Future Diary Survival Game

Chapter 3: Self-Introduction - 2

Not all citizens of the Empire knew the names of every member of the royal and imperial family.

However, at the very least, they were familiar with the surname Dneroum.

After all, that was the surname of the current Emperor.

And they also knew that the present Emperor had three sons and one daughter.

To summarize, a woman in her early twenties bearing the surname Dneroum could only be the Empire’s one and only Imperial Princess.

“Has anyone asked for your name until now?”

“Twice. But I only gave them my first name and hid my surname. No one wasted an extra question just to pry into my family name like you did.”

“Then you must have managed to keep it hidden. Well, unless any of those who questioned you were nobles or bureaucrats.”

“I can only hope that wasn’t the case.”

Armelia let out a deep sigh, her composure somewhat restored.

After a brief pause, I asked,

“Then, conversely, has anyone figured out Your Highness’s occupation?”

“I don’t understand. You already found out who I am, so why keep asking questions?”

“Judging by your reaction, I take it no one has figured it out.”

“……Yes.”

She bit her lip in frustration.

“This game is unfair to celebrities. And I’m probably the most famous person in here.”

“……”

“What’s your name? And yes, this counts as one of my questions.”

“My name is Mason.”

“Are you trying to make me waste another question? Give me your full name. That doesn’t count as a second question.”

“I don’t have a surname. I’m someone without any connections or memories. Even the name Mason is something I gave myself.”

Armelia’s face softened, showing a faint look of sympathy.

For the Imperial Princess to even speak to a mere commoner like me was already astonishing—but to show such pity toward my misfortune?

‘Yeah, she definitely wouldn’t last long in a game like this without my help.’

I gathered my thoughts and said,

“Your Highness mentioned earlier that this game is unfair to you. But that’s not entirely true.”

“What? Sure, I could hide my surname and maybe get by, but…”

“No. In fact, you should make your surname known.”

“What?”

“Can Princess even be categorized as an occupation?”

A question mark appeared on Armelia’s face.

I calmly explained,

“Being a princess isn’t a job—it’s an identity, a lineage, a social status. An occupation means providing something to others and receiving compensation for it… Do you, Your Highness, provide something to anyone?”

“……”

“If Your Highness participated in imperial administration—say, policy-making, military strategy meetings, or financial planning—then those might qualify as occupations.”

“So you mean to say…”

“Yes. Your Highness’s occupation is—”

I hesitated for a moment, feeling slightly guilty.

“—Unemployed.”

Armelia’s expression turned strange.

“Are you calling me some useless parasite?”

“I didn’t go that far. You’re just a bit… sensitive about it.”

“You’re becoming increasingly insolent with your choice of words.”

“Anyway, I confirmed this with Magireta earlier.”

“Indeed, it did look like you were having some kind of conversation with that lunatic. But there’s no guarantee you’re telling the truth.”

I shrugged.

“Then why not ask?”

“What?”

“Use one of your questions to verify it. Since questions must be answered truthfully.”

“……Fine.”

She steadied herself, placing a hand over her chest, and took a deep breath.

Then she asked,

“The claim that you confirmed with Magireta that being a princess is not an occupation— is that true?”

After asking, she squeezed her eyes shut.

The rule said lying in response to a question would result in elimination.

If I lied, I might die—

so she probably couldn’t bear to watch what might happen.

But I calmly answered,

“Yes. It’s true.”

“……”

After a few seconds passed without any change, the princess slowly opened her eyes.

“H-Hmph. I’ll believe you for now.”

“You’re surprisingly timid. You were quite bold with Magireta earlier.”

“Hmph. I closed my eyes because I didn’t want blood in them if your head exploded.”

“That’s the freshest excuse I’ve ever heard.”

“You’re quite a peculiar one. To speak to a princess like that even after knowing who I am.”

Should I mimic your way of speaking?

Do all royals talk like this?

Well, not that I’ve ever spoken to anyone of high rank before.

“Now, begone. I don’t wish to exchange words with you any longer.”

“……”

“Ahem. Of course, I appreciate the information. I won’t forget it.”

She added hastily, a bit late.

Well, at least now she knew that revealing her identity as the Imperial Princess posed no risk.

But I couldn’t stop there.

I decided to take another step forward.

“It’s already been fifteen minutes. You still haven’t figured out anyone’s occupation—are you fine with that?”

“……Not exactly in a favorable position.”

“I’ll help you.”

“What?”

“I said I’ll help you. If you just trust me and follow my lead, we can get through this safely.”

Suspicion clouded Armelia’s eyes.

“Why would you? What’s your angle?”

“Because I want to save you, Your Highness.”

“Ha.”

“I mean it.”

“You think I’ll reward you if we make it out alive?”

“I’m not hoping for that. I expect no reward from you. I simply wish to save you, purely and sincerely.”

And I meant it.

After all, that was how I could earn the points mentioned in my diary.

Then Armelia said,

“I could turn that into a question, you know. Ask if you truly want to save me without expecting any reward.”

“Go ahead.”

“……”

“……”

“Haa… Forget it.”

She decided not to ask.

If I were her, I would’ve checked, just to be sure.

“I’m only saving the question count. It’s not that I trust you.”

“Of course.”

“So, specifically, how do you plan to help me?”

“Lend me your ear.”

“You really have lost your mind, haven’t you?”

“I was joking. I’ll whisper, so please just listen closely.”

I parted my lips.

Her expression was a mix of skepticism and curiosity, but eventually, she nodded.

Armelia and I then approached a random person.

A man who looked to be in his mid-forties was clearly nervous as he spoke.

“W-What? Are you here to ask a question?”

“No. That won’t be necessary.”

“What?”

“I want to make a deal.”

His head tilted in confusion.

“A deal?”

“I’ll tell you my occupation, so please tell me yours in return.”

“Ha. I was wondering what nonsense you’d come up with. Sure, I also need to find out three occupations—but if my own gets revealed to more than three people, I die.”

“There’s no need to confirm what everyone already knows.”

I continued, speaking leisurely.

“I said earlier that this was a deal, but in truth, it’s more like a donation.”

“What?”

“I’ll tell you three occupations, and you only have to tell me one.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m a restaurant employee. And see over there? That bald man.”

The man’s gaze followed the direction of my pointing finger.

Once he nodded, I went on.

“His name is Mr. Forgotten, and he’s the restaurant owner. It’s the restaurant where I work.”

“Th-That’s a lie…”

“If you don’t believe me, you can verify it later with a ‘question.’ For the record, I’ll be verifying your statement the same way.”

Gulp.

I could clearly hear the sound of him swallowing.

The man spoke,

“And the last one?”

“The lady here is Armelia Kerr Dneroum.”

His pupils slowly widened.

“D-Dneroum? Wait, hold on. A woman of that age with that surname means…”

“Yes. Just as you’ve realized, she’s the Imperial Princess.”

“……!”

“There. I’ve given you three. Now tell me your occupation. A three-for-one exchange—quite the bargain, don’t you think?”

Of course, strictly speaking, the man’s occupation would be shared between me and the princess, making it a three-to-two trade.

But there was no need for me to say that aloud. Even at three-to-two, the deal still worked in his favor.

The man glanced around warily, then finally opened his mouth.

“I work at a blacksmith’s.”

“A blacksmith, huh. Very good. Now, let’s verify the truth. May I ask first?”

“……Fine.”

“Is it true that your occupation is blacksmith?”

“It’s true.”

Next to me, Armelia once again shut her eyes tightly.

It seemed that witnessing someone’s head explode earlier because of a question had left quite the trauma.

Of course, the man’s neck remained perfectly intact.

“Confirmed.”

“M-My turn now! Was everything you said earlier true?”

“Yes. It’s true.”

And my neck, too, was perfectly fine.

Being a princess didn’t count as an occupation, and I had never said her occupation was princess—only that her name was Armelia Kerr Dneroum and that she was the Empire’s Imperial Princess.

It was true that Mr. Forgotten was a restaurant owner, and that I worked as his employee.

At least, for now, I considered myself one.

Of course, when the results were announced later, my real occupation would be something else.

There wasn’t a single lie in what I said.

Just a well-placed trap.

‘The only one that would count as a valid occupation is Mr. Forgotten’s, after all.’

I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him that.

The man, already overjoyed to be alive, threw both hands up toward the ceiling.

“Wooooooh!”

“……”

“Th-Thank you! Really, thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I swear, I was going crazy wondering what would happen to me. Tomorrow’s my kid’s birthday, and I couldn’t let that day become my death anniversary. Ugh-h-h-h!”

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

‘What should I even say to that?’

That man, believing he had learned three occupations, would feel no more pressure to keep searching.

He’d spend the remaining time in relief—

and in the end, he’d face ‘elimination.’

But if I told him to “keep finding more occupations” now, it would sound unnatural…

That was when Armelia’s voice cut in.

“Done crying?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Yes, Your Highness.”

“Then find two more occupations.”

“……Pardon?”

Armelia’s lips curved into a sly smile.

I hadn’t thought such an expression would suit her, but with one corner of her mouth slightly raised, it looked almost artful.

“I have more people I need to save. Several of my attendants and maids were brought here with me.”

“……”

“I must take them back alive. Since I’m short on manpower, I’ll need your help.”

“Y-Your Highness.”

“You still have some saved-up questions, don’t you? Your life is safe now—so use them to find two more occupations, and report back to me.”

The man’s face twisted with an expression of sheer unfairness.

Armelia looked down at him, her voice chilling.

“You said tomorrow’s your child’s birthday?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Then tomorrow won’t be the day your death anniversary overlaps with your child’s birthday. But next year—it could be. If I decide it.”

“……!”

“If you understand, get moving. There’s less than thirty minutes left.”

“Eek!”

He was freed from the terror of Magireta, that inhuman being—but now he was bound by the very real fear of the Princess’s imperial authority.

The man bolted off at full speed.

I quietly looked at Armelia and asked,

“Why did you do that?”

“Of the three occupations we gave him, only one was correct. He needs to find two more if he wants to survive.”

“But if he discovers other people’s occupations, won’t they be put in danger instead?”

“That could happen. But at least those others still have a chance—as long as their occupations aren’t revealed to three people. That blacksmith, though—if left alone, he’s as good as dead.”

I nodded, accepting her logic.

But then, Armelia shook her head.

“Sigh. No, that’s just an excuse. Who am I to weigh which side is in greater danger? I just wanted to pretend to be righteous for my own satisfaction.”

“……”

“It was arrogant of me. I’d rather you forget it.”

With that, she briskly walked ahead.

I scratched my head and followed after her.