MTL - Ninth in The World - Chapter 4 Gray small stones

『I’m terribly sorry…』

A god was suddenly prostrating in front of Kayano Takumi. He was apparently killed by mistake. Moreover, he can’t be reborn again. However, he is able to live in a different world? Then, let’s do that, please. The god made a mistake again and transferred me into a dangerous forest. Seriously, what’s going on? Besides, there are children here. I can’t leave them here, I will take care of them.

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Rumors say that if you ever come across an extremely handsome man in a doctor's coat twirling a shiny scalpel between his fingers with an alluring smile on his lips that takes your breath away…Run.For he is the devil.***Yang Mingshen’s existence screams of six adjectives - Handsome, wealthy, talented, narcissist, arrogant and evil.He is an unrivaled doctor from one of the most affluent and prestigious Underworld families, who sees only medicine and his own interests. Until a desire consumes him - to have a woman’s heart.That woman, Song Jia, continues to put all the wrongs to right as a capable police officer. She, whose life was once saved by the devil doctor, refuses to bend to his tempting seduction.“I will just take your heart and put it in somebody else's chest. It won't hurt at all, I promise~”“Yes because I will be dead to feel anything.”But the bad news comes knocking when Yang Mingshen becomes the lead forensic investigator to assist in her cases. With a devil now clinging to her, she comes across a deep, dark and cruel web of conspiracies stained with blood, love, hatred, revenge, politics and much more.Treading into dangerous territories, will they be able to uncover the net of lies and deceit? And maybe find love along the way?*EXCERPT*“I am not the weak patient anymore. You try to grab my neck and I will break your wrist,” Jia threw him a death glare.Mingshen leaned in closer, chuckling devilishly. “I told you before, Spicy. I have saved your life. I have touched your heart quite literally. So that heart beating in your chest right now belongs to Yang Mingshen. If I want it, I will have it.”

Shoved into the backseat of his father's car right after graduation, Riley Hale ended up marching toward a company building with a bagged lunch and a pen.Still in his toga, the fresh graduate never thought he’d land in the office of the continent’s top lizard, err, dragon, as his aide.And that would’ve driven any person wishing for a corporate career to tears. After all, who wouldn’t want to serve the fastest ticket up the corporate ladder: Kael Dravaryn, the infamously elegant, unhinged, and extremely overpowered Dragon Lord of the continent?Well, that would be Riley.The same Riley who didn’t expect to spend his days dodging fireballs, dressing his boss in robes more complicated than dark magic, and serving as a literal target during morning sparring.Now trapped in a job he never truly agreed to, the hardworking aide decided to hold out until it was time for his glorious resignation. But leaving a dragon’s clutches could never be easy, especially one with elemental mastery and a finger worth a private army.Yet, as Riley, who longs to quit, attempts to navigate ancient politics, wyvern threats, and other accidents (many of which are definitely not his fault), he might just hallucinate himself into seeing something beneath his boss’s arrogance and molten glares.Maybe he’d actually care if Riley got turned to ash.