“If he keeps this up, he’s going to die.”
Gu Lin dropped the words like a bomb, leaving his poor little system completely stunned.
【Wait, wait….. host, what did you just say?!】
“I said he’ll die. He’ll die at the hands of Roeffeler from the Takasi clan.”
Gu Lin didn’t bother with suspense; he gave the answer straight.
“Because of this flaw. I’m not the only one who’s noticed it. Roeffeler has too.”
The system hurriedly flipped through the “script.” Sure enough, early in the novel there was mention of Hicks’ death but nowhere did it specify who killed him.
The system hadn’t known Gu Lin long, but it had already realized its host wasn’t the type to make up nonsense just to fool it. If he said it so firmly, he had a reason.
And besides, the script did mention Roffeler.
Scrolling through the text, the system finally found a throwaway line: during infighting, Takasi General Roffeler had mysteriously gone missing, forcing the Takasi clan to withdraw.
But since the story revolved around the main couple’s romance, Roffeler had only ever been mentioned in the context of fighting the protagonist’s side, no extra detail given.
Still, judging from his rank as a general, the rest was easy enough to imagine.
【So he spotted Hicks’ weakness and exploited it.】
“When I was reviewing battle records, I noticed something odd,” Gu Lin explained.
To study this world’s mech standards, he had combed through plenty of publicly released combat footage including one short segment where Hicks’ unit clashed against Roeffeler’s.
He’d felt something off. So he dug deeper into this Roffeler.
“They’ve fought multiple times. Roeffeler must have picked up on the problem during one of those encounters.”
“Hicks’ mech doesn’t suit him. Roeffeler noticed it too, and he’s already used that against him before.”
Gu Lin pulled up the recording and played it for the system, even slowing down the critical moments for clarity.
With Gu Lin’s guidance, even the system spotted it:【In the middle of the fight, he looks like… a little sluggish?】it said uncertainly.
If its host hadn’t pointed it out, it never would have noticed such a tiny detail.
“Mm.” Satisfied the system could see it, Gu Lin closed the footage and idly fiddled with his light-brain.
But the system was still confused.
【He’s going to die just because of a little sluggishness?】
Gu Lin actually looked up in mild surprise.
The system wilted a little under the weight of his silence.【W-well, I am a new system. I don’t have that many functions yet…】
But then it brightened, encouraged by how Gu Lin had just patiently explained things like a mentor.【That’s why host has to earn more points quickly! Once you upgrade me, I’ll unlock more features, and then I can really help you~】it chirped, trying to act cute.
Gu Lin ignored the attempt and simply clarified:
For true experts, the tiniest flaw could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Especially when two fighters were evenly matched. Once Roffeler had seized on Marshal Hicks’ weakness, the balance of battle tilted completely.
Couple that with the messy power struggles described later in the novel’s “military replacement arc,” and the conclusion was obvious.
“…And it’s not just Hicks. The Zerg’s entire mech system has problems…”
Gu Lin’s voice trailed off into silence.
The system, dizzy from trying to keep up with all that analysis, finally escaped its headache, only to notice what its host was currently browsing.
“Across the entire galaxy, twenty-eight consecutive one-hit kills.” The post headline blared, complete with a flashy image of a crimson mech.
The accompanying username? Enlarged for emphasis: “One Hit Kill Entire Galaxy.”
A weird atmosphere thickened in the room.
For once, Gu Lin’s perpetually calm face, the same face that didn’t flinch even when facing alien armies, cracked.
After a long, long silence, he finally muttered,
“…How in the world did the original owner manage to stay alive this long?!”
System: …【Good question.】
Zerg Capital Star, a remote corner.
Kaxiu crawled out of his nutrient pod as usual, silently checking its condition.
Golden hair plastered wet against his forehead, sticky with half-absorbed fluid, made him frown.
As someone scraping by below the poverty line, Kaxiu couldn’t afford the expensive, self-cleaning nutrient solution, the kind you could step out of fresh and dry.
A year ago, he had offended the wrong people. And so, despite being an A-class female, he was shoved into a dead-end post where his career could only wither.
No battles, no achievements. Just a meager salary.
And as for attracting a male mate? Forget it. No male Zerg would ever spare a glance for a washed-up, useless A-class female like him.
In the Zerg race, the ratio of males to females was a staggering 1 to 100.
Female Zerg who broke through to A-rank weren’t common, but they weren’t that rare either.
But to be a spiritual match for an A-rank male, the male had to be at least B-rank. And B-rank males were already scarce.
So what B-rank male would ever choose a female like Kaxiu? one with nothing to his name, and who had already offended the wrong people?
Of course, Kaxiu had long since abandoned the idea of finding a male.
