This body was truly… terrible.
After finishing the basic training session, Gu Lin let out a long breath. The kind of exercise that once wouldn’t even qualify as a warm-up for his original self now felt like a life-threatening ordeal in this frail body.
Gu Lin had excellent control over his physical limits, and the moment he sensed that he was about to reach them, he decisively stopped the training.
The body’s foundation was far too weak, and it had started training much too late. The potential for improvement was extremely limited.
If this had been his previous world, Gu Lin would have had plenty of ways to deal with such a situation. But as the saying goes, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice.
The technological systems of the Zerg were completely different from those of his old world.
Even though he still remembered several formulas for physical enhancement serums, first of all, he didn’t know whether this world even had the materials to make them.
Secondly, he had no way to determine whether potions effective on humans would work on Zerg physiology.
Without a laboratory, without the necessary materials, and without the time, Gu Lin could only shelve the idea. For now, he had more pressing concerns like how to deal with the other inhabitant of this house: his so-called female attendant, Kaxiu.
Gu Lin had done a bit of research on Kaxiu. When he learned that he had been assigned an unavoidable partner, he had used his male’s authority to look into this “attendant” of his.
What he found had genuinely surprised him.
Kaxiu, once the vice commander of the Fourth Legion. Before even reaching adulthood, he had defeated the then commander in combat and had been named a candidate to take over the position.
Under his command, his mecha squad had won multiple crucial victories.
Even by Gu Lin’s standards as a former marshal, those battle records were “impressive.” With proper nurturing, Kaxiu could easily have become Hicks’s successor and that wouldn’t even be an exaggeration.
And yet, this very same Zerg after his most glorious battle had inexplicably retired?
Not only retired, but been completely expelled from the military circle and thrown into some meaningless civilian post with no ties to the army.
Gu Lin had seen all sorts of dirty tricks during his years as marshal; it took him only one glance to see there was something very wrong here.
When he dug deeper using his male authority, what he discovered made his expression darken.
Kaxiu had been punished simply because his commanding male had looked at him too many times.
To be able to erase a prodigy like that over nothing more than jealousy, this military was truly something else.
From the original host’s memories, Gu Lin knew that the Zerg had an almost fanatical obsession with males in their daily life. But he hadn’t expected that madness to infect the military as well.
A casual investigation turned up several similar cases or rather, identical ones.
Once expelled from the army, without the nutrient injections provided by the military, and without finding a male to claim them, these females were left with nothing but slow decay and death.
In Zerg society, females were expected to leave the army after marriage; that much was tradition. Other than the one “female monarch” that each male could claim for life, all others who became attendants or slaves lost nearly all their freedom.
They were required to wear locators at all times so that their male masters could track their movements whenever they pleased.
Their survival depended entirely on their male’s favor.
【Host, that female is acting strange,】 the system’s mechanical voice suddenly interrupted Gu Lin’s thoughts. 【Why isn’t he going in?】
The system sounded puzzled.
After escorting Kaxiu to the room Gu Lin had arranged for him, it had been wandering around the estate, controlling a small robot. For the system, operating the robot with its newly learned skills was an exciting novelty.
It had been aimlessly exploring when, on its way back to its host’s room, it caught sight of someone standing at the end of the corridor, a figure motionless in front of a door.
That figure turned out to be none other than the “partner” it had brought into the house earlier that morning Kaxiu himself.
【Hmm?】 Gu Lin frowned slightly. He opened his light-brain terminal and quickly located Kaxiu through the estate’s surveillance system.
Kaxiu was standing there exactly as he had that morning at the gate motionless at the cornermost door in the corridor, expression calm and severe, looking almost like a finely carved statue.
In truth, Kaxiu was extremely tense. He knew very well that now was not the time to provoke a possibly enraged male.
For a female like him, forced into a pairing he hadn’t asked for, offending others along the way merely being sent to a remote house to fend for himself was already considered a stroke of luck.
He should probably just stay inside that room, waiting quietly until his body gave out, until the inevitable madness eroded his reason, until despair swallowed him whole, and he was finally sent away to some desolate star to die.
Perhaps… that was the fate he was supposed to accept.
But he couldn’t bring himself to.
He couldn’t be reconciled to that ending.
Kaxiu had always been a strange one. Yes, he liked males but what he loved more was the thrill of mecha combat. That passion had only grown stronger as he matured.
Back at the academy, most of his peers cared more about honing their physical abilities. For the Zerg, a race naturally blessed with immense physical strength, mechas were nothing more than tools.
They could rely purely on their superior speed and reaction to crush and kill experienced pilots of other races with ease.
Moreover, low-ranking females who specialized in mecha operations were never seen as competition. That only made the phenomenon worse.
Among the Zerg, a high-ranking female like Kaxiu who dedicated himself solely to mecha studies was a rarity. Few among his kind truly understood what mecha warfare meant not in the way he did.
Did he pour all those years into studying mecha technology and struggle past the limits of his body just to reach an A-rank only to waste away quietly in some luxurious estate, rotting to death beneath the golden veneer of a male’s mansion?
Kaxiu thought bitterly that even if he somehow managed to survive tonight, a life of caged obedience and slow decay was not what he wanted. That wasn’t living. That was dying with his eyes open.
And yet… confusion flickered in his eyes.
