Chapter 22 A Choice
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The storm-like visit of the goddess had ended. For a short time, Yuuri waited for the miko (shrine maiden), the yori shiro (vessel), to wake. He felt a small move in his arms and looked down.
”Are you awake? That one did as she liked, but is your body okay?” Yuuri asked.
”Good morning, Yuuri. You look cool today— ow!” Marina yelped.
Yuuri flicked her forehead. Ashley watched with worry at the princess’s bold words, but Marina only let her body rest in Yuuri’s arms.
”You never learn. I’ll carry you like a princess again,” he said.
”What, you will!? Ah, wait! I’m sorry, I went too far!” she cried.
He raised his finger again as if to flick her, and Marina jumped back at once. To stop her from playing around more, Yuuri quickly changed the talk to the lowest floor of the dungeon. He made it look like they were sharing ideas about the hint from the goddess and asked for Marina’s own reading.
He did not tell them that Marina would answer right. He thought it was better to let her speak without any early idea in her head. Then after she said her idea, they could show the truth and think again. This way, they could reach the right path more easily.
If they did not do this, the future might change, and even the goddess wanted a certain future so much that she stepped in.
”A god who cares about numbers, huh… My guess is that this type will set the number of floors to a clean count. For example, the shallow area had twenty-six floors, and the middle had fifty-seven, right?” Marina said.
From this change of five floors, Marina guessed the deep area might have thirty-six floors.
”So the dungeon core (dungeon core) of the capital’s dungeon is likely on floor ninety-three or maybe ninety-four,” Yuuri said.
”It’s still only a guess,” she replied.
It did sound possible. It could also double and go up to one hundred and twenty floors, but it did not seem like there would be a thousand more levels after this. It should stay at a level where people with enough power could still clear it.
That was Marina’s feeling.
Yuuri then shared the goddess’s own guess with them.
”Hmm… we are being tested. But I think you were right not to tell me Shelm-sama’s future sight first, Yuuri. If I heard it before, I might say a smaller number than what I really thought. And if my first idea was right, I would feel terrible. So… if the last floor of the capital’s dungeon is floor ninety-four, can you take us there, Yuuri?” Marina asked.
To be honest, he did not know.
If they went to clear the dungeon, his body only grew stronger from blessings, and together with rearguard Ashley, they did not have enough hands. He needed Marina to become his servant. If they shared their bodies, he could give her many skills and blessings to help them face the harder floors.
Also, only servants could enter the workshop. Without rest inside the workshop, they would slow the team.
But he could not be the one to ask her to give her life. Even if she had asked once before.
Marina seemed to read his silence and gave a small sad smile, then met his eyes.
”You’re so proper, Yuuri. I like that, but hiding ideas from the group is the wrong move. Let me ask again with all points clear. If I became your servant, would it be possible?” she asked.
”Sorry… I’m not sure. But… it’s hard to say, yet I want to try. If you became my servant, the three of us might reach it. Even if clearing it is what matters, I’m finding value in the challenge itself. I can’t let you give your life for that,” Yuuri said.
The answer should not have pleased her, but for some reason, Marina smiled with joy.
”Yuuri, I never told you why I care so much about clearing the dungeon, did I?” she asked.
”Now that you say it… I get why you want the dungeon if we can take it, but becoming a servant sounds like a bad deal for you,” Yuuri said.
Marina closed her eyes for a short time, as if to gather her thoughts. Then she crossed her arms and began to speak.
”For example, say you and Ashley help me reach the surface, and we return safe. Then I must impeach the Marchio and show the true one in the dark. But that will not work. Think about it. Someone set stone stake magic in my guard’s armor before. If no one in my own group helped, that was not possible,” she said.
The royal guard should have been safe. Even if some guards had their own plans, they should watch each other. But the enemy beat their guard system.
”This time, the enemy showed they want me dead and can do it. They must be ready to hide. Even if the royal family looks for them, we can’t catch the one in the shadows. Do you see? Even if the royal family tries its best, the world will only hear that it was the Marchio alone. The family’s name will fall. And then more people will act as they like,” Marina said.
If the one in the dark had that much power, the Marchio would get help to run away. Marina could not even punish the ones who tried to kill her. Her power as a princess would fall.
”So… you think it is better to become a servant and take the dungeon than to return and fight with little power? To get a big card to play?” Yuuri asked.
”What? What are you saying? The one who will take the dungeon core and become the master is you, Yuuri, not me,” she said.
Her mood changed at once. She spoke like a friend scolding someone weak.
