ladyjlb's manga / #gender bender(35)

Read ch 7 as of 3/6/20

** Too many plot holes, seemed rushed, stupid FL

DROPPED Read ch 82 as of 10/10/20 - overly melodramatic, plot holes and Main Leads not very likeable.

Ch 42 as of 10/06/22 - rate 3.5 ** End of season 1, Ch 40 - FL is Yeon Lokheun, a girl who grew up as a boy. - Yeon Muhan, ML’s father who was a scholar. - When FL is 3mths old and Muhan is away working, FL’s mother Baek Ayeon is raped and killed by the corrupt local Viceroy. Muhan’s mother and the rest of the household are murdered. The house is also destroyed. Muhan returns to find FL hidden in a basket and the corpse of Ayeon in the snow. - Muhan becomes a wanted fugitive after he kills the Viceroy and 20 guards. He leaves FL in the care of monks at Bokryung Temple in the Gunah mountains. He visits her when she’s 5yo and 7yo. - During the Buddhist festival for All Souls’ Day, 7yo FL thinks Garyun is a celestial maiden. She had always hoped on this day her mother would be able to visit FL as a celestial maiden. - Garyun leaves the ashes of his family at the Buddhist temple. - FL left the temple to live with Muhan and her new stepmother, Wang Seonhae. When FL was 14yo, Seonhae was pregnant. Seonhae suddenly fell ill and gave birth early to a girl, Seoheun. - The doctor says Sanghae needs a herb called Yongnae. This herb is only available from the imperial treasury. - Muhan is arrested at the imperial palace for trespassing and he’s accused of trying to assassinate the Emperor. FL attends the execution of Muhan and attacks the guards. - FL tries to free Muhan but is stopped by Wolhan, one of the Emperor’s personal bodyguards. - 20yo / 22yo Emperor Garyun comes forward from among the crowd of spectators. FL asks to take her life instead of Muhan’s. - Garyun makes a deal with FL. He will spare Muhan’s life and give them the Yongnae herb. In exchange FL’s life belongs to Garyun. He will teach martial arts to FL and help her grow stronger. - 20th Prince (?) became the Emperor. - 3yrs later a shrine was built for his mother, Empress Myunghae. - The Yellow Dragon Empire became more stable - Jingwa, the Left General / Lt. Gen. - Eun Sohyun, Garyun’s favourite concubine (?) - The Blood Dragon Sword is one of the imperial treasures and is a sword that chooses it's owner. FL starts to unsheath the sword and calls forth the Blood Dragon who unseals the Lair of Demons. - Garyun pushes FL into the Lair which closes behind her. She’s expected to use this as an opportunity to become much stronger. - In the Lair, FL meets a vengeful spirit called Seo Tagyun the Ghost of 1000 Souls. He was a powerful warrior and swordmaster. - He promises to give his powers and abilities to FL after she agrees to deliver a jade token to his son. FL becomes Tagyun’s disciple. - FL spends the next year training under Tagyun while fighting the demons and evil spirits in the Lair. - Prince Gagwang and Tagyun were close friends. They fell in love with the same woman, Ryu-An. She chose to be with Tagyun. - After Gagwang became Emperor 30yrs ago, Tagyun was sent to the border region to conquer the barbarians. While Tagyun was away, Gagwang had everyone at Tagyun’s estate slaughtered by Thirayu the Human Dog. Ryu-An was raped and killed by Gagwang. Ryu-An managed to hide their son. - Tagyun asks FL to bring him some water from the Evil Stream in the middle of the Lair. FL sees many colourful mushrooms called Earth Spirit Herbs there. She eats some and coughs up blood. - The Earth Spirit appears and says FL will suddenly gain power from eating the mushrooms. As compensation for eating them, FL must protect the mushrooms until they turn blue. - Sorin, another spirit. He teaches FL how to hide her true self by changing her appearance using a special Qi skill. - 2yrs later, the mushrooms turn blue and FL takes the water to Tagyun. FL is now 17yo. - Emperor Gagwang, Garyun’s father. Gagwang was a tyrant who neglected his duties while he engaged in debauchery. - Empress Myunghae, Garyun’s mother. - 13yo Garyun, the Crown Prince. - Gahan, the 4th Prince and Garyun’s younger brother. - Princess Sohae and Aunt Jangran, Garyun’s family. - Mahae, a concubine and the new Empress. - Prince Gajin, Mahae’s son. - Mahae frames Gahan with a false accusation that has him stripped of his title and imprisoned. He hopes to die so Garyun won’t be targeted. Mahae sends assassins to kill Garyun and his family. - Garyun is forced to flee the palace while everyone he cherishes is killed. Garyun wanders around the country for a few years. 18yo Garyun returns to the palace, kills his father and takes the throne. - Tagyun transferred his soul to FL’s sword. - FL left the Lair and killed Thirayu the Human Dog. - FL delivered the jade token to Tagyun’s son, Taejyu. - FL returns to the imperial palace. Garyun rewards FL by granting her the position of Elite / Head Imperial General. - Nam Daegyun, Garyun’s uncle - Mayung, FL’s falcon / eagle - FL’s first imperial mission is to go to the Muho region that is known for it's pearls. Garyun showed FL some pearls with blood inside them. There has been a sudden increase in deaths. The cost of medicine has also increased. There’s a mysterious epidemic that causes festering wounds. - The local lord Yeo Sumin kidnapped the pearl farmer and his male lover who was one of the water folk. The male lover cursed Sumin which spread to the local people. - FL saves the pearl farmer and his male lover. The pearl farmer kills Sumin. His male lover returns to the ocean and the curse is lifted, ending the epidemic and curing everyone. - Garyun’s 25th bday celebration: - FL hears that Gagwang’s tomb is haunted by a female ghost. FL suspects it’s the spirit of Ryu-An who has been sealed away by Gagwang. FL disguises herself as a court lady and goes to the tomb. - FL frees Ryu-An’s spirit but is cursed by Gagwang’s spirit. - FL escapes when she hears Wolhan. FL collapses in a nearby bamboo forest. She’s found by Garyun who sensed her Qi. - Garyun takes FL to an empty pavilion and dispels the curse from her body. He’s fallen in love with her at 1st sight. - After she’s rested and recovered, with her permission they make love all night (Ch 37). He thinks her name is Yeon (lotus flower). FL disappears in the morning. - Empress Dowager Inhye, Garyun’s grandmother. - Serial killer - Brides of influential families are killed on their wedding night. - Their deaths are made to look like suicides.

