Present Timeline (▼)
"…Quite lively," Shalltear remarked, exasperated, upon opening the study door.
The study's master sat in the center, left arm extended horizontally, bare from the shoulder in a short-sleeved shirt, muscles rippling. Solution held his palm to her chest, supporting his wrist and forearm. She wore the Pleiades' formal attire—revealing top and micro-mini maid outfit, far more provocative than her usual lady-like look.
Lupusregina stood beside her, right hand raised as if to chop, left holding a vial, her palm wet with its contents, likely applied to the man. This trio, stationed at E-Rantel's mansion, was typical, their odd poses aside.
Pandora's Actor stood before a blackboard, teaching the man, writing in a script Shalltear couldn't read. Most suspicious was Narberal, wielding a drawn longsword behind the man. As Pandora's Actor played Momon, her presence as Nabe wasn't odd, but the sword was.
Narberal glanced at Pandora's Actor. Shalltear's presence prompted caution. "No time to waste. Do it. I'll handle Shalltear if she goes wild," he said.
"Me, wild? Just because Pandora was created by Ainz-sama doesn't mean I'm some savage—" Shalltear began.
Slash! Thud!
In a flash, Narberal severed the man's arm at the root. Lupusregina applied hemostatic ointment to stop bleeding. Solution absorbed the arm instantly. No blood reached Shalltear.
"For a while, Aniki and I will act separately. So, we're harvesting parts as snacks—no, provisions—no, to not forget him. Also, souvenirs for Entoma," Solution explained.
"You okay with that?" Shalltear asked.
The man laughed dryly, his eyes vacant. No one expected him to falter from pain. "Entoma's with Demiurge?" Shalltear asked.
"Yes. I'll play a demon maid controlled by Demiurge's Jaldabaoth, opposing Ainz-sama. But a Greater Doppelgänger will take my form, so it's essentially a visit," Solution said.
The demon maids, controlled by Jaldabaoth, would be defeated by Ainz, freeing them to join the Sorcerer Kingdom. Some Pleiades would lend their forms for Ainz's glory, with Shizu, long stuck in Nazarick, set to shine. Demiurge orchestrated it all—Jaldabaoth's havoc, Ainz's salvation, and the Holy Kingdom's vassalage.
"I know, but isn't Solution's trip to Demiurge later?" Shalltear asked. The plan was shared in Nazarick; as a Floor Guardian, she was informed. The Holy Kingdom operation was distant, and Pandora's Actor's "no time" comment didn't add up.
"I've been ordered to return to my homeland," the man said.
"By Ainz-sama?" Shalltear asked.
"Albedo-sama," he replied.
"Oh? You're from the Kingdom, right? Heading to the capital?" Shalltear probed.
"Born in the Kingdom's capital, but Solution and I pose as a merchant family from the Empire. Ordered to go there."
Past Timeline (■)
To the man, Albedo was more than a boss—she was his savior, freeing him from a stone prison, a goddess of beauty. His loyalty was absolute; he'd kill anyone harboring ill will toward her, forcing repentance or destruction. When Albedo asked about unusual events, he spoke to amuse her, believing she'd enjoy it.
"Something unusual? Yuri Alpha, Lupusregina Beta, Solution Epsilon, and Narberal Gamma—four Pleiades—asked me to marry them," he said.
"What?" Albedo was stunned. A major issue, yet unreported.
"Why?" she demanded.
"Yuri Alpha said to take responsibility. I don't understand how responsibility ties to marriage, but it costs nothing, so I agreed," he explained.
Albedo's head throbbed. Yuri, so proper, implying intimacy. Marriage made sense, but he didn't grasp the connection. His values, shaped outside Nazarick, were alien—warped by an unorthodox life.
"Lupusregina Beta wants healthy babies. But marriage for that seems unnecessary. Can werewolves and humans even have children?" he asked.
"I don't know," Albedo admitted.
"I thought the same. Still, she insisted, so I agreed."
Albedo's headache worsened. Lupusregina's feelings were clear, yet he was oblivious. His lack of emotional finesse stemmed from captivity under that woman.
"Solution took the maids' gossip seriously, or thought young people living together implied marriage. Maids often said we suited each other. I'm grateful to Solution, so marriage as repayment seemed fair," he said.
Albedo's chest ached. Solution, who saw humans as food, seeking marriage showed deep affection. Yet he framed it as gratitude. Albedo's empathy, as Nazarick's symbol of mercy, made her pity them.
