マツリカの炯-kEi- 天命胤異伝

Completion date: February 2, 2026

With the FD release on its horizon and this game marketed as “Chinese-inspired” (and the fact my copy of UN:LOGICAL is still in delivery) I decided to finally step into this game. As someone who dropped multiple Yoshimura Ririka titles and reading mainly negative mainstrema reviews, I am fairly cautious.

However, I also remember what happened with OlySoi so really, the only way to find out is to play and judge myself. And I recommend that for those who are reading as well. Sometimes I see complaints online about how a certain reviewer/YouTuber is too “biased” in their reviews and cause people to miss out on a good game… Just play the game! Buy an old copy if you’re worried about wasting money. No amount of reviewing can replace the experience of living the story yourself. Don’t let others, myself included, make those decisions for you.

Recommended play order: Ruwo or Zebenera as first two > Seirin > Enrai > Bicorn > Fey

Navigation: Ruwo / Zebenera / Seirin / Enrai / Bicorn / Fey / Final Thoughts

Advantages:

• Gorgeous CGs and UI with high level of consistency in CGs
• (You get borderline R18 drama CD level voice acting)
• Angsty. The game does not handhold you or the MC. If you’re expecting no deaths/gore, you should not play this game.
• The story is action packed and not draggy at all. No filler.
• Music

Disadvantages (aka me bashing the scenario writing):

• Do not go into this game expecting the MC having the spotlight and making changes to her life. She follows each LI and becomes their supporting role in his struggles, and in certain routes gives up her needs or wants, which I could rationalize but did not enjoy. This alone may be enough reason why some people do not play this game.
• Instead of bashing on a “passive” heroine, I’d rather blame it on how the writing forces MC into a damsel in distress position so she becomes the background for male character’s development. She is literally unable to do anything proactive from the setting.
• Every route has obvious plot holes that makes it hard for you to take the route seriously
• Hypocrisy of main characters (expanded on more in final thoughts)
• Fey route (bruh…….)
• Didn’t understand why they chose the Chinese element other than aesthetics, as there are places where blatantly did not match Chinese tradition (such as wearing white on wedding day/coronation which is reserved for funerals). Reincarnation is not exclusive to Chinese xianxia subculture. It felt like a waste of the genre.

**All my reviews contain spoilers.**

Common Route

At the very beginning, we see two senkou (immortals) embracing each other farewell as their palace collapses. Immortals are not exactly the same as gods. In Chinese mythology, humans can ascend to immortal status and live in heaven with gods (who are often born directly into this status) through discipline and opportunistic encounters.

In the mortal world, Naaya lives in a small village (Matsurika, named after the jasmine flower) that is sealed off to the world, outside of the country Gekka (“under the moon”). Historically, this country is protected by the four auspicious beasts who formed an alliance with humans and defeated the four evil beasts, allowing humans to occupy the land. The villagers of Matsurika believe in the god Keisei (“voice of the firefly”). Keisei is said to dislike fire. Hence, the villagers are physically unable to start fires on their own. Every three months, a merchant from the outside brings fire in exchange for a rare type of jade that only the village produces. Aside from the fire merchant, the village does not accept outsiders or allow its inhabitants to venture outside. They also believe in Tao-uu (a reference to Taowu in Chinese mythology which is an evil creature), or that the children born between an outsider and a villager bring bad luck and claim this has happened in the past and almost destroyed the village.

Naaya has keigan (“bright eye”) aka heterochromia; the only one in her village. Her left eye allows her to see through jade/jewels through the rough. Naaya’s mother Chiika also had keigan. In the village, only one person has keigan at any given time. It is passed down. Unfortunately, both of Naaya’s parents are dead so she stays with the village head’s family, growing up with their son Fey. However, Fey has trouble facing his true feelings and is insecure about his love for Naaya, so he doesn’t confess.

Ruwo, the traveling fire merchant flirts with Naaya in front of Fey. This ends up in the two getting into a swimming competition in which Ruwo wins easily. He then claims that there is one less gemstone than promised. As a result, he got to see Naaya work as a gemstone-identifier and the power of her keigan. In the end, he confesses that he hid the gemstone because he wanted to see Naaya more. As Naaya escorted him outside the village, he hands Naaya a map and some money (as Matsurika village does not use currency) and said she can look for him at a certain teahouse in the capital, “should she run into trouble”.

The next chapter is split into multiple small scenes of the LIs which was very interesting artistically. They give a glimpse into the LIs’ identity but overall we can proceed with the main story.

Naaya is turning of age at the upcoming Keisei festival. Typically, women turning of age receive jasmine flowers from men who have the intention of marriage. However, she did not receive any flowers because the entire village assumes that Fey will give her his flower and the two will marry. Fey’s older sister even gives Naaya some lube made out of jasmine oil and was like wink wink first night lmao.

Only a few days after Ruwo left, the fire in the village dwindled and eventually extinguished. This is very bad news because the festival is near. Remembering Ruwo’s words, Naaya volunteers to travel outside of the village as a last resort and bring back fire. Fey grants her permission without telling his father.

Matsurika village is concealed within the forest. On her way out, she encounters a humanoid beast that stands on two feet, but has two horns, just like the description of evil beasts in the legends.

Naaya arrives at the capital Yuexia City (which literally is the Chinese pronunciation for “under the moon”). Here the route diverges when you see Ko Seirin eating steamed buns without paying.

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Choosing to move on and get to the teahouse takes us to Ruwo/Zebenera routes. Naaya finds Ruwo, who shows her around the city and introduces her to Shouchou, a beautiful girl who owns a makeup store in the city. Shouchou tells Naaya to be careful showing people her keigan because it is viewed as a bad omen in Gekka. Rumours say people who have keigan eventually turn lose their sanity and turn into murderous beasts.

Ruwo prepares the fire and sends Naaya back on her way. He says to himself this is the most he can do for her, as he has been taking orders from a certain power to extinguish the flame in Matsurika village, someone he cannot disobey.

As Naaya returns, some lackeys report to Koushou (“master”) that the Matsurika girl came to Yuexia and obtained fire again. Koushou orders his (yep it’s a he) lackeys to give chase.

The Keisei festival takes place as expected until an unexpected intruder appears with three wolves. Zebenera, the king of the white wolf clan. He talks about claiming a Matsurika bride who turned of age this year?

He sees Naaya’s hair accessory and identifies her as Chiika’s daughter. He says per the late king’s will, she is to be his bride. Naaya refuses. Zebenera then reveals Naaya as the daughter of the late white wolf king, and has his clan’s blood. He shows everyone a piece of Chiika’s jewelry proving his claim. In other words, Naaya is tao-uu and a bad omen to this village. The villagers immediately turn on her and throw rocks at her telling her to leave the village.

Zebenera defends Naaya. After discussion with the village head, he says he will return in three days to hear their final decision, as some people are hesitant of losing their keigan which means loss of access to fire, as no one would be able to identify the gemstones. Koushou’s lackeys see this argument and say they must report back to their master that they have located the village.

Naaya gets thrown in jail during those three days. Koushou’s people attack the village and kill everyone. Fey releases Naaya from captivity. Naaya has the option of choosing to “fight” or “flee”.

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Choosing to help Seirin out takes us to Seirin/Enrai routes. It is already shown in the snapshots that Enrai serves Seirin, who seems like someone of nobility. Naaya offers to pay for this noble looking person, who introduces himself as “Seirin” without revealing his last name.

Naaya later runs into some thugs. Seirin appears again and the two escape to the rich area, where she meets Enrai, who is annoyed at Seirin for escaping outside and bringing a keigan. Naaya’s horse is stolen and she is led to the black market where she almost got kidnapped, only for Enrai to rescue her. Enrai seems to know about Naaya’s village and surprised to hear someone ordered to put out the fire.

Enrai seems to have further plans for Naaya so finds excuses to keep her under his watch. However, his master Seirin upon hearing Naaya’s reason to come to Yuexia, insists on accompanying her back to Matsurika village. Naaya finds Ruwo the next day and obtains fire. However, the horses from Naaya’s village are special and much faster than normal horses. They would not make it back to the festival on time.

On the way, Enrai reads a letter from a pigeon and tells Naaya that Keisei festival has concluded without any issue, implying the fire was somehow restarted. Naaya finally asks who the two really are. Enrai mockingly replies that as a country girl she doesn’t know anything, and doesn’t need to know who they are, as it won’t mean anything to her. Instead, he tells Naaya to not ruin this “only opportunity of traveling” for his master Seirin. On the way, they try different kinds of food, or should I say, Enrai eats like 90% of the food:

They arrive at the village. However, the villagers throw rocks at Naaya as we know from the other branch that Zebenera has reached their village and told them about Naaya’s birth. Naaya tells Seirin and Enrai about the curse of Tao-uu, and the need for fire in the village. Enrai dismisses this as a myth and literally starts a fire in front of her. He says this is all superstition from her village being closed off to the world.

Seeing that Naaya has no place to go and her being Seirin’s first friend, Enrai offers Naaya to return with them and live a new life. Choosing to return the village will trigger a bad end where Naaya is killed and her keigan transferring to the next villager.

Enrai and Seirin’s real identities are revealed to Naaya shortly after: Seirin is the first prince or “Koushi” which is a title reserved for princes (in the setting of this game only) with Enrai being his teacher.

Ruwo (CV: Yamashita Seiichirou)

Choosing to flee takes Naaya into Ruwo route. While running in the forest, she encounters Ruwo who was returning from one of his trips. She tells Ruwo what happened. Naaya describe the clan flag of the people who desecrated her village. Ruwo knows they are from the Ku family, but doesn’t tell Naaya. He takes her to Yuexia city and allows her to live with him and Shouchou (who is the landlord), and buys her delicious food in the city. To repay Ruwo and Shouchou’s kindness, Naaya makes elaborate embroidery and helps out in Shouchou’s store.

Shouchou (who is friends with Ruwo) banters that Naaya is doing too much for Ruwo and getting manipulated by him. Naaya replies “even if he is manipulating me, I will not complain” because she feels she already owes her life to Ruwo. Shouchou gets angry and says this is not the correct way to think. Ironically, Ruwo also agrees and tells Naaya that “those who deceive are always the bad guys”.

One day, Ruwo returns from his business late and finds Naaya singing on the rooftop. He sits next to her and the topic shifts to “viewing the stars above the sea”. Ruwo tells Naaya that he grew up near the sea. His lifetime’s wish is to rebuild the now-lost “niou-sen” (“grebe ship”).

Some of Shouchou’s customers come to her store and chat with Naaya who is the assistant. Those are young prostitutes from Touyarou (“peach night tower”) aka a brothel. They were initially village girls, but their villages got destroyed by a notorious pirate who goes by “the two-eyed” and they got sold to the brothel as a result.

Come evening, people from the Ku family visit Ruwo while Naaya had to hide in the close or something. Ruwo can no longer hide to Naaya that he is linked to the Ku family who wanted him to tamper with the fire. As Naaya points out: you’ve been selling fire to us for three years, how come that was the day you gave me the map, and right after the fire went out? Ruwo apologizes and swears that he did not have anything to do with the attack, nor did he know the Ku family was planning on this. He says he didn’t tell Naaya because as a girl with no power or connections, she has no way of taking revenge on the Ku family. Therefore, he doesn’t want her to be consumed by revenge and potentially lose her life in the process.

