Several hours later. The Inn of E-Rantel.
"Ah, what women!" the team's resident womanizer... ahem, ranger was practically drooling at the door that had just closed behind the guests. "The supple and exquisite Tina, the enigmatic and mysterious yet undeniably beautiful Evileye, and their magnificent leader, Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra! Mmmmmm!" Someone clearly needed a good blow to the head, if only to reboot their server.
"And also Lady Gagaran, who will break every bone in your body if you even look at her friends the wrong way," Peter offered his friend some moral "support."
"Yeah, what a woman," Lukrut rolled his eyes. I, meanwhile, imagined the pair: a man built like a wardrobe and a woman built like the same... and realized they would actually be a perfect match.
"Men..." Brita rolled her eyes, pretending she hadn't been ogling me throughout the entire conversation alongside Ninya, like two children with a sweet tooth staring at a bakery window.
"Well, I suppose in light of these new circumstances, our lessons for today must be canceled," I announced to the adventurers, addressing no one in particular. Simultaneously, I removed my glove and returned the ring that concealed my magical power to my finger—the ring I had specifically removed before the meeting just to gauge Evileye's reaction. "I must issue instructions to the servants and ensure everything is prepared for the reception of our guests," I said, donning my mask. "You are dismissed for the time being."
"D-don't worry, Lord Zellos, we completely understand!" Ninya rushed to reassure me, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Nabe, you are coming with me," I told the maid, who had perked up slightly when I put on the mask but remained silent. "Gate!" A dark arch of a portal opened before my hand.
The adventurers' collective gasp of awe coincided with my step through the boundary of space. A second later, I was standing in my office on the ninth floor of Nazarick... Standing there, I beheld the following scene: seated modestly on the guest sofa were Albedo, Shalltear, and Aura. Behind them, or rather, behind the back of the sofa, the other five Pleiades were lined up in a row. And before the eyes of these maidens, hovering over the table meant for idle guests, shimmered the activated Mirror of Remote Viewing.
And reflecting in that mirror was the dining hall of a certain notable tavern.
"So then..." My voice coincided with Nabe exiting the Gate. Attracted by the sound, the girls slo-o-o-wly turned their heads toward us. "I would like to ask what interesting business you are all engaged in here, but I think I have a fair guess." Well, damn it all! Bloody voyeurs! What if I had wanted to take a bath? Would they have bored holes through every wall in the Nazarick Spa Resort, or would they have left a couple standing?
"Lo-o-o-rd!"
"Y-you have returned-su!"
"W-welcome back!"
"G-good evening, L-lord Zellos!" The ladies, caught red-handed, simultaneously tried to turn transparent, hide the mirror, and vanish from my sight. Since they all tried to do this at once (except for Yuri and Shizu, who prepared to accept their fate with honor), none of it worked.
"Good evening. Now, everyone stay exactly where you are!" I raised my voice, as the group of panicked monsters looked ready to bolt in every direction.
They froze mid-motion. The guilty and blushing faces of Albedo, Shalltear, and Aura were particularly exquisite, though the expressions of Lupusregina, Solution, and Entoma were also quite something.
"Albedo..." The succubus turned pale and stood rigid, as if she had swallowed a poker. "Am I correct in understanding that you haven't deactivated the Mirror once since you received permission from me to use a scroll to enhance it?"
"Forgive your selfish servant, Ainz... Zellos-sama! I could not overcome the temptation and I beg for your punishment!" Without violating the order to "stay," the Overseer lowered her head as far as she possibly could.
"So, all this time you've been maintaining its operation with your own strength?" I clarified. If that was the case, I was shocked she was even standing. For all her power, Albedo is a front-line unit; even though she has a range of magical abilities, she doesn't rank near specialized casters. The Mirror consumes mana, even if only a little, and keeping it active for several days...
"I... helped," Shalltear confessed shamefully.
"I see." Suppressing a heavy sigh with a sheer effort of will, I approached the artifact. The surface of the Mirror was still active, showing the faces of the adventurers we had left at the inn, who were currently discussing something with great heat and excitement. "Well, I commend your ingenuity, but for collectively shirking your duties and even dragging the entire Pleiades squad into this depraved business—leaving poor Sebas in solitary responsibility for Nazarick's condition—there will be penalties. Individual ones for each of you."
"The Lord is going to pun-i-i-sh me," Shalltear drifted into nirvana... Oh, for heaven's sake, what am I supposed to do with a masochistic vampire?! Although... this is a magnificent excuse to change her into something less flamboyant, without the bonnets and padding. And while I'm at it, I can force Aura to wear a dress... And Mare to wear pants! Exactly! He surely knew about this but didn't stop it! He failed to look after his sister's moral character! He didn't protect her from bad company! Yes, that's exactly how we'll frame the charges. Now I just need to figure out what quirks to fix in the others and how...
"Hmm..." I turned my entire body toward the vampire, releasing just a sliver of my menacing aura. "Shalltear... Your tone tells me you lack faith in my ability to devise a punishment..." I hadn't even finished her name before the mistress of the first three floors returned to the mortal coil and looked at me like a monkey staring at a python. "I am quite surprised by such groundless... distrust."
"Forgive me, Supreme One! I meant nothing of the sort!" The vampire collapsed to her knees, radiating gigatons of terror and repentance.
"From this day forward, you are forbidden from wearing these clothes in their current form, or using any means to visually misrepresent your body's measurements. You may only wear dresses similar to the one in which you portrayed my daughter during the reconnaissance in Carne Village. You may vary the styles and material quality, and you may even re-tailor your current dress to fit the required standard, but everything else is forbidden—including headwear, crinolines, and platform shoes. Do you understand me, Shalltear Bloodfallen?"
"Yes, my Lord," the vampire replied, dropping tears of pain and shame onto the carpet, making my heart twinge with pity. But stay strong, man! The fire of faith burns in your chest, for the Emperor is with you! We shall crush heresy and lies with the word of holy prayer! In short, hold firm; discipline is a heavy burden, and uprooting socially destructive trends is even harder!
"Aura..."
"Me?" Peering cautiously from behind Albedo's back, the dark elf lowered her ears in anticipation of trouble.
"From this day forward, for the next month, you are obligated to wear dresses or skirts, just as Mare does now. As for him, tell him he is to change into a proper suit with trousers. He receives this punishment because, as your brother, he failed to stop you and did not care for your moral character, instead covering for your mischief and your shirking of the survey of the lands around Nazarick."
"Understood, Zellos-sama!" the tomboy replied with a stunned smile, though it seemed to me there was a hint of relief in it.
