Why Is Cale So Lovable, Actually? What's His Secret??

Why is Cale so lovable, actually? What's his secret??

Here's the thing: despite his flaws, KRS-Cale's charisma is insane, even for protagonist standards. Why is that?

Sure, it's a standard protagonist quality to use the ✨Power of Friendship✨ to save the day, but Cale has the unique ability to – completely unintentionally – turn EVERYONE around him into simps, sometimes even his enemies. And that, bizarrely, includes the audience. No don't lie to me, I've been in this fandom for a month already, I have eyes!

So, how does that keep happening, exactly??

To answer that question, allow me to first introduce you to a very important concept for healthy relationships: the 5 languages of love.

Words of affirmation

Quality time

Physical touch

Acts of service

Receiving gifts

A no, this does not apply only to romantic relationships - it's ALL relationships. Every person has their own preferences, both in showing and receiving them, usually 2 or 3 of them being the most important ones for a person. For example, I'm a "words" and "touch" person myself: I like hugs and people telling me they care about me. Pretty simple concept.

So, here's the thing. I've been re-reading TCF, and I came to a very important conclusion: Cale, completely by accident, absolutely excels at all five love languages.

It's so subtle you might not realize it at first. It does't sound like someone with such a closed personality, does it? It's especially confusing when you consider his background: an abused orphan who was pretty much always alone. But perhaps because he never recieved much affection growing up, he currently compensates by subconsciously sharing what he always wanted to receive, yet never got as a child. And because he ends up in a world where he's surrounded by abused children who didn't get enough affection, it's so darn effective, winning people's undying love and loyalty instantly.

Let's look at these one by one, shall we?

1. Words of affirmation

Cale has a tendency to accidentally say exactly what the listener needs to hear. But it's not all bluff, and not all luck. Cale is actually quite wise. He gives proper words of encouragement, based entirely on his knowledge and judgemment. For example: he tells Choi Han that he can protect people. He tells Raon that he should live freely and that he's great and mighty. He tells Alberu he deserves to rule the kingdom. He tells Mary not to "listen to nonsense". He tells Rosalyn she's reliable and capable. The list goes on and on.

Cale might not be saying "I love you" directly, but he is saying "Good job, take good care of yourself"... which pretty much amounts to the same thing.

2. Quality time

It might sound ridiculous, but... taking down Arm and saving the world is actually their perfect family quality time. Laugh if you want, but I'm serious! They're not a regular family, after all. They were all hurt, scarred and/or betrayed by the secret organization at some point. By destroying them and saving the world together, Cale not only gives his friends a purpose - he is also giving them closure. Revenge, retribution, healing, moving forward... it's all there. THAT'S some quality time!

3. Physical touch

While he's certainly not hugger or anything (not counting the Choi Han battle hug or Alberu's showman embraces, those were always an act), Cale is not averse to touching people either. Head pats for the children are quite common. Cale also touches people on the shoulder a lot, have you noticed? Like when Jack cried over Hannah, or when Cale congratulated Choi Han on a job well done after rescuing Raon. It's subtle, but it's there: his touch means support, affection and respect. It definitely counts.

4. Acts of service

Pretty much everything Cale does ends up helping other people, one way or another. Considering the sheer scale of Cale's actions, it's only natural that combined with the other love languages, it makes others feel great admiration towards Cale. He might not like it, because he sees those acts of service as "self-serving". But I think Cale was the most honest about it at the beginning of the story: when he gave On and Hong bread for the first time. "You don't need a reason for things your heart draws you to."

Cale actually, genuinely wants to help others. It's just he's so overworked already, he doesn't want the expectations and responsibility that comes with other people relying on him. As an orphan, he was made to believe that taking care of his own interests is inherently selfish, but somehow, he only applies that when thinking about himself. Despite everything, he actively encourages others to take care of themselves while neglecting himself. No wonder people love him.

5. Receiving gifts

Despite liking money so much, he's extremely generous. He lets go of five billions when selling Toonka – whom he "doesn't even like" – some documents back from the magic tower pretty much "just because". Sure, Alberu told him to do it, but Cale wouldn't listen to him if he didn't want to. You'd think his previous life of poverty would make him greedier than that. But while he steals from bad guys with no remorse, he gives to his allies freely with even less remorse. Sure, he expect them to "repay" him with their services, but you'd have to be blind not to notice how beneficial those deals are for everyone involved. And his kids? Cale downright spoils them. Sure he "scams" Raon by letting him pick one magic gemstone out of hundreds, or a single coin out of Alberu's pockets... but that's just responsible parenting more than anything.

And remember how he asked Basen and Lily what they wanted as a gift at the beginning? There was absolutely no ulterior motive to that: zero. He did it literally just because. Remeber when he gave Raon an additional pouch with healing potions when he just met him? Or when he gave Choi Han the same pouch when he sent him off to find Lock and Rosalyn? Yeah. Cale does that pretty much all the time in the novel.

Conclusion: the reason why Cale is so lovable is because he's already so loving 😊

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Sinking and Floating in Indulgence MQ translation + video with sub EN (Part 2/3)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for an MQ that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Sinking And Floating In Indulgence MQ Translation + Video With Sub EN (Part 2/3)

Sinking and Floating in Indulgence MQ | Part 1 (1-3) | Part 2 (4-5) | Part 3 (6) | ASMR

[Warning]: The content of this MQ is explicit and may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 17 (CN server). It is recommended that those who do not meet this age requirement refrain from proceeding beyond this point.

Part 1 - 3 -> [Here]

[Subbed Video, TURN ON CC!]

[T/N: if you haven’t listened to the voice dubbing yet, y’all are seriously missing out!! I can't even begin to describe all the noises, like there’s just so much going on! Xia Lei (his CN VA) absolutely NAILED it—like, the way he blends XM anger at himself, that raw possessiveness, the obsession, and the breathlessness??? It’s insanely good and ridiculously sexy jnhadsjnhadjadjadjn]

—[Part 4]— Video Timestamp: [16:57]

As expected, everything has been thoroughly taken care of by Lucien.

Upon seeing on the laptop that the embassy had already contacted the local government to carry out the rescue operation, the last bit of unease in my heart vanished into thin air.

Thinking of how Lucien told me not to wander around, I simply grab one of his books to read and wait for him in the room.

Before I realize it, the light of setting sun slants, casting its glow onto the coffee table. Amid my drowsiness, my phone suddenly rings.

MC: Are you done with work?

Lucien: Mm. Are you doing okay?

MC: I’m fine. I was just reading the book you left on the sofa, but it’s so abstruse I almost fell asleep.

Lucien: To be honest, I’ve dozed off on that book more than a few times myself too.

As we chat and laugh, I stroll to the balcony under the slowly fading glow of the sunset.

Lucien: I should be back very soon.

MC: Then I’ll check what’s left in the fridge and see what I can cook. Maybe I can cook a big hodgepodge~

I smile as I hang up the phone and look up, only to see the same little bird from this morning still perched on the eaves.

—No different from the scene I saw before.

It still preening its feathers, never stopping for even a second, nor ever lifting its head.

It's as if it were a lifeless shadow, mechanically repeating the same motions repeatedly.

A chill spreads through my heart, and I unconsciously feel a bit of panic. Suddenly, I notice that the scene before me carries an absurd sense of repetition—

At times, a passerby would cross to the end of the street only to abruptly reappear on the other side.

The distant edges of the city also seem indescribably blurred, as if detached from reality, carved apart by dividing borders.

I try to calm down and cautiously push open the door.

The dark-colored walls on either side are clean yet monotonous, showing no signs of anything unusual.

After thinking about it, I step through the doorway. But the farther I walk, the more cold sweat seeps down my back.

There is no elevator here nor any emergency exit.

The dim corridor seems endless, with the same unchanging scenery stretching ahead and behind.

As my nerves gradually tighten, I suddenly catch sight of a warm yellow light at the end of the corridor.

I immediately run toward it—

Until that glow envelops me, and I freeze in place.

I find myself back in the room again.

The space that once felt reassuring now makes me feel like I can’t breathe.

Even though I’ve experienced similar situations before, I still can’t help but wonder… could all of this be nothing more than a fleeting hallucination* inside my mind?

But the voice I just heard was gentle and real, and the spot where he lay still retains a faint warmth.

??(Lucien): …MC…

I keep comforting myself not to fall into post-traumatic stress. Lucien said he is here conducting research, maybe this strange phenomenon is also related to his work.

?? (Lucien): MC, are you okay?

In a daze, a warm palm seems to lift me from the depths of the sea, bringing me back to the surface.

I blink and suddenly see Lucien standing before me, his face filled with worry as he cups my cheeks. I have no idea when he got there.

MC: Lucien…

Lucien: Are you feeling unwell anywhere?

I open my mouth, momentarily at a loss. Lucien immediately pulls me into a tighter embrace.

Lucien: It's my fault.

Lucien: You're not in a good state right now. I should have spent more time with you.

Lucien: It’ll be over soon, just hold on a little longer. Soon… we’ll be able to go home together.

His warmth presses against me, enveloping my whole body. I take a deep breath and gently pat him.

MC: Don’t worry, Lucien. I’m fine.

Looking at his raised face, I feel a pang of heartache as I brush over his slightly bloodshot eyes. Tentatively, I ask him.

MC: Are you working on some kind of Evol-related research?

Lucien: Why do you ask?

MC: Maybe I'm overthinking it… but I can't shake the feeling that everything outside this room seems unreal.

He seems startled for a moment, his entire figure hidden in the shadows.

Heavy emotions surge within his dark eyes as he presses his forehead to mine, swallowing my whole reflection into them.

Lucien: Then do you think I’m unreal?

MC: Of course not!

MC: I just... suddenly discover that the corridor outside the door seems endless, so...

Lucien: I see.

He gently takes my hand and leads me outside. We move smoothly through the corridor, take the elevator, and leave the apartment without any trouble.

✂———————–

The night is quiet, and there are hardly any people along the way.

Seeing my stunned expression, Lucien smiles and tightens his hold on my hand.

Lucien: I think the best way to comfort you right now is to take a walk, just like we always do.

Lucien: Although this place isn’t exactly peaceful, at least this neighborhood is not dangerous.

He pauses for a moment, then continues explaining in a gentle voice.

Lucien: The result I await has nothing to do with Evol. It is an experiment in the field of neuroscience.

Lucien: However, the test samples are extremely fragile and require strict control over variables such as temperature and humidity.

Lucien: Therefore, special devices have been installed near the laboratory to restrict Evol, eliminating interference factors and preserving the samples’ activity.

I listen thoughtfully, unable to resist asking another question.

MC: ...So what I saw was really an effect of the experiment?

Lucien gives a noncommittal smile, adjusting my scarf snugly before we continue walking through the quiet neighborhood.

✂———————–

In the following days, Lucien maintains a highly regular work schedule and calls me every now and then.

I have a vague feeling that my accident, combined with my previous state, may have truly frightened him badly. He seems even more attentive to me than before.

I put down the book in my hands and look toward the door again.

Actually, I’ve tried going out on my own since then, but for some reason, whenever I’m alone, I end up circling back to where I started—

As if I’m trapped inside the room.

The vague sense of confinement only makes me even more curious about what Lucien is really doing, so I start searching around.

Before long, I found a report on the Holden Research Institute, which seems to contain a list of personnel and medication records.

As my eyes scan the unfamiliar faces, they all appear ordinary and unremarkable.

Until a familiar face enters my sight, making my eyes widen in shock—

The captain of my flight is among them!

Reading through the information, I find that the captain turns out to be a retired soldier. He has been taking this medication long-term to treat post-war trauma.

The records also show that the drug has a small probability of causing neurasthenia, emotional intensification, and even brief episodes of shock…

I involuntarily break out in a cold sweat as I see these people’s data being continuously recorded and updated, even as recently as two weeks ago.

Lucien: Are you saying that the pilot responsible for the accident is on this medication record list?

MC: …Yes.

When Lucien returns that day, I hesitate but eventually tell him about my discovery.

He sits on the sofa, not saying a word for a long time, his entire being sinking into some kind of heavy and terrifying silence.

Lucien: …It seems there really is no need to continue with them.

Lucien: I will put an end to all of this as soon as possible.

He flicks his fingertips, tossing the stack of data reports into the fireplace.

As the flames burn, the charred traces seem to reach all the way into his eyes.

Somehow, I seem to see even darker emotions burning within them, and I can't resist reaching out to stroke his cheek.

MC: Lucien, are you okay?

Lucien: [quietly] ...MC, are you really here in front of me?

His gaze is deep and distant, yet it firmly holds my gaze in place.

I look at him for a moment, and in that empty gaze, I seem to see a reflection of something similar to myself.

So I move even closer and straddle his lap.

MC: Of course I am. I'm right here with you.

Within his raised gaze, my hand slowly glides toward his sharp jawline.

The artery on the side of his neck subtly swells with each swallow, and with every heartbeat, they pulse steadily yet distinctly beneath my fingertips.

I slightly tilt my face downward, leaning in closer to him. My lips gently graze his, coaxing them to part ever so slightly.

He stares without blinking, watching as in our mingling breaths, my tongue tentatively flicks out to softly lick his upper lip.

It is a test, a touch, and also a reassurance.

I swirl my tongue around his, while Lucien simply follows along, letting himself be led by me.

I can clearly see the corners of his eyes gradually tinged with red, while the pulse at the side of his neck throbs with escalating intensity.

MC: Lucien, tell me, am I in front of you?

Lucien: [gasping for breaths] Yes. You are in front of me.

His voice also seems to catch fire, burning over, searing into his neck as it arches even further, tracing a suggestive arc.

His indulgence unleashes me boundlessly. I can’t help but venture even closer to his breath, brushing past the scorching heat of his chest, trailing all the way downward.

MC: Then... are you in front of me?

Amid the overflowing sultry heat, I can’t stop myself from lifting my body and pushing things further by settling on top of him.

A muffled, unbearable groan slips past his lips. His hand instinctively tightens on my waist, pulling me even closer to him.

Lucien: [breathlessly] …Yes… I am in front of you.

His heartbeat seems to throb inside my body, and mine does too.

Countless trembles surge and collide through the bloodstream, even the instinctive sighs spilling from our lips becoming tangled together.

At some point, the fire in the hearth dims, and the dim light of the night blurs into a chaotic and ambiguous interplay of light and shadow.

I can feel his whole body relaxing, and I can’t help but hold him even tighter.

MC: How wonderful, Lucien. You're here by my side.

In the darkness, Lucien stays silent for a moment. Only after what feels like an eternity does his reply drift slowly through the air.

Lucien: [whispers lowly] Why are you the one offering comfort now... shouldn’t it be me?

MC: Because... even though I’m the one who’s scared, you seem to be afraid of something too.

Lucien: But you should have more important questions to ask me.

Lucien: You should ask me why that drug list is here, or even…

Lucien: Ask whether any of this could possibly be connected to me.

His calm question carries an indescribable scrutiny and simmering anger, leaving me momentarily stunned.

Only now do I belatedly realize the implication of his words. I had almost instinctively not linked Lucien to this matter.

MC: But this drug is essentially used to treat stress-related trauma?

MC: There must be flaws in the screening process that allowed someone taking this medication to become a captain...?

MC: And even if we take a huge step back, if this drug really is connected to you, it’s not like you caused the crash to happen.

MC: As Professor Lucien would usually say, this is just a low-probability event. A mere accident.

Lucien: I don’t like this kind of accident.

He speaks with a stubborn edge, his tone even somewhat stiff and cold.

Like a butterfly with fluttering wings, the massive waves it stirred up should never have crashed upon me.

I only find him endearing and can't resist wanting to peck the corner of his lips.

But in the next second, I’m suddenly picked up. The world spins, and amidst the dizzying whirl, my body is pinned against the sofa in a position difficult to break free from.

My cheek pressed against the cushion, making me unable to see Lucien’s expression at this moment.

With each breath I can sense the fine texture of the fabric, carrying a hint of warmth yet also a subtle, constraining sense of oppression.

Lucien: I don’t like accidents taking you to places I don’t know about.

Lucien: I also don’t like accidents making you go through things I’m unaware of.

Lucien: I dislike it even more when accidents leave bruises that don't belong to me on your body.

As his words trail off, one of his hands seems to trace along my wrist, gliding up my arm to my shoulder, neck, and back.

His burning fingertips travel all the way down my spine, and I can only feel his touch, my body instinctively letting out a trembling shudder.

Lucien: It almost made you disappear.

I feel a firm and increasingly invasive dominant pressure pressing against me from behind, making me bite down my lower lip.

But before I can even utter a word, Lucien overwhelms me almost instantly.

It's as if we're two sheets of dampened paper, growing so wet that we seep into each other.

Without realizing it, we become more and more soaked, until we seem to meld into a single sheet.

I feel as if I've sunk into a deep daze, only aware of him holding me even tighter, pulling me back into his embrace again and again, each time closer than before.

Lucien: MC, you should be angry.

Waves of tingling pleasure continuously spread down my spine, and his voice, filled with frustration, reaches me in a hazy blur.

A dizzy haze endlessly clouds my mind, and I instinctively bite down on a gasp, unable to stop myself from turning my head to look at him.

His face is shrouded in shadows, making his expression even more obscure and harder to discern.

MC: [worriedly] Do you want me to be angry?

Lucien: I don’t know.

He quietly half-kneels there, his voice particularly low and subdued.

MC: Are you trying to punish yourself this way?

MC: You’re angry at yourself, aren’t you?

He still doesn't say anything. He only leans down, pressing his body even deeper into mine. At the same time, his fingers slip between mine, locking our hands together with even more force.

A long time passes before I finally hear his voice from behind me.

Lucien: I almost... lost you again.

The word ‘again’ sinks into my heart, sending a painful ache through me.

MC: Lucien, I want to see you.

MC: Let me see how you are, okay?

Though he doesn’t retreat even half a step, he still yields to my request.

Slowly, he turns me around, finally letting me see his eyes.

Dark. Frenzied. Profoundly raw.***

Too many indescribable emotions surge in those eyes, rising like sky-high waves, sweeping me along with them.

MC: You haven’t lost me, Lucien.

What answers me is an even more scorching kiss. My heartbeat remains restless and shaky.

Lucien: Yes… I won’t give myself another chance to lose you.

✂———————–

[T/N]

I don't add much description for the sexc lines bc it'll end up with wall of text,once again I really recommend y'all to listen and experience the emotions yourself!-

*: "走马灯" (zǒu mǎ dēng) literally refers to a lantern with a carousel of paper horses that rotate due to convection. Metaphorically, it describes rapid and fleeting, or dreamlike scenes, often used to depict sb’s life flashing before their eyes in near-death moments.

**: "神经衰弱" (shén jīng shuāi ruò) is literally translated to "weak nerves"/ "neurasthenia" in English. While uncommon in the West, it remains recognized in some Asian countries. It’s considered a persistent mental disorder characterized by symptoms such as weakness, emotional disturbances, excitement, tension-induced pain, and sleep disturbances caused by ‘nerve weakness’.

***: They use three words to describe the emotions in his eyes: 晦暗 (huì àn), 疯狂 (fēng kuáng), and 深切 (shēn qiè).

晦暗 (huì àn) isn’t just "dark" but also shadowed and obscure, like he is trying to conceal the intense depth of his emotions rather than express them outright.

疯狂 (fēng kuáng) is an unrestrained madness, distinct from his usual 偏执 (piān zhí/obsessive fixation). 疯狂 (fēng kuáng) combines two words, 疯 (fēng) which means ‘’crazy’ or ‘insane’; and 狂 (kuáng), which means ‘unrestrained’ or ‘frantic.' so this word is the more chaotic and uncontrolled madness compared to 偏执 (piān zhí) which is more about his controlled madness from his fixation/obsession (whether about his research or mc-).

深切 (shēn qiè) combines "深" (deep) and "切" (cut/slice), usually used to convey the most sincere emotions. The way I interpret it is that his profound, raw emotions and vulnerabilities are fully exposed, like his heart being laid bare after getting cut open.

✂———————–

—[Heartfelt Reverie]— Video Timestamp: [31:37]

3:00 AM.

Monochrome liquid flows through a blood-collecting device into the vacuum tube as Lucien slightly loosens his tightly clenched fingers.

High-speed metal instruments hum without pause while the surrounding screens flash with streams of data—shifting graphs and numbers reflected in pairs of focused and urgent eyes.

Lucien shifts his gaze to the clock on the wall and speaks in a cold voice.

Lucien: We still need to make up eight hours.

After speaking, he tosses the cotton swab used to press against his vein into the trash. He removes his clothes and, assisted by the researchers, puts on monitoring equipment and a respirator before lying down in the experimental chamber.

According to his calculations, the data samples were originally expected to reach No. 58 today, leaving at most 39 hours until the No. 63 that he needed.

But an accident still happened. In his anxiety, he used space folding to bring the girl back to his room from the ruins.

Rationality told him he shouldn’t have done it. But he was desperate to confirm her real existence, to wash away the dirt and wounds that had tainted her.

Or rather, he had truly felt a certain fear, one that made it impossible for him to calmly leave her in any situation where another accident could occur.

However, the price was that the Evol fluctuations affected the experimental environment, briefly stalling the data progress.

Even the slightest deviation is something Lucien refuses to accept.

If the purpose of accelerating his pace before was to safely obtain the special sample and return to her as soon as possible…

…then now, he has an even stronger reason to race against time.

Lucien: If any abnormal fluctuations occur during the process, as long as the values don’t reach their peak, there’s no need to pause.

Lucien: Begin the experiment.

Lucien closes his eyes, letting the liquid engulf him.

In a trance, the complicated emotions from moments ago rise even faster than the water, suddenly making it hard for him to breathe.

The moment he realized he hadn’t received a message from her reporting her safety, the moment he saw that her flight had lost communication on trending—

—only then did he discover that a heart could contract this severely in an instant.

The stabbing pain in his chest spread along his nerves, making him instinctively furrow his brows and inexplicably take a step forward.

He didn’t know where he was going, nor did he even know why he was moving forward.

Perhaps he just didn't want to stay in place, or perhaps it was just a subconscious reflex of self-deception.

Broken pavement carried the lingering charred scent, and severed electrical wires hung down, scraping eerie marks onto the ground.

The world remained as monotonous and colorless as ever, as if this had always been its true color.

After walking aimlessly past several street corners, a streak of bright color crashed into his vision without warning.

She appeared so abruptly, like a grand hallucination, catching him completely off guard.

Lucien instinctively stopped in his tracks.

Suddenly, he recalled a moment from long ago. Beneath the camphor tree in early spring, he had seen that streak of a phantom that seemed almost real.*

Lucien: [gasps] ….

Lucien: It shouldn’t be like this.

Even though reason told him that there were countless possibilities that she wouldn't be here, an unreasonable certainty drove Lucien towards his only color.

Beep-beep

Somewhat distant sounds from the equipment scratch at his eardrums, and Lucien knows that the experiment is going smoothly.

It seems he can return to her side soon.

Not much time has passed. She probably won’t notice anything.

But she has always been sharper than he thought. If she picks up on something, what then?

In truth, he dislikes this kind of wavering irresolution and, even more so, the feeling of losing control to accidents.

Accidents are supposed to be challenges and abundant possibilities, not something that leaves him helpless and in a flustered mess like this.

But to ensure the experiment goes smoothly, he has no choice but to accelerate the process. This means he cannot be by her side all the time.

So, he chose the safest method at this stage.

Before leaving his room, he locked her inside a dream.

✂———————–

*: SOBBING at the every Out of Plan R&S/S1 Chapter 25 reference—I did not need to be reminded of his hallucination of her after her death every five seconds!! 😭 Also, oh my god, the constant mentions of his colorblindness and how she's the only color in his world… PG really loves twisting the knife for us XM stans huh😭💔

✂———————–

—[Part 5]—

Sure enough, by the next night, Lucien pushes open the door of his room and walks in, calmly picking up the duffel bag he had packed at noon.

Lucien: MC, we should go.

MC: ...Go home? So soon?

Lucien: Yes, but... there might be some complications along the way.

As he speaks, the air outside hums loudly, as if the aftershocks of distant artillery fire continuously ripple through the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, this trembling persisted for almost the entire afternoon, making me slightly uneasy.

Lucien: MC, although I know this is putting you in a bit of a tough spot...

Lucien: But the only way we can evacuate now is by helicopter.

MC: …!

My body nearly trembles on instinct.

But Lucien reacts even faster. He wraps an arm around my waist, his long, narrow eyes gazing deeply at me.

Lucien: I don’t want to make you afraid.

Lucien: If there were any better solution, I would never allow something like this to happen.

As he speaks, he holds out his palm toward me. On it lies a single white pill.

Lucien: MC, do you trust me?

Lucien: This is a sedative, and it has a safe composition. When you wake up, the first thing you see will be a safer place.

Boom—!

An even more intense blast slams through layers of air. This time, even the floor beneath my feet begins to shake faintly.

Looking into those unwavering eyes, I take a deep breath then pick up the pill and the water bottle.

MC: Have you got what you wanted?

Seemingly not expecting that I still have the mind to care about this matter, he freezes briefly, then his eyes crinkle into a smile.

Lucien: Of course, I never break my word.

MC: So, the state I’ll be in after taking it is also within your calculations, right?

Lucien: Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything.

I feel relieved and swallow the white pill in one gulp.

In my dazed state, I suddenly feel a violent tremor—

At the same time, bursts of explosions ring out one after another, near and far. It’s as if the entire world is roaring, clamoring to rush toward me.

MC: …Ah!

I abruptly open my eyes, but my consciousness stays foggy, feeling nothing but the world spinning around me.

Until my vision slowly comes into focus, and I suddenly meet a pair of startled, slightly panicked eyes. My mind blanks out in an instant.

Lucien sits across from me, his face pale. Fresh blood seeps through his tattered shirt, snaking down his body in rivulets.

Each blast of distant artillery fire is carried by the raging wind, thrashing wildly inside the aircraft cabin. In the almost suffocating air pressure, my entire body trembles uncontrollably.

MC: Lucien!

I shout at him, my voice choked as all the unease and pain in my heart burst out at once.

His dark pupils shrink for a split second, but he immediately smiles reassuringly at me. He reaches out his hand toward me as if wanting to caress my cheek.

Brownish blood seeps from the bandaged wound on that well-defined hand, mingled with tiny grains of sand and grit.

Everything happens too suddenly. I stare blankly at the IV tube secured to his arm. As it sways and tugs, I catch a glimpse of faint bloodstains around the needle site on his hand.

Lucien: [comfortingly] MC, I'm fine.

Lucien: Close your eyes...

The howling wind and rain instantly swallow up his voice. I bite my lip hard, fighting to push words through

However, the helicopter suddenly tilts sharply to one side. I instinctively grip my seatbelt tightly, but the intense pulling force nearly overwhelms my shoulders and back.

Every bone in my body feels as if being torn apart, and my brain seems vacuumed of air.

My entire body is deathly stiff in my seat, only my heart pounding violently in my chest.

I can't help but shout at Lucien in front of me.

MC: Lucien! You Big Liar!!!

The person across from me freezes for a moment, as if struck by a sudden thought, then immediately shows a faint, particularly conceding smile.

Lucien: [why man sounds so thrilled-] Yes, I'm a big liar. It's all my fault.

MC: You even said it was all within your calculations. Was your injury part of that too?!

Lucien: I don’t mean to upset you on purpose, but none of these are serious wounds, so yes, they fall within my calculations.

MC: ...Y-you, stop talking! Don’t make me mad!

Lucien: Then just be angry. As long as you’re only mad at me, that’s fine.

MC: You bad guy!!

As he unintentionally or intentionally fans the flames, those crushing fears are unknowingly pushed out by anger.

By the time I regain my senses, I realize we’ve come to a stop on the deck of a cargo ship—

A foreign man stands not far away, greeting us with a friendly smile.

The cabin's guest room isn’t large, but it has all the essentials. Devoted medical personnel even come in to treat Lucien’s wounds.

Until they leave with the medical kit, I continue to stand not far away, watching him with a pained heart and furrowing my brows.

MC: Does it hurt?

Lucien: Are you still afraid?

The words we speak come out simultaneously, causing us to freeze in the same instant and then share a tacit smile.

Lucien: Hurts a lot, so come hug me, okay?

He knows I can never do anything about him.

I walk up to him, and he wraps his arms around my waist. His fluffy head leans against my chest, and for a moment, it feels like the tension melts away.

MC: …So now you realize you still have me.

Lucien: I can’t do it alone, after all. But I can’t always rely on you either.

Lucien: Even though I really want to.

Hearing the slightly aggrieved tone in his voice, I feel both exasperated and amused.

MC: If I had stayed asleep, were you planning to hide your injuries?

Lucien: Maybe. I'm sorry, MC.

MC: You big fool, it’s not like I’m blaming you for getting hurt.

Lucien: I know. I’m just really sorry for making you wake up early.

Lucien: The dosage of the sedative was precisely calculated by me. You were supposed to wake up only after we landed.

Lucien: But… we encountered an unexpected attack during the retreat, which delayed us for a bit.

He explains with excessive seriousness and caution, making my heart ache faintly.

While I've suffered trauma, he seems to have been wounded as well.

Those wounds are hidden in corners I can’t see, leaving me with nothing to do but press silent kisses onto his calm face, one after another.

Remembering the foreign man on the deck earlier, I can’t help but gently stroke his brows with some concern.

MC: Lucien, can we really trust these people and make it back to Loveland City without any problems?

Lucien: When the helicopter landed, I noticed the Holden Institute’s insignia on the ship’s stern.

Lucien: On the path from the deck to the guest rooms, a section of the wooden floorboards makes a subtly different sound when stepped on compared to the rest.

Lucien: It is highly possible that he used such a design to transport things he didn't want others to discover easily.

Lucien: Moreover, a considerable amount of this institute's funding comes from underground deals that can’t see the light of day.

Lucien: So I deduce that Holden uses this ship to transport collectibles for trade. Of course, the possibility of smuggling weapons can’t be ruled out either.

Lucien seems to notice my nervousness and gently places his palm on the back of my hand.

Lucien: More importantly, after the helicopter landed, I discovered an Evol-suppressing device that’s difficult to detect.

Lucien: Based on my past observations in the lab, I think there’s a high probability that this ship also carries research samples.

MC: ...Could it be that they also made an emergency transfer while evacuating?

Lucien: We can’t be certain yet, but I think they must’ve set quite a few backup plans in place.

MC: …Will what they're doing affect your objectives?

Lucien: It will have some impact, but it doesn’t matter.

Lucien: I won’t give them the chance. I’ll either find the item or no one will.*

Hearing him say that, I can’t help but feel a little worried and instinctively hold his hand.

MC: Let me help you too, okay?

Lucien: [gently whispers] Of course I need your help.

Lucien: I need you to keep staying well by my side and embracing me just like this.

His gentle whispers brush past my fingertips, but I feel a silent rejection and purse my lips a bit unhappily.

MC: Are you still afraid?

MC: Because of what happened before, you just want to put me in the safest place.

He doesn’t speak, as if this is yet another form of silent acknowledgment.

Relief and dread are intertwined. I’ve known for a long time that he buries his emotions even deeper than I do, which is why I need to embrace him tighter and for longer.

MC: I admit that the airplane incident scared me out of my mind, and even now, I’m still shaking.

MC: But I'm also worried that you'll be in danger, though I trust you, believe you can accomplish anything...

MC: Lucien, I want you safely by my side too.

His profound eyes are filled with my reflection. He simply gazes at me for a long time, as if this way he could lock me within them forever.

In the end, Lucien only tilts his head up and kisses me even deeper.

✂———————–

[T/N]

*: The literal translation of that line is “I will either find the item or take care of/dispose of (it/him/them).” After discussing with Ivi, we decided to take some artistic liberties to capture this vagueness kskssk. The phrase "处理掉" (chǔ lǐ diào) is intentionally vague, literally meaning to dispose/take care of something. It's often used when something is taken care of through destruction, removal, or getting rid of something. It could mean he’s simply going to dispose of the item or eliminate the people involved or… both 👁️👁️

✂———————–

Part 6-> [Here]

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lorgieginglevi

8 months ago

Big GH News! (I think???)

I don’t know if you guys have heard yet, but the National Diet Library has now digitalized this

BUUUUUUT it can only be accessed by those who reside in Japan. AND YOU KNOW HOW ITS AUCTIONED MORE THAN $2k????

HOWEVER🥰🥰🥰🥰

DL IT HERE 🫶🫶🫶(It’s in JP tho 😅) FINALLY A CLEAR COPY.

However, the contents except the chatlog have already been translated. There’s only Angel on a Bicycle and System of Unexplained Phenomena.

I’ve been really busy nowadays so I’m really sorry I haven’t been updating one pages and vol 3 stuff and other things. But yeah for those who want to try reading the Chatlog, HERE IT IS A GOOD COPYYYY!!!