Die If I Can't Marry Off My Favorite - Chapter 9

“Why are you so scared?”

An unexpectedly gentle tone.

I raised my head and met Aspeiran’s eyes for the first time since entering this reception room.

Aspeiran’s clear blue eyes were looking directly at me.

“No need to cower. I didn’t call you here to eat you.”

I blinked in bewilderment. Was that… a joke?

‘No way. Aspeiran making a joke?’

I didn’t understand why, but thanks to that, my tension eased a bit.

I took a small deep breath and stole a glance at Aspeiran. He had stopped reviewing documents and was now rummaging through a mountain of papers piled up beside him.

Finally, Aspeiran pulled out a bundle of documents and handed them to me with an expressionless face.

“First, let me thank you. Thanks to your report, the ‘human sacrifice’ case was well resolved. This is the related report, read it if you want.”

“Ah, yes! Thank you.”

I hurriedly accepted the documents Aspeiran handed over.

Reading through it, I saw the detailed account of the fate of Bigsir Buren and Sosori Village.

From capital punishment to confiscation of property, stripping of titles, and forced labor…

‘They all paid for their crimes.’

Now that a strong example has been set, such horrific incidents like ‘human sacrifice’ should never happen again.

After carefully reading to the last page, I closed the documents. Then, handing them back to Aspeiran, I humbly said,

“I’m glad I could be of some help, even if just a little.”

“No need to be so modest. You were actually of great help. So now… I should give you the reward I promised last time.”

‘…Reward!’

My eyes lit up brightly.

Ah, so that’s what this was about! He called me to give me a reward! But why set up such an atmosphere?

‘I don’t need money or anything like that! All I need is the spot next to you!’

I’ll stick close by your side and make sure to get you married…!

My mind started racing quickly. How should I use this reward? I need to come up with a perfect plan to smoothly settle down in Roakin.

But before I could finish my thoughts, Aspeiran beat me to it.

“However, before that, I have a proposal for you.”

“Ah, a proposal… Pardon? A proposal?”

I reflexively asked back loudly.

A proposal, what kind of proposal all of a sudden? Of course, it’s good for me if Aspeiran needs me, but still.

I looked up at Aspeiran with a dubious expression. He tapped the table lightly.

“Do you know what Beltraum is?”

Beltraum, out of nowhere?

I was very bewildered, but I recited the information I knew from memory.

“Um, I know it’s the third world located between Elbas and Elros, where monsters live.”

“That’s right. It’s a dangerous world full of chaos. Something everyone fears. But do you know?”

Aspeiran crossed his arms and legs.

“Actually, Beltraum is not that different from this world. There’s air, living beings, and its own set of rules.”

I still couldn’t understand the intention behind his words, but I quietly listened.

“The reason we consider Beltraum dangerous is because we’re ignorant about it. In fact, people’s fear of Beltraum has decreased significantly compared to the early days. Why do you think that is?”

“…Because we know now.”

What gates are, what monsters are, what Beltraum is.

Also, how to deal with gates opening and encountering monsters.

Now, everyone knows.

“The more information we have about Beltraum, the safer my people can be. That’s why I created a group specifically dedicated to researching Beltraum.”

Having read , I knew how strongly the people of this world resisted Beltraum. There must have been fierce opposition when establishing the research institute.

Yet Aspeiran went ahead and created it anyway. Hoping that his people would no longer fear, that they would be safe.

‘Indeed, the hero king of Roakin beloved by all people.’

Recalling Aspeiran’s epithet, I let myself sink into the rising tide of emotion.

My fandom… is surging.

“But recently, Beltraum research has hit a wall.”

“A wall?”

Belatedly coming to my senses after being completely absorbed in my favorite’s coolness, I asked back.

Aspeiran furrowed his brow as if the mere thought was unpleasant and began to explain.

“The current exploration method of the survey team is very slow and inefficient.”

To summarize, it was like this:

The mana density in Beltraum’s atmosphere is higher than in Elros or Elbas, so animals with little mana in their bodies would have seizures just by entering.

Therefore, animals like horses or dogs couldn’t be taken on explorations, so the survey team had to conduct explorations only on foot and with short-distance teleportation magic.

But being this slow and inefficient, there’s no way proper results could come from the exploration.

In the end, Beltraum research had been at a standstill lately.

Aspeiran leaned back lazily against the sofa and continued speaking.

“So while looking for a solution, we happened to discover and capture three orphaned baby monsters. That’s when I suddenly had a thought. Couldn’t we tame monsters and use them for exploration?”

“Did you succeed?”

“No. We couldn’t even try. They were so hostile towards other living beings that it was impossible to even get close.”

After saying that, Aspeiran stared at me intently.

“But you, they followed well.”

“Pardon?”

“So you really didn’t know…”

Aspeiran muttered softly. Then, a bombshell came out of his mouth.

“That dog you were playing with today is one of the baby monsters captured by the survey team.”

I blinked blankly. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard.

A monster? That adorable little Memme was… a monster? I played with a monster?

‘I, I unknowingly jumped to the brink of death!’

Now I understood why Aspeiran had given me that strange look, and why the knights were about to faint.

‘But that puppy… it didn’t feel particularly scary for a monster. The puppy also followed me well. Why?’

“Seeing that, I realized. That you have a special ability.”

Aspeiran’s words, which continued while I was pondering, made me even more perplexed. I repeated his words like a parrot.

“You say I have an ability?”

“Rarely, people who have entered Beltraum awaken new abilities. Like that, it seems you’ve awakened an ability, one that makes monsters feel affinity towards you.”

“…Pardon?”

I couldn’t follow the conversation. Suddenly discovering a special ability?

I shook my head quickly.

“Just because that puppy followed me well, isn’t it too hasty to conclude? It could have been that the puppy was unique…”

“That’s why I conducted one more experiment.”

Aspeiran’s eyes scanned the interior of the reception room. I followed his gaze. The large plants with bizarre appearances filling the reception room.

Aspeiran said,

“All the plants here are plant-type carnivorous monsters. If you didn’t have that ability, they would have rushed at you as soon as you entered.”

“What, what do you mean.”

“Ah, of course, if the plants had tried to attack you, I would have stopped them immediately. I had no intention of letting you get hurt, so don’t worry about that.”

Of course, that’s right. Our Aspeiran isn’t the type to let an innocent person die before his eyes.

I’m not particularly bothered that he called me into the midst of man-eating plants to test my ability. But, good heavens. I held my head in both hands.

I see. If what Aspeiran says is true, I really have gained a new ability. And it’s one that can make friends with monsters…

‘What on earth am I supposed to do with that!’

I don’t want to meet monsters. They’re scary!

To think that after being reincarnated and crossing over to the world of monsters, I’ve gained an ability that’s useless unless I get involved with monsters.

It was so frustrating and unbelievable that I tugged at my hair in agony.

“So I have a proposal.”

But at that moment, Aspeiran’s low voice pulled my mind out of the shock it was swimming in.

I let go of the hair I had been yanking and looked at Aspeiran. With an utterly indifferent face, he dropped a bombshell statement.

“Would you stay here and become my monster handler?”

“…Pardon?”

My mind, struck by Aspeiran’s sudden proposal, found its way back to its place. I gaped.

Wait. What did he just say?

“The task I’d like to request is to make the three moonlight wolf dogs we currently have in captivity accustomed to humans. Of course, I’ll guarantee your safety as much as possible.”

“…”

“If you accept, I’ll give you sufficient compensation along with whatever you need, be it land or status. I’ll treat you with the highest regard. Also, regarding monsters, your words will carry the same weight as the director of the research institute.”

“…”

“Roakin needs your ability. What do you think, will you accept the proposal?”

I just opened and closed my mouth like a goldfish. Only one thought kept circling in my head.

‘Idiot… aren’t you an idiot?’

Aren’t you really an idiot, Jin Noran?!

‘You wondered what use an ability to befriend monsters could have? This is what it’s for!’

A samba parade broke out in my head. Success, success. Without even having to try hard, Aspeiran has grabbed onto me first.

I’ve achieved the first goal of Operation Get Aspeiran Married!

Honestly, I was a bit worried. But if I succeed in taming monsters, wouldn’t I immediately become one of Aspeiran’s closest aides?

Then I could quickly push forward with Aspeiran’s marriage too.

‘This is what they call high risk, high return!’

Jin Noran’s specialty, the positive circuit, started spinning rapidly.

If the last thread of reason hadn’t quickly applied the brakes, my bird-like mouth would have immediately blurted out, “Sure, let’s give it a shot!”

I pondered for a moment. Since I’m going to accept anyway, isn’t there a way to leave a deeper impression of myself?

‘Ah!’

I had a good idea.

I raised my head and looked straight into Aspeiran’s eyes. Aspeiran raised his left eyebrow.

I spoke in a confident voice.

“You said you would give me a reward, didn’t you?”

“I did. Is there something you want?”

“There is.”

I put one hand on my chest, recalling a scene I once saw in an old foreign movie. And then, grinning, I said,

“Please, bestow upon me a name.”

“A name?”

“Yes. To become Your Majesty’s subject and swear loyalty, wouldn’t I need a name?”

Aspeiran’s eyes widened. Soon, the corners of his well-shaped lips turned upwards.

“…Haha!”

He burst into loud laughter.

“Very well.”

Aspeiran stood up and looked into my eyes. There was satisfaction in his gaze.

Finally, Aspeiran opened his mouth.

“…Shuria. Yes, let’s go with Shuria. From now on, your name is Shuria.”

Shuria.

Shuria, I rolled my new name around in my mouth. I like it.

Somehow, I had a feeling I would get used to this name ‘Shuria’ quickly.

‘Now then, what should I do?’

As an avid reader of romance fantasy novels, my head was filled with hundreds of elegant greetings suitable for this meaningful moment.

But none of them were truly mine.

Let’s just be myself. Sincerely.

I jumped to my feet. Then, bowing deeply, I shouted energetically,

“I’ll do my best, Your Majesty!”

On a winter day when snowflakes were falling one by one from the sky.

That’s how I, with the name Shuria, came to settle in this world.

Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me

One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.

Synopsis:

Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.

But this is still far from enough.

He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.

_____

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