"I shall discuss the punishment for the Pleiades with Sebas first; for now, you are dismissed," I told the girls. "As for you, Albedo..." I looked at the trembling demoness. I really wanted to give her a bit of a spanking, since she had already suffered enough maintaining the Mirror for so many days, but she might enjoy that. And if I ordered Shalltear to spank her, Shalltear might enjoy it... "I will speak with you separately and in private. For now, gather the Guardians in the Throne Room and inform them that an embassy from the Re-Estize Kingdom will arrive in two days, and I wish to hear all opinions on the matter. I will join you in about an hour. Until then, you may go. Narberal, stay," I stopped the maid who was about to slip away with her "sisters."
The girls, looking like they'd been dunked in cold water, trudged toward the exit. I seized the Mirror with a flow of mana, levitated it behind me, and mounted it above my desk. The idea of watching what my recent guests were up to and hearing what they thought of our meeting was very tempting. It's always easier to plan a meeting when you know what the other side wants. And since the Mirror was already ready for use, there was no point in pulling a second one from my dimensional pocket.
"Now then, Nabe," I said, sitting in my chair and beginning to search the city streets for the group I had just shared a glass of milk with in the tavern, "let's set aside that last scene for a moment. What was it you wanted to ask when we were sitting in the dining hall?"
"My Lord?" the Pleiade feigned ignorance.
"I can sense that something is troubling you, and it's certainly not Shalltear's dresses. Won't you tell me?"
"Forgive me," she lowered her gaze, gathering her thoughts. "It's just... I don't understand why you bother so much with these lower lifeforms? You smiled at them, you praised them! Are we somehow insufficient for you, Supreme One?! Have we disappointed you in some way? Please, tell me!" The dam had broken, so to speak, and the performance I had put on must have played its part. I don't even know what to call it. A child's jealousy toward "daddy's new girlfriend"? Not exactly, but the fear of being unneeded or discarded was clearly there.
"Nabe, my dear Nabe," I looked away from the artifact, stood up, and approached the maid. "You are my treasure, my precious treasure," I said, putting an arm around her and stroking her head. The stunningly beautiful girl, who fluffed up in confusion but still leaned into me, immediately reminded my body that its glands were "not exactly off the assembly line" and were quite capable of producing the necessary cocktails. "Even the fact that I just promised to punish some of you, and punished others before your eyes, changes nothing. Punishments exist to help one become better, wiser, more perfect. Parents often punish children; sometimes children cry bitterly, but that is how they better remember the lesson taught. Do you think the fact that I was being watched upset me? No. I knew perfectly well such a thing was possible when I gave Albedo permission for the enhancement scroll. That didn't upset me. What upset me was that Albedo followed her desires and couldn't stop herself, turning a small joy into a mania and taking the situation to the point of absurdity. Albedo is a demon, so controlling her impulses is harder for her than others, but she must learn, or she risks one day going mad from her inability to curb her obsessions. Or take Shalltear. She suffers greatly from complexes regarding her body, trying to hide its real form behind layers of fabric and padding. But in truth, she is very beautiful without any of that. Yet because of Peroroncino's error, she refuses to accept her own beauty and tries to chase someone else's, harming herself in the process. Do you see where I'm going with this? I love you all and wish for your happiness. I would only ever abandon you in one case—if you yourselves wished to leave." Though in that case, I would have to kill the deserter on the spot—simply to save the world—but I could keep that part to myself...
That last thought turned out to be unexpectedly unpleasant and uncomfortable. Yet in the persona of the undead, thinking that way had been much easier and happened almost by itself... A good sign!
"N-no," the doppelgänger stirred, "we would never! Never!.."
"I know. And I believe you. But please, believe in me and my feelings for you as well."
"Forgive me, Supreme One, I am such a fool," the beauty in my arms wilted completely.
"No, you are smart, beautiful, and very sweet," and you can blush all the way to the top of your head. "As for my interest in humans... Humans are, first and foremost, a tool." Will she ask or not?
"A t-tool? For what? We can perform any task far better!"
"A tool for development. For me, for you, for all of Nazarick. One can always learn something new, or look at a problem from a different angle. Yes, the greatness of our house is indisputable, but we cannot rest on our laurels, for long stability without further development becomes stagnation, and from there degradation begins. The examples of the Six Great Gods of the Theocracy and the Eight Greed Kings are very illustrative. Therefore, I desire the expansion and improvement of Nazarick. New members, new perspectives. Finding worthy candidates is not easy, and the level of power is far from the main factor. First and foremost, one needs a level of spirit—personality! I won't deny I liked those girls; they have a certain backbone. Besides... not all of them are lower lifeforms. That short girl in the mask is a True Vampire, quite comparable in strength if not to you, then to Lupusregina and Vasilisa the Fairy for certain. Only she has far more combat experience than all the Pleiades put together."
"Oh..." The news struck the girl deeply. "Forgive my nearsightedness, I didn't even consider the possibility. My mistake! I was so unfair in my thoughts... But your vision is truly peerless!"
"Hmm," I grunted, squeezing the adorable Narberal—who was in such a state of ecstatic enlightenment—a bit tighter in my arms. "I'm glad you've begun to understand. Though there can be a vast chasm between 'understanding' and 'accepting,' I am still glad you have stepped onto this path." I was about to pull away, but...
"M-master, m-may I ask a favor of you?" The maid whispered almost inaudibly, hunching her shoulders and clutching my robe with her hand.
"Of course, what's on your mind?"
"Could you... stay like this with me for a little longer?" Oh, you could light a cigarette off those ears. And she's a doppelgänger! This form is to her what my robe is to me.
"Very well," I smiled and held the girl tighter, sending my mask to my inventory with a mental effort, "I find I like this request myself."
"You... l-like it?"
"Of course," I nodded, accidentally brushing my nose against her gorgeous hair, which emitted a faint floral scent. "You are very beautiful, Nabe. Your beauty is in no way inferior to Albedo's or Shalltear's; each of you simply has your own kind. And holding a beautiful girl is very pleasant for me."
"M-master," a weak but happy squeak. I, however, wondered if I hadn't said a bit too much—well, not too much, but perhaps at an inopportune time. Alas, the arrival of hormones, besides the obvious perks, brought its own downsides. I hadn't yet grown accustomed to it, so having a lady pressing her undeniable assets against me was somewhat destabilizing to my clarity of thought and general focus.
