【You’re so terrible host!】
Although the system spoke in a tone of righteous condemnation, the glee in its voice was so obvious that even the little cleaning robot nearby began moving in a comically awkward way, its mechanical arms jerking as if it were trying not to laugh.
Gu Lin ignored both of them. After Kaxiu left, he stretched lazily and stood up.
Even though the banquet was scheduled for the evening, his daytime hours were far from idle. Physical training couldn’t be skipped.
If he didn’t build a solid foundation now, even the potions provided by the system would have limited effect. After that, there were still piles of documents waiting for him to organize.
He had to understand the highest level of technology in this world as quickly as possible. And on top of that, he needed to earn points, fast.
The potions weren’t the only things he wanted to exchange for; the system mall was filled with all sorts of tempting items that made his heart itch with desire.
Just as he was about to begin his day’s plans, his optical brain suddenly lit up.
When he opened it, a “familiar” male appeared on the screen.
“Brother…”
The male’s figure was thin and weak, his expression tired and pitiful. Facing Gu Lin, his eyes were full of nervous submission, a touch of pleading glimmering within them.
But that plea was only for show. His acting skills might fool others, but they were nothing before Gu Lin who had spent years in the military, seeing every kind of deceit and turbulence imaginable.
Beneath the mask of fear and humility, the jealousy and resentment that the other thoughts were well hidden were as clear to Gu Lin as daylight.
“What is it?” Gu Lin leaned lazily against the wall, perfectly imitating the original body’s proud and disdainful demeanor. He didn’t even bother to give the other a proper glance, his tone flat and careless.
This male was Gu Lin’s cousin,the son of his uncle.
But he was only a D-grade male, worlds apart from Gu Lin. With such a wide gap, he had no chance of inheriting the family name.
“Well… I kind of broke something at the Balk family’s place,” the cousin, Cook mumbled vaguely, but the intention behind his words was obvious enough: he wanted money.
Gu Lin waved a dismissive hand. “Put the Balk people on the screen. I’ll handle it.”
Once the issue was settled and the call ended, the casual look in Gu Lin’s eyes faded, replaced by a trace of sharp focus.
The Balke family wouldn’t normally trouble a male, even a low-grade one like Cook. They were businessmen; they knew how to show deference to status. So what could possibly have made them cause a scene?
It had to be connected to tonight’s banquet and to the protagonist of the story, the main “Top”
Cook, this useless fool who had nothing better to do than harass females, what business did he have involving himself with the protagonist’s affairs?
If Cook had gotten humiliated because of the protagonist, then there was no way he’d let it go. A clash between him and the protagonist was no longer a possibility, it was inevitable.
In the original novel, Cook’s sudden and unreasonable hostility toward the protagonist had always seemed strange. Now, though, it all made perfect sense.
Was this the world’s own way of filling in the blanks or was there another cause behind it?
Still, the one who caught Gu Lin’s real interest wasn’t Cook, but his uncle’s other son, the novel’s main “recipient,” Hoyle. According to the story, he should have just returned from the front lines.
Cook, having played the pitiful younger brother long enough to squeeze money out of Gu Lin, immediately shed his mask once the call ended.
His expression twisted in rage as he turned toward the Balke family’s attendants and viciously kicked the object he had broken.
It was the first time in his life he’d been made to swallow such humiliation.
If he hadn’t heard that the attendants here were particularly attractive sub-females, he wouldn’t have even bothered coming!
He was a male, a male! In the entire Capital Star, every high-end club treated him like a treasure, and now a mere sub-female dared reject him?
And that so-called heir of the Balke family, wasn’t he just another low-grade male? How dare he look down on him?
Fine. Just wait. When the banquet came, he’d make sure to teach them all a lesson they’d never forget.
With that, Cook stormed away in fury.
At the military headquarters.
When Kaxiu arrived, he immediately understood what the “not going smoothly” part had meant.
