Chapter 380

Chapter 380. Marian is Depressed. (1)

Meanwhile, as Icarus was getting caught up in all sorts of incidents and living a busy life…

Marian, who had been harboring feelings for our dear Icarus, was…

*Sigh*… “How can I get closer to Oppa?”

She was putting in all her effort to convey her feelings to her ever-so-busy “Oppa.”

To be precise, lately, she had been feeling that her relationship with “Oppa” had become strangely dull.

Based on the logic that “if the relationship isn’t good, just make it better,” she was subtly trying to make a big move on Icarus.

For reference, Marian originally planned to wait until Icarus noticed her and made the first move.

But now, after more than two years since they met, she couldn’t help but wonder what progress had actually been made in their relationship…

Upon reaching this fundamental question, she realized a truly significant fact.

“…It feels like Oppa sees me not as a woman, but more like a little sister or a pet.”

“Oh no.”

As Marian’s gaze wavered upon realizing this horrifying and significant truth…

Bendalope, a former Casanova and current 130cm-tall mercenary leader, who had been consulting with Marian, let out a deep sigh and said,

“I told you, Your Majesty, if things keep going like this, you’ll never end up with Commander Icarus.”

“*Sniffle*”

“To begin with, Your Majesty, you’re not being proactive either, always tiptoeing around, so Commander Icarus is probably just waiting for a clear signal, right?”

“*Cough*”

And as Bendalope’s brutally honest facts and assessments kept pouring out, Marian felt as though she had suffered a serious internal injury.

But unlike her clueless subordinates, Bendalope’s advice was genuinely packed with valuable insights.

Even comments that would have made her grab someone by the collar and slam them to the ground if they came from anyone else…

When Bendalope spoke, Marian just quietly listened, letting out occasional groans.

And as Bendalope continued to spill all sorts of meddling advice under the guise of “consultation,”

She proposed a plan to boost Marian’s self-esteem and self-worth while suggesting a completely different approach than before.

For a moment, Marian tilted her head, looking puzzled at Bendalope’s words.

“But Bendalope, last time I tried wearing a sexy outfit with Gryanarr’s help and made a move, it still failed.”

“That must have been when I wasn’t around. I heard about it, though…”

In response to Marian’s question, the 130cm-tall Bendalope took a moment to gather her thoughts.

Then, recalling the story she had heard, she cautiously opened her mouth to Marian.

“Just to be sure, did you happen to wear a ‘reverse bunny’ outfit and then make an additional move after that?”

“…”

“You didn’t, did you?”

“*Sniff*”

“And then, you tried to drug Commander Icarus, but ended up using such a convoluted method that another pirate admiral ate it instead and ended up with flaming nipples, right?”

“*Groan*”

Of course, it was no surprise.

Seeing Marian’s reaction only confirmed that the story she had heard was true.

Bendalope couldn’t help but shake her head, feeling utterly hopeless.

But that thought was fleeting.

If she let this slide, there was a high chance that Marian, who had come to her for advice, would continue to fumble around and do something weird to Icarus.

As a former Casanova, Bendalope had no intention of letting such blood-pressure-raising antics slide. So, she grabbed hold of Marian’s wavering mental state once again.

She decided to come up with an extreme plan to take care of this “Pirate Empress” Marian, who was showing her innocent side in all the wrong places.

“Remember this, Your Majesty.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Commander Icarus is not someone you can win over by just sitting still.”

“Sitting still won’t work…?”

“That’s right. Commander Icarus is a classic case of ‘oblivious’ mixed with ‘laziness.’ If you don’t speak up and just stay still…”

After drawing out her words and taking a brief pause,

Bendalope looked straight into Marian’s wide, curious eyes and spoke bluntly.

“You’ll never end up with Commander Icarus in this lifetime.”

“……!!!!”

And at Bendalope’s words, Marian, in that short moment,

was so shocked that her gaze became extremely erratic.

But that expression didn’t last long.

“But if the Empress is really determined to charge in…”

“Charge in?”

“Commander Icarus will surely notice and accept the Empress’s feelings.”

“…Ohhh.”

“And then, a happy life together, with about 12 kids and 500 grandkids, sitting on rocking chairs watching the sunset…”

“Woooooooh!!”

Following Bendalope’s advice and future plans (???), Marian’s mental state, which had been as shaky as her gaze, quickly recovered. In an instant, she regained her confidence both as the Pirate Empress and as a woman.

With both sides of her confidence restored, she showed a firm resolve.

“That was very helpful, Bendalope.”

“I’m glad it helped.”

==========

But just as Marian was about to charge in with that confidence and plan, problems erupted from all directions regarding the ship storage facility, the ‘Beehive.’

Because of this, Icarus became extremely, extremely, extremely busy, with too many things to take care of.

“Why, why does this have to happen now?!”

Marian’s grand project of building a large family with Icarus, complete with great-grandkids and a spectacular, sweet life together, was crushed before it even began.

Of course, this situation was something neither Marian nor Icarus, nor even Bendalope, who had advised Marian, could have anticipated. Our poor Mari had nowhere to turn…

It was an unlucky event that made her blood boil and her depression double.

==========

And at that moment.

After finally resolving all the damn Beehive issues and gaining some breathing room, I skimmed through three reports in the gallery and then checked the messages piled up in the Status Window mailbox.

Among those messages, one stood out.

—————————————–

<Event>

<Marian's Depression>

<Content>

<The Pirate Empress Marian, who surrendered to you and has since been shuttling between the alliance and the base, treated as a half-guest, half-member.>

<Today, she seems particularly depressed.>

<Why that is, we can't know for now.>

<But if you ask her directly, you might get an answer.>

<Of course, respecting her privacy and not asking is also an option.>

<Choice 1: Let's ask her why she's acting like this. (Proceed with linked event)>

<Choice 2: Privacy should be respected, maybe it's just 'that time of the month'? (Proceed with linked event)>

<Warning!>

<If you choose too late, the chance of Marian gaining a 'negative trait' increases significantly!>

—————————————–

‘Ah, crap.’

This was an event where Marian, who acts like a sort of ‘cheat code’ for me, was inexplicably very depressed.

I pondered over the choices for a moment.

‘Looking at the choices, it seems like something serious is going on, so I shouldn’t just say anything carelessly.’

Perhaps out of my own sense of consideration, my finger naturally moved toward Choice 2.

But right at that moment.

-Snap!

“Wait a minute, Commander, do you really have to choose 2 right now?”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s more important to find out why Marian is acting so down first.”

“…Hmm, now that I think about it, you’re right.”

Hearing Jessica’s words as she grabbed my wrist, I nodded and immediately decided to choose Option 1.