He had never met Gu Lin before. In fact, throughout his entire life, every time he’d heard that name, it had been followed by something negative. Gu Lin’s reputation wasn’t one that inspired hope.
But his instincts, those sharp, battle-honed instincts that had saved him countless times on the field whispered something different. That male might not be what he appeared to be.
Gu Lin, on the other hand, felt a faint headache coming on. He was tired, physically, mentally and a little exasperated.
He had just been worrying about how to deal with Kaxiu when the other party’s intentions became crystal clear. The message in those hesitant movements, that quiet waiting at the door, couldn’t have been louder.
Gu Lin had already formulated a plan for handling this “attendant.”
From what he’d deduced, as an A-rank male, even if the match had been forced, it shouldn’t have been possible for him to be paired with someone like Kaxiu.
That alone reeked of interference. And not from just one faction likely from two completely different groups working at cross purposes.
If the issue had been only on Kaxiu’s side, things would have been simpler. He could have been dealt with the same way other disgraced females were ignored until he aged, stripped of everything, then casually tossed to a C-rank male.
A C-rank male could never stabilize an A-rank female’s spiritual energy. The resulting backlash from the unstable psychic sea would tear both of them apart.
That was the fate awaiting Kaxiu: forced pairing, inevitable mental collapse, and finally being dragged away by the guards to die namelessly on some barren planet.
Those schemers had no reason and no authority to assign such a dangerous “gift” to an A-rank male like him.
Which meant only one thing: there were at least two A-rank males meddling in this arrangement.
In the original novel, the body’s previous owner hadn’t ignored this either. He had casually chosen one of his admirers to take as an attendant, seemingly indifferent to the affair.
But the story also mentioned several male characters who opposed the antagonist and Gu Lin could easily guess that this “pairing” had been orchestrated by those very hands.
He had a rough idea of who they were and had already decided how to deal with them.
Besides, from the information he’d gathered, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Kaxiu’s background wasn’t as simple as it looked.
The commander of the Fourth Legion had treated him far too well, the sort of care that went well beyond that of a superior for a subordinate.
Gu Lin had even found traces of certain discussions buried deep within the star network half-erased, half-hidden. Unfortunately, time hadn’t allowed him to dig deeper.
But that could wait. As long as he didn’t act rashly toward Kaxiu, this matter wasn’t urgent… yet.
Just as he was deep in thought…
【Host, are you perhaps struggling with the fact that your formerly single, self-sufficient self has suddenly acquired a… wife?】
The system’s tone was dripping with glee, practically bubbling with schadenfreude.
【Why not just embrace your role? You’re supposed to be the villain anyway. Why not go all in be the bad guy through and through?】
It was clearly enjoying itself, tossing out irresponsible advice just to see what would happen.
Gu Lin ignored the system’s mischievous laughter. He simply prepared to wash up and meet this so-called “female attendant” of his.
Treating Kaxiu the way the original owner had cruelly and dismissively was out of the question.
Imitating the protagonist from the novel and showering him with performative affection wasn’t his style either.
No, Gu Lin had his own way of doing things. He would give Kaxiu some freedom.
After all, as someone who had been used as a pawn, the last thing he wanted was to let the people who schemed against him succeed.
Pretending to be content even appearing to dote on Kaxiu in public would be a fine way to confuse them.
Yes, that would do nicely.
Meanwhile, Kaxiu had no idea what his newly assigned male was thinking. He still stood rigidly at the doorway, motionless as a statue, waiting for whatever fate would deliver next.
He didn’t know whether he would live through the night.
A chill wind drifted through the corridor, teasing strands of his golden hair and brushing against his nose, a soft, ticklish touch that only made the night feel colder.
Inside the ancient Benson family estate.
A silver-haired figure slipped quietly through the shadows, moving with practiced stealth as he avoided every active camera.
Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief…
A voice, smooth and magnetic, sliced through the silence, “What are you hiding for?”
The intruder froze, his entire body going stiff.
Kaili turned his head slowly, and the moment his gaze met the face behind him, his heart nearly stopped.
It was his brother, the impossibly handsome one whose looks were matched only by his terrifying presence.
For a split second, Kaili forgot to breathe. He’d always known his brother was beautiful, but seeing him up close again, bathed in the faint glow of the corridor lights, still left him in awe.
Then reality hit hard.
“B… Brother…” Kaili stammered, panic flashing in his eyes.
The Benson family was unlike most others in the Zerg Empire within a single generation, they had produced not one but two male heirs.
Orcott Benson, the eldest son, was the family’s heir apparent.
He had always been exceptional, stronger, smarter, and more talented than anyone else Kaili knew. Among all known males in the Zerg race, there was no one quite like him.
Half the Empire’s top-class mechas had come from his hands. Calling him the greatest mecha engineer in Zerg history would not be an exaggeration.
And perhaps that was exactly why Kaili had always feared him.
The age gap between them didn’t help; they barely spoke, and whenever they did, Kaili could never relax. He had grown up both admiring and dreading his brother’s shadow.
But this time was different.
This time, he actually had something to hide something he really, really shouldn’t have done.
And, as fate would have it, the very moment he snuck home trying to avoid his brother.
He’d walked right into him.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
A wild translator appears! Their weakness: 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