TuxedoTranslations

Chapter 113

After returning to his room, Albin prepared to write a letter to Blake. While he was at it, he opened the comic to take a look. He remembered that it was supposed to update today.

Sure enough, a new chapter had been released, and there were already plenty of comments.

The previous chapter had ended just as Albin met Blake again. He had assumed this chapter would continue from the cave-healing scene, but instead it opened directly with Blake waking up in a room. His companions were gathered around him, checking on him and explaining what had happened to Ross.

[Ross? Did I miss something? Was this character in the original version?]

[Probably a new character. No idea which side he’s on.]

As his companions spoke, however, a silhouette appeared in Blake’s mind. He stared thoughtfully at the glove in his hand, his expression grave as he pondered something.

The next panel shifted into a flashback.

Young Blake had a loosely tied strip of cloth over his eyes. Through a gap in the blindfold, he caught sight of a galaxy-like expanse of stars.

Amid the sea of stars, a small hand lifted his horribly burned and scarred arm. Someone whose face was only shown from the chin down was healing him.

Magic particles danced around them.

Streams of water flowed freely through the air.

Strange and wondrous magic created a dreamlike scene before him.

It seemed to be the very first time he had glimpsed the world of magic.

So warm…

So beautiful…

The young Blake was completely captivated by what he saw and engraved the moment into his memory.

[One glance, remembered for a lifetime (x)]

[Little White still doesn’t have a full face reveal. Even during the flashback when he fought Zeman, only half his face was shown. His already pitiful screen time is getting even worse.]

[When he says “beautiful,” is he talking about the scenery or the person? [/doge]]

So that was what Little Black had been thinking back then?

A smile curved Albin’s lips.

When he had read the comic before, it hadn’t felt particularly special. But now that he knew Blake was Little Black, seeing these glimpses into Blake’s thoughts gave him a strange feeling.

For example, he had just discovered that the flashbacks Blake used to awaken his hidden potential during battles were all memories of him.

It felt like secretly reading Little Black’s diary.

And yet, he really did want to know more about what Little Black was thinking.

[Is this flashback connected to Ross?]

[Not necessarily. Our boy Blake has been reminiscing about his white moonlight ever since he first appeared.]

[Daily White Moonlight Check-In (1/1)]

[Um, I never read the original version. Can someone explain who this “white moonlight” is?]

[White is White. The “white” in white moonlight. The “white” in being White-sexual.]

[You’ll understand just how important the white moonlight is later on.]

[I’ve always wanted to complain about this. The “Bromance” tag is one thing, but what genius added the “Widower” tag to this comic?]

[/smirk] It’s surprisingly accurate.

[No mistake there. Back when the author discussed the original version, they specifically called it a “love story.”]

Albin read through the comments.

There were often terms and strange nicknames he didn’t understand, such as “widower” and “bromance.”

Still, he usually didn’t pay them much attention.

If he saw them often enough, he’d naturally figure them out eventually.

In the comic, once Blake recovered enough to get out of bed, he threw himself back into brutal training, motivated by Zeman’s provocation.

But he remained restless and unable to focus.

Eventually, after collapsing from exhaustion, he entered his own mental world.

There, he saw a magnificent palace—and a long-haired man.

[Old bastard!]

[Kill him!]

[*** (Automatically censored by intelligent filtering)]**

Albin’s expression changed instantly.

As the Sun Saint, he recognized the man at a glance.

The resemblance to the statues of the Sun God was at least eighty percent.

Combined with what his father had told him earlier, there was no doubt about it.

This was the Sun God.

His heart tightened as he continued reading.

The Sun God encouraged Blake to defeat Zeman and taught him a powerful, difficult-to-control black flame.

So the black flames he’d seen before had been taught by the Sun God?

Damn it.

How had he not realized it sooner?

Albin wanted nothing more than to drag that ill-intentioned Sun God out into the open and beat him senseless.

“Bad Sun God! Corrupting teenagers! Have you no shame?!”

He kept reading.

After spending several days learning to control the black flames, the story shifted to Arthur, who was shopping in a marketplace.

A Samoyed suddenly ran off.

Arthur chased after it and unexpectedly ran into Ross, whom he’d only met once before.

This time, the comic finally gave Ross a full-face reveal.

[New character appearance!]