"Right," I pulled away with some reluctance—judging by Nabe's sigh, she wasn't too happy about it either—"be that as it may, we need to prepare for the embassy's arrival. You only get one chance to make a first impression. And we need to make sure it's the right one. That means I should know their reaction to the first meeting and what they plan to do." I sat in the chair, pulling a scroll from my inventory to transmit sound through the Mirror. "Let's watch together; you can point out anything I might miss..."
"Yes, Master!" The Battle Maid froze at my left hand, looking as happy with the assignment as if I had, at the very least, just proposed marriage. I resumed the search and soon found what I was looking for—the Blue Rose squad accompanied by Gazef Stronoff had just finished crossing the city to the inner castle...
Guest quarters of the E-Rantel inner castle.
"Evileye, snap out of your fantasies about a prince on a white horse, we need you!" the team leader nudged the vampire as they entered their assigned rooms.
"U-u-u-gh... Stop it! Not another word!" the sorceress waved her hands.
"Is it really that bad?" Tia asked her sister and friends, having been forced to miss the meeting with the inter-world mage.
"It's not so much a prince on a white horse as a 'necromancer on a black dragon,'" Tina corrected her "boss" after tallying everything they knew about Zellos, making Evileye clench her fists in embarrassment.
"Ha, you should have seen it! I was worried our Shorty was going to have him right then and there!" Gagaran began to enlighten the absent shinobi.
"Don't project your habits onto me, Muscle-brain!" the sorceress flared up at the unfair accusation.
"Hey now, our Evileye is a respectable girl!" the noblewoman stepped in to defend her subordinate—who was actually older than her by about a factor of ten—struggling to keep a serious face. "And besides, love is a beautiful thing."
"L-love?" Evileye, who a moment ago was ready to pummel her friends, lost all her momentum.
"Yep," the largest warrior continued to poke fun. "You're hooked, squirt."
"Definitely," the second ninja nodded.
"Completely," Lakyus agreed with a solemn nod. "Though I admit, the guy is handsome. I wouldn't mind a bit of him myself... Hey, hey, just kidding!" The noblewoman jokingly stepped back as she saw the sorceress's figure turn to stone at the last statement. "No need to give me that heavy look. I already realize you've staked your claim."
"And I missed everything. That's not fair," Tia shook her head in frustration, looking from one friend to the other.
"It's all because of our demon-leader," her sister nodded in solidarity. "She should have found another way to send the message."
"Agreed," the first ninja girl responded with great readiness. "It's all our demon-leader's fault."
"Who are you calling a demon?" Lakyus's face twisted into a crooked smile, and her voice boded no good for the sisters.
"Our tyrant-boss is angry because we speak the truth," Tina reported to her sister in a flat, emotionless voice.
"What else to expect from a tyrant-boss? She saw it all herself," Tia supported the attack in the same tone.
"No shame, no conscience."
"And she calls herself a priestess, too."
"Quiet!" Lakyus couldn't take it anymore. "This is exactly why I sent one of you away! When you're together, you constantly talk nonsense! And that was the first diplomatic contact; one has to be tactful! Can you understand that and shut up, please?"
"Fine, evil boss," the twins replied in unison, simultaneously putting on the sullen expressions of victims of exploitation and managerial tyranny.
"Ahem!" The team leader cleared her throat into her fist. "Let's distract ourselves from our friend's romantic struggles for a moment and return to more grounded matters," the girl suggested, regaining her positive demeanor. "Evileye, what you said about his power at the beginning—is it certain?"
"Yes," the sorceress shook herself, shifting into a serious mood. "Even if he is suppressing his power, that enveloping, soul-piercing might is staggering... If he truly is a Necromancer, those 'Zurernorn' disciples—even those who managed to become undead—are just children compared to Him. And I'm not sure He's human; in fact, I'm certain of the opposite."
"Well, anyone experimenting with inter-world portals can't be weak by definition... Oh, what if he came from the World of the Gods, like the Six Great Gods of the Theocracy?" the priestess suggested. "I also felt something strange from this Zellos, but I couldn't put my finger on it. But now... it felt like Divine Magic, but... argh," the girl grabbed her hair, "it's hard to explain to those who don't use our magic. Basically, it was something similar, yet completely different."
"And you stayed quiet?"
"What could I have said, Gagaran? 'Forgive me, Master Zellos, but could you enlighten me as to why you reek of strange divine magic while my vampire friend is ready to jump on your neck and purr with joy?'"
"Hey, I was not at all about to jump on his neck, let alone purr!" Evileye protested, though she privately noted that she liked the idea.
"No-no-no!" she immediately checked herself. "That's wrong! Besides, I wasn't the only one who found such a surge of feelings strange. It's very much like a charm!" After considering this, she shook her head. Not only did Master Zellos seem like the kind of person who wouldn't use such spells, but as a True Vampire, she had complete immunity to any mind-affecting effects. It was impossible to charm her, instill fear, or take control of her. So all these feelings toward the mage were hers and hers alone.
"I said 'ready,' not 'intending,'" the leader of Blue Rose smiled, seeing her friend's internal struggle. "But could I have been wrong? Wouldn't you want to sit on his lap, wrap your arms around those shoulders, bury your nose in that dark hair and feel him holding you..." The priestess provocatively closed her eyes. "A vampire and a necromancer, meeting entirely by chance, yet so perfect for one another..."
"Eeeeeek!" Evileye pressed the mask to her burning face with the palms of her hands. The sorceress's vivid imagination painted the picture very clearly, and the girl was forced to agree—her friend was completely right. "Stop embarrassing me!"
"If you hide your feelings, you might lose them," the "demon-leader" refused to back down. "And watch out, the scenario where a holy priestess sets a dark mage on the path of righteousness is also quite feasible!" the said priestess chuckled.
"No man can resist the charm of twin sisters," Tina added her two cents in her usual flat voice.
"And if all else fails, you can always just knock him out and drag him to the hayloft," Gagaran put a period on "the plans."
"Oh, go away," the vampire pouted, knowing full well her friends were just joking. This was just a joke, right?
"Sorry, sorry," Lakyus laughed, "you just get such a look at the mere mention of this caster that we couldn't help ourselves. And I'm very happy that someone our little Evileye actually likes has finally appeared in her life. Even if it is a very handsome necromancer with monstrous combat potential."
"I am about ten times older than you!" the sorceress pouted comically.
"But you have nothing to say against the rest of it," Tia observed with deadly seriousness.
"Yes..." the vampire was forced to admit. "And I don't know what to do! He is so... so... and me? My body stopped developing when I was twelve!" Evileye cried out with a flash of anger that surprised even herself. "I have nothing that men want to see! I can't inspire lust, nor satisfy it! And he has someone as beautiful as Narberal by his side! I don't stand a chance!"
