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@cheshireliam
BLOG MASTERLIST
‧˚₊꒷꒦︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶︶︶꒦꒷‧₊˚⊹
DO NOT REPOST MY TRANSLATIONS. REBLOGS OK.
当ブログに掲載されている翻訳は、個人の趣味による非公式ファン翻訳です。使用されている画像と内容の著作権は株式会社Cybirdに帰属しており、権利を侵害する意図は一切ありません。
► Introduction Post ; Disclaimers, CWs, FAQ
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► INDIVIDUAL GAME MASTERLISTS
▻ Ikemen Villains イケメンヴィラン
⤷ Liam-Biased Masterlist
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▻ Ikemen Prince イケメン王子
▻ Ikemen Genjiden イケメン源氏伝
⤷ NOTICE: I'm currently working on editing the honorifics used in the stories e.g. change from "Lord Yoshitsune" to "Yoshitsune-sama" and fixing the translations for certain terms e.g. "yin-yang magic" to "onmyō techniques", so I apologise for any inconsistencies.
► GUIDES
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► OTHER LINKS
▻ Tags Guide (OLD. NOT UPDATED.)
▻ cheshireliam’s Ikemen Genjiden Glossary
gimme some time before i continue the translations coz i done injured my NECK
bitch has been falling sick every week since then 💀
using a fan translator's content without credit to insult said translator's fav suitor is absolutely diabolical
btw everyone could care less about your opinion and what else u wanna say, but you should at least apologise to the translator for using their content without credit. you know who they are — they're in your comment section.
also, your post wouldn't even have gotten so much attention if you didn't use official tags on it. it's fandom etiquette, an unspoken rule, to keep negativity away from official tags and out of sight from other players. it's basic respect. you say you're only against the content and not the suitor's fans, and yet you contradict yourself by shoving your post in his fans' faces.
update: they still haven't apologised to the translator, in fact they're actively ignoring her comments and only replying to comments agreeing with their crappy behaviour.
we eating dirt for lunch and dinner tomorrow and the day after because i didn't have a single cocktail in my inventory
gimme some time before i continue the translations coz i done injured my NECK
"Even If The World Ends Tomorrow" Story Event: Ring Schwartz Chapter 2
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
At night, we boarded the carriage Ring had prepared, and set off toward the safehouse where we used to live.
We’d stop by that town from time to time on days we didn't have work, but we’d both been so busy lately that we hadn't been able to visit at all.
Ring: When I heard the world was ending…
Ring: It was like everything went dark in front of me… because I was thinking — we’d only just met not very long ago, I finally have hopes and dreams because of that, and yet all of it was going to end…
Ring: So on the last day, I wanted to spend it without leaving room for regrets, doing everything I haven’t done yet.
Kate: And one of those things is spending time with me at the safehouse.
Ring: Yeah. … Oh! That’s only what I wanted, though. If there’s anywhere else you’d rather go, we can go there instead.
Ring: Sorry, it's my bad. I only thought about myself…
Kate: It’s okay. The place I want to be most on my last day in this world is by your side, Ring.
Ring: Ugh…! How are you this good at making me happy…
His cheeks turned bright red as he clutched his chest, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Ring: … Back then, I used to suspect you were a Cursed One whose ability makes people’s hearts race.
Ring: Even though now I know you're not, I still sometimes doubt that.
(He’s still thinking about that…)
I knew he reacted so strongly to me because he wasn’t used to being around women, but it made me a little happy to also know that he’d been aware of me even before he fell in love.
Kate: If I really were a Cursed One who can make your heart race, then that would make you one who warms people’s hearts…
Kate: And one who makes my heart race too.
Ring: Y-Your h-heart… races because of me too…?
Kate: Always. Want to check it yourself?
Ring: M-Maybe not right now… i-it’s embarrassing…
Ring: Let’s stop this conversation here. At this rate, my heart will end before the world does.
Ring: There’s still a long way to go before we arrive. You should get some rest.
Ring gently supported my body to lay down on his lap.
(… I remember I’ve fallen asleep on his lap like this before.)
Feeling nostalgic, I had a sudden thought.
Kate: Ring. About how we’ll spend our time at the safehouse…
Kate: Since we have the chance, why don’t we act like today’s really our last day in this world? And try everything we’d regret leaving undone.
Ring: Like simulation training… it's true that if we're prepared beforehand, we might be able to remain calm if ever the end of the world really comes.
Ring: Got it. We’ll do it your way.
Kate: …By the way, why did you choose that location for the safehouse?
Ring: Mainly because it’s perfect for when you need to lay low.
Ring: And… I thought it’d be nice to live in a quiet village surrounded by nature like that if I were born like everyone else, instead of a Cursed One.
— I slowly closed my eyes and pictured it in my mind. A version of Ring living in that village, a life that he “could’ve had”.
(… I’m sure he’d get along so well with the villagers, spending his days happily.)
I found myself wanting to step into that imaginary life too.
Kate: … Ring.
Kate: If the world doesn’t end… and Cursed Ones and humans can live together harmoniously…
Kate: When the day comes, will you live in that village with me?
Kate: … Let’s stay together until the moment we say our final goodbyes forever.
Ring: …
My words made Ring instantly blush bright red.
But the colour drained from his face just as quickly.
(… Huh?)
Ring: L-Let’s put that on hold for now… y-your suggestion, I mean.
Kate: …… Oh. Okay, I understand…
The unexpected answer had me pausing for a moment before responding.
(Put it on hold…)
It wasn’t that I was being conceited, but I’d always felt how much Ring loved me — so why couldn’t he say the words “let’s live together someday”?
I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else afterwards.
Ring too, seemingly lost in his thoughts, said nothing.
Surrounded by an uncomfortable silence, we continued our ride toward the village.
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"Even If The World Ends Tomorrow" Story Event: Ring Schwartz Chapter 1
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
Even as word about the world ending spread amongst the people like wildfire, Crown continued its operations in the shadows as ordered by Her Majesty.
And so when Liam and I stormed the hideout of a scam syndicate during one of our missions, what greeted us was —
A small mountain. Made entirely of unconscious scammers.
Liam: Whoa… they’re all out cold.
Liam crouched down, poking at the cheeks of the unconscious men with visible amusement.
Kate: H-How did this happen…?
And then, from behind the pile of bodies, Ring casually popped his head out.
Ring: Oh, you’re here. Kate and… Mr Sparkly Pink.
Kate: Wah! You scared me… did you do this, Ring?
(Vogel assisted with the investigations midway because there was a possibility of Cursed Ones being involved.)
(It’s not strange that Ring would know the date of our mission or the location of this hideout, but…)
Liam: Why did you complete a mission for Crown, Ring? Could it be… you’re thinking of joining us?
Ring: No, it’s not that. I came to pick Kate up, but I got here too early, so I decided to take care of the problem first.
Kate: Pick me up…? Did we have plans for today?
