Crow
Luo Xivide… Luo Xivide…
The voice grew closer and closer, as though it were summoning something, endlessly repeating those four syllables.
So familiar…
Yet somehow, it didn’t feel like his name.
What did those words mean?
Long sealed memories suddenly began to crack open alongside the strange familiarity of those four syllables. In an instant, scenes from the past appeared before Luo’s eyes.
Deep within the universe,
Inside boundless darkness,
There was no light.
No life.
At that time, he, or perhaps It, did not yet possess a physical form. There was only a mass of black mist, so fragile it seemed as though it might disperse at any moment, quietly nurtured within the darkness.
Surrounding It were countless slumbering aberrant creatures.
Some possessed grotesquely elongated fangs and innumerable compound eyes.
Others dripped with slime and waving tentacles.
Others wore jagged armor and sharp protruding spikes.
Every single one of them was hideous and malformed beyond description.
Yet It rested there at the very center, like a priceless treasure guarded by dragons.
Perhaps that slumber lasted thousands of years.
Or perhaps tens of thousands.
Stars were born and collapsed around It. Galaxies exploded with world shattering force.
But none of those upheavals disturbed Its sleep.
And then,
At a certain moment,
It opened Its eyes.
The surrounding aberrations seemed to sense something simultaneously. At the instant It awakened, every creature stirred from slumber together.
The universe across millions upon millions of miles fell into turmoil.
An endless tide of dark creatures crawled forth from unknown corners of existence, prostrating themselves before It in worship.
【Luo Xivide.】
The language spoken by those aberrations was not the universal insect language Luo had learned.
It was something far stranger,
A vibration of sound akin to the frequency of the universe itself, carrying an eerie and mysterious rhythm.
【Luo Xivide.】
The monsters called out in unison.
Like the most fanatical believers of any religion, they bowed their heads and loudly praised the sacred name of the ancient god who had slept for tens of thousands of years.
【You are the God of Darkness.】
【The Ruler of the Old Ones.】
【The vessel that carries countless twisted desires and insatiable greed.】
【The insect race was born because of You.】
【The alien species wage war for You.】
【Wherever darkness reaches, 】
【You exist there.】
【You are】
【Our supreme god.】
【Luo Xivide.】
“Your Highness Luo?”
Charles’s puzzled voice rang out, instantly pulling Luo from the depths of those memories.
As though he had heard absolutely none of the increasingly deafening cries of “Luo Xivide” echoing in his ears, Luo simply lifted his head and gave Charles an obedient smile.
“Grandpa Charles, Luo’s hungry! Luo wants something to eat!”
Charles didn’t suspect anything. Smiling warmly, he nodded immediately.
“Alright then. How about I make some cheese rice cakes for Your Highness Luo first to fill your stomach a little? I’m sure Gu Yuan wouldn’t want you returning home too full to eat dinner.”
“Okay.”
Luo’s original intention had never actually been about eating in the first place, so he barely even registered what Charles was saying.
Instead, after watching the older man walk away enthusiastically to display his culinary skills, Luo turned toward Gu Yuan on the other side of the video call and said:
“Yuanyuan, then Luo’s hanging up the call first! You have to drive the starship properly and absolutely cannot get into an accident!”
Gu Yuan had originally assumed Luo would cling to him through the video call until he arrived at the school. Hearing this, he was momentarily surprised.
But before he could even ask anything, Luo had already cleanly and decisively hung up the call.
The starship cabin, once filled with the cheerful voice of the little male insect, instantly became silent.
Gu Yuan stared at the now pitch black screen in front of him and fell into deep thought.
…Had Charles’s earlier words really frightened Luo that much?
No wonder Luo had suddenly started insisting on seeing his wings.
So he’d actually been acting spoiled because he got scared.
Now that he thought about it…
He really shouldn’t have refused Luo at the beginning.
“Click.”
After ending the video call, Luo directly removed his optical brain device.
He casually tossed it outside the door before finally stepping into the principal’s office.
Luo fell silent for a moment.
He could clearly sense that, at his current level of strength, the most he could do was control his tentacles. Issuing commands across the vast distance of the universe was asking far too much of the present him.