The scene cuts to Ruwo talking to an unnamed merchant at the brothel. The merchant claims to have access to blueprints of niou-sen, in exchange, he asks for …

When he returns, he runs into Naaya who is planning on leaving his home and seeking revenge on the Ku family. However, she didn’t even know that to even get into the Ku family headquarters, she needs official paperwork as they are from the “rich area” which is segregated from the “common area” that she lives in. Instead, he offers Naaya an alternative: to go on a long business trip with him to the desert, as his assistant, and explore a new way of life together. (It’s a bit weird here as picking “shake head/no” makes Naaya agree to the arrangement? Hence, in the guide you pick to shake your head…)

Once they leave the perimeters of Gekka, keigan are no longer viewed as a bad omen, so Naaya can be more out in the open. Ruwo treats her very nicely. Things seem to be heading in a sweet direction.

Until… Ruwo hands Naaya off to a rich merchant as the “bride”. He sold her off to some random guy as a bride?! Naaya is shocked and asks Ruwo why he did this to her. He becomes cold and says: Why are you acting shocked? If you were still in your village, your parents would decide your husband for you. I am merely acting in that role. You didn’t want to stay at my place forever anyway, so I found you a nice place to go. He sold Naaya in exchange for parts of the niou-sen blueprint. He tells Naaya “you were crucial to my trade so I acted nice to you. Surely you didn’t trust me to the point thinking I’d never sell you out?” He then proceeds to say maybe Naaya found him interesting and special because he is the only outside connection she has. However, to him, Naaya was just a plain village girl and he sees countless of them through his trips. She was just one of the many.

He bids Naaya farewell adding that he is envious of her clearly having never hated or distrusted anyone in her life.

Ruwo grabs a drink in the tavern with his new blueprint. He overhears people talking about the “bride” actually being a living sacrifice to the river god or something, which he didn’t know. The scene cuts to Naaya being tied to heavy rocks and thrown in the river.

As Naaya expects to meet her death, a pair of hands pull her out of the water. She calls out Ruwo’s name, but the face she is greeted with is unfamiliar. Ruwo does come to the scene but late. He seems to to freeze in terror seeing Naaya with this man who he calls “Ki-en”. Ki-en mocks Ruwo then leaves the scene after rescuing Naaya. The guards who arrive give chase after Ruwo and Naaya who remain. The two have no choice but to run into the desert.

Even though they form an alliance, Naaya is upset at what Ruwo put her through. However, they face too many external stressors to deal with this personal business. From being chased, to starvation, lack of water, and sandstorms, they have to work together. Naaya shoots down birds for food and tells Ruwo to follow the remaining birds to an oasis. Ruwo tends to Naaya’s wound when she got bit by a snake and takes her into a cave to avoid the sandstorms. The nocturnal temperature is low in the desert, so the two cuddle up to each other for warmth. To pass time, Ruwo tells Naaya about stories from back home, including a kind of fish called “ton-shi-yu” whose poison makes people appear dead temporarily. He himself accidentally came into contact with this kind of fish and was almost buried alive as a child.

After the sandstorm subsides, the two leave the cave. The next night, Ruwo falls asleep and starts crying out for his parents. Naaya wakes him up and asks him what is going on. He tells Naaya that his parents were killed by pirates since he was five. It’s been 18 years. He barely remembers their faces anymore. Ruwo is from the renowned Fu merchant family, with the niou-sen being their specialty ship. Hence, he is obsessed with rebuilding the niou-sen and restoring Fu family’s legacy.

He apologizes to Naaya formally, saying he was blinded by the prospect of obtaining the blueprint, and genuinely thought Naaya would at least have a comfortable life as the wife of a rich merchant. Hence, he was horrified to find out when the “bride” was actually a sacrifice.

Naaya forgives him because she knows how important these blueprints are to Ruwo. The two have been through so much together. She feels they are even. She tells Ruwo she believes he is telling the truth when he said he didn’t know about the sacrifice.

Ruwo says he will make it up to Naaya if they make it out of the desert. However, what he can do now is tell her more about the Ku family. However, he asks Naaya for her own sake to not seek revenge against them. Another fact that muddles the waters is that there are several factions within the Ku family, so Naaya can’t just look to get back at the entire family. If she goes after the wrong faction, they will come after her life. (I think regardless of if the faction did it or not they would come after her…)

Naaya understands that Ruwo is thinking from her perspective and looking out for her safety and sanity. However, she still cannot promise him in good faith that she won’t try something against the Ku. Instead, she asks if Ruwo never wanted to get revenge against the pirates who murdered his parents. Ruwo says he doesn’t have the power to do so, so he laid that idea to rest. Rather than revenge, he wants to focus on restoring the niou-sen and regain what he and the Fu family lost. He says he is grateful that he is still living, so wants to focus on things that he can do.

Ruwo tells Naaya that he is not discounting her experiences or her hatred for the Ku family. However, from the bottom of his heart, he wants her to be happy. He wants her to find the secret to happiness while living a safe life. This trip has not only changed Naaya but also Ruwo’s perspective. He wants to protect Naaya and show her the world, and make her happy, if she allows him.

Ruwo tells Naaya furthermore that the Ku family is the sole buyer of Matsurika village’s gemstones. These gemstones do not get on the public market at all. For what purpose are they using these stones for? Perhaps this is why they wanted to destroy the village so they can have all the stones for free?

With this much happening, they finally reach the seaside. Chatting with the innkeeper, they learn that around this area is where the famous pirate “the two-eyed” roams. The two decide to retire the night. Of course there is only one bed in the room lol. They tell each other to use the bed, then agree to lie in it together with their backs against each other. Of course Ruwo ends up hugging Naaya in the middle of the night. However, Naaya blushes and accepts this.

They embark the next ship that travels to the south of the capital. When they sail past an island, people tell Ruwo that this island is called Kigetsu island and is known for being a ghost island. This is because many years ago everyone on this island was murdered, and their spirits still haunt this area and its passengers. A storm commences, throwing Naaya and Ruwo overboard.

This time, Ruwo saves Naaya from the water and takes her ashore. However, Naaya is not breathing…

Naaya wakes up from probably the earliest case of CPR in human history. Ruwo tells Naaya that this island used to be called Dafu island – his old home, where the Fu family resided. He also says that the ship tipped over because someone opened a hole in the ship.

Turns out this island is inhabited by pirates. Their leader? Well hello again Ki-en. He is “the two-eyed”. Ki-en and Ruwo clearly have bad blood. Ki-en shows them his right eye socket which has a fake eye in it, and says he only has Ruwo to thank for that. Then he literally gouges out Ruwo’s left eye as revenge in front of Naaya. Wow I was not expecting this level of gore in this game… Good to know…

We then have an information dump about Ki-en’s identity and whatnot. Wouldn’t be a visual novel if the antagonist didn’t keep talking. Ki-en is also the owner behind the brothel. He knew about Ruwo’s obsession with niou-sen and baited them all the way to the desert. Ki-en spread the rumour of the “two-eyed” pirate even though he only has one eye. He plans to turn Ruwo in to the king of Gekka as this pirate (OK but you gouged out his eye so he can’t be the two-eyed, should have picked another nickname) and Naaya to the Ku family. He says Naaya must have not known Ruwo’s past yet. Ruwo used to be a pirate and rob innocent people as well. This seems to break Ruwo. He pretends to obey what Ki-en wants before making the escape with Naaya – by throwing some rotten fruit at the pirates to startle them by the insects? 😬Those are pirates that murder people and they’re scared off by some bugs? Surely there is a better way to write this escape… Fortunately the tide rises so Ki-en has to wait until the tide comes down (again, aren’t those guys pirates?… I’m not a surfing expert but can they not just cross?)

While I am astonished at how Ruwo’s eye socket did not get infected and him just dying of sepsis, Naaya apologizes to Ruwo (yes we have to pick this option) because she couldn’t do more for him. Alright just is how of any of this Naaya’s fault? They have a target on their backs purely because of Ruwo’s history. Ayeye this route. You can tell I’m holding it in to keep the body as unbiased as possible and save it to the end. Ruwo says no I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this. I wanted you to be happy, to help you, and keep doing the opposite.

Naaya then recounts how Ruwo adopted her after her village was destroyed and saved her from being a sacrifice (ok for one, how did she almost end up a sacrifice in the first place? For two, didn’t Ki-en save her, not Ruwo?). She tells Ruwo “because of your desire to save me, and caring for me, I am saved”.

We then get the final bit of lore-dump:

• Ruwo was hidden in some closet while the rest of his family got murdered by Ki-en’s family.
• Fu Ki-en is Ruwo’s given name. He was adopted by the captain of the pirates, who made the Fu family’s massacre his last case and wanted to live a “normal person’s” life.
• The captain took on Ruwo’s father’s identity, and gave his son the identity of “Ki-en”. Ruwo was originally the pirate’s son’s name. In short, Ruwo and Ki-en switched identities. I will continue using their current names to avoid confusion.
• However, Ki-en is a pirate at heart and eventually got tired of roleplaying as a nobleman. He killed his own father and became the new pirate captain, with his subordinates supporting him.
• Ruwo is brainwashed as a child that he is actually a pirate, and he was adopted by the Fu family where Ki-en is the real son, to the point he really believed it.
• Ki-en is a cruel person at heart (literally no redeeming qualities in this game) so he told Ruwo the truth and said he enjoys torturing him and breaking him.
• Ruwo tried to escape multiple times but would be captured and tortured. He had no choice but to follow Ki-en and be a pirate.
• However, Ruwo has always refused to kill people. One day when Ruwo forced him and gave him a knife. Ruwo showed some courage and actually turned on Ki-en, who wasn’t expecting Ruwo to fight back, and took out his right eye. However, Ruwo didn’t have the courage to finish Ki-en, which is why when he met Ki-en first in this route, Ki-en mocked him that if Ruwo just killed him back then, they wouldn’t have any of these problems.

It seems that it’s a matter of time before the tide comes back down and the two face their deaths. The normal vs. happy end diverges here.

Happy End: The two take the poison of ton-shi-yu and go into a near-dead state. Ki-en is upset but said he will still show their corpses to claim rewards. (I mean, what if Ki-en threw the two in the water or wanted to break up their corpses. Risky move tbh.) The two wake up in the coffin and make their escape.

Ki-en disguises as the Shisei aka the dead first prince of Gekka. Ruwo gets in touch with the Ku family who grant him access to the king of Gekka, where “Shisei” is also in court.

Naaya and Ruwo meet the king of Gekka, who officially recognizes Ruwo as the heir of the Fu family after he shows the king an heirloom. “Shisei” also comes up and attempts to claim the title of first prince. Ruwo demonstrates that “Shisei” is a fake by making Ki-en’s hair colour show, as people of the Ko family all have black hair with a special hue. Ki-en becomes angry and the two fight in court. (OK, you can’t just fight in front of the king like that?! Where are the guards? I’m pretty sure those two would just get killed by the king because isn’t that… disrespectful to brandish swords in front of the king?) Ruwo overcomes his fears and insecurities and kills Ki-en.

In the aftermath, Ruwo proposes to Naaya who of course accepts. There’s also a sex scene lol.

In the happily ever after, Ruwo rebuilds the Fu clan. By working with engineers, they develop a new ship that is even better than the niou-sen. He travels the seas and sees the world together with Naaya.

There is a little memory where Ruwo met Naaya when she was just a baby (as they are five years apart). However, I felt this tidbit was kind of pointless unless it’s expanded on in the FD.

Bad End: Naaya becomes sold to the brothel and Ki-en’s plaything. Ki-en tells Naaya (but could also be lying to break her resolve) that Ruwo escaped five days ago but never bothered to come look for her.

