecily. She smiled, seemingly satisfied without needing my answer, and slowly stood up from her seat.

Naturally, my gaze followed her upward, watching what she would do next.

Clap!

As soon as she stood up, Cecily elegantly clapped her hands. Upon clapping, a translucent barrier spread out from her. The barrier widened, eventually enveloping the entire bedroom.

It seemed to be a soundproof barrier, and the moment I saw her suggestive expression, I understood what she wanted, causing me to smile wryly. After three days of ascetic training, it's no wonder she has built up some tension.

I had noticed her allure seemed stronger than before, and this seemed to be the reason.

However, now was not the right time. At least wait until nighttime, it wasn't appropriate for such an important moment.

"Noona I understand how you feel, but even so, now is..."

"My inner devil whispered to me. It said Isaac doesn't love me. It said I would suffer in the distant future and struggle, so why love him?"

"...?"

What was she talking about? I blinked as soon as I heard her story. This wasn't the story of Jin from Xenon's Biography. It was Cecily's story.

The problem was that this wasn't the end. With a bewildered expression, I slowly raised my head.

"It even went as far as to say all of Isaac's love for me is a lie. Just like in the description from Xenon's Biography, it was a version of me with opposite colors and traits that said this. At first, it tormented me, stirring up my desires, making my chest feel like it was being torn apart. It didn't take long to realize that the source of that desire was my obsession with Isaac."

As Cecily spoke, a gradual transformation began. The most noticeable change was her horns, which started to grow significantly. Originally small and decorative, they now extended to the length of her face, turning from black to a deep red.

What is this?

"But I rebutted the inner devil, or rather, her. I said that even if I grieve, I won't regret it. Like I told you, I won't regret loving you, Isaac. Having possessiveness means that I truly love you."

This was already shocking enough, but there was more. Just like the description in the book, Cecily's sclera turned black, commonly known as "reverse eyes." This physical trait is often seen in demons deeply tainted by evil or demons that have lost to their inner darkness.

What the hell? Is this a joke?

"It was truly... an intense battle beyond description. I had no idea how strong my inner devil was since none of our kind had ever faced it before. This was true for me as well. But after reading your manuscript, my perspective changed."

"... ..."

Whoosh!

To top it all off, wings sprouted from her back. Darker than a bat's wings, these demonic wings unfolded fully. Her larger horns, reverse eyes, and now the wide-spread wings all matched the depiction of a demon in ancient texts. Yet, Cecily maintained complete control of her sanity.

As I gaped at Cecily transforming into a devil in real-time, she brought one hand to her mouth and smiled. Whether it was the manifestation of her succubus blood or just the allure of her dramatically changed appearance, the sight of her wings made my face heat up and my heart race.

Quietly folding her wings, Cecily said.

"I can, and we all can, subdue our inner devils. We can face our fears without being afraid and have the courage to confront them."

"... ..."

Thud.

With those words, Cecily suddenly climbed onto the desk. Each movement exuded dense, lingering sensuality. She then slowly approached me, extending her hand to gently caress my cheek. The touch was soft and warm, unlike the roughness expected from someone who wielded a sword.

Her transformation was mesmerizing, and I felt a mix of astonishment and confusion as her hand tenderly stroked my face.

"I apologize for sneaking a look at your manuscript. I couldn't resist my curiosity. But you know, I have a grievance with you too."

Cecily said as her hand, which had been caressing my cheek, moved down to touch my lips. Her other hand reached up to rest on my head. She gently pulled me closer, burying my face in her large chest.

Although I often did this every night, the emotions resonating in my chest now were on a completely different level. More than anything, even though we hadn't yet started the main event, I felt my strength being drained from me, making it seem like she had truly become a succubus.

"And you still say you're not a prophet? Don't be ridiculous. Isaac, you're definitely a saint sent by the gods to save this world. Cardinal Kate wasn't talking nonsense."

No, that's not it. You're just imposing your interpretation on me.

I wanted to say those words out loud, but it seemed that the manifestation of her succubus blood was affecting me, leaving my mind hazy... no, actually, it was becoming clearer.

Despite Cecily's overwhelming allure, I had the holy power given to me by Mora, which I was using to defend myself. However, I still couldn't speak because my face was buried in her soft, pillow-like chest, effectively muffling me.

"As the rumors suggest, you must have restrictions preventing you from speaking, right? Isn't that so?"

"... ..."

No, that's not it. Could you please let me out of this soft prison?

As a man, it felt good, but it was also stifling. It was so comfortable that I felt like I could fall asleep right there. But Cecily, already immersed in the atmosphere, continued speaking without realizing this.

"I understand what you're thinking, Isaac. I'll discuss this with my father. There might be a public address in a few days."

"... ..."

"But before that..."

Cecily trailed off and then leaned in close to my ear, whispering seductively.

"Can we relieve some of this built-up tension first? If possible, I'd like to do it in this state. That woman kept provoking my desires. It's hard to hold back until night."

"... ..."

"Is that okay?"

What followed was an intense and chaotic session.

Without exaggeration, if it weren't for my holy power, I might have met a blissful end right there in bed.

*****

The day after Cecily's demonic transformation incident, I immediately went to find Mora.

'You said there wasn't anything!!'

[There wasn't, right?]

'You said there definitely wasn't!'

[I did, right?]

'Then what was that yesterday?!'

[Surprise! But you know, there's no such thing as "definitely"!]

'... ...'

[Sorry for joking around. But we're in this together, okay? Don't be too harsh. I'm serious.]

This kind of misunderstanding was beyond frustrating.

Translators note:

I finally bought a chatGPT4 subscription and the difference is staggering...