Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 129

Chapter 59: Forming a bond

“… I-I’m so nervous…”

Even if I have made up my mind, whether or not I can put it into action is another matter… I’m sorry for being so coward!
However, the items have already been prepared, and everyone living at the base except for the people in question already knows this. There is no escape… Well, It was me the one who cut off my own escape route, so I wouldn’t give up and run away at the last minute.

I also have talked it to Fin.
After I finished talking, Fin’s whole body was trembling, and for some reason she pinched both of my cheeks and pulled on, which really hurt.
But then she whispered to me, “I won’t forgive you if you make her cry.” The reason why she pinched my cheek may have been to show that he would not allow any rebuttal. I didn’t mean to argue though.
… She didn’t tell ‘No!’ or ‘I hate it!’, so I’d like to think that she isn’t against it. I have to be careful not to neglect it too much.

“… Well, I have something to say to you two.”

I called Uru and Fricka into my room, had them sit on the sofa, I stood in front of them and slowly started the conversation. Uru doesn’t show much reaction, but as if she sensed my nervousness, Fricka seem to be getting a little defensive.
I thought something like this should be said individually, but there seems to be some kind of collusion between these two…. Should I say that’s good that they don’t have any feelings of dislike towards each other, or rather they seem to be encouraging each other. Maybe I’m just dragging the sense of values of a modern Japanese person too far.
So maybe, they should know what kind of actions I took… But that’s embarrassing, so please spare me from that.

Haa, I let out a breath.
Well them… Let’s start.

The contract.

Even though it’s just a verbal promise with no binding force… I still wanted to form an unbreakable bond.

“Let’s start with Uru… You told me the other day that you would stay with me forever.”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll say it again. Please, stay with me until I die.”

I changed the words slightly.
Not that I want to be with Uru because she wants me to, but because I want to be with her.

Did she notice the difference in nuance? Well, I don’t really understand Uru’s inner thoughts.

“Umu.”

As usual, Uru simply nodded without any hesitation.
Even though I knew in my head that I wouldn’t be rejected, I loosened the hand that I unconsciously clenched and took out the item from the QA box and handed it to her.

“Mu, what is this?”

“It’s a Substitute bracelet (Escape Bracelet). It’s an accessory that nullifies lethal damage just once.”

It is a bracelet version of the substitute doll (scapedoll). It was created by processing black crystal to match the color of Uru’s hair and scales.
By the way, the difference between it and the Save Flower Ring* is whether the LP remains at 1 or the attack itself is blocked. Thanks to the mineral knowledge I received from the Earth God, I was able to create items with that performance. It’s not like it couldn’t be made with plants, but I felt that a mineral match her more.
I had a hard time deciding which item to give Uru. She doesn’t show any interest in mere accessories, and even if I wanted to give it to her as an auxiliary equipment, since Uru’s original abilities are high, any of them would be nothing more than a drop in a bucket, and depending on the situation, it would get in the way.
In that case… This is what I came up with. Since it is a ‘until death’ promise, it has the meaning of trying to prevent death. If it’s a bracelet, it won’t come off even if she made some strenuous movements.
I felt like it would get in the way if I decorated it, so it ended up with a simple look with just some carvings…

“… I see, thank you, I appreciate it.”

Uru accepted it with a smile. I was relieved to see that there were no signs of annoyance on her face.
… It’s not like I don’t think that both my action and her reaction were too simple, but that’s the kind of distance between Uru and me.
How can I put it into words… It’s like being together is the natural state. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I’m neglecting her.
I can’t say that there is no possibility that our relationship will change in the future, but I’ll think about that when it happens.

Fricka looks at Uru with an accessory in her hands, smiling, but also with envy in her eyes.
… It’s not someone else’s business, do you know?

“Fricka.”

“… Y-yes.”

Did she let her guard down? She was startled by my voice. She quickly straightened her posture and looked at me.

“First of all, the bracelet I gave you before has the same effect, so the one I’m giving you today is different.”

“……? Okay.”

I already gave her a bracelet with a different design, but the functionality is the same.
… In Fricka’s case, there is something more important to give than a bracelet.
I take it out, place it on the palm of my hand, and show it to Fricka.

“… A, ring?”

“Well, It doesn’t have any functions, it just has extremely high durability.”

It was created based on jade to match Fricka’s hair color.
Honestly, I wanted to give it the indestructible attribute, but that was impossible. That’s why I at least increased the durability value to the maximum.
That’s right… Even after hundreds of years, it won’t break down.
Because of that, I couldn’t add any other functions, but I can just compensate that with another item.