Ch 50 as of 27/01/22 - kinda boring - FL learns swordsmanship from her father. He dies when she’s 18yo. Her family history record shows a twin brother name although no such person exists. FL uses the male name to take the knight exam and works as a lower ranked Chiandae knight of the City Watch to support herself. She’s the vice-captain. - FL has a friend, Sir Tissone (sword prodigy) who was assigned to the Imperial Palace Knights but keeps seeking her out. FL prefers to keep her distance so her identity isn’t exposed. - In Eduard Forest, 23yo FL crosses paths w/ 28yo ML Crown Prince Clayore just as he killed his latest fiancé for being a witch. The ML recognises her Arthur family swordsmanship technique and his interest in her is piqued. - ML finds FL again and she eventually agrees to his proposal for a 5 yr contract marriage (ie as a male knight pretending to be a female noble!). The contract marriage to older sister Estelle is also relayed by ML to the noble factions loyal to him. - Love at 1st sight for Sir Tissone when he meets FL as Estelle. - ML takes FL to her new home for the next 5 yrs and is introduced to her carefully selected staff. She is tested by ML and butler Jurgen (formerly ML’s aide) w/ a mock attack by fake assassins. - FL resigns from the knights, citing sister’s marriage - The law states one must be married to take the throne. Empress Albina (a witch, not ML mother) is killing the ML fiancés to prevent him from ascending the throne as Emperor. - FL meets Duchess Rikum (2nd Princess Constance, 2nd of Empress 3 x daughters, also a witch) at a tea party. Constance gifts everyone hand cream which FL finds to be cursed after testing it. - FL learns in the past her father saved ML’s life while he was ML’s personal guard. ML confirms this, and suggests her father kept out of factional politics to allow her to live the life she desired. - For 6mths from engagement ceremony to the coronation, FL must visit the temple everyday for purification to prepare her as a vessel for divinity. The royal bloodline has divine power which is how ML proved to be the missing Crown Prince after he returned. - Engagement ceremony: Viscount Maynard, father of Inase the last ML fiancé, tries to approach FL but is interrupted by Sir Tissone. Later the FL’s carriage is ambushed by 55 knights under the Viscount. FL senses no life energy from the knights. ML arrives before FL strikes the Viscount and purifies some of the corruption. - ML is urgently looking for solution to shore up his support base after the Viscount has been incapacitated. - ML visits FL the next morning just as Sir Tissone is proposing himself as an alternative husband to the ML. FL politely rejects his offer after stopping a potential duel between them. - ML gives update to FL on Viscount Maynard. He’ll be charged with treason but he’s alive and his knights are still unconscious. - To soften the charge, FL offers to use her brother’s name as Count Arthur in this case to protect the Viscount as a supporter of ML. They will pretend it’s a feud between families and House Arthur will make peace. ML agrees and assigns new guards to FL. - FL wants more people that are loyal to her only by her side. She invites her former colleague Quinn and his wife to work under her. - Flower Party: held by the highest ranked unmarried woman, the host is 3rd Princess Ardena and it’s customary to exchange flowers. FL with her short hair arrives late amidst derisive whispers from the other nobles. Most of the ladies give her a Laurent flower which is highly attractive to bees and her basket is soon covered by them. - FL has them removed by an attendant but gifts the same flowers to the ML when she sees him next so he knows what happened. - The 3rd Princess left a note with a cryptic message for FL in her flowers when she left. - The political factions make their move. The Archibald Club (history, blood) and the Calebs (wealth, power) send letters to House Arthur including several marriage offers for Count Arthur. - FL attends an event at the Empress’ palace. As a rule no men are allowed. As she enters she meets Ladies Alyssia (Lisa), Sofia and Fleur who become her new friends. FL sees the 3rd Princess and follows her outside. They speak only after FL gave chase. - The Princess tells FL to leave Alzen the capital city, and that ML won’t win. - FL goes to Lady Quessy’s event (her daughter was another fiancé of ML who died from poison). Constance is there and they speak privately. FL is invited to ally with Constance. The princess seems to summon something from the ground then disappears. - Jurgen brings FL her sword and she stabs into the ground when a monster erupts. FL eventually defeats it by destroying the magic core in its head. (Ch 50) - Constance had suggested for FL to read Melzen’s “Ecology of Witches”. FL asks Jurgen about it. The book was banned by the temple but there’s a copy in the imperial palace library. - If a witch wants to reproduce, she must get permission from the Great Witch.

