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endless-season · 2 years

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Westmoon Chapter 12 [END] - Lucien Split Route

Previous Lucien part here: Westmoon Chapter 10 Part 9 To 13 - Lucien

12-1

MC finds a letter from her master

12-2

I clutched the letter Master left me, my heart full of turmoil.

MC: “I’ll wait for you where all things return to.”

MC: All things return... does he mean the Retrobyss…?

Across all the legends in Westmoon, the Retrobyss was known as a hidden and mysterious place.

And all without exception, described how concentrated the demonic aura was in its depths.

These past few days, the Occulstone fragment within me grew more and more agitated. Maybe it was just as Lucien said… my Occulstone probably wouldn’t be able to withstand any further damage from demonic aura.

MC: If this might be my last chance then…

Then before I go, I have to at least go see the one I care about most…

I followed the instructions Lucien gave last time, and made my way to where Max was now living.

There was Max, as well an old woman.

His expression was no longer as mournful as before, when he saw me he even managed to make out a smile.

But when he heard I was looking for Lucien, he showed a surprised expression.

Max: Mister Lucien?

Max: Mister left soon after he helped me settle down here. I thought he went to find you.

MC: Eh? But I haven’t seen him.

Max: Is that so… then I don’t know where he is, sorry.

While we were talking, the old woman also came outside.

Old woman: Max, who is this?

Max: This is my teacher’s wife. The one I told you about, remember?

Max: She’s looking for Mister, and has no idea where he’s gone. How could he just leave her alone like this!

MC: I’m not…

Being referred to as “teacher’s wife” made my face red and I wasn’t sure how to explain. The old woman smiled.

Old woman: Miss, take it as my experience of being an old wife. If you can’t find someone, try looking somewhere you’re both familiar with.

Old woman: Like where you pledged your love, or exchanged your vows… maybe you’ll find something there.

MC: Okay, okay, thank you granny for your guidance. I’ll go have a look right now. Max, I’ll be off now okay?

Max: Okay! See you Miss!

Max: Granny, your health is not the best and the weather is so strange these days. I’ll take you back inside.

Shaking his tail, Max helped the old woman back into the room. Looking at the two, it was only then that I realised-

This old woman, was an ordinary human.

MC: … That’s nice.

Perhaps the hopes the Strangelings had, could slowly be fulfilled.

Rarewood was as overgrown as last time, no longer lush and vibrant as before.

I treaded across broken branches and leaves and arrived at the lakeside. The curtain inside the pavilion swayed in the breeze but there was no snowy white figure within.

Only now did I understand-

This really was the only place that connected us in this vast world.

MC: *sigh*…

I gave a deep sigh, and squatted on the ground a bit disheartened.

I small firefly flew from the lake, and landed on a spoilt flower before me.

I gently poked it, a bit upset. The firefly didn’t fly far, it just looped around in a circle, and landed back in its original spot.

MC: Tell me… where else can I go to find him?

MC: I thought I already understood him, but it turns out I’ve got nothing to go on.

MC: Plus, it’s not like he and I are like what the old granny said, we don’t have anywhere that we ‘pledged our love’ or ‘exchanged our vows’…

MC: I don’t even know where he lived when he was still human!

The firefly’s wings quivered. Who knew whether it understood me or not.

MC: In fact, pretty much the only times we’ve met were in dreams…

MC: What if I just knock myself unconscious right now and go look for him in my dreams!

Lucien: No need.

A familiar voice sounded from behind. I turned around in surprise and almost lost my balance. Luckily Lucien grabbed me from behind and pulled me up.

MC: Lucien…!

Lucien: Yes, I’m here.

He was wearing the same white clothes, his expression calm, just as before.

It was as if there were no traces anything having affected him. But I could tell that something intangible had changed.

The firefly also alighted from the spoilt flower and circled down onto Lucien’s sleeve. He looked at the firefly and gave a slight smile.