Normal End: After the tide subsides, Ruwo kills Ki-en and anyone who stands in his way, becoming the new captain of the pirates. He brings Naaya riches every day, but neither of them can find inner peace anymore. (Warning: very yabai voice acting)

THOUGHTS: Man I feel so bad for Naaya this route. I’ll be honest I almost quit the game when I saw her get literally human trafficked and just brushed it aside because she was treated like a normal human being in the desert. This girl really didn’t grow up in love hence she grasps onto anything. I am not mad they are together. I can rationalize it because all they have is really each other. It’s codependency. However, this is an otome game and I feel as a female player the female character’s needs did not get tended to. Naaya is thrown into one after another difficult situations because of Ruwo’s life story. Ruwo is the main character of this story with Naaya really being his support lol. Yes, it happens a lot IRL but it’s upsetting to see in an otome game where I expect the heroine to be the main character. This isn’t a gal game for the male gaze… Ruwo also deceived Naaya so many times, from initially not telling her about the Ku family, to the trafficking, to not keeping his promise to not touch her when the two lied in bed together. I find it impossible to completely place my trust into him, as he is a product of circumstances and will say whatever is convenient. To me, after the trafficking incident, their relationship will always have a crack in the middle. If anything, I like the normal end better.

Finally, about Ki-en/”Shisei” who makes appearances in other routes as well. I didn’t quite get why Ki-en wanted to disguise as a prince if his motivation for killing his own father was that he was tired of roleplaying as a nobleman and pretending to be good. I can’t see him wanting to be confined to a palace.

Zebenera (CV: Hatano Wataru)

If Naaya chooses to fight, we enter Zebenera route. Naaya runs north and finds Zebenera, who says his wolves tell him that his bride is in the vicinity. Naaya tells him that her village is under attack. Without further ado, Zebenera commands his clan to her village’s rescue.

I spat out my drink when I saw the names of his wolves which are literally Chinese for “black”, “white”, “grey” LMAOOOO

Zebenera and his wolves actually fend off the intruders. The village thanks him but he says they should thank Naaya instead for risking her life to tell him about this. The villagers being the single-cell organisms they are of course continuing calling Naaya a cursed child and insulting her. Conveniently, after this incident the villagers discover that they are able to start fires now, so Naaya is no longer needed anyway.

Thus, Naaya changes into white-wolf clan attire and returns with Zebenera to the north as his bride. I found it funny that you have to pick “mean” options in the beginning such as not responding or looking at Zebenera. Naaya stop playing games! He actually cares about you and saved your clan lol.

Naaya is welcomed by the clan… which really only has three adults: Zebenera and his two subordinates Baao and Yo-uu. The white-wolf clan is said to be descendants of wolves. Those who carry wolf blood (and are not orphans adopted by the clan) have the ability to speak to wolves. They have very different traditions from Gekka. Women can have children with different men for the purpose of populating the clan. Marriage and monogamy are not a thing… unless you are the leader of the pack of course because then it’s all about “wolves pair up for life and only recognize one mate” 🙄 Yeah it’s a bit too good to be true and convenient. I feel they should have just taken this out; there are other ways to demonstrate their feral traditions.

There used to be 15 branches of the wolf clan, where their leaders meet annually at their god’s temple (they believe in a senkou called “Baikun” or “the white”). However, because of one of the four evil beasts, Kyuuki, who can take the shape of any human to deceive humans to come out and eat them, their lineage dwindled to what it is today.

This route is memed on a lot in the Chinese community, where it’s a cliche trope in Chinese romance novels named “少爷已经十年没笑过了“ (Master has not smiled in ten years) where there’s this lone wolf alpha male lead who is sad and all serious, until the female lead comes along and gives him reason to smile and be more social in his life. This is exactly what happens here. 😂 However, this is not an overused trope in otome so I will give it a pass.

Especially after the fuckboy that was Ruwo, I found it refreshing that Zebenera plays the role of the reliable husband who isn’t good with words but rather shows with his actions to make Naaya as happy as possible and give her a good life.

Their wedding night arrives. Since Naaya is literally here for the purpose of bringing the wolf king children, she braces herself and does not escape from her duties. They consummate their marriage. Naaya starts crying and Zebenera tries to comfort her.

As Naaya settles herself into the clan, she grows closer to Zebenera and everyone else. She helps mend clothing around the place while Zebenera goes out to hunt every day. She sees his soft side when he brushes the hair of his wolves and offers to help. Eventually, Zebenera takes her to the late-king’s tent. Zebenera and Baao are both adopted by the late king, who did end up meeting Chiika and giving birth to Naaya. Hence, the two are not related by blood. However, it is not explained how Zebenera and Baao are orphans, yet have the characteristic silver hair of those born from the clan and have the ability to communicate with and command wolves. Naaya also learns that not only Chiika, but her father also had keigan. Keigan was also passed on in the white-wolf clan. The holder became the watchman for everyone, warning their clansmen of looming dangers such as Kyuuki.

Nightfall comes. One of the children is missing from the clan. Naaya insists on departing with the search party. She awakens her right keigan (from her father, which is not the left one she uses inherited from Chiika) and locates the child hiding in a cave. The child nearly got eaten by Kyuuki, who sees Naaya and realizes that the white-wolf clan now has someone with keigan.

Zebenera tells Naaya that Kyuuki is the clan’s #1 enemy. He vows to protect her, the clan, and take down Kyuuki, to which Naaya replies she will fight alongside him.

Zebenera is happy that Naaya accepts her role as his wife, and the mother of the pack. Naaya teaches what a “kiss” is to Zebenera by asking him to look at her in the eyes.

Zebenera takes Naaya to their ancestral temple and shows her the wall paintings of the legend of Baikun. Baikun is a senkou who sealed the evil powers of Kyuuki underground and turned wolves into humans, who were the ancestors of those of the wolf clans. In other words, Zebenera are descendants of wolves.

After the two return, Naaya gets a high fever and becomes sick. Zebenera immediately carries her on his back and travels to Yuexia city with Yo-uu to find a doctor, who says Naaya is suffering from malnutrition. Zebenera diligently takes down this list of seemingly exotic food list of “milk, eggs, honey, fish, vegetables, and fruit” and repeats it to himself so he doesn’t forget. Naaya asks if she is pregnant with child, to which the doctor replies you are not going to get pregnant when you are so weak and malnourished. She feels sorry for Zebenera, who loves her so much, yet she can’t grant him the one thing he sought her for. Zebenera tells her that if given the choice between his wife and children, he would always choose his wife. Yo-uu also meets his birth family, who had to abandon him as a child due to a famine. Zebenera tells Yo-uu that he can decided where he wants to stay, as life is easier and better in Yuexia city away from the cold and Kyuuki. Yo-uu firmly declares that he is one of the pack, and will only follow where his leader goes.

Using the supplies they bought from Yuexia prior to their departure, Zebenera tries his best to cook for Naaya using recipes that the late king wrote down from his memory when with Chiika. There is also a scene where his clan all go fishing south of their clan where the snow has melted. Zebenera realizes their life can be a lot easier if they just moved. However, he tells himself that their land is passed down from their ancestors and Baikun; he cannot betray Baikun and his tradition.

Kyuuki appears in the clan and causes chaos. He tells Naaya to go to his lair in exchange for him sparing the white-wolf clan. Kyuuki says that Zebenera’s clan was created 999 years ago to protect the keigan, that Baikun has abandoned his people hence, he was set free. He finally tells Zebenera that his clan’s use is over, hence, Zebenera is cursed to not be able to sire children, and that’s why none of Baao’s children have the clan’s bloodline. Because his clan is of no use now, they are destined to go extinct. A shocked Zebenera ask his wolves who confirm what Kyuuki said. Baao recommends that the clan migrate south as there is no point in staying in this land anymore.

An angry Zebenera goes to Baikun’s temple and starts destroying the decorations and asking why Baikun did this to him and his clan. Zebenera also starts asking himself if he should keep Naaya by his side. If she desires children so much, by being his wife, he is taking this happiness from her. The endings also diverge from here.

Happy End: Naaya, in a similar train of thought, is also quietly packing to depart the clan. Since Kyuuki is after her and the power he could gain by eating keigan, and that she and Zebenera can’t have children anyway, she doesn’t want to bring more danger to the clan.

Zebenera catches Naaya in the middle of leaving. He desperately asks her why she is leaving him. Is it because he can’t bring her children? Is it because he is not enough of a man for her? Naaya replies she does it to protect the pack. Zebenera says then don’t go, you are also one of the pack, you are my mate, I will protect you.

In their last moment together before the final battle, Naaya asks Zebenera if the late king was only with Chiika so she could have his children. Zebenera replies of course not. Then he wonders if he is allowed to put his duties aside and love Naaya as a man would a woman.

Kyuuki causes an avalanche and kidnaps Naaya. Zebenera makes it in time after obtaining the late king’s spear. Together with Naaya’s keigan, they defeat Kyuuki.

Zebenera tells Naaya he has vowed to never leave those snowy mountains, even if he is doomed to be the last white wolf. However, he doesn’t want to force Naaya into this lonely fate too. He tells Naaya that she is free to go wherever she wants.

Naaya chooses to stay by Zebenera’s side, even if they will never have any children. She chooses to see the end with him. He tearfully embraces her under the rising sun.

Normal end: Zebenera and Naaya, and what’s remaining of the clan move to the south, where they get attacked by bandits. Eventually, they move to the desert. They do not have children, but have a big family of adopted orphans and establish as king and queen of the desert. Many years after, Naaya meets an old friend who passes by as a traveling merchant. A funny detail is that Zebenera’s prayer changes as they are no longer blessed with food in the snowy mountains but in the desert hahaha.

Bad End: Naaya gets eaten by Kyuuki. Zebenera holds onto the fact that she may still be alive. The white-wolf clan is no more. He tells the rest to migrate to the south. At nights, it is said that a lone wolf howls at the moon and continues to search for its mate.

Thoughts: Even though there are cliches and plot holes, Zebenera is a rare breed in otome games. The reliable guy who doesn’t play cool but actually isn’t good at expressing himself. He gave his heart to Naaya, who returned his love by maturing into the mother of the pack, and learned to love everyone and everything he loved. I enjoyed this route a lot overall. I like how Naaya went from initially not willing to interact with Zebenera, to caring for him and doing what she can to help. The “happy end” is quite bittersweet and again I kind of wished they just went to the normal end. I certainly expect this curse and Baikun to be expanded on in the FD.

Ko Seirin (CV: Tachibana Shinnosuke)

Ko Seirin is the oldest living son of the current king of Gekka. He has 108 sisters (likely paying homage to The Water Margin), with some of sisters being better swordswomen than he is! His father doesn’t seem to like him much, and gave him an effeminate name as all his sisters are named “Ko [insert name]-rin” while his deceased older brother is called Shisei.

When Seirin ran into Naaya in the streets, there was some internal dialogue that Seirin seems to have met Naaya before, and seeing her evoked many different emotions in him “I can’t forgive you”, “I’m sorry”, “Thank you”, ‘I finally found you”… However, we do not know why at this point – it is partially revealed in this route.

Seirin is well-versed in poetry. On their way back to the palace, he sees Naaya appearing sad about being banished from her village. He tells her in his own way that the world is constantly changing, but he hopes she stays true to herself, and that she is always someone who extended a helping hand to him. This will not change, just like eternal sun and stars.

Seirin takes note of what Naaya likes, as he really wants her to be comfortable in her new home.

Seirin introduces Naaya to his sisters, who are all super happy that Seirin got a “girlfriend” and promise to dress up Naaya to be the most beautiful flower in the palace.

The entire palace was looking for Seirin, who went “missing” by sneaking outside to play. He comes up with the lie that he fell asleep in his favourite bird room. To protect Naaya and allow her to stay with her keigan, he claims Naaya is a senkou that he met and walked out of his dream with him.