Ring calmly shook his head in response to my question.
Ring: We don’t. It's just — the world’s ending tomorrow.
Ring: I want to be with you on the day the world ends.
Ring: That’s why I’m here.
Ring’s sincere gaze made my heart race, but… one thing he said etched in my mind.
Kate: Umm… the world’s really ending?
Ring: …… Huh?
Ring: Wait. Don’t tell me… that whole thing about the world ending was lie…!?!?
…
After the mission, Ring was brought to the lounge, and upon being told that the “world is ending” thing was purely a false rumour…
He turned bright red with embarrassment and shrunk into a corner of the room.
Roger: You can tell it's false just by looking at Darius. He’s not the least bit panicky about this.
Ring: B-But Dari grabbed my hand, hung his head, and told me… “make the most of whatever time you have left”!
Ring: Nica too! He turned away and said, “don’t worry about me, go spend it with the Little Robin”…!
Alfons: Head lowered, face turned away — sounds like both of them were trying very hard not to laugh.
Ring: Ggh… I got tricked again…! This is so embarrassing…
Kate: It made me happy, though. You came straight to me when you heard this was the last day before the world ends, right?
Ring: … Yeah.
Kate: The fact you chose to spend your final moments with me truly means a lot.
Kate: So please don't stay hiding in a corner. Will you come out now? I want you next to me.
When I took his hand and gave it a small tug, Ring hesitantly stood up and shuffled to my side.
Alfons: So, Ring, how were you planning to spend your final day on earth with Kate after whisking her away?
Liam: OMG. Were you thinking of spending the whole day with Kate, doing—
Ring: C-Cut it out! Fine if you want to have dirty ideas about me, but you’re not allowed to fantasise about Kate!
Ring hid me protectively behind his back.
Liam: “Dirty ideas”~? I haven’t specified anything yet, though?
Alfons: You gave yourself away with that.
Ring: It’s really not like that, Kate! Mr Sparkly Pink and that perverted mirror guy set the mood with their inappropriate nonsense, and it got to me…!
Ring: I-I thought about it only for a split second! I’m not always— um, not never, but not right now! I’m not thinking about that stuff right now!
Roger: … Don’t tease the poor guy too much. Dogs aren’t meant to be bullied, you’re supposed to dote on them.
(That’s rich coming from Roger, who messes with Ring PLENTY…)
Liam: AWWWW, but now I’m curious how red his face can get!
Liam was practically vibrating with curiosity.
Ellis: … Since it's already come to this, why not the two of you spend the whole of tomorrow together?
— Ellis threw Ring a lifeline with that.
Ring: Huh!? But it turned out to be a lie…
Ellis: Didn’t you finish all your pending work so you could spend the last day on earth with Kate?
Ring: Y-Yeah… I mean…
Ring nodded and turned to me.
Ring: Although the “end of the world” was fake… will you still spend the day with me?
Kate: Yes, of course.
There wasn’t a single reason to refuse.
And so, on the day Ring believed would be the last before the world ended… we spent the entire day together, just the two of us.
// Shameless Self-Promo // Hello there! If you're looking for a cozy space to socialise with other IkeVil players, you might want to consider joining my little server here → https://discord.gg/3eHKHbshHk ☆ EN and JP welcome!
This server is only for players 18 years old and older. ₍ᐢ..ᐢ₎♡̷
"Even If The World Ends Tomorrow" Story Event: Prologue
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
Jude: What a load o’ bullshit.
Kate: What’s wrong?
One night, during a dinner gathering held at the palace both for socialising and exchange of information—
The moment I took my seat at the dining table, the sound of that irritated muttering reached my ears.
Ellis: Ah. Look at this, Kate.
Seated across from me, Ellis pointed down at the table.
William: All major newspapers and magazines are putting this news on their covers.
I lowered my gaze to the papers spread out on the polished surface.
“X Day Approaches”
“The World Will End in X Days”
“What Will Cause The End of The World? Debate Intensifies.”
Kate: The world is… ending?
Liam: That’s the rumour going around these days.
Alfons: It’s like a passing epidemic. People simply can’t stand the monotony of a neverending daily life.
Darius: That said, perhaps we can’t say for certain that it's 100% false.
Kate: … What do you mean?
Nica: Wouldn’t your “leader” over there know more about that?
The members of Vogel, who had arrived late to the dining hall, cast pointed looks at Victor.
Victor: … In some very old records of the Cursed, tucked away in the royal library, there was mention of a Cursed One who “prophesied the end of the world”.
Ring: I see. It sounded like a baseless rumour at first, but…
Elbert: If this information actually came from that Cursed One—
Roger: Then we can’t exactly call it a lie anymore.
Kate: T-That can’t be…
Victor: — Just kidding! Did I scare you?
Darius: Realistically speaking, chances of a Cursed One being involved in this are close to zero. Which means the credibility of the rumour is also zero.
Darius: This is just another one of you humans’ pointless ways to kill time.
William: … Indeed. The idea of everyone coming to a stop in three days is unrealistic. This rumour being spread around is likely an attempt to provoke the mindset “live like it's the end of the world tomorrow”.
William: “Memento Mori” — a thought experiment humanity keeps coming back to.
Victor: … That said! As an apology for scaring all of you, I’m going to perform a new magic trick I just learnt!
Nica: Ugh, I’ll pass. I don’t want to see it.
Victor: Come help me, Harry!
Harry: Do it yourself, you old geezer.
(“If the world were to end tomorrow”.)
(If that were really true…)
(How would “we” spend our final day together—?)
// Shameless Self-Promo // Hello there! If you're looking for a cozy space to socialise with other IkeVil players, you might want to consider joining my little server here → https://discord.gg/3eHKHbshHk ☆ EN and JP welcome!
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Sen no Rikyu Main Story: Chapter 13
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
【 PALACE GATES ; EVENING 】
Yoshiteru: — Behold.
Mai: !
Yoshiteru turned and gestured to me with one hand, presenting me to the crowd.
(… Don’t shrink away. Don’t even flinch.)
Even as thousands of eyes turned to look at me, I forced myself to stand tall.
Yoshiteru: Standing next to me is the famed Lucky Charm Princess. She was rescued from the war-torn Azuchi and brought to safety here in this Utopia.
Murmuring rippled through the crowd.
Citizen 1: For the Shogunate to rescue her from it… is Azuchi in such a bad state…?
A voice was heard amongst the bustling.
(No. I didn’t come here because I wanted to be “protected”.)
The truth threatened to spill from my mouth.
I clenched my fists tightly, forcing it back down.
(If I go against the Shoguante, the situation will worsen tenfold for everyone in Azuchi.)
The absolute trump card — the ability to change the past using wormholes — laid in their hands.
(I can’t act on impulse.)
The crowd settled down, and Yoshiteru addressed them once more.
Yoshiteru: … The princess grieves for the chaos of the world.