Read ch 102 as of 09/08/21 - rate 3.5 - FL is 30yo Marina, Chief and Main Developer of VRWMM (VR World Maker Machine). Obsessed with medieval fantasies. - ML is Edward Allen Dihas. 22yo heir to a ducal house. - His family were banished far from the capital by the Emperor. ML left at 9yo with his father Richard. - In the VR world of Lasnarok, FL escapes slavery by using ‘eastern fire’ to burn all the slave papers. Disguised as a boy, she asks to be an apprentice to Lavine, the “weaponry technician” to ML. She also meets Lavine’s current assistant, Will. FL creates a washing machine to prove her worth. FL is introduced by Lavine to ML, promising to make him more powerful than the Emperor without needing to go outside of his estate. - FL sets the castle booby traps and breaks ML’s leg. - FL wants to stop ML from leaving on a journey to then have his estate destroyed and everyone killed by the Emperor. - ML makes a deal with FL: he will provide her with a comfortable life and she will provide him with technology. - FL is appointed as the Eastern Technician, Rino. - Arin the maid is assigned to FL. - While still under suspicion, FL is not permitted to make weapons yet. She’s ordered to invent products that aren’t weapons to prove her worth. FL helps ML and those in the estate with her “inventions”, ie developing and introducing modern industrial tech in a medieval world. (ie wheelchair, crutch, gym equipment, telescope) - FL finally wins over 22yo Cain Drowe (ML’s RH man) with an enhanced prosthetic hand, complete with rocket punch. - ML moves FL to the room next to his. He forces FL to undergo a daily training regime with him. - Lady Diathe Herena, ML’s very young fiancé. - FL accidentally falls on her and she bullies FL for revenge, but it backfires. The lady accuses FL of sodomy. - ML surprises FL taking a bath at a nearby hot spring. A wolf attacks them but is killed by ML. After that, ML lets FL use his bath secretly. FL isn’t sure if ML caught her without the chest binding. - Emperor Barron Devain: childhood friend of ML. The character was based on FL’s real life younger brother Maro 29yo. - He pays a surprise visit to ML. The Emperor’s guard and slave Margo found Cain with FL on the top floor. Margo wants to fight Cain with no distractions, so she throws FL out of the window. - FL lands heavily on the Emperor then throws up on him. The Emperor leaves with a badly injured Margo. - ML has FL recovering in his room. He’s blindfolded when he checks FL’s injuries. - The Emperor returns and picks fights with the knights of Dihas to find out who injured Margo. Before he can pick on Cain, ML volunteers to spar with the Emperor. ML wins after the Emperor said he wants to see FL if he won. - FL is discovered by the Emperor and forced to join him and ML for a tea party. Will and Arin, both badly beaten and tortured, were brought out. In response FL triggers the mechanism and the Emperor is flung far away from the special chair built by FL, originally intended to punish Lady Diathe. - FL is forced to flee by ML who sends her to another noble house far away from Castle Dihas, w/ Cain as her escort. - They exit via a secret passage and come across a spy who dies from poison. FL remembers from the story about the Emperor’s plot to place bombs throughout the castle. - Back in the castle, FL asks Lady Diathe for help. The lady escapes by not using her wigs to hide her red hair. Using the power of her Marquis house, she asks for the aid of noble houses and their soldiers in the nearby hunting grounds. - FL and Cain disguised themselves as Lady Diathe and her maid. They free ML from the dungeon and leave the other knights there to cover his absence. FL disarms the time bombs in pots scattered throughout the castle tunnels while Cain and ML take care of intruders. - ML kisses FL (still thinks she’s a boy) while trying to convince her to flee to the nearest temple. - Margo enters and tries to take FL hostage. She is beaten by Cain and ML. Margo became the hostage instead and the Emperor is notified. Lady Diathe arrives with other nobles and their soldiers to all bear witness before a