The 27th volume of Zenon’s Biography dives into a full-scale war between the Human Alliance and the demons, showcasing each race's unique traits and capabilities on the battlefield.

The elves and demons make a grand entrance via teleportation, the dark elves and demon hunters launch surprise attacks, while the beastmen charge fearlessly at the command of a single word: "Attack."

Humans, as always, display their unique cohesion and resilience, faithfully taking on the role of tanks.

Among all the races, humans are the only ones capable of matching the demons’ overwhelming numbers. If they fall, the remaining races will inevitably be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

And then there are the dwarves. While they also make a strong contribution to the war effort, the real standout among them is the Golem.

Constructed with a steel body modeled after humans and powered by an "energy core" in its chest, the golem is a masterpiece of tactical weaponry.

These golems operate based on their users' commands, utilizing their robust frames for various purposes.

Thanks to my detailed descriptions of their appearance, even including illustrations, readers could vividly imagine the golems.

I also delved into how they function and how they are used, drawing on my full creative imagination.

For instance, the golems are imbued with anti-magic spells, making them highly resistant to magic. They are primarily deployed to combat large monsters like ogres.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect is that the golems act independently, with no need for a pilot or controller.

The demons, seeing the golems for the first time, are visibly disoriented. Meanwhile, the golems, being inanimate constructs, don’t suffer from fatigue or fear.

In other words, as long as there are sufficient materials, funds, and schematics, golems can be mass-produced in a factory-like process.

In Zenon’s Biography, the dwarves prefer to take on a supportive role from behind the front lines rather than directly engaging in battle. That’s how I’ve chosen to depict them in the story.

Sure, there are rare instances where dwarves charge into battle wielding a hammer in one hand and an axe in the other, but those are exceptions.

Regardless, the introduction of the golem, one of the dwarves’ greatest inventions, has ignited a fervent reaction among readers.

[The pinnacle of dwarven dreams and passion, embodied in a tactical weapon.]
[If the steam locomotive was a testament to a dwarf’s effort and determination, the golem feels far more plausible.]
[A steel doll moving with autonomous will—could such a thing be possible with magic?]

It seems people everywhere, particularly men, share the same excitement for such creations. Upon the introduction of the steel golem, their imaginations ran wild.

Some dreamt of piloting one themselves, while others speculated on its limitless applications if it were ever invented.

[Could the Machina Empire be secretly developing something like this?]
[Considering the inventions from Zenon’s Biography, it’s entirely possible.]

And of course, the phrase “This makes no sense” appeared, as expected. After all, this is the Machina Empire—a nation that invented magic engines and even dabbled in developing automobiles. The idea of them creating golems didn’t seem far-fetched to anyone.

[Machina Empire’s official statement: “No, but we are interested.”]

While the Machina Empire clarified they weren’t working on it, their succinct response fully captured their stance.

Dwarves, by their very nature, are a race that loves to create. The golem’s introduction has sparked their imaginations in the same way.

With magical engines already invented, why not try making a golem? After all, it appeared in Zenon’s Biography, so why shouldn’t they be able to create it?

It wouldn’t be surprising if they began development soon. Not just the dwarves, but many other races have shown great interest in the concept as well.

While war may create the immediate demand, the invention of golems would undoubtedly revolutionize civilization.

Labor is invaluable everywhere in the world. Unlike Alvenheim, where seeds grow into plants on their own, most places require labor-intensive farming.

And it’s not just farming. There’s also the constant threat of monsters raiding villages.

Goblins and orcs might be manageable, but when it comes to ogres, the only option is to flee without looking back.

Ogres are far beyond the capabilities of ordinary soldiers and require knights to deal with them.

In such situations, a golem would be invaluable, ensuring a bountiful harvest unless there’s a drought. They could even double as scarecrows, making them a perfect solution.

[The concept of granting autonomous will to inorganic objects is fascinating, but it has potential for abuse.]
[It’s akin to necromancy, so caution is needed.]
[Achieving this would require delving into necromancy, but all necromancers have been exiled.]

Despite the excitement, there was also a sense of unease about the idea of autonomous will.

As some pointed out, the process of granting golems independent will is eerily similar to necromancy.

The key difference lies in the materials—necromancy raises corpses, an act seen as a violation of morality, whereas golems are created entirely from inanimate materials.

Because of this, the development of golems required extensive debate and consideration before being approved. The association with necromancy was the primary reason for the delay.

This was something I could understand, so I left the decision to others. My job was merely to present the idea; it was up to others to decide what to do with it.

[Lucifer, wielding wings forged by demonic power, had his pride shattered by the lowest of beings: humans.]
[The imagery of the fallen angel crashing to the ground was truly striking.]

Of course, the golems weren’t the only highlight. One of the most memorable moments was the battle between Zenon, the sin of pride, and Lucifer.

Blessed by Diabolus, Lucifer gained black wings and declared that he would ascend to the heavens just as his ancestors had.

He even mocked his predecessors for tearing off their wings and descending, calling them fools who threw away the chance to become gods.

However, his downfall came from his overwhelming pride, which ironically led to his defeat.

It’s a common trope, but in this world where such stories are rare, it’s bound to feel incredibly satisfying.

[He got what he deserved.]
[A fitting end for the sin of pride.]
[A being that truly deserved to die.]

Lucifer’s downfall, being met with cheers from the readers, was perhaps inevitable given his abysmal reputation.

Even Alvenheim officially announced, “We don’t recognize someone like that,” further highlighting how universally despised he was.

While his death marked a pivotal victory in the war, the battle wasn’t over yet. As the saying goes, there was still another mountain to climb.

[Diabolus emerges from its egg. The next volume will be the final showdown.]
[You can feel the story nearing its conclusion.]
[Greed, defeated by his own creation—his exit was bittersweet but served as a chilling reminder of Diabolus’s cruelty.]