This is also where Naaya finally learns of Seirin and Enrai’s identities. Gekka is protected by the four auspicious beasts, with the Ko family said to descend from Ouryuu – the dragon. It appears the god/beast that Naaya’s village believed in – Keisei – is not mentioned here. However, Enrai goes silent upon hearing Keisei’s name – more in Enrai’s route.

The current king (surprised they didn’t use emperor to make it more Chinese-inspired) is desperate for a male heir, as only men can inherit the throne, even though some of Seirin’s sisters are more ambitious and better at “men-subjects” than him. Seirin also mentions he wouldn’t mind if one of his sisters became queen instead. Because Seirin is the only living prince, he is not allowed to leave the palace. However, as his teacher, Enrai feels as the future king he should go outside and touch grass so he can be an empathetic king who listens to his people.

Seirin takes Naaya to the “six playrooms” where as a prince he can enjoy various indulgences. He gives her a piece of jade which is apparently a symbol of status, as people who have doubts of Naaya’s keigan immediately become quiet upon seeing this jade decoration. Seirin also wears a piece of jade decoration that his father gave him, which will be important later.

Naaya also observes how Seirin is treated in the palace. As a prince, he is supposed to learn how to wield a sword. However, his trainers are too afraid to use their full abilities when jousting with him out of fear of injuring the prince. Enrai also tells Naaya that Seirin did not have a single friend outside him and his sisters. He seems to be doomed to a lifetime of loneliness and spends most of his time with his birds.

Naaya’s songs attracts the birds. Seirin is happy that Naaya treats them as friends instead of possessions. He tells story of where Enrai’s older brother Ensui came to this room and immediately tried to capture his the birds, frightening them.

Testimonies of Naaya’s songstress ability reaches the king’s ears. He asks her to sing for him. The king seems to be bothered by some “shadows” that only he can see. Naaya’s singing can temporarily ward off these shadows from bothering the king. The king employs her as his royal singer.

Seirin is not thrilled hearing this news. He tells Naaya he doesn’t have the best relationship with his father. Naaya is like but he built all those entertainment rooms for you. Seirin replies that if the king really treated him as a prince, he would allow him to be in court and participate in political discourse, and learn how to actually run a country. However, the king is raising him like a princess, only giving him a rich, indulgent life. In fact, Enrai was instructed to not teach Seirin anything of substance, only Enrai is going against this order in secret. Seirin knows his father wants him to be known as a “useless prince” who is not fit to be the next king. This could be because he has a distinctly different hair colour from the rest of the Ko family. When he was born, the royal astronomer also said he is a bad omen.

The king is so desperate for a male heir that he is having relations with multiple concubines every night. To add to the ridiculousness, he asks Naaya to sing while they do the deed because the shadows come out at night more than daytime. What was the point of this whyyyy ???????Anyways Naaya sings every night and hates her life until Seirin finds out she appears (physically and mentally) unwell during the day. You are supposed to pick “tell him” when he asks but she gets too embarrassed to tell him anyway!! So what was the point of this option. Man…

Eventually, this dumb king turns his eyes to Naaya and wants her to be his 29829th wife and bear him a son. Isn’t Naaya believed to be a senkou in this palace? How do you force a senkou to watch you have sex then force yourself on a senkou? Is this king wishing for his country to be destroyed? Anyways, Seirin finds out through his deductions that the king wants to be more than Naaya’s employer and shows up at the perfect time, disguised as a female servant.

Enrai tells Seirin you dun goofed because no woman refuses the king’s advances. As a last resort, Seirin says well the king cannot go for a married woman (honestly with how crazy this king is, I don’t think that will stop him but it did in this route). He asks if Naaya will enter an arrangement with him to be his wife in name only, as this is the only way he can protect his “saviour-san”. To justify Naaya’s status so that she is a “good match” for the first prince, Enrai says she will be accepted as the Ku family’s adoptive daughter, which breaks the tradition of the Ku family serving the Ko dynasty for generations and never marrying into them to avoid conflict of interest. (Again… Someone as smart as Enrai surely can fit Naaya into some other family of high status and doesn’t need to put a target on the Ku family’s back. Also, isn’t Naaya rumoured to be senkou? What higher status is there than marrying a senkou??)

Thus, Seirin goes and tells his dad that you can’t touch her because she’s going to be my wife now. The king agrees as long as Naaya continues to sing for him at night. (…… she is going to be the future queen she ain’t going to listen to you have sex every night alright)

Naaya suddenly becomes busy taking lessons to learn etiquette and how to … please her husband on her wedding night. On the wedding day, Shouchou arrives as her makeup artist. Shouchou appears shocked to see Seirin and not because he is the first prince. She also nearly lets it slip that she’s lived for hundreds of years… just who is Shouchou? She takes an interest in the jade piece that Seirin wears at all times, but does not say more upon hearing it was given to him by the king and the royal astronomer.

After the ceremony, the two awkwardly look at each other in their bedroom. Seirin reassures Naaya that he wouldn’t lay a finger on her and plans to stay true to it.

However, Naaya has gotten feelings for this gentle and witty prince. She tells Seirin that at her village’s Keisei festival, she did not receive a single flower signifying marriage proposals. However, if Seirin was there to give her the flower, she would accept it in a heartbeat… Seirin reciprocates and says he also views her more than a friend.

The two become husband and wife, and one.

After the wedding, Seirin who is 17 – one year younger than Naaya – prepares for the dragon festival which is the Keisei festival equivalent in Gekka. Naaya thinks back of her hometown and how she cannot return. She becomes homesick, starts tearing up and apologizes because she feels ungrateful to Seirin who has treated her so kindly here. Seirin gently tells Naaya that it’s okay to cry and that he understands that no place is as good as home.

“Shisei” (Ki-en) reappears as the king’s long-lost son who supposedly died 18 years ago. He is clearly a fake. However, in court the king summons Reikyuu, who is the royal astronomer. Reikyuu says something vague that really can be interpreted either way, but on the surface Shisei is accepted as authentic. This changes the political landscape as now Seirin certainly will not be heir and even more excluded in court. Seirin’s sisters root for Seirin and want him to propose a special kind of duel to the death between him and Shisei to fight for the position of king. Seirin laughs and says he’s not interested in being king. If anything, he avoids conflict and wants people to live peacefully.

However, deep down Seirin is sad and insecure now that “Shisei” has returned, it’s only a matter of time before the pretences between him and the king fall, and he will be disposed. Remembering what Seirin told her, Naaya comforts Seirin by telling him that there are always people who value him for who he is, so there is no need to pretend. Seirin cries, while the outside starts to rain.

The same night, Seirin reads Naaya a story that he grew up listening to as a child: Once upon a time in a faraway lake, there lived a large and beautiful dragon. Humans were fishing in the lake and fighting each other for the biggest fish. The dragon disliked conflict and started crying. As the dragon cried, the sky also cried. The humans stopped arguing and ran home to take shelter from the rain.

The next day in court, Shisei and others gave the king their gifts. When it was time for Enrai to present the Ku family’s gift, a snake – which is not what they prepared – jumped out of the basket and nearly attacked the king. Amidst the panic, Seirin approaches the snake and talks to it. The snake somehow obeys him and leaves the palace. However, the king not only doesn’t appreciate Seirin for saving him, but yells that he is a bad omen for being able to talk to snakes. Enrai is also thrown in jail for “attempt to assassinate the king” and imprisoned under the king’s orders.

Seirin discusses with Naaya and vows to prove that Enrai is innocent by finding the real mastermind behind this incident. He tells Naaya that when he was younger, his father sent assassins after him. All those years, he’s been hanging onto the fact that his father still loved him deep down because of their blood bond. However, he realizes that he needs to let go. Naaya suggests finding and talking to the snake since Seirin is born with this unique ability.

They find the snake who lead them eventually to Ku Ensui, aka “Koushou” in Ruwo’s route at the brothel. One of Ensui’s servant girls who did partake in this ploy to overthrow Enrai was pushed forward as the mastermind and scapegoat for the whole incident (even though she was just carrying out orders) and the case is closed. Enrai is released from jail with his innocence proven. Enrai refreshes his vow of allegiance to Seirin and thanks him.

Enrai and Seirin recount the king’s assassination attempts when Seirin was younger, noting that these attempts stopped 9 years ago, when Seirin was pushed into a lake. When people thought he was dead, a miracle happened: a school of fishes carried Seirin out of the water. From then, no more assassins were sent.

In the meantime, Reikyuu – the royal astronomer – tells the king that she still does not see any sons in his fortune. The king appears even more desperate as if there’s some deadline he must meet. He says he must either produce a male heir or get rid of these shadows for good, even if it means using Naaya as a sacrifice.

The royal family goes on a trip to tour the temples of the four auspicious beasts. In the legends, these beasts answer to the king’s call. However, each of the beasts answered the king’s call, yet all of them told him that no can do about the shadows that haunt him, the shadows only the king can see. The king goes into a frenzy of rage and blames this on Naaya (???) and even threatens to kill her, if not for Seirin stepping out and protecting her. The king ends up killing the servant girl that became somewhat of a friend to Naaya since she entered the palace and says Naaya killed her with her incompetence of not being able to chase away the shadows. What was the point of this, just to show how crazy and stupid the king is? I think we already know that…

Seirin becomes of age. By tradition, when the heir becomes 18, he needs to pray with the current king to Ouryuu for one entire night while the father passes onto the son his wisdoms and the history of Ko dynasty.

Hold up. Why is Seirin the heir and attendant of this ceremony? Shisei did not get exposed in this route. So shouldn’t he be passing this onto Shisei? We will soon learn that the king also knows Shisei is a fake. However, the public doesn’t know. The king didn’t take any action to expose Shisei (because the writer wanted to show how much he hated Seirin, that he’d rather an imposter be there) but you can’t have both – either expose Shisei, or support him as the “first prince” and make him king… This is a pretty game-breaking plot hole and disappointing that this was not avoided.

The king summons both Seirin and Naaya to this ceremony. He needs Naaya to chase away the shadows. He tells them the following:

1. The king knows “Shisei” is a fake because he killed Shisei (or sacrificed him) to Ouryuu’s curse 18 years ago.
2. The Ko family were usurpers who stole the throne from the previous dynasty 999 years ago. Their ancestor deceived the four auspicious beasts into doing his bidding.
3. Future rulers in the lineage were cursed by the dark shadows that only they can see. Every 9 years, they must sacrifice a male Ko heir for the shadow to devour, or they will kill the current king. Every king, including the current one, were scared of dying themselves and offered male sacrifices.
4. Seirin was planned as the sacrifice 9 years ago. However, he was saved by the fish. Instead, a concubine gave birth to a dead male fetus, which ended up being the sacrifice. From then, the king was not able to produce any male heirs.
5. 9 years is up today. Hence, he was so desperate for a male heir.

Before the king can say any more, in the dimly lit room shadows of a dragon appeared visible to everyone, eating the king alive. As the only two remaining people at the scene, Shisei arrives and throws the two in jail with plan for execution.

Reikyuu visits Naaya in jail. She sighs that Naaya and her keigan have the ability to resolve the dragon’s curse, but she didn’t know how to use it correctly. She also says that she will serve Ko’s children forever.

Execution day comes. A tiger is released to eat Naaya alive while the public watches and cheers on. Enrai also breaks in attempting to save Naaya. However, the tiger is released. As Naaya braces for her death, lightning crosses the sky and it starts to rain. A dragon appears and takes Naaya to the sky and lands in some foreign land.