“Fricka, I want you to stay with me… No, I think I should say it in another way to you.”

I stopped there and changed what I would say next.
I prepared myself, stared at her without looking away.

“Please be my bride.”

“–”

Fricka was at a loss for words with eyes wide open.

Five seconds, ten seconds… I just wait in silence for her reply.
… I can’t help but think it’s a bit cowardly that I can wait calmly because I already know her answer.
After a while, the frozen Fricka started to move, she repeatedly compared the ring I had on my hand with Uru’s face.

“Eh, but… Uru-san…”

“Mu?”

“I-I don’t think I should get it first…”

“I didn’t say that I want to be a bride or that I wanted a ring, though?”

“Eh……”

Fricka was stunned by Uru’s answer, but from my point of view, it feels like ‘That’s right.’.
But what was surprising was that she continued with a “Well, If she gives me one, I’ll take it.”… Let’s think about it.

“I think I just said this the other day, but I don’t know what love is. First of all, what changes when you become a bride?”

Because Asteria doesn’t have any strict rules. Things like property being shared, and children being recognized as legitimate children… They may exist at the level of village rules, but this time it doesn’t matter at all.

“Nothing will change in the relationship, right?”

“Eh? It’ll change?”

“… Nu?”

This time Uru was confused.
And I was surprised too. I also thought that nothing would change, but what on earth…

“Specifically, physical??”

“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

Realizing what Fricka was about to say, I immediately shouted and stopped her.
That’s what she said when I first met her! That’s right, elf style was like that!
Uru was startled by the sudden loud voice, but Fricka had a cool face… Wait, am I the only one who’s embarrassed?!
But I shouldn’t let her say that…!

“I-I-I-I-I-I’m sorry, I-I didn’t think that far…!”

“I thought…”

As I was stuttering and behaving extremely suspiciously, she looked at me with a somewhat lukewarm gaze.
No, really! Really! I didn’t have it in mind! My cheeks are so hot that I can clearly feel that my face is turning red… I can’t believe it’s making me feel more embarrassed than the marriage proposal!! Uru, I would appreciate if you wouldn’t look at me as if I was a strange thing!

“W-Well, what we decided today is not everything, and if Uru has a change of heart, I think we should think about it again then.”

“… That’s true too.”

Uru had a look on her face like, “What’s happening?” but she seemed to understand my words… I was grateful she didn’t ask more about it.
Although I felt relieved by my side, I took deep breaths to soothe my still-fast heartbeat, and asked Fricka a thing that I was a little, just a little bit curious about.

“Huh… Are you… I-Interested in ‘that kind’ of thing?”

In response to my roundabout question, Fricka lowers her eyes and remains silent for a while.
… Ah, huh? It was better not to ask…? Just as it crossed my mind, she spoke.

“Honestly speaking… I was disgusted at that thought because of that stepfather.”

“…… Ahh.”

Even though I only had a small amount of contact with him, I only could think, “Eww.”… From the perspective of the person who was being ‘targeted’, I’m sure the torment would be overwhelming.
For a brief moment, I reflected on myself for reminding her of something bad.

“However, I would be interested if Rion-sama is my opponent.”

“Bufu!?”

The unexpected answer made me cough.
Awa, awawawawwa….
Fricka smiled at me, who was just showing off my stupid side without being able to think straight.

“That will come ‘eventually’… By the way, Rion-sama.”

“…… A-Ah, w-what is it…?”

To me who was on verge of breaking down, she gave an even stronger blow.

“Please make me your bride… I love you.”

“-!”

Fricka accepts the ring with tears streaming down her face, looking the prettiest she’s ever been.

… Like always, she was very honest and expressed her strong feelings towards me.

I… I’ve been in love with her for quite some time now, I just now understood that.

There were some parts where the talk got stuck and wouldn’t progress, it was mostly my fault… But anyway, it ended without incident.
Uru left the room in a good mood, and I was about to follow.

“Rion-sama.”

“Hmm? What–”

I was stopped and just as I turned around.

??I felt something soft touch my lips.

“… This is fine, right?”

“… It’s, not, bad…”

… Considering our relationship that has changed, will I be able to survive in the future with things like this going on…?

*TN: [Save Flower Ring] an item that was made in Volume 2 chapter 20. Its effect is to prevent a lethal damage only once leaving your LP at only 1, but it will wither in 3 days.