"Solution consulted Sebas about our marriage. He's asking Nazarick's views on human-servant unions," he added.
"Your idea?" Albedo asked.
"I suggested Sebas when she asked."
Cunning. Sebas, smitten with human Tsuare, couldn't oppose such unions. Even Demiurge, despite his rivalry, would ultimately agree for Nazarick's happiness.
"Narberal agrees with me. As Nabe with Momon, people assume things. She wants marriage to clarify we're not involved, protecting Momon's reputation," he said.
"Your idea too?" Albedo asked.
"Yes."
Narberal wasn't dim but wasn't subtle. She likely wanted marriage and used Momon's reputation as an excuse—his suggestion. Albedo recalled her own past comments about teaching Narberal "a woman's joy," which might've sparked feelings.
"Four marriages? What's your plan?" Albedo asked.
"Is polygamy banned in Nazarick?"
"Uh…"
"If it is, I'd marry Yuri in Carne Village, Lupusregina in Nazarick, Narberal in E-Rantel, and Solution in the Empire."
Albedo pressed her forehead. He'd planned a workaround.
"You slept with all four?" she asked.
"Slept?" he echoed.
"Sex!" she clarified.
"Yes."
"I get Solution and Narberal, but Yuri and Lupusregina? Any others?"
"Others I've slept with?"
"Yes!"
Many emerged. With maid Sixus, it was understandable—proximity tempted any man. He blushed, admitting it was to manage wet dreams. Albedo found it cute. With Shizu, it seemed accidental; her small frame raised questions. With Carne Village's Enri, married to Nfirea, it was bold, timing unclear.
As a succubus, Albedo felt no jealousy. Her chastity days were past; now, she was confident in her primacy among his lovers. His appeal to others elevated her status. Marriage talk startled but amused her. Curious, she wanted his view on marriage, ready to correct any odd notions. But he continued.
"Others…"
Present Timeline (▼)
"Aniki, stand there," Solution said, embracing him from behind. Her shapely leg morphed amorphously, coiling around his ankle. He wore shorts for the "zunbararin" process.
"Wait!" Shalltear stopped Narberal, longsword raised. Narberal's role was due to her minor Fighter class, enabling sword use.
"Solution wants meat, not blood, right? Then…" Shalltear gulped. She'd tasted his blood twice—once when Albedo introduced him to Ainz, losing herself to its flavor, and again when drenched in it, triggering blood frenzy. She craved a controlled taste.
"If you frenzy or rampage, I'll teleport you randomly outside E-Rantel. Still want to try, Bloodfallen?" Pandora's Actor challenged.
"Smart as expected! Narberal, let's go!" Shalltear urged.
"Understood."
Slash!
Solution's hold kept him upright. Lupusregina applied ointment; Shalltear caught the severed leg, blood dripping. Tilting it like a goblet, she sipped.
"...!!!" Shalltear collapsed, hands over her lips, overwhelmed.
"Shalltear-sama!?" they cried.
She ignored them, savoring the blood. Beyond delicious, it was blissful—profound, almost sensual. One sip brought ecstasy; another might unleash frenzy or climax. A vampire's ultimate delicacy, with ruin lurking.
"Ugh…" she moaned.
"Shalltear-sama, are you okay?" Solution asked.
"Solution, step back. If she frenzies…" Pandora warned.
"Wait! What did you do!? It wasn't this good before! This blood could make a vampire weep!" Shalltear exploded, her pale face flushed, glaring with complex emotion.
"Maybe better food since living here? Far superior to before," he suggested.
"Grrr!" Shalltear growled, predatory. Sucking his blood would turn him into a vampire, ending her supply. Solution blocked her.
"I know… if I turned Aniki, I couldn't drink this anymore," Shalltear lamented.
"Aniki?" he questioned.
"Oh!" Shalltear covered her mouth.
"You call him Aniki too!" she shot at Solution.
"Uh…" Solution froze, hands off him, though he didn't fall, half-absorbed.
"Continue?" Narberal asked, unfazed.
"Wait. Got a vial for the blood?" Shalltear asked.
"Plenty for potions. Take some?" Pandora offered.
Everyone agreed—one sip was that divine. "For my Vampire Brides. They've earned it," Shalltear said.