By looking into the dragon’s eyes, Naaya recognizes it as Seirin. Seirin returns to human form. Many dragons appear in the sky and approach. They greet Seirin as “Ouryuu”. The dragons say after 999 years of sacrifices from the Ko family, they have finally collected enough soul energy to revive Ouryuu. Ouryuu is the youngest dragon of them all and always had a soft spot for humans, and always wanted to help. That’s how Ko Ouyou, the Ko ancestor, manipulated it into doing his bidding.

As Ouryuu slowly regains his memory, he remembers this place as paradise aka where the senkou go to after they cultivate for long enough and transcend from mortal status. Ouryuu and Naaya meet Shouchou, who is also a senkou who enjoys living as a human in the mortal world. Shouchou says that the jade piece Seirin wore (that broke during the execution) suppresses his instinct of a dragon. Shouchou looks at Naaya and tells her that she has the power of Keisei – which is considered extinct and a forbidden name in Gekka – residing in her eyes.

:^)

A funny scene is that Seirin forgot how to go to dragon form. After some experimentation, Shouchou transforms him with a super spicy meal, which makes him angry, and transform:

Shouchou and the other dragons invite both Seirin and Naaya to stay in paradise forever. They can eat a fruit to become immortal, once they are ready.

Seirin still cannot help but think about what the human world is like with his father dead and him gone. He looks through a water mirror and sees the people being torn in a new war. “Shisei” leads the Ko family against Enrai/Ensui’s Ku, as Shisei tries to chase away/kill off all of the Ku family. Enrai reaches “Shisei” in the battlefield and kills him singlehandedly. However, even till death Shisei was not revealed to be a fake, with the Ko army even more eager to avenge their dead prince. Seirin shows in his dragon form initially then orders the two armies to stop fighting. However, the Ko army says they will not listen to his orders (???) because “the Ku family drew their swords first” (yeah, in self-defence or Shisei was going to kill them all). They refuse to obey Seirin’s orders unless he leads them against the Ku family.

Remembering the tradition and not wanting to spread the bloodshed, Seirin declares that he will duel Enrai one-on-one. Now, we will never know if it’s because Seirin obtained newfound dragon powers, or Enrai went easy on Seirin, Seirin emerges the victor.

Even though this is supposed to be a duel with their lives on the line, Seirin only cuts off Enrai’s hair and announces he and the Ku family are forever banished from Gekka country. This way, Enrai is as good as dead in this country. Enrai eventually departs for the border, with Ouryuu watching him from the skies, knowing they will never meet again.

Seirin and Naaya accept their coronations as the new king and queen of Ko dynasty and Gekka, with Seirin turning into Ouryuu amidst the ceremony and showing off his power to his people, who cheer for them. (OK is anyone going to mention that white is NOT a Chinese wedding colour, ever? White is reserved for funerals and mourning?!! I know they look so pretty in this but not for the human world wedding ending. Immortals are also often described to wear white. If anything they can use white clothing for their senkou/normal ending. I am disappointed as this is basic knowledge.)

Bad End: To stop the Ku from fighting the Ko, Ouryuu sacrifices himself by leading the people to turn against him and dies in the name of peace.

This ending is horrible for three reasons:

1. Why would people turn on one of the four auspicious beasts??
2. How does this grant peace? Humans would just keep fighting after they kill him.
3. Ouryuu really did this after his fellow dragons spent 999 years reviving him? Bruh…

Normal End: Ku Enrai emerges victorious and the new king of Gekka. Ouryuu says the era of dragons and auspicious beasts protecting the country is over. Both Seirin and Naaya eat the fruit of immortality and become senkou residing in paradise.

Thoughts: This route had so much potential as I liked Seirin’s setting and seiyuu very much. I didn’t mind an effeminate LI who is super gentle and has a kind soul. However, two out of the three endings were written poorly, with a game-breaking plot hole in the middle of the route. Why does the Ko army refuse to obey Seirin? Didn’t they just see him as a dragon? Why does Seirin need to duel Enrai at all?? Seirin knows Shisei is fake. He can just set the record straight. Why does Enrai need to be banished from Gekka at all in this route? I know the two families have bad blood (as seen in Enrai route) but none of that is revealed in this route, and I would have expected it to be swept under the rug. I will touch on this more in the final thoughts, but also found both Seirin and Enrai good endings very ironic as both of them claim to not want to be king, yet accept the throne. Again, I think the normal ending is the best one where Enrai, who is more fit to be king imo, ascends the throne while the lovers get to rabu-rabu forever in paradise. I don’t know how good of a king Seirin will be without his loyal second-in-command… You can’t just rule a mortal country with ideals and good wishes.

Ku Enrai (CV: Horie Shun)

In the beginning, we learn that Enrai arranged for his personal army to fend off Ensui/Koushou’s invaders to Matsurika village. He does this in Seirin route as well. We also see a flashback where Enrai’s father teaches a young Enrai that his duty as the next head of the Ku family is to … “stop the tyrannous Ko family from committing crimes against humanity again”??? Wait this is not what little kids were taught in school.

I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of the route. Enrai helps Naaya settle in the palace as a servant girl. Enrai is also 27! Naaya thought he was younger than her. Wow Enrai what is your skincare routine may I ask??

Anyways, he personally introduces her (by giving her the name of “Xianyue” – “goddess moon” in Chinese) to the heads of different departments where she rotated through, in attempt for her to get a job and not be discriminated as a keigan:

• Kitchen: Naaya is ordered to “prepare” a chicken for lunch so she beheads the chicken and gets ready to cook it. Seirin walks in to say hi, sees this scene, and faints (the “oh” is so funny). She gets fired because Seirin loves birds so all poultry should only be killed by “twisting their head”!! SMH
• School: Naaya becomes the first female student in the class, leading to all the male students trying to get her affection to the point it escalates to a fist fight. There is also a girl at Touyarou who has the exact same name as her… The teacher fires Naaya because now none of his students are listening to his lecture. (I love how Enrai specifically tells Naaya that this wasn’t her fault that the male students cannot control themselves around her.)
• Pharmacy: I felt so bad for Naaya here but this scene was very well-thought out and necessary to this route. Naaya finally found a place where she fits in. Growing up in the village, she is familiar with herbal medicine and comes up with better prescriptions than experienced doctors that immediately cure patients who have not been seeing results in months. However, this causes her to be the target of jealousy of these doctors who feel their ego is bruised by a newcomer, and a country girl nonetheless! They chase Naaya out of the pharmacy.

Naaya tells Enrai what happened and is upset because really, she didn’t do anything wrong. Enrai is like sigh girl you don’t know how the people drama works in the palace. This hits so true in real life as well, in medicine – is all I’m going to say, and is very unfortunate.

Finally we have the jousting ground: Remember that everyone intentionally loses to Seirin? Seirin got bored and asks Naaya to joust with him, who … beats him easily?! However, Naaya is immediately apprehended for “hurting the prince” and by law she has to be beaten with a stick. Enrai tells them to stop and that he will carry out the rest. He obviously doesn’t beat her and tells her to leave.

Enrai takes a wounded Naaya to his room and tells her to take off her clothes to help her apply medicine. Naaya says no I’m good. Enrai is like how are you going to apply this on your back, also I am not interested in your body at all which is one of the biggest caps I’ve seen this year if you read chapter 8… (Initially I am like does Enrai not have female servants?? But then he actually doesn’t, because he is in the palace and only the king gets female servants. That’s why even later Naaya has to serve as his “male” servant. Alright, not a plot hole.)

Enrai, frustrated that Naaya seemingly can’t keep a job in any of the four major departments (duh how is our girl gonna spend time with you if she stays there), tells Naaya to just stay here and stop causing him trouble. This dismissive tone understandingly frustrates Naaya, who says “I will just leave this place and find a living with my own hands outside”. Enrai mocks her for not knowing how cruel the world is to a girl without her village. Naaya says well how bad can it be?!

To show her how bad it can be… Enrai pretends to sexually assault her. This is how bad it can be. (I definitely understand how this can be interpreted as the author shaming sex workers and misogynistic because oh no the worst thing that can happen to a woman is losing her innocence, and where the criticism of this scene comes from. However, one this is ancient China. Two, at least a sizeable proportion of people who are in sex work do not enter/stay in it out of their will. They – mostly women – are exploited and manipulated to stay by drug addiction or gaslighting or violence or all of the above. Could this scene have been just substituted for another one to avoid controversy? I certainly think so as we get much spicier scenes of the two later on in the game anyway.)

Enrai succeeds in making Naaya cry. At least some reviewers in the Chinese fandom got annoyed how Naaya apologizes to Enrai after. Again, I see their perspective of how Naaya literally almost got assaulted (at least that’s what she believed) and she has to apologize as the victim? However, I understand why the writer lets her apologize because Naaya is saying sorry for how naive she is for thinking she can go make a living without being coerced, abused, and harmed as a girl with keigan in this world. The game really doesn’t give her much options other than staying by her LI and saved – more on this in final thoughts. She chooses to believe Enrai did this to teach her a lesson she will not forget, and for her own good. Enrai = Asian dad confirmed

Naaya sheepishly asks if Enrai needs her to look at gemstones for him, since this was her sole job in the village. Turns out her keigan only works for the specific type of gemstone in her village, not against jade or other regular jewelry outside the village. Again, something about the writer not leaving her much options… She then asks why Enrai is so nice to her. She knows he is a busy man and the head of the Ku clan. Be smart and honest like Enrai, Ruwo.

Enrai tells Naaya that even though keigan is viewed as a bad omen in most of Gekka country, this is not the case for Ku clan. However, he has his reasons for not taking her back to his clan headquarters. He needs to hide her somewhere safe.. The most dangerous place is often the safest. He asks Naaya to stay near him as his “male servant” and gives her a new name “Xiao Que (little sparrow in Chinese)”.

Unfortunately, Naaya gets ostracized by the other servants because they are jealous that she took away Enrai’s attention and became “head servant”. They purposely do not leave food for her after she is done the housework. Enrai tells Naaya that she can just eat meals with him as he always takes so much anyway, nobody would doubt a thing lmao.

Reikyuu continues to say in court that Seirin brings bad luck to the kingdom, earning him more of the king’s disfavour. In the bird room, Seirin, who initially didn’t recognize Naaya in her male disguise but finds out later, tells her that Reikyuu is a senkou who has served the Ko family since their first ancestor and the founder of Gekka, over 900 years ago. Seirin then teases Enrai for giving Naaya this name as it is still fitting for a “cute girl”. Enrai blushes and says he gave this some thought. (He sure has once you find out what happens in the end!) Enrai also formally apologizes to Naaya for scaring her the other night. Seirin is curious what happened between them. They just blush and the air becomes awkward with silence, haha.

It is winter. Enrai tells Naaya to make her bed closer to his which is heated. Under the moonlight, they have a heart-to-heart. Enrai asks if Naaya has gotten used to the palace life. He reminisces about the times when he became the leader of the Ku family and Seirin’s teacher at age 16. How he chased around Seirin escaping class in these walls. The Ku family for generations has served as the king/prince’s bodyguard and teacher. However, Enrai was demoted to only teacher due to the Ko family not liking how much power the Ku family has under them. He again talks about how he sees the qualities of a real king who will make his people live a peaceful and happy life within Seirin.

The next day, Enrai brings Naaya with him. While she remains hidden. Enrai reveals to her that he has been the buyer of her village’s gemstones from Ruwo. Enrai goes to the Ku estate. In the basement, he faces a wall painting of some mythological creature, stating that he only has two more shipments of “scales” to complete it.