The little black ball immediately puffed itself up proudly.
【Chirp can help!】
It wriggled excitedly in Luo’s tentacles, its tiny round body trembling with eagerness.
【As long as my lord gives the order, Chirp can carry your will to them!】
Luo narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Really?”
【Really!】
The little black ball bounced frantically, terrified that Luo might not believe it.
【Chirp would never lie to my lord!】
Luo lowered his gaze, falling briefly into thought.
The scene he had just witnessed still lingered vividly in his mind.
The endless swarm of monsters.
The starships roaring through space.
And the figure standing at the forefront of it all.
Gu Yuan.
That white haired military female standing alone amid the darkness of the universe, spreading his enormous wings as he tore apart the creatures surrounding him with cold efficiency.
For some reason, the image made Luo feel strangely uncomfortable.
He did not understand war.
Nor did he truly understand the relationship between the Zerg race and those creatures.
But he knew one thing very clearly,
If those monsters continued advancing toward the Empire, Gu Yuan would continue fighting them.
And if the fighting continued…
Gu Yuan could get hurt.
Luo lowered his eyes.
Then, in the strange language belonging to the abyssal creatures, he slowly asked:
【If I give the order… they’ll stop attacking the Empire?】
The little black ball nodded desperately.
【Yes! They only attack because they are searching for you! As long as my lord commands them, they’ll retreat immediately!】
Luo was silent for several seconds before finally speaking again.
【Then tell them to stop.】
The little black ball froze.
【Eh?】
Luo repeated calmly:
【Tell them not to continue advancing toward the Empire.】
The black ball trembled violently.
【But… but my lord… the insects are imprisoning you! They’re all bad insects! Once we rescue you, you can return to the abyss and reclaim your throne!】
Luo tilted his head slightly.
His golden eyes curved faintly yet there was not the slightest trace of warmth within them.
【Didn’t you say they’re my subordinates too?】
The little black ball instantly fell silent.
Luo lightly poked its round body with one finger.
【Since they’re all my subordinates, then they should stop fighting.】
The black ball quivered pitifully.
【B…. But…】
【No “but.”】
Luo interrupted it lazily.
【Or are you not willing to listen to me?】
The moment those words fell, the little black ball nearly exploded from fright.
【Chirp listens! Chirp listens to everything my lord says!!】
It immediately floated upright in Luo’s tentacles, looking as though it were preparing for some grand ritual.
Then, an invisible ripple suddenly spread outward from its body.
The surrounding air seemed to distort faintly.
The strange resonance that resembled the frequency of the universe itself echoed once more through Luo’s ears.
The little black ball shut its eyes tightly and shouted with all its strength:
【By the will of the Supreme God, retreat!!】
Boom,
In that instant, Luo abruptly felt countless chaotic consciousnesses tremble simultaneously somewhere deep within the distant universe.
Like tides surging in reverse.
Like beasts hearing the command of their king.
That overwhelming sense of madness and hunger slowly quieted down.
The little black ball finished shouting and instantly became limp, looking utterly exhausted.
【Done…】
It drooped weakly in Luo’s tentacles.
【They’ll retreat now…】
Luo stared at it for a while before finally asking:
【You can actually command them directly?】
The little black ball immediately became nervous again.
【N No! Only because it’s your order! They obey you, not Chirp! Chirp is just helping transmit your will!】
Luo gave a soft “oh.”
He still had not fully trusted this strange creature that had appeared out of nowhere.
But at the very least, it did not seem to be lying.
The little black ball cautiously floated closer.
【My lord… will you come home with Chirp now?】
Luo looked at it.
Then he smiled.
The smile was beautiful, innocent even but somehow it made the little black ball tremble instinctively.
“Home?”
Luo spoke slowly.
“I just got a home.”
The little black ball froze.
Luo leaned lazily against the desk behind him, his tentacles swaying lightly in the air behind him.
His tone was calm.
“I have food to eat now. A place to sleep. Someone who takes care of me.”
He paused briefly.
“And someone who worries about me.”
For some reason, the image of Gu Yuan hurriedly leaving the military headquarters surfaced again in Luo’s mind.
The sound of military boots striking the ground.