Lucien: But I didn’t realise that MC was so dissatisfied with the fact we had nowhere where we pledged our love and exchanged our vows, and that we could only secretly meet within a dream.

Lucien: You were so willing to secretly tell the firefly, and yet you didn’t tell me?

12-3

MC: I didn’t mean that…

Being teased by Lucien like that, I was a bit embarrassed and could only change the topic.

MC: Oh right, how did you know I was here? Did Max tell you?

Lucien: No.

Lucien tilted his head and gave a half smile.

Lucien: What if I told you it was my intuition that told me you were here?

His light tone was just like that fox tail of his, you could immediately tell he was lying.

His smile only grew as he watched me pout.

He took my hand and led me away from the lakeside.

Lucien: Let’s go.

MC: Go where?

Lucien: Don’t we need to go to the Retrobyss?

MC: …?!

How did he know I was going there?

Lucien: MC wants to know how I know where you’re going?

As if he could read minds, he immediately said what I was thinking. As soon as I nodded, his eyebrows raised.

Lucien: Sorry, this I cannot reveal.

MC: ! How can you be like this! Didn’t you say you wouldn’t trick me any more…

Lucien: I’ll tell you when we get there. Let this Great Fox Strangeling keep his mysteriousness for a just bit longer, won’t you?

When he used that voice, I couldn’t help it and could only raise my hands and surrender.

MC: But the Retrobyss will definitely be dangerous. Are you really going with me?

Lucien: Of course I’m going with you.

Lucien: If I let you go into danger alone, aren’t I betraying the blessings and hopes that the Strangelings bestowed upon us.

As soon as we entered the abyss, I realised something wasn’t right. The Retrobyss was the source of all demonic aura, however at this moment it was even more peaceful than outside.

MC: How come it’s completely different from the rumours…

Lucien looked around calmly.

Lucien: It’s not completely different, rather someone’s come in and pulled a few tricks.

MC: Could it be my master…?

Lucien: Don’t think so.

Lucien: From what I’ve observed over the years, although the Oracle comes from beyond our world, he is not materialistic, and is straightforward.

Lucien: Since he’s asked to meet with you, he wouldn’t lay any traps.

Lucien: What we have to be wary of is perhaps an uninvited guest.

MC: You mean someone else came before us… They’re not planning to ambush us are they?

Lucien closed his eyes for a moment as if sensing something, then opened his eyes and sneered.

Lucien: … a pathetic trap.

He waved his hand and extinguished the torch in his hand, sinking the space into darkness.

Lucien: The torch is useless now, just follow me.

I nodded and tightened my grip on his hand. Lucien smiled, squeezed my palm with his thumb in the darkness and then took the first step.

Lucien walked leisurely, as if he was going for a stroll in this boundless abyss. But as we walked, I felt as if something had changed.

In the beginning I only had some kind of confused feeling, as if we were continually brushing past all sorts of dangers.

The deeper we went, the Occulstone within me could clearly feel the dense demonic aura in our surroundings as if we were walking through chaos.

MC: Lucien… there’s something nearby…

Lucien: Shh…

Lucien: Someone gathered all the demonic aura that was originally here and set a lot of traps.

Lucien: If we alarm them, we might fall into a not so great dream.

I immediately covered my mouth to show I wouldn’t make a sound.

Lucien: You don’t need to be that nervous, I’m here.

We avoided the demonic aura, and continued down. Suddenly, I noticed something faintly light up ahead.

There’s light?

Who would’ve known, as we gradually got closer to the light, an enormous Occulstone appeared before front of us!

Unlike the broken Occulstone within me, this Occulstone was flawless, its light flickering like the heartbeart of the world deep in this abyss.

Lucien stared fixed at this scene and only opened his mouth a while later.

Lucien: Gods bow down and the moon rises from the west… now I understand everything.

MC: Understand what?

Lucien: Regarding this Westmoon…

Lucien paused, as if he had sensed something and turned to look at the occulstone.

