How I knew about Yuri Mode, well, it was safe to say it was because I was a “stagnant water”.
This mode was something so obscure that even among the people who knew about the game, only a tiny fraction were aware of it. Since you had to tamper with the game files to access it, most players didn’t even know it existed.
“Ha…”
What made my situation so utterly screwed up was that Yuri Mode was notoriously difficult to achieve a happy ending in.
Since the two protagonists were both women, their emotions constantly clashed, which led to arguments and fights.
It was absolute chaos, and the moment the intensity of their conflicts veered even slightly off course, the game would throw a bad ending at you. It was, without exaggeration, a brutal mode.
Originally, I thought, “Well, I’ll just leave it alone, and they’ll naturally reach the happy ending somehow.” But things had taken a troublesome turn.
In Yuri Mode, there was actually a best friend character who acted as a mediator for the two leads. Without this character, you could kiss the happy ending goodbye. Instead, the game devolved into an endless series of explosive fights between the women, to the point where it was hard to tell whether you were playing a simulation game or just watching them destroy each other until the story fell apart.
“The timing to meet the best friend has already passed.”
The real problem was that the time to meet this best friend had already passed.
It might have been possible to assume that the two protagonists had already met the person designated as their best friend, but if that were the case, it didn’t make sense for the Crown Princess’ official debut to happen at this point in time.
“No, no, but still, you never know. Maybe they’ve already met.”
Right, considering I had possessed someone in this world, it was fair to assume something had changed somehow.
Perhaps these two had already met their best friend without my knowledge, and by some twist of events, only the timing of the Crown Princess’ official debut had shifted… That hope was completely shattered when I saw the headline:
[The Crown Princess and the Saintess Finally Meet in Public!]
Even though it was a public event, the way the two interacted made it painfully obvious they barely knew each other.
For starters, the original setting made it clear that neither of them could act.
They were the type whose emotions were always written all over their faces. If they disliked someone, it was obvious, and if they liked someone, it was just as obvious. Everyone would know. So if the two of them were acting so awkward and distant, it could only mean that they really didn’t know each other.
“Ah, what the hell. Why are they both women? Why is this such a mess? And why the hell haven’t they met the best friend yet? Damn it!”
Even if the timing had been delayed, I realized I needed to track down that best friend character somehow.
If I could put that person next to them and have them mediate and pull the strings just enough to spark feelings between the two… maybe the story would move forward properly.
And if that happened, my peaceful countryside life wouldn’t get ruined.
But the biggest problem was…
“I’m just Villager A, right? How the hell am I supposed to make that happen…?”
The problem was figuring out how to bring the best friend character and place her by the Crown Princess and the Saintess.
“Great, just great.’
If it were possible, I could immediately set things in motion, considering how much time I spent playing the Yuri mode. I knew everything there was to know about the best friend character’s background.
She was Lina von Maria, from the Count Maria family. She had a noble status that wouldn’t raise any issues being associated with the Crown Princess or the Saintess; she also had an incredibly easygoing and bold personality.
At twenty years old, she was the same age as Theo and the protagonists. The three had met at a royal banquet when they were younger and formed a strong friendship during their academy days.
Of course, it wasn’t friendship but love shared between the Crown Princess and the Saintess.
“Haah…”
Anyway, while the title of count wasn’t particularly high compared to the Crown Princess or the Saintess, it was still far beyond the reach of someone like me Villager A.
“Why does this stupid game have a modern setting and yet still insist on a class system?!”
If it weren’t for this class system, I could at least try to track her down and figure out a way to bring her to them. But being disqualified by status alone? That was just too depressing, wasn’t it?
“Oh my, Theo? I thought you went out. Are you back already?”
It seemed lunchtime had rolled around. My mother who came inside to prepare a midday snack caught me sitting there in front of the TV.
“Oh, I just came back to grab something I forgot, but I ended up mindlessly watching TV. I’ll head out again now.”
“Do you want to eat before you go?”
“No, I’m fine! Enjoy your meal!”
“All right, then~”
It wasn’t like running into my mom was a big deal, but I hadn’t even done the errand I promised to do, so I just trudged back outside.
I guess… I’ll have to buy lunch somewhere.
The setting is entirely modern, so there are convenience stores and supermarkets around.
If you go into the city, it’s full of huge buildings and skyscraper apartments, just like the South Korea I used to live in.
I didn’t really want to go there, but… it feels like I just got a reason to go.
“…Fine. If I can’t put Lina in the best friend role, I’ll just take that role myself.”
Sticking close to the two of them or even just getting a glimpse of their faces would be nearly impossible under normal circumstances, but luckily, this game is fundamentally an academy story.
A crazy game about students in a big city academy, filled with deep friendships, love, and the destruction of the world.
The Crown Princess has already made her official debut, and she’s met the Saintess.
Soon, both of them will enroll in the academy under the guise of fostering goodwill between the Empire and the Holy Empire.
If I could enroll at just the right time, get close enough to the two of them, and then help mediate their relationship?
If that worked, I’d gain connections with both the Crown Princess and the Saintess, and I’d stop the end of the world in the process.
Killing two birds with one stone, beating the bushes, and catching a crayfish. A perfect win-win.
Peace in this world? Sure, I will make it happen. This stagnant water will protect it.
[You can advance your job!]
[Would you like to proceed with the advancement?]
As soon as I had that thought, the status window lit up, glowing brightly as if it had been waiting for this moment to offer me a job advancement.
“Ooh…! I knew I could count on you, damn it…!”
Well, actually, I didn’t trust it at all.
Honestly, I wanted to forget this useless status window that handed out jobs like “Villager” because, seriously, who needed that?
But what if it gave me a new job like “Academy Student” this time? That would basically be an automatic pass, right?
“Yes, I’ll advance! Let me do it!”
I shouted excitedly.
The status window, which had initially only been a source of disappointment, felt different this time.
Even the light it emitted seemed special!
And advancement?
That glorious thing called advancement?
Of course, I didn’t really know what I had done to deserve an advancement, but I could only assume it had been moved by my sheer determination!
[You have agreed to a job advancement!]
[Advancement in progress!]
[You possess an appropriate title!]
[Advancement complete!]
Huh? Did it just say I possessed an appropriate title?
The only titles I had were Proud Son and the Village’s Best Handyman…
Wait a minute… no, it couldn’t be, right?
“…Status Window.”
I called for the status window while feeling a deep sense of unease.
[Status Window]
Name: Theo (Kim Min-seong)
Age: 20
Job: Awesome Villager
Titles: Proud Son, Village’s Best Handyman
…Ha, damn it.
“What the hell was I thinking when I trusted it?”
The ridiculous job name “Awesome Villager” stared back at me.
***
“Making a debut at an official event is so exhausting.”
“You’ve worked hard, Your Imperial Highness.”
Her black hair and red eyes, paired with slightly upturned sharp-angled eyes, only enhanced her seductiveness.
The discomfort was obvious on her face as she wore an outfit that accentuated her ample chest, adorned with elaborate jewelry that hung heavily. This was none other than Iris Luasa Ermunt, the Crown Princess of the Ermunt Empire. A woman second in power only to the Emperor.
“Fill the bath and prepare something comfortable for me to change into.’
Although her clothes were entirely modern in style, the line of attendants standing at her command and the refined tone of her speech, perfectly showcased her noble position.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maids who served her were all from prestigious noble families, and each one was carefully selected according to strict standards. While none of them matched Iris herself, they exuded a subtle air of luxury.
Of course, none were foolish enough to outshine their mistress or draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
“Your Highness, I regret to inform you that you will need to postpone your bath.”
A maid who appeared at least twice Iris’s age stepped forward and bowed her head.
Just as Iris had been preparing to relax with a bath, the maid continued in a deferential tone.
“His Majesty has requested your presence.”
“Father? But I just saw him a moment ago.”
It had been during an official event, but they had exchanged greetings and even shared a private conversation.
As such, she couldn’t help but wonder why he would summon her during a time meant for rest. Still, it wasn’t as though she could simply refuse to go.
“…Alright, let’s go.”
The fact that he would call for her at such an hour could only mean that something important had happened.
“Your Majesty, Her Highness Iris Luasa Ermunt has arrived.”
“Oh, yes. Let her in.”
Following the prompt permission, Iris stepped inside.
“Greetings, Crown Princess. I am Estelle Ingrid, the Saintess of the Holy Empire.”
Standing in front of her was the famous Saintess with her blue hair and the starlight mark on her forehead.
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