Dxd Issei : The Gaming Gear - Chapter 54: []:muttered

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires.

It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but Ariane will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.

This is a story of vampires as I believe they should be, with their strengths and weaknesses, with their remnants of humanity and the beast inside. Updates every Friday. Mind the tags.

Cover by Antti Hakosaari: https://www.artstation.com/haco

Special thanks to Svensonsen for getting me started, as well as Omi Nya, Hesketh, Rhaegar, Yaksher, Selkie and Raven for proofreading my stuff. Thanks to my patrons and you dear readers, for the support. I could not do it without you.

Journey is on Amazon, both in ebooks and audio. here is a link to the first one:

https://www.royalroad.com/amazon/B08DK6G8Y8

The story probably exists in your local marketplace as well of I can tempt you.

“Missus, time to fulfil your duties!” Mu Yuchen demanded as he pulled Xi Xiaye closer with his arms intimately wrapped around her waist.

It was a meticulously planned feast for the powerful. Her fiancé had knelt down on one knee and proposed to her sister instead. Robbed of her right to her inheritance, she was prepared for the Xi family to throw her to the wolves.
As she slipped away from her family that had turned their backs on her, she found him — Mu Yuchen, the low-profile and reserved noble that ruled City Z and led Glory World Corporation.

“Mu Yuchen, let’s get married!” He looked up at her, then suddenly stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Let’s go. Any later and the civil affairs bureau will be closed.”

- Description from Novelupdates

Qiao Shao, who worked hard to stay up all night and study, was first in class — if you count from the bottom.

He Shen, who was able to get a perfect score even when he slept all day, in a rare display of kindness, bought a bottle of drink to comfort his stupid seatmate.

Then he saw the messages popping up on Qiao Shao’s phone—

Dad: Don’t panic, it’s okay if you didn’t do well in the exam. Dad just ordered a new sports car for you.

Granddad: Grandson, there’s no need to hurry. It’s alright even if you didn’t do well in your exam. Granddad bought a new yacht for you, come and take a break.

Grandpa: Grandson, don’t cry, it’s okay if you didn’t do well in the exam. Grandpa’s billions-worth of properties are all yours.

With a blank expression, He Shen threw his 2.5 Yuan worth bottle of drink into the trash.

Hold your horses! Comfort?

Dirt poor and highly intelligent Gong who left home X underachieving, test-failing, doted on and pampered shou

- Description from Novelupdates

Twenty years ago, the Gu family’s eldest daughter, Gu Wan, went missing without any news on her whereabouts.

The Gu family was left with only the youngest daughter, Gu Chu, so they doted on her.

Twenty years later, Gu Wan returned. Gu Chu was thrilled and she showed her sister around the city, even giving her everything she treasured.

However, Gu Chu gradually realized that Gu Wan was here to take everything away from her, including her fiance! Their mother said, “We owe Gu Wan all of this. We all do, especially you! Gu Wan only went missing back then because you insisted on having a candy.

That’s why Gu Wan went out and ended up going missing!

She had suffered for twenty years out there! You will never be able to fully repay Gu Wan what you owed her!

Hence, the engagement with the Feng family should be given to Gu Wan!”

Their mother even said, “When we arranged this marriage with the Feng family, although we didn’t specify if it was for Gu Wan or Gu Chu, the elder child should take precedence.

Gu Wan should’ve been the first choice. And now that she’s back, she should take what was rightfully hers. What’s wrong with that?” Gu Chu wanted to defend herself.

She didn’t understand why Gu Wan would lie because she didn’t go missing because of her. Yet, the man chose to marry her sister, and that was when Gu Chu regained her senses.

It was just a man. Men weren’t reliable, so she didn’t want him anymore! Their mother even used their family’s shares to bribe Young Master Feng.

However, Gu Chu was surprised when the quiet and unsmiling Young Master Feng suddenly had a change of personality.

Three times a day, he would propose to her. Gu Chu asked, “Are you in such a hurry to have a wife?” Young Master Feng answered, “I’ve been planning this for a long time. Please bear with me.”

Later on, Gu Chu found out his secret. So he had actually been planning for a long time after all…