The Royal Residence in E-Rantel.
An incredibly beautiful girl with long black hair, clad in a brown traveling cloak that completely concealed her figure, approached the guards protecting the passage to the castle.
"Good day. Please inform Master Gazef Stronoff that Lord Zellos has prepared the transit and awaits the embassy."
"V-very well, one moment, my lady," the sentry replied with a short bow. He had been briefed in advance by the Warrior Captain personally, and the ladies of Blue Rose had followed up with their own set of instructions later.
The wait proved to be slightly longer than the promised minute, but ten minutes later, the delegation appeared in the courtyard. Thirty soldiers in parade armor polished to a mirror sheen flanked a small crowd of officials and nobles of varying ranks. At the center of the procession moved two figures: a somewhat stout and short young man in an ornate outfit, and a tall, fit nobleman whose attire, though less flamboyant, left a seasoned observer with no doubt as to the wearer's wealth and lineage. Walking at a respectful distance from His Highness Second Prince Zanac and one of the Six Great Nobles of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Marquis Raeven, was the Captain of the Royal Guard, Gazef Stronoff. Bringing up the rear were five golden-haired girls dressed in the armor and gear of adventurers.
Catching sight of Narberal's familiar face at the gates, Evileye winced and tried to pull her hood down even further, even though it already reached nearly to her chin. The scheme she had been dragged into seemed more and more hopeless with every passing hour, and now, seeing the face of Lord Zellos's assistant again, the last sprouts of hope withered away.
Failure and disgrace were guaranteed. She had been doomed from the start... But it was too late to back out now; they had already done it.
Praise be to courtly conventions and Blue Rose's status as hired security rather than full members of the embassy—she had managed to fight off the dress, but that had done little to save the former princess. Her friends, caught in a frenzy, had rejected her entire wardrobe (if one could call a set of clothes she hadn't really taken off in twenty years, cleaned solely by magic, a wardrobe) and, despite all protests and screams about the power spent on enchantments, forced her to throw those ragged hand-me-downs away. In exchange, they had strapped her into one of Tina's spare outfits, tailored to her figure and... equipped with fabric padding in places where Evileye was significantly outmatched by the ninja girl's size. Part of the sorceress could even agree the trade wasn't so bad; after all, she was the one who enchanted her friends' standard gear, and she did it better than her own, as she was used to relying on personal magical skill rather than the quality of items. But... the ninja sisters wore clothes that were far too revealing! Bare shoulders, bare stomach, back, hips from the sides, calves... and it didn't matter that they were covered in mesh! Mesh is not clothing! But all the girl had managed to win was the right to order and wear a new cloak over all that shame, which she now huddled into, afraid to peek even the tip of her nose out.
For now, it was enough—no one among the people in the castle had noticed a thing, since she had always wrapped herself in a cloak that hid her body to her heels anyway; the cloak had simply gone from tattered and old to new and neat. But Evileye knew this couldn't last forever. The moment she mounted a horse, entered a battle, or even spoke to someone face-to-face without hiding her hands under the cloak, the absence of her mask would be the least of her problems. The complete change in... undergarments would be obvious, because her mind now refused to perceive what Tia and Tina wore as anything else. And to think she hadn't considered their appearance anything special before...
"Lady Narberal," Stronoff stepped forward and offered a slight bow, "we are ready."
"Then," the girl touched her index and middle fingers to her temple, "if you please," she gestured, and with a faint crackle, space itself tore open, revealing to the ambassadors a black-and-crimson wound in reality. "The Gate is open." Setting an example, the maid stepped boldly forward.
"Do you know what that is?" Lakyus whispered to her.
"It can't be..." Evileye replied, swallowing the lump in her throat. "That... it looks like the legendary tenth-tier spell, Gate—the most reliable teleportation magic in the world, with no distance limits and nearly one hundred percent accuracy. According to legend, only the Six Gods and the Eight Greed Kings possessed it..."
"...Not bad," Gagaran delivered her verdict after a pause, while the other members of the delegation exchanged wary glances.
The wait did not drag on. Showing no fear, Gazef Stronoff was the first to step into the portal, and the rest of the guards followed, forcing the nobles and officials to move. The humans jostled clumsily, slowing the pace, but eventually, only the members of Blue Rose remained before the dark surface of the opening.
Being so close to a spell pulled straight from the pages of myth and legend made the two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old sorceress completely forget her appearance and all her agonizing worries for a time—but only until it was her turn to take the decisive step into the unknown. Every thought and fear crashed down on the girl's shoulders with renewed force, causing her raised foot to freeze and drop back down. Her right hand instinctively began fumbling at her belt in a futile attempt to find the cherished enchanted mask that had faithfully hidden her face, eyes, and true voice from outsiders for so many years. She wanted to run, to abandon the stupid idea, to hide from the coming humiliation. As for the job... well, the girls could handle it, she wasn't that necessary there, and she could always find some excuse for the prince's questions later...