"Now, don't you dare wilt on me!" the noblewoman snapped sternly, crossing her arms over her chest. "You are beautiful, smart, and there are plenty of men who like young girls, even if they never admit it to save their reputation in society! So don't you dare give up!"
"B-but what do I do? I... I know nothing about being a woman!" Evileye began to fidget frantically with her fingers, just to keep her hands busy.
"We'll help you," Lakyus smiled warmly. "Right, girls?"
"Undoubtedly," the sisters nodded seriously.
"Don't lose heart, Shorty," Gagaran smiled.
"Th-thank you," the miniature caster was embarrassed. "Only..." Evileye looked at her friends warily. "Do any of you actually know anything about seducing men?"
"..." The ninjas looked at each other.
"E-e-e-h..." Lady Aindra faltered, her eyes wandering toward the ceiling.
"Hmmmm..." Gagaran thoughtfully rubbed her chin.
"I'm doomed," Evileye stated, looking at the completely bewildered faces of her friends.
Expecting anything else had been foolish. A naive noblewoman who ran away from home for adventure, with a head full of knightly romances and a desire to be like her uncle. A woman-mountain whose figure scared off men more effectively than her massive hammer. And two ninja sisters—former assassins who, before joining Blue Rose, never trusted anyone but each other. What could she have hoped for?
"Right," Lakyus rubbed the bridge of her nose, "this will be harder than I thought, but let's start with something obvious."
"What?"
"Clothes!" Various outfits were a minor weakness of Lakyus's, so she knew a thing or two about fashion. "We need to give your wardrobe a proper update! A dress! And shoes!"
"The last time I wore a dress and shoes was two hundred and thirty-eight years ago!" the princess of a dead country protested, remembering perfectly well the circumstances under which she'd gotten rid of them. "And dresses are incredibly uncomfortable. How am I supposed to fight, in your opinion?!"
"You'll be fighting with it, Shorty," the monumental warrior supported her leader's idea. "You don't need 'comfort,' you need to look so good that every man around you starts choking on his own spit!"
"F-fine," the girl risked agreeing, though she had massive doubts about the success of the venture, "but where are we going to find a dress?"
"I think we can tailor something of mine," the team leader suggested enthusiastically. "I brought a few sets just in case, since we were traveling as part of an embassy... Yes, exactly! We'll re-tailor mine. Our height difference is huge, of course, but we can pay for a rush job, and I know a couple of fitting spells—they're simple. But one outfit isn't enough; we need something else..." The noblewoman thoughtfully pursed her pink lips.
"Just get him drunk! Everything else will go like clockwork, believe me," Gagaran shared her experience.
"I don't want to get him drunk, Muscle-brain!" Evileye snapped. "Besides, Master Zellos doesn't drink alcohol; he mentioned it himself."
"Ha, every man plays the holy knight when you first meet him. But you only have to dig a little deeper..." the warrior woman let her eyebrows dance suggestively. "Learn how to make an offer properly, Shorty!"
"Yes, try climbing onto the table and, erotic crawling on all fours, fill his glass for him," Tina advised with total seriousness, met by her sister's silent nod of approval.
"What???" Even Gagaran looked at the shinobi with pure astonishment.
"I once saw elite clients being served that way in a certain brothel," the ninja explained, her expression unchanging. "And courtesans must know a thing or two about seduction, so such a method might just work."
"And if it doesn't, pour the wine over your chest and climb into his lap so it's easier for him to lick it off. They did that there, too," Tia added in the same emotionless voice.
"What were you doing in a brothel?!" The team leader had only now learned this interesting detail about her subordinates.
"Lying in ambush to slit the throat of a wealthy client once he let his guard down," Tina answered honestly.
"Easy money," Tia supplemented.
"And they call me the demon!" the noblewoman muttered, covering her eyes.
"The evil boss forces her subordinates to do such shameful things..."
"A true demon-leader..."
"It was your idea!!!" Lakyus snapped at the sisters, her face flushing crimson to the tips of her ears.
"The tyrant shifts responsibility for her own plans onto her subordinates," Tina leaned toward her sister, taking a half-step back.
"Standard practice for tyrants," Tia agreed, also retreating.
Watching the familiar scene of petty vengeance from the sisters once defeated by the Blue Rose leader, Evileye didn't find it funny at all. Women were always drawn to strong men. When life is threatened by external danger, natural instinct commands one to find a strong man and bear him children, thereby securing protection for oneself and one's offspring. Of course, not everyone chooses a partner based on such logic. Many factors can lead to love. Nevertheless, it was normal for most women to seek a strong man who could protect them and pass his strength and health to their children. But the cursed Princess Keeno Fasris Inberun had always looked down on such women.
It was foolish to desire protection out of weakness. Instead, it was better to simply become strong, and protection would become unnecessary. That was the right way. That was what life had taught her.
But if she let such a man go, would she ever meet anyone else even close to him? Someone whose presence made her head spin, her cheeks burn, and butterflies flutter in her stomach? Someone capable of making her feel that same panic and weakness in her legs? After all... He had made her heart beat again!
She would never grow up or grow old, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never bear him a child. And she shouldn't deceive herself—her body had nothing to attract a man, and as for that proverbial feminine charm... She couldn't even remember the last time she had spoken to someone sweetly, charmingly, or even in a manner accepted in polite society. She had to admit to herself that even that Muscle-brain, Gagaran, understood more about flirting and courtliness. And yet... she desperately wanted, just once in her life, to be a woman rather than a cursed creature forced to hide her eyes.
"Any woman can bear him a child," Evileye told herself, trying to soothe her nerves frayed by hopelessness. "The most important thing is love. I, of course, won't be greedy; I'll allow one or two mistresses. That's normal for such powerful people, isn't it? Only... will he give me his love? And if... If I insist..." A sigh of despair escaped the sorceress's chest. "No one wants a woman who is too clingy. Men are creatures who want to run the harder you try to tie them down."
"I'm doomed," the girl declared once more, her shoulders slumping beneath her cloak.
"Well," Gagaran's broad palm landed on the mage's hunched back, "you can always ask to be his apprentice, if he's really that cool and the more traditional options don't suit you."
"Right!!!" The saving thought flared up in Evileye's mind like a Greater Fireball.
"A-a-ah," the girl's head whipped back and forth between her friends, "but what about you guys?! And what if he doesn't agree?" A new worm of panic stirred in her mind. "And what if he does agree?!" An even more frightening thought of the unknown followed.
"A little vacation wouldn't hurt us either."
"And we can hunt bandits without Sixth Tier spells," the ninja sisters answered, exchanging a look.