His ethereal face glowed in the fading light of the setting sun, and the flickering torches.
(Up till now, I never could tell what Yoshiteru’s thinking…)
The shadows cast by the amber light only deepened the mystery in his expression.
I could just feel the people holding their breathes, trying to move closer to his heart.
(Their emotions are being swayed by his every word…)
The Yoshiteru standing before the masses radiating with authority as Shogun, and the Yoshiteru who remains unreadable when among Rikyu and the others — which is the real him…?
Yoshiteru: If her face were to be tainted with even the faintest of sorrows, the fortune meant to bless this land will be cast into the shadows.
Mai: …!
A hand rested against my back, dragging my mind back to reality.
(This is bad. Even I’m being captivated by Yoshiteru.)
Yoshiteru: We — the Muromachi Shogunate — only wish for her gentle smile to return.
His gaze was beautiful as he spoke, yet deep and unfathomable as a bottomless spring.
Citizen 2: How divine…
Citizen 3: Yoshiteru-sama is truly the only one we can depend on…!
The voices in the crowd sounded as though the people were in a trance.
(The members of the Shogunate are the very same ones who took my smile away.)
And yet, unaware of the truth, the people looked to Yoshiteru full of hope.
(These people are being deceived in some way too…)
The people of Kyōto living in this so-called Utopia had no way of knowing that history was tampered with to create it.
(No. They’re not the only ones. Almost every single person from this time period…)
I knew the truth, and yet had no way of bringing it to light.
(I made my choice to stay in the Sengoku period. I’ve done the best I could in my own way…)
But standing before an opponent as big as the Muromachi Shogunate, I was forced to realize how small and powerless I truly was.
My mouth went dry.
Yoshiteru: The luck that once belonged to the Oda now rests in the palm of my hand.
Yoshiteru: What else would this be, if not a divine oracle?
His voice wasn’t loud, but the dignified tone of his words was clear and unwavering.
Silently, yet unmistakably, the crowd began to grow more passionate.
(… I have a bad feeling about this.)
I shouldn't listen to what comes next.
My instinct sent a chill down my spine as Yoshiteru lifted his head to stare straight ahead.
Yoshiteru: — The time has come.
Yoshiteru: A beautiful paradise where no one lives in suffering. We will spread this vision of an utopia from Kyōto to the rest of Japan.
Yoshiteru: And to subdue the Oda forces who disturb the peace of this world, I hereby declare that I shall personally intervene in this domestic war.
Mai: …!?
(Subdue the Oda…!?)
I stared at Yoshiteru in utter disbelief.
Citizen 1: (Battle cry)
Citizen 2: Yoshiteru-sama! Our Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru-sama!
Mai: ggh…
The crowd roared, so loudly it was as thought it might rip through the sky.
Citizen 3: Defeat the Oda!
Citizen 4: Crush the Oda and bring peace to Japan!
Their cries begging for the downfall of the Oda rose like a massive wave crashing all the way up to the platform we stood on.
(This is what the people of Kyōto truly want…)
The blood drained from my face.
Right then and there, the people I treasured had become enemies of the Shogunate.
(To spread this idea of an utopia all across Japan, the Muromachi Shogunate is serious about overthrowing Nobunaga and unifying the country themselves—)
Rikyu: …
Mai: !
(Rikyu…!?)
When did he get in there?
In the middle of the wildly enthusiastic crowd, there he was.
Rikyu: …… :)
When our eyes met, he bared his teeth in a wide, delighted grin.
(Is he saying something…?)
I read his lips as he seemingly mouthed some words to me—
(The… best…?)
(… You must be kidding me, calling this situation “the best”.)
(This man isn’t just twisted, he’s downright vile.)
I forced down the anger boiling up inside me as I thought,
(Rikyu is a member of the shogunate, there’s no way he didn’t know exactly what would be said in the speech.)
(He knew, and still dressed me up like this…)
The feeling of his hands gathering and styling my hair came back to mind.
(I don’t want to think of that right now.)
Those hands were gentler than expected.
Rikyu: …
Still watching me from the crowd, Rikyu looked thoroughly satisfied.
[ Flashback ]
Rikyu: Has anyone told you how stupid you are? Life would be a hell lot easier if you just shut up and went with the flow.
Rikyu: Try telling yourself things like “things are already so bad, I have no choice but to obey”, or “it’s better to kill my pride and play nice”.
Rikyu: Honestly, it’d be way smarter to convince yourself that those are true, instead of fighting everything that comes at you like your life depends on it.
Mai: … I don't agree with you.
Rikyu: … Ah?
Mai: No matter how hard, no matter how painful it is, I’ll resist.
Mai: Surrendering would be an insult to the people who care about me and believe in me.
[ Flashback End ]
(I told Rikyu I’d resist with all my heart…)
Citizen 5: We will follow you, Yoshiteru-sama!
Citizen 6: Please lead Japan into becoming an utopia!
The voices of the crowd grew louder, reaching their peak.
(What am I supposed to do now?)
(Even if this “utopia” is nothing more than an illusion—)
(The Muromachi shogunate might eventually give form to that illusion.)
A wave of dizziness hit me, causing my footing to stumble.
It felt like I was being swallowed whole by an invisible vortex.
And I was so small and weak, I could barely stand properly, let alone resist it.
(… Yeah. This is how powerless I am.)
My body threatened to give out, but I somehow managed to hold myself together out of sheer spite.
Yoshiteru: …
Yoshiteru was still addressing his people.
But under the sky where darkness was slowly melting away the light of the setting sun… his words merely went in one ear and out of the other. Not a single one registered in my head.
【 PALACE GATES ; NIGHT 】
Hisahide: — Mai.
(Ah…)
A voice called out from below the platform, snapping me back to the present.
Before I realised it, night had fallen, and it appeared that Yoshiteru’s speech had already ended.
Yoshiteru: Come, Princess.
He gestured for me to step down from the platform, but whether it was from the feeling of meaninglessness or something else, my body refused to move.
(It’s like this body isn’t my own…)
Yoshiteru: …
When Yoshiteru took my hand to guide me, the crowd whispered words of admiration amongst themselves.
(… Even this kindness is only a part of his act.)
Yoshiteru: Hisahide. I leave the princess to you.
Hisahide: Of course. — It seems the princess has been deeply moved by the hearts of the people who wish for peace in Japan.
Hisahide stepped closer, supporting my body as I continued standing there in a daze.
Then he leaned in, whispering into my ear.
Hisahide: Get walking. The people are watching you. You’ve now become the symbol of utopia.
Mai: …
(A symbol… of utopia…)
[ Flashback ]
Yoshiteru: I will make you the symbol of utopia.
[ Flashback End ]
Yoshiteru’s words from the day we first met resurfaced in my mind.
(To the people gathered here, I’m the princess their shogun rescued from the war-torn Azuchi…)
The utopia was meant to be a place of refuge for the weak.