Shock rippled through. Shalltear's harsh treatment of her Vampire Brides was known; Nazarick's power spawned them endlessly. Yet, she'd gift them this blood.
In the past, Shalltear, eager to please Ainz, was reckless, often checked by her Vampire Brides. Though she saw them as disposable, she never killed them for their advice, accepting it despite her frustration. Ainz, moved by her growth, praised her. Now, sharing this blood showed further maturity, later stirring Ainz deeply, triggering his emotion suppression.
"There are preserved vials in the atelier. I can't move—Solution, can you?" the man asked.
"I'll bring them all," she replied.
The "zunbararin" continued, Solution filling vials with fresh blood. Shalltear, lost in thought, ignored the scent.
Despite her ditzy reputation, Shalltear wasn't foolish. Smirking wickedly, she hatched a plan. Albedo's meal ended; Shalltear's dessert began.
"Why's Shalltear-sama grinning?" Lupusregina whispered.
"Shh! She's dreaming awake. Don't disturb her," Solution hushed.
"You two! Stop disrupting the lesson!" Pandora snapped.
"Sorry!" they replied.
What Shalltear dreamed, and whether it would come true, no one knew.
Past Timeline (■)
Albedo, a succubus, felt no jealousy over the man's affairs, confident in his loyalty. But an exception loomed. "Lana will likely contact me soon," he said.
"What?" Albedo froze.
Her mind raced. (That woman? Contacting him? Why? To take him back, obviously. Think, Albedo. He came to me during the Gehenna operation in the capital. Demiurge didn't storm the castle; he couldn't escape alone. Someone took him. Who knew of him? Ainz-sama, Demiurge, me. She knows I took him. Steal him back? No, don't panic. Why does he know she'll contact him? Is he secretly in touch? No, he wouldn't tell me if he was!)
Her sharp mind worked despite her frozen state. Twenty minutes passed before she spoke. "How do you know she'll contact you?"
He'd explained, but repeated, "Blue Rose visited E-Rantel. The Kingdom and Sorcerer Kingdom are enemies; adventurers don't act under state orders, yet they came. Likely a request. Lakyus, Blue Rose's leader, a noble's daughter, can refuse unwanted jobs. Only Lana, with personal ties and higher status, could compel her. Solution and I met Blue Rose at E-Rantel's Shining Gold Inn. Lakyus likely reported us to Lana, who's obsessed with me and will make contact."
Albedo knew of Blue Rose's visit—Ainz monitored them, and reports reached her. But she hadn't heard of this encounter, likely dismissing it as trivial. "When will she come?" she asked.
"Not sure if Lana herself will, but considering Blue Rose's report and travel time, not tomorrow, but within a month or two."
Albedo decided. Losing him was worse than forgoing meals or intimacy. "Leave E-Rantel," she ordered.
"What?"
"If she thinks you're here, get out. Go to the Empire."
Nazarick was safest, but Albedo had rejected Ainz's offer to house him there, insisting on E-Rantel. Reversing now would disrespect Ainz's mercy, a painful realization of her folly. Carne Village was too close; he'd be found. The Empire, a Sorcerer Kingdom ally, was safer—Kingdom adventurers, including Lana, a princess, couldn't enter.
"Why?" he asked, questioning unlike blindly loyal Nazarick servants.
"You sent Demiurge that report, right?" Albedo snapped. "Wiping out humanity? Ainz-sama was pained by it!"
"What!?"
"Your report reached Ainz-sama. He doesn't want humanity extinct, yet you…! I was scolded for it!"
"No… but—"
"No excuses! Your narrow-mindedness needs fixing. Learn diverse cultures in the Empire. It's for your own good!"
"Understood."
"Leave E-Rantel within three days. Absolute order."
"Understood."
"Repeat."
"I'll leave E-Rantel within three days for the Empire."
Present Timeline (▼)
"Human extinction? Are you stupid? You'd die too!" Shalltear scoffed.
"Not all—hundreds of thousands would remain. My death doesn't matter," he replied.
"Aniki," Solution interjected, her gaze sharp, joined by Lupusregina and Narberal's piercing stares.
"It's not a real plan, but I was ordered to learn diversity in the Empire," he clarified.
"Empire? Aura might meddle. Annoying," Shalltear mused.
Solution returned with a large box of empty vials. The "zunbararin" resumed, Solution filling them with blood. Shalltear, deep in thought, smirked. Albedo's meal was over; her dessert began.