Ch 127

  Matt found himself lying awake in the soft bed, which now felt uncomfortably wrong, knowing that the rest of his party was somewhere within the dungeon, struggling for their lives at that very moment. Despite his overwhelming exhaustion, sleep eluded him as guilt gnawed at his conscience over how things were unfolding. He had attempted to use his essences to determine where his hope of survival lay, and it merely advised him to stay put. He understood from his conversation with Naomi that he was free to do as he pleased until summoned, yet his instincts screamed at him to do nothing. Not that he felt much like relaxing or indulging in whatever activities people engaged in within the walls he currently resided.

  In the end, Matt found himself pacing the room, contemplating everything he knew, only to grow increasingly frustrated at just how little that was. He felt lost and powerless, and it infuriated him. Even after being thrust into the goblin-infested world where the system had dumped all the societal loners, he hadn't felt like this. It was a feeling he never wanted to experience again, nor could he afford to forget it. He was all but powerless in the situation before him. If he were to emerge from the current predicament in one piece, it felt like it would only be due to the mercy of others or his own surrender to their demands.

  With this thought weighing heavily on his mind, Matt finally collapsed, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of wrongness that washed over him. It felt as though both his body and soul were rejecting such a notion, and as a result, the very power he relied upon deserted him. He didn't even have time to process what was happening before exhaustion claimed him. Matt passed out, and the rejection his body was experiencing ceased. With that, his breathing stabilized, and his mind drifted off into a peaceful void of pleasant nothingness.

  The next thing Matt knew, he was lying in bed, the soft light filtering through the curtains casting gentle patterns on the walls. Naomi was seated in a chair nearby, snoring lightly, her head resting against the back of the chair. Matt had no way of knowing how much time had passed, and his mind was still a bit hazy as he took in his surroundings. Gradually, the memories of the past several days came flooding back, stirring a sense of helplessness within him. His hope wavered, and with it came a wave of nausea. Taking a deep breath, he tried to center himself, but quickly found that he was only feeling worse as he attempted to calm down and think clearly. Just then, a system message appeared before him:

  Warning, action in direct conflict with path detected. Correct action or have path shattered and die.

  Matt’s mind instantly wandered to his current path, a journey steeped in hope despite its seemingly hopeless nature. If anyone was in a dire situation, it was him. Yet, his path was about finding hope within such circumstances. Realizing this, Matt tried to think of something, anything, that could offer him hope. His eyes landed on Naomi. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he needed to believe someone was on his side. She had claimed as much yesterday, and so he decided to trust that she had been truthful. Through this belief, he told himself he would find a way out and that the future would indeed be brighter for it.

  Matt could feel his body returning to normal, gasping for breath as sweat covered his skin—something that rarely happened to him anymore. The sensation was enough to rouse Naomi, who looked at him with concern as she spoke softly, her voice tinged with worry.

  “Is something the matter? It is unusual for anyone who has reached D rank to suddenly become ill, as it normally takes a—”

  “I’m not ill,” Matt interrupted. “I’m simply struggling to hold onto my path, and I nearly lost that struggle just now.”

  “Ah, I see. Yes, you wouldn’t have been warned, like those of us raised within the system, about the dangers of choosing a path you can’t maintain. That’s why I selected the service path when I reached level 3 and the obedience service at level 5. It allowed me to be hired here on the condition that I never reach level 9.”

  Her words were calm, yet they carried the weight of experience and understanding, offering Matt a small measure of comfort amidst his turmoil.

  "Is that why you told me I could use you however I saw fit?" Matt asked, feeling as if what was done to her was something that shouldn’t be allowed.

  "Yes," Naomi replied, her voice steady. "My master is whoever resides within my room as long as I remain here. Only once I have been mated can I leave, transitioning to my mate's service, as he will then direct my path if he chooses to allow it to progress at all."

  "Are all women on this world like you?" Matt inquired, feeling slightly disgusted.

  "No," Naomi shook her head slightly. "Gaining service is relatively easy, but true obedience is far more challenging to find."

  "Did the guard warn you not to mislead me to prevent me from accidentally making you my mate?" Matt pressed further, his brow furrowing.

  "Yes, though the warning was unnecessary," Naomi assured him. "I would have cautioned you myself if I sensed such inclinations from you. Normally, only males of B rank or higher are permitted within these walls, and those like myself are offerings to them."

  "I thought it was those at A rank who were allowed to mate?" Matt asked, trying to piece together the societal structure.

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  "It seems you do have some understanding of how things work," Naomi commented, her feline-like features giving the impression of a smile, even though her face lacked the conventional attributes for such an expression. "Indeed, one must reach A rank to take a second mate, and with every five levels after that, they can take another. It is one of the ways Godfrey Enterprises incentivizes its members."

  "Are you not a member?" Matt queried, not understanding.

  "No," Naomi responded, her gaze steady. "Were I a member, it would conflict with my role in their eyes. My only loyalty lies with my eventual mate and the agreement I made to remain here until I am chosen to be one."

  Matt frowned deeply, pondering the implications of using her, before letting out a sigh. The only solution that came to mind required Greg to be present. Despite this, he didn't entirely dismiss the idea, as he could easily summon his entire party if their safety was assured. However, he decided to consider that option later, once he had a better grasp of his situation. He turned to Naomi with an inquisitive look and began asking her some questions.

  “What do you know about my situation?” he inquired.

  Naomi responded, “I only know that you are scheduled to meet with the vice president of this world whenever he has the time. You are the founder of the newest organization, making you the first from your integration to achieve such a feat. This means that if you do manage to survive, you would become a very desirable mate. However, your survival is unlikely, even if you manage to navigate your current circumstances perfectly.”

  “Right,” Matt replied with a hint of sarcasm. “So, to everyone else within these walls, I am just a curiosity to be gawked at.”

  “Yes,” Naomi confirmed. “Typically, one would need to be at least A rank before even considering founding an organization, and only an S rank would attempt it without the backing of other organizations. Even then, such an S rank would likely not survive for long, as there are always those willing to take risks for substantial benefits, no matter how hard they are to kill.”

  “What’s the big deal about founding an organization?” Matt asked, feeling lost.

  "Do you really not know?" Naomi inquired, appearing genuinely perplexed. "Organizations are the entities that govern the universe, and it is only through the systems they manage that traversing it becomes possible. Moreover, anyone who desires to pursue a path other than one of destruction must obtain a sanctioned job from such an organization if they wish to gain the ability to level up. Even though reaching level 17 is the maximum any such individual can achieve, it is still far better than never having the opportunity to advance. This fact, along with the potential that you could open your world for trade much sooner than the system would typically permit, is likely what makes you valuable."

  "I understand now. And here I thought you had already shared everything you knew about my situation," Matt replied, raising an eyebrow.

  "I apologize," Naomi said softly. "I don't assume any of my inferences to be entirely accurate, and I believe that unless someone specifically requests my opinion, it's best to refrain from offering it."

  Matt frowned, feeling as if Naomi was either teasing him or had been conditioned to be nothing more than an obedient tool for whoever her mate was. Either way, Matt didn’t like it, as he thought about Rose and how she would assert herself in subtle ways. The thought of her being a mindless woman who happily did whatever he said felt wrong in so many ways as he wondered what would happen if they reached the surface.

  "Are all women like you in this world? Do none of them enter the dungeon?" he asked, curiosity tinged with concern.

  "No," Naomi replied, "though only the truly desperate or defiant find themselves forced into the dungeon."

  "Why?" Matt pressed further.

  "We are more valuable as mothers than fighters," Naomi stated, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "One male can impregnate several females each day, but a female can only become pregnant so many times. Therefore, it matters not how many males die as long as a few survive, but if the number of females declines, there will be issues."

  "Do you ever question why you view it that way?" Matt asked, his brow furrowing.

  "Why would I counter such logic when it is simple and correct?" Naomi responded, her tone unwavering.

  "Sure, but what about what you want?" Matt persisted, trying to break through the conditioning.

  "Oh, I see. What I want is to be the first mate of a powerful male who will give me many children who will—"

  "No, besides having children and who your mate will be. What do you want?" Matt interrupted, his voice gentle but firm.

  "Why would I want more than that?" Naomi replied, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "That would only set me up for disappointment instead of being surprised and happy when I receive anything nice as a surprise. Expectations only lead to disappointment when they are not met."

  "They are also what drive us to succeed," argued Matt with conviction. "It is through the pursuit of these goals that we achieve anything worthwhile."

  "That is the burden of males," Naomi responded firmly, her voice tinged with a hint of anger for the first time. Her piercing gaze met his as she continued, "I would advise you not to speak such thoughts openly."

  "And if I took you as my mate and told you that your life would consist solely of growing stronger through fighting in the dungeon?" Matt inquired, raising an eyebrow.

  "I would smile and accept that to be my fate," Naomi replied with a serene smile, as if the contradiction in her words didn't trouble her in the slightest.

  Matt felt an overwhelming urge to yell at Naomi as he realized that, even though Naomi was an extreme example of what life was like under the system, he didn't like it at all. As he pondered this, it struck him that goblin women were treated similarly, which made his stomach churn with discomfort. Was this the state of affairs across the entire system? If so, Matt found it utterly repulsive. He decided right then that Naomi and those like her were beyond hope, and he was determined to walk a path that made him their hope, should he choose to interpret it that way. This thought led to several others, but Matt decided to set them aside for the moment to focus on a more pressing question.

  "How do you see things playing out if I remain within this room until summoned?" he asked, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity.

  "Do you not wish to enjoy anything that is on offer here?" Naomi inquired, raising an eyebrow.

  "I don't wish to be entertainment for others," Matt replied firmly.

  "I see," Naomi said thoughtfully. "Then I would ensure that meals are brought to you, and we would remain here until required to meet with those who have the power to compel your presence. At that point, it will depend on whether it is the vice leader for this world or another influential figure who does not fear him. In either case, I foresee you being offered something and being expected to accept it with gratitude, only for you to refuse as you seek greater benefit than what you feel you have any right to."

  "That's where you're wrong," Matt countered, his eyes narrowing. "I have every right to refuse an offer. I just don't have the right to keep my head attached if they wish to remove it."