Lucien: My apologies, the little pranks you set were a bit boring.

Lucien: So we’ve arrived a bit early.

As soon as Lucien spoke, a man rushed out from behind the Occulstone.

??: How did you get here… I clearly…?!

Even though I only met him that time a hundred years in the past, I already memorised this face- it was that man with the cloak!

MC: You’re that guy from another world…!

Knowing his complete disregard for human life from a hundred years ago, I wasn’t bothered talking with him and cut to the chase.

MC: Where is my master?

Man in Cloak: Hah. What makes you think I’d answer the question of a mere vessel?

Man in Cloak: And as for you…

The man in cloak completely didn’t expect us to arrive so soon. He glared at Lucien full of gloom.

Man in Cloak: I don’t think believe that anyone in this world can avoid my Evol.

Lucien: Evol…? Oh, you mean your Occult?

Lucien: I don’t know why Your Excellence has so much confidence, but this isn’t a good habit to have.

Lucien: You’ve simply gathered demonic aura to try and deceive the five senses such that anyone affected will have their perception altered… like a dreamland.

Lucien: The reason I say “like” and not definitively is because this isn’t entirely created from Occult, but you’ve also used the Occulstone to amplify the power, right?

With every word Lucien spoke, the man in the cloak’s face turned paler and paler.

Lucien: Looking at your expression, it seems I’m not far off?

Man in Cloak: Who are you really… Eos’s report clearly said you’re just defective goods from an experiment…

Lucien: Defective goods?

Lucien laughed when he heard those two words.

Lucien: I’ve realised Your Excellence has another bad habit – that is, arbitrarily defining people.

Lucien: Defining MC as a vessel, defining me as defective goods.

Lucien: But have you considered, that even defective goods can use other methods find the path to success even faster than anyone else?

Man in Cloak: What do you mean?

Lucien quickly glanced at me with a trace of guilt hidden in his eyes.

Lucien: … sorry.

MC: Huh?

Before I knew why he was apologising, he took out a small wooden box.

The decorations on the box triggered my memory – it was the box I saw once before on Lucien’s shelf, the one with a piece of my Occulstone inside!

I watched with wide eyes as Lucien opened the box, but it was empty inside.

MC: My Occulstone fragment… where did it go?

I suddenly thought of the dream we had with our intertwined consciousness, and only then did I realise. Lucien’s cold voice also pierced through the void and entered my mind.

Lucien: What a coincidence, I’m also investigating the power of Occulstones.

Lucien: Since Your Excellence knows so much about Occulstones, I wonder if you can tell me more?

12-4

A long silence filled the cavern, only the enormous Occulstone continued to flicker.

The cloaked man’s face shone green and purple under the magnificent glow. It was a good while until he opened his mouth with clenched teeth.

Man in Cloak: … What right do you have for me to tell you about the QUEEN gene.

Lucien: How come you otherworldly people have different terminology for the Occulstone as well. It makes it a bit troublesome for me to understand. Oh well, it’s a trivial problem.

Lucien: I’m just curious, since you’re all so curious about the potential influence of the Occulstone on Westmoon, why not take a more direct approach?

Lucien: Why did you need to keep dragging it on for as long as possible, before using demonic aura and meteorological tricks to try and force the Occulstone’s host to make a choice.

Man in cloak: What do you mean?

Lucien: Exactly what I said.

Lucien: If it were me, I’d trap the host in a smaller space, and stimulate them more directly both mentally and physically.

Lucien: If she still couldn’t awaken, then I’d throw her into an even crueller environment. Right now this world… comparatively speaking, is still too peaceful.

Lucien: What do you think?

Man in Cloak: …

The cloaked man looked at Lucien with wide eyes and mouth agape as if looking at a terrifying monster.

At this moment, the two seemed to swap roles and Lucien seemed to be the higher being observing the world.

My heart thumped wildly next to Lucien and my back was full of cold sweat. A scary thought appeared in my mind.