This following part I really didn’t understand what the point of was. Naaya as Shoujyaku, talks to some prostitutes outside the palace. After talking to them, Naaya gets on the ground and begs Enrai that she will do anything and work hard to stay by him so that she doesn’t live their lives? If I could justify the earlier scene, this seemed unnecessarily misogynistic. Enrai tells Naaya that he will not let her go. Not only because of her keigan, but also… because he cares about her. Surely, there are other ways to get him to say that in a scene than this.

Ensui, who usually dislikes coming the palace, arrives for some reason. He approaches Naaya and finds out that she is a woman. Turns out that Ensui is named Seirin’s new teacher. Ensui is fired and no longer has a reason to stay in the palace. Ensui tells Enrai that as the new teacher of the prince, he gets to keep “Shoujyaku” who should only be serving the Ku family member in this role, not just Enrai. Enrai pretends to agree while looking at Naaya, who also nods her head knowing that he is planning something. Before Enrai departs, he tells Naaya that if she is in a pinch, Ensui is weak against alcohol so she needs to get him to drink.

Ensui works “Shoujyaku” day and night. Upon talking to the other male servants, she realizes how kindly Enrai has been treating her, that she was barely doing half of what they are expected to do. No wonder they were all jealous of her. Eventually, Ensui tries to force himself onto her. Enrai appears at the perfect time. The two make for a run for the Ku estate after getting Ensui drunk.

Enrai explains the Ku family’s legacy to Naaya. They also secretly believe in Keisei, who is the fifth auspicious beast of this land. The Ko family for reasons, intentionally wiped its existence. However, the Ku family has wanted to resurrect Keisei. To do so, they need the scales (the gemstones), shell, and keigan (for the users to return the power of keigan to Keisei). Enrai wants to resurrect Keisei and set it free. However, Ensui and his supporters want to control Keisei’s power and become the new kings of Gekka.

Ensui shows up angrily and demands Enrai to hand over Naaya. Enrai smiles and says Ensui must have been drunk, as there is no woman to hand over. He calls over a petite male servant – the real Shoujyaku – and said this was his servant all along, and that Ensui must have gotten too drunk to tell between the two. Gaslighting 101

Enrai tells Naaya that she has not one, but two keigan within her. Keisei’s power was divided into three keigan: voice (ability to talk to everything), eye (to see afar), and claw (destructive power to move mountains). Naaya has the keigan of voice – gives the ability to identify Keisei’s scales, passed on in Matsurika village – and eye – which is typically passed on in the white-wolf clan in the north, protected by the descendants of Baikun.

The person with “claw” is the “monster” that we encountered in the common route. Enrai has also noticed him and tracks him down, under Ensui’s army’s supervision as they don’t trust Enrai. They even tie Naaya up to prevent Enrai from defecting. (So what kind of “head of family” is Enrai, really)

Enrai meets the two-horned keigan user, who is called “Karma” by Reikyuu who controls him. Reikyuu says she is not necessarily loyal to the Ko dynasty. She is only loyal to her agenda (as for what that is, revealed in Karma route). She controls Karma to attack the two. However, Enrai bypasses him, with the help of Naaya who uses the power of the voice keigan to reach Karma and drives his sword into Reikyuu’s heart and kicks her down the cliff.

Enrai returns with Karma captured but severely injured. Ensui, not caring that Enrai is injured, announces that he officially challenges Enrai for the spot of Ku clan leader. By tradition, this is decided by a duel of ritualistic dancing. Naaya offers to help Enrai apply medication to his back, and returns what he said to her earlier in the route: “surely you don’t think you can reach there yourself?” Enrai tells Naaya to believe in him, that he will win. He also says Keisei’s shell is “sleeping in the west of mountain” so there is no need to bring it.

We have the battle of the dances where Enrai emerges victorious. So why do they dress up in such feminine attire as men?… Stay tuned for last bit of lore.

The dance is passed down because of of its ritualistic power. Enrai’s uncle’s faction manipulates the two into dancing and inadvertently transferred Karma’s keigan onto Enrai?!

Unlike the harmless properties of Naaya’s keigan, the claw keigan inflicts great pain onto the user. The Ku family forces Enrai to practice his newfound abilities. Each time he uses it, his body suffers and is reaching its limit. (Why does Enrai not just turn on his family as he is stronger than both Ku and Ko armies combined? Why does he just listen lol)

They meet Reikyuu again, who tells them that she is cursed with immortality and cannot die. She says this is her punishment for betraying Keisei 999 years ago, taking its claw and giving it to the Ko ancestor. Ko Unyou (ancestor) transferred the claw’s power onto him and eventually became insane and died. She laughs at Enrai and says it’s a matter of time before he becomes insane, doesn’t recognize his closest ones and kills them, before dying himself.

She tells Naaya to return to Matsurika and bring a specific branch (in exchange for a way to cure Enrai) from the tree in the middle of the village. Naaya sneaks back and snaps the branch. However, when Reikyuu obtains the branch, she just leaves as she is not going to honor her end of the bargain as there is no cure, and that she would never forgive them for killing Karma to obtain his keigan.

Enrai is disheartened as it seems everyone in his clan wants to manipulate Keisei’s power while he is the only one who wants the set the beast free. He is ashamed that the Ku family is power hungry and wants to take power from the rightful rulers. (But there is no rightful ruler. We already know the Ko ancestor was a scumbag.)

So, he confesses to Naaya, thinking he does not have much time left, as they search for the last two scales to complete Keisei’s wall painting. This was a nice scene, but unfortunately this chapter has I kid you not, four or five sex scenes to the point it was interfering with the story. Like, you two are running against time to complete the painting before Enrai goes insane, before the Ku family pulls something on the Ko, and all Enrai thinks about is having sex outdoors with Naaya? This is severely out of character IMO…

History of the Sekigekka dynasty is also sprinkled between the sex scenes (lmao). Long, long time ago, the land was ravaged by natural disasters and evil beasts. A girl danced to the sun (Olympia?? JK) quietly beseeching some god, any god to have pity on and save them. The first to notice and answer was Keisei, who brought the other four auspicious beasts with him as well. This was the dance that Enrai and Ensui performed. The Sekigekka dynasty was ruled by queens and only passed onto daughters. The virgin queen becomes pregnant through dreams of Keisei (Zeus??) and gives birth to the next queen, until the 98th queen gives birth to twins – Kujyaku and Enhi. One girl and one boy. As descendants of Enhi, the Ku family wants the descendant to dress up as a woman to pose as the long lost queen of Sekigekka dynasty and rule this land once again, hence their effeminate attire. Naaya sees a vision of Kujyaku’s rule and notes Enhi if anything, looked very much like Ensui.

As the two are on their travel, news erupt and reach them from Yuexia city that the current king is dead, Seirin turns into Ouryuu and flies into the sky, and Ensui has declared himself as the new king. (Where is “Shisei” this route?)

The four evil beasts are unsealed. Enrai even fights one of the four, Toutetsu, and barely defeats it. They find the final scale. The shell is the branch that Naaya took earlier because Keisei’s soul was sealed within that tree who served as its shell. The fireflies lead the two to an underground tunnel. They then ride a glowing snake which took them directly to the underground of Ku estate.

Enrai and Naaya perform the dance together as the owners of keigan, restoring their powers to Keisei.

With Keisei’s arrival and call for the other four auspicious animals’s return, peace is restored to the land. Ouryuu/Seirin arrives and entrusts the throne to Enrai as he will be staying in paradise.

Enrai and Naaya become the new king and queen of a new dynasty that worships five, not four, auspicious beasts.

Bad End: Naaya keeps making mistakes during the dance and interrupting the process. Enrai gets impatient and gouges out her keigan and completes the ritual himself. (Patience is really a virtue)

Enrai becomes the “queen” of his new dynasty, but is in name only as he is only a symbol of the country. Nobody actually listens to or respects him. Only Naaya’s existence reminds him that he is still a man…

Normal End: Enrai and Naaya run away from all of this and become an ordinary couple in the countryside.

Thoughts: This route had such an amazing start with plot points revisited and rationalized later, only for it to be ruined with that chapter where the two just… reproduced like rabbits? Anywhere and anytime? Under the influence of keigan? Do they not like each other enough without the influence of the keigan? So now do they really love each other or was it all under the influence (something something The Witcher and Geralt/Yennefer’s wish)? Also can this just wait until the end? Is there some kind of sex, especially outdoor sex, quota that Otomate gave Yoshimura, to the point she has to stuff all of that hastily in the end? Enrai just transformed into this dude who carries contraceptive grass with him at all times and goes sex-demon on Naaya? I want a pair of eyes that never read that chapter.

Overall, I enjoyed Enrai as a character. He is cynical yet keeps his softness within him. I find it masterfully done that he tells Naaya to “do the wrong thing knowing it’s wrong” yet did not obey the king’s orders himself, and still taught Seirin to be the man he is today, because he believed in Seirin’s character and wanted to do what’s best for him; even if this costs him his job in this route. He talks about the way of palace intrigue and how it’s necessary to lie, yet do not keep lies from Naaya or Seirin – people who he trust, as he knows the value of friends and does not seal his heart completely off to the world. He tells Naaya that she is annoying and useless, yet cares and protects her quietly without seeking any return or announcing his virtues.

Naaya remains not proactive in this route. She constantly requires special treatment and the male lead to save her, but this has been the theme for the past 4 routes. If anything, the next route is the only one where she doesn’t need saving:

Karma (CV: Nagatsuka Takuma)

Bicorn, or Karma’s route is quite linear (aka less places for the writer to fuck it up). This combined with the fact that Naaya actually does something in this route makes it my favourite out of the game.

Karma rescues Naaya from jail and takes her to his lair. He tells Naaya that they have the same eyes, the same smell, and that he sees her as a friend. Naaya wants to return to the village. Karma tells her she can’t do that because it’s dangerous. The first 2/3 of the route when Karma is in his beast form our LI talks like gaijin discovering duolingo but unfortunately such is the setting of the route. Which is probably why the writer dragged the last part out for quite long to even it up.

Naaya starts her life with Karma in their nest. Karma is basically a scared little animal who can’t communicate properly because of his current form. He is controlled by Reikyuu, who seems to want to go to Matsurika village for some reason. Matsurika village is not locatable by outsiders due to the barrier each village head (Fey/Fey’s dad) set annually through a ritual.

Karma accidentally hurts Naaya one day with his claws. He licks her wound. Naaya eventually makes Karma a pair of gloves so that he doesn’t need to worry about hurting her during their daily life.

When Karma does Reikyuu’s bidding, he loses his own will and has no recollection of what has done. However, we learn from the narrator that he killed an entire village.

Naaya tells Karma that she really misses home. Karma finally agrees to take her back. However, of course Naaya is hunted by the villagers who want her dead (to pass on the keigan). Karma has no choice but to show his fangs and scare off the villagers. However, he gets shot in the back in the process. Naaya tends his wounds back at the nest and feels guilty that she indirectly did this to him.

She sings for Karma to soothe him, which brings back Karma’s memories of when he met Naaya as a feral child in the mountains. He would never forget the girl who has the same heterochromic eyes, who gave him flowers… At the time, the girl told him “let’s play again sometimes” so he waited, waited, and waited…

The night of the full moon arrives. Under its influence, Karma is unable to suppress his bestial instincts, kisses and confesses to Naaya his love. Naaya is not prepared for this at all. Karma runs away in shame, eventually coming back to Naaya forgiving him and realizing she has feelings for Karma as well.

