EnCoffin Me Chapter 101
Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)
Chapter 101
After the initial surge of anger, Alexio forced himself to calm down.
He knew that the lunatic had achieved his goal. After showing him the drawing, he was probably already on his way back. But Alexio couldn't accept being outmaneuvered in this battle of wits. He thought for a moment and decided the problem lay in the fact that the lunatic had regained all his memories. When he was still amnesiac, at least he had some sense of shame.
But now that he remembered everything, he had no shame at all!
Alexio thought in despair that even if he exposed the lunatic's alternate account, the lunatic would probably just happily seize the opportunity to confess his feelings. In the end, the one who couldn't take it anymore would surely be himself, who still had a sense of shame!
Invincible. The lunatic was truly invincible.
He picked up U, who was eating cat food on the lower platform. U looked bewildered, with bits of food still stuck to the corner of its mouth. Then it watched in bewilderment as Dage placed him on the higher platform and sat down on the lower one himself.
U: ???
Dage, you can't do this!
U immediately jumped back down and circled around Alexio's legs, meowing attentively. U felt this was a test. If it showed even the slightest hint of rebellion, Dage would definitely bury him in the carrot field!
Alexio sat gloomily on the small platform, counting U's cat food pellets as he waited for the lunatic to return. Hmph, he had the upper hand again. Would he start mocking him when he got back? He probably felt very pleased with himself right now.
The lunatic returned later than Alexio had expected. When he heard the noise, Alexio looked up with a blank expression. But then his eyes widened slightly because the lunatic hadn't come back alone. Behind him, several restaurant staff in uniform were pushing carts with robots, assembling a mountain of ice cream using a giant cup. They said something to the lunatic before leaving in an orderly manner.
Alexio had already stood up. He looked at the ice cream with mild curiosity.
“I ordered flaming ice cream,” the saint said calmly, showing none of the smugness Alexio had imagined. “Come over. I'm about to light it.”
Alexio was about to head back to his room. He wasn't going to fall for this lunatic's act. But the moment the fire was lit, both he and U widened their eyes, staring at the ice cream wrapped in flames that didn't melt.
Cat ears perked up.jpg
In the end, he sat down at the dining table, picked up two spoons, and stared at the burning ice cream. The lunatic didn't start eating right away. Instead, he first prepared a pudding suitable for cats so U could enjoy something too. U was immediately won over by erge and started meowing at Alexio's feet, putting in a good word for him.
For the sake of the ice cream, Dage, let it go, just let it go.
Once the flames went out and the spectacle was over, Alexio scooped a bit of ice cream into a small bowl and started eating. Suddenly, he heard the lunatic speak from across the table.
“When it will be announced is up to you.”
Alexio's hand paused. He looked up at the saint.
“What do you mean?”
“Before I regained my memories, I did hide my identity as Sparrow Nestling in Thorns from you because I was shy,” the lunatic said with a smile that showed no hint of shyness. Just as Alexio suspected, the lunatic with his memories restored was absolutely shameless.
“But now, it doesn't matter if it gets exposed. The only issue with that is—
“Sparrow Nestling in Thorns has always been drawing CP content of the Epic Pair. So once it's exposed, it'll become known that I've been drawing fan art of the Epic Pair this whole time. In other words, the actual party himself is out there shipping his own CP.”
He looked at Alexio with a smile, but his tone was steady and sure.
“You ship it too, don't you?”
Alexio silently lifted the bowl with one hand, ready to throw it at him.
“Calm down. I'm just stating facts. If my alias gets exposed to the public, then our relationship will have to be made public too, right?
“I'm leaving the timing of that up to you. Whenever you think it's okay, you can go ahead and reveal my identity.” The saint's tone was gentle and indulgent, but Alexio still felt something was off.
He thought for a moment, then pinpointed the issue.
“What if I don't want to make our relationship public for now…”
“Then you might have to help keep my alias under wraps.”
“???”
“They say a shared secret brings people closer.”
“……”
“Our hearts are very close right now.”
“……”
The saint knew when to stop. He figured Alexio had already been dogged into speechlessness and decided not to push any further. But to his surprise, it wasn't long before Alexio looked up again.
“Since you're confirmed to be Sparrow Nestling in Thorns, I'll be needing a bit of effort from you.”
“…No problem.”
“Come, I'll commission a design draft from you.” Alexio picked up his bowl of ice cream again and gave him a meaningful smile. “I don't think I'm a particularly demanding client, so maybe… I'll let you pass after about a few dozen revisions.”
“……”
The next day, Alexio handed the design draft to Cravenson and asked him to contact a manufacturer for a sample.
This was part of their plan. The main headquarters of the conservation center was about to send an investigation team to the southeast branch. The personnel list had already been finalized, but Alexio's name wasn't on it.
Of course, that was merely a strategy to lower the enemy's guard. Alexio was definitely going, just not under his own identity.
