I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

4. Let’s Play a Game! (It’s my birthday today sob)

【May the Hope Fairy Horus find Euclid!】

With the white-haired sprite girl’s touch upon my shoulder, and the words that followed, the script… it has manifested! Its contents, they made clear the plight I now face!

The prior “Order,” the “Chaos,” which fairy of their caliber wouldn’t wish to mask their true selves!? Yet this time, this “Hope,” she comes directly to my door! Speaking of nothing more than “coming to play a game”!?

Are you the CEO who traveled across vast lands just to play cards with Yugi in the Underworld?!

” !?”

I froze instinctively, and at that same instant, the fairies Order and Chaos, having noticed this fairy, reacted at once!

“‘King’!? You mustn’t…”

“Master, you mustn’t casually acknowledge fairies such as us…”

Yet, this was my blunder, or rather… the cleverness of the fairy before me, her arrival so abrupt, her purpose so pure, that I had not even managed to heed Order and Chaos’s warning, already responding of my own accord!

“A game?”

Who could have foreseen that this common response would be akin to answering at the very moment the demon whispered in your ear!

To speak was to be beyond regret!

“Hee hee hee, that’s right, a game~”

As the girl giggled, Order and Chaos made their move!

The Script’s power attempted to rewrite, to unravel, the invasion of “Chaos” desired to drive her mad instantly, but these two fairies, already powerful enough to manipulate an entire “Era” when acting alone, found their might used against this white-haired sprite to be utterly futile!

Then, the sprite’s reply echoed.

“Furthermore, our ‘opponent’ has already entered the arena~ Since that’s the case, wouldn’t it be best for the two ‘spectators’ to simply watch?”

Accompanied by her words was a power I knew all too well: the power of a ‘domain’! At this moment, the three of us could do nothing but watch… We, along with the elf before us, seemed to sink into the earth.

The four of us, together, vanished into the void! Only the script’s words remained, delivering my final message!

[The Hope Fairy, Horus, has activated her ‘domain’.]

“Tch, so she’s a fairy who triggers her domain through ‘language’; once triggered, there’s no changing her domain. Saphirlose, you’re always trouble!”

“…Looking for a fight, you old hag? Instead of complaining to me, how about worrying about the ‘King’?”

“Heehee, you two shouldn’t be so tense. After all, my power is so ‘benevolent’; your master will, of course, be fine~ Didn’t I say from the start, this is just a pleasant, friendly ‘game invitation’?”

After an unknown amount of time, the bickering of the girls beside me forced my consciousness to awaken from the chaos! Then, as the fairies of Order and Chaos instantly crowded around me, my thoughts finally caught up with my sight. And then I saw it…

At this moment, I, we, were in an unfamiliar place!

The surroundings were pitch black, with flickering candlelight. Heavy curtains completely covered several windows, and the white-haired elf across from me and I were sitting face to face on two intricately carved chairs, with a small table between us.

Everything about this suggested a ‘room’, but… I quickly realized the problem: it was more accurate to call this a ‘space’ than a ‘room,’ because even though it had everything, there was no door.

There was no exit.

The white-haired elf who had brought me and my two fairies here broke my reverie.

“Euclid, you who took away the fairies of ‘Order’ and ‘Chaos’. I apologize for suddenly bringing you into my domain, but… if I hadn’t done it this way, I fear those two tiresome fairies behind you would have annihilated me on the spot~”

The elf, who looked more like a cat-like girl, glanced at the two fairies behind me, giving them a provocative look. She giggled and continued,

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name as a fairy is ‘Horus,’ representing ‘beautiful hope.’

“Originally, seeing how orderly the era where your ‘Order’ resided was, there was no real need for me to ‘descend.’ However… even after being ‘retrieved,’ Order was indeed lost once, so even if I’m reluctant, I still had to appear. It can’t be helped~”

“So, being so kind, so representative of ‘hope,’ I have no intention of being your enemy. I simply… want to play a little ‘game’ with you, representative of Order~”

Game… I won’t forget that word again. After all, it was my stunned repetition of it just now that led me to this predicament of being “within the domain of the Hope Fairy.”

