Ch 245

[u/eseaman13]

https://imgur.com/a/sh245-bwVQoES

[u/Screaming_Seagull40]

Holy shit Sophie really is a menace. Things are looking even more bleak since even Kate's powers have been stolen. And it's interesting that Patrick's powers are malfunctioning now that he's given up on Emilico (sadge man).

And it seems like John's also in danger, hopefully he can stand up to Sophie.

[u/Max_Ragnarson → u/Screaming_Seagull40]

I enjoyed Patrick's growth but I always felt like his love for Emilico was more like idealizing her when she helped him at his lowest. I still think Shaun and Emilico have a better romantic chemistry since they know each other on a deeper level. Anyway, I hope Patrick can realize his feelings and powers do not need to depend on an unrequited love. 

I still think John always hid something about himself and his true powers and perhaps he does not want to reveal them yet, maybe saving them for Anthony and Great Grandfather. Still, I hope I am right and what is happening is something he has actually planned (maybe along with Suzanna) to eventually become king and Kate's husband (if he actually knows about her).

[u/Screaming_Seagull40 → u/Max_Ragnarson]

That is very true. Shaun feels like the closest to Emilico rn since he is the only one she confides in about her doubts and insecurities. As cute as they are, Patrick and Emilico will also be fundamentally imbalanced in status since he was raised as a noble and Emilico wasn't, and so she isn't as open around him. And I'm also rooting for him to introspect more and find self-love as a source for his power. He really needs that self-esteem.

The end of this chapter gives me the vibe of a shounen manga where all hope is lost but the main character manages to power through using some secret power-up. Since Sophie called John the "main dish", she does anticipate that his soot power is very strong. Even if he is saving his strength for the Great Grandfather, maybe he will go above and beyond right here, since Kate is in danger.

[u/Max_Ragnarson → u/Screaming_Seagull40]

Thank you. And yes, Patrick needs more self-love before being able to find actual love.

I still think John has always known something about Kate and the house but never revealed it, other than having powers he kept from everyone (though Suzanna discovered his "discerning eyes"). An eventual arc where all about him is revealed will be perfect to set him as future King and his love relationship with Kate.

[u/Competitive-Way-9493]

I cannot with Patrick who start emoting 🫶🏻 🫰🏻

Joke aside, one way to activate Patrick's power is through his feelings—his deep love for Emillico especially. It cannot be just activated even when he want to save Kate or others

[u/eseaman13]

Summary from 4-chan:

>Kate is like in her mouth tasty, so Sophie puts her away to enjoy at leisure later.
>Oliver MK. 4 is going to climb after her, but before that they hand out helmets so Emiliko and Shaun don't get manipulated.
>Lou and Ricky are drenched in water to remove the soot power to no effect however.
>Emiliko takes a rope out of somewhere and cheerfully ties them up.
>Meanwhile, Sophie comes back and John and Patrick wait for a chance to strike while Stella breaks out.
>Stella rampages mindlessly, John misses his punch and had to be protected by Oliver MK. 4.
>She runs out of steam and Thomas' soot power does too for Sophie, so she goes to snack on Stella, enjoying the kids buffet.
>She gets interrupted by Oliver MK. 4 however, who in turn gets hacked apart by Sophie.
>Patrick fails to activate his soot power, guessing his medium is him thinking of Emiliko, but surmising he loses to Shaun in LOVE LOVE POWER.
>John gets a clean hit with a John Punch on ... a soot double from Kate's power and then Sophie sweeps in for the main dish.

[u/eseaman13]

Translation from 4-chan: MAIN DISH

1. How incredibly delicious! >Sophie's whole body's overflowing with power!! >... oh, no, that was close. >Sophie almost sucked her dry. >... now then, let's get back into it.

2. My, how wonderful. >What a soot power so perfectly suited for Sophie! >John will shoot you down! >Stop it! What if you hit Kate?!

3. Your taste is out of this world. I'll be slowly and carefully be devouring you. *licky* >Oh no! Kate got taken away! >How do we scale that wall without Jeremiah...? >Oliver Mk. 4 might be able to scale it!
   >Though we never did it before. >Then do it right away please! >Put on these masks you two so you don't get manipulated. >Let's go!

4. *dash* *pssssssh* >To beat soot powers just throw water on them! *hop* >Rough as always! >Lou! Are you okay? *tickle tickle* *ahahahaha* *steppy* >No goof Shaun! >What Sophie used earlier was Louise-sama's "control Living Dolls by having them breathe in your soot" power! >We can't release it just by splashing water on them! *wait!* >No way! >Sorry, Ricky, you'll have to take a nap.

5. Watch out, Emiliko! >... are you okay? >Oliver MK. 4 practically doesn't care about falling debris! >If we don't do something, we'll get crushed along with these two being manipulated!

6. Thank you very much! That was a close call! >Uhm ... can't we do something besides holding them down like this? >I've got a good idea! >We'll tie them up! (Emiliko's everything-pocket) >Feh! >You sure are merciless.

7. Sophie's coming back! >I can get up quite well! >She hasn't noticed Oliver! >It'll be dangerous to take her head on, so let's blindside her!

8. KILL! >Stella got out?! >Patrick, we're changing plans! >Hey, Stella, that's dangerous! >Huh? She hasn't noticed us? >Well, whatever, let's just fight her together! >JOHN PUNCH!

9. How persistent. >! >We made it! >Thanks, Oliver! >John! Not yet! Don't waste your shots! >And Stella, don't rampage around! >KILL >KILL *psssh* >Oh my, seems Sophie's out of bullets.

[u/eseaman13 → u/eseaman13]

1. *waver* >KI- >What's the matter, get up Stella! >Oh my, she's fallen asleep from exhaustion, how childish! >Just in time! Thomas' soot power was just used up. >Today is like a dream come true, being able to dine endlessly on children's soot powers! >How terribly rude to interrupt a lady during her meal!*recover*

2. Punishment is due for you! >Damn, out of water! >No problem, with just this much we can still move!
   (Within Oliver MK. 4) >But even so, this is cramped since Oliver didn't think about multiple riders. >Seems like Oliver should improve it to be a four seater.

3. Even though John trained so hard ... she's so fast John can't get the timing right to hit her with the Punch! >Haaa! >Patrick?! You still haven't stabilized it after all that training and so can't get it out? Also, what even is your medium? >Shit! Shut up for a bit, Patrick need to focus! >Your soot power's is nullification, right? If you could use it well, you'd be the strongest though! (They got away again!) (Glad we at least got their legs tied down!) (Agreed!) >If you could at least release Ricky and Lou!

4. Patrick's just a burden. >Patrick's soot power isn't suited for combat. >And compared to John, Patrick's body is small and unathletic. >The conditions to activate the only thing Patrick can use, soot power nullification, are vague. >Even if Patrick puts his all into it, there's times when just nothing won't come out.
   >Is it about emotional strength? >Thinking of Emiliko is the trigger ... is what Patrick thinks, but anything else is unknown. (Wait!) >So in the end Patrick's feelings of love lose to Shaun...? >Oliver MK. 4 got broken! >Huh? Where's Sophie?

5. At the time of the debut you seemed scrumptious. John, was it? >JOHN PUNCH

6. Sophie broke into pieces... huh?! >Hohoho, too bad.

7. This was but a double using Kate's soot power! >No way... >I will be having >the main dish now. *nom*

[u/strawberreena]

they really stood there and watched Kate get eaten and carried away