To say that Touch-Me was nervous was a understatement. He was about to meet with someone who saw him as nothing less than a infallible god.
Now, as a member of the police force, he was obviously recognized as others superior, as he had been working there for a long while, but that was still just a boss to subordinate relationship. This type of thing was something that people rarely went through... no, maybe Momonga was the only one who had this type of experience.
Then at that moment, a gentle knocking could be heard from the giant double doors that served as the rooms entrance. He knew who it was before he even heard their voice.
"Touch-Me-sama, may I have permission to enter?"
While every denizen of Nazarick would respond in this way if one of there exalted creators was in a room, a sign of there unwavering loyalty, it seemed to be further amplified by Sebas, who was created in the form of a butler.
"Ah.. You may enter."
As the door opened, the ever stoic servant strode over to his master and immediately knelt before him.
"I cannot express how delighted I am to see you once more Touch-Me-sama, I stand ready to serve you from now until the end of time. May I ask what task requires my attention at this time?" Sebas said this as effortlessly as reading it off a script. It was obvious that he had been thinking about what to say beforehand.
…Momonga-san, I completely understand where you were coming from... how did you manage to deal with this every day? "A-ah it is nothing important Sebas. I merely wished to have a talk with you about what has gone on in Nazarick in my absence. Why don't you sit down on the couch across from me?" He had made this gesture for two reasons. The first was because it was simply common courtesy to offer one a seat when talking to someone. Anyone who does not do such things must surely be a person who had never been into contact with any social setting, to say nothing of there manners.
The second reason was because Touch-Me was already getting anxious at the prolonged kneel. Anyone would feel strange if somebody they were trying to talk with adopted a posture of submissiveness. He merely wanted to have a man-to-man conversation with his creation, not give out orders. So he had hoped that Sebas would take the hint and comply with his wishes.
"Surely you jest my lord! Doing so would imply that I am your equal! How could I ever hope to not only stand at the same level of a supreme being, but my own creator! The very thought is blasphemy!"
Much to his chagrin, he did not.
"Haah... Sebas, I am simply want to talk to you about the going on's of Nazarick. If we were to engage in a conversation like this, it would make me a bit upset having to speak down to you like this. Could you please sit there for my sake?"
After Sebas balanced the scales of his mind between his creators wishes and his own ideas of etiquette, that is to say, immediately choosing to sit where his creator had instructed, Touch-Me started off with a simple question that he was curious about. "Now then, Sebas, I heard from Momonga-san that you had rescued a girl from slavery is that true?" Touch-Me was honestly delighted when he had heard this. It would seem that his own creation was living out the fantasy he had always dreamed about, being a ally to justice who helped those in peril. Thus, he felt like he could easily get along with him.
However, to his surprise, Sebas's face had changed to show the slightest hint of worry on his face, so little that Touch-Me thought that he had imagined it. But the tone he had was obviously coming from one who feared rebuke. "Yes my lord, I did save such a girl. If that was not what you wished of me I will immediately correct the mistake by taking her life! I went against the wishes of Ainz-sama in your absence, and will atone with my life if necessary!"
That was not a joke.
He truly would kill himself and the girl if he ordered him to do so.
Momonga-san warned me of there loyalty, but this is to much! He is willing to kill a girl who he has a close relationship with and himself because he thinks he may have disobeyed me!? "No! There is no need for such measures Sebas! I am not going to reprimand you for taking those actions. Instead I wanted to praise you for them. By doing that, you have shown me that you have taken my own ideals to heart, something I am very grateful for. May I ask how things are going with you two?"
"Thank you my lord, and you need not ask anything of us. Simply give us the command and we shall obey. As for our relationship, its hard to say. While right now I am training Tuare to become the head maid of the outside world, we get along well enough outside of that."
Ah so her name is Tuare! How nice. Though I wonder why there need to train her?"And how is the training going so far?
"Tuare in my opinion is still a far cry from being held up to the same level as the homonculus maids, though she is still far better than any human maid at this point in time. Though right now I am teaching her how to lead over others with the help of Yuri, though it is proving to be slightly difficult due to her past experiences.
Touch-Me couldn't help but fear he had accidently pried to deep, and so quickly made to change the topic. "I see.. well, seeing how I've asked a question of you, would you like to ask me one?" this was only natural, seeing as this was not only polite, but would feel uncomfortable if he kept prying into his life like this.
"Very well my lord. If I may be so bold, May I Ask why you had left us?"
Touch-Me didn't know why he was surprised. He should have expected this to be the first thing he was asked, which it was. Yet he still found himself to be shocked when it was. He honestly didn't know what to say here.