Now, I've been presented to them as a living proof, a symbol of that.
(… But I don’t care about that right now.)
Too much had happened in the past few days.
(I don’t want to think about anything anymore… I can’t.)
My feelings had been brutally torn to shreds, my heart was left empty, and I didn’t even have any more tears to cry.
【 PALACE GARDEN ; NIGHT 】
Kanbei • Saizo: ……
Supported by Hisahide, Mai followed behind Yoshiteru as they returned inside the palace.
Even after the gates closed, the crowd’s cheers for Yoshiteru didn't cease.
Mai: …
She was walking on her own, but Mai’s eyes remained vacant and unfocused.
Kanbei: She looks like she might collapse any moment if it weren't for Hisahide holding her up.
Saizo: … Yeah.
As he watched Mai disappear into the building, Saizo’s frowned with concern.
Saizo: She really did care a lot about the Oda. I wonder if she’ll be okay…
Kanbei: I suppose. It’d be best if she gives up on Nobunaga and the others sooner rather than later, and finds her own happiness outside the Oda.
Saizo: Huh? Is that how it works…?
Kanbei smiled and placed a hand on the confused Saizo’s back.
Kanbei: That’s why we should make sure the Oda suffers a proper defeat.
Kanbei: That way, that girl won’t have to worry about her former comrades ever again.
Saizo: …
Kanbei’s voice sounded gentle and almost soothing, but despite the smile on his face, there was something unsettling hidden beneath that facade.
Saizo: … Kanbei-san, you tend to say scary things in a nice way, you know?
Kanbei: Oh?
Rikyu: — That’s not exactly news.
Rikyu, who went to listen to Yoshiteru’s speech, cut in with an exasperated sigh.
Saizo: Ah, Rikyu-san. Welcome back.
Rikyu: Yo.
Kanbei: If you’re looking for Mai, she’s already gone inside with Yoshiteru and the others.
Rikyu: I figured.
Kanbei: Still, I must say that I take offense to what you just said.
Rikyu: Ah? Saizo said on the outside you act like a saint with a gentle voice, but underneath all that you’re rotten as hell.
Rikyu: I’m with him on this one.
Saizo: H-Hey! I didn’t didn’t go that far, okay…!?
Rikyu: The meaning’s pretty much the same.
Kanbei: Fufu. I simply want to dote on as many people as possible.
Kanbei: That includes the two of you too, Rikyu and Saizo.
Rikyu: Heh.
Rikyu laughed like he always did, but this time, his reaction felt oddly distant and his words were fewer than usual.
Saizo: Nope, nope, nope. A person like me doesn’t deserve to be doted on. If anything, I should apologise for even being alive.
Saizo: Instead of doting on me, I think you’d be a hundred times better off feeding random starving stray cats and their kittens…
Kanbei: There, there. Come here, Saizo. Let me pat your head.
Saizo: Y-You’re not plotting something again…?
Kanbei: Fufu, who knows?
Saizo: Ueeee… that “benevolent” smile looks too real…! I don’t know what to believe anymore!
Kanbei chuckled at Saizo’s response, then shifted his gaze to Rikyu.
Kanbei: So, Rikyu. Did her reaction satisfy you?
Rikyu: Beyond satisfying. I had a front-row seat too.
Saizo: … Yikes.
That fleeting look on Saizo’s face, like he’d just witnessed something he shouldn't have, didn’t escape Rikyu’s eyes.
Rikyu: What’s with that look?
Saizo: I-It’s nothing. I mean… like Hisahide-san said, you really do seem interested in her, Rikyu-san.
Rikyu: Yeah, kind of.
Rikyu: She’ll be drowning in despair after this. That means she’ll stay nice and quiet while the war’s going on.
Saizo: … The war against the Oda’s really happening… ugh, I feel sick just thinking about it.
Saizo held his head in his hands, and Kanbei gently pat his shoulder encouragingly.
Kanbei: I’m looking forward to see what you’ll do. You’re the kind of kid who delivers when it matters.
Saizo: I-I’m not…! I-I mean, of course I’ll do what I’m assigned, but—
Kanbei: I’m counting on you too, Rikyu.
Kanbei: As a member of the shogunate, you’ll need to continuously supply us with provisions and intelligence throughout the war.
Rikyu: Hah, I don’t need you to tell me that.
Saizo: … She’ll be staying here in Kyōto during the war, right?
Saizo had a sudden thought.
Kanbei: That’s right. Rikyu’s coming with us to the battlefield, so he and Mai will be apart.
Kanbei: Will you miss her?
Rikyu: … :0
Rikyu blinked, caught by surprise for a brief moment.
But that look vanished just as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual bewitching smile.
Rikyu: Why would I?
Rikyu: People who’ve fallen into despair lose their spark and aren't fun to toy with anymore.
Rikyu: The face on Mai I saw tonight was the absolute best.
But despite his words, there was an uncharacteristic lack of vigour in his voice that not even Rikyu himself noticed.
…
The morning after Yoshiteru’s speech—
【 MAI’S ROOM, IMPERIAL PALACE 】
I sat alone in the room prepared for me within the imperial palace, lost in my thoughts.
(Even after coming back to my room last night, I couldn't fall asleep at all…)
Still, perhaps exhaustion had caught up to me, I drifted off at some point and it was already morning by the time I woke up.
(It wasn’t much, but I guess that little bit of sleep helped. My head feels clearer than it was yesterday.)
I took a sip of the strong tea I brewed to chase away the lingering sleepiness, and lightly clapped my cheeks with both hands to pull myself together.
(… What should I do now?)
[ Flashback ]
Yoshiteru: — The time has come.
Yoshiteru: A beautiful paradise where no one lives in suffering. We will spread this vision of an utopia from Kyōto to the rest of Japan.
Yoshiteru: And to subdue the Oda forces who disturb the peace of this world, I hereby declare that I shall personally intervene in this domestic war.
[ Flashback End ]
(Even if I were to go persuade Yoshiteru now, there’s no way I can stop this.)
The Muromachi shogunate was moving to seize total control of the country.
Now that their plan has been set in motion, it won’t stop until a definite winner emerges from the conflict with the Oda forces.
(There’s nothing I can do.)
I’d already had that fact shoved in my face over and over again yesterday.
(……… Is that really true?)
I took another sip of tea, calming my emotions and gathering my thoughts.
(Is there really nothing else I can do?)
I thought about everyone struggling to suppress the unrest back in Azuchi.
(Nobunaga and the others would never surrender, no matter the circumstances.)
Although I had physically been captured by the shogunate, my heart remained with the Oda forces.
The faces of everyone who sent me off the day I left for Kyōto surfaced in my mind.
(They were all worried about me, and yet… they still respected my decision.)
I wanted to live up to the faith they had in me.
(As a member of the Oda forces, I must resist till the very end.)
(If that’s my decision, then…!)