”What? Me? No, no, I thought you wanted the dungeon’s power for politics…” Yuuri said.
”Listen! To take the dungeon, I must become your servant. If I do, I won’t be able to go against you. Someone like that can’t use both the dungeon’s power and the power of a princess. I would give the head of my faction to my younger brother, Arsh, and on paper I would marry down into your house, Yuuri,” Marina said.
Yuuri remembered the prince who had walked with them to the room before the first Gate. He had stuck close to Marina, and Yuuri had felt something more than simple respect for an older sister.
”That prince who looks just like you… I won’t say if he can take your place, but he looked like he would lose it if you got married,” Yuuri said.
”You saw it! Even if we clear the dungeon, if he isn’t happy, he will hate you forever,” Marina said with a small laugh.
Yuuri held his head. If they began their dungeon run now, even if time did not move while they stayed in the workshop, many days would pass outside. Even if they returned safe, the prince would clearly blame Yuuri for taking Marina away.
”You and I are in the same boat, Yuuri. If we don’t get the dungeon, we can’t get back what we lose,” Marina said.
She would give up a lot, yet she still smiled. For a dungeon guide, clearing a dungeon was a dream. And for Marina, even indirect control of the dungeon would help her far more.
Yuuri was about to ask how he could give anything back to her if he became the master, when Ashley, who had been silent, raised her hand.
”Um… what does it mean to ‘take the dungeon’? I understand that clearing it means reaching the last floor, but how is that different?” Ashley asked softly.
”Oh, you don’t know? Yuuri should know, at least as a quiet secret. But no dungeon has been cleared for about one hundred years. The capital’s dungeon is said to be impossible, so nobles never speak in public about how to use a cleared dungeon. If they speak of such a dream, others will call them fools,” Marina said.
Even in noble society, only the royal family learned about dungeon clearing at Marina’s age. It was likely a long-held wish of the royal family, passed down from the first king, who only used the shallow floors.
”This is a good time to tell you what I know. Yuuri, add more later if needed. There are three kinds of safe areas inside a dungeon. First: the Gate we entered. Second: the Stairs where we are now. And last: the dungeon core (dungeon core). It’s interesting. Around the world, dungeons differ in floor count, monsters, and land inside, but these safe areas always have the same shape. It matches what Shelm-sama said about a god who loves numbers,” Marina said.
She paused, checked they were following, then went on.
”We saw the first two, so I’ll skip them. The problem is the dungeon core. Not much is known. But in the few dungeons said to be cleared, the land around them showed a clear rise in resources. So, the one who reaches the dungeon core must gain some way to control the dungeon. The fact that this method is hidden only proves it more. No one shares a way to beat other nations. Yuuri, anything to add?”
”No, that’s about all I know. What I find strange is this: everyone hears when a dungeon is cleared, but no one speaks about what the dungeon core is, how to control the dungeon, or how to pass the power on. Not even one group shares it. They all stay quiet. Ashley, any questions?” Yuuri asked.
”No. I understand what is known,” Ashley said.
She fell silent again.
Yuuri wondered how she felt. Even if this talk might solve their problem, Marina’s idea pushed them toward gaining a new servant without Ashley’s voice yet. They had only just shared their hearts, and now he was adding another woman. That should not be okay.
Yuuri lifted a hand to stop Marina and turned to Ashley.
”Ashley… I know it’s unfair for me to say this. But I don’t want to do anything that hurts you. You are the most important to me. I won’t change that. So even if the idea is Marina’s, if you don’t like it, say so. I will choose your wish and take the blame,” he said.
The smoothest path was to make Marina a servant and clear the dungeon. But if he forced Ashley to accept it, their bond would break. A servant and master were not equal, so to stay lovers, he could not ignore her feelings.
Ashley gave a small smile.
”If you chose only me, I would be happy. But if you can live in peace, that also makes me happy. Please choose by your heart, Yuuri. I will follow your wish,” she said.
Her words sounded ready, as if she had prepared them. But they were likely true.
Ashley lived in noble society. This was normal to her. She was not a person from another world like Yuuri and Marina. She had grown only with this world’s values. Nothing was wrong with that.
Yuuri and Marina had past-life ideas that did not fit here. Ashley’s smile as she allowed another woman was a sign of her resolve.
Because of that, Yuuri had to answer with respect.
”Ashley… thank you. I swear I will gain power so no one can break our peace,” he said.
”Yes… I will always be by your side,” she whispered.
Yuuri took her hand and kissed the back of it. It felt a bit showy, but he hoped it would show his heart clearly.
”Well? No secrets,” he said.
