Dominion's End

V2C2: The Bitterness and Sweetness of Coffee and Chocolate

Dominion's End Volume 2: Aberrant City

Original novel in Chinese by: 御 我 (Yu Wo)

Chapter 2: The Bitterness and Sweetness of Coffee and Chocolate—translated by Elkin (proofread by EvlNabiki; C/E edited by Amgine & lucathia)

As my hands worked to compress the ice crystals, my ears picked up gossip like, "Èrgē is so handsome, both men and women fall for him. Dàgē even said that he isn't sure about his preferences!" On the fifth day of my despair over her upbringing, there was finally a little change.

After dinner, Dàgē grimly called me to his room for a chat. Everyone in the mercenary troop looked at Dàgē, and then at me. Going by the looks of worry on their faces, it was as if the two of us weren't going to have a chat, but a death match instead.

I nodded and followed after Dàgē as the sounds of gossip came from behind again, though this time it wasn't the voices of the girls, but of the mercenaries.

"Do you think the gēge or the dìdi will win?"

"Before, I'd definitely declare that Boss would be the victor, but Shuyu was pretty strong last time! I mean, he sent Boss crashing into the wall with a kick!"

"Don't tell me the person who's boss is gonna change?"

"Fuck! Then gēge, do your best! I don't want an eighteen year-old boss."

It wasn't just my mèimei. Even the mercenaries' upbringings were failures.

I angrily stormed after Dàgē to his room.

Once in the room, Dàgē was momentarily stunned when he turned to look at me, then he said helplessly, "Shuyu, don't be so angry. You've been scowling at me for the past few days."

I growled, "I'm very angry!"

You actually told Junjun that I'm not sure about my sexual orientation! Even though that's true, you don't have to tell this kind of stuff to a fifteen year-old girl, okay? Junjun's upbringing is ruined, thanks to you!

Dàgē said awkwardly, "I'll pay you back."

"There's no point!" Junjun's upbringing was already ruined, so what can you pay me back with? You think you can repay me a pure Junjun?

Dàgē frowned, seemingly to have realized something, and then said simply, "Then tell me, what can I do? I can't make you an ice staff, so I'll do my best to get you anything else you want."

...Ice staff?

Right, so we're on completely different wavelengths. I'm talking about Junjun, and you're talking about the ice staff. Our thought processes aren't even operating in the same realm, so no wonder we can't get through to each other!

Although the ice staff had melted, forcing me to start anew, honestly speaking, that ice staff had been my first attempt. It looked like a test product, and its quality was mediocre. Although I felt that it could still be used for the next year or so, seeing as it was already destroyed, I might as well create a new one. I could use the opportunity to add on a spearhead, so I actually didn't mind it too much. I never imagined that Dàgē would be more worked up about it than I was.

I shook my head, saying, "Forget about the staff."

Dàgē started, then asked in bewilderment, "Forget about it? Then what on earth have you been angry about the past few days?"

Angry about what? I immediately roared, "Never talk to Junjun about my sexual orientation ever again!"

"...Oh." Dàgē's eyes drifted evasively off into the distance.