I shot to my feet and left the room. The place I headed for was—
…
【 RIKYU’S ROOM 】
Rikyu: — This is the first time you’ve come looking for me on your own accord.
Though visibly surprised by my arrival, Rikyu let me into his room.
Mai: I apologise for the sudden visit.
Rikyu: So? What do you need from me?
Rikyu: If you’re here to invite me to do something naughty, I’m all ears.
Ring Schwartz Main Story: Chapter 19
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
Nica: — You can take the blindfold off now, Little Robin.
Kate: O-Okay…
I carefully slipped it off.
Kate: Where is this place…?
The walls of the room were covered with thick layers of newspaper clippings, memos, portraits, photographs — pieces of information pinned together like a large web.
Nica: One of Vogel’s secret meeting spots.
Nica: You never know who’s listening in on your conversations at the palace.
Nica shrugged nonchalantly.
Nica: Anyway… where do we start?
Ring: Nica. Before we get into our current situation, can I first say something?
Nica: Hm? What is it?
Nica: If it’s “the Little Robin and I are dating”, save it. That one’s obvious.
Ring: I-It’s not that! Kate and I are just friends.
(Ring looks… bothered.)
(Does he hate the idea of being misunderstood as a couple that much…?)
The pain of that rejection was sharp, like swallowing something small with spiked edges.
Kate: H-He’s right, Nica! Us dating is out of the question!
I quickly interjected before he could go any further.
Ring: “Out of the question”… I see…
Nica: … Wow. This turned out way more interesting than I expected.
Nica: Oh well, I’ll have Ring explained all that to me later. What else do you want to talk about?
Ring: I want to know what went through your head after we left Haus.
Ring: Without knowing that… I don’t think I can move forward from this point.
Nica: ……
While Nica remained silent, Ring spoke about their past and everything he felt back then.
Ring: — I want you to answer me honestly.
Ring: Did you stop smiling because I was a burden to you?
Nica: That’s…
Ring: You don’t need to hold back for my sake. I’m not a weakling who needs your protection anymore.
Ring: No matter what you say you felt, I’ll accept it.
Nica: …
Nica propped his cheek against his hand, looking slightly irritated — like he didn't want to be asked that question, or he felt the timing was wrong.
Nica: … I know. You used to be Darius’ perfectly loyal dog.
Nica: But the moment you chose on your own to run away and protect the Little Robin, I knew you weren’t weak.
Nica: So let me make this clear.
Nica: The reason I turned out like this has nothing to do with you.
Ring: But…
Nica: You don’t have to be Harrison Gray to tell I’m not lying. You understand me, don't you, Ring?
Just like they did as children, they stared searchingly at each other.
Ring: You… don’t look like you’re lying.
Nica: So stop worrying about it. You don’t need to feel responsible for anything.
Ring: I… I see.
Despite Nica’s lighthearted attitude and smile, Ring’s lips remained pressed tightly together.
Nica: Honestly, I don’t even get what you mean by “I stopped smiling”.
Nica: I feel like I smile just fine.
Nica lightly tapped a finger on his smiling lips.
From where I stood, it indeed looked flawless—
Ring: ……
(Ring still looks troubled.)
His silence might’ve meant that wasn’t Nica’s “real smile”.
But Nica simply shrugged it off like it wasn’t anything worth his concern.
Nica: You don’t look convinced. We’re not kids anymore, you know?
Nica: Of course we’re not going to smile and laugh the same way we did before.
Nica: And seriously, being sensitive to every little facial expression I make then guilt-tripping yourself over them? That’s so depressing.
Ring: D-Depressing…
Nica: You’ve been around him long enough, Little Robin. You must've noticed what a depressed guy he is by now.
Kate: That’s not… — I’ve never thought of Ring that way.
Nica: Oh…? Still hiding your fangs and playing the good boy, huh?
Ring: D-Don’t say anything weird! I can't have Kate hating me…!
Nica shot me a sideways glance, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.
Nica: Are you perhaps into depressed guys like him? No wonder you’re not falling for me.
Ring: Wait a second… Nica… are you trying to seduce Kate!? I thought you just wanted to be friends!
Nica: Oh, come on. Asking a lady out is basic courtesy.
Ring: That’s not a thing! Even I can tell that’s a lie!
Nica: Wow~~ look at you. You’re a big boy now, Ring.
Ring: And that thing you said about proposing to the person you kiss was a lie too…!
Nica: Wait. What? You seriously still believe that?
(So that came from Nica too…)
I stood there in silence as the brothers went back and forth.
It wasn’t an actual fight, instead it felt like watching two large dogs playing rough with lots of barking but no real biting.
The scene was kind of endearing somehow, bringing a smile to my face.
Nica: Alright, now that the air’s gotten lighter, let's get back to business. You two know Riverford’s on the run, right?
Ring turned serious the instant he heard that name.
Ring: Yeah. We saw it in the papers and came back to London to track him down.
Ring: Do you know anything about where Riverford is, Nica?
Nica: Yeah… I know he’s been sending letters to Darius from whatever hole he’s hiding in, begging for help.
Ring: … Why Darius? Does he secretly have connections with Riverford?
Nica: Not directly. This time, it was Riverford who prepared his manpower and weapons himself.
Nica: The two of them just happen to have the same goal — Crown.
Nica: So he probably only reached out to Darius, thinking it was still better than nothing.
Kate: … Will Darius actually help Riverford?
Nica: Hmm, I doubt it.
Nica: Riverford’s already failed once, and lost all the power he had.
Nica: There's no benefit to keeping him around.
(To Darius, Riverford’s already “finished”…)
Nica: Even if Darius does do something, it’ll only be fanning the flames a little and pushing the already cornered man to cause chaos.
That’s still just as unsettling, but at least we now understand the current situation.
Ring: I understand now. I’m going to directly ask Darius where Riverford is.
Nica: … You serious?
Ring: Wouldn’t posing as Darius’ messenger be the most reliable way to meet Riverford in person?
Nica: Theoretically, yes, but…
Ring: …
Nica held Ring’s serious gaze for a moment, before heaving a long sigh.
Nica: … Sigh. Fine. I’ll go smooth talk Darius and arrange a meeting with Riverford.
Ring: Are you sure?
Nica: It's not like we have any better options. I don’t think you would be able to have a calm negotiation with him.
Ring: Ugh…
Nica: I’d rather not have you two at each other’s throats. Dari’s my winning horse, and you're a fine sword.
Nica: Both of you are my key to money and power.
Ring: … Thanks, Nica.
Nica: Instead of thanking me, you and the Little Robin should get to work too.
…
After parting ways with Nica, Ring and I walked along the bank of the river Thames.
Ring: Still, “get Crown’s support”…
I thought back to Nica’s words from earlier on.
[ Flashback ]
Nica: I need you two to get Crown’s support.
Ring: … What do you mean?
