RedMoon

The shrill chirping of cicadas dragged me out of sleep. When I opened my eyes, the ceiling above me was pure white, glowing faintly with artificial daylight set to early morning. I stretched until every muscle in my body went taut, my joints cracking one after another in reluctant protest. Then I sat up, silenced the alarm, and pulled out my earplugs. After smoothing down the fur around my snout a few times, I resigned myself to getting out of bed and headed to the bathroom to was

He’ll learn his lesson, but it’s going to take a while.

In the dim corridor, Piqsirpoq and I moved swiftly and silently, careful not to draw the attention of anything lurking in the darkness. "Have you noticed we've passed this spot three times already?" my brother grumbled in a low voice as I paused to examine the gray patterns on the wall to confirm our position. "It might be an illusion. The internal structure of the Tower looks the same everywhere." Feeling a tug on my tail, I turned to see Piqsirpoq pointing expressionlessly at the blu

"We need to talk," I said firmly, pressing my paws on the table. "But obviously, not now." The Altai wapiti let out a moan that I couldn't quite decipher, while the jet-black wolf seemed oblivious to my words. They both leaned on the table, heads in their hands, faces twisted in almost identical expressions--a dissonance or oddly harmonious--who can tell. "But after all the drama, I think some things need to be clarified, to make sure we're on the same page." I glanced at the Altai wap

Lovers: Emotion, connection, and care—some believe this is the very essence of love. With a heart full of unease, I checked the terminal again to confirm the time. One more minute than a minute ago. Great. I decided to count the various objects in the wormhole docking area again--a rectangular adamantine plate, two rectangular adamantine plates, three rectangular adamantine plates... "Please stop," Tadao's irritated tone jolted me from my spiraling anxiety. It was onl

Teenagers are always such a headache.

We will see her in Book 3 and come to understand what happened.

Spouse: What does it mean to be family? "...The white-spotted pufferfish creates 'nests' in the sand with intricate patterns to attract females and secure mating opportunities," I explained, switching the slide to reveal a stunning image of a radiant, nautilus-like symmetrical design on the seabed bathed in blue light. "This aligns more with the sexy son hypothesis--since males born to such fathers are likelier to inherit their artistry in crafting appealing nests." The next slide s

Priestess: Intuition, insight, secrecy, transformation--ultimately, touching upon hidden truths... "Let's see how this works." Dawn carefully inspected the bandages again, ensuring that blood circulation to my fingertips was unaffected. Then, she wetted my forearm, helping the cast take shape. "Although the blueprint's still in the database, no one's used this method in centuries. I hope I didn't mess up anything," she muttered, glancing at her terminal. "It looks close enough to th

They’re going to become good friends! This course isn’t really useful for Richter, but it still helps with his mental resilience. The elusive Border Collie is definitely a bit stressful to deal with, but Hemp can be counted as part of the faction that’s clearly friendly toward Richter. Then again, everyone’s definition of “friendly” can be very, very different.

Ad astra per aspera!

We’ll come to know about it in the first major arc at the Academy. It’s going to be a sad one, and for now, I want Richter to stay happy a little longer, so it will still be some time before we see it. From some of the words and actions of Richter’s own Phantom, we can tell that in many timelines, Richter becomes a terrifying figure feared by all. The one we recently saw had slaughtered everyone in his own planetary system, leaving only himself behind to slowly lose his mind. Some sacrifices will have to be made to ensure that in this timeline, Richter grows into the person he needs to become.