… If Lucien wasn’t a Strangeling but someone from “that world”, then would he really do to me the kind of things he said he’d do?

Before I could think further, the cloaked man spoke up first.

Man in Cloak: Someone who knows nothing about the QUEEN gene dares to criticize me?

Man in Cloak: But with this I finally understand something…

Man in Cloak: No wonder Eos kept giving excuses and saying he couldn’t complete the experiment.

Man in Cloak: It’s because you stole and absorbed a fragment of the Occulstone from within the vessel!

Lucien didn’t comment, and instead raised his eyebrow and asked back.

Lucien: Have you never considered - what if I didn’t steal this fragment, but rather someone took the initiative to give it to me?

MC: …?!

Ever since I woke up, I’ve been looking for the Occulstone fragments and I’ve only told master… did this mean master gave it to Lucien?

But why would he do such a thing?

My breathing quickened and I subconsciously wanted to take half a step back, but Lucien held onto my hand and I couldn’t move. His palm was dry and warm bringing me a pacifying effect yet forcing me to see this to the end.

Lucien: After the demon and human war, the Oracle arrived in Westmoon and told everyone they needed a Sorceress to pray for blessings, creating this peace.

Lucien: A hundred years pass and the Oracle continues to select and nurture each Sorceress into a caged bird that only knows how to dance for blessings.

Lucien: However the quality of those Sorceresses were lacking, none could bear the power of the Occulstone.

Lucien: Hence making you all anxious… haha who knew that even the Gods of Westmoon are so impatient.

Lucien: Then MC appeared. She is what you call the perfect “vessel”.

Lucien’s voice was a calm as ever but every word he spoke was like a bloody knife.

MC: No... I’m not a vessel…!

I didn’t want to continue listening and forcefully shook my head. As my tears were about to overflow, Lucien pulled me into a hug.

Lucien: You’re not a vessel. You never were.

Lucien: Remember that dream? You can be a bird, a firefly, yourself…

Lucien: It’s because you have this desire, that I don’t want you to have the complete Occulstone.

Lucien: I made a deal with your master and got the fragment.

Hearing him speak beside my ear, I looked up in disbelief.

MC: What deal?

Lucien: To give you three years of good dreams.

Lucien gave a gentle smile, rubbed my head to soothe me and then looked back at the cloaked man.

Lucien: Does Your Excellence have any questions regarding my thoughts on the Occulstone?

Lucien: I can keep explaining for you.

Man in Cloak: Questions?

Faced with this humiliation, the cloaked man’s face twisted and he reached out his hand with a dense ball of light in his palm.

Man in Cloak: My question is, why didn’t I kill you the moment I saw you?

Lucien: Is that so? Now is not too late.

12-5 - Battle Stage

12-6 - Mostly common between routes

MC talks to Eos (Master) in the Black Cabin and learns the truth about Westmoon being an experiment for the QUEEN gene ie Occulstone

perhaps-in-anotherdream’s summarised the main points so I’ll just skip this and just add in the Lucien specific part of the convo~

...

Master: For example Lucien, if Occult never existed, his tragedy, Rarewoods tragedy may have never happened.

MC: I…

I bit my lower lip. What master said was too tempting, and was impossible not to be moved.

I thought of the three year long dream, the lonely silhouette in Rarewood, and the dreamland that was broken.

If it were Lucien, what would he choose?

Or… would he agree with the decision in my heart?

MC: Master.

I took a deep breath and slowly opened my mouth.

MC: What you just said was wrong. What caused the Rarewood tragedy was not Occult. But rather you overly arrogant otherworldly people and the greedy hearts of people who were intoxicated by power.

Master: …

MC: If I become the “God” you speak of, all I’m doing is taking over your positions.

MC: If I rewind everything to the beginning, we’ll only repeat the same cycle.

MC: The price was paid for Rarewood’s tragedy, and everyone should remember the price and make sure it never happens again.

...