It would be bad to say something like "Oh, I just lost interest." How would the denizens of Nararick take such a answer. They would probably assume they weren't good enough and fall into depression, so that was a no go.
While he could make something up like "I was forcibly pulled away from this world." he would have to keep that narrative for the rest of his time here. And it wouldn't make sense to want to leave this world again if he supposedly didn't want to the first time. For all he knew that just might make things worse.
So in the end, he could only go with a half-truth. "well you see Sebas, YGGDRASIL was not my only life. I also had a family and other duties to attend to outside of it. I merely left because my responsibilities were growing over there, and I could no longer focus my attention with the great tomb, so I left it to the others." This way he could keep thing on both sides safe by telling them half the reason, as caring for his family took precedence over the game.
"I see! So you have a family outside of YGGDRASIL! Then where are they now! If a supreme being has taken a lover, then it is only natural that we treat them the same as all of you!"
Here comes the hard part "Well you see Sebas, I did not come here of my own volition.I was pulled into this world by forces unknown, and I am sorry but I may not stay here for long, as I need to find a way back. That way I can be with my family as opposed to being stranded in a unknown world."
While the butler of steel was known for being a very stoic individual, with facial expressions being very limited, even someone who had never met him before could clearly see the sadness on his face. "I...I see." Sebas's Tone had become radically different after hearing these news. So Touch-Me quickly made to cheer him up.
"Of... of course that doesn't mean I will be leaving right away. It may be months or even years before I go back!" After saying this, Touch-Me realized that in his attempt to smooth things over with Sebas, he had made himself depressed at the prospect of not seeing his family for that long. Or maybe in the worst case senario, Never again... No, that won't happen.
"Of course my lord, its just upsetting to known you will one day leave again. Of course if that is your wish then I will not object! We will use all of the power available to us to help find a way out of that is what you desire!" His voice seemed to be changing emotional states so rapidly, that one may think he was Bipolar at this point.
The air in the room became rather awkward for a few moments after this, as neither party knew what to say next. One party didn't want to be rude by speaking before the other, and the other wanted the other party to speak without him starting the conversation, which naturally, lead nowhere.
The conversation thus far seemed to be both enjoyable and difficult at the same time, Bittersweet, in a word. And after a small amount of time had past, Touch-Me had decided to continue this another time. "Well Sebas, as much as I would like to continue are conversation, Momonga-san will be calling a meeting in the throne room son, so it looks like we will have to postpone this for another time."
"Very well, if that is what you wish my lord. Then if you'll excuse me, I will be taking my leave." though It was clear that Sebas didn't want to end things there, he had obeyed, as it was a order from his creator. Leaving a mentally exhausted Touch-Me to simply think Momonga-san, how do you do it.
.
.
.
"My faithful guardians, I thank you for once again coming he as quick as you do. And for good reason. While I had mentioned his presence earlier, I would like to welcome Touch-Me back to Nazarick!" Signaling toward him with a gesture, he Allowed Touch-Me to make his entrance, and to all the guardians present, the way he moved to the dais was very regal, worthy of a supreme being, though Momonga was keenly aware of how he and Touch-Me felt about this, and thus, noticed the minor details that told him that touch me was nervous. To top it off, touch me didn't have his emotional suppression, which meant the pressure must surely be harder on him.
"Thank you for the warm welcome floor guardians. As you know, I am Touch-Me, and I would like to say I am truly grateful that you would all organize this ceremony just for my return." However, to Ainz's surprise, Touch-Me seemingly managed to say his lines without any warbling in his voice, nor slip-ups. He didn't know if it was because of his prior experience as a police officer, or if he was just naturally good at this due to his role playing of a hero.
"How could we do anything less! The return of the supreme ones should be top priority to any Nazarick denizen. Anyone who thinks otherwise must surely lack the proper attitude one should take with a supreme being!"
" I. Am. An. Agreement. With. Aura. Anyone. Who, Thinks. The. Return. Of. A. Supreme. One. Is. Not. Cause. For. Celebration. Does. Not. Belong. In. Nazarick."
After hearing these similar responses, Touch-Me looked over at Ainz, who seemed to be giving his best attempt at a See what I mean Face. While he had understood how loyal they all were when talking with Sebas, the sight still shocked him.
"Regardless, I am thankful to each and every one of you for all that you have done, and I hope that you continue what you all have been accomplishing!"
"Of course my lords. We the guardians shall pledge our utmost fidelity to you once more. This we vow."
"This we vow!"
After hearing Albedo's pledge, followed by the rest of the guardians, both of them had nothing left to say other than "Umu" and after hearing his re-coronation, both of them watched over the utterly exited guardians, and for the first time, both Ainz and the guardians both wondered the same thing.
Will the other supreme beings return as well?