Just a Guy and a Gate to the Multiverse - Chapter 41 (Patreon)

Chapter 41 - Plans

I learned one thing for sure: explaining the concept of the Multiverse to someone with an education based on a pre-medieval level is really hard.

It took quite a while before I finally managed to convey the meaning of a Multiverse to Jasmine. But once she understood it, she was fully on board with going with me.

No, she was outright eager.

This Fiancee of mine really has some luxury Problems. The spoiled Princess Lifestyle is apparently too boring for her, because the concept of seeing places and experiencing things that would normally be completely out of reach for her, even with a lot of danger involved, sounds incredibly enticing.

“That sounds amazing!” The Princess who is about to become my Fiancee gushed. “When do we leave?”

“Yeah, slow down there. Like I said, in about a year. My ability to jump between Worlds has a Cooldown, and I pretty much just arrived here. We’ve got some relaxed time to get to know each other better first. And did you already forget that there are still some Problems we need to solve?” I pointed out, slightly exasperated, though she really is cute when she gets like that.

“Right, so what is that smart plan of yours?”

“Well, it’s more like a checklist of Problems we have to solve before the year is over. And don’t worry, I have Solutions for all of them. In some cases, several.” That was my explanation as I enjoyed the feeling of her sexy body pressing against me. “First of all, the most important thing before we can get started with anything else is to take care of that Law of yours and convince your Father to let us Marry. As you may have noticed, I’m not really a Prince in any sense that matters to the People. One day, I’ll probably have my own Territory beyond what anyone here in Agrabah could imagine, but that is just a potential future.”

“You are not expected to have your own Territory,” Jasmine immediately interjected. “It would actually be disadvantageous, since the Law is meant to find the next Sultan to rule over Agrabah. Prince is just used because very few people outside of that group are qualified to rule a Kingdom. My Father would be more than happy to let me marry for love, but he has a duty to his People too. A common Streetrat is hardly educated enough to rule a Kingdom. And those Princes who come here to marry me are usually second or even third Sons.”

“Let’s say a well-educated man, with some magical Powers and the ability to pay a big Dowry, would qualify?”

“Probably? In the end, it depends on my Father.”

Hmm, in all honesty, considering how easily he let himself be manipulated by Jafar, Jasmine’s Father doesn’t seem to be the smartest man around. It should be easy enough to persuade him with some convincing arguments.

“Alright, but that is just the first Problem. Secondly, we’ve got your Father. You would leave him behind for quite some time. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t see him again, since it will be decades before we can even afford to return.” Strange how I’ve started to think in decades at this point rather than days, weeks, and months.

I’m not even Immortal yet, and I already have that Mindset. But with a full-year Cooldown on my travels, along with that previous limitation of five years for each World Attunement, my plans were already forced into long-term thinking.

Wow, that’s quite the seductive face she’s making at me.

“I’m sure my powerful Husband already has a solution in mind,” she purred at me while caressing my face.

Jasmine can be quite dangerous. I should be careful not to get wrapped around her finger.

“We are not married yet. Not even engaged...” I replied plainly before giving in. “But yes, I have a Solution. Remember how I mentioned the wish-granting Genie Jafar was after?”

“The one you snatched first, right?” Jasmine nodded before her eyes widened. “Wait, you still have it? I would have already used all three of my wishes!”

“Well, my dear Jasmine, I’m someone who tries to maximize every gain I can get. Of course, since I visited this World especially for my buddy Genie, I was going to try exploiting the Rules. And I found a way to gain a limited number of additional wishes besides the normal three. As long as there is still a wish remaining, the Lamp won’t vanish.” I summoned the Lamp from my Pocket Space. “For example, if you were to rub it now, Genie would appear, and you would have three wishes too.”

“You’re giving me three wishes?” she gasped, her hands already reaching for the Lamp.

But I pulled it out of her reach.

“Not so fast. We need to be smart about your three wishes. After all, they need to solve the Problems here so you can freely travel with me.”

“So what do I need to wish for?”

“Obviously, Immortality for your Father. One that he can end whenever he wants, so it doesn’t become a curse.”

