第２８掘：我が愛しの君 (Part2)
I had killed people with dungeon traps, and while that was effectively the same as doing it with my own hands, I could still find a way to justify it to myself.
But from here on out, there would inevitably come a time when I would have to willingly offer up "sacrifices" for the sake of my goals. There would undoubtedly be situations where this dungeon would be attacked, or where we would have to strike out ourselves. And when that happened, Labyris and the others would surely be the ones standing on the front lines.
I understood. I understood all too well. I would use them for my own purposes. In the worst-case scenario, they would die. The fact that I was the one making such plans made me angrier than anything else.
*...Should I just let them live out their lives in peace?*
It would be dangerous, but if I stood at the forefront, they wouldn't have to face such perils. As I was thinking this, Labyris slapped my cheek.
"...Huh? I was assaulted? What happened to my skills?"
"Oh, I see. Acts performed for Yuki's sake are permitted, it seems. Though I suppose lethal levels are out of the question."
I see. If that weren't the case, those under designated protection wouldn't be able to train together, and there would be times when one would need to slap the other to stop them.
"...By the way, you can discard that line of thinking. It’s unpleasant. We aren't baby birds. We think for ourselves and choose to follow you, Yuki."
Labyris glared at me. If I said the wrong thing, another slap seemed likely to follow. I knew this line of thought was arrogant, but it was just... honestly, the scales were tipped precariously when it came to weighing my own life against theirs. If I weren't a Dungeon Master, the balance would have tilted completely in favor of Labyris and the others.
"...Haa. I think it's a good thing you're a Dungeon Master, Yuki. You say such soft things. If we had met under normal circumstances, you surely would have kept us in a safe place forever. Without us knowing a thing."
...That sounds plausible. No, if it were me, I would have done exactly that.
As I thought this, Labyris climbed off my lap and performed a beautiful bow. She was wearing a yukata, of course—I hadn't had the time to prepare individual undergarments for everyone, so naturally, they weren't wearing any.
"...You really can't take things seriously until the very end, can you, Yuki?"
"My apologies."
Was it that obvious on my face? Labyris bowed gracefully once more and spoke to me.
"...My beloved lord. I swear that until the very end, in times of joy and times of sorrow, I will be with you as your sword, your shield, and as your beloved."
Labyris spoke those words with a clarity and dignity I hadn't heard from her before.
"...Does this mean I can't use my worst self-destructing tactics?"
"...If by self-destruct you mean taking your own life, know that at the very least, Ratz and I will be going with you."
"That declaration just now was pretty one-sided, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was. It was my own selfish declaration. There is no such thing as a marriage that requires the other party's consent."
"...In other words, I have no way to refuse."
"That is correct. If you're willing to accept it, I wouldn't mind saying the marriage vows right here."
"...Ah, sorry. Please wait a little longer. In the homeland I came from, if you lay a hand on a girl like Labyris, you get punished. I still have some resistance to it."
When I answered that, Labyris made a bored face, returned to me, and sat back down on my lap.
"...I hate the laws of that homeland. ...It can't be helped. Let's take it slow."
"Go easy on me."
And so, the two of us went back to brainstorming traps.
***
My thanks to everyone who reports typos and omissions every time. If you could write "Title" and "Copy-paste the line with the typo" in the comments, it makes it much easier for me to fix them.
I had a question in the comments about my update schedule, so I'll answer it here. I don't have a plot, so I'm just writing as I go!! I'm usually home between 16:00 and 7:00. If I finish writing during that time, I'll update!! Sorry for the randomness!! Oh, and on weekends, if I'm in the mood, I'll update all day long!