END

The enormous Occulstone suddenly shattered into innumerable pieces, the moment light burst out, a ball of light appeared.

The ball of light separated Lucien and the girl, leaving him alone in the quiet abyss.

Lucien: …!

Lucien was only surprised for a moment, before his expression returned back to normal.

He went closer to the ball of light, his hand stroked the halo around it and muttered.

Lucien: It’s not made of Occult, and difficult to break open.

Lucien: … Is this the other world’s ability?

If it were in the past, facing such a mysterious and strong power would definitely arouse Lucien’s interest, but right now…

That broken Occulstone in his chest faintly throbbed, futilely resonating with its original owner through the ball of light.

Was she okay inside?

This tiny thought kept circling around his head, and made it very difficult for him to calm down and think about what to do next.

He knew from the beginning that she was extraordinarily special.

Not only could she change his fate, she could change the fate of the entire world.

That’s why when the Sorceress fell from the tower, and the Occulstone shattered, he threw away his own plans.

He was well aware he was being selfish. It was because of his selfishness that he pulled her into a three year long dream, using it as a way to understand her better.

And after she woke up, it would be easier lure her, get close to her, influence her and obtain a fragment.

But he already obtained a fragment and successfully resonated with it, so why did he still try to get closer with her?

Why?

Lucien: *sigh*…

Lucien closed his eyes and rested his forehead on the ball of light.

Lucien: Because in the end I truly am such a greedy and selfish person, what I want more than the Occulstone… is you.

At that moment, the broken Occulstone in his chest gave a violent jolt and a strong power flowed from his body.

The imperfect Occulstone could not withstand such a strong power, and the fox ears and fox tails that he was supressing slipped out…

If the power of the Occulstone could surpass everything, of course it could also defy all rules!

The ball of light couldn’t withstand the power, and suddenly split open. Specks of light drifted down like petals.

In the midst of that brilliance, the answer he always denied stood there.

Lucien: MC

The girl heard his voice and looked up towards him.

MC: Lu-

Before she could finish, she started to fall as if all her energy was spent. Lucien rushed over to catch her.

Lucien: You…

Lucien’s swallowed, it felt as if a thousand words were about to gush out of his throat. Eventually they all slowly receding like a tide, leaving only just one.

Lucien: … sorry.

The girl lightly blinked hearing those words.

MC: Lucien, this is the second time you’ve said sorry today.

Lucien: Sorry, the Occulstone…

MC: Do you regret it?

The girl interrupted his words.

Lucien pursed his lips. The girl looked at him with a clear gaze. He couldn’t lie to those eyes.

Lucien: … I don’t regret it. If this happened all over again, I would still take away your Occulstone fragment.

MC: Haha, I knew you would say that.

The girls breathing was very harsh, and just that small laugh seemed to take up all her strength. Lucien couldn’t help but tighten his embrace.

Lucien: What I regret is something else…

MC: What is it?

Lucien: I regret not telling you earlier about my bad intentions, not taking the opportunity to pull you into a pledge of love, exchange of vows, and firmly tying you to my side.

MC: Pft… you’re so bad and so frank, completely unlike that gentle and mysterious Mister Lucien right now.

MC: We still have time. The things we didn’t have time for and the things we regret, we can still make up for them.

She reached out her hand and gently rubbed Lucien’s fox ears and whispered.

MC: But right now I’m a bit tired. Wait until I wake up, then come tell me everything about yourself, okay…?

The moment all demonic aura disappeared from the world, a new world was formed in the girl’s long breath.

T/N: This is followed by an epilogue video about what happened in Westmoon afterwards! Laxmiree’s posted a subbed video here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1570429100208300037

#mlqc #mlqc lucien #so much precious lore #can i just say - i had a very similar theory for MS at one point #seeing it happen in westmoon au was satisfying :'D #id been hoping since day one that theyd directly link WM back to MS and im glad they did :'D #stuff i post #temporary terrible translations tag

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