“Ah, so I can return anytime in the future without worrying about his age,” she realized. “What about me? You said it would take decades until we could return here. Shouldn’t I be Immortal too? Are you?”

“No, I’m not. We’re getting our own Immortality soon. But that’s not an option for your Father.” I shook my head. “Followed by his Immortality, you need a power-up too. The Multiverse is a dangerous place. But first, let’s see if this works.”

Activating one of the Passives belonging to Multiversal Physique, formerly known as World Attunement, I declared Jasmine to be one of my Companions.

The moment I did so, Jasmine looked around with a startled expression before her eyes fell on me again.

“Huh? There’s a Voice in my head telling me I have something called a Multiversal Physique now? Was that you, Matt?”

“Yes, you should have a filled World Slot too! Can you sense it?”

“Mmh? Yes, it’s filled with something called 'Jumper: Average Human (Jumper)'. I’m not sure what that means.”

“Focus on it. The Knowledge should appear in your mind.”

Only moments after my instruction, she disappeared and reappeared a few meters away.

“That...” she whispered, startled.

“Correct! That’s the same ability I got.” It must be quite a shock to suddenly be able to teleport. “Congrats, now you have an Ability that can help you escape. Now we need to use your second wish for a Defensive Ability or Item from Genie, so you have enough time to escape in an emergency.”

“I understand. And my third wish will be a method of attack?”

This time, I shook my head.

“No, we’ll get you some offensive power somewhere else. There are more than enough possibilities out there. What matters is making sure you are safe. For your last wish, I think we need to make sure that Agrabah is fine.”

Jasmine tilted her head cutely, not understanding.

“What do you mean?”

“Your Father has ruled over Agrabah for a long time. Even if he becomes Immortal, don’t you think we should do something to allow him to relax?”

“Okay, and what do you have in mind?”

I handed her the Lamp.

“Let me introduce you to Genie. I have just the right wish in mind.”

———

— Jasmine POV —

She was nervous.

Never in her entire life had she felt like this. Her heart was drumming inside her chest like a wild beast, beating faster than it ever had before.

Jasmine was well aware that she had lived an extremely privileged life. How could she not be, after experiencing for herself how the people of Agrabah truly lived every day, no matter how brief that experience had been?

Yet, even with all her privilege and her status as a Princess, she had been prepared for rejection when she offered marriage. Certainly, she had been afraid of it, so much so that she had nearly stopped herself from asking in the first place. But in the end, she had gathered her courage and asked anyway.

She knew she would have cried herself to sleep if he had rejected her. But the risk had been more than worth it.

Matt was the kind of man she would meet only once in her lifetime. She had known that from the very first moment.

There had simply been something mysterious about him. Something that told her that even being a Princess might not be enough to sway him.

And after what she had learned later, she had been quite right. The truth was far more astonishing than she could ever have imagined.

He might as well have been considered a God compared to other men and women. He might not yet have reached the point of being all-powerful and all-knowing, but Jasmine could not help feeling that he was steadily approaching it.

Yet she had not been outright rejected.

Instead, she had learned the truth and what marrying him would truly mean for her. She would have to leave her family and Agrabah behind for a very long time.

But the more she learned about him, what he was, and where he would be going, the more convinced she became that she needed to go with him.

Jasmine loved her father, her family, and Agrabah. She even loved being a Princess, despite all the burdens that came with it. But at the same time, the place she loved had become her prison.

Matt was not only the man she had fallen in love with; he was also the ultimate embodiment of freedom. The more she learned about him, the more that warm feeling inside her spread.

And he was such a sweet and honest man, too. When he had nervously told her that he was planning to live an exceedingly long, perhaps even eternal, life, and that she would most likely not be the only woman at his side, she had almost laughed to herself.

Especially when he had admitted that he was possessive and did not particularly like sharing.

He came from such a different place than Agrabah.

It was perfectly normal for powerful men, especially a Sultan, to have a harem. Even her father had one.