The hurried pace.
And that sentence,
“I’m going to pick the child up and bring him home.”
Luo blinked slowly.
Then he lowered his gaze and looked at the little black ball in front of him.
“So why should I leave?”
The little black ball panicked instantly.
【But! but you are the Supreme God! The abyss cannot exist without you!】
Luo asked casually:
“Hasn’t it survived all this time without me anyway?”
【That’s different!】
The little black ball sounded as though it were about to cry.
【The abyss has been searching for you this entire time! Everyone’s waiting for your return!】
Luo rested his chin lazily in one hand.
“But I’m not interested in being your god.”
The little black ball was completely stunned.
Luo’s tone remained relaxed, almost playful.
“Besides…”
He lowered his eyes slightly, looking at the tiny black creature caught within his tentacles.
“You all look too ugly.”
The little black ball: 【……】
Critical hit.
An enormous critical hit.
The little black ball instantly wilted into a miserable little sphere.
【Chirp….. Chirp can evolve again…】
Luo almost laughed.
Before he could continue speaking, however, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the principal’s office.
At the same time, Charles’ cheerful voice rang out from beyond the door.
“Your Highness Luo, the cheese rice cakes are ready, ”
Luo’s expression instantly shifted.
The tentacles behind him vanished in an instant.
His previously lazy and dangerous demeanor disappeared completely as though it had never existed.
He quickly scooped up the little black ball and stuffed it into his sleeve.
Then, in less than a second, he transformed back into the obedient, harmless little male zerg from before.
Only then did he open the door.
Outside, Charles stood there carrying a plate of steaming cheese rice cakes, smiling warmly.
The old principal froze slightly upon seeing him.
Perhaps because the room had been locked for too long, Luo’s pale cheeks were faintly flushed, his golden eyes slightly misty.
He looked up at Charles obediently.
“Charles Grandpa!”
Charles immediately forgot everything else and smiled kindly.
“Hungry, aren’t you? Come eat while it’s hot.”
“Okay!”
Luo nodded happily and reached out to take the plate.
Inside his sleeve, the little black ball remained silent for a long while before finally trembling faintly.
For some reason…
It suddenly felt that the insects might actually be far more terrifying than the abyss.
The little black ball clearly had not expected that question either. It froze right alongside Luo.
【啾 doesn’t know either…】
Back then, whenever the Lord wished to command something, he simply did it. How was Chirp supposed to know the exact method behind it? QUQ
Luo and the little black ball stared at one another in silence.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
In the end, Luo was the first to sigh softly.
【Forget it. I’ll reluctantly believe you for now. I’ll think about the command issue slowly later. What’s your name?】
The little black ball wriggled bashfully.
【My lord used to call Chirp, Little Black…】
Mm. It really was black enough.
Luo silently complained inwardly. He did not care much about the creature’s name and casually replied:
【Then keep being called Little Black. Since you managed to come here, is there any way to bring me to the borderlands?】
From the very beginning, he had never truly believed himself to be a bug.
Binding himself to Gu Yuan had only been a means of recovering his memories.
Now that his identity had finally been confirmed, then naturally, the sooner he returned to the borderlands, the better.
After all, that place was his real home.
Little Black immediately recalled the miserable method it had used to sneak through the military blockade and answered weakly:
【Probably… maybe… no.】
Originally, it had intended to find the Lord and then have the Lord bring it back.
Who could have guessed that not only had the Lord lost most of his power but he also appeared to have amnesia?!
Luo: …
He looked at Little Black.
【So what exactly are you useful for?】
Little Black: 【…Chirp.】
It was only a devolved little crow. What useful thing could it possibly do?!
Knock knock. Knock knock knock.
Rhythmic knocking sounded from outside the office door, followed by Charles’ puzzled voice as he returned.
“Your Highness Luo, why did you lock the door?”
Luo immediately loosened his grip on Little Black.
“Go hide. Don’t come out without my order.”
After speaking, he quickly walked over and opened the door.
The rich scent of milk and cheese rushed toward him.
Facing Charles, who still looked confused about why the door had been locked, Luo obediently explained:
“Yuanyuan said that when you’re home alone, you have to lock the door properly.”