"Girls... you..." Evileye had always known she had great friends; she even thanked that old hag who had literally kicked her into joining them... well... she thanked her mentally... very, very quietly and only occasionally.
"Ah, the experienced master and the young, naive apprentice! It's so... so... mmmmmm..." Lakyus "killed the moment" right on cue.
"I'm over two hundred; I doubt I can be called 'young,'" the sorceress corrected her commander and only then realized what she had said. "A-a-a-a-h!!! I'm a crone!" She clutched her head.
"Our demon-leader needs to stop reading her novels; they provoke panic in normal people," Tia stated.
"The evil boss loves to enjoy the suffering of her subordinates," Tina immediately caught on.
"That's it," the priestess said, acting "offended" by the assault on her favorite literature, "we don't have time to watch your wavering! we still need to take measurements for the dress! Girls, grab her!"
"Huh? What? Kya-a-a-a-a!" The valiant heroines pounced as one upon the caught-off-guard vampire to execute a harsh but fair sentence. The evening for team Blue Rose was no longer dull.
Meanwhile... Nazarick.
With a negligent gesture, the Mirror of Remote Viewing went dark. I managed to see the face beneath the mask, but I didn't stick around to watch the poor girl being shaken out of her clothes. While it was amusing, it felt a bit too... vulgar.
Though her face turned out to be sweet, even vaguely reminiscent of Shalltear's; perhaps it looked that way because of the same red eyes and the tiny fangs peeking out from under her upper lip, though my Guardian of the first three floors had much paler skin and entirely different facial expressions.
"Those shameless, insolent women..." The hiss of fury from Narberal, who was enraged to the extreme, looked adorable...ly dangerous. There was no doubt that if she were in the same room as Blue Rose right now, she'd already be hurling Eighth Tier spells.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha..." Unable to resist such a scene, I burst out laughing. This was the final straw; I couldn't hold it in any longer after the "demon-leader," "evil boss," and "easy money" in the context of the wine idea. "You should see yourself, Nabe..."
"But..." the Pleiade faltered at the sound of my laughter. "Those... Those lower lifeforms... Those vulgar mercenaries... They dared to plan the seduction of the Supreme One! They must be punished for such sacrilege!" the girl argued passionately, having just recently invited herself into my arms.
Another burst of laughter filled the office... Oh, Universe! How pleasant it is to laugh when no "emotional suppression" breeze in your head cuts you off at the peak!
"If I punished every dream of my seduction, I'm afraid Nazarick would lose not only the Overseer and the Guardian of the first three floors, but half of the male roster as well," because, damn it, this tomb was built by obsessive Japanese geeks! And while I was never a racist and always loved anime, having learned everything I've learned here, I'm already dreaming of drowning the land of Yamato in holy nuclear fire just to be safe! "So leave this childish jealousy aside, Nabe," I said, wrapping an arm around the maid's waist and pulling her onto my lap. The maneuver worked perfectly—any hint of indignation instantly vanished from her dark eyes, and the doppelgänger froze like a timid rabbit, afraid to breathe. "We've already discussed that I'm not going to abandon or reject any of you. I understand your feelings," I ran my fingers across her face, tucking a strand of hair back, then moved my hand to the crown of her head and began to stroke it gently, "but wasn't that adorable? And didn't you like how highly you were rated by a being from another world who is comparable to you in strength?"
"But I... I do not dare to hope, and they... they... Such things... with Lord Zellos..." the Battle Maid pleaded pitifully.
"For a girl who is lying on my lap and whose head I am stroking right now, you are reacting a bit too strongly to the distant dreams of an adventurer team we barely know," I smiled at Narberal.
"I..." She hunched her shoulders and went silent. She just watched me, saying nothing, not even blinking, while her complexion shifted from deathly pale to tomato red.
"Anyway, Nabe. I need this squad. Even if they don't officially become part of Nazarick, we can influence the life of the entire kingdom through them. They are famous here, renowned, and command significant authority in many circles. Most importantly, they possess specific knowledge of the world that you won't find with any official or in any book. Where the forces of Nazarick might draw too much attention, Blue Rose will pass without issue and get us what we need. This is just one of many possible uses for them. So don't hold a grudge, don't be offended, and don't be jealous by dismissing them as lower lifeforms unworthy of different treatment. If they earn it, I will give them power, change their nature, and who knows, maybe they will take their place in the Pleiades and call you 'onee-san.'"
At those last words, Gamma's eyes glazed over, and I realized the subscriber was no longer available. Well, that's what a magic word can do. Since only Yuri was addressed as "big sister" by the other Pleiades, such prospects were... intense. Chuckling at the resulting image, I turned my gaze back to the Mirror and reactivated the artifact. I needed to see the position of the Prince and the Marquis—watching girls fight over you is certainly more interesting, but work must be done. As for the catatonic Nabe... well, I didn't mind her staying on my lap; it was pleasant. Of course, there was the danger of Albedo seeing us, which would mean a new session of fighting jealousy, but I wouldn't mind holding Albedo on my lap too... Or should I say it's her punishment? No, too cruel. Better Albedo on one leg, Narberal on the other, and life is complete.
Note to self: I need to do something about these hormones; I'm clearly not in my right mind.
I glanced down at the Battle Maid, whose sharp figure and feminine charms were advantageously highlighted by her tight leggings and white shirt... But later. Maybe... After I punish Albedo in bed. Her punishment should be long and fitting for the transgression, yes, let's write that down...
"And now, the Prince..." With an effort, I returned my eyes to the Mirror. "Yes, the Prince is important. And Albedo can wait until tonight; in fact, Nabe can help me... prepare the prosecution's case, so to speak..."
A bit later. The Throne Room of Nazarick.
"I am glad to see you all," I greeted the Guardians and the waiting Pleiades as I entered the hall from a side passage near the throne.
The first thing that caught my eye was the suppressed and embarrassed look of Shalltear. She stood with her gaze fixed on the floor, fidgeting in a black sundress—or rather, some anime-inspired replica of one. Her hair was intricately styled into a wreath made of her own braid, while what remained fell freely behind her like a silver train down to her feet. There was no padding on her chest, and the fabric there outlined the barest hint of an A-cup. And with the disappearance of those massive platforms on her shoes, the vampire's height had dropped by nearly ten centimeters, finally making her a mirror image of Aura's age.
The latter stood beside her in a very similar dress, likely from the same collection, though with a pointedly short skirt that left the elf's knees exposed. Her gloves and boots were gone, replaced by formal school shoes that clearly confirmed whose wardrobe had been raided. The tomboy, however, didn't look embarrassed at all; she looked proud, her smug smirk saying to everyone: "I'm the prom queen! You didn't think it could happen? Well, eat it!"
