Ch.190190. The Position of the Prince Consort

[WARNING! Distortion level has exceeded dangerous levels.]

[Destruction ending is imminent.]

[The final crossroads appears.]

[Warning. You are now at the ending’s crossroads. This choice will determine the ending.]

[If you reject Seraphina Rector Infractus’s proposal, you will forcibly enter the destruction ending.]

Gilbert frowned slightly as he looked at the red notification window blocking his view. Despite all his caution and care, it had come to this.

The distortion level was at 99.99%, and the ending would be determined by his choice.

Seeing that rejection would lead to the destruction ending, his choice was essentially forced. The moment he refused the position of consort, an unimaginable destruction ending awaited him.

Yet he hesitated to accept immediately because of Briana. She was looking for a companion to walk the path of the sword with, and she had chosen him.

If she discovered that he had accepted the position of consort, he couldn’t guarantee how she would react.

Moreover, he still hadn’t figured out who the final target of this sub-scenario was. Choosing Seraphina in this situation could have unforeseeable consequences.

“I don’t understand what you’re contemplating. Perhaps you don’t find me appealing?”

Even his response required caution. He couldn’t predict how Seraphina, with her twisted possessiveness, might interpret his words.

Yet remaining silent was also problematic. If she took his silence as rejection, they would immediately enter the destruction ending.

Despite racking his brain for a brief moment, no answer appeared. Since possessing this body, he had doggedly cleared the main quests, only to be tripped up by a sub-scenario.

The choice with the least risk would be to accept the position of consort. At least that would avoid the destruction ending…

No, there was a way.

Gilbert steadied his wavering eyes and looked at Seraphina, who wore a destructively beautiful smile.

Though his judgment was clouded by the distortion index and notification windows, this wasn’t a game where he had to follow predetermined choices.

Of course, outright rejection was impossible. With Seraphina’s possessiveness having grown so extreme, he couldn’t predict what she might do.

The problem was that Gilbert didn’t have control over the situation itself, so he needed to regain that control. If he could restrain her from acting recklessly, he wouldn’t be dragged along.

So what was needed to take control?

“Disciple?”

“I understand. I will accept. However.”

Gilbert deliberately let his words trail off.

The vague method that had been forming in his mind suddenly crystallized into a concrete plan.

In truth, it wasn’t much of a plan. He did need to accept the position of consort, but he just needed to take control within that framework.

The official announcement would have to be postponed anyway. What was immediately important was the official announcement of her becoming the successor, and even after that, various procedures remained to solidify her position.

“The official announcement is a matter for later. I believe you’re aware of that, Master.”

“Does that mean…”

“I will gladly accept.”

When Seraphina heard Gilbert’s words, her expression showed that she had finally obtained what she wanted.

But Gilbert simply watched her without changing his expression.

Having bought some time, all he needed to do now was to target her to gain control.

[You have chosen the final crossroads.]

[Destruction ending has been postponed.]

[Probability of annihilation ending increases.]

[Probability of ??? ending increases.]

Closing the notification window that blocked his view, Gilbert steeled himself.

This situation had arisen from his indecisiveness. He needed to establish a clear path and genuinely open up a romance route.

Of course, that wasn’t all. His goal was to use that as a stepping stone to perfectly conquer Briana as well.

He could call for an instructor, or handle it in some other way. For that, he needed to be a bit more aggressive, and he had laid the groundwork for it.

Therefore, he needed to return.

To the original Gilbert’s form.

It was time to return to being the Golden Sun.

***

A month had passed since Gilbert accepted Seraphina’s proposal. During that time, the Empire had completed preparations for Seraphina’s succession ceremony. The envoys sent to various countries had already returned, and only the ceremony itself remained.

In the meantime, Gilbert had temporarily paused his conquest of Seraphina. With the succession ceremony approaching, Seraphina was busy with succession-related matters, making it difficult to meet her. It was impossible to pursue her without being able to meet, so he had no choice but to pause.

Instead, Gilbert began pursuing Briana. She was also a key to the world-ending scenario. In fact, with Briana, the outcome was clearer.

Judging by the “annihilation ending,” he suspected that Briana, driven mad by possessiveness, would kill everything in sight. If she transcended her limits through rage and became superhuman, how many could stop her?

It would certainly result in massive casualties, so he had to pursue her simultaneously. The problem was how to conquer two characters who didn’t even have romance routes in the game.

This was a challenge for Gilbert, who had deliberately avoided forming relationships until now. His goal had always been to return to his original world, so he had been careful about forming connections with people.

But somehow, this had triggered a situation where two people who normally would never have romantic feelings for him, including possessiveness, now had twisted hearts, creating a sub-scenario.

Worse still, if he failed at simultaneous conquest, not only would he die, but the world might end—the worst possible outcome.

Gilbert was beginning to wonder if he had been transported into a yandere-filled dating simulation rather than a mecha-centered battle game world.

Moreover, the real-life Gilbert had never even experienced normal romance before his end.

It was a situation fraught with adversity.

What a mess.

Gilbert couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

He had gone through so much trouble to shed his rogue image, only to now have to become the Golden Sun who opens multiple romance routes simultaneously. The joke seemed too cruel.

But his personal feelings ended there. Mechanical as it might seem, successfully clearing the sub-scenario had become his top priority.

“Gilbert! What are you doing?”

“Camilla, is that you?”

“Hm-hm-hm! The one and only!”

A faint smile formed on his face as Camilla appeared with a flourish, easing his headache. The darkness that had enveloped her during Operation Gehenna seemed completely lifted, which was good to see.

After that awakening event, her changed mindset had allowed her previously undeveloped potential to bloom, and she was making remarkable progress.

Though once not quite strong enough to be in the main party, she now showed signs of becoming a core force. Gilbert, who knew her growth potential better than anyone, was pleased with her development.

With her noble background and skills combined, she would quickly become an ally no one could ignore.

“I thought you’d be at the training grounds. What brings you here?”

“I need to recharge my interest power!”

Though he wasn’t sure what “interest power” meant, Camilla sat down on the bench next to Gilbert with a bright smile, swinging her legs alternately. She seemed to find great joy in this moment of doing nothing.

Wait a minute.

Gilbert suddenly recalled their previous conversations as he watched Camilla humming happily.

The “interest power” she just mentioned and a conversation they had some time ago.

In that conversation, Camilla had told him she had found something interesting.

At the time, he thought she was referring to the events unfolding as he cleared the main scenario, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

As Gilbert gazed intently at Camilla, she felt his gaze and turned her head sideways, tilting it.

Her crimson hair fluttered gracefully in the air.

“Camilla. You once told me that you found something interesting.”

“Yes, truly interesting, enough to want to learn about it for a lifetime.”

Camilla’s eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly, radiantly beautiful.

However, Gilbert couldn’t hide his unease as he faced that smile.

Suddenly, her romance route came to mind.

More precisely, the moment her romance route began.

“What is it?”

“Hmm, should I tell you? Should I?”

Her continued bright smile only increased his anxiety. Yes, it was just like that time. The thought flashed through his mind.

“Since it’s you, Gilbert, I’ll tell you. What I find most interesting right now is… you, Gilbert.”

Now you understand?

Gilbert could only stare blankly at Camilla as she whispered those words.

It was the beginning of the romance route he remembered.