Charles could not help laughing.
He placed the freshly made cheese rice cakes onto the expensive redwood desk inside the principal’s office.
“Very good. Your Highness Luo is very obedient. Please enjoy the rice cakes.”
Luo sat down in Charles’ principal chair without any hesitation and began eating the cheese filled rice cakes with a fork.
But in reality, his thoughts had already drifted far away.
Although there were still many loopholes in Little Black’s words, the resonance of the same origin power could not deceive him.
At the very least, one thing was now certain.
He truly was not a bug.
And he genuinely came from some dark race hidden deep within the universe.
Emotionally and logically alike, he should return to his own people now.
But currently, he was the most treasured male bug in all of bug society. He livestreamed every day.
Sneaking away to the borderlands was practically impossible.
Not to mention that he did not even possess his own identification documents and could not buy a ticket for a flying vessel, even if he somehow managed to buy one, the Empire could still trace him through the purchase records.
…He could not seriously wait until those aberrations attacked and came to retrieve him themselves, could he?
The moment Luo recalled the cold gaze of the white haired military female from earlier, he shivered instinctively.
No! Absolutely not!
Those military females stationed at the border were all Gu Yuan’s subordinates.
And Gu Yuan had ordered them to defend the frontier to the death.
Which meant that if the aberrations truly managed to invade, there would only be one possible outcome,
The Empire’s First Legion, the military females guarding the borderlands, would all die in battle.
Gu Yuan would be sad.
…Right, Gu Yuan!
Since he had already recovered fragments of his memories through Gu Yuan’s pheromones, then that alone proved that Gu Yuan must have some connection to his true identity.
For now, since he could not leave the insect planet anytime soon, he could continue trying to recover more memories through Gu Yuan.
If he could figure out how to control those aberrations, then everyone would win.
After all, he had never cared very much about aberrations or thrones in the first place.
What he wanted was only his memories and his power.
While he was deep in thought, familiar footsteps sounded from outside the door.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of military boots striking the ground.
Gu Yuan always walked like this.
Firm.
Steady.
Every step crisp and decisive, never dragging even slightly.
Luo instantly forgot all about the unfinished cheese rice cakes on the desk, as well as Charles’ flustered attempts to stop him from running too quickly.
He hurriedly swallowed the half chewed rice cake in his mouth and rushed toward the door.
“Yuanyuan, you came to pick me up!”
Outside the office, Gu Yuan stood holding the terminal Luo had casually thrown outside earlier. His expression carried an awkward trace of tension.
“Why did you throw away your terminal? I called you several times and none of the video calls went through. I thought you, ”
“Yuanyuan, Luo’s wrists got squeezed red…”
Luo secretly used his tentacles to tighten around his own wrists viciously before innocently stretching both hands out toward Gu Yuan.
“It hurt a lot. Luo doesn’t want to wear it.”
Gu Yuan looked at the glaring red marks staining Luo’s pale wrists.
The reprimand that had already reached his lips abruptly circled back down his throat.
“…Maybe the terminal wasn’t adjusted properly. I’ll fix it for you but next time, don’t remove it casually again, alright?”
“Mhm!”
Luo nodded happily.
Watching Gu Yuan kneel on one knee to carefully fasten the terminal back onto his wrist, Luo suddenly blurted out:
“Then… seeing the wings still counts?”
Although absorbing Gu Yuan’s pheromones was important right now, he still wanted to see the wings more!
Gu Yuan’s movements froze instantly.
Red slowly climbed up his ears.
He remained silent all the way until he finished putting the terminal back on Luo’s wrist.
Only then did a low, muffled sound finally squeeze out from his chest.
“…Mm.”
Luo: !
Wait.
He actually agreed?!?!
Luo had genuinely thought Gu Yuan only agreed earlier because he could not withstand Luo’s relentless pestering and had simply yielded to coax him.
Gu Yuan awkwardly turned his face away, refusing to let Luo see his expression.
“…I’ll let you see them.”
“But in the future, don’t casually tell other military females that you’ll show them your wings or tail hook. That’s very dangerous, understand?”
“Mhm, mhm, mhm!”