Aside from the instinctive fondness all females felt toward males, his heart seemed to lean more toward mechs.
And the moment he thought of mechs, his mind flicked back to the way his heartbeat had spiked at the end of that last match.
He shook his head sharply, scattering the thought.
Just then
*Beep-beep*
The alert tone from his light-brain cut through the silence.
Kaxiu tapped it open. The message that appeared made his pupils contract sharply.
He stared at it for a solid thirty seconds before sighing in helpless resignation, rising, and walking toward the shower.
The screen still glowed behind him.
It was a letter from the Male Association.
The sender’s cheerful words congratulated him
He had been matched with a male.
And not just any male, an A-rank male!
That A-rank male was none other than Gu Lin.
Night had fallen.
Normally, by this time, the Male Association building should have been empty of males.
Most of them only held honorary posts. They rarely came in, and even when they did, it was just to clock in before leaving immediately.
The Association never pressured them. On the contrary, it spoiled them, every male had a custom lounge and tea room, ready to entertain them whenever they pleased.
But tonight was different.
In one of the male-exclusive lounges, a silver-haired male sat happily in front of a computer, munching on pastries.
Not a single sub-female staffer had dared to leave; they bustled around him nervously, terrified of the slightest misstep.
In corners where the little male couldn’t see, they quietly competed with each other, each trying to stand out, hoping to catch his eye.
One sub-female carrying a tray of drinks risked a glance at his profile, his face so perfect it seemed carved by gods. His breath caught, his cheeks flushed red, and he ducked his head.
A male like this… he’d gladly serve him, not only as a spouse but even as a servant or slave.
But he quickly reined in the thought. This was the young master of the Banson family. Someone untouchable.
Suppressing his emotions with regret, he withdrew.
At the center of everyone’s attention, young master Kaili Banson was in excellent spirits.
He didn’t spare a thought for the gazes on him. Instead, he looked smugly at the contents on his light-brain.
“Hmph. Gu Lin, just wait for the surprise I’ve prepared for you!”
With a casual glance toward the stewarding sub-female at his side, he sneered inwardly.
Borrowing a knife to kill, and you think you can use me? Even dreaming of becoming my servant? Pathetic.
Still… Kaili bit into another pastry, smiling. Since that one had managed to cause Gu Lin some trouble, he’d let him enjoy a few days of false hope.
Meanwhile…
Gu Lin was completely unaware that, thanks to the original owner’s ridiculous screen name, he had somehow acquired a “female servant.”
At this moment, he was hunched over the StarNet interface, dealing with the now-infamous virtual combat account.
Thankfully, before he used the original owner’s account, he had checked the memories, he knew that no one else was aware of who owned it.
And StarNet’s privacy protections for males were airtight. For an A-rank male, doubly so. As long as he didn’t reveal himself, no one could trace it back.
The problem was… that absurd screen name.
Gu Lin rubbed his brow in exasperation.
Years spent buried in military service, he had never even thought about online identities, much less that a careless name could blow up like this.
The system watched his expression with strange fascination, like discovering a new continent: 【No way, host. The same man who just lectured me on mech theory like a god of war… is really about to delete his account because of a username?】
Gu Lin’s hand hovered calmly over the “Delete Account” button.b【Yes. Your host is chickening out.】
The system: 【 … 】
It had wanted to tease him, but when Gu Lin admitted it so straightforwardly, the system was the one who felt awkward.
In short order, Gu Lin erased the account, ignoring the flood of fans begging for matches and the hecklers mocking his name as an attention-grab.
Well… not hecklers exactly. The name was truly ridiculous.
Still, before hitting delete, he hesitated for a second, exporting and saving the one replay file that had lasted more than ten minutes.
Then, with practiced ease, he created a brand new account.
The system sighed with regret:【So… does this mean you can’t play mech battles anymore?】
Its host’s style was way too distinctive. Close-combat mechs, one-hit kills, the sheer impact of those fights was unforgettable. Even under a new account, everyone would know.
But Gu Lin only kept typing, voice flat:
【I don’t only know how to pilot one kind of mech.】
【?】The system froze, plastering question marks across his interface.
【Host, did I just hallucinate what you said?】
Gu Lin didn’t answer. He finished setting up the new account and logged off.
When he did, his light-brain was already exploding with messages, hundreds of them flooding in.
He skimmed them quickly. Among the flood from the original owner’s so-called “friends,” there were also messages from his “family.”
And when Gu Lin actually read them, he was left dumbstruck.
Hidden in the pile was one crucial piece of information:
He now had a wife.
No! according to Zerg terminology, he had gained a female servant.
One he couldn’t refuse, and was required to bring home.
Gu Lin: … Well. That was sudden.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ you know what to do
☕ 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