priestess in this trial against the Emperor’s guard, Margo. FL uses fingerprints as evidence. - ML gives Margo back to the Emperor. He punched Barron then spanked him. (stupid soft punishment) - Lady Diathe thanks FL for the opportunity to take action. - FL keeps looking for ways to get back to her own world. - Initial relationship hurdles to overcome ... - FL finally reveals to ML that she’s a girl after taking off her chest binding while they’re getting frisky. He’s shocked at first. - Plot twist: Marina returns to real world just as she’s about to tell all to ML. Time seems to have flowed the same between VR and real world, so she’s been in a coma this whole time. - Her brother Maro hands to FL a hardcopy book from her place with the unfinished story of Lasnarok from Rino’s perspective. It’s the only copy of the book where the story has changed. - FL was overweight growing up and was always compared to her younger, better looking sibling. - In her desire to live in a world where she is loved and surrounded by her creations, FL manages to go back to VR world again when she sees the unfinished book glowing ... but 3 yrs have passed in Lasnarok where it’s only been 1 mth in the real world. - ML turned dark, trusting no one. He’s defiant, aggressive and tense. He’s terrified FL will leave again. - The Emperor lay siege in a prolonged war against Castle Dihas and all suspected FL as his spy due to the timing of her disappearance. FL is also suspected of corrupting ML through sodomy. The animosity and jealousy that was already prevalent among the knights just before she disappeared is now widespread throughout the estate. Her only friends are ML, Cain, Will and Arin. - ML hides FL in his room in order to protect her, like a helpless princess. FL has cabin fever and wants to help. - Her brother Maro follows FL into this VR world. - FL announces to everyone that he’s the hidden, older twin brother of Barron and the legitimate Emperor. - ML rallies his people to support the fight for the throne. Maro will be the decoy. The next Emperor will be ML. - Castle Dihas officially becomes a rebel outpost against Emperor Barron. FL prioritises overcoming the siege of the castle 1st, then getting ML to the capital. - ML promised FL to never interrupt her while she’s working, especially when others are watching. This is so she can build her reputation and respect for her work on her own merits, not with someone else’s authority. - Emperor’s army camp surrounding the castle leaves at last, just in time before the harsh winter months. - As ML leads his men to the capital, FL switches between Rino / ‘Rina’ and is growing out her hair. Maro is forced to dress like a woman to avoid recognition. - The group make strategic stops at allied noble houses along the way. This includes House Herena. Lady Diathe is more excited to see FL than ML. They tell Lady Diathe that FL is a woman. The lady asks FL how she can learn the technical things FL knows. Diathe yearns for greater control over her life and is envious of the gender equality FL grew up with. FL offers to mentor Diathe. - While fixing his prosthetic hand, Cain confesses to FL but she’s too dense to understand it. - ML and FL (in a dress) go on a date at the night markets. - They finally have sex for the 1st time. (Ch 84) - Outside Cain catches Margo who makes him an offer. - Cain kidnaps FL in a misguided attempt to protect her. - They travel back to the imperial palace with Margo and Maro (picked up along the way). Margo hides Maro from the Emperor and helps FL hide that she’s a woman. - As promised to Cain, the Emperor pardons FL for all acts of treason. FL accepts the position as the Emperor’s technician. - ML arrives with his group at the palace. Lady Diathe, who had stowed away, led the efforts of the female managers assigned by FL to help ML see FL privately. This secret women’s network keeps the communication open between the separated members of the rebellion. - Maro was tasked by FL to charm Margo while in his cell. - FL follows Margo to the dungeons and sees her stop at a crowded cell full of child slaves.

Read ch 42 as of 05/02/21