His worries were therefore easy for her to understand. She had no problem sharing her man. What she hated was the thought of becoming nothing more than an ornamental piece in the collection of a man for whom she had no feelings.

No. For the first time in her life, this was her own choice.

Matt had clearly laid out his terms and conditions. He would not even benefit from marrying her. In fact, the marriage would mostly cost him, and yet he had still accepted her feelings.

Jasmine truly was lucky to have met him.

And yet her heart would not stop beating. It was beating even more intensely than when she had first visited him in his room to offer herself in marriage.

Perhaps it was because everything was about to become official?

Or perhaps it was because her father could still reject the idea? If he did, it could tear her family apart.

Walking at Matt's side toward her father's throne room was the most intense walk of her life. The warmth in her heart and the worries in her mind were almost tearing her apart.

Matt, meanwhile, was so calm. His hand rested steadily against her back, almost possessively, giving her strength.

It felt wonderful.

Her man was holding her.

The new ring Matt had placed on her finger gave her strength as well. It was not some random piece of jewelry, but an item they had wished for from the Genie: a Ring of Absolute Protection. Once a day, it could create a perfect shield capable of protecting her from any harm.

Should her life ever truly be in danger without her being aware of it, the shield would activate on its own. It would also grow warm in the presence of poison, curses, or hidden dangers.

“Everything to keep you safe,” Matt had said.

Entering the throne room, he confidently addressed her father. “Your Majesty, there is something I would like to ask of you.”

His tone was polite, but not subservient, as the two of them stepped forward and stood before the throne.

“Matt, Jasmine! What a pleasant surprise!” Her father greeted them with his usual excitement. “Of course, you may ask me for anything! You are the savior of Agrabah. I cannot imagine what would have happened if not for you. Our hospitality is hardly enough to repay you!”

“Anything you say?” Matt asked confidently.

“Of course! As long as it is within my power to give!”

Her man did not waste a single moment. He went straight for it.

“Alright. That is perfect... I wish to request the hand of your daughter in marriage.”

That was clearly not what her father had expected, as he nearly choked on his own tongue.

“That is my request. Jasmine and I have developed feelings for each other, and I simply cannot bear to see her unhappy. I know there is a law that requires the Princess to marry someone of suitable standing. I want to be that someone Jasmine marries!”

Well, he had added a little to the story. After all, it was Jasmine who had fallen in love first. But she was happy that her man made the request sound so earnest on her behalf. It would preserve her dignity and make it easier to convince her father.

After all, she had been all but ready to run away with him.

“This is true, Father. I love him. He is the man who will make me happy. I have already accepted his proposal. All that is missing is your blessing.”

She added the words the moment her father looked at her, gently resting her head against Matt’s shoulder.

Her words were quite a surprise to her father as well.

“But the Law...”

“I understand that the Law is important. But every Law has an intent behind it. The written word is not always the exact interpretation by which a Law must be applied. The only reason you are looking for a ‘Prince’ is because he needs to be qualified to become the next Sultan.”

Matt interjected before her father could spend too much time thinking about that troublesome Law.

“I am fully qualified to take on that role. I have received an education beyond that of any Prince you will ever meet, and I have the ability to provide a massive dowry. Under my guidance, Agrabah will prosper.”

The moment his words left his mouth, a vast pile of gold and treasures appeared in the throne room, immediately capturing her father’s attention.

“Would it not be best if everyone were happy? I know you love your daughter, yet she has not found a single Prince worthy of her. This dowry is greater than anything those Princes could ever offer. I am also willing to offer my knowledge to improve Agrabah, making it the greatest Kingdom in this world. What do you say, Sultan? Will you allow me to marry your daughter?”

A long silence settled over the throne room.

Jasmine did not quite know how she should feel about the fact that her father appeared almost hypnotized by a mountain of gold.

Still, she could hardly blame him. It was a rather impressive mountain.

Finally, however, he regained his bearings.

“You are right. Your Powers and Wealth already place you beyond any Prince who has asked me for the hand of my beloved Jasmine. I would be a poor Father if I did not accept her earnest feelings. The two of you have my blessings!”

[ End of the Chapter ]