"No Marriage, Please! vs. Marry Me or Die: The Ultimate Love Showdown" - Episode 4

“Ah.”

A small sound escaped my lips.

Ria had looked surprised when our eyes met, but she quickly changed her expression.

“Oh my, is something the matter?”

She turned to me with a dazzling smile, the kind that seemed too perfect to be real. Her face was finely sculpted, like a masterfully crafted doll, and even through her habit, her ample chest was impossible to ignore.

Most of all, her body was impeccably proportioned—she seemed to embody every ideal of feminine beauty.

Wait a second.

What am I even thinking about all of a sudden?

Snapping myself out of it, I shook my head to clear the fog.

“Ria. Sorry, but… I saw it.”

“Saw? Saw what, exactly?”

Her brilliance only seemed to intensify.

“Well, it’s just… your demeanor seemed a little different, that’s all.”

I trailed off slightly, choosing my words carefully. But—

“Oh no, you must be mistaken.”

She continued smiling, the picture of grace.

But her eyes… they weren’t smiling at all.

At that point, I knew there was no going back.

So I decided to be honest.

“You probably already know this, but your skill doesn’t work on me—not with Evil (邪悪イヴィル). Even if you increase its output.”

“Tch. Seriously? I maxed it out and everything. What a pain your skill is.”

Her expression shifted completely—it was almost alarming, but honestly, this version of her felt easier to talk to.

“Anyway, you moved fast with the paperwork, didn’t you?”

“That’s partly thanks to the influence of my skill. Got it all done quickly.”

“I see. Should’ve factored that in… sigh. So, what now? You coming over, or heading home? Bet you’re disappointed now that you’ve seen the ‘real’ saint, huh?”

Her tone was bitter—almost like she’d given up on something.

“No, I’m not disappointed.”

“Hmm? Oh—!”

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something.

“You’re an adventurer, right, Yuri? How’s your money situation?”

“Well… not great, to be honest.”

“Wanna help out around my place? I’ve been short-handed lately.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“With that griffin incident and all, it’s kind of scary being alone. Not that I need a full-blown guard, but what do you think?”

I put a hand to my chin, thinking it over.

Griffins rarely show up in that forest… still.

This conversation gave me a clearer sense of who she really was.

“It’s good to have someone around to keep others away, and your skill doesn’t affect me. You don’t have to be glued to me 24/7—we’ve both got things to do. It’s just a precaution.”

“That would be helpful.”

No damage had occurred yet, so it made sense she just wanted my presence as a deterrent.

“So? I can pay you decently.”

“Alright. I’ll take the job.”

“Yes!”

Heading to the capital was important, but helping Ria wasn’t something I could just put off either.

She might become a powerful ally. I needed to be prepared—for the days ahead.

“Come to think of it, you’re not from around here, right? Where’d you come from?”

“A village in the south.”

“Did you already get a room at the inn?”

“Yeah. Just booked one.”

“Cancel it.”

“Huh?”

Her unexpected proposal caught me off guard.

“You’re my guard now. No point unless you’re staying with me. You were going to come over anyway, so you might as well live there for a while.”

“Are you sure? I mean… we’re a man and a woman—could be… complications.”

“What? You planning to do something to me?”

“No. Absolutely not. Not in a million years. I swear to God.”

I denied it with every fiber of my being.

If things went that direction, I might as well dig my grave. That would be suicidal. I would never be that foolish.

“…You don’t have to deny it that hard.”

Pouting, Ria puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

“Sorry. I’ve got my reasons too.”

“Fine. Let’s go. First stop: the inn.”

“Right.”

Following her lead, we headed out.

We arrived at the inn, and I quickly canceled my reservation—again, with Evil’s help, it went smoothly.

“Done?”

“Yeah.”

“Alright, let’s go. It’s a bit of a walk.”

“Got it.”

A little ways from the church stood a large mansion.

It looked almost ethereal in this setting. The white stone walls, weathered by time, were flecked with moss. Arched windows, lined with elegant latticework, added to its grandeur.

The red-brown tiled roof rose steeply, with pointed spires blending into the night sky.

I realized I didn’t know much about Ria.

Why was she here? Why this house?

“Here we are.”

“It’s huge.”

“The church arranged it. I’m a Saint candidate, after all. Around here, they just call me ‘Saint Ria.’”

“A candidate, huh?”

Saint candidates were, as the name suggests, those chosen to potentially become Saints.

So she wasn’t officially one—yet.

The Saint wasn’t a hereditary position. It was given to the “purest” woman of the time…

I glanced at Ria.

“What’s with that look?”

“Just… imagining you as a Saint.”

“Being a Saint is just about having the right kind of skill. Personality doesn’t matter.”

“That’s a pretty harsh truth.”

“That’s the world. It’s not the inside that matters—it’s the outside.”

She said it bitterly, her face tinged with sadness.

Still… she wasn’t wrong.

The role had nothing to do with personality.

That thought hit me harder than I expected.

Ria led me inside.

“Wow…”

As I stepped into the mansion, lights flickered on.

The ceiling of the hall was high, with a grand chandelier hanging from the center. Crystals shimmered, scattering light across the ceiling in glittering patterns.

“Your room is this way. There are tons of unused rooms, so pick one.”

“You live here alone?”

“Yeah. I do.”

The hallway was long, dimly lit by soft lanterns.

Each step on the old wooden floor produced a faint creak. The walls, painted a pale cream, were adorned with aged paintings.

The air was cool, and the silence gave the place a slightly eerie, almost lonely atmosphere.

“This room’s farthest from mine. You’ll stay here for now. Use whatever you find inside.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“…Just so you know, if you try anything in the middle of the night, I won’t hold back.”

She narrowed her eyes and stared at me.

“Don’t worry. There’s no one more trustworthy in that regard than me.”

“Hmm. Well, if you do try anything, I’ll kick you somewhere that’ll make you regret it.”

Yikes. I already had a very clear idea of where that kick would land—and the thought alone made me break into a cold sweat.

“Alright, I’ll be in the dining room. Just head straight through the main hall. Come find me once you’ve dropped off your stuff.”

“Got it. Thanks again for everything.”

I gave her a grateful smile.

She blinked, taken aback, then reacted on instinct.

“D-Don’t get the wrong idea, okay?! This is a professional arrangement! Strictly employment-related!”

With a flustered shout, she turned and stormed off.

What a classic tsundere line that was.

…Not that I believe she has any dere in her for me.

And so, I stepped into the room Ria had shown me.