”Um… Yuuri, you sometimes think in a very self-punishing way. This time too, it feels like you are forcing yourself to give way for me. So… I will say a little more,” she whispered.
Ashley did not continue out loud. She leaned close and spoke into his ear. Her warm breath and soft whisper brushed his skin in a way that almost made him melt, but what she said snapped him back to reality at once.
”…Wait, really?” Yuuri said.
”I do not fully understand ‘really’, but yes, it is… really. So, if the Princess becomes a servant, I would be happy. For me, I mean,” Ashley said, voice small.
After saying that, she covered her face and crouched down. For a noble lady with such grace, this kind of confession must have been terribly embarrassing.
Yuuri let her be for the moment and turned back to Marina. The princess seemed in a good mood, happy that her companions were getting along. Though, the teasing smile she wore was a bit too strong.
”Finished your spicy talk? Ow! Hey, my forehead is not a toy. Do that after you make me your servant. So… since Ashley agreed, shall we go ahead and make me a servant now?” Marina asked.
”No, first tell me what you gain by becoming a servant. If you do… it looks like I get all the good things. I can’t accept unless I know what you want so much that you’d give your life for it. Free things are scary, right?” Yuuri said.
He meant it. Having someone like Marina as a servant sounded perfect, but he could not just take it. He held back his rising hope and kept his voice calm.
Marina clicked her tongue, as if she had hoped to rush this through.
”Hey,” Yuuri said.
”Fine, fine, I’ll say it, okay?” she answered.
Yuuri did not let up. Marina herself had said not to hide ideas from allies.
Seeing she could not escape with jokes, Marina finally fixed her face into a serious one and began to speak.
”…To put it simply, becoming your servant is the best use of me right now. Hey, listen to the end,” she said.
Marina often spoke of herself like she was a tool. Considering her role, Yuuri could understand it a bit, but as she herself had said, they were soul mates from the same past world. He did not want her to speak as if her own self did not matter.
He opened his mouth to stop her, but Marina raised a hand first.
”I am a princess. I must make sure the people have food, homes, and safety. To do that, I must keep this country alive. So I must also think of taking the crown and of political marriage. But… my value has dropped. I let an attempt on my life happen. I survived, but those behind it will push for Marisio-aniue to rise instead. Fixing this will be very hard. I was holding my head in worry,” she said.
It truly was a heavy problem. Even if she lived and returned, many months would pass. Her influence would fall.
”At that time, I learned about your skill. With it, we might take the dungeon. If we do, our faction can turn this disaster into a strong advantage. After all, a new Duke would join us,” she said.
”…Oh? Wait. Duke? Who?” Yuuri asked.
Marina pointed at him without a word. Yuuri looked at Ashley, but she also pointed at him.
”…Wait, me!?” he said.
”Of course! With the dungeon as land, monsters as defense, and huge resources, and if I marry into your house, why would you not be a Duke?” Marina said.
Yuuri felt lost. The idea was suddenly too big, and the more real it sounded, the heavier it felt.
”But becoming a Duke so fast… I’m a commoner. It’s not like I’m uneducated, but I don’t know noble rules,” he said.
”You can learn step by step. That’s why I’m here. If you don’t know how to answer, just say, ‘Marina is handling it’. And as a Duke, you get the thing you want most—you can refuse nobles who try to push more servants on you,” she said.
That was true. If he had to bow to Ashley’s house anyway, he could not hide his skill. But if no one could complain, then being known was not a problem.
”But be ready for both my father and Ashley’s father to hit you. Even if you have great results, you still touched their daughters before marriage,” Marina added.
”…Yes,” Yuuri said.
There was no escaping that. As a man, he would face it.
When he nodded, Marina smiled again.
”That is what I gain by becoming a servant. Our faction gets a great comeback. You will have to act like a noble, but I will handle the boring parts. And you can stay close with Ashley without anyone complaining. Not a bad deal, right?” she said.
It really was not bad. Both sides agreed, and Ashley had accepted it too. Still, something was missing. It felt like Marina was hiding one last point. Yuuri could not make a pact without knowing everything. Conditions had to be open for it to be fair.
”Marina, answer me one thing. I understand you’re ready to throw yourself in for me and for everyone. But… how much of that is smart planning?” Yuuri asked.
”Eh? Wh-what are you saying?” she stammered.
Her calm mask broke at once. Like a child caught in a bad lie, Marina’s eyes darted. If she had no feelings and only cold plans behind this choice, it would have been sad. But her panic made Yuuri feel relief. She was not a heartless doll.
