The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes - Chapter 191- freedom

Lin Rui was reborn, reborn in the year 4161, two thousand years later. In this era of highly advanced technology, where the peak of human biotechnology had collided and fused with the culture of Tianji Star, a new path for human evolution was born—’Zhi Zhuang Wudao’, capable of granting eternal life and transcendence beyond the universe. The entire society esteemed the strong, and it was considered an honor to practice Zhi Zhuang Wudao. There was even a group of ’Variant Walkers’ who stood at the pinnacle of the social pyramid, looming over the world with arrogance. At first, Lin Rui couldn’t fathom the meaning of his rebirth. He merely adapted to this era out of a sense of responsibility. It wasn’t until one day that the ’Battle Spirit Ring’, which had come into existence alongside Lin Rui, captured its first Battle Spirit. Lin Rui could let the Battle Spirit possess him for combat, and could also copy all the martial skills and abilities mastered by the Battle Spirit. The Battle Spirits he captured grew increasingly powerful— Lin Rui began to realize this era was his to own. A ’Super Abyssal’, who would overshadow the future, began his rapid development journey at the Tianji Star’s ninth base.

Renji Takeda didn’t expect to die from drinking too much sake. He also didn’t expect to wake up as Leif Thorenvald, the second male lead in a romance novel.But wait—shouldn’t he have transmigrated as a villainess? Or maybe an omega in some steamy Omegaverse? Nope. Fate clearly enjoys a joke.Now he’s trapped in a story where the heroine wields divine powers, the villainess plots in silk gowns, and the dashing Grand Duke is destined to win the girl. And Renji? He’s the poor sap who gets rejected with a smile.There’s just one tiny issue.Renji is gay.So instead of sulking and chasing after a woman he has zero interest in, he tosses the author’s script into the chamber fireplace, packs his bags, and flees to the cold, quiet North to enjoy his second life in peace.Everything’s going perfectly... Until the Grand Duke, Alvar Ragnulfsson, shows up. The supposedly straight male lead is suddenly far too close—lingering stares, casual touches, and an interest that’s definitely crossing the “just friends” line.Suddenly, the overlooked second lead might be headlining a very different story.Between politics, divine powers, and a dangerously attentive Grand Duke, Renji has only one question:Is he rewriting the script... or is the script rewriting him?

Intellectual Villages are old fashioned rural villages recreated with cutting edge technology. Those villages attract the Japanese monsters known as Youkai.

The high school boy Jinnai Shinobu lives in one of those villages and has a Zashiki Warashi living in his house. He tends to run across Youkai with unnerving frequency and this often leads to trouble for him.

Gazing at the Starbucks café at the airports had become a ritual for her. A desperate attempt as she hoped against hope to see him again, probably get one more chance to kiss him again.

Looking at the store all lost, she walked ahead, but stumbled and bumped against someone.

The cup of coffee that he had in his hand spilled all over just like the first time when she had met him.

“Jesus Christ”, he muttered.

The moment she heard the voice she looked up and saw his face. It was the same face that had promised to stay next to her, till death did them apart.

Tears flooded her eyes and she could barely speak, “I knew you would come back for me Raymond”. She raised herself on her toes in an attempt to kiss him, but he blocked her lips with his palm.

“Whoa, whoa, Miss !!! I guess you have mistaken me for someone else.”

“What are you saying, Raymond? It's me, your Akira. The love of your life, your fiancée,” she said and stretched her hand showing the ring on her finger.

He stared at the ring for quite some time and then looked at her face apologetically and said,

“Miss please, I am already a married man.”

And then he silently walked away.