The officer who had brought him there pointed to the row of Zergs standing stiffly behind him, “These are the soldiers assigned to your new unit.”
Kaxiu looked over the group, an entire team of C-grade or lower female soldiers. A “mecha elite squad”? Any Zerg hearing that would think it was a joke.
Among the Zerg race, only high-grade females could become top-tier mecha fighters. That was an unspoken rule, almost a law of nature.
The officer wasn’t familiar with Kaxiu. Though he pitied the man, there wasn’t much he could say. Orders from above were orders.
And the official reasoning had been given clearly enough: these were “the most outstanding graduates from the Mecha Academy,” each with “at least three years of field experience” and “rich combat knowledge,” making their assignment to the elite team perfectly logical.
Pretty words. But anyone who knew the truth understood, the Mecha Academy was the least prestigious school in the entire empire.
It was where those who couldn’t afford the more advanced academies ended up. Their technical understanding might be solid, but when it came to actual combat ability? They couldn’t even compare to high-grade females.
Their reflexes, their instincts, their attack speed, none of it measured up.
To the officer, this entire arrangement was nothing short of sabotage.
Though no one knew why Kaxiu had suddenly been reassigned to the headquarters, it was clear his situation was precarious.
When the officer left, only Kaxiu and his new team remained. The row of female soldiers looked uneasy; they had just been informed last night of their new assignment, and though the words “elite mecha squad” had initially excited them, that enthusiasm had faded quickly.
They knew exactly what their own abilities were. Now they only hoped they wouldn’t drag their new commander down.
Kaxiu , however, remained calm. As he looked over the group, an old idea, something he’d once dreamed of long ago, began to take shape again in his mind.
【Host, this one’s pretty! No, that one! Oh! oh, that one’s even better!】
The system bounced around in Gu Lin’s head, pointing at one dazzlingly ornate outfit after another. It adored shiny, glittering things and beautiful people even more.
Every time it looked at Gu Lin’s face, it felt an overwhelming urge to decorate him like a walking Christmas tree, sparkling from head to toe.
Gu Lin rubbed his temples helplessly as the little system bossed the cleaning robot into pulling out armfuls of shimmering accessories.
“Pick fewer,” he finally said. “Too heavy. I’ll collapse.”
The system froze, imagining its delicate, wind-blown host fainting under the weight of all that finery. After a moment of internal conflict, it reluctantly tossed aside a large pile of jewelry.
For the first time, it began to truly approve of its host’s insistence on physical training.
Gu Lin could only sigh. What else could he even say?
【Host, I’ll make sure you’re the most stunning one at the entire banquet! 】The system declared proudly.
“…Thanks,” Gu Lin said dryly.
While the system fussed over clothing, Gu Lin opened his optical brain and began reviewing the protagonist receiver’s profile.
Hoyle, the novel’s main “bottom” Cook’s older brother, and Gu Lin’s cousin. Unlike Cook, Hoyle was a female, and thus ignored by most of the family.
They didn’t share the same mother, and Cook had always despised him, treating him with open hostility.
Like most females, Hoyle had gone to the battlefield early, where he’d distinguished himself through numerous victories.
Unfortunately, during one mission he’d accidentally injured a male, which led to his reassignment to the rear, where his fated romance with the protagonist “Top” would begin.
Gu Lin wasn’t particularly fond of that kind of love story, but he needed to know the details.
【Host, what about this one?】 The system, finally looking up from its mountain of sequins, noticed what Gu Lin was doing. Curious, it floated over. 【Host, what are you reading?】
“Pretty good,” Gu Lin said after glancing at the outfit the system had chosen. The little thing had surprisingly decent taste; the ensemble was elegant despite its shine.
Then he turned the screen so it could see, “Just reading about the protagonist Bottom.”
【Host, you’re human, right?】 the system suddenly asked. 【So… what kind of female would you like?】
Gu Lin almost choked. “What is going on in that tiny brain of yours?”