The new idea had almost completely taken hold of the sorceress; she only had to voice it aloud and teleport back to the guest quarters, find her old costume, and forget this madness. But... but the twins, sensing something was wrong because of the delay, exchanged wordless glances behind her back and, simply grabbing Evileye by the arms, dragged her through the portal in one motion.
"Ee-ee!" the vampire squeaked muffledly on the other side. Fortunately, the people who had passed through earlier were too absorbed in their own emotions to notice the blunder. "What was that for?!"
"Helping our little sister," the ninjas replied in unison from both sides. As usual, their tones and faces were devoid of any hint of emotion.
"I didn't ask!" Evileye huffed, hiding deeper in her hood.
"You did," Tina stated definitively, offering an alternative opinion.
"Very loudly," Tia supported her.
"Sister Evileye is shy," the twins announced in unison again, and this time a hint of something like sympathy—albeit a strange kind—flickered in their voices.
The girl once known as the terrifying Vampire Lord Landfall remained silent, hunching her shoulders even more. This finally moved her to look around.
The Royal Embassy huddled on an unfamiliar, sun-drenched meadow. In the distance to the west and south, strips of forest could barely be discerned; to the east, the close walls of some fortress were visible. And between them and those walls... Evileye gasped.
They were being met by an entire army of the dead. Clad in black steel that practically glowed with the magic imbued within it, dead warriors saluted the guests. Thousands of bone archers with weapons that would have brought honor to the elite marksmen of Re-Estize; thousands of warriors in plate armor superior to that worn by the Captain of the Royal Guard. Behind these warriors stood actual Bone Dragons clad in faintly glowing Ethereal Armor. Immune to magic and clearly reinforced against physical attacks, these monsters alone could grind several thousand soldiers into dust.
"I-Incredible," Marquis Raeven swallowed somewhere up ahead, his voice booming like a fireball explosion in the reigning, frightened silence. "Is this Lord Zellos's guard?" he asked Narberal, who was waiting patiently for their reaction.
"This? No," the girl smiled slightly, pride clear in her voice. "This is merely a guard of honor, nothing more."
"I see..." the Prince murmured.
"Come, the Master is waiting," Narberal led them further. After five minutes of leisurely walking through a legion of undead frozen in salute, they reached the "walls," behind which lay an entire complex of buildings. The central one resembled either the mausoleum of ancient kings or a Senate building.
Behind the wide-flung gates stood more saluting skeletons, but these were clad in silver-sheened armor of pure mithril. Evileye knew exactly what that metal looked like; only adventurers of Orichalcum rank or higher could afford armor made from it. There were hundreds of these skeletons, all armed with round shields and hand-and-a-half swords that shone with infused magic. The guard of honor stretched to the steps of the main building, where, as they approached, a new Gate opened.
Stepping through them was not even a hundredth as frightening as the first. Shock and curiosity pushed all other emotions out of the sorceress's mind; she walked as if in a trance. And now they were entering the Hall... A vast chamber finished in black marble and gold met them with the radiance of a mysterious light from the depths of magnificent, giant chandeliers. They hung beneath the ceiling like man-made suns and, as if in mockery of the onlookers, were encircled by a band holding nine candlesticks where tongues of living fire danced brightly. Balcony galleries stretched along the walls, their front edges resting on majestic columns that reached into the heights lost in darkness. And there were several of these galleries! From her position, Evileye saw at least three tiers, each the height of a full floor, from which one could observe everything happening in the hall. And the banners... Each column held a bracket with a crimson flag bordered with gold ribbon, upon which a crest embroidered with gold thread glittered. Every crest was unique, never repeating once. A soft red carpet cushioned the guests' footsteps, leading to the far end of the hall, and along this carpet stood another "guard of honor" of the dead.
Gold-sheened armor and banners raised in lifeless hands loomed over the humans, creating an atmosphere that was both ceremonial and terrifying in its deadly subtext. But here were not only the now-familiar skeletons, but also creatures whose kind the sorceress struggled to identify. Massive figures of undead, at least two human heights tall, covered in dry, blackened skin, wearing black plate and carrying massive tower shields of thick steel that were nearly as large as they were. These creatures held broad two-handed flamberges in one hand and could undoubtedly cleave a knight and his warhorse in two with a single swing.
"Welcome to the tenth floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick," a calm male voice drifted from the front of the delegation. "By the will of Lord Zellos, I have been commanded to escort you to the Sovereign's throne. Please, pay no mind to the Death Knights; they are here only to show the proper respect to His Majesty's envoys."
