"No Marriage, Please! vs. Marry Me or Die: The Ultimate Love Showdown" - Episode 34

Yuri: “…Morning already, huh.”

To be honest, I hardly slept at all last night.

Ria and Eve’s interrogation had continued until dawn, but in the end, they reluctantly gave me permission to work with Alice. Apparently, the two of them plan to hole up in a nearby dungeon to raise their adventurer ranks.

They told me to leave the money matters to them. I couldn’t help but think, Wait, doesn’t that make me a freeloader? But they were adamant—absolutely refusing to let me earn money myself.

The agreement was that I could go out and do as I pleased during the day, including eating out. However, I had to come back at night and sleep with them. Naturally, I agreed.

They also offered to continue investigating the Empire’s movements. The war had only just begun, and there were certainly still enemies hiding within the Kingdom.

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Ria: “Good morning, Yuri.”

Eve: “Good morning, Big Brother.”

Yuri: “Ah, yeah… Morning.”

Despite getting little to no sleep, the two of them were already up and cheerful as usual.

The suite we were staying in came with a full kitchen, and Ria had made us breakfast. Her cooking had improved a lot since we first met—and it was honestly delicious. Especially the tamagoyaki.

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Yuri: “Mmm, this is really good.”

Ria: “Hehe, right? I made it sweet—just how you like it, Yuri.”

Yuri: “Wait, when did I ever say that?”

Ria: “You didn’t. But I tried different things and figured out your preferences!”

Yuri: “…I-I see.”

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She really went all out, huh…? It made me feel a bit guilty. I didn’t expect her to tailor even her cooking to my tastes.

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Yuri: “You don’t have to go out of your way for my sake, you know.”

Ria: “No way. I want to. I love the look on your face when you’re enjoying my food.”

Eve: “Yes. I completely understand how Ria feels.”

Yuri: “R-Right…”

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Well… if that’s how they feel, I guess it’s okay. After breakfast, I headed out to the university, seeing both of them off.

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Ria: “Yuri, have a good day.”

Eve: “Take care, Big Brother.”

Yuri: “Yeah. I’m off.”

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As I walked away, I heard them call out behind me.

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Ria: “Oh, and that Alice girl, was it? I’d like to meet her sometime soon. Let her know for me, okay?”

Eve: “Yes, I’d also like to greet her properly. Please arrange that, Big Brother.”

Yuri: “Y-Yeah, sure…”

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Something about the way they said “greet” felt… oddly forceful.

With that in mind, I made my way to Alice’s lab.

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I knocked on the lab door—no response. I tried the handle, and it was unlocked. I hesitated a bit, but ended up stepping inside.

Just like yesterday, the place was in chaotic disarray. Amid the mess, I found Alice fast asleep on the sofa.

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Alice: “Snnn… snnn… Hm? Oh… it’s morning already…”

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She must’ve sensed me entering. Still in the same clothes as yesterday—she had probably been researching all night.

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Alice: “Mmm… so sleepy…”

Yuri: “Good morning, Alice.”

Alice: “Huh? Oh, it’s you—my assistant.”

Yuri: “Sorry for letting myself in. You didn’t answer when I knocked at the door.”

Alice: “No worries. We’re close enough now, right? Oh, that’s right.”

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Still groggy, she stumbled over to the desk and handed me a card.

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Alice: “Here, this is for you.”

Yuri: “What’s this?”

Alice: “Your official assistant badge. Keep it safe, okay, Assistant Yuri-kun?”

Yuri: “Got it. Thanks.”

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She did say she’d submit the paperwork yesterday—but that was fast.

Still half-asleep, Alice brewed herself some coffee, then sat at her desk to drink it.

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Alice: “Phew… Sorry, mornings aren’t really my thing.”

Yuri: “It’s fine. Don’t you have classes to teach or something?”

Alice: “Heh. I’m a genius, remember? I’m exempt from lectures, don’t have students, and don’t run seminars. I’m free to do as much research as I like. That’s the privilege of a true genius!”

Yuri: “I see…”

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To be honest, I didn’t know how Alice was viewed within the university. In the original story, she only appeared near the end, and her background was barely mentioned. Still… no lectures, no students, no obligations? She called it a mark of genius, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling.

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Alice: “Sorry, but can we start this afternoon? I was up all night thinking about multi-elemental theory after our talk yesterday.”

Yuri: “Of course. No problem.”

Alice: “There are books and papers inside—feel free to browse and take it easy.”

Yuri: “Got it.”

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One corner of the room was stacked high with paper—each sheet filled with complex magical formulae. She really did all this in one night? I picked one up and took a look but… yeah, no clue. I’m more of an instinctual type when it comes to magic. I use logic for combat, sure, but spells themselves are just tools to me.

That’s exactly why I want to work with Alice—so I can refine my magic even further.

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Alice: “Ah, it’s already noon.”

Yuri: “Time flies.”

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I’d been so focused on reading the grimoire that I hadn’t noticed the time.

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Alice: “Let’s head to the cafeteria. The food here is seriously good.”

Yuri: “Ooh, looking forward to it.”

Alice: “Hehe. Then let’s go.”

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I followed Alice to the university cafeteria.

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The ceiling soared high, with a massive floating magical oven spinning gently in the center. Students were taking turns cooking beneath it while shouting, “No explosions today, alright?!”

So… things explode here regularly?

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Yuri: “What’s that?”

Alice: “Oh, cooking experiments. They’re testing ways to integrate magic into food prep. Some of it ends up on the menu, but I wouldn’t recommend trying the weirder stuff.”

Yuri: “Yeah, I think I’ll pass on that…”

Alice: “Better bets are the classic airborne grilled bread, the Illusion Light Soup, Mana Restoration Stew, or Instant-Freeze Sweets. But the most popular item is the day-of-the-week special—it’s rumored to boost your mana drastically, though… no real evidence.”

Yuri: “R-Right…”

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I decided to play it safe with a basic set: bread, cheese, and ham.

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Alice: “I’m going with this!”

Yuri: “What is that… a bar?”

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Alice’s tray held five black bars lined up neatly. I had this weird sense of déjà vu—it looked like something from my previous life. The kind of thing you could live off one of per day.

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Alice: “Complete nutrition bars! Flex Bars! I designed them myself—perfect taste, perfect balance!”

Yuri: “That’s impressive.”

Alice: “Right? They’re the most efficient nutrient delivery system I’ve ever devised. Want one?”

Yuri: “I’ll try one.”

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As I reached out for one, someone bumped into Alice.

With a dull thud, the bar fell to the floor.

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Prof. Nox: “Oops. My bad, Alice.”

Alice: “Haha! No worries, just be more careful next time, Professor Nox.”

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The man called Professor Nox looked young—maybe in his twenties. His long black hair flowed past his shoulders, glinting faintly with a violet sheen. He wore a faint, insincere smile. The silver-rimmed glasses on his slender face framed cold, calculating eyes that seemed to judge everyone around him.

I also noticed the other students casting cold glances in our direction.

It was only then that I realized—this was how Alice was viewed by the people around her.
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Then, Nox turned to me.

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Prof. Nox: “So… who might you be?”