Nica: You saw what was in the news, right? The Queen’s imposed large scale restrictions on transport to capture Riverford.
Nica: Riverford’s on high alert right now, arranging a meeting with him the normal way and he’ll just send a stand-in.
Nica: But if you tell him “we can loosen up the restrictions and help you flee the country”—
Ring: — Riverford himself will show up.
Nica: Exactly. To pull that off, you’ll need the Queen on your side.
Nica: That’s why I want you two to get Crown onboard.
Ring: … Got it. We’ll go to Crown’s castle and talk to them.
Nica: I don’t think it’s going to be easy, but go ahead and give it a try.
Ring: Why not?
Nica: The two of you have been missing for quite some time.
Nica: Within Crown, you and the Little Robin are basically considered to be dead.
Nica: Now here’s where the problem starts. Crown was secretly searching for the Little Robin, but…
Nica: Word got out to the Privy Council that “Crown’s very precious and valuable Fairytale Keeper has gone missing”.
Nica: Afterwards, a bunch of imposters started showing up and claiming to be you.
Kate: I-Imposters…!?
Nica: Probably the Privy Council trying to plant someone within Crown for their own benefit.
Nica: Now, anyone who shows up at Crown’s gates claiming to be Kate gets turned away.
Nica: So the first and most important thing you need to do is prove you’re the real deal.
[ Flashback End ]
Ring: … I was thinking just seeing your face should be enough proof that it's really you.
Ring: From what Nica said, there’s a chance we’ll be turned away before we can even make it through the castle’s gates.
Kate: Right… we need a way to prove I’m really me.
From the start — Crown and I belonged to entirely different worlds.
That was why, once our connection was severed, I no longer knew how to reach them.
And if we did manage to make contact, whether or not they’d agree to work together with us was another matter altogether.
(Crown has their own way of meting out punishment to those who sin.)
(If they learn that we’ve already tracked down Riverford — they might want to deal with him themselves.)
As long as Riverford was arrested, it shouldn't matter what the method used was… but it does matter.
(We’ve come this far. I want to see this through with Ring.)
(If only I could convey this to Crown…)
Ring: Kate… I have an idea.
Ring: What do you think about sending a letter to Crown?
Kate: A letter…?
Ring: Yeah. It won’t be easy to meet them face-to-face and explain everything that’s happened.
Ring: Especially when… I’m bad with words.
Ring: But if it's a letter, I feel you can put all your thoughts into words even better.
It felt like a beam of light had cut through the darkness, lighting up the path ahead.
Kate: That’s RIGHT! That might actually make everyone at Crown believe me…!
Kate: I’ll write it as soon as we get back to my place!
We planned to stay at the apartment I used to live in while we were in London.
Ring: Y-Yeah… let’s do that.
There was a hint of hesitation in his expression as he responded, but I didn’t notice it at that point in time.
sneezed so hard i thought my lungs were gonna pop out of my chest
finally, a decent looking room for ring 😌
Hi I'm back again, thanks for the links to their backstories earlier. But I'm nosy again (I didn't do Liam's route simply because I have tendency to save the best/faves for last). I knew about his backstory of burning house & all. But recently I came across few posts which talked about his father & relatives... (very vague so I couldn't make out much), is his dad alive? I thought they all died no?
hi !! i'm not sure how to explain this without spoiling his route, but if you're looking to be spoiled —
his dad was supposed to have died alongside liam's entire immediate family in the burning mansion, but it was revealed at around chapter 8 ? of liam's route that he's still alive. the rest of his route will revolve around the trauma his dad gave him, and how he'll choose to give himself closure.
after the death of liam's family, he was taken in by some relatives ... and he killed them too (wasn't specified how he killed them). it was also mentioned that these relatives who took liam in didn't treat him well.
some other relatives then placed liam in a psychiatric hospital, where he met victor.
it was never mentioned again whether liam is still in contact with any of his remaining relatives, but i'd assume he's already cut off all ties with the evans family and they probably don't want anything to do with him either.
Ring Schwartz Main Story: Chapter 18
This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
【 SAFEHOUSE ; DAYTIME 】
Kate: Good morning, Ring.
Ring: Morning.
(Thank goodness… we still greet each other as per usual.)
Kate: I’ll prepare breakfast. Bread, vegetables, fruits… what would you like to drink?
Ring: I’ll have tea. What about you?
Kate: Tea for me too.
Ring: Got it. I’ll make the tea, while you take care of toasting the bread.
Kate: Fufu, alright.
(Good… nothing’s off about his behavior.)
The cameo necklace was tucked away in a drawer.
And my feelings that had only just started to bloom, were abandoned and tucked away in my heart.
(… If I continue living like this, maybe someday these feelings will fade.)
(For now, all I can do is wait for time to do its thing.)
— But reality had no intention of letting this love end on such a gentle note.
…
Ring: Kate. Look at this.
Around noontime, after finishing his morning work, Ring came home and handed me a newspaper.
His facial expression looked grave.
“Earl Riverford Still Missing — Suspected Involvement in National Conspiracy.”
Kate: Missing!? They haven’t found him yet?
(I thought I could be happy living a quiet, peaceful life together with Ring like we're doing now.)
(But I also can’t pretend not to see the evil in the shadows…)
And above all, Ring must feel the same way — he wants to find and capture Riverford.
Kate: … Ring.
Ring: Kate.
We looked to each other at the same time.
Kate: You go first.
Ring: Thanks… It’s about what we should do next.
Ring: I don’t want to allow Riverford to roam free.
Ring: And I want to talk to Darius too, about him choosing to stand by and watch despite knowing what Riverford was doing.
Ring's gaze was steady, without a trace of hesitation.
(He’s no longer a puppet being controlled by invisible strings.)
Kate: I was going to say the same thing.
Kate: Now that my injuries are almost fully healed, I want to find Riverford too.
Riverford was obsessed with the Cursed.
If left free, he might try to harm Crown again.
(I can’t let that happen.)
Kate: If it's alright, can you take me with you?
Ring: Of course. We’ll do this together, Kate.
Kate: Yes…!
…
We quickly said our goodbyes to Harold and Ada, then took a horse-drawn cart to the nearest station and boarded a train bound for London.
【 TRAIN CABIN 】
Ring: Once we arrive in London, we should meet Nica first.
Ring: I didn’t tell you about this before, but I’ve already received a message from him.
He handed me a newspaper clipping.
Kate: Is this… the personal advertising section?
Ring: Yeah. There’s a hidden message for me here.
My eyes followed where he pointed—
Kate: “To the other navigator. The meal we once shared. The second most hated hour. Waiting at the shop where the black cat sleeps”…?
Ring: “The other navigator” refers to me.
Ring: The rest of the article translates to “Friday, 6PM, at a café in London”.
Ring: Nica wrote it in a way only I would understand.
Ring: I think this is him trying to contact me in secret without Dari finding out.
Kate: In secret…
(I wonder what’s Nica thinking right now?)