And the final new element was Mare, who... who was dressed as a stereotypical "Ordinary Japanese Schoolboy" from junior high. Seriously, he was wearing a literal black uniform, made famous by anime only slightly less than big eyes. The shoes, the trousers, the closed jacket—the gakuran—with its standing collar. I had a fair guess where that had come from in Shalltear's wardrobe. Why they had done that to the poor boy, I couldn't say. Though... the boy didn't look all that miserable. I mean, he was still cowering and shy, but it didn't look as bad without the skirt, even if his identical face to Aura's still made him indecently feminine.
Noticing me, the monsters collectively expressed their joy, though somewhat sluggishly—most of those gathered clearly felt guilty and tried not to catch my eye. After listening to the greetings and gesturing for Narberal, who was trotting along behind me like a tail, to join the other Pleiades, I walked to the throne and took my seat.
"Now then, as Albedo should have informed you, I have gathered you here to discuss Nazarick's first official meeting with the government representatives of this land. I want to know how you envision this meeting. What, in your opinion, can be achieved and in what manner? Share your thoughts with me so that I may make a decision that best serves the interests of Nazarick. For my part, I wish to note that I am not interested in any form of subjugation of the surrounding states or seizing power within them. Most of the common denizens of this world do not interest me, and I view spending my time or yours on managing them as wasteful. Nevertheless, the states themselves and the peoples inhabiting them can be useful to Nazarick. At the very least, they can organize stable supplies of certain resources, ranging from simple food and ingredients for magical research to information—both regarding discoveries and curious directions in the field of magic, and the occurrence of anomalies in the world similar to the one that brought us here. Finally, even among weak humans, talented individuals are sometimes born whose abilities can bring us much benefit. For example, there is an alchemist in E-Rantel who is already conducting research for me on the possibility of replicating Yggdrasil potions using local resources, and as far as I can tell, he is competent enough to succeed. Therefore, I find the ability to use local states to find such individuals and recruit them into our service to be both useful and important. You must agree that spending time and resources on searching ourselves, when there is an opportunity to achieve what we need with just one conversation with a few people, is quite foolish. Thus, I envision Nazarick's interaction with the Re-Estize Kingdom in the form of a sort of trade partnership, where we provide the humans with certain services that are entirely unburdensome for our level of power, and they in exchange provide us with everything we need. As I have already seen, most things that are trifles and minor details to us are extremely difficult tasks for the local residents, and I see no reason not to take advantage of this circumstance. And, Albedo," I turned my face specifically toward the demoness standing timidly with the others.
"Yes?... Zellos-sama?" Yellow-green eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and hope, rose to my face.
"Take your place beside the throne," I gestured with my hand to the spot on my right. "Though I promised you punishment for abusing your granted authority to indulge your desires, a single mistake does not change your position in the hierarchy nor revoke my trust in you."
"I thank you, Zellos-sama," the girl bowed. However, she didn't start squealing with joy or even show relief. The fear did leave her posture, but the guilt and humble repentance only grew heavier, so the Overseer trotted toward me looking meek and hesitant.
"Let us begin," I said, waiting for Albedo to approach before turning my face to the rest of the audience. "I wish to hear your ideas, my loyal Guardians. And first and foremost, regarding the organization of the meeting itself."
Naturally, I had some ideas of my own, almost from the moment Gazef warned me about the court's potential interest, and even without that, it was obvious that once Nazarick made itself known, it wouldn't be left in peace. I just didn't want to carry this whole burden alone. After all, I had a group of very powerful and, potentially, very smart subordinates; let them work. They could gain experience... and wisdom in the process. Besides, I was counting on some sound thoughts. Demiurge doesn't earn his keep for nothing, metaphorically speaking, because Nazarick, by the way, operates under communism! When I realized that, I nearly fell over. But no, really—from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs! Everyone was busy with necessary tasks, and no one was slighted. Moreover, everyone sincerely tried to do everything as well as possible, and... damn it, that too was programmed in by those Japanese geeks! Because "the scariest place in the world must have the scariest regime!" And so Momonyan, being the youngest, was designated as the fall guy and went online, honestly typing keywords into a search engine... Basically, the idiot stumbled onto a site run either by completely stoned cultists or some hyper-ultra-mega-super-right-wing faction of the US Democratic Party, and... The defenseless, unprepared, and ideologically pure mind of the Japanese teenager was subjected to a brutal act of cerebral violation, during which an epic volume of the most toxic, radioactive Western "red scare" tropes was dumped on him. The innocent Japanese boy was deeply shocked by the sadistic cruelty of a regime where no one is paid a salary, there are no weekends, no vacations, and not even video games (since everyone is exclusively busy with their favorite work and has no desire to waste time on outside entertainment)—truly an infernal reality suitable only for a den of demons and monsters, infinitely obedient to some terrible Dark Lord. So the guys, based on his research, wrote the main points of the "doctrine" into those sheets of NPC settings, not thinking much about their meaning and eventually forgetting the joke over the years. And even though they added a bunch of their own Asian flavor on top... "Comrade Stalin is proud of you, Comrade Zellos." Well, fine, as far as I'm concerned, it's a major plus. Now, back to the meeting.
"We are obligated to demonstrate the Might and Grandeur of the Great Tomb of Nazarick!" Albedo declared categorically, met by approving nods from the others.
"True, but might can be shown in different ways," Demiurge chimed in. "The Lord has surely already calculated a plan and is merely testing us, but to the best of my meager abilities, I shall try to present a possible scheme, with your permission, My Lord," the demon bowed courteously.
"Proceed," smile and wave, or rather, nod benevolently.
"The lower lifeforms inhabiting this land are quite impressionable, but also cowardly. Those mages from the Theocracy, simply by observing Neuronist's crude methods, have partially turned gray and still cannot sleep properly, which affects their work efficiency; I even have to put them to sleep with commands..."
"What insolence!" Shalltear grumbled, even looking up from the floor for such a grave matter.
"True," Sebas nodded. "But we digress and are forcing the Lord to wait. Please continue, Lord Demiurge."
"Yes, my apologies," the demon bowed his head, causing a slight surprise among all the Guardians present, who knew perfectly well the Archdevil's attitude toward the Tomb's steadfast butler. Well, my subordinates can evolve and change—there's another piece of evidence. And it pleases me; the main thing is not to let things drift, or I might find a dagger in my back, even if NPC loyalty is supposedly absolute. Meanwhile, the Strategist continued: "Thus, we need to demonstrate only potential might, and certainly not all of it, while omitting those details that could be called 'unsavory.'"