One night, Naaya wakes up and realizes Reikyuu summoned Karma again. Using her keigan, she tracks him down. Reikyuu is annoyed at Naaya for interfering with her plans and orders Karma to kill her. Despite Reikyuu’s incantations, Karma manages to wound her to the point that normally, she’d be dead. However, we know that Reikyuu is cursed to be immortal and not able to die. She mocks herself for being even more like a monster than Karma, and breaks down begging Keisei to forgive her sins and grant her release.

At the same time, both Karma and Naaya start hearing voices from the fireflies. Keisei has entrusted the keigan users to pass on judgment to Reikyuu, whether she has suffered enough or needs to continue to be tormented.

We see a flashback before Reikyuu became a senkou. She seemed to be in love with her teacher, who had the same voice as Fei. She was manipulated by Ko Unyou to use forbidden magic to incapacitate Keisei, so that Ko can have the power of “claw” and she can shower in Keisei’s blood to gain immortality, as she believes if she stays with her teacher forever, eventually, he will love her back. However, one day she hears that her teacher, who is a senkou, somehow died. Ko also became insane from the power of “claw” and imprisoned Reikyuu and demanded she find him a cure. She did not have a point to live anymore. To her horror, she realized unlike her teacher, there was no way she could die.

As Reikyuu’s curse is linked to Keisei and “claw”, perhaps dissipating the curse will help Karma return human. Reikyuu tells Naaya that she needs a branch from the tree back in Matsurika village that is Keisei’s “shell”. Naaya agrees to retrieve it. Karma is worried that she will not return. Naaya kisses him and promises that she will.

Naaya obtains the branch. Karma finally kills Reikyuu at her request with the branch, releasing her from her curse. However, Karma does not turn back human. They continue on their journey to find a way to get rid of their keigan. Using her eye, Naaya see the Ku family (Enrai under a hood) who takes Karma in promising him that they can release his power.

Before Naaya catches up to him, she returns to the village to return Keisei’s branch. However, she is caught by the villagers. Fey interrupts and straight up asks Naaya to “have my children” as this is his only way of saving her. Naaya gets angry and slaps him in the face, then escapes the village by horse.

Naaya goes to the Ku estate and is ushered in.

The Ku family holds their ceremony successfully returning the power to Keisei. Naaya loses her keigan. Karma becomes a normal human man who finally does not need duolingo anymore.

Happy End:

The two are given a handsome sum of money by the Ku family in exchange that they will never tell anyone about what happened here. To close the loop on Matsurika village’s fire needs, they ask Ruwo to teach the villagers next time how to start fires. Shouchou asks them their plans from now on. Karma replies that they want to live peaceful lives at some village and make a living with their own hands. Shouchou recommends they travel east, and to “never forget about Keisei”.

The two embark on their journey together. To be honest, I thought the route ends here, which is beautiful as well.

As time goes on, Karma starts regaining memory of when he was still a human, and his times with his parents who were both villagers. He tells Naaya that he wants to find his roots.

This is the only sex scene in the happy ending. Naaya and Karma basically netflix and chill near the bonfire until eventually Karma breaks the ice lol

They reach a village, or what used to be a village, where Karma used to live. Unfortunately, he recalls that Reikyuu ordered him to destroy and kill everyone, including his parents, in this village, so it is now no more. He breaks down and starts crying for all his crimes. Before Naaya could comfort him, they both sense Keisei and hear the fireflies’ voice. (Not explained why they both can do that when they returned their keigan, but ok)

Keisei is resurrected but under the control of Ku family. In this timeline, Enrai and Ensui see eye-to-eye and are usurping the throne. To free Keisei from manipulation, the two sing a song together that reaches Keisei’s heart and releases it. However, this turns Naaya and Karma’s hair white, consumes all their energy, and eventually they turn into animals.

Naaya and Karma are commemorated by the people of Gekka as saviours and even senkou. The two wander in the forest as a pair of foxes.

Bad end: Naaya’s voice does not reach Karma, who kills her under Reikyuu’s command. Reikyuu then wipes Karma’s memory. Karma returns to his nest. He sees a corpse of a girl who seems familiar to her, but cannot remember who she is, nor does he want to let go of her…

Normal end: Karma and Naaya decide to make this route beauty and the beast instead of Tarzan and live their happy life in the mountains.

Thoughts: Overall, this is a well-written route without any red flags. Naaya is actually a participant of the plot and pushes it forward through her actions and using her abilities. The good ending pays homage to the famous Chinese love tragedy Liang Zhu. I think the normal and bad endings are adequately written as well. No complaints here.

Fey (CV: Okamoto Nobuhiko)

Warning: I do not have nice things to say about this route. So if you are a fan of this route & feel you’re going to be offended about what I write then skip this for both our sake.

Fey’s route follows Ruwo/Zebenera’s development. Naaya is in jail when Ensui’s army arrives. Fey rescues Naaya. The two run to a cave where he confesses his feelings for her. Fey tells Naaya to run away when the rain stops. He has to stay behind for the sake of the village. Naaya tells him that without him, she is not going anywhere.

Fey brings Naaya back to the village. The writer can’t seem to decide on what the villagers want to do with her as in:

• Fey brings her back. The villagers say NO WAY. Fey says guys calm down this incident doesn’t have anything to do with her. Villagers: Oh ok I guess

• At Agedo’s funeral, the villagers suddenly are not OK with Naaya in the village anymore and chant Tao-uu and want her out again
• After the funeral, it seems that Naaya has to leave and Fey has to stay. Fey’s cousin challenges Fey to a duel, confessing his love for Naaya saying he wants to marry her instead (??? if Fey can’t convince the village what makes him think he can). During the competition, the village just comes to watch the two men who are the future of the village, fight over the Tao-uu and cheer them on (???) forgetting that they are supposed to banish this girl. The cousin says he challenged Fey so he can realize his true feelings for Naaya (??? I mean he did but the villagers made it impossible)
• The villagers proceed to cheer for Fey and Naaya during their wedding (???)
• The day after the wedding. The villagers remember she is the Tao-uu again and threaten to break in their homes.
• Despite being the village head whose word is supposed to be absolute, Fey has trouble convincing the village. However, they agree to keep Naaya so that she can give birth to his son and pass on the lineage. They will decide what to do with them later.
• The next day Fey is at a meeting with Naaya at home alone. The village people completely forget what was agreed upon yesterday, and literally break down Naaya and Fey’s house, because Naaya is Tao-uu… During which, two young men want to rape Naaya. (However, if they truly believed she had impure bloodline and is cursed, this would never be a thing. They would just be disgusted by her. What was the point of this scene…??? Again, is this the only hardship an otome MC can face?)

In the meantime, Fey and his father Agedo explain the ritual that can only be performed by the village head and his sons. This creates the barrier that seals Matsurika village off from the rest of the world. Agedo, Fey, and men from their lineage are said to be direct descendants of Feyen, a senkou who founded this village. It is later revealed that this ritual causes great damage to the performer’s body, which is why none of the village heads live long in Matsurika village, and Fey’s hesitation in dragging Naaya into his life as he knows she will be widowed. The ritual was interrupted last time due to the invasion; Fey and Agedo need to perform it again. Agedo dies following this ritual. His funeral is held. Fey becomes the next village head.

I’ve described the challenge above, after which they held their wedding and consummated the marriage:

Fey finally has enough from the insane villagers and says he no longer cares about what happens to them. He and Naaya get on a horse to escape the village at night. However, the villagers come after them. Fey performs the ritual again to form a barrier between them and the villagers. Fey dies as a result. Yes, like fully die. I never expected I get to roleplay as a widow in an otome game but here we are.

Naaya wanders among villages and takes shelter in various temples, praying for Fey in the afterlife. Eventually, Feyen falls from the sky holding Naaya in his arms. He calls her Kujyaku,

We then have a loooong flashback. Kujyaku is the 99th and final queen of the Sekigekka dynasty. As we mentioned before, this dynasty is ruled by a chain of virgin queens who have dreams of Keisei, and bear Keisei’s children. Kujyaku has a twin brother Enhi, which is unusual as usually the queen only gives birth to daughters. Kujyaku again, gives birth to a pair of twins – one boy, one girl. This is regarded as a bad omen (yet people didn’t say anything when Kujyaku’s mother delivered??) and felt to destabilize the dynasty.

This is all demonstrated in the game’s scenario writing in case people say I am extrapolating. Kujyaku doesn’t really rule her people. When her people and Ko Unyou (who is her prime minister) ask her on what her solution/opinion is on real life problems, she would reply “Oh I don’t know, nor do I have any good ideas. I only listen to Keisei-sama he will tell me what to do in my dreams.” so tough luck humans! All she does every day is pluck Matsurika flowers in the palace, giggle, play, and have two senkou following her around – Baikun and Feyen. These two senkou just chase her around in the palace all day because they are worried about her safety. I got no exposition on what they actually did or do for the people or land. Even one of Ko’s subordinates say “with how those senkou are worshipped around the country, shouldn’t they actually start doing something for the people?”

It is also against senkou rules to stay in the mortal world for this long. Eventually, they send someone telling Baikun and Feyen that they need to return to the immortal world. Both of them refuse, saying they need to “watch over the people”, claiming the five auspicious beasts alone are not sufficient, but really they just want to spend more time with Kujyaku. Feyen gets pissed at Reikyuu because she was the one who tipped off his bosses that he is breaking the rules, throwing his status and duties as a senkou away for a mortal woman. As retaliation, he cuts off Reikyuu’s cultivation path and doesn’t allow her to advance on her path to becoming a senkou.

For a combination of his own desire to rule the country (since he is kind of doing that anyway as Kujyaku isn’t) and truly believing that people would have better lives when Kujyaku and her simps are not part of the ruling class, Ko Unyou goes to Reikyuu and proposes to form an alliance. He says he can deceive Ouryuu and obtain its power, which will allow Reikyuu to overpower Keisei through forbidden magic. Ko will keep Keisei’s “claw” while Reikyuu can keep Keisei’s blood so she can be immortal, as Feyen is not letting her cultivate towards senkoudom anymore because she dared repeat what he is actually doing in the human world to his boss.

Feyen later tells Reikyuu that she is extremely selfish and denies that he has any feelings towards Kujyaku, as it is forbidden for senkou to love at all (in this universe). He tells Reikyuu that he is no longer her teacher and to get out of his sight. How can anyone view Feyen in a positive light after this? He just gaslit Reikyuu and lied to her for his own selfish gain.

Ko Unyou starts a coup and his soldiers swarm the palace. We replay the very first scene between Feyen and Kujyaku in the beginning. Kujyaku says she wants to die here with her kingdom, but then runs away with Feyen anyway (??? lmao). She tells Feyen that she has loved him since she was a little girl, but didn’t say it because she knew Feyen was a senkou and could not love her back. (Keisei: thanks guys) Now, some people will jump out and argue with me that Keisei and Kujyaku/the Sekigekka queens’ relationship is not necessarily of lust or romantic but to me if they’re literally having his child then yes they are romantically involved, and Kujyaku is cheating on Keisei with Feyen.

Ko becomes the new king. It is also mentioned that he treats his people well, and that his people immediately started supporting his rule. So they probably didn’t have the best lives under their queen who tells her people let them eat cake.

A mortally wounded Keisei used his last powers and gave Kujyaku two keigan – voice and eye – before turning into a tree sealing his soul within it. Enhi is angered at Ko and vows to take the kingdom back and enact his revenge. Kujyaku then starts screaming Noo! You can’t have revenge that’s not good. and throws a tantrum……because she is so pure and innocent and good when she can’t do anything for herself and constantly needs her senkou and beasts and brother to save her… At this time, her top priority is one day resurrect Keisei. Ka Enhi disagrees with her and leaves her party with her followers. He becomes Ku Enhi and takes residence in Yuexia city. (In this case, Enrai in his own route was following Kujyaku’s wishes, while Ensui – who is said to look very similar to Enhi – stayed true to Enhi’s agenda.)