Seriously, weren’t systems supposed to be artificial intelligences? How was his, so nosy, so… gossipy?
If the system could read his thoughts, it would probably be embarrassed enough to flicker red. In truth, it knew it was a bit of an oddball among systems.
The system forums were always filled with threads like ‘How to maximize quest points’, ‘Fastest way to clear world missions’, and ‘Top ten items to redeem in early stages.’
In order not to stand out, it had to pretend to be serious whenever it joined discussions, an exhausting performance, really.
【C’mon, Host, tell me!】 It whined, voice sugary and playful. It had long been realized that Gu Lin had endless patience for it. If it acted cute enough, it might just get him to talk.
“No one.”
【Huh?】 The system blinked.
“I don’t have anyone,” Gu Lin said again. “My original world wasn’t exactly peaceful. There were wars, endless studies, no time for such things.”
【Oh…】 The system sounded disappointed for a moment but then perked up again. Then have you ever liked anyone?
“No,” Gu Lin replied, his voice calm as ever. Then, almost as if anticipating the next question, he added, “And I don’t think I’ll find a partner in this world, either.”
【Why not? 】the system asked immediately, refusing to give up.
“Take a guess.”
【How could I possibly guess that?】 the system grumbled, then suddenly gasped. 【Wait, is it because you want to go back to your original world?】
Gu Lin didn’t answer.
At the military headquarters once again.
The female soldiers who had been forcibly reassigned to Kaxiu’s unit were all on edge. They knew their limits all too well.
Aside from their superior understanding of mecha theory, their combat performance on the battlefield was often crushed by others.
But instead of the expected scolding or disdain, they found that their new commander, though clearly placed in a difficult position, showed no sign of resentment toward them.
That morning, he had calmly run them through basic evaluations and collected detailed performance data from each one, his attitude serious and methodical.
He genuinely seemed intent on leading them well.
By the time lunch came, the team went together to collect their meals, only to notice that their commander hadn’t moved from his seat.
One particularly bold soldier, curiosity burning in his eyes, walked up to Kaxiu with a grin, “Sir, aren’t you eating?”
Kaxiu smiled mildly, “My male prepared my lunch for me.”
Instantly, the nearby soldiers, who had been pretending not to listen, perked up their antennae.
A meal prepared by a male! Even if it was made by his household robot, it was still a rare privilege. Their commander’s temper seemed kind, and curiosity quickly got the better of them.
One by one, they drifted closer, eager to sneak a look at what sort of lunch a male would prepare for his partner.
Remembering the look the male had given him that morning, Kaxiu had a feeling this was exactly what Gu Lin wanted, to have people see it. So he didn’t hide it.
He simply opened the container in full view of everyone.
The moment the lid came off, every Zerg present froze, utterly stunned.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm is pleased. The translator would be even more pleased with coffee.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
← PreviousNext →