"What exactly do you mean?" Aura asked.
"The torture chambers, the prison, all the living quarters of the Five Worst and the beings themselves," the demon began to list, adjusting his glasses and clasping his hands behind his back. "I would actually recommend limiting ourselves to just a 'guard of honor' made of low and mid-tier undead at the entrance to Nazarick, and immediately after the meeting—teleportation to the conference hall. Even that will look quite imposing to the denizens of this world."
"That seems like very little," Cocytus rumbled dismissively.
"And what, in your opinion, would be the negotiators' state of mind then?" I liked Demiurge's suggestions, but I needed a fairly strong impression.
"An extreme degree of interest, a desire to form an alliance with You, My Lord, on quite favorable terms, but at the same time, a serious level of apprehension is possible."
"True, humans fear what they do not understand, or, to be cliché, what scares them. Furthermore, the majority of humans are shortsighted, selfish, and not at all inclined to think before they act," the Guardians started to smile; yes, their beloved lord had once again emphasized that lower beings were indeed lower. "However, a level of potential threat that is too high might force them to look for ways to eliminate us. And I want to remind you that all previous groups from Yggdrasil died under very strange circumstances," I paused, looking each of my listeners in the eye. "But even that is not the main point," I continued, pointedly straightening up on the throne. "Clearly, this world regularly attracts beings many times superior in strength to the local inhabitants. And there is no guarantee that Nazarick arrived here alone. Just as there is no guarantee that in a year, two, ten, or even a measly week, a Guild Alliance—those who once stormed the walls of our home and forced most of you to undergo resurrection—or some other comparable and inherently hostile force won't transfer to this world. We do not know the mechanics of the transfer or how it relates to the flow of time in Yggdrasil, so no possibility can be ruled out. From this follows a simple conclusion: the local residents must become our voluntary allies. Our eyes and ears, ready to report such a transfer the moment they learn of it. And under no circumstances should they start seeing us as mortal enemies for whose destruction they will hide such information with all their might and, while we remain in ignorance, set new enemies upon us. Do not forget this. And help others not to forget," I visibly relaxed on the throne and looked at the Guardian of the Seventh Floor. "Continue, Demiurge."
"An insurmountable advantage," the demon replied instantly, as if he had been waiting for the command. Though why "as if"? Most likely, with his genius mind, he had calculated all possible variants. "A demonstration of the fact that none of their efforts could shake the power of Lord Zellos! But at the same time emphasizing that encroaching on their power, wealth, and pride is not within our sphere of interest. Humans are painfully sensitive to their position in society, how others look at them, and how they perceive their own significance. Vanity—that is the universal key to their souls! We need to make them afraid to even think of any conflict with the Supreme One, but in such a way that their pride is not only uninjured, but becomes wildly excited by the prospects of gaining Nazarick as an ally. Then they themselves will offer us everything and give us everything, chasing their petty political advantages. However... did I understand correctly, Lord Zellos, that you do not wish to demonstrate your true nature and power?" the Archdevil frowned slightly.
"Correct."
"B-but how then?" Mare asked in confusion. "We must show power, but we mustn't show it? I-I don't understand, forgive me!"
"It's very simple; I have already gained fame specifically as a death mage, so that is where we should place the emphasis," I explained to the boy, who was finally dressed like a boy. "Perhaps even emphasize it, as Demiurge suggested, by hiding the legions of demons, arachnids, dragonkins, and other Nazarick forces," realizing that I could list those forces until morning, I decided to stick with the generic "others."
"And even so, we should only show a few types capable of inspiring respect rather than revulsion!" Demiurge triumphantly snapped his fingers, picking up the thought. "Beings endowed with a strict aesthetic of death and concise threat, rather than those capable of shattering a mortal's soul into madness by their mere appearance!"
"Then I suggest the Old Guard of Nazarick," Cocytus spoke up. "On the surface, before the entrance, we will line up two regiments of basic Old Guards. Before the gates, we'll place Senior Guardsmen, and we can also demonstrate those two Bone Dragons the Lord recently raised! And in the conference hall... um... excuse me, but where will the negotiations be held?"
"I suppose the Throne Room will serve perfectly for the official meeting, and afterward we can move to one of the offices."
"Oh! Then we'll post Master Guardsmen with banners right at the entrance to the Hall. And a guard of honor made from the new hundred of Death Knights!"
"Is it possible that such a quantity of undead might scare unprepared guests more than they can handle without losing the ability to negotiate?" Sebas hesitated. "Forgive me, My Lord," the butler gave me a ceremonial bow. "But as I have gathered from interacting with your new servant named Khajiit and his disciples, local humans are quite impressionable, and noble ambassadors from the capital may not possess the fortitude befitting a warrior."
"That is exactly why I suggested using only low and mid-tier undead!" the Strategist of Nazarick smirked proudly. "Combat cadavers and necro-chimeras could indeed cause too much panic in the ambassadors, and it would be wiser to keep wraiths and others capable of being useful in reconnaissance and sabotage operations a secret. But we still need something, a final touch to complete the picture..."
"I would like to say that all the Guardians to the right and left of my throne would be the perfect final touch," I remarked thoughtfully, resting my face on my left hand, "but we shouldn't show all our trump cards at once. Besides, the sight of you and Cocytus might scare our guests too much. Speaking of which," I remembered something, "among them will be one particularly noteworthy person to whom I ask you all to pay attention. It is a girl named Evileye," how the female part of the group immediately tensed up... "She is capable of perceiving auras, determining the nature and strength of beings by them, but most interestingly... especially for you, Shalltear," I looked into the eyes of the surprised loli, "she is a True Vampire."
"What? A vampire in the retinue of humans?" Bloodfallen was bewildered.
"Exactly so," I confirmed. "And I very much hope that my daughter Shalltear will show herself to be a good girl and find common ground with her first kinsman we've discovered in the new world."
"Huh?!..." I said she was bewildered before? Now she was truly bewildered!