”So is it all planning?” he asked.
”N-no, not all… well, yes, um, kind of…” she muttered.
She tried to avoid a clear answer, but Yuuri would not let her.
”All planning, huh. That’s sad. I was hoping at least one part was a different feeling… Seems I was full of myself,” he said.
”O-one part!? One… yes, about that…” she said in a tiny voice.
Her voice sounded so sad that Yuuri almost laughed. If she had denied it fully, he might have believed her. But admitting even a small part of it made her act fall apart.
Marina, who always kept her feelings hidden, was a very poor actor today.
”One part, huh? And what is that part?” Yuuri asked.
”It’s… nothing… it’s not… anything,” she said, shrinking.
Her clumsy lie made Yuuri feel warm toward her, but he would not let it go.
”Oh? Even one part of hidden feelings is scary for a deal like this. Maybe I shouldn’t agree,” he teased.
”You’re mean! Yuuri, you know it already!” she cried.
Of course he knew. Marina could never sell herself with only plans. He understood, but he could not accept her while she was still hiding her heart.
”I don’t know. Not unless you say it yourself. I’d feel silly if I was wrong,” he said.
”Uu… It’s… because I thought… if it was you… it would be okay,” she whispered.
Her voice was so soft, but Yuuri’s blessing had made his hearing a bit sharper. He caught every word.
He had pulled it out, but this was only the start. She still tried to hide her true heart.
”Me too, Marina. You’re a princess, but still easy to talk to. You’re strong, you care for others, and you think fast. You always act so well that I never see the real you, so hearing your true heart made me happy. I’m glad to know your actions come from care and love. Marina… I like you,” Yuuri said.
”A-ah… I-I also…” she squeaked.
He said it clearly, face to face. Plans were important, but a bond built only on plans would break. Without real care under it, even if they got the dungeon core, Yuuri could never ask Marina for help.
Hearing his honest feelings, Marina’s mind seemed to freeze. Her legs wobbled, and Ashley rushed to her side to hold her up.
”Yuuri, the Princess is weak in love. She only met men who cared for rank, fame, money, power, her face, or her body. She has no skill to speak true feelings,” Ashley said.
”Got it. That’s her weak point to press,” Yuuri said.
He would not hold back. Now was the time to open Marina’s heart.
”All of my feelings are for you. I only see what’s in front of me. I can only try to make things good for you. So, Marina, I’ll ask again. How much of this is planning?” he said.
”Hii— f-five… no, three parts… three! I won’t go lower!” she said.
He was not bargaining for a price, but he learned the truth: seven of ten parts were pure feeling.
”And those seven parts—what are they, Marina? Tell me. It’s unfair if only I say my heart,” he said.
”You… you’re the worst! A bully! Enemy of all girls! Of course I like you, stupid! From the first time we met, when you leaned in to check on me, I got so embarrassed I tried to strike you! And then you were the same as me… and we ate Shelm-sama’s food together, and I liked you before I even knew your name! I didn’t say who I was because I wanted you to care about me as just me! I tried to give up when I learned Ashley loved you, then I got lost in the dungeon, and you had that stupid naughty skill, and— I had to try or lose my only chance!” she cried.
Marina’s feelings poured out like a waterfall. She hit him with her hands in light taps, face red with shame.
Her hits still stung a little—blessing or not—but she looked so cute with teary eyes that Yuuri did not stop her.
She went on about how he was born a commoner yet stood tall, how she admired his skill on the shallow floors, and many other small things he never thought mattered. Perhaps love grew from the simple moments that the person himself did not notice.
After her storm of words, Marina leaned against Ashley, drained. She had hidden her heart for so long that saying it all at once left her limp.
But Yuuri could not let it end there.
He stood before Marina, who looked down with ears red, and returned the question she had left waiting.
”Marina. Now that planning is down to three parts, will you still become my servant? Will you stand with me and take the dungeon core together?” he asked.
”…Yes. I will. I want to stay by your side as the girl who loves you. I want to stay as the princess who can support you. And, like I said first, I want to do what I can for this country. For that, I will become your servant. Yuuri… please make me your servant,” she said.
As she spoke her vow, the red on her face slowly faded. But what remained was not the dignity of a princess. It was the smile of the golden girl he had first seen.
Notes:
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Shelm – Wicked Goddess, reincarnated Yuuri, manipulative, wants him to use his power.
• Marchio – Princess Marina’s older brother who already holds the right to the throne.
• Arsh – Marina’s the princess younger brother.
• Marisio – Princess Marina’s older brother who already holds the right to the throne.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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