This marked the revival of Diabolus, the fake final boss and the tragic starting point for even greater horrors.

The moment Diabolus emerged, all beings froze in their tracks and turned their eyes toward the spot where the World Tree had once stood.

Everyone, regardless of their prior focus on the war, felt it—the birth of a colossal evil that should never have come into existence.

The volume ends with a gigantic hand crushing Greed like a bug, leaving readers hanging on the brink of the final battle.

[The end of Zenon’s Biography is approaching. What will follow?]
[Will Isaac release a new work or take a well-deserved break?]

Readers were abuzz, sensing the conclusion and speculating about what would come after.

Some believed a new series would soon follow, while others predicted a long hiatus.

The majority leaned toward the latter, reasoning that, after nearly 30 volumes of continuous work, Isaac deserved some rest.

Coupled with the lingering threat of the demonic worshippers, many suggested it would be wise for him to lie low for a while.

And amidst this sea of speculation, I found myself...

"Hello, Mr. Musk. It’s been a while."
"Haha, thank you for granting me this meeting."

I was meeting Musk at the estate instead of the dormitory. As always, he greeted me with a warm and friendly smile.

After enjoying a peaceful time with Arwen in Alvenheim, I had returned briefly to the estate before heading back to the dormitory, where I planned to visit my mother. Musk had fortuitously chosen this moment to visit.

Had he come to the dormitory, where Ariel was currently residing, I might have had to refuse the meeting. So, the timing worked out perfectly.

Moreover, news of my short visit to the estate had already reached the dormitory. My bodyguards, Adelia and Kate, were by my side as usual.

In Alvenheim, I had spent my time exclusively with Arwen, but now that our not-quite-honeymoon was over, it was time to return to work.

"Here you go, young master."
"Ah, thank you."

Adelia had prepared tea and cookies in advance, and I thanked her as she set them down.

I picked up a chocolate-studded cookie and took a bite. The sweet taste of chocolate mixed with the buttery crunch filled my mouth.

"So, what brings you here today?"

Chewing on the cookie, I asked Musk. Normally, one should finish eating before speaking, but Musk wasn’t the type to care about such formalities.

Unbothered, he clasped his hands together and maintained his pleasant smile as he began.

"It’s about Zenon’s Biography. Specifically, the distribution aspect."
"Distribution?"
"Yes."

It seemed this wasn’t an issue related to the work itself but rather to the business surrounding it. As everyone knew, I had long since delegated all publishing matters.

Even if Musk skimmed a few gold bars off the top, it didn’t matter to me. The profits I earned far outweighed that, and the trust I had built with him wasn’t something that could be measured in gold.

For him to come to me directly to discuss publishing matters meant this was serious.

I swallowed the rest of the cookie and leaned forward slightly.

"What kind of problem are we talking about?"
"In short, it’s the demonic worshippers. A suicide bombing by one of them destroyed the printing press in the Belua Principality."
"...What?"

The mention of demonic worshippers made Kate, who had been reaching for another cookie, freeze mid-motion.

Her hand retreated, and her voice turned icy.

"...Those vile creatures did this?"
"Yes. The printing press was destroyed, and five casualties were reported. Two of them, unfortunately, passed away. Compensation and letters of condolence have already been sent."
"Luminous, grant rest to the innocent."

Hearing about the casualties, especially the deaths, Kate traced a sign of blessing across her chest and offered a silent prayer.

I couldn’t hide the heaviness in my heart either.

Indirectly, it was my work that had caused these losses. At the same time, I immediately understood why the demonic worshippers had targeted the press.

"Belua Principality is known as the crossroads of the world. Which means..."
"If they can’t go for the head, they’ll cut off the limbs. Setting up the press isn’t the issue. The problem is that the demonic worshippers won’t sit idly by. Moreover, there’s a high probability that other branches might be targeted as well."

It was like a war strategy—disrupting the supply lines. I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh.

With Kate at my side, a direct attack on me was nearly impossible.

Last time, it was my carelessness that allowed an incident to occur. But now that I was fully aware, there was no chance I’d let it happen again.

As Musk said, they likely shifted their strategy to target the branches when they realized they couldn’t strike directly at the source.

"And that’s why I came to see you, Isaac. Money can rebuild structures, but it can’t bring back lost lives or time."
"...True."

It was a noble sentiment, though hearing it from Musk, whose actions were often tied to his greed, left me a bit taken aback. At least he wasn’t some miser obsessed with money, like a certain famous cartoon character.

"The more this happens, the more desperate the demonic worshippers will become. People might even grow afraid to work at the presses."
"I understand your concerns, Musk. So, what’s your proposal?"
"I’d like to suggest something. It’s about the Q&A you mentioned in your letter."
"What does that have to do with this? If you’re suggesting we tie the Q&A to rewarding those who capture demonic worshippers, I’ll have to decline."

Demonic worshippers aren’t some trivial foe to be easily vanquished.

While Kate might crush them as effortlessly as swatting flies, not everyone in the world is Kate.

Moreover, the Q&A was something I wanted to do purely for the fans. There was no reason to risk lives over it.

But Musk seemed to have anticipated my reaction, laughing heartily as he presented an unexpected proposal.

"Haha, nothing of the sort. Instead, the idea is to offer rewards not based on money but something else."
"Something else?"
"Yes. For instance..."

He paused briefly before smiling and looking me straight in the eye.

"An exclusive one-on-one meeting with Isaac in a private room?"
"...What?"

For a moment, I could only blink in confusion at the bizarre suggestion.

"Ooooh..."

Meanwhile, beside me, Kate let out an audible sound of admiration, seemingly impressed by the idea.