"That's right, since we've already used the legend that you are my daughter, we won't debunk it without cause. A small lie breeds great distrust, and you..." I looked at Albedo and then at the other Guardians and Pleiades in turn, "just like all of you, can indeed be called my children. Though this knowledge isn't hard-coded into you, I participated in the creation of each of you. The members of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild, whom you know as your creators, gave you your personalities and appearances. I, however, as the head of all those you call Supreme Beings and the master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, inscribed your names into the book of the Tomb's inhabitants, making the very fact of your existence possible." And I wasn't lying; simple sophistry is our everything. It is the guild master who opens vacancies for rank-and-file units and elite NPCs in the guild base management menu; he also grants other guild members the right to create those NPCs—that is, to spend the guild's accumulated experience points and resources. And even if Momonyan never thought about it in a religious or philosophical sense, essentially it can be interpreted exactly as I'm saying now. "I gave life to the sparks of creation, from which my friends fanned the flame of your being," I continued piling on the pathos, thanks to that heap of esoteric and pseudo-philosophical nonsense I'd picked up in my past life, "so... while it may not be in the way you're used to, I am indeed somewhat your father."
"Incredible..." Aura whispered, triggering a chain reaction of amazed exclamations and mutterings.
But I no longer heard them. That sense of faith directed at me, which had appeared after my rebirth, didn't exactly howl, but... it was like suddenly having a cotton ball soaked in smelling salts shoved under your nose, only instead of alcohol, it was something pleasant and relaxing. I've never used drugs, but perhaps it was similar to what an addict feels during a high. If before I was simply fanatically adored, the feeling experienced by the Guardians, Sebas, and the Pleiades now was akin to... I don't even know. They were already fanatics who took every banality I uttered as a revelation from above, and I had no idea what to call a feeling that was a "revelation from above" to the tenth power. Perhaps such words don't even exist in human language.
The moment of sensory shock didn't last long, as a moment should. It left behind a vague memory of a brief, rapidly fading aftertaste and... a big question. Was what I just told them—twisting and fitting game mechanics into a fantasy-mythical foundation—said out of logical considerations for strengthening loyalty? Or was it my "God" nature, based on the mechanics of the D&D setting, that craved adoration?
"B-but... then..." the timid voice of a downcast Albedo broke through to me. And I understood why she looked like that.
"Not that kind of father; it's more of a spiritual-energetic meaning than... hmmm, physiology."
"Does that mean?.." A flicker of hope appeared in the demoness's eyes.
"That Shalltear may address me as 'father' whenever the situation demands it, without worrying that she is somehow betraying Peroroncino," I added hastily, providing a suitable explanation. "Otherwise, do not take this news so seriously. I have always been the Guild Master, and you have always known that nothing in Nazarick could have been created without my involvement, be it rooms, floors, or living beings. Nothing has changed; I have simply chosen words you can understand to explain the nature of things. This is neither a revelation nor news that requires such excitement," I continued, trying to convince the crowd of monsters while simultaneously attempting to convince myself. "It is merely a small clarification, given so that one of you does not blame herself over nothing. After all, I know well how deeply you revere your creators, and I do not want you to feel guilt over a trivial misunderstanding. But let us return to business..."
"Lord Zellos, you are so magnanimous," Demiurge knelt, lowering his face to the floor.
"You are the kindest ruler!" Aura shouted loudly, her eyes shining with adoration as she looked at me.
"Such an honor..." Cocytus clicked his mandibles nervously, exhaling a cloud of frost. "Such mercy..."
"M-master..." Shalltear wept with happiness, biting a handkerchief she had produced from somewhere.
"With your permission," Sebas stepped forward and froze in a respectful bow, "I shall dare to voice the collective words of all Nazarick," the butler began, his tone solemn and unwavering. "The truth of our birth from your own lips, Lord Zellos, is no 'small clarification.' These are incredibly important words for us all. Forgive our blindness, Supreme One, but you have now given us all that which we, in our ignorance, believed long lost. Until now, you were for us the Greatest of the Supreme Beings, the one who sits upon the High Throne, the Sovereign whose will is indisputable and whose desires are absolute..." The man swallowed, keeping his eyes closed and his face lowered, "the leader of the creators who abandoned us..."
"And now we know that our creator never left us!" Demiurge exclaimed from his knees. "And this knowledge is the highest reward we could ever receive!"
"Kh... kh..." The faint sound of sobbing made me turn toward Albedo, who was crying quietly by my throne, her fingers interlaced before her. She made no attempt to wipe away the falling tears. "I... I am so happy," the demoness murmured in a cracked voice, noticing my gaze. "Forgive my appearance, Momonga-sama," she stammered, even slipping into the old name. "I... I am at fault. But... But I am so happy... My... My beloved and my creator... by my side. I... I could never have even dreamed of this. Thank you, Master." The Overseer fell to both knees and bowed her head, letting her hair spill over her face and touch the floor. "Thank you for this... Even if you said it for Shalltear's sake, thank you... I... I look so pathetic and unseemly... I am a disgrace to your sight... But forgive your selfish servant, she... she simply cannot contain her happiness..."
"Well, I've fucking done it now!!!" I expressed my helpless despair in a silent mental scream. "You boosted loyalty, you moronic prick! Judging by the haze drifting off them in my new perception, they'd forgive me for... well, everything! Even if I took a shit on the corpses of their creators right in front of them after hacking those creators to pieces! And Albedo... Oh boy..."
I rose from the throne and, pulling the demoness to her feet, repeated what I had recently done with Narberal. Except... things didn't go according to plan. Albedo was crying. My embrace didn't soothe her or make her go still. she wept with her nose buried in my chest, her entire body shaking with silent sobs. The other onlookers... they watched her with tenderness and understanding, silently letting their own tears flow down their faces to water the black floor tiles. These former NPCs understood each other without words; in that moment, they were not different beings, but a single, unified entity. Their feelings were expressed by that small, trembling back in a white dress, with black wings hanging limp behind it. Nothing else mattered to them except that back and the face buried in my robes.
And I... I couldn't even bring myself to feel guilt for this vile, self-serving deception. Did I feel sorry for Albedo? Yes. Did I want to comfort her? Absolutely. But I didn't feel that I had done something wrong by hypocritically claiming another's merit and twisting the facts. I had simply... given them what they wanted. What Momonga hadn't thought to give them. And I... I was satisfied. Satisfied that I had given these monsters, who believed in me so endlessly and selflessly... happiness?
"During the meeting with the ambassadors, Albedo, Shalltear, Aura, and Mare will stand beside my throne," my voice broke through a silence that had hung for ten minutes. "The Pleiades will serve as ladies-in-waiting, changing their maid uniforms for appropriate dresses. Sebas will perform the duties of butler and herald, as far as those roles can be combined. The rest will observe the proceedings from the sidelines. We will discuss the details tomorrow." I pulled the girl back slightly and looked into her tear-stained, yellow-green eyes with their vertical pupils. "We need to talk. I think you understand that yourself."
The demoness blinked in confusion, but I offered no explanation. I simply teleported us both to my bedroom.