I remember Nica once said,
“Ring is an important source of combat strength to Vogel.”
“It’d be an inconvenience to Darius’ ideals if Ring stopped being a puppet.”
(Nica never tried to change the situation that was hurting Ring.)
(But was that only for his own sake, like he said..?)
I didn’t fully understand Nica.
But I also didn’t want to believe that someone Ring cared about that greatly would be the kind of person who only loved money and power.
Kate: … Do you think Nica’s trying to help you?
Ring: I don’t know how he truly feels. But… part of me thinks that maybe he is.
Ring: The reason why I could save you when Riverford’s men tried to kill you was because Nica gave me a hint.
Kate: So that’s what happened…?
Then perhaps this message was meant for Ring too.
Ring: … Kate. There’s something I want you to know before we go back to London.
Ring: It’s about my past. It’s pathetic and full of regret, but… will you listen?
Kate: … Of course. I’ll listen to anything you want to say.
Ring: Thanks. It’s not a pleasant story, but hear me out.
[ Ring’s Flashback ]
Gray walls. Cold floor. In that dim windowless room — there was only one existence I could call warmth.
Subject No.405: … Fufu.
Subject No.404: Fufu…
When I laughed, he laughed.
When I cried, he’d cry too.
Subject numbers 404 and 405 — they were Nica and I.
【 LABORATORY 】
As we learned more words and put together the meanings of the conversations around us, we began to understand the truth of our situation.
The enclosed world we lived in was a research facility called Haus — it was German for “home”.
Here, they conducted research on special humans known as the “Cursed”, people born with unique abilities.
And as for us,—
As part of an experiment to test whether curses could be hereditary, we were born from a mother who was also a Cursed.
[ Ring’s Flashback End ]
Ring: A lot of children were born in Haus, but most of them were normal and had no abilities.
Ring: We were different. We were rare successful cases in their research — the kind that’d make them go “eureka”.
Ring: So to reproduce that success, the researchers started studying us.
Ring: They cut our bodies open without anaesthesia, made us take all sorts of strange drugs…
Ring: Restricted our sleep, tampered with our food…
Kate: If only I could’ve done something to protect you…
(I can’t travel back in time. I know that, but…)
Kate: I’m so sorry, Ring. For not being able to save you.
Ring: Kate… you weren’t the one who did all those things, so don’t apologise.
It would’ve been easier to despise humans after going through such torture, and yet… Ring wasn’t like that, because he was kind at his core.
Kate: … Doesn’t it hurt more to talk about your past?
Ring: I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t hurt at all. But I want you to know about me.
Ring: If it's not too much for you to handle, I’ll keep going.
Kate: As long as you’re alright, I don’t mind.
Ring: … Thanks.
Unknowingly, our hands found each other and our fingers loosely intertwined at first before I laced mine with his to tell him I accepted everything about his past.
[ Ring’s Flashback ]
【 LABORATORY 】
The cold instruments that cut into my skin, and the drugs that burned my insides — Nica’s presence was the only reason I could endure all of it.
【 CELL 】
After the experiements, I’d drag my battered body back to that windowless room, where he stood quietly with a face that looked exactly like mine.
Subject No.404: You okay…?
Subject No.405: Yeah… I’m okay.
Because the “other me” looked fine, I believed I was too.
In that room without mirrors, I used him — the boy who looked just like me — to protect my heart.
By looking at my reflection in his eyes, I could convince myself that I was feeling what I thought I was.
(It’s okay. I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt. … Because “I” am smiling.)
I told myself that over and over again—
And just like that, we lived on keeping each other in our eyes.
[ Flashback End ]
Ring: I survived because Nica was right there in front of my eyes.
Ring: Every day I'd tell myself… if the other me was okay, then I’m okay too.
Ring: If Nica hadn’t been there, I think I would’ve died at Haus a long time ago.
Kate: I see…
In a place where tomorrow wasn’t promised, they only had each other.
Ring: The experiments got worse after our curses were awakened.
Ring: And one day, during an experiment where I was the only test subject, the pain was unbearable — I passed out.
[ Ring’s Flashback ]
Ring: ugh…
When I regained consciousness, groaning in pain, the familiar gray ceiling filled my vision.
Nica: Ring! Thank goodness…
Ring: Nica…? Why was I asleep? Did I… oversleep or something?
Nica: You passed out during an experiment. Does anything hurt!?
Ring: No… I’m fine.
My arms and legs still ached where the needles pierced into them, but that pain was nothing unusual and not worth mentioning.
Ring: … Oh right, Nica. Today’s the day they told us about our fates, right?
Ring: What kind of ending will we have?
Nica’s expression tensed.
Nica: I… No. We—
Nica: We both have the Black Swan curse, so we’ll have the same fate.
Nica: We’re fated to have “love turn into a lie, and die a miserable death”.
Ring: I… I see…
Nica: Are you scared of dying, Ring?
Ring: Nope. As long as I’m with you, I’m not scared. If we’ll have the same fate, then I’m not scared.
At my words, Nica smiled.
It was a fragile smile, like he might start crying at any moment.
[ Flashback End ]
Ring: … Nica and I always could make it through the hardest of times.
Ring: If we could remain “matching” for the rest of our lives, nothing can scare me.
Ring mentioned that the reason he was able to endure those hellish days in the research facility was because of Nica’s presence.
He could even accept his fate because it was the same as Nica’s.
(But…)
Kate: I heard from Nica before that the experiments conducted at Haus were so torturous both mentally and physically that you lost the will to live, and couldn’t even eat anymore… that must be how harsh the circumstances were.
Ring: Nica told you that?
Ring: It’s true I was very weak and frail for a while… but it wasn’t because of the experiments.
Ring: After the day we were told about our fates, I started growing weaker because… Nica stopped smiling.
Ring: Even now, it’s the same. He only puts on shallow, fake smiles.
Kate: That’s…
Ring: Back then, I’d keep grabbing his hand, trying to use my ability to make him feel happy and smile.
Ring: But no matter what I did, Nica never smiled again.
Ring: Seeing him like that, I lost strength again.
Ring: The experiments became harder to tolerate, and I couldn’t stomach any food.
They survived in that cruel environment by being reflections of each other.
But if your reflection staring back at you was suffering—?
(Of course you wouldn’t be fine at all.)
(Nica thought Ring was despaired because of their fate, but that wasn’t the case.)
(… It was because Nica changed.)
Ring: From then on, I only grew weaker over time. Until one night, when I thought I was about to die…
Ring: … Darius came and destroyed Haus.
[ Ring’s Flashback ]
Once, a pastor brought to Haus said this — “God sends angels to reach their hands out to people, so they won’t lose their way”.
Ring: An… angel…?
If people with otherworldly beauty who saved others were angels, then the person standing before me had to be one.
???: Are you referring to me?
The youth, drenched in blood from killing the researchers at Haus, wore a cruel smile as he looked at me.