Under normal circumstances, who would want to play some “game” with a powerful fairy who looks exceptionally suspicious and dangerous? But it seems I have no choice now. The contents of the script offer no escape. Within this fairy’s domain, the power of the script is suppressed even more severely than it was when facing ‘Chaos.’

Hopefully, this fairy really just wants to “play a game,” gets her fill, and then leaves on her own.

Thinking this, I said solemnly.

“What game?”

“~”

The fairy named Horus happily sat back in her chair and then pointed to the round table between us.

On the round table was a “chessboard,” no, perhaps it would be more apt to call it a meticulously crafted “model.” It looked like a “model version” made up of various buildings. Houses, flowers, trees, the weather… even the model people inside seemed lifelike to me.

What was even stranger: I felt like I had seen this kind of model “style” somewhere before.

[At the center of the chessboard is the Royal Academy of the Great Britain Empire.]

This is… a model of the Academy from the Great Britain Empire!?

And then, in the very next instant, after my script revealed this truth that so unsettled me, the white-haired sprite’s “invitation” chimed in, right on cue!

“As you can see, our ‘game’ begins in your most, most familiar Great Ying Empire. Consider it my hostly duty, as well as an apology for pulling you into my domain without permission~”

“And our next ‘game’ is actually very simple, very… interesting~”

When I looked up, startled, Horus, the sprite named “Hope,” had already tossed me a chess piece.

“Come now, champion of ‘Order,’ maintain your ‘Hope,’ and choose your ‘pawn.’”

“Let us use the long-ago Great Ying Empire Royal Academy as our chessboard~”

“Let us play a game of chess~ Harbor hope, and this will be a friendly and peaceful ‘spar,’ but if you cheat or go back on your word, hee hee hee ha ha ha~ then you will be the one who is truly desperate~”

The sprite’s face wore a “kind,” “cheerful” smile, but in that moment… I distinctly read two meanings within it.

“Not serious~ is not allowed, you know~”

——

A miserable wretch who updates even on his birthday, please give me your monthly votes to support me, sob sob sob~

Then the colored illustrations, portraits, etc., for this volume will be finished and sent out next month.

Regarding the new sprite and the new plot, aside from things like Monobear, plot-wise, those who have seen Umineko should smile knowingly~ After all, isn’t this feeling quite familiar?

Afterwards, I’ll draw a quick doodle for my birthday, don’t scold me (X)

Extra: Birthday Content

Today is a very special day, one that fills me with anticipation just thinking about its arrival.

That’s right, I’m laying my cards on the table, today is my birthday!

Although I’ve existed as “Euclid” for a very, very long time, and I could never possibly know when “Euclid’s” actual birthday is, I can still learn about my own special day through reminders from the script.

That’s right, it’s tomorrow! And, yes…

Of course, only I know – even Kefei’er, no matter how well she understands me, there are some private things that even I need the script to remind me of, that she couldn’t possibly know. In other words, if I do nothing today, just hug my wife’s legs and sleep sweetly until tomorrow, tomorrow… will bring me nothing but endless loneliness.

Even if I suddenly tell Kefei’er then, besides being surprised, she wouldn’t have time to prepare anything for me, and my dear wife might even blame herself. So, I decided to start “hinting” today. Although there is only one day left, with Kefei’er’s abilities, no… as long as Kefei’er is willing, I will happily accept it.

Who would dare complain about a gift given by his wife!?

No sooner said than done, so early this morning, I clung to Kefei’er, who seemed to be busy working at her desk.

“Kefei’er, don’t you think there will be any ‘major events’ happening recently?”

Saying directly “Wife, tomorrow is my birthday, I want to be a big kid and get a gift” would be too low-class. Just the “novelty,” the “excitement,” the “surprise” would be reduced by more than half, so I plan to remind her subtly.

As long as Kefei’er understands, and I don’t say it, and she doesn’t ask, but we both know, there will be a romantic, cheesy feeling, and I love that tone.

As for the question just now, although it sounds strange, considering that Kefei’er is essentially the incarnation of the “Order Sprite” in this era, as long as she is a little “willing,” she can use the power of “Order” to know, saying too much is just self-sabotage.

“Major events?”

Kefier, hunched over her desk, turned her head, a look of pure bewilderment on her face. “The Great Empire’s internal and external affairs are as placid as ever. Did something stir on your side again, perhaps?”