The speaker was a silver-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard, dressed in a sharp black suit similar to those worn far to the south. Narberal, who had escorted them until then, was nowhere to be seen, but Evileye only noted this in the back of her mind, staring wide-eyed at this... creature. This old man's aura breathed a calm, confident power, so vast that the girl once again felt herself standing before an invincible monster. But this power was not like Master Zellos's; it was not the power of deadly magic, but something else—primal, light, and serene as a snow-covered plain.
"On behalf of His Highness Prince Zanac Varleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, allow us to express our admiration for the reception and the grandeur of this meeting," the Marquis replied, holding himself together only by a serious effort of will. A single bead of sweat trickling down his temple was the only sign of his agitation caused by the presence of such an undead horde.
"Please proceed, so that you may present your credentials to the Master." The butler stepped aside and bowed slightly, gesturing for them to follow.
The moment the delegation took its first step, he moved forward as well, either escorting or guarding the ambassadors. Though there was no hint of threat or disrespect in his gestures, his mere presence was overwhelming, even if not in the same way as the undead warriors.
Another ten steps, and the ambassadors saw a dais ahead upon which sat a monumental stone throne, its back rising a good fifteen meters above the floor. But even it was not the peak of the composition; that was a dominating piece of black rock, seemingly fused with a vertically placed oval slab twenty meters long, rising above everyone in the hall as an asymmetrical monument to the primordial elements. The pedestals surrounding the dais with multi-meter jagged pieces of obsidian curved hungrily toward the center of the hall, involuntarily bringing to mind the claws of a predator, served as the finishing touch to the scene.
The sounds of the embassy's footsteps were swallowed by the thick pile of the carpet, creating a sense of otherworldly silence broken only by the rustle of clothing, which added to the unreality. In this setting, no one dared to whisper, and even Lakyus and Gagaran walked forward with deathly pale faces, unable to tear their eyes from the terrifying splendor surrounding them.
Finally, the journey ended, and the ambassadors froze before the throne where sat... no, not the Caster Zellos who had casually sipped milk in a tavern and tossed compliments to the girls of Blue Rose in passing. Now on the throne sat a Sovereign who bore that title by right.
Evileye caught herself thinking that she very much wanted to drop to one knee, like a vassal before a liege, and... as she noted out of the corner of her eye, many in the embassy were struggling with similar urges. She managed to suppress the impulse only by biting her lip until it hurt and tearing her gaze away from the figure on the throne. Especially since that figure was not the only one on the dais.
She recognized the beautiful, dark-haired Narberal immediately, though now the girl appeared in an unfamiliar black dress with silver embroidery. The dress lacked the billowing court skirt, lace, and ribbon decorations, but if anyone had dared to call it common, or worse, peasant-like, even a girl as far removed from balls and social entertainment as a caster bearing the curse of vampirism for over two centuries would have laughed in their face. But it was not the dress that caught Evileye's attention, but nine other figures frozen to the left and right of the throne. Five stunning beauties for every taste, dressed the same as the mage's assistant she knew. A silver-haired girl in an outfit that was modest compared to the others. Two twin dark elves, a boy and a girl, in some sort of hunting gear. And... a dazzling, incredible, insanely beautiful lady in a white dress, standing at the throne's right hand. Her appearance was so perfect that even Lakyus and the Golden Princess Renner seemed like common urchins by comparison. Furthermore, actual horns grew from her head, and a pair of wings with black feathers grew from her back like a tail...
She was a demon!!! And everyone there by the throne was a terrifying monster!!! The young elf twins, a short girl with butterfly wings behind her back, a tanned smiling beauty with ginger wolf ears on her head, a stern brunette in glasses, and... a little girl with silver hair looking straight at her with a sweet smile that revealed a neat, sharp fang from under her upper lip!
Their collective auras were so saturated with overwhelming, invincible power that Evileye didn't understand how all her companions could still fail to notice it and remain conscious. She herself was saved only by the sense of Master Zellos's proximity, whose power rose like a black pillar even above these impossible monsters among monsters...
Same place and time. The one sitting on the High Throne.
Evileye has retreated into herself. I understand how she must feel right now; I went through the same thing during my first days after the transition. Of course, I didn't have such a gap in power, and I had some support from knowing the NPCs were loyal, but unlike her, I had a very clear idea of what kind of sick freaks inhabited Nazarick. Still, I believed in the miniature sorceress's resilience; two hundred and fifty years of experience should count for something and help its owner survive the shock. And if not... after all, I have experience pulling powerful girls out of hysterics now. Very fresh experience.
Basically, I had some hope that I could handle Evileye's shock as well. And to be honest, what was there to handle? The revelation of Nazarick's power doesn't even come close to the purely personal and life-defining experiences my Guardians had.