Coffee: I know you're dying to crack some digestive jokes, but please don't. The mutt's stance screamed unease--his tail tucked between his legs and the occasional absent-minded scratching of random spots were clear signs of how unbearable his anxiety was. Good. Maybe this'll teach him some restraint. Arthur stood silently behind me, clearly there to ensure I wouldn't lose control again. His posture and demeanor were a perfect replica of the demonstration in the basic training

Strength: courage, confidence, compassion, and, quite literally--strength. In the dim, narrow hallway, I stepped lightly, setting my boot heel down first before each step, prioritizing silence above all. There was no other sound around, so even my breathing, and the rustling of fur against my clothing, were audibly clear. Still, I sensed no danger until that overwhelming pressure made the hairs on my neck stand up. Before I could fully draw Gray Snow or turn, a heavy slash

This part is already included in the planned writing schedule, so it will take some time before we get to see it. However, we’ll first witness a not-so-successful attempt...

Proper relaxation is the key to maintaining high efficiency!

Yes, Richter kept the collar Kotetsu gave him as a keepsake—it’s very important to him. Their relationship will gradually become more complicated, while steadily moving toward an inevitable conclusion.

Good Evening: A Lovely Night Luther lay sprawled across my chest, his wet nose twitching occasionally, rubbing up near my neck. With each steady breath, I could feel his body rising and falling rhythmically, transmitting that reassuring warmth to me, without reserve. It was only when he grumbled a bit that I realized I'd unconsciously started petting his big, mutt head again. Thankfully, he seemed to be sleeping deeply, or else he would probably protest how much he hated these inter

Part of Kotetsu's reasoning for bringing up the collar was because he hoped Richter might eventually go with him to the Federation. But again, the outcome of that will be revealed later on. This is really interesting! But with the population steadily declining, replacing traditional labor with various forms of automated machinery seems to be the trend across all industries. There’s a small chance my little prediction about the future might actually come true.

Richter understands the consensus of the discussion—he’ll be the sub, which has always been the role that makes him feel more at ease. At this point, Richter still doesn’t realize (or is refusing to believe) that what’s happening is the result of a complicated political power struggle. As an eighteen-year-old who’s only just begun to experience a normal social life, that’s completely understandable. I think everyone can probably guess that the events to come won’t be pretty. But for now—before everything finally unravels—let’s indulge a little and enjoy this brief, carefree moment of teenage life.

Temperance: Coordination, Cooperation, Management, and Adaptation. In the dim hallway, I rested on a pile of squid remains, watching that Snow kneel down to collect the adamantine cores--really, I should come up with something other than just "that Snow" to call him. I'd thought of asking his name a few times, but even if he had any intention of replying, I lacked the courage to reveal my own identity first, making me give up every time. And now the tip of my tail had started to itc

Mainly because of his near-death experience, Richter's anxiety about the uncertainty of the future has become more pronounced.

Clusters: skin, blood, muscle, nerves, bone, and perhaps, deep within, the soul itself. Carefully, I placed the amplifier on Luther's head, making a few final adjustments. "I've modified it for you; it should fit perfectly." Despite saying that, I double-checked once more, flicking his ear when he shifted restlessly. "Once synchronize, it's extremely dangerous to disconnect--so focus!" I scolded, and Luther lowered his ears in apology. "Doesn't feel like anything special," he s

Every ordinary day at the Academy is filled with endless surprises! The Golden House will stay quiet for a while, but sooner or later, we’re bound to see the ripple effects of this incident.

Although Richter has already spent a year at the Academy, he’s still very young, and his understanding of the world remains quite limited. He still has much to learn and experience. After all, this is a coming-of-age story—we’ll gradually see him grow into the person he’s ultimately meant to become. That said, this is also the last truly innocent chapter of his life. When he becomes surrounded by countless schemes, manipulations, and the calculations of various powers, it’s only natural for him to feel confused. As for the role he’s supposed to play in all of this—many have already decided that for him. We’ll soon uncover one of those truths (though it’ll take a few more chapters—personally, I think Richter deserves a bit more time to relax and enjoy himself). Still, his situation does feel a lot like what many young people face today. The world and technology has become more complex than ever before, and lacking experience often leads to confusion. But if keep learning and exploring, I believe everyone will eventually find their own direction and sense of purpose along the way.