A few minutes after the two Supreme Beings departed, everyone rose—but no one dared speak above a whisper. Their reverence ran deep, rooted in awe and loyalty.
Mare clapped his hands together, voice trembling slightly. "That's wonderful… Lord Sieg has returned after all."
Aura flicked him on the forehead, exasperated. "What are you talking about? When has Lord Sieg ever failed to return on time?"
"But… for a moment, I thought I'd never see him again…"
Mare's words trailed off, yet every Guardian present heard them. The air grew heavy.
In their memories, Sig—the enigmatic Supreme Being—had always been the most elusive, vanishing without warning for indeterminate stretches. Now, looking back, had he not returned before Nazarick's transfer to this new world, they truly might never have seen him again.
"Lord Ainz Ooal Gown has always been here," Aura said firmly. "And for his sake alone, Lord Sieg will always come back."
Shalltear suddenly gasped, cheeks flushed an unnatural crimson. "Lord Ainz Ooal Gown's aura is so overwhelming… No wonder he rules over us all! He is my one and only master!"
"Ew—" Aura recoiled in disgust.
Albedo rose slowly, her expression grim, radiating a chilling aura. "Shalltear… I've noticed you've been unusually disrespectful toward Lord Sieg since just now."
"Huh?" Shalltear blinked, genuinely confused.
Albedo's eyes narrowed. "Are you really judging a Supreme Being based on your own… preferences?" She added pointedly, "For your information, dragonkin are long-lived—but not immortal. They hardly suit a necrophiliac's tastes."
"I'm merely stating facts—you're reading too much into it!" Shalltear protested, eyes wide with theatrical innocence. "Besides, Lord Ainz is far more charming!"
Cocytus exhaled a frosty breath. "Shalltear… your lack of decorum is troubling."
"You wretch!"
"Albedo, please calm down…"
The towering Insect King fell silent. He simply couldn't fathom these battles between women.
Mare and Aura, still children at heart, watched the exchange with wide-eyed curiosity but said nothing.
Sebas, meanwhile, shifted impatiently. His thoughts were elsewhere—on whether he should attend to the Supreme Beings, and what to do if they weren't together. After a brief internal debate, he made his decision: Lord Ainz took priority. Though he longed to serve Lord Siegfried, Demiurge's earlier words echoed in his mind.
"I must attend to the Supreme Being," Sebas announced, already jogging away. "I can't keep him waiting."
Demiurge watched him go, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips.
A petty squabble over charm was harmless—indeed, the Supreme Beings likely wouldn't care. If anything, Demiurge might even enjoy watching how it unfolded. But if it escalated into factionalism? That would sow discord in Nazarick—something neither Lord Ainz nor Lord Siegfried would tolerate.
Siegfried had just hinted that unity was paramount. This was the perfect moment to reinforce that message.
"Albedo. Shalltear." Demiurge's voice cut through the tension, calm yet firm. "Let this end. The two Lords are close friends. Your quarrel dishonors them—and risks disappointing them both."
Disappointment… equals abandonment?
The two women locked eyes. In an instant, unspoken understanding passed between them. Their loyalty to the Supreme Beings was absolute. To jeopardize harmony over something so trivial? Unthinkable. If their actions ever drove the Lords away, they'd sooner take their own lives.
The other Guardians nodded in quiet agreement.
Albedo smoothed her hair behind one ear, regaining her composure. "Shalltear, let's put this behind us. See that I hear no more disrespectful remarks about Lord Siegfried."
Shalltear bowed slightly. "My apologies. I misspoke. Truthfully, Lord Peroroncino designed me to be more relaxed around Lord Siegfried—it wasn't meant as disrespect."
"I see… so it was part of a Supreme Being's design." Albedo's gaze sharpened. "Still, don't entertain any… strange thoughts about him."
"Hmph! As if! I want Lord Ainz Ooal Gown all to myself!"
"You? Hmph."
"You got a problem with that?!"
Damn violent gorilla, Shalltear muttered inwardly.
"It's nothing," Albedo replied coolly. Good.
Tsk. Just a corpse-obsessed lamprey, she thought with smug certainty. Lord Siegfried would never be interested in some big-chested airhead.
…Though she'd never admit it aloud, Shalltear was a worthy rival. And now? With Siegfried unattached—since he, unlike the others, had never created any NPCs—there'd be no competition over "pets." That suited Albedo just fine.
Composed once more, she resumed her role as Overseer. "Guardians, let's proceed with our duties."
Meanwhile, in the throne room:
"Momonga, wanna have a PvP match?" Sieg asked, polishing the obsidian tip of his spear. It gleamed coldly under the dim light.
The weapon was Gonnegel—forged from a branch of the World Tree, embodying an unbreakable oath. Capable of piercing anything, it could be thrown like a meteor streaking across the heavens. Some called it the Meteor Spear.
It was one of the Twenty-One World Items—originally stolen by Sieg during a guild war. With the guild's permission, Ainz now wielded it as his primary weapon.
In the past, Momonga would've jumped at the offer. As a seasoned PvP player, he'd never bested Siegfried; the man was an immovable wall, a challenge that brought exhilaration. Sparring with him was pure joy.
But now? Not the time.
"Forget it," Ainz said gently. "What if we can't revive? Magic works here, yes—but we haven't tested resurrection yet."
Siegfried nodded. "Fair point."
He paused, then added casually, "By the way… why not change Albedo's settings? Make her devoted to you instead. If we don't say anything, no one would know. Honestly, it'd make more sense."
Ainz looked startled. "Siegfried-san… how could I? Isn't Albedo your ideal type?"
Siegfried blinked. "Huh? Since when did I say that?"
"You did! Peroroncino and Bubble Teapot were there too. You said you liked women who seem gentle and ladylike on the outside—but are secretly domineering and mature. When I saw Albedo's design, you were the first person I thought of."
"Well… that's true," Siegfried admitted reluctantly. "But Albedo is… the daughter of the Emerald Record."
Inside, he was screaming. Yes, her design matched his stated preference—but her personality had spiraled into full-blown yandere territory. The idea of Albedo blushing over him, or twisting her face in obsession because of him? It sent shivers down his spine.
"Look, changing her settings was an accident," Ainz said quickly, already bracing to kneel in apology. "I thought YGGDRASIL was shutting down—I tweaked it on a whim!"
Siegfried covered his face with a sigh. "What's done is done… I'll just have to live with it."
Ainz tried to comfort him. "Honestly, Albedo's stunning—top-tier looks in all of Nazarick. And her personality? Devoted, intelligent, capable… practically the perfect girlfriend. But don't worry—I'd never act on it. A friend's wife is off-limits. That'd be immoral."
Siegfried's expression crumpled. Why did I ever get so close to you, Momonga?!
Realizing his reassurance had backfired spectacularly, Ainz cleared his throat. "I… think I'll go for a walk. Clear my head."
Siegfried waved a hand listlessly. "Go ahead. I'm heading back to my room."
"Ain't no need to worry," Ainz added earnestly. "If I ever meet the Emerald Record again, I'll explain everything."
Siegfried's forced smile froze.
Oh, thank you so much.