He squeezed the bat plushie in his hand. It felt very soft. In a discreet spot, the conservation center's logo was printed. These plushies were modeled after his bat form. Designed by Sparrow Nestling in Thorns, they would be produced in bulk and sent as gifts to the southeast branch. There had been precedent for sending mascots before, and Alexio had confirmed the strategy with Cravenson before settling on this plan.
Holding the bat plushie, he went to find the lunatic. He needed him to help him see how big the difference was between this finished product and his bat form, and if it was indistinguishable. If it passed, they could move into mass production. With current tech, the gifts could likely be ready by tomorrow morning.
The lunatic now had his own office. Alexio placed the toy on his desk and shifted into his bat form, landing next to it. He first tilted his head to study the toy's pose, then copied it exactly. At first glance, it looked like two identical plush toys, both staring with bright red eyes.
The saint couldn't help but lift a hand to hide the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
It really did look the same.
“It's very accurate.”
Alexio, in bat form, remained motionless. Even its basic breathing, heartbeat, and body temperature had completely stopped. He simply stared at the lunatic.
He wanted to see whether the lunatic could recognize him.
The saint looked thoughtful, his fingers hovering between Alexio and the plushie. Alexio stared at him in silence.
He'd better recognize him. If not, he'd better watch out!
The saint seemed to still be hesitating. He pinched the toy's wing, then pinched Alexio's wing, then gave Alexio's belly a rub, gently kneading it while lost in thought.
If Alexio still didn't get it, he'd be an idiot! The lunatic had recognized him from the start! He just wanted to mess with him!
Lucius looked at Alexio, who was hanging from his hand by four tiny fangs. Alexio was putting on a show of stubborn defiance, refusing to let go, but the moment he tasted Lucius' blood, his wings gave out, and he flopped straight into the waiting palm below with a soft thud.
“Still biting me?”
Alexio fluttered drunkenly in his palm.
Of course he was biting! Ideally, he'd go straight for a First Embrace and make the lunatic call him Daddy!
【Hunters of the Holy Temple cannot accept the First Embrace.】
The buzz of intoxication quickly faded from Alexio's mind. He clicked his tongue and silently went limp in Lucius' hand.
If a First Embrace wasn't possible, then why had the lunatic agreed back then? Was it… just so he wouldn't worry?
He wanted to ask but was afraid the answer would be too painful. He took a steadying breath, hiding the hint of gloom that had crept into his thoughts. The lunatic was too perceptive. He'd have to hide it better.
Alexio flapped his wings a few times and flew down from the lunatic's palm. Once on the ground, he shifted back into human form and picked up the bat plushie.
“Looks like it worked. Mass production should finish tomorrow, and then the day after…” He glanced at the toy in his hand and said quietly, “We'll be heading into a tough battle.”
The situation at the southeast branch was grim. They might be walking into a branch that had already completely fallen.
“I looked into the personnel structure of the southeast branch,” Lucius said. “Because it's near several eastern faction settlements, most of the staff there are from the eastern faction. It's also not far from where we suspect the Holy Temple is located.”
A sharp smile flickered across Alexio's face.
“So, even if it's not the main stronghold, it's at least an outer city?”
“Yes.”
Alexio felt no fear. What he wanted was to drive a blade straight into the Holy Temple's heart.
“Cravenson and Zhen will accompany the group as representatives of the dark creatures. Lucy will remain at the conservation center. Helgodon and Marshal Olsen's forces will head to the north,” Alexio stated plainly. The saint gave a slight nod.
“You're worried Theo might use this opportunity to move against the three revived pillars?”
“Yes. He's capable of pulling off a diversion like that. But with those kids guarding the place, I can rest a lot easier.”
While the werewolves still didn't have a second member capable of taking human form, under Helgodon's guidance and training, over a dozen had already reached the size of full-grown giant wolves. Werewolves were born war machines. Although not yet in their complete forms, with Behemoth's blessing, they were more than enough for most threats.
As for Lucy, her task was the most arduous because Leviathan and Pupil were both stationed at the center. But Alexio had no worries. A lich's strength wasn't in one-on-one fights, but in siege warfare and full-scale battles. The more participants, the better. Every fallen body became the lich's army. Even if the enemy used non-living weapons, they'd still have to contend with the ruins of the Sea of Undead. And that skeletal dragon alone was enough to tear apart any intruder.
Alexio's gaze turned grim.
“Theo must already realize what we're trying to do. For the sake of his plan, he'll stop at nothing to interfere.
“According to my predictions, the public opinion war will erupt in the next few days. That's why we need to move quickly. Even if they twist the facts or fabricate evidence, we will have the geographical advantage to expose their tricks.”
He turned and looked out the window at the shimmering emerald waters of the inner sea.
“I will kill him,” Alexio said quietly. “I meant it ten thousand years ago, and I still mean it now.”
At that very moment, deep within the Holy Temple, Theo finished reviewing the plan. His fingertips tapped lightly on the table. After a moment, he smiled.
“It's time. Move to Phase Two.”
His subordinate responded immediately and left. Minutes later, a topic shot to the top of the trending list on Pupil:
#Dark Creatures Attack A Human#