Luo agreed enthusiastically without the slightest hesitation.
Then he opened his arms and threw himself into Gu Yuan’s embrace, wrapping around him tightly before planting a loud kiss against his cheek.
“I like Yuanyuan so much, really, really like you-”
“Yuanyuan, let’s go home right now! I want to see the wings!”
Gu Yuan barely managed to avoid Charles’ teasing gaze from the side.
In the end, beneath the relentless waves of soft, sweet coaxing from the little male bug, he finally surrendered completely.
“…Alright. We’ll go home now.”
If Luo wanted to see them, then he would let him see.
Today, the child had already suffered enough grievances at school. At worst, he would simply spread his wings out to cheer him up a little.
It was not really a big deal.
Gu Yuan skillfully bent down and picked the little male bug up into his arms, letting Luo settle comfortably against his broad, sturdy shoulder.
After thanking Principal Charles once more, he carried Luo out of the principal’s office.
Luo rubbed happily against Gu Yuan’s neck, which was still tightly wrapped in that black leather collar.
At the same time, he had already begun seriously considering how to push his luck further and convince Gu Yuan to remove the collar as well.
Outside the principal’s office,
Little Black relied on the fact that it could fly and slowly floated upward until it hovered directly above Charles’ head.
From there, it silently watched Gu Yuan carry Luo farther and farther away.
Unlike the deeply gratified expression on Charles’ face, if Little Black had possessed an actual face capable of expressions, it would absolutely have been frozen in utter shock.
Its lord,
The ancient evil god who could extinguish stars with a flick of his fingers.
The supreme being worshipped by countless aberrations across the universe.
The terrifying old ruler who was cruel, arbitrary and impossibly powerful,
Where had that lord gone?!?!
And what exactly was that thing just now that had been clinging to someone while deliberately softening his voice and acting spoiled?!?!
✦ ✧ ✦
Cressilia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
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ChaptersChapter 1 · It’s Hatching!Chapter 2 · Mealtime!Chapter 3 · Angry!Chapter 4 · F.. Found Out!Chapter 5 · SpeakingChapter 6 · RiceChapter 7 · Live BroadcastChapter 8 · XiongbaohuiChapter 9 · Bullet CommentsChapter 10 · I’m sleepyChapter 11 · WrongedChapter 12 · Going to SchoolChapter 13 · ChoiceChapter 14 · Knock KnockChapter 15 · NoisyChapter 16 · AccidentChapter 17 · WingsChapter 18 · CrowChapter 19 · General is blushingChapter 20 · RiotChapter 21 · The Insect EmperorChapter 22 · Good BoyChapter 23 · UnconsciousChapter 24 · DisappearanceChapter 25 · Tail HookChapter 26 · ReturningChapter 27 · DepartureChapter 28 · ReunionChapter 29 · Played with by tentaclesChapter 30 · Moist, Damp EyesChapter 31 Part 1 · Gu Yuan, do you like me?Chapter 31 Part 2 · Gu Yuan, do you like me?Chapter 32 · Don’t cry, sweetieChapter 33 · Reproductive tentaclesChapter 34 · Even if you kill me, I won’t grow backChapter 35 · Lord Evil GodChapter 36 · Why not refuse?Chapter 37 · He can cry; he’s not a monster.Chapter 38 · Some alternative ways of boiling waterChapter 39 · Why aren’t you kissing me?Chapter 40 · Here, my command is the highest orderChapter 41 · The Evil God’s Disguise Makes its Grand DebutChapter 42 · Be the breeding ground for my eggs.Chapter 43 · Carrying EggsChapter 44 · MasterChapter 45 · CryingChapter 46 · InterrogationChapter 47 · LikeChapter 48 · The TruthChapter 49 · ConfessionChapter 50 · Identity ExposedChapter 51 · BackgroundChapter 52 · SuspicionChapter 53 · The Feeling of HungerChapter 54 · SleepingChapter 55 · The NameChapter 56 · Memories (1)Chapter 57 · Memories (2)Chapter 58 · Memories (3)Chapter 59 · Gu YuanChapter 60 · A Falling KissChapter 61 · MonsterChapter 62 · RabitChapter 63 · Bathroom