Ch.380Marianne is Depressed (1)

Meanwhile, as Icarus was caught up in all sorts of incidents and spending his busy days…

Marian, who had been pining for our Icarus, was…

“Siiigh… How can I make things better with my oppa?”

She was doing her utmost to convey her feelings of affection toward her busy “oppa.”

To be precise, lately she’d been feeling that her relationship with “oppa” had become somewhat stagnant.

Based on the logic that ‘if the relationship isn’t good, just make it good!’, she was subtly trying to make a m-ove on Icarus.

For reference, Marian had originally planned to wait until Icarus noticed her and made the first move.

But now, after more than two years since they met, thinking carefully about it, what progress had actually been made in her relationship with Icarus…?

Upon reaching this fundamental question, she realized one truly significant fact.

“…Somehow it feels like oppa doesn’t see me as a woman, but truly as a little sister or a pet.”

“Oh dear.”

As Marian’s gaze wavered upon realizing this terrible and significant truth that only she had been unaware of.

The former Casanova and current 130cm-tall mercenary captain ‘Bendalof’, who happened to be consulting with Marian, sighed deeply and said:

“That’s why I told you, Empress. If things continue like this, you’ll never connect with Commander Icarus.”

“Hieeeek.”

“From the beginning, you haven’t been proactive, always walking an ambiguous tightrope, so Commander Icarus is just being cautious and not making a move.”

“Kuhk.”

As Bendalof’s extremely cold facts and evaluations came pouring out one after another, Marian felt as if she had suffered serious internal injuries.

But unlike her hopelessly obtuse subordinates, Bendalof’s advice was truly nutritious in structure.

Even statements that, had they come from others, especially her subordinates, would have immediately resulted in them being grabbed by the collar and slammed to the ground.

When Bendalof spoke, Marian simply listened quietly and only let out groans.

And Bendalof’s various interventions and stories, delivered under the name of ‘advice’, continued to flow.

When he put forward a plan to boost Marian’s pride and self-esteem while simultaneously suggesting she approach things in a completely different way than before.

Marian tilted her head at Bendalof’s words, showing a puzzled expression.

“But Bendalof, I failed last time too when I got Griyanar’s help and wore that erotic outfit.”

“That happened when I wasn’t around, though I’ve heard about it…”

Of course, in response to Marian’s question, the 130cm-tall female captain Bendalof organized her thoughts for a moment.

Eventually, recalling the story she had heard, she cautiously opened up to Marian.

“If I may ask, did you make any additional moves after wearing that ‘reverse bunny’ outfit?”

“…”

“I see you didn’t.”

“Krrk.”

“And at that time, you tried to drug the Commander to seduce him, but because you chose an unnecessarily complicated method, another pirate admiral ended up consuming it and got flaming nipples.”

“Kuuuurgh.”

Of course, unsurprisingly.

Seeing Marian’s reaction confirming the story she had heard.

Bendalof found herself shaking her head involuntarily, feeling that the situation was truly hopeless.

But such thoughts were only momentary.

If she just glossed over this, there was a high possibility that Marian, who had come to her for consultation, would continue to flounder and do something strange to Icarus.

As a former Casanova, unwilling to let such blood pressure-raising behavior slide, Bendalof grabbed hold of Marian’s wavering mental state once more.

She decided to devise an extreme strategy to take care of this ‘Pirate Empress who was showing an oddly innocent side’ sitting before her.

“You must remember this, Empress.”

“Mmm.”

“In the case of Commander Icarus, you absolutely cannot win him by just staying still.”

“Can’t stay still…?”

“Yes, Commander Icarus is a typical mix of ‘oblivious type’ and ‘can’t-be-bothered-ism’, so if you don’t speak up and just stay quiet…”

After trailing off and taking a moment to catch her breath.

Bendalof spoke directly to Marian, who was looking at her with bright, attentive eyes.

“You’ll never be involved with Commander Icarus for the rest of your life.”

“…!!!!”

And at Bendalof’s words, in this short time.

Marian was so shocked that her gaze trembled violently.

But that reaction lasted only briefly.

“However, if you really commit to going after him…”

“Going after him?”

“Commander Icarus will surely notice your feelings and accept them.”

“…Oooh.”

“And after that, a happy life together, raising about 12 children, and by the time you have around 500 grandchildren, sitting together in rocking chairs watching the sunset…”

“Woooooah!!”

Upon receiving Bendalof’s advice and future planning(???).

Marian’s mental state, which had been as shaky as her gaze, recovered rapidly, and in an instant, her confidence as both the Pirate Empress and as a woman.

She showed a determined expression as she regained confidence on both fronts.

“That was extremely helpful, Bendalof.”

“I’m glad it was of help.”

==========

But when Marian tried to make her move with that confidence and plan.

Problems with the ship storage facility ‘Honeycomb’ erupted from all directions.

And because of that, Icarus became very very very very veeeeeery busy, with too many things to worry about.

“Why, why does this have to happen right nooooow!”

Our Marian’s plan for the “Lovey-Dovey Spectacular Mindless Sex Project with Icarus That Would Lead to Great-Grandchildren and Establishing a Great Family”…

Was crushed before it could even begin.

Of course, this situation was something that neither Marian nor Icarus, nor even Bendalof who had advised Marian, could have predicted, so our Mari-Mari had nowhere to vent…

It was nothing short of an un-lucky event that made her blood boil while simultaneously doubling her depression.

==========

And at that time.

After solving all the damn Honeycomb-related problems, when I finally had some free time.

I deleted about three reported posts in the gallery, then started checking the messages that had accumulated in my status window mailbox.

Among those messages, there was one that particularly caught my eye.

—————————————–

<Event>

<Marian’s Depression>

<Content>

<The Pirate Empress Marian, who surrendered to you and has since been treated as half-guest, half-crew member, traveling between the alliance and the base.>

<She seems particularly depressed today.>

<Why that is, is currently unknown.>

<But if you ask her directly, might you find an answer?>

<Of course, to protect personal privacy, choosing not to ask is also an option.>

<Option 1: Let’s ask why she’s acting like that. (Linked event proceeds)>

<Option 2: Privacy should be respected, maybe it’s just ‘that magical time of the month’? (Linked event proceeds)>

<Warning!>

<If you choose too late, the possibility of Marian receiving a ‘negative trait’ increases dramatically!>

—————————————–

‘Ah shit.’

It was an event about Marian, who acts as a sort of ‘cheat key’ for me, being extremely depressed for some unknown reason.

I spent some time contemplating the ‘options’ in the event.

‘Looking at the option content, it seems like it might be her period or something, so maybe it’s inappropriate to ask?’

Whether out of consideration on my part, my finger was naturally moving toward option 2.

But right at that moment.

-Grab!

“Wait a moment, Commander. Do you really need to choose option 2 right now?”

“Huh?”

“I think it’s more important to first understand why Marian is in such a pitiful state.”

“…Hmm, come to think of it, you’re right.”

Hearing Jessica’s words as she grabbed my wrist.

Finding her argument quite reasonable, I nodded and immediately decided to choose option 1.