Ch.239August Dungeon, and the Craftsman’s Trial (3)

“Link Start!!”

With Mimishutain’s shout, my consciousness faded to black.

“That’s plagiarism too!!!”

However, even as my consciousness was fading, I couldn’t stop nitpicking.

After a while, I opened my eyes.

I found myself in a forest.

I thought it would be some game-like screen since it was augmented reality… but it was an incredibly realistic forest. The distinctive scent of grass was strong enough to tickle my nose.

“Amazing technology…”

Why hadn’t technology like this been commercialized? That was the question.

“Shota!!”

Just then, Tina came running toward me.

“This… isn’t a fake Tina, right?”

I was naturally suspicious since this was augmented reality.

“If you’re not sure, why don’t you touch me to confirm?”

Tina immediately flashed a mischievous smile.

“I think I will.”

I promptly caressed Tina’s buttocks. As expected, they were firm and solid. The distinctive Western physique could be felt in such subtle ways.

“Baby cushion! Status okay!”

I shouted loudly.

“Then shall we check the milk tanks next?”

I immediately kneaded Tina’s breasts as if they were my own.

“Whoooa…! So soft and squishy!!”

I found myself absorbed in fondling her breasts before I knew it.

“Well? It’s really me, right?”

Tina smiled.

“Yep. These milk jugs are definitely Tina’s.”

I was immediately convinced. That volume couldn’t be imitated by anyone else. It seemed both Tina and I had entered a holographic world.

*Ding!*

Just then, a heart-shaped gauge at the side of my vision filled up slightly.

“Now! Let me explain the rules of the Marriage Simulation.”

A narration suddenly played. It was the voice of the gold-bearded man who was the leader of this test.

“The heart-shaped gauge beside you is a measurement called ‘Love Power’.”

The man explained.

Love Power… please put more effort into naming things. Seriously.

“It consists of 1000 points total. It increases whenever you love each other. Conversely, it decreases when you fight or develop emotional rifts. You pass if you exceed 800 points. Love each other as much as possible within the time limit!!!”

The man shouted.

“Wait, Tina. Did your country have this kind of technology?”

I asked Tina.

If they had technology like this, why weren’t they a superpower? That was the question. The realism was enough to make VR seem like nothing. It was like that device from that famous light novel. That’s it. That one. The bible of nerds.

“Yes!! It’s Dr. Mimishutain’s masterpiece! But commercialization is prohibited. It’s banned for export worldwide.”

Tina explained.

“Huh? Why?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Well… there were too many augmented reality addicts. Since augmented reality offered more freedom than real life, people would skip meals and focus only on augmented reality until they starved to death. So it became a prohibited technology managed by the government. In the Kingdom of Neverdreaming, it’s classified as a drug like opium. Now it’s only used for military training.”

Tina explained with a bitter tone.

“I see… if people used this augmented reality for lewd things…”

It was every man’s fantasy. Just imagining it was getting me excited.

“Really… Shota, you’re such a man. Always thinking dirty thoughts at every opportunity.”

Tina lightly pinched my cheek as if she couldn’t help it.

“Anyway… so we’re experiencing married life here.”

I looked around.

There was a wooden cabin halfway up the forest, with wood-chopping tools in front. A dog was in the yard, and a hunting rifle and knife hung on the cabin wall.

“American outdoor life…”

Living in a place like this, surrounded by wilderness, was actually a man’s dream. Plus, I had a beautiful wife. It couldn’t get better.

“Hansel, Gretel… I’m sorry. The harvest failed, so I have no choice but to abandon you. Forgive your father.”

I unconsciously teared up thinking about the fairy tale I read as a child.

“Ah!! Hansel and Gretel, right? We have that in our country too!”

Tina said with a bright smile.

“The content must be different.”

I couldn’t forget the adult version of Pinocchio I’d heard before.

“Not that different! Our story is even better!!”

Tina said with a cheerful smile.

*Ding!*

Just then, the Love Power increased to 80. Considering the maximum is 1000, it’s rising in small increments.

“What! Why did it increase for that!! Is there an error in the sensor? Mimishutain!”

The narration immediately sounded.

“No! This is a scientifically measured value based on hormones, heart rate, and dopamine secretion in the brain! They’re happy just talking to each other!”

Mimishutain responded.

“Tch… hmph.”

The man clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Well, shall we go to the house? We should see what’s inside.”

I nodded as I spoke.

“Yes!”

Tina linked her arm with mine.

*Ding!*

The Love Power rose again to 100.

“No!! The sensor must be malfunctioning!”

“Are you dismissing my scientific technology?!! Just admit it! This level of love means they’re soulmates!!”

“No!! That can’t be!!”

We could hear the narrators bickering in the air. Geez. Way to break immersion.

———

“Wow!!!!”

The inside of the house was more comfortable than I expected. There was a fireplace, a simple bed, and a cute dining table. It was the perfect place for a married couple.

“Oh! There’s a fairy tale book here! Hansel and Gretel!!”

Tina immediately picked up the book.

*Tap tap!*

Sitting on the bed, Tina lightly patted the mattress.

“Shall we read together?”

Tina asked with a sweet smile.

“Sure.”

It was too sweet an offer to refuse, so I immediately sat down next to Tina.

“Mmm…”

Tina leaned against my body and snuggled closer.

“This makes it hard to see.”

Tina smiled as she lifted her firm buttocks onto my lap.

Sitting on top of me, Tina leaned back.

“Now we can read together, right?”

Tina smiled sweetly.

Well… it wasn’t really because it was uncomfortable to read the fairy tale. Tina just wanted to be closer to me. What a mischievous girl.

I put my hands around Tina’s waist as we read the fairy tale together.

“If there was a baby in my belly, we’d read aloud for prenatal education.”

Tina said with a hint of regret.

“I’ll get you pregnant right after graduation. Don’t worry.”

I said as I gently nibbled on Tina’s ear.

“You’ll give me lots of babies, right?”

Tina asked with anticipation.

“Of course. I’ll give you enough to form an army.”

I replied.

“I’m happy.”

Tina smiled and kissed me.

Anyway, the two of us read the Neverdreaming version of Hansel and Gretel together.

*Ding!*

The Love Power increased to 120. It seems to rise steadily just by being together normally. This might be the easiest test. I couldn’t help thinking that.

———

The story flowed according to the typical Hansel and Gretel plot.

And gradually, the story approached its climax.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Suddenly, the witch and Hansel were engaged in a sword fight. What the hell? What’s with this sudden development?

“Hiyah!!”

The witch sliced off Hansel’s arm with her sword.

“Aaaaargh!!!”

Hansel screamed in agony while clutching his severed limb.

Wait… is it okay for children to see this? There’s blood everywhere.

“Hehehe. You’ve grown strong, Hansel. However, your power is incomplete. Let me complete your training. Accept the dark magic. And rule this forest with me.”

The witch said to Hansel, who was cornered.

“I will never accept dark magic!! You!! You killed our real mother!! With that filthy dark magic!!!”

Hansel shouted loudly.

“Hahaha. Is that what your father taught you?”

The witch laughed as she lowered her sword.

Then the witch seriously said one thing.

“I… am your mother.”

The witch suddenly made this incredible statement.

“N-no!!! That can’t be!!!!!!!”

Hansel screamed in anguish.

*Sniff!*

Tina immediately wiped away a tear.

“It’s a heartbreaking scene no matter how many times I see it.”

Tina said with deep empathy.

“…Y-yeah.”

It seemed like a parody of a very famous work, but I decided not to say anything to avoid ruining Tina’s emotional moment.

———-

Anyway, right after reading the fairy tale together, I noticed something strange.

“I’m hungry.”

Despite being in virtual reality, I was genuinely hungry.

“Hehehe. It’s not just mediocre virtual reality but augmented reality. The three basic desires that exist in reality naturally exist here too.”

Tina explained.

“This really is amazing technology…”

I could only marvel at it.

“Then let’s go hunting.”

Tina smiled as she stood up.

“Okay!! A couple’s joint effort!”

I smiled as I got up.

——-

We went outside and gathered some equipment. Since I was more comfortable with blades than guns, I took the hunting knife. Tina was a martial artist, so she ventured into the forest empty-handed.

“Please… please let Arigi Shota show his pathetic side here…!!”

The narrator seemed to be desperately praying for something.

“Um… your personal feelings are showing too much.”

Mimishutain immediately objected.

“Let’s go.”

Ignoring the narration, Tina firmly held my hand. It was more like a stroll than hunting. Well, this atmosphere is nice too. I smiled and held Tina’s hand tightly.

After walking through the forest for a while, we encountered our prey.

“Grooooar!!!”

A huge bear appeared right in front of us.

“A bear!! Looks like it’s full of protein!!”

It looked like good food.

“Shota!!! Here I go!!!”

Tina immediately leaped high into the air.

“Hyaaaah!!!!!”

Tina delivered a clean roundhouse kick.

*WHAM!!!*

Tina’s kick struck the bear’s jaw directly.

“Gyah!!”

The bear made a surprisingly cute sound as it started to fall backward.

“Now!!!”

Tina shouted. I immediately understood her intention to exploit the opening in the bear’s stance.

“Hnnng…!!”

I charged my breath for a flash strike and closed the distance to the bear.

“Hyaaaah!!!”

I swung the hunting knife with all my might.

*SLASH!!!*

Though it was a short knife, when combined with the flash technique, it had enough power to cut a bear in half. The bear’s body was split in two and collapsed.

With that, our prey was defeated.

“Wow, perfect coordination… such teamwork without even speaking once…”

“This old man has witnessed something truly wonderful…”

The narrators’ emotional comments could be heard.

*Ding!*

Perhaps due to our good teamwork, the Love Power increased tremendously. It surpassed 350. Not much left until the goal of 800 points.