Name: Toxic Slag [Interstellar]
Author: Sea Salt Lemon Tart

Synopsis

[Pure-Hearted, Upright Cyborg × Cold-Blooded, Ruthlessly Ambitious Schemer]

[Straightforward Loyal Hound × Seductive Beauty]

In this dark age of constant warfare, everyone is looking for a way to make a place for themselves.

Narcissus is an ambitious schemer masquerading as a savior. He has a whole stack of secret identities and changes faces as easily as turning a page. His lifelong dream is to rise above everyone else.

To seize power, he abducts a highly capable tool and takes him home to reshape him.

The tool is powerful and handsome, and looks especially good in a blood-soaked combat suit. His one shortcoming is that his moral compass is far stronger than the average person's, making him difficult to use however Narcissus pleases.

So Narcissus turns it over in his mind and decides that winning his heart is the best approach. He might as well enjoy a good meal while he's at it.

"Come here."

In a steamy hot spring, Narcissus smiles and gives the red-lit controller in his hand a little shake.

Fu Ling's face turns bright red in an instant, steaming like a boiling kettle. But his modified body can't resist, and he can only watch helplessly as he walks over to Narcissus and stops beside him.

"I'm not getting in." Fu Ling makes one last futile protest.

Narcissus is practically itching with anticipation. He grabs him and pulls him into the water.

Narcissus: Wow, forcibly picked melons are so sweet! (Nom nom nom)

After his two-faced true nature is exposed, Narcissus is abandoned by everyone and becomes the world's public enemy.

After long reflection, he decides to bear all the consequences alone. He casually erases the memory of Fu Ling, who hurried after him and said he would share their "joint debt," then sends him away.

They've had a pretty good time together these past few years. There's no need to drag the poor guy to his death, right?

The day of judgment arrives, and Narcissus has planned a grand funeral for himself. He hears the executioner's footsteps at the far end of the hall and looks up. Fu Ling approaches with a long sword in hand, looking at him like a stranger.

Even though it was his own choice, it still hurts to read.

The sword pierces his chest. Trembling, Narcissus covers Fu Ling's icy eyes, unable to bear looking at them for long. His voice is hoarse, feverish, and desperate.

"No one in this world but you has the right to kill me... This head is worth quite a few merits. Consider it... a parting gift from me."

"Come take your revenge. I'll be waiting for you in hell."

With that, Narcissus shuts his eyes and lets out his last breath, certain that this time he must be dead for good. But when he opens his eyes again, he finds himself looking at a familiar face.

Fu Ling gently smooths his wildly tousled hair, his touch so tender it is as if nothing ever happened.

"Awake?"

"Was it fun tampering with someone else's memories?"

"You altered my memories and made me kill you?" Fu Ling laughs in exasperation. "Narcissus, I can't believe you actually did that."

Narcissus: ???

Oh no. He didn't die, and now he's been caught.

"Haha... My life is worth quite a lot, after all. I didn't trust anyone else with the credit. Actually..."

Narcissus looks into Fu Ling's dark eyes, then glances at the silver chain around his own wrist. His voice grows quieter and quieter until, at last, he simply smiles lazily, lifts a hand to hook it around Fu Ling's neck, and shows his true colors.

"Yes, I did it."

"So what are you going to do about it now, darling?"

"You know these little toys don't really count as punishment for me."

About the "world's public enemy"...

200 years later, in the year 3330 of the Post-Galactic Era

Hive City Level One Administrator [Bellflower]:

Time will reveal the truth and deliver a just verdict to all.

Hive City character entry updated: Narcissus Cape

Assessment: Tyrant → Extreme Martyr, Con Artist, Playwright

Fu Ling × Narcissus

Gentle and kind / Pure-hearted, upright cyborg × Self-aggrandizing / Cold-blooded, ruthless schemer

Straightforward loyal hound × Seductive beauty

◆Reader's Guide◆

◇ Serious storyline, set against an interstellar war. The main plot is revenge and the struggle for power; the side plot is romance, perhaps a 7:3 ratio.

◇ Two powerful leads who dote on each other. They understand and change one another. No misunderstandings or melodrama, but plenty of conflict because their ideals clash.

◇ The bottom has a morally gray characterization and is a little unhinged. He's cruel to others and even crueler to himself. At first, he is genuinely consumed by ambition and will do anything to get what he wants. He gradually changes later on. A touch of the everyone-loves-him trope.

◇ Some ensemble cast elements. There are many supporting characters, but all are closely connected to the two leads.

◇ The cover and character cards were illustrated by MHS Zhaotang. They depict the main characters. Please do not use the images for other characters or for any other purpose. Thank you.

◆Also, a peek at my upcoming novel! Next up is The Little Couple's Role-Playing Game [Quick Transmigration], starring the same couple as this novel! This one is serious, while the other is a cute, sweet epilogue. Feel free to check it out and add it to your reading list!

Blurb:

On the tenth anniversary of his marriage to Fu Ling, Narcissus is finally getting bored.

They still love each other to death and wish they could cling to each other every day, but after trying everything there is to try, life seems to be missing a little... passion?

This is so boring...

Narcissus pouts and lies in bed, enthusiastically surfing the web. The next second, a spam pop-up catches his eye.

"Relationship in crisis? Hit a wall in your marriage? Lost the spark in your love life? Don't worry! For only 999, you can buy The Couple's Romance Upgrade Guide (Cracked Version)! Choose from thousands of settings and play millions of roles. With full sensory immersion, experience a different life and discover a different side of your partner!"

"!"

I can't believe something this great exists! Buy!

Fu Ling, hanging out the sheets to dry, sneezes. A chill runs down his back.

◆Game World 1: Overworked Angel × Lazy Demon

Urgent! What should you do when you find a great demon disguised as a kitten on your way home from work, looking for a free meal and a place to stay?

◆Game World 2: Great General Who Protects the Nation × Foreign Hostage Prince

A mystery: Why are the general's residence and the hostage prince's residence connected? A capital city ghost story: I hear the general's courtyard wall is haunted!

◆Game World 3: Sweet, Innocent College Boy × Seductive Senior

I'll do your group project for you. How are you going to thank me? Junior, I have a big apartment by the school with a bathtub.

◆Game World 4: Guardian General Alpha × Infirm Prince Omega

Mm, your rut? Teaching me about that must be within your duties, too, right?

◆Game World 5: Stoic Guard × Ailing Tyrant

So why are you staying here? Love or loyalty? Come die with me. Only the dead never leave.

◆Game World 6: Gentle, Guiding Older Brother × Paranoid, World-Weary Waif

Don't be afraid. Since I took you in, I'll take responsibility for you to the end. Your first priority now is to study hard.

"Great! Let's set it up just like that! We can open up the settings even more!"

Narcissus's eyes light up as he looks at the dizzying array of tags, and he eagerly picks eight hundred of them.

"Um... isn't this a bit much...?"

Fu Ling's face turns bright red. He points at an unspeakable tag, his voice trembling slightly.