"Thank you. I'll pass this on to that friend of mine. He'll be delighted."
Having put the matter of his friend behind him, Greg asked why they, as first-year students, had come to the Dungeon.
The recommended level for entering the Dungeon's first floor was 20, so freshmen were almost never seen here.
Even when playing the original game, very few players were willing to give up their wonderful campus lives to grind in the Dungeon.
Honestly, Greg didn't understand why the developers had added grinding mechanics to a dating sim in the first place.
And why was it so difficult? In some Dungeons, even entering with endgame equipment from the main story could still easily lead to a game over.
Absolutely ridiculous!
Victoria seemed reluctant to reveal much, but perhaps because Greg had saved Sylvia, she spoke after a brief hesitation.
"It's for the upcoming class placement assessment. I need a Gem with a suitable property to give my magic a little more variety."
In this world, magic could be cast bare-handed, but most people still chose to carry a wand or a similar Magic Device.
These implements usually had Gem sockets-inserting particular Gems could produce all sorts of remarkable changes in the spells cast through them.
For example, inserting a "split" Gem would cause the large fireball from a Fireball Spell to split into two medium-sized fireballs that attacked the enemy.
If the Magic Device had a second socket, adding an "acceleration" Gem would then send those two medium-sized fireballs hurtling toward the enemy at tremendous speed.
At certain critical moments, the tactical variations Gems offered could catch an enemy off guard and secure victory.
But Greg remembered that Victoria shouldn't have been without even a basic Gem at this point. Some idiot was supposed to duel her in the first act and lose a Gem to her.
Oh, that idiot was supposed to be me. But since I hid in the Dungeon ahead of time, that scene never happened.
Well, that explained it.
Then another thought occurred to Greg.
But even without the Gem I gave her, she should have received another one during the prologue. Unless...
"I remember all freshmen being entitled to a basic Gem after enrolling," Greg said. "Did you say something to the teacher in charge of the storeroom?"
He imitated a tone of self-righteous, naive recklessness.
"Something like, 'Since you said I could pick any Gem in the storeroom, I'll take the one set in your wand'?"
Victoria frowned. "How did you know?"
Fuck, she really picked that ridiculous option. No wonder she had to start grinding as soon as she enrolled.
Greg suddenly recalled how events in the original game usually presented three choices. The first two were generally normal, while the third was utterly bizarre.
At first, he'd assumed the developers had thrown those in as a joke, but now he was beginning to suspect something...
Could the most bizarre option actually have been what the protagonist herself would have chosen!?
Greg was somewhat speechless.
To avoid stalling their early-game progress, normal players generally wouldn't pick that outrageous option after obtaining their first Gem from Greg Sass.
That way, they would already have two Gems by the end of the prologue. They wouldn't need to consider entering the Dungeon for a while and could simply focus on progressing through the story.
But now, even without getting a Gem from him, she'd still chosen that ridiculous option without hesitation...
That's our gray-haired girl for you. She so effortlessly did what I couldn't.
Fine. Since I caused this situation, I'll resolve it.
"Here, take this."
Greg took the Gem that had dropped earlier out of his pocket and tossed it over.
Victoria caught it instinctively.
Sylvia leaned closer to look and gave a soft gasp. "A 'reflection' Gem... Those are quite rare even among basic Gems."
"What is this supposed to mean?" Victoria gripped the Gem, fixing Greg with another scrutinizing look.
"Consider it a favor," Greg said frankly, his tone turning serious. "I'd like you two to help me clear the Dungeon's first floor after your class placement assessment."
Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you afraid I'll take the Gem and go back on my word?"
"Heh." Greg shrugged casually, sending droplets sliding from his blond hair. "Then I'll just have misjudged you."
He looked carefree, but he wasn't entirely without confidence.
He knew very well that although this gray-haired girl often did incomprehensible things, she never let anyone down when it came to promises and important commitments.
That was one of the very qualities that made so many heroines fall for her.
Victoria gave Greg a long, searching look.
That boldness alone made her feel that the person before her really did seem... different from the arrogant, foolish young nobleman he'd been at the start of the school year.
"...All right." She finally tightened her grip on the Gem and nodded. "I promise."
Before long, the fire had dried Sylvia's damp clothes.
Victoria stood up, ready to leave.
"Aren't you coming back to the Academy with us, Senior Greg?" Sylvia asked softly as she packed her belongings.
Why would I go out there?
To get myself killed?
For me, this freezing Dungeon was far safer than the Academy aboveground. It might be warm there, but CGs of my death lurked around every corner!
Greg gazed into the depths of the cave with a solemn expression, as though bearing some sacred mission.
"My battlefield is here. Before I set out on the path to conquering it, I must gain a deeper understanding of this darkness."
A flicker of admiration crossed Sylvia's eyes at his words.
Although she still couldn't say she liked him very much, this "sense of responsibility" did ease some of her earlier disgust.
"All right. We'll be going, then."
She turned to follow Victoria, but suddenly remembered something and called back.
"Oh, right, Senior Greg."
"Your personal maid voluntarily resigned from the Sass Family after you were disowned. But Academy rules forbid students who have lost their noble status from bringing personal attendants... so she was asked to leave the Academy."
"Before she left, though, she asked any student who happened to see you afterward to pass on a message."
My personal maid... She meant Ellie.
Greg immediately recalled the character.
In the original game, this maid was a character the players deeply regretted losing.
She was as beautiful as any of the heroines, but not only was she unavailable as a romance option, she also invariably took her own life whenever Greg Sass died.
She, too, could therefore be considered a character doomed to die.
So when Greg learned that she had voluntarily left the Sass Family, his first reaction was relief.
At least... she wouldn't die because of me.
As for worrying that she couldn't survive without him?
Not a chance.
Although she was only a maid, she was absurdly powerful. In certain routes, Greg Sass survived until very late in the game thanks to her. That was also why she could resign from the Sass Family whenever she pleased.
Now that she was free of a burden like him, she would surely live a freer, more fulfilling life.
Greg nodded, smiling with a hint of relief for Ellie's sake. "What did she say?"
Sylvia repeated the message. "She said, 'If you don't show up in front of me within a week, I'll ignore the Academy's rules, storm straight into its Dungeon, hold a grand funeral for you, and then kill myself. Ha ha.'"
"That figure of speech is certainly a little exaggerated, but you're so lucky to have such a loyal maid, Senior Greg."
With that, she waved and jogged over to Victoria, who was waiting up ahead.
Silence returned to the cave, broken only by the crackling fire.
Greg stood rooted to the spot, the smile slowly freezing on his face.
Guess why I wasn't laughing along anymore.
...Had you considered the possibility...
That it wasn't a figure of speech? That she meant every word?
So... just how many days had it been since she said that!?
Before you continue