[Arthur’s dialogue said Ross has red hair. Oho! A mysterious red-haired beauty. I’m in love. I’ve found my new favorite.]

[Wearing a mask and hiding his face. Doesn’t seem trustworthy to me.]

[No mole on his face. Definitely not joining the protagonist group. Case closed.]

[LMAO. Flawless logic.]

Albin’s eyes widened.

How did Ross not look like a good person?!

Aside from discussing the new character, most readers were talking about the plot.

[This new character is probably introducing the next story arc.]

[Come to think of it, the protagonists headed north in the original version. This time they’re going south. Does that mean Mag’s revenge arc is gone?]

Mag?

Revenge?

Was there a story like that in the original version?

It sounded as though something bad had happened to Mag.

Albin blinked.

As far as he knew, Mag was currently Padma’s assistant and living happily with her mother. Every time he visited, she welcomed him warmly.

How wonderful!

The realization that his actions had changed their fate filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction.

[So is the southern boss the Siren Queen?]

[Wasn’t Pearl City supposed to become the “Lost Pearl”? Who is Lina going there to meet? I don’t remember her having relatives there.]

[That’s original-version lore. In the new version, Pearl City seems fine. Earlier there was even a background character talking about going there for tourism.]

Albin had never heard of anything called the “Lost Pearl.”

Pearl City’s current title was clearly The Pearl of the Sea.

So why had it become something like that in the original version?

---

Meanwhile, in the living room, Hailan was speaking with Zeman.

After hearing Zeman’s request that she keep her suspicions from Albin, Hailan sighed.

“There was a dream I’ve had over the years,” she said.

Perhaps it was born from lingering fear.

In that dream, she relived the day at the seaside manor.

She watched helplessly as her younger brother was killed by the Sea God.

Protected by her brother’s sacrifice, she alone survived.

After that great upheaval, she changed her beliefs.

She began to hate humans, just as her younger brother once had.

She started attacking everything connected to the Sea God Temple, becoming the venomous siren feared by mankind.

Yet none of it could soothe the grief in her heart.

Every day she lived in regret and pain, lamenting her former naivety.

She ordered her people to stay away from humans, but they could not understand her reasoning. In order to protect them and keep them distant from humanity, she used every means available to shatter the innocent fantasies of the other sirens bit by bit, and imposed strict control over the younger generation.

Gradually, she grew farther and farther apart from her own people.

But consumed by grief, she no longer had the strength to care.

By the time she came to her senses, the lively young sirens who once laughed before her had all become silent and fearful. The vibrant siren race had become lifeless, and some sirens who disagreed with her ideals had even broken away and left.

She had done everything in her power to rescue the members of her race who had been captured by humans.

Yet in the end, she was defeated by the Sea God and fell into the sea with grievous injuries.

Just when she thought she was about to die, a human saved her.

That white-haired boy naively hoped for peace between humans and magical creatures, just as she once had.

He cared for her attentively.

He was as lively and bright as her little brother had been in childhood.

At a time when she had completely despaired of humanity, a pearl appeared before her eyes—a pearl that glowed softly, trying to illuminate the darkness and warm her heart.

Little by little, it pulled her back from the edge of collapse and despair.

Like an oyster guarding its precious treasure, she protected that boy with everything she had.

Through him, she regained the will to live.

She could even discuss dreams of peace with him.

But just as she had failed to protect her younger brother, she failed to protect her little pearl as well.

The white-haired man who came to inform her of the boy’s death was the very murderer who had killed him.

The one who should have been heartbroken was her.

Yet she sensed within that man a grief so overwhelming it was suffocating—a grief accompanied by a desire for death.

In that instant, she understood.

This man, like her, was someone who had once been warmed by the little pearl’s light.

Even more unbelievable was the fact that the little pearl had entrusted both his will and his power to this very killer.

No ordinary person could possibly understand such a story.

Most would dismiss it as nothing more than the murderer’s excuse.

But Hailan knew.

The little pearl truly was that kind of person.

Her gaze fell upon the ring in the white-haired man’s hand.

That golden ring was the God-Slaying Spear the white-haired boy had found.

As far as Hailan was concerned, her life should have ended long ago.

Even if she continued living, she lacked the power to change anything.

Yet for the sake of the little pearl’s final wish, she chose to join the organization dedicated to taking revenge on the gods—

The White Apostles.

