Chapter 43

Chapter 43. Let’s Try Self-Realization. (2)

Honestly, the reaction was more intense than I had imagined.

From the moment Marian started venting her frustration, I was secretly scared that I might get hit with a “5%” penalty here.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be a penalty event, but just her genuinely expressing her frustration.

After hearing my words, Marian went through all sorts of sobbing.

Finally, as if she had poured everything out, she let out a sigh and spoke.

“*Sigh*… I’m sorry, I must have looked so lacking.”

“No, it’s fine, that can happen.”

“By the way, how long have you known…?”

And as those words came out, a choice event popped up in front of me like in a dating sim.

—————————————-

1. [I knew everything from the start.]

2. [No, I just noticed from your expression when you came in.]

3. […It’s a secret.]

—————————————-

Seeing the event choices in front of me, I immediately thought, “Are these guys trying to pull another friendship penalty event?”

I felt that thought bubbling up, but…

“Um…?”

“Ah, uh.”

Even though she asked, I stayed silent and still, so Marian, looking puzzled, spoke up again.

After a few seconds of brief contemplation, I chose option 1 and said exactly that.

“I knew everything from the start.”

“…I thought so. That’s why you hesitated just now.”

Fortunately, it seemed to be the correct answer, as our Pirate Empress (real) nodded her head, showing understanding of my delayed reaction.

…Of course, it wasn’t intentional, but anyway, it’s good that she understood.

‘Wait, that’s not the important thing right now.’

I straightened out my thoughts, which were about to go off on a tangent, and cautiously opened my mouth to Marian in front of me.

“Marian, what is your goal, ultimately?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m asking you to reflect on the goal you have.”

“…!”

I quietly pushed the words, “This is how the event progresses,” to the back of my throat.

“Be honest, Marian.”

“Huh…??”

“Don’t you think, by your own assessment, that you’ve become much stronger than what I originally planned?”

Hearing my calm words, Marian flinched her shoulders.

Then, she turned her head and whistled, pretending to be nonchalant.

“W-What do you mean? I still can’t compare to Ignis, Belial, or Pashtira, right?”

But seeing Marian like that, I took a sip of the tea Jessica had prepared earlier and continued.

“Ignis, Belial, and Pashtira are in a state where you might never catch up to them, even if you spent your whole life trying.”

“…!”

“In fact, their incredible abilities are currently hindering your growth.”

“Huh?!”

-*Gulp*

‘Ah, this tea is amazing.’

Marian’s eyes widened in surprise, and her eyebrows shot up.

But seeing her like that, I shook my head and said,

“You already know this yourself, don’t you? It’s just that your desire to get a little stronger and your fear of losing this comfortable place are clouding your judgment.”

“Ugh…”

Marian’s expression twisted as if I had hit a nerve.

Of course, what I just said wasn’t entirely without my own thoughts.

—————————————-

[Quest]

[Go to a Broader Place]

[Was your embrace too comfortable?]

[The phoenix, destined to soar towards the distant skies, wishes to rest in your embrace.]

[But you know better than anyone that she can’t stay like this forever.]

[Now, it’s time for you to help her spread her wings.]

[Objective: Support ‘Mary Ann’s’ ‘Escape’]

—————————————-

‘Hmm, I see.’

The event message that just popped up in front of me was essentially forcing me to let Marian go and make her the Pirate Empress.

It was also revealing every detail about Marian’s current state.

And seeing that quest window, I inwardly shook my head.

But through Marian’s release (?), I persuaded her to let the event chain proceed normally.

Anyway, for about two hours, in a very calm and serene atmosphere, I worked hard on the persuasion check.

“So, it seems like it’s time for you to leave now.”

“Oppa…!”

“I’ll cheer for your goals.”

“Ugh… Yes…!”

“But if it gets tough, you can always come back here.”

“Come, this place will soon become your home.”

“···Ugh···Aaaah!”

The result of some well-timed emotional manipulation.

“I will, I will follow the Commander for the rest of my life! Just wait a little longer for me!”

“Hmm, sure, sure.”

I nodded as I watched our Pirate Empress (Jin) finally steel herself for the promotion test (?).

==========

And as they say, strike while the iron is hot.

Speaking of which, our Marian, realizing she might not be able to move if she stayed any longer.

“Commander, sorry, but I’m going to borrow a shuttle.”

“···.”

True to her pirate nature, she immediately tried to “borrow” one of our shuttles and leave.

But seeing her like that, I called her to stop for a moment.

“Ah, wait, Marian.”

“Huh···Why?”

“That cruiser you were on at docking facility 19, we still haven’t found a captain for it.”

“···!”

“Plus, that cruiser is always ready to set sail at any moment···.”

“···.”

“Ah, we’ll need to find a captain soon, but I heard there are a bunch of clones inside programmed to be loyal to the captain.”

“···.”

“If someone were to infiltrate with a captain’s appointment letter while the position is still vacant···they might just steal the cruiser.”

I placed a small device on the table where I had been drinking tea.

“But I wonder where that captain’s appointment letter went?”

“Oh, oppa···.”

“And coincidentally, the base guards and nearby surveillance systems will be down for maintenance for about an hour.”

“Gasp.”

“Honestly, if someone were to steal the cruiser···no one would notice, right?”

“···.”

“Of course, if I were awake when the ship moves, I’d notice something’s off right away···but I plan to take a nap for about an hour starting now.”

“Sniff···Thank you, thank you, oppa!”

At my words, Marian burst into tears and hugged my neck tightly.

‘Gasp?!’

Though in the process, her overwhelming emotions caused a minor strain on my neck.

But anyway, at my words, Marian looked genuinely moved.

“Please wait for me! From now on, I’ll give you my unconditional loyalty!”

“Gasp···Y-yeah.”

“Definitely! Definitely wait for me!”

With those words, Marian turned her back and without looking back, she hijacked the ‘cruiser.’

She set off into the vast expanse of space, racing towards an unknown destination.

==========

Anyway, after Marian left like that, three months had passed.

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Title: If this pirate one-trick event game is trash, then upvote lolololol

Author: CreatingANewWorld

Content: Ugh, this game is so boring, there’s nothing to do

The content is lacking.

Comments

-[Trash games are all like that]

-[Rabbit gamers;; but seriously, there’s no content]

-[Day 90 of waiting for the Pirate Empress to appear]

-[Already 90 days?]

-[Seeing how the ship production time is way longer than the original game, maybe they just extended the event time here too?]

-[Hmm interesting;]

—————————————-

The pirate raids, with just the ship and unit compositions changed, had been going on for a whopping ‘half a year.’

Most users thought this was normal, or rather, had given up and were living a life of tearing apart pirates day by day, like collecting scrap.

But that story was coming to an end today.

—————————————-

Title: Emergency) Holy crap, a notice just dropped!

Author: Anonymous

Content: [Notice loading proof]

Finally, something’s coming!

Comments

-[Finally, damn it!]

-[What, is the Pirate Empress Nunna coming?]

-[Pirate Empress Nunna is coming to hit me!!!!!!!]

-[Finally!!!]

-[Look at these veterans waking up after staying quiet all this time]

—————————————-

With the news of a new ‘update’ notice, the gallery, which had been stagnant for a while, heated up in an instant.

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