Eventually, Kujyaku dies of old age. She does not leave any children with Feyen, who suddenly cares about the senkou rules now and can’t have relationships with her. As Kujyaku’s servants prepare to bury her, Feyen refuses and uses forbidden magic (oh now he doesn’t care about what’s allowed anymore) for the purpose of one day resurrecting his beloved.

Feyen also “dies” by splitting his soul in hundreds of fragments, mixing with other souls who are born into this world – again, forbidden magic. This is how the first village head of Matsurika village came to be. Each generation, they have to perform the ritual to conceal the village and contribute towards putting together the puzzle that if Feyen’s soul. Feyen = Voldemort confirmed.

Kujyaku’s keigan passed on to her two children. The brother inherited “eye” and the daughter “voice”. Baikun says it’s best to separate the two keigan until when they are needed together again.

After telling Naaya about his and Kujyaku’s life, Feyen declares that after 999 years, his soul finally becomes one again, and that she is Kujyaku who has returned to him. This elicits a strong response from Naaya who says she is the same girl from Matsurika village and not some queen from a thousand years ago. Feyen continues to tell her that he is Fey. Not only Fey, but also Agedo, and so on… each generation’s memory is retained so he has all of Fey’s memories of things that Fey did with Naaya.

Also, Feyen caused Naaya’s parents to meet so that she can inherit both keigan. Or in other words, Feyen caused Naaya to become a Tao-uu and have no choice but to come to him.

Knowing this is what Kujyaku wanted, Naaya wants to resurrect Keisei as soon as possible. However, Feyen dislikes this idea (as he is jealous of Keisei still occupying Kujyaku’s mind even after one thousand years later) and says they should “not rush” on this.

Naaya enters a state of confusion and despair as she cannot tell whether she is Kujyaku or Naaya, and whether this man in front of her with all of Fey’s mannerisms is her dead husband or the senkou Feyen. She starts sobbing, and Feyen holds her being like honey don’t cry I will give you the moon if you ask for it. Money? Power? Prestige? Being accepted by your crazy villagers? I can make all of that happen.

They run into Reikyuu. Feyen sends her back to the senkou world to receive “punishment” and we never hear about her again in this route.

They reach the ruins of Sekigekka and find the palace halls where Kujyaku used to roam in. Then they do the deed as Feyen finally decides screw the senkou rules I do what I want and who I want I guess? Naaya tells Feyen that she doesn’t care anymore whether he is Fey or Feyen, she loves him and doesn’t want to lose him again.

When Naaya wakes up (ayo did you two just sleep outside for the whole night?) she sees Feyen… in Fey’s attire. This creeped me out so much!! Like this could be written in those horror games and would send chills down my spine. Yet, I don’t think this was what the author intended which is kind of hilarious?

The senkou world sends down the same senkou and warns Feyen again that he needs to return to them and to pay the price for using forbidden magic to reincarnate Kujyaku. Feyen becomes so strong to the point he … just defeats his ex-boss, wounds him, and teleports him back to the senkou world?

However, Naaya starts screaming, kicking, and crying because what Feyen did was “cruel”, “violent”, and that “the Matsurika flowers would never bloom on this side of the mountain again”… and Feyen has to scramble to calm down his little lover. ?????????????????????????? Feyen: OK I’ll just die I guess?

Feyen’s boss finds Ku Ensui and gives him the final scale of Keisei. As this senkou is no match for Feyen, his only hope is to resurrect Keisei so the two can fight over one useless and annoying and selfish woman that isn’t even the MC hooray this is definitely what I signed up for in an otome game. Naaya starts hearing Keisei calling out to her. She loses control of herself and walks to Keisei, who is calling out to his Kujyaku.

Feyen yells at Keisei to not take her away, because she is Naaya not Kujyaku, that she is her own identity, and not the woman he was looking for 1000 years ago. He has been avoiding the two from meeting each other again, but this happened eventually. In my opinion, Feyen is only saying whatever is convenient so that he can have her to himself. I don’t think he truly thought this girl is Naaya not Kujyaku, or that he suddenly falls in love with Naaya now after loving Kujyaku for 1000 years. I think he is just a manipulator and lier and will say and do whatever achieves his goal. He casts some forbidden magic again and says “Goodbye, Naaya”

Happy end: After a bright light, Naaya wakes up with Feyen still by her side! The two cry and embrace each other and that’s literally the end!

Bad End: Naaya stays behind with Fey (before their escape) and gives birth to their child. However, not so good things await both of them as they are likely to be banished vs. killed now that the village head’s bloodline is secured.

Normal End: Feyen re-establishes the Sekigekka dynasty and rule it with his queen Kujyaku forever and more. Who is Naaya? She never existed.

Final Thoughts

I must confess I do not do well with Yoshimura Ririka‘s works. I rarely drop games, but I dropped both Cupid Parasite and My Next Life as a Villaness in the common routes/first LI because of how annoyed I was. This game was not annoying because of the heavy tone, but I had major issue with the writing once again. I feel with this long review and detailed recall of each route’s plot, I am in somewhat of a position to lay out the issues I have with the writing which single-handedly ruined my experience to the point I will not be buying the FD even with how beautiful the art is and the cast. I’ve already pointed out the glaring plot holes (some of them route-breaking) during my review of each route so will not repeat here. Beyond inattention to detail including plot holes and blatant ignorance of Chinese tradition (despite choosing to market it as 中華風; and this is beyond oh no white is reserved for funerals), fundamentally I do not agree with how the writer approached how to build the characters:

1. Is this really Naaya’s story?

The writer gives Naaya the setting of keigan – meaning she cannot rely on herself outside her village. She also can’t stay in the village because she is Tao-uu. Her only ability only works on the one specific gemstone that her village produces and useless outside. This forces Naaya to become the ultimate damsel in distress because she literally cannot live without one of the LI saving her.

As a result, I see little participation of Naaya in most of the routes except Karma’s and maybe half participation in Zebenera’s. Instead of a participant or lead of her story, Naaya is like a “camera” through which lens we see how the LI develops as a person and writes his story. Naaya’s role is to unconditionally forgive him, love him, and cry for him because she has no other choice but to be codependent. This is not Naaya’s story. This is the story of “Naaya’s men”.

Naaya is by far not the first damsel in distress or “gentle” female lead that I have come across, but rarely do I see such high a level of dependence on others.

2. Kujyaku and why she is my least favourite otome MC to date

If Naaya made me slightly uncomfortable, I can say she is not my cup of tea and maybe there are readers who appreciate her. Kujyaku takes this to the next level, because she is not only useless but also extremely self-unaware and selfish. All she did in her flashbacks was to cry, throw tantrums, and tell her people let them eat cake, and plucked flowers with her two senkou-sama in the palace while her people suffered. If anything, I had a lot of empathy towards Ko Unyou and Reikyuu and totally understood, and even supported their revolution against the Sekigekka dynasty. The end may have justified the means.

Byakuya from Olympia Soiree, Hinagiku from Uchronia are both similar examples, yet the writers made sure to demonstrate that they had some redeeming qualities, usually in the form of standing up for the weak and sharing their privilege. However, Kujyaku doesn’t do anything of this, and actively hinders other people’s plans for her ideal of what is “right” at others’ expense. This type of character I dislike the most.

3. Extreme inconsistency

Other than the back and forth attitudes that the villagers had towards Naaya, several instances of inconsistency and hypocrisy stood out to me:

• Ruwo told Naaya to not get revenge but kills Ki-en in two of his endings (one of them the best ending). Ruwo is allowed to get revenge but Naaya isn’t. He doesn’t even bother helping Naaya get her revenge either.
• Seirin and Enrai both constantly said they didn’t want to be the king, yet the best ending for both of them was where they became king with Naaya their queen. Maybe the writer thinks it makes them “virtuous” and “not desperate” for power, but then giving them something they “didn’t want” in their good ending makes the reader uncomfortable.
• People who were written to be in positions of power, were not actually in positions of power. Nobody listened to Fey even when he becomes village head. Nobody listened Seirin even when he literally showed his true form as Ouryuu after his father died. More than half of the Ku clan didn’t listen to Enrai’s orders despite lots of setup for him to be “the head of the Ku clan” “the irrefutable master”. So what was the point?

Overall, this shows that the writing is weak and cannot stick to what has been established before. Nothing can be trusted anymore because the writer will just overturn it at her whim and write the story as if it’s new. I’ve seen fanfiction that did better jobs than this…

4. Other than the clothing, music, and food, what exactly is Chinese-inspired about this game?

My guess is that the writer chose Chinese-style for this game to use its xianxia references. However, xianxia focuses on how a mortal becomes immortal through cultivation and often features the theme of humans beating gods or change their lives through hard work and preservation (逆天改命；我命由我不由天）Does this game demonstrate any of that? Naaya did not have any development from beginning to end. She is a helpless damsel in distress in the beginning, and a crybaby in the end who still can’t live without a man. Does the story really change much other than Fey’s route if the game’s setting is Japanese mythology, Greek mythology, Norse mythology?

Reincarnation/转世 is a common theme in xianxia romance. However, it often features how the souls have to suffer several generations before reuniting again. Here, Naaya/Fey let others suffered while they just needed to do lovey dovey things and be together, while disregarding and gaslighting others (such as Reikyuu) in the process. This is not the heart of xianxia romance. Many people took issue with the lack of distinction between the male/female lead’s identities in Fey route (I think the writer just gave up in the end). Usually in xianxia, they resume their original identities, i.e. the normal end was probably the xianxia end and the true ending in my heart.

This again shows the writer did not do adequate research of the genre and has a very superficial understanding of Chinese culture. If she wanted to use the theme of reincarnation, she could also just come up with her own mythological settings. This is not exclusive to Chinese culture.

Finally, I really, really am triggered that the game devs let Seirin and Naaya wear white for a Chinese wedding.

5. What’s in the FD?

Based on the website, the FD will have three parts, which is a lot of content:

• Past: how each character was shaped into the person they are today
• Present: Recounts in the base game how Naaya and the LI overcame difficulties together
• Future: Extensions of all three endings.

6. Verdict:

I usually use more neutral language such as “I cannot in good conscience recommend this game”. However, I will be more forceful in this review, in a negative sense.

The overarching story adds up and is interesting. However, the execution is one of the worst I have ever seen. I got physically uncomfortable reading 2/6 routes. Ruwo for MC unconditionally forgiving him after he literally trafficks her, and Fey route for the hypocrisy of Feyen and how unlikeable Kujyaku is as a character (useless and selfish). Seirin’s route has a game-breaking plot hole where Shisei not Seirin is called forth to be the successor and attend the ceremony. Enrai’s route has severe OOC where there is an invisible sex count quota that the writer is trying to meet, to the point 4-5 sex scenes are cramped in one chapter before the conflict is resolved and the world is literally ending. Zebenera and Karma routes are the most linear with less room for mistake, and end up performing the best.

The game has a very superficial understanding of Chinese culture; I did not appreciate anything Chinese about it at all other than the aesthetics. Mythical beasts, reincarnation, fortune-telling, natural elements are not exclusive to Chinese culture & I wish the game just stuck to Japanese mythology or created its own. So much wasted potential here.

Route ranking: Karma > Zebenera > Enrai > Seirin >>>>> Ruwo >>>>> Fey

Rating: 3/10 (+1 for the art, music, and cast.)