The symbol of the White Apostles was a compass rose.

At its center was a North Star, symbolizing the boy who had guided their path and illuminated their way.

It was also their way of remembering him.

Many others in the organization were people like her.

She had witnessed their sorrow as well.

Looking at Zeman before her, Hailan said,

“If you die, Albin will be heartbroken. I don’t want him to experience that kind of pain.”

She knew better than anyone how much suffering was borne by those left behind.

She didn’t want her little pearl to endure the same fate.

Zeman lowered his eyes halfway.

“I know.”

But he had no other choice.

Blake was Albin’s closest friend.

He was Jacque’s adopted son.

And he was an innocent boy who had become the Sun God’s host because of Zeman’s own mistake.

He had to ensure Blake survived.

He could not let Albin learn the truth.

Because if Albin discovered that only one of them—Blake or Zeman—could live, the child would undoubtedly choose to sacrifice himself so that both of them could survive.

He would make arrangements for everything.

That child still had a long life ahead of him.

No matter what happened, Zeman could never accompany him through all of it.

He would simply be leaving a little earlier than expected.

Watching Zeman stubbornly turn away and leave, Hailan let out another long sigh and shook her head.

“Regardless, Albin is almost an adult now. Remember to give him some proper adult education.”

Zeman paused.

A hint of confusion crossed his face, but he still nodded in agreement.

---

Late that night, a small wooden boat drifted slowly back to shore.

Larimar stepped off the boat and was about to leave when Blake called out to him.

“Master, thank you for your guidance.”

Larimar’s expression twisted for a moment.

He turned around sharply.

“Who are you calling Master?! Don’t just go around saying things like that!”

Hah.

As if he’d ever become this brat’s master.

Blake looked puzzled.

“But Little White said it’s important to be polite…”

To Blake, calling Larimar “Master” was simply basic courtesy toward someone who had worked tirelessly to teach him without asking for anything in return.

Back in Thorn City, the cheerful and sweet-talking Albin had always been well liked.

His personality had earned them a great deal of help when the two of them first struggled to survive together.

In a cold, gloomy place like Thorn City, people weren’t inclined to help others.

But Albin was like a rare ray of light.

He ran into people’s lives, offering warmth and smiles that felt almost luxurious.

Even the coldest and hardest-hearted individuals would soften in his presence.

The moment Larimar heard Albin mentioned, his expression became even more twisted.

His feelings toward Blake were incredibly complicated.

On one hand, he hated this brat for harboring improper feelings toward Albin.

On the other hand, Blake’s determination to protect Albin at all costs had earned his respect—and even resonated with him.

He had to admit:

Albin had good taste in friends.

Wait.

No.

Larimar shook the thought away and snorted.

Who knew how long this kid could keep it up?

Without responding, Larimar turned and left.

After putting some distance between himself and the shore, he spotted a white figure waiting nearby.

It was Zeman.

Larimar inclined his head in greeting.

To some extent, Zeman was still his superior.

“How’s his training going?” Zeman asked.

“His comprehension is excellent. I put him through the hardest training regimen right away.”

After a pause, Larimar asked,

“Are you sure that training is actually possible? I mean, can he really do it?”

Lighting a fire in the middle of the ocean and making it back to shore…

Even Larimar thought that sounded nearly impossible.

Not everyone was Zeman.

As a siren, Larimar knew nothing about training fire-element users. Blake’s entire training program had been designed by Zeman from the start.

That was also why Larimar refused to accept the title of Blake’s master.

If anyone qualified as Blake’s master, it was Zeman.

“He can do it.”

When Zeman fought Blake before, he had already assessed the boy’s limits.

Blake’s fundamentals were solid.

However, the people who had trained him previously were probably not true experts.

Their conventional methods had failed to fully develop Blake’s talent.

Larimar nodded and set aside his doubts.

After all, Zeman was the authority in this area.

Then Zeman asked,

“Since Albin arrived, has anything unusual happened recently?”

He didn’t believe Hailan would make that request for no reason.

Larimar’s expression turned strange.

There was even a trace of gritted-teeth resentment in it.

After hesitating briefly, he finally answered.

“Earlier, Blake was affected by my mental attack.”

He paused.

“While under its influence, he forcibly kissed Albin.”

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