"Thank you. I'll pass that along to my friend. He'll be thrilled."
After moving past the subject of his 'friend,' Greg asked why a pair of first-year freshmen like them were in the dungeon.
The recommended level for the first floor was Level 20, which meant freshmen were almost never seen here.
Even when playing the original game, few players were willing to abandon a pleasant campus life to become a grinder in a dungeon.
To be honest, Greg didn't understand why the developers had added such grinding elements to a dating sim.
Moreover, the difficulty was absurdly high. Some dungeons were so brutal that even with end-game gear from the main storyline, you could still easily face a game over.
It was simply ridiculous!
Victoria seemed reluctant to reveal too much information, but perhaps because Greg had saved Silvia, she spoke up after a moment's hesitation.
"It's for the upcoming Placement Exam. I need a gem with the right attributes to add some variety to my magic."
In this world, while magic could be cast barehanded, most people chose to carry a wand or a similar magic conduit.
These tools usually had socket slots—by embedding specific gems, one could cause various wondrous changes to the spells cast.
For instance, if you socketed a 'Split' gem, a large fireball would divide into two medium-sized fireballs to attack the enemy.
If your magic conduit had a second socket and you added a 'Haste' gem on top of that, those two split fireballs would hurtle toward the enemy at extreme speeds.
In certain critical situations, the tactical variations provided by gems could often turn the tide of battle.
However, Greg remembered that Victoria shouldn't be lacking even a basic gem right now. In the first act, some idiot was supposed to duel her, lose, and give her a gem.
Oh, right. That idiot was supposed to be me. But since I hid in the dungeon early, that plot point never happened.
Well, never mind then.
Greg thought for a moment. Even without the gem he would have provided, she should have been able to receive another basic gem during the prologue, unless...
Greg spoke up. "I recall that all freshmen are entitled to a basic gem upon enrollment. Did you say something to the teacher in charge of the storehouse?"
He imitated a certain righteous yet reckless tone: "Something like—'Since you said I can pick any gem in the storehouse, I want the one socketed in your wand'—perhaps?"
Victoria's brow furrowed. "How did you know?"
Damn, she really chose that ridiculous option. No wonder she had to come here as a grinder right after enrolling.
Greg suddenly remembered that when playing the original game, three options would usually pop up during events. The first two were generally normal, while the third was always bizarre.
At first, he thought the developers were just trolling, but now he began to suspect...
Could it be that the most bizarre option was actually the protagonist's original choice?!
Greg felt speechless. To avoid stalling their early-game progress, normal players usually wouldn't pick such an absurd option, especially after getting their first gem from Greg Sass.
That way, by the end of the prologue, they would have two gems. They wouldn't even need to consider entering a dungeon for a while and could focus entirely on the story.
But now, even without getting a gem from him, she had still unhesitatingly chosen that ridiculous option...
He could only say that, as expected of the gray-haired brat, she had easily achieved something he couldn't.
Fine. Since this situation arose because of me, I'll be the one to solve it.
"Take this."
Greg tossed over the gem that had just dropped earlier.
Victoria caught it instinctively.
Silvia leaned in to look and let out a soft gasp. "It's a 'Reflection' gem... even among basic gems, it's quite rare."
"What is the meaning of this?" Victoria gripped the gem, her scrutinizing gaze locking onto Greg once more.
"Consider it a favor," Greg confessed, his tone turning serious. "I hope that after you complete your Placement Exam, you can assist me in clearing the first floor of the dungeon."
Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Aren't you afraid I'll take the gem and go back on my word?"
"Heh." Greg shrugged indifferently, droplets of water sliding off his blonde hair with the movement. "Then I'll just have to accept that I misjudged you."
He acted nonchalant on the surface, but he wasn't entirely without confidence.
He knew very well that although this gray-haired girl often did unfathomable things, she never disappointed when it came to promises and important agreements.
This was precisely one of the traits that allowed her to win the hearts of so many heroines.
Victoria gave Greg a deep, searching look.
Just from this display of spirit, she could feel that the person before her really did seem... different from the arrogant, foolish noble heir she had seen at the start of the term.
"...Fine." She finally tightened her grip on the gem and nodded. "I promise you."
Before long, Silvia's damp clothes had been dried by the fire.
Victoria stood up, preparing to leave.
"Isn't Senior Greg coming back to the academy with us?" Silvia asked softly as she packed her bags.
Why would I go out?
To seek death?
To me, this cold dungeon is far safer than the academy above, which may be warm but is filled with hidden death CGs for me!
Greg's expression turned solemn as he gazed into the depths of the cave, as if shouldering some sacred mission.
"My battlefield is here. Before I stand at the starting point of the path to conquer it, I need a deeper understanding of this darkness."
Hearing this, a flash of admiration appeared in Silvia's eyes.
While she still didn't have much of a favorable impression of him, this sense of 'responsibility' did lighten her previous disgust slightly.
"Very well. Then we shall take our leave."
She turned to follow Victoria but suddenly remembered something and called back.
"Ah, right, Senior Greg."
"Your personal maid... after you were disowned by your family, she voluntarily resigned from House Sass. However, academy regulations state that students who have lost their noble status are not permitted to bring private attendants... so she was asked to leave the academy."
"But before she left, she asked any student who might see you to pass a message along."
A personal maid... she must mean Allie.
Greg immediately thought of the character in his mind.
In the original game, this maid was a character that many players found tragic.
She was a character whose beauty rivaled the heroines, yet not only was she not a romance option, but whenever Greg Sass died, she would invariably follow him in death.
In that sense, she was also a character destined to die.
Therefore, upon hearing that she had voluntarily left House Sass, Greg's first reaction was relief.
At least... she won't die because of me anymore.
As for worrying whether she could survive without him?
That was non-existent.
Although she was just a maid, she was absurdly strong. In some routes, the only reason Greg Sass could survive until the late game was thanks to her. It was also because of this strength that she could resign from House Sass at will.
Now that she was rid of a burden like him, she would surely be able to live a more free and wonderful life.
Greg nodded, a faint, relieved smile for Allie appearing on his face. "What did she say?"
Silvia repeated the words: "She said—'If you don't appear before me within a week, I will ignore the academy rules, slaughter my way into the dungeon, hold a grand funeral for you, and then commit suicide (smiles).'"
"Though that metaphor is certainly a bit too exaggerated, you're quite lucky to have such a loyal maid following you, Senior Greg."
With that, she waved and jogged to catch up with Victoria, who was waiting ahead.
Silence returned to the cave, save for the crackling of the fire.
Greg stood where he was, the smile on his face gradually freezing.
You want to guess why I'm not laughing anymore?
There's a possibility...
That wasn't a metaphor. She was being serious.
So... exactly how many days has it been since she said that?!
Rate on N.U.