“Uh…no, nothing, nothing stirred.”

Kefier’s answer left me momentarily discombobulated. A furtive glance at her script revealed precisely “nothing discovered” – [Kefier: normal state].

Such notation clearly meant she hadn’t grasped a word I’d said.

But…blast, it shouldn’t be!

Normally, Kefier could read me with a mere glance, understanding the nuances of my current mood. My earlier, somewhat deliberate prompting was practically shouting, “My dear wife, momentous things are afoot!”

Yet, just as I prepared to rephrase my inquiry, Kefier, averse to interruptions during work, fixed me with a glacial stare, effectively issuing an eviction notice.

“Alright, don’t disturb me…work! Go bother your other women! Shoo, shoo, shoo! Weren’t you just pining for Sister Wang? Here’s your chance, and you refuse to take it?”

A veritable combo attack, leaving me speechless. Persisting in my “hinting” near Kefier would only invite a playful, yet painful, thwack to the head. Defeated, I shifted gears.

Directing my focus from Kefier to the Queen. Should I succeed in “suggesting” things to the Queen, she’d undoubtedly confirm with Kefier in secret, leading to mutual surprise and a covert collaborative plan to prepare for me!

Perfect, at my expense! The script practically wrote itself! All that remained was for me to play the lead!

However, upon finding the Queen beaming as she sipped her tea, my attempt at implying the possibility of a “significant event” elicited a reaction…remarkably similar to Kefier’s.

“Significant event? Nothing of importance is on the horizon, darling.”

The Queen, too, was oblivious?! Was I truly being too cryptic, leaving both women utterly perplexed!?

Desperate, I abandoned all pretense of “subtlety,” making my “hints” more explicit – practically scraping away the final layer of opacity!

“It concerns…significant events…happening to me.”

“Significant events” concerning oneself? At this point, even a simpleton would understand! Yet, the Queen’s reaction remained utterly forthright.

“Hmm? Euclid, you know I dislike those who speak to me in riddles.”

The Queen *still* didn’t get it!

“Wouldn’t it be easier to simply tell me what you wish to know?”

Why!? Kefier’s ignorance was somewhat understandable, considering her focused work! But why was the Queen, normally so astute, experiencing a sudden lapse in intellect!?

A creeping gloom settled over me. I lacked the motivation to continue dissecting the best way to elicit understanding from the Queen.

“Nothing. I shall leave the Royal City for a time. No need to send for me; I’ll return this evening.”

Foiled. If the women nearest to me remained unenlightened, then…I’d be forced to navigate this day in a more masculine fashion.

I disengaged from the Queen, my spirits slightly dampened, and left the Royal City. Afterwards, I found a small, unassuming cafe and quietly devoured a pre-made cake alone. As evening approached, I mustered my composure and returned.

Since Kefier and the Queen hadn’t caught on, there was no need to force the truth on them. After all, today was supposed to be for “me,” not Euclid. To reveal the occasion now would leave them with a regret only time could heal.

Such tactlessness was beneath a sophisticated man of high emotional intelligence.

Therefore, I resolved to play the fool. Fortunately, the Queen and Kefier appeared none the wiser. The day and the next would simply pass in peaceful ignorance.

Thinking this, I exhaled a soft sigh and opened the door to my chambers…

To find the Queen waiting within. Beside her…stood a large box, seemingly heavy, its contents subtly shifting!

“Welcome back, Mas·ter~”

“Huh?”

The script assaulted me immediately! I was dumbfounded!

[Louis the Fourth has come prepared!]

But even more than the contents of this script! What I care about even more is… that box!

Because… suddenly, a very bad, or rather… a very *wonderful* premonition welled up inside me!

This feeling only intensified after the Queen’s next words!

“This is a ‘gift’ that our Great Ying Empire has prepared for you today. Because it’s a ‘valuable item,’ please remember not to use a knife to open it, but rather… use your hands~ little~ by little~ to unwrap it, okay~?”

“Well then, deliveryman Louis the Fourth~ takes his leave~ please enjoy your ‘birthday cake’ at your leisure☆~”

—

A loser who has to celebrate his own birthday because no one else will.

Regular updates will resume now~