But I digress. Meanwhile, the kingdom's delegation began to show signs of life, and some officials from the middle of the formation, at the Marquis's gesture, held out two beautifully decorated scrolls to Sebas, tied with golden cord and bearing massive lumps of hanging wax seals. My butler accepted them with a bow and stepped aside, while Albedo took the floor:
"Lord Zellos, His Highness Second Prince Zanac Varleon Igana Ryle Vaiself and Marquis Elias Brandt Dale Raeven of the Re-Estize Kingdom wish to meet with you."
"I thank you for this visit." Giving the demoness a faint nod, I looked at the humans frozen before me. "I am Zellos, master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick." Now it was the ambassadors' turn to go through the formalities...
"Please accept our sincere gratitude for the warm welcome, Lord Zellos," Marquis Raeven did not disappoint the expectations based on Sebas and Demiurge's forecasts of how official meetings proceed, as he bowed respectfully.
"I have already had the pleasure of interacting with representatives of your people and am pleased to begin the first official negotiations with the Court of Re-Estize."
"On behalf of my King, His Majesty Lanposa III, and his son Prince Zanac, let me assure you of the friendly and cordial intentions that brought us to this meeting, and express hope for a happy and mutually beneficial conclusion."
"I share your hope, Marquis, and in turn, I count on you and His Highness understanding all the circumstances that predetermined our acquaintance."
"Perhaps some details elude us, but we will certainly exert every effort to overcome this regrettable misunderstanding."
"It is heartening to hear that our aspirations in this matter are unanimous. In turn, I wish to note that this is the first time anyone not belonging to Nazarick has entered these halls; therefore, I ask in advance that you forgive and not take as an insult any misunderstandings that may arise because of this."
"There is no reason for you to apologize, Lord Zellos; His Highness and I perfectly understand how hasty and unexpected this entire situation is. Naturally, we also ask for your indulgence regarding any potential violations on our part of your world's traditions due to ignorance."
"Such a balanced position from the Re-Estize Kingdom will undoubtedly have the best effect on our neighborly relations. I hope the presence among my servants of those who are not of the human race will not shake it? Rumors have reached me that the human states in this world do not get along particularly well with other races, and I would not want regrettable disagreements, to which Nazarick has no connection, to cloud our introduction."
"I understand your concern, Lord Zellos," the Marquis nodded, becoming increasingly covered in perspiration. "Regrettably, it is not always possible to find mutual understanding or resolve disputed issues through civilized negotiations, and this often leads to shameful conflicts. But please do not worry about this—His Majesty Lanposa III understands perfectly that guests from another world cannot possibly have any involvement in those misunderstandings and incidents that might have taken place with inhabitants of our world who resemble them. Without a doubt, His Highness Prince Zanac and I entirely share our King's position on this matter."
"Your words gladden my heart. And yet, I would like to ask one of your assistants to provide us, during the main part of the negotiations, with a list of those species and races against whom there is prejudice in human lands, or some form of legal restriction, as well as a brief description of the reasons that led to such a situation. I see many worthy men in your retinue and am convinced that among them are people sufficiently competent in this matter so that we might avoid unnecessary misunderstandings in the future. I hope this request does not seem too tactless? I assure you, it is prompted solely by concern for our mutual well-being and a desire to avoid regrettable accidents."
"An extremely sensible suggestion!" the aristocrat tried to feign enthusiasm. "I shall personally see to it that the most complete information is provided to you!"
"I count on you in this matter, Marquis. However, you must be weary from the journey? Sebas will escort you to the prepared guest apartments, unless, of course, you have any special requests?"
"Thank you, Lord Zellos; your hospitality is beyond praise, and we shall gladly accept such a generous offer," the man bowed.
"Excellent," I turned my head to the butler. "Sebas, escort the guests to their quarters and provide His Highness and the Marquis with all possible assistance in settling in."
"It shall be done, My Lord." The dragonoid respectfully lowered his head, touching his hand to his chest, then straightened and addressed the guests: "Please follow me."
Less than a minute later, the crowd of people, uncertain and tense, constantly glancing at the undead, filed into one of the side corridors, not even noticing they had lost one combatant. Evileye remained frozen where she had stood since the beginning of the audience, her gaze glassy, and her friends, alas, were not currently in a state to help the girl. To be honest, they had all phased out; they moved more on autopilot than on the prompts of the mind and, simply yielding to the herd instinct, drifted away with the crowd, walking as if in a half-dream. But the little vampire remained, frozen before the throne like a rabbit before a boa constrictor.
"Yuri, invite this young lady to my office," I said quietly to Alpha. "Albedo, Shalltear, see to how our guests are settled, then come as well, but no rