This year was a period for wild discussions.
With the Asha Empire as center, and the intergalactic net as the medium, explosively shocking news were thrown at the crowd one after another like coins falling from the sky.
Regardless of whether it’s the serious incident of Insectoids infiltrating the Empire or the illicit report of the Admiral finding someone and leaving the life of a bachelor or the subsequent exposure of the Honored Prince later on, which triggered a craze that swept through the entire nation…… The intergalactic web remained bustling with noise and excitement for the whole year.
The most surprising and unexpected incident was that the formerly flourishing and widespread Monte fanclub, which was dominated by his faithful followers, actually ended up splitting into three factions.
Marriage really did cause a huge impact to the worship of idols, especially since this idol particularly loved to pour dogfood after his marriage to provoke his followers! With such heavy torment, there’s bound to be backlash. Towards a life of ‘being force fed 3 tons of dogfood everyday’, the crowd each had their own method of dealing with it.
With great difficulties, 1 / 3 of the Monte fanclub stayed true to their original intent and maintained their faith; the other 1 / 3 of the Monte fanclub already fell to the Honored Prince’s high and lofty sneer and have turned traitor against the ‘former idol & current love rival’, Admiral Sirius; the last 1 / 3 of the Monte fanclub metamorphosed into excellent “fans of the two husbands” thanks to their daily brainwashing– and have become addicted to the dogfood henceforth, forever unable to stop……
In conclusion, the melon-eating crowd sometimes was filled with excitement and sometimes falling apart mentally. They felt both emotional aroused and aggrieved, mood fluctuating up and down, convictions swaying unceasingly. Just when everyone thought there’d be no more big news this year, their heavily secretive His Majesty, the Emperor, suddenly announced his marriage engagement to an Insect.
???
An Insect.
That’s right. Still with the old, familiar military / political style of writing, the description of the announcement was accompanied by a picture that was indeed their dignified and solemn Emperor…… If they could ignore the huge Metal Devouring Bug that he was hugging in his arms, everything would look very plain and solemn.
Since this was news about the marriage, the photograph placed special emphasis on this new couple.
Xi Jin was forced to change to the size of an infant– If you must know, in the palace, he usually showed himself in the size of an ordinary insect. However, if he used that measurement, his presence within the photo would naturally approach zero.
However… Even though he now has a sense of presence after turning larger and was being held in the Emperor’s arms, the result was even more…… indescribable.
“Is this the trend propagated by the upper echelons now?”
“The Emperor was single for over 30 years. He finally went crazy?”
“No, the part that I don’t understand is… there’s so many cute bugs out there, why did His Majesty pick one that’s so ugly?”
“It looks pretty plump actually. I hear it’s an Insectoid. Why not use its human form?”
That’s right, why did it have to enter the picture frame as a bug?
Luye Derlin looked at the marriage announcement for the dozenth time and let out another long sigh. Ever since recovering his memories, his Xiao Jin has become more and more eccentric. Other than frequently leaving home, he started to like being a bug more and more.
“Aren’t you just raising me as a pet bug anyways?” The ‘black round ball’ curled up on the Emperor’s knees and released a buzz, antenna wrapping around the Emperor’s wrist.
Of course not!
Which Asha liked keeping a pitch-black, 8-legged beetle for a pet?
Not to mention, what kind of bug can speak the human language through their antenna?
Insectoids were humans too!
There was an itch on the Emperor’s knees. The thin, powerful 8 legs of the insect stepped forth and left behind a series of visible little footsteps. To speak honestly, the result was comparable to a professional massage.
– It actually felt pretty good.
Luye watched as the Metal Devouring Bug moved downward swiftly. Looking from his perspective, he could only see a round, chubby butt wiggling in the air, captivating him with its cuteness.
“Xiao Jin~”
“Kacha kacha,” After expressionlessly nomming on a small metal cookie, the huge bug dove into the wardrobe swiftly. Soon afterwards, a fair skinned, delicate youth wearing a custom-made palace uniform walked out extremely coldly. He used a pair of dark gloomy, black-hole eyes to stare at his ‘fiance’.
“I want to return to my insect clan.”
“……”
As the most intelligent and shrewd Xi Jin-daren of the Insectoid aristocrats, he was once a candidate of kingship who had traveled to Asha with the great ambition to seize the Royal Scepter. Not to mention, he had been the individual who was truly successful in stealing the scepter.
He was only one step away from the position of king.
Unfortunately right now, he was trapped in the royal palace of the enemy nation, living the life of being corroded by metal cannonballs everyday, enduring suffering physically and mentally.
The Insect clan refuted the proposal of taking back Xi En, yet agreed to the political marriage between the two nations and handed Xi Jin over to the Asha Emperor unconditionally– suddenly eliminating two competitors for kingship, his 2nd brother was truly too resourceful.
“Xiao Jin.” The Emperor’s affectionate beckon pulled him back to reality.
Ai.
The Metal Devouring Bug sighed secretly inside. This weak and feeble Asha. As soon as the Emperor heard Xi Jin say he wanted to leave, the other started looking like he was about to cry.
“This is already the 6th time you’ve said this.” His Majesty felt quite a headache. Whenever the Insectoid finished saying this, the dramatic segment of running away from home would begin.
It seemed like ever since he recovered his memories, Xi Jin would ‘make things interesting’ like this every few days.
Although in the end, Xi Jin would always be ‘mysteriously’ found again, the Emperor still felt apprehensive and scared. What if he didn’t come back? He felt confident in the Xiao Jin of the past; but the Xiao Jin of the present was hard to understand and unpredictable.
– Kacha.
The Emperor keenly heard the faint sound of chewing. He glanced at today’s portion of breakfast from the corner of his eyes. The metal cookies had already been devoured some unknown time ago. Then right now……
“Xiao Jin, what are you eating?”
Xi Jin put down his hand and spread his fingers open before the Emperor. His fingers were pale white, somewhat chubby and made the Emperor really want to hold and fiddle with them.
Looking at this pair of hands, the Emperor fell silent for a very long time. Unable to resist the temptation and squeezing them anyways, the Emperor finally used a voice full of weariness, without any sorrow or delight, to ask: “Where’s the engagement ring I gifted you?”
Xi Jin blinked: “You placed food around my finger. It wasn’t for me to eat?”
His majesty, the Emperor: “……” He actually couldn’t say any words of rebuttal: “But that was a token of our love.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
What he received in reply was an utterly baffled expression.
Cigluta. Ycis ifaalcu atf yeu ibbx jcv cba fja la.. kjr lcvffv nfgs wfjc.
Ufgtjqr fnfc wbgf bo atf yjooifwfca…… bglulcjafv ogbw– “Gb sbe Crtj qfbqif jikjsr ulnf obbv jr abxfcr bo ibnf?”
Jgbrr-meiaegji ibnf jikjsr tjv wbgf rkffa, vfilutaoei ogeragjalbcr atjc cbgwji– obg fzjwqif, lc rbmlji merabwr jcv tjylar.
The Emperor decided to give up on this deeply profound topic and turned to ask Xi Jin: “What kind of tokens do Insectoids give when they get married?”
Xi Jin: “The custom is different for different places. For example, praying mantis would take off a certain body part and give it to their future wife.”
The Emperor: “Body part?”
Xi Jin: “En.”
The Emperor forced a faint smile: “…… Then what about you?”
Xi Jin didn’t answer immediately.
Before evolving completely, the male Metal Devouring Bugs were the model example of hedonists. The other party must feed them continuously for more than three months to possibly impress their lazy, yet glutinous heart.
Although right now the bugs have evolved into humans, and wouldn’t go so far as to live a life of eating for free and waiting for death like they had done previously, they still maintained some traditional habits– For example, before marriage, the Metal Devouring Bug must be fed and cared for unconditionally for three days.
Xi Jin was unwilling to acknowledge that he had already been fed and cared unconditionally for a year now.
He said sternly: “Uh…… First, I need to live with a friend for a few days.”
His Majesty, the Emperor, was very astute: “Why a friend?”
Xi Jin, with a stiff face: “Otherwise? You want me to return to my clan in search of kin? Or move myself into prison to sleepover with Xi En?”
The Emperor immediately replied: “Not only am I willing to be your lover, I’m also willing to be your close friend.”
Xi Jin: “???”
Luye Derkin was really a very smart and astute person.
“Bang–” The youth transformed into a huge bug and towered over his ‘fiance’, clearly lacking any interest in his so-called ‘friendship’.
Xi Jin’s long antennae drooped downward, landing on Luye’s forehead. The huge bug, which looked extremely vicious due to its enlargement, let out a buzz. It raised its front legs and clawed around, creating a mess of the Emperor’s robes.
After the 8-legged bug finished venting, he withdrew its legs. Abruptly turning small, he began his 6th attempt to run away from home.
This time, his target destination was pretty special.
He was no longer wandering around aimlessly, nor the routine visit to his friend, Nalun Charvey. Instead, he snuck right into the Imperial Capital’s prison.
His elder brother from a different mother, Xi En, was imprisoned over there, as well as his fellow compatriot, the 3-orificed Mist Bug, Lan Jia.
As a 5A-ranked area, the supervision over this prison was extremely stringent. Not only was the prison equipped with a flawless alarm system, the walls were made from a special material. Even the guards were all elite talents with special qualifications and outstanding physique.
However, it wasn’t hard for Xi Jin to sneak in.
As his memories slowly recovered, he was no longer that simple, easily bullied idiot. This time, he was commencing a brand new scheme after his failed attempt to steal the royal scepter!
“What are you doing here?” Through the feeding window, only a huge insect leg could be seen. Regarding his ‘little brother’s visit, the Metal Devouring Bug, Xi En, felt very wary.
Xi Jin gave a dark and devious laugh: “I came to take a look at you of course, gege.”
Xi En scoffed coldly: “You’d actually be so caring?”
Xi Jin: “So miserable looking.”
Xi En, furiously: “What are you saying?!”
Xi Jin: “How pitiful.”
Xi En: “……”
Xi Jin let out a bell-like buzz and walked away jauntily as his elder brother let out a furious roar.
Xi En: “???” Did this guy come specifically to mock him? Just to laugh at him!!!
He wanted to give a warning to the Asha guards to capture this despicable guy. However, thanks to his previous months of endless cursing, he was given a special drug and can only maintain his insect form. At the moment, he couldn’t speak the human language at all.
“……”
This plastic-like relationship between the two brothers couldn’t withstand any hardship. The elder son of the Grand Duke, who was locked away securely, pounded on the walls furiously.
Brandishing his 8 thin little legs, Xi Jin toured the entire prison like a small hurricane. At last, he finally found a very suspicious area.
There seemed to be conversation inside. Xi Jin turned himself one size smaller and climbed onto the entrance door like a normal spider.
“Don’t ignore me.”
A man’s voice entered his ear. Then he heard a strange rustling sound, like something heavy had fallen to the ground. Immediately afterwards came a suppressed gasp that leaked through the opened crack in the door.
The Metal Devouring Bug blinked his innocent little eyes and snuck in a few steps forward uncontrollably.
“Get lost! Hmmph–” This resounding curse turned half way, abruptly raised in pitch, and then suddenly silenced.
The Metal Devouring Bug climbed onto the table. His vision was blocked by a sign. Therefore, he huffed and puffed and found a better spot…… After seeing the view before him, his eyes opened wide; swiftly, he blocked his vision with his two front legs.
The youth’s pretty facial features were twisted. His white shirt was torn open, revealing half of his shoulder. The exposed skin was covered with a faint layer of pink. His five fingers curled slightly as he grabbed the lapels of the man above him. It was unclear if he was pushing and resisting or pulling the other even closer……
“Lan Jia, let’s get back together.” Alida mumbled between kisses.
Panting, the pretty man said with a temper: “Does your Emperor know that his Warden is doing such filthy, shady business behind his back?”
Alida kissed the delicate skin on the other’s shoulder, undeterred.
Lan Jia, resentfully: “No more. I’m tired to death. Resting for a day!”
Alida’s expression changed instantly: “Then do you still want to escape from prison?”
Lan Jia: “…… I never did.”
Alida said in agony: “I can no longer believe that. Only…… by making you unable to get out of bed, can I feel a moment of relief.”
Xi Jin: “……”
Through the cracks of his thin insect legs, he saw the two people embracing together and rolling around for a long time. He heard the wet sound of kisses, until–
“Wake up, enough acting today!” With reddened eyes, Lan Jia pushed the other away slightly.
Alida continued to kiss.
Lan Jia grinded his teeth: “You’re taking advantage of a prisoner. I’m going to report you to your superior!”
Alida stopped and gave a dastardly laugh: “The entire prison is filled with my people. No one will help you. You’ll never escape from my side, don’t even think about it!”
Xi Jin: “……”
The eyes of this theatrical young man were filled with a contemplation for life. The two people before him seemed to have unlocked some strange world and were currently acting out an eccentric script.
After recovering his memories, Xi Jin gained new insight into many things. He knew that one of the main characters of this script was the person who had hired him initially to act out a performance with Sirius. However, he remembered that this person was pretty normal, and not to mention, Nalun’s good friend.
But right now…… Knowing someone for a long time doesn’t mean you know their heart– The wicked heart is well hidden.
Xi Jin turned his chubby, round butt around and got ready to take his leave quietly. Just at this time, Lan Jia abruptly turned his head and pressed down on the hand that Alida was reaching into his shirt.
“Wait!”
Alida didn’t listen. He even squeezed the soft flesh beneath his palm.
“Pa!” Lan Jia ruthlessly smacked the hand off and kicked him away, movement agile and swift, completely lacking the ‘weak and easily bullied’ appearance he had just a second ago.
Alida: “…….”
Lan Jia swept his gaze around the room and said in a heavy voice: “Who?”
Insect face stiffening, Xi Jin slowly turned around, realizing that he had accidentally exposed himself.
He wasn’t a stranger to Lan Jia. Despite not being able to remember the other Insectoid the last time they met inside the forest during the Hunting Festival, actually the relationship between the two of them wasn’t too terrible. Speaking strictly, Lan Jia was also a distant, distant, distant, distant, distant relative of his. As a result, similar to himself, Lan Jia was also qualified to fight for the position of kingship. Before the ‘Scepter” event, they had crossed paths a few times back in the clan. As two of the few Insectoids with outstanding intelligence, the two insects even felt a subtle hint of approval towards each other.
Ever since Xi Jin fought a battle with him for Nalun’s sake, they never saw each other again.
Right now, this counted as the first reunion Xi Jin had with Lan Jia on Asha after recovering his memories.
Thinking briefly, Xi Jin grew bigger with a ‘puff’ and returned to his normal insect size.
Seeing a huge bug appear out of thin air within the prison cell, Alida hastily blocked in front of Lan Jia. Before he could do anything else, he noticed that his lover behind him had transformed into a big and ugly 3-orificed bug.
The two huge bugs faced each other at a distance.
Separated by time and residing in a foreign land, upon seeing a compatriot, the bugs both experienced a sense of loneliness.
The 3-orificed bug extended a leg and nudged Alida.
“Go wait outside.”
Alida’s complexion fell. He pressed his lips together and exited reluctantly– He knew this bug. Wasn’t this the future Queen that His Majesty had selected?
Mister Warden walked out of the room, turned and closed the door. Standing in place and dazing off for a moment, he started to contemplate on life: Why did he leave just like that? Without any resistance at all?
Huh?
He was the Prison Warden after all.
However…… so long has passed. Under his continuous daily and nightly efforts, certain things have long since been changed. He at least had the most basic and essential confidence in himself.
Alida looked around the vicinity and walked over to the surveillance station to the side. Opening the screen, he saw the image within the room emerge clearly.
Because of Lan Jia’s previous loud protests, the sound system had been forcibly closed. However, the Warden was already pretty satisfied with just seeing some images.
– Installing cameras everywhere inside the room of the person you like or whatever, just thinking about it was unusual enough.
Alida, who had been increasingly developing down a strange path lately, gave a pure and honest smile.
Once the door closed, the bugs stared at each other for a few seconds before returning to their human forms simultaneously.
“Have you been well recently?” Lan Jia fixed up the collar of his shirt and leaned back somewhat against the head of the bed, posture leisurely, not looking embarrassed at all about being ‘caught in bed’ and asked: “Finally remembering to visit your estranged and imprisoned compatriot?”
Xi Jin: “You seem to be doing pretty well in this place.”
Lan Jia smiled: “It’s a basic survival instinct to find a way to live well in any predicament.”
Xi Jin: “…… then your instinct must be very strong.”
Lan Jia wasn’t affected by his words and as if he took the mockery as a compliment.
With a solemn face, Xi Jin moved to the edge of the bed, saying: “Right now, we’re essentially the same.”
The smile on the corner of Lan Jia’s mouth gradually lessened. He looked into the darkness that appeared within Xi Jin’s eyes and didn’t say anything hastily.
– Misery loves company.
Both were solo bugs who were ‘resettled’ in Asha by the clan. Neither can speak ill of the other. Just because of the preordained bloodline within their bodies and their once outstanding pasts, they had become thorns in the eyes of the new Insectoid King. As soon as it was determined that they had lost the candidate battle for kingship, there’s probably no longer a place for them within the clan.
If they didn’t struggle and make an attempt now, it’s very likely that they’d die of age in this foreign land.
Xi Jin sighed and slowly expressed his uncertainty towards the bleak, unknown future: “One day, two day…… Perhaps with a moment of carelessness, we’d spend the rest of our lives in this foreign land. Being taken as a prisoner of war isn’t scary. What’s scary is that I can feel my fighting spirit gradually weakening, yet I’m helpless to stop it.”
Lan Jia revealed a hint of sympathy and lamented: “Asha’s material corrosion is too terrifying.”
Xi Jin shook his head and sighed: “I thought I’d draw some strength from you, like rally our force together or something, but……” He didn’t need to finish the rest.
Xi Jin: “……”
Lan Jia: “……”
The wind blew past. The wordless silence gave birth to a complicated feeling.
The son of the Grand Baron(?) Xi Jin threw out the topic assertively: “Do you really plan to fall here and never climb back up again?”
The cunning and nefarious(?) Lan Jia threw the topic right back: “You should consider your marriage first.”
Xi Jin: “…….”
After a long time, Lan Jia sighed. Originally he had thought that after Xi Jin recovered his memories, he should be ‘healed completely’. However, in reality, the experience of being the amnesiac ‘theatrical youth Xiao Jin’ still affected the other irreversibly. Compared to the gloomy youth of the past, the person sitting next to him right now looked ‘extremely vicious’, but has essentially grown crooked into a little cutie.
Or was it possible that in the past, he was actually thoroughly deceived by a false image that Xi Jin had created?
However, regardless of which one was the actual truth, both made him feel rather amazed.
Xi Jin said: “If I say that right now, I have a plan to bring you back to the clan with me, will you leave together with me?”
A dim light flashed across Lan Jia’s eyes, almost like he was plotting some kind of scheme: “If you can leave, you’d actually bring me?”
What he received in response was a pitying look.
“I have at least 5 different escape routes in my head. Before questioning me, you should reassess yourself first. Why would a tiny little prison cell trap you for this long?”
Lan Jia asked back: “Why would I leave?”
His influence within the clan didn’t compare to Xi jin. Even in terms of bloodlines, he was only a peripheral character in this battle for the Scepter. This wasn’t only because he was good at putting on a pretense and enduring patiently; the bigger reason was because he didn’t have a strong enough support. Now that the general situation within the clan has been settled, there was no place for him even if he did returned. On the contrary, he would need to be wary of the new King targeting him out of suspicion.
Xi Jin: “Explaining that much, aren’t you just trying to become Alida’s exclusive property?”
Lan Jia: “…… Idiot, that phrase is not used like that!”
Xi Jin shook his head: “Seeing you like this, perhaps staying here myself is not as shameful.”
Compared to P L A Y I N G a variety of games inside the prison with the Warden, he felt that being the husband of the Emperor of Asha was actually pretty glorious and dignified. Not to mention, if that treacherous 2nd brother of his didn’t behave well enough in the clan, he most likely could make Luye get revenge for him.
After thinking through everything, Xi Jin released a long exhale. Immediately afterwards, he heard his communication device ringing.
Luye Derlin’s voice was sonorous.
“It’s been two hours. It’s time to come back!”
Limited even in his ‘running away from home’ time, the Metal Devouring Bug hung up on the call in humiliation.
“I should go.”
The 3-orificed bug gracefully waved his hand: “Come back again when you have the time.”
Xi Jin was just about to push open the door and leave. When he heard these words, he stopped and said seriously: “I can help you apply for parole. You just have to provide free labor for a period and work unconditionally.”
Lan Jia fell silent for a moment.
“No thanks.” A delicate, refined man like himself naturally couldn’t work for free. Not to mention…… Lan Jian smiled. His pretty facial features blossomed and something indescribably attractive colored the area between his brows, making the innocent Metal Devouring Bug’s cheeks burn strangely.
“When I grow weary of living here, you can help me then.”
Xi Jin: “……”
Alida opened the door aptly: “Done chatting?”
He looked towards Xi Jin and passed along the message: “His Majesty said he’s waiting at the restaurant around the corner right now.”
He just finished speaking when Xi Jin received a new message from Luye on his communication device.
[A new batch of metal cakes fresh out of the oven, custom-made specifically for you.]
“……”
Alright. Asha was really a good place filled with thoughtfulness and attentive care.
Today, the 3-orificed bug continued to live a very ‘full’ and satisfying life; the Metal Devouring Bug also, as he wished, held his beloved cake in one hand, and under the candle light, received a brand new engagement ring on the other.
Meanwhile, within the unseen galactic net, the discussions about the Honored Prince Nalun and Admiral Sirius continued to remain extraordinarily rambunctious. According to the analysis of a well-known and experienced female streamer, this lively public gossip that’s been active for over a year now would ultimately survive forever under the support of the two main characters’ attractiveness.
Nalun: “……” This was completely different than what he had imagined.
The experience veteran Sirius skillfully comforted his downcasted spouse. Under his guidance and great efforts, the Honored Prince finally dropped his taut expression and revealed a faint smile of disdain.
Thank you for the translations!! I’m so glad to be able to read it all so fast
Thank you for the translations!! I’ve been following from the start out of curiosity over the nipple piercing warning and got completely hooked. I didn’t expect to love this story as much as I did! What a fun wild ride!
Thank you 🙏🏻 😘😘😘😘
Ahhhh forgot to ask about your new project 🤓
This novel still has a ‘chaos’ tag in my heart~ (ᗒᗜᗕ) It was a
nice reading and I have a
quite great laugh tho ヾ(＾∇＾) And even now I can’t with this nipple piercing, haha~ (ಡ艸ಡ) Thank You for translating and all Your hard work! ❤⃛ヾ(๑❛ ▿ ◠๑ )
Thank you so much for the translations!! It was quite a fun ride reading all the chapters hehehehe
Still can’t get over that nipple piercing though… Just how in the world… HAHAHAHAAH
It was a fun ride, thank you for it.❤😊
A Perfect Ending in a way.
Also all the Shou somewhat Tsundere on a way.
I didn’t expect the Secret Identity tag was really about MC’s identity being absolutely Secret! omg
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THE HARDWORKS IN TRANSLATING THIS NOVEL TILL COMPLETED!!! 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇xEndlessGratefulness
already in my reading list for so long, finally chose to read it now. NO REGRET!!!
This Novel is PURE EPICNESS!!! I LOVE IT SOOOOOO MUCH!!!
Thank you 🥰
thank you so much for getting this novel on this site ❤️❤️ i thoroughly enjoyed it!! appreciate all the hard work.
thank you for the chapter!
im gonna miss them sososo much thank u for translating this!!
i love how the story ends with the word ‘disdain’ 😹😹😹 thats Nalun for you lmao
Thank you very much for the translation🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😍
Aww this is one of those novels i could keep reading. I really enjoyed it. Thanks very much for translation. Ill be bk to reread for sure
Thank you for translate ..🤣
Thank you! This was such a cute read!
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! It has ended! May these 3 pairs of love birds have a fulfilling life of “role-playing”, metal cake eating, dog food spreading and disdaining. Hahahaha I loved the chaotic journey throughout all this.
random but I really like nalun being described as disdainful, he always turns it into something endearing xD which suits him a lot
So…. I always assumed that LanJia was the top, did I just misread this chapter. 🤣🤣
Thank you very much for the wondeful translation!!!!
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Thank you for the translation, I thoroughly enjoyed it. 😊