Darius: I’m Darius. I’m not an angel, I’m a Cursed just like you.
The youth who so easily destroyed the cage that locked us away from the rest of the world was smiling.
He declared, —
Darius: I’m thinking of creating a whole new world. Why not become my family?
(A new world? Family…? I don’t really understand…)
The kind angle saved my life, but I was too weak to process his words.
Nica: Let’s go, Ring. We’re out of here.
Supporting my nearly lifeless body, Nica tried to lift me.
But my mind and body refused to cooperate.
Darius: Hmm. Looks like this one’s “not so good” anymore.
(“Not so good”…? Me?)
(I didn’t know… angels could be so mean…)
As that thought crossed my mind, Nica suddenly cupped my face between his hands.
Nica: Ring, listen. It’s either I kill you now, or you're living in this hell with me until the end. Choose. Now.
His fingers trembled.
To others, I looked like the one who was going to die.
But to me, Nica standing before my eyes looked like he was on the verge of dying.
And,—
“I knew”.
(If I die here, Nica will die later on too.)
(Because we carry each other in our eyes.)
Ring: … I'll live.
I forced the words out with what little strength I had left.
(Nica, if it means I’ll see your smile again someday, I’ll live.)
[ Flashback End ]
Ring: After we were freed and escaped that horrible place — I slowly started to recover.
Ring: And then I asked Darius something.
Ring: I asked how I could bring Nica’s smile back.
[ Ring’s Flashback ]
【 THRONE ROOM 】
Ring: Darius. Ever since meeting you, it’s like Nica’s found a purpose.
Ring: He’s been getting close to people, gathering knowledge like he’s taking back everything he should’ve had before but never got…
Ring: He spends his days chasing money and power.
Darius: You’re right. Nica’s been very useful to me.
Darius: Haus was a terrible place for a child to grow up and develop their minds, but Nica’s intelligence makes up for that.
Ring: But… he’s still not smiling.
Ring: … I want Nica to smile like he used to. How do I bring that Nica back?
Darius: Huh… so that’s what you’re worried about?
Darius: It’s your fault he stopped smiling, you know?
Ring: “My fault”…? What do you mean?
Darius told me everything Nica had done after we left Haus.
He did anything it took to survive.
Sold whatever he had.
Apparently, it appeared that he killed people too.
Darius: Until you recovered, it was Nica who protected you.
Darius: It didn’t take long for him to love living a life being hungry for money and power.
Darius: Now, that not only believes in the things that can solve all problems, and that's money and power.
Ring: You were right there… WHY DID YOU JUST STAND BY AND LET IT HAPPEN!?
Darius: I have no right to stop him if that’s the path he’s chosen for himself.
Ring: Why would Nica go this far…?
Darius: … Because you’re weak. He’s always had to carry the weight for both of you.
(Because I’m… weak?)
I looked down at my own body.
My arms were stick thin from not eating, legs barely had any muscle, my frail body ran out of breath after only running a short distance — I wasn't someone Nica could depend on.
And because of that… naturally, he wouldn’t share his problems with me.
I was only realising that now.
[ Flashback End ]
Ring: And then… Darius said something to me. He said, “be good, and obey me like a puppet”.
Ring: Helping him would be helping Nica.
Ring: If I became his puppet and grew stronger, Nica would be free.
Ring: The path Darius showed me felt like salvation, because I didn’t know what else to do.
Ring: That’s why I became Dari’s puppet. I grew stronger, into a person who didn’t need to be protected…
Ring: So I could bring back the smile I stole from Nica.
The weight of his reason for becoming a “puppet” left me at a loss for words.
Ring: Being told all this out of nowhere, you must be finding it hard to respond… sorry.
Kate: … N-No! It’s not your fault,… I… I just…
Kate: I’ve said so many things to you about needing to have a mind of your own and all that… but now I’m wondering if I was wrong.
I was worried that Ring was suppressing the kindness in his heart to force himself into the role of Darius’ puppet.
I hoped that he would choose a different way of life, so he wouldn’t hurt himself anymore.
(But if his goal all along was to make Nica smile…)
(… Does this mean I was wrong to try and change him…?)
Right now, Ring had left Vogel behind and walked a separate path from Nica.
Ring: Don’t… don’t say such sad things.
Ring took my hand and nuzzled his cheek against it.
Ring: What kind of face am I making right now?
Kate: Eh…? Umm… you look like you’re smiling. It’s a cute smile.
Ring: C-Cute is unnecessary.
Ring: Anyway… the reason I can naturally smile like this now, is because of you.
Ring: My heart was in constant suffering while I was living as a puppet. You’re the one who fixed it.
Kate: …
Ring: It was only a matter of time before I broke, just like I did at Haus. I wouldn’t have been able to endure being a puppet forever.
Ring: This version of myself that I only changed into after meeting you is the one I like the most. So… thank you.
His words washed away the feelings of guilt and doubt.
Relief swelled in my chest, tears of joy blurring my vision.
Ring gently brushed the tears away with his fingers.
…
【 TRAIN STATION 】
— Soon, we were back in London.
…
【 CAFÉ 】
Ring: This should be the meeting place…, … ah.
Just like the message in the newspaper said, Nica was already seated at the café.
Nica: Ring…? I’m surprised you actually showed up. You look pretty good.
Ring: Y-Yeah… and you’ve… gotten a little thinner.
Now that Ring mentioned it, there were faint dark circles around Nica’s eyes.
Ring: Have you been losing sleep because you were worried about me…?
Nica: Why would I? I’ve just been busy cleaning up the mess you two made after completely screwing up the Earl’s plans.
Nica: Also… Ring aside, how are you still alive, little robin? You’re seriously one tough woman.
That was rude, but I didn’t sense any genuine hostility from Nica.
Nica: Darius is stuck in some important meeting right now. He’ll be at the palace for a few hours at least.
Nica: So let’s talk. What are you two planning to do next?
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Hi. Uh Idk how to explain this but intrusive thoughts, I wanna find out the complete backstory of Nica & Ring (also how they met Darius or why he helped them), do you perhaps know, or have the story which contains that? I'm trying to find but idk which one will have that. I know backstory of almost all characters (except harry & roger) & it's itching me to know abt the vogel group.
hi !! my bestie nagi (@.kurishiri ; she's your #1 go-to person for everything darius) actually translated the past records stories for nica & ring, and darius. so you can check those out ^^
nica and ring's past records
darius' past records
i hope they're what you're looking for 😅
Ikevil 2nd Election JP vs EN
EN 2025 vs 2026
liam fans we're never seeing our man again at this rate 🤡
Ring Schwartz 2nd Birthday Campaign: Masterlist
These are fan-made translations solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.┊Read this before interacting
Soirée Event
Story Chapters 1 — 3
Epilogue
Letters
Ring → MC
Nica → Ring
Darius → Ring
