Chapter 163 31.2 Romance Options?

Walking down the bridge, the main structure of the [Rig] consisted of more than just the former and below deck. The stuff built on deck level was where all of the living quarters were, along with a sizeable mess hall and general living area. I couldn't be bothered to truly map out the entire thing just yet, but I just know that there was more to this vessel than just the bare essentials of sailing and staying afloat.

This thing was probably the most expensive [Rig] the Empire had. Surely it had a few lavish additions on it just waiting for us to explore.

"Okay, we're here," I announced, holding up the keyring in my finger as I shrugged. "Pick and choose which room you guys want, and I'll try and find the key you need."

With nods and chimes of affirmation, I leaned on the nearest wall as I twirled the keys in my right hand. The living quarters seemed to be pretty spartan, what with the bare hallway and the boring doors denoting each room. There were dozens of them, each side of the small hallway lined with doors all the way down the vessel. Pretty boring, but of course, I didn't know what was inside those doors. For all I knew, all the budget went into the furnishings instead of spreading it all out and making the entire [Rig] just pretty to look at.

Eventually, everyone got to pick their rooms. Shade picked a room nearest to the exit, as did Maruki who then promptly went back out to who knows where as soon as he got his keys. Shen picked a room that's closest to what looked to be a small service shaft leading below deck, while Shizu just told me to give her a random key to go off on.

Huh, even in picking rooms, she tried to be adventurous.

"Moriya."

I raised an eyebrow as Guidance finally walked up to me. For some reason, she was fidgeting for a while now, and I noticed her looking at me every once in a while in a way that reminded me of a kid that's eagerly waiting for their chance to tell me what they wanted. I guess she's just being patient with letting everybody get their rooms before stepping up to the plate herself?

"Yes?" I smirked as I raised the keyring. "What room do you want?"

"Pick for me," she tiredly sighed. "I don't care enough to choose tonight. Or today, rather."

Ookay?

Spinning the keys around, I let it all fall in place before I grabbed the first thing my fingers caught in between them. Taking it out, I handed it over to Guidance without much fanfare.

"Here," I casually stated. "Room... six, I guess."

"Thanks," she smiled as she took the key. "....By the way, can I ask for a favor?"

I raised an eyebrow at her suspicious behavior. Why was she glancing through the hallway like some sort of criminal? "They're all gone, Guidance," I chuckled. "I think we can speak freely."

"I... I don't think so," she frowned. "Come with me."

"Why-Hey!"

Before I could even ask, the dev all but pulled me with her to the room I had just given her. Opening the door, she tossed me in before quickly locking the door behind her. Her eyes were manic somehow, and only now did I notice how large the bags were under her eyes.

Right... She hadn't had a decent night's sleep for a while if I recalled correctly...

Still, "What brought this on?"

The first thing that I noticed after I posed that question was the deep blush growing on Guidance's cheeks. She was attractive, of course, but her blushing like this somehow made her look cuter than usual. Heh... If I didn't know any better, I would've almost thought that she was setting something up for us.

Of course, that was pretty much wishful thinking.

"Moriya... What will happen in this room will stay between us, understood?"

I raised an eyebrow at her words. The way she said it almost made it sound like this was something serious. "Is there a problem we can't say to the others?"

"Wha- No! Not like that!"

I almost scoffed at how much her cheeks blushed even further. Seriously, what was this about that she was so adamant that it stayed between us? Surely, it wouldn't be something that we couldn't solve together. "What is it then? I'm not a mind reader, you know."

I crossed my arms over my chest as I waited for Guidance to compose herself. Leaning on the nearest wall, I found myself looking at the room we found ourselves in. Sure enough, I was right in that all the budget went into the interiors with how posh it all looked. Carpeted floors and an actual bed, the porthole window looking out into the Deep was a nice touch if it wasn't so dark outside. The lights that illuminated the room were also kind of old-school, what with them glowing like an actual incandescent bulb of the yester-decades.

Seriously, the room even had some kind of reception area complete with a small table and upholstered chairs.

The source of this content is nov/el/bin[./]net'

"Huh, not bad," I chuckled. "I guess this is all that the [Rig] has for the basic rooms."

....

...

No response... "Guidance?"

Turning my gaze to my fellow off-worlder, I was stunned as I saw the most ridiculous and utterly impossible sight before me. Here was Guidance, the previously shy and occasionally toxic developer of the game we were in, looking at me like she was really planning on jumping me.

What?

"Moriya, I'll be blunt here," Guidance began, her hands already somehow undoing her cool and flashy dress. "I'm stressed, I'm tired, and I'm utterly sleep-deprived. Usually, I'd push through after a bit of stress relief, but I'm feeling rather brave today."

"Uhh, Guidance? What're you doing?"

"While we can die in a dungeon or an instance, the same can't be said while we're out in this world of mine," she continued, her bare chest already displayed against my better choices. "It made me think that 'damn, I might die not even knowing what sex is like.'"

What?! "Guidance?! Wha-MPPHH!!"

I could only freeze in shock as her lips sealed mine. I wasn't a beginner by any means, but was she seriously asking that I take her right here and now?!

"Please don't fight me on this," Guidance weakly growled. "Don't make me lose my nerve and force me to walk out of here embarrassed and ashamed."

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So, that's something.