Chapter 283: Bombshell Statement (2)

    As you can tell from my clumsy and often bumbling demeanor, I tend to make a lot of mistakes.

    More precisely, I’m terrible at lying. According to others, my true feelings are always visible in my expressions and eyes.

    So, I’ve mostly stopped lying, but I still make a lot of mistakes. Many of these mistakes have snowballed into bigger issues.

    In that sense, Lilith is a result of one of my mistakes. Originally, she shouldn’t remember her past lover at all, her new memories should overwrite the old ones.

    From the moment she joined Diablos’ ranks, she was supposed to be reborn under a new name, regaining all her memories only at the very end.

    The very fact that she remembers her “name” is proof that she’s maintaining her sanity.

    ‘But what’s done is done...’

    Technically, it’s a clear setting error, but after Volume 21 was released, there was a strange phenomenon where Lilith started being re-evaluated.

    There was even a hypothesis, quite baffling to me as the author, that Lilith might have subdued her inner devil out of revenge.

    This unexpected development not only improved the work’s overall quality but also unraveled unforeseen foreshadowing.

    I had no intention of explaining this, so I kept my mouth shut, and the positive reviews kept pouring in.

    However, the most significant event triggered by the release of Volume 21 was undoubtedly related to Helium.

    The scene where Jin subdues his inner devil gave demons both hope and doubt.

    Because of this, the announcement of a speech in Helium garnered everyone’s attention.

    Especially since this was the first time in history that Helium invited foreign dignitaries for a nationwide address. Naturally, all eyes were on them.

    This event might even attract more attention than the mixed-blood incident in Alvenheim.

    Of course, the Minerva Empire plans to send dignitaries as well. Not only Leort and Rina but also Duke Requilis will attend.

    The different approach compared to the speech in Alvenheim is due to the different national circumstances.

    Both countries were conducting nationwide addresses, but while Alvenheim has had active exchanges under Arwen’s rule, this is Helium’s very first time.

    Although it’s a nationwide address, it signifies something like a bird taking flight from its cage.

    Moreover, unlike Alvenheim, Helium has been semi-forced into isolation. Due to recent diplomatic efforts, neither side knows much about the other.

    All that’s known is that the Xenon exhibition showcased the superior culture of the demons, almost nothing else has been confirmed.

    As a result, foreign dignitaries were bound to flock to Helium to assess its potential.

    Some came to evaluate Helium’s capabilities, others to understand its ideology, and some to see if it’s truly as gloomy as rumored.

    With various motives and goals, nobles from many countries headed to Helium, including the Minerva Empire, the Kingdom of Ters, the Republic of Velua, and other smaller nations.

    Although Queen Arwen of Alvenheim sent a representative due to state affairs, it’s still a significant event.

    “Isaac, you’re impressive every time I see you.”

    “What?”

    “Every time you publish a book, the whole world gets stirred up. Starting with Alvenheim, then Xavier, and now Helium. Is our empire next?”

    Before the speech began, I arrived in Helium early with Cecily’s help, and I heard Rina’s question, making me smile wryly.

    It’s understandable that Rina thinks this way since every time I release a new book, a specific country goes into an uproar.

    Also, I understand why she pinpointed Alvenheim as the starting point instead of Helium.

    Rina is referring to the ideology that shakes the very foundation of a country.

    Even though the perception of demons has completely changed, their ideology has not. The same goes for other countries.

    However, in Alvenheim, the mixed-blood issue surfaced, and in Xavier, the existence of a corrupt cardinal fractured national significance.

    Now it’s Helium. Due to the contents of Volume 21, Helium’s foundational beliefs are being shaken.

    “Um... I’m not sure.”

    So, I answered thoughtlessly. I genuinely don’t know anything about it.

    While the incident in Alvenheim was completely unexpected, preparations can be made in advance for the situations in Xavier and Helium.

    In that sense, I predict that the next focus will be the Kingdom of Ters, not the Minerva Empire.

    Although Volume 21 ended ambiguously due to a failure in pacing, Volume 22 will delve into the full-blown revenge of Envy.

    Perhaps then, the Kingdom of Ters will be pricked and step back, especially Hiriya.

    Of course, this is just a prediction and not certain. I’m no prophet, so how could I know?

    “Your acting skills have improved since I last saw you. Keep it up like that.”

    Then, I locked eyes with a pair of light blue eyes. It was the second princess of the Kingdom of Ters, Hiriya.

    She glared at me with her characteristic sharp gaze, then glanced back and forth between me and Adelia, who was sitting far away.

    Judging by her displeased expression, she still harbored ill feelings towards Adelia.

    I wondered how narrow-minded one could be to hold onto such a grudge. At times like this, even Rina from the past seemed more reasonable.

    ‘When will she give up?’

    I gave Hiriya a slight nod and then shifted my gaze elsewhere, continuing to look for familiar faces.

    With Helium’s first opening after being semi-forced into isolation, more dignitaries were present than at the Alvenheim speech.

    Among them was an unexpected figure.

    ‘Ka-Kate?’

    It was Kate, a cardinal of the Luminous Order and the person who personally brought judgment upon the corrupt clergyman.

    I didn’t know when she had arrived in Helium, but she was seated in the dignitaries’ section with her holy knights in tow.

    In essence, this indirectly implies that Xavier wants to trade with Helium.

    However, given Xavier’s history of massacring demons in a fit of fanaticism, their relationship with Helium is bound to be strained.

    Even now, Helium’s nobles are casting meaningful glances at Kate.

    ‘It must be that important.’

    For Helium, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only leap but soar towards the world. It’s also a chance for the entire race to evolve.

    In this sense, Cecily’s speech could become a historic oration that changes the future, or it might just be an average address.

    Having seen various historical records, I knew her speech had to be great.

    The pressure is immense, but no one knows when such an opportunity will come again.

    Hoping fervently that she delivers a speech as compelling as Arwen’s, I waited silently.

    Though I wasn’t the one giving the speech, my heart pounded with nervous anticipation.

    “Hey, is that...”

    “Seems like it.”

    “That woman is Princess Cecily.”

    As I waited quietly, murmurs from the front reached my ears.

    Judging by the mention of Cecily’s name, it seemed she had made her appearance. I craned my neck like a meerkat.

    Though she hadn’t yet stepped onto the podium, I could see Cecily ascending slowly.

    Instead of her usual revealing black dress, she wore a simple red dress.

    Since it was a speech and not a social event, she seemed to have opted for a more modest attire.

    “...”

    “...”

    As soon as Cecily appeared on the podium, the buzzing plaza fell silent.

    Not just the demons but also the guests from afar focused their attention on her. Eyes of various colors, not just red, gazed at her.

    I heard occasional praises about her beauty, but I didn’t pay much attention.

    How much time passed like that, I couldn’t tell. Cecily looked around the audience and then locked eyes with me.

    She smiled brightly, cleared her throat a few times, and then began to speak quietly.

    [Hello. Dear citizens and esteemed guests from faraway lands visiting Helium. My name is Cecily Drat Aisilia Vin. I am the princess of Helium, the sanctuary of demons, and...]

    For some reason, I was reminded of her first entrance ceremony speech. Back then, her speech was really...

    [The benefactor of Demons, Xenon’s, woman.]

    It was incredibly good... What?

    “What?”

    What did she say?

    Translators note: