Transmigrated to Game World with SSS Wife

Who knew the outside world was so beautiful? There was grass and trees and animals!

Nick couldn't help but marvel at the sight as he left the dusky cave, followed closely behind by Juliana. Taking in a breath of fresh air, he noticed Juliana inhale deeply.

Her eyes shone with gratitude as she looked at the glory of nature and freedom. A wide smile formed on her face as she gazed upon the open field ahead of them, dotted with only a few trees and herds of deer.

In the distance there was a small sparkling stream emitting a soft scent of spring. A small breeze of wind played with Juliana's hair, pushing it behind her back and eliciting a soft chuckle.

It was as if the freedom granted by leaving the cave was the greatest feeling in the world.

The sight made Nick feel butterflies inside as regret formed. She looked really beautiful when she felt free...

"Hey. Is there some way to unbind a Valkyrie?"

His question made her stop in her tracks. She became much more conscious and aware of her circumstances, playing with the strands of her hair as she watched the ground.

A soft breeze flowed between them as she pursed her lips, deep in thought. The seconds that lasted between his question and her answer felt like an eternity.

Finally, she whispered, "Yes."

Her voice at that moment didn't hold any of the snide, crass tones Nick had already grown used to, but it also didn't have any of that newfound soft, tender care. Instead, it felt completely obedient.

More than that, it was like she actively wanted to avoid answering. As if the answer was awful or something.

Looking to reassure her, he closed the short distance between them and grabbed her hand that was playing with her hair. Surprised, she became still for just a second before twisting her head to look into his eyes. Then it was like a great weight was lifted– Nick could see her gaze soften.

"Hey. You're ok... the binding thing... I said I'm not going to take advantage of it, remember?" Nick maintained eye contact the entire time he spoke, surprising even himself.

The pressure from his gaze forced Juliana to look at the ground, her hair blocking his view of her eyes. Whatever brief feeling of safety he thought he saw her feel had already left. For some reason, she seemed to fear him now.

'Didn't she want to become free?' Nick was thoroughly confused by her current fear.

Still unwilling to give up, Nick's hand moved from her hand to her hair, pushing it aside so he could see her face more clearly. Then he saw the single tear falling from her right eye.

"Juliana?"

...

"Juliana?"

The man's (demon's) voice continued droning, its false promises of safety a thin veil hiding the deadly truth underneath. Progenitors don't free Valkyries.

'That's right. You are nothing but a soldier, a slave to combat.'

Juliana knew that to be true. Even if she didn't have any memories, she still had her basic instincts. More than that, there was a basic understanding of the world that anyone knew:

Those in power would never willingly relinquish it.

Even if Nick seemed like a nice person...

Something inside her screamed to obey. But that didn't mean to obey his orders but rather his wishes. Even if he said he wanted to free her, she knew the truth.

'That's right. You signed away your freedom just like any good girl would. We're making great progress and we wouldn't want to mess it up now, right?'

No. She knew what happened to freed Valkyries. They died. Brutally.

This kind face of compassion was just a ruse, a test. And she was the best, the person everyone could count on to never fail.

'I think?'

Amnesia was a bitch that even instinct couldn't overcome.

"Juliana!"

Nick's sudden raised voice pushed away her thoughts. She realized he had pushed aside her hair at some point, trying to become as personable as possible.

There was something wet on her cheek. Becoming very conscious of it, she had to fight with every fiber of her being to keep from touching her cheek.

The Progenitor had already bled her once despite his outward kindness. She was right to fear him and his kind– just as she was dumb to have trusted him in the cave. Always stupid and naive Juliana.

'That's right, so just serve-'

Nick placed his right hand on the cheek he had just slapped, wiping away the blood with his thumb with tender care.

"What's wrong? W- why were you crying?"

Crying?

She wasn't crying, that was- it was blood, wasn't it?

'Yes, Valkyrie. The master continues playing with its toy.'

Yes... no Progenitor would willingly unbind a Valkyrie. If he wanted to do so, it was because he was being tricked or something similar. As his soldier, it was her duty to step in then.

Forcing a smile, Juliana blinked once before turning and saying, "I'm fine. I lied, there isn't a way to unbind a Valkyrie, so have no worries. I'm your warrior, now and forever."

...

For the first time, her smile wasn't warming at all. Instead, it was almost as if it wasn't even hers, but rather some kind of mannequin's.

There was something wrong with her, and it related to unbinding. He knew that much. Was the process just that painful then?

Would she rather be a slave than endure the pain to become free? Or was something else going on...

Again, Nick wished this new game had a much closer resemblance to the one he knew. It would be so much easier if he could just summon his valkyries without fear of some weird slave cultist stuff.

Knowing he wouldn't get anywhere right now talking with Juliana, Nick made a special promise to find out how to unbind Valkyries himself. He wasn't the kind of man who wanted to resort to slavery in order to have friends or soldiers.

No, in this life, he had a new chance. He understood how games worked, even stupid ones like this. They all had similar strategies for fast progression, and this one would be no different.

Even if there wasn't much he could do in the real world, unable to even graduate college or...

Well, to keep it simple, he had the ability to be something more here. A lot more:

The King of the Cosmos.

And a good, proper king didn't need to be a tyrant to enforce his rule.