ChaptersChapter 1 · Crossing OverChapter 2 · KaxiuChapter 3 · Social DeathChapter 4 · Female Servant/WifeChapter 5 · ConfusedChapter 6 · MysteryChapter 7 · CamouflageChapter 8 · AcquaintanceChapter 9 · Man in a ShellChapter 10 · FoodChapter 11 · RemunerationChapter 12 · GossipChapter 13 · TaskChapter 14 · CoverdaleChapter 15 · Mission AccomplishedChapter 16 · ExchangeChapter 17 · DreamChapter 18 · DelicateChapter 19 · ReasonChapter 20 · SpecialChapter 21 · 2 Dose of VialChapter 22 · Night WatchChapter 23 · One NightChapter 24 · GratefulChapter 25 · ContestChapter 26 · FortChapter 27 · RecordChapter 28 · SealChapter 29 · MissedChapter 30 · Treasure TroveChapter 31 · Battle SpiritChapter 32 · IllusionChapter 33 · PhotosChapter 34 · DifferentChapter 35 · Heartfelt wishesChapter 36 · TeasingChapter 37 · InterestChapter 38 · TrappedChapter 39 · Borrowing a knifeChapter 40 · SecretChapter 42 · ConditionChapter 43 · QuestionChapter 44 · AnswerChapter 45 · CoreChapter 46 · MeetChapter 47 · WeirdChapter 48 · DifferentChapter 49 · Spiritual SeaChapter 50 · ConceptsChapter 51 · RoefellerChapter 51 · Hicks Return!Chapter 53 · 10 thousand points!Chapter 54 · RedemptionChapter 55 · ChangeChapter 56 · ReceiveChapter 57 · Side QuestChapter 59 · It seems like a old FriendChapter 60 · TrainingChapter 61 · MoodChapter 62 · ConfusedChapter 63 · Children’s PlaygroundChapter 64 · GiftChapter 65 · ApproachingChapter 66 · ThreatChapter 67 Part 1 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 67 Part 2 · Do you have any objections?Chapter 68 · MaintenanceChapter 69 · Thank youChapter 70 · UndercoverChapter 71 · VisitChapter 72 · FrenzyChapter 73 · TransactionChapter 74 · ReminderChapter 75 · ArenaChapter 76 · InterestingChapter 77 · CuteChapter 78 · SecretChapter 79 · CompareChapter 80 · StrategyChapter 81 · CrisisChapter 82 · ProtectChapter 83 · Blind SpotChapter 84 · SafetyChapter 85 · Mission ObjectiveChapter 86 · DeterminationChapter 87 · Grave DangerChapter 88 · GuessingChapter 89 · Chess PieceChapter 90 · EmotionsChapter 91 · Guardian’s HeartChapter 92 · A Dangerous FigureChapter 93 · FrustratedChapter 94 · BullyChapter 95 · NegotiationChapter 96 · ChallengeChapter 97 · RejectionChapter 98 · PlantingChapter 99 · Thank youChapter 100 · LeveragingChapter 101 · ChaosChapter 102 · SubmitChapter 103 · ThoughtsChapter 104 · Good news and bad newsChapter 105 · MadmanChapter 106 · CooperationChapter 107 · Just drawingChapter 108 · It was a pleasure working with youChapter 109 · StargazingChapter 110 · GuideChapter 111 · Plant FlowerChapter 112 · White WolfChapter 113 · SterilisationChapter 114 · CollarChapter 115 · RunChapter 116 · GenerousChapter 117 · ImageChapter 118 · FriendlyChapter 119 · LostChapter 120 · TasteChapter 121 · System upgradeChapter 122 · Transfered FromChapter 123 · Keep dragging it outChapter 124 · CategoryChapter 125 · DemolitionChapter 126 · I want to cry but can’tChapter 127 · Upgrade completeChapter 128 · Tears streaming down my face in the windChapter 129 · Strange luckChapter 130 · UnknownChapter 131 · Dog plant flowersChapter 132 · Contest of Wits and Silent UnderstandingChapter 133 · ColinChapter 134 · AmbushChapter 135 · DullChapter 136 · BattleChapter 137 · Post-WarChapter 138 · Return ToChapter 139 · Strength EnhancementChapter 140 · Is this a staged accident scam?Chapter 141 · ToolChapter 142 · ProcessingChapter 143 · CluesChapter 144 · MemoryChapter 145 · UnderstoodChapter 146 · I want to hug youChapter 147 · Differential treatmentChapter 148 · So DifficultChapter 149 · Going to farChapter 150 · Real or FakeChapter 151 · ResponseChapter 152 · The truthChapter 153 · Let’s chat Causally?Chapter 154 · A Way to RelaxChapter 155 · ConversationChapter 156 · Daily MissionChapter 157 · A QuarrelChapter 158 · NamelessChapter 159 · ProbingChapter 160 · A Good HelperChapter 161 · ConfirmationChapter 162 · DiscussChapter 163 · ForgottenChapter 164 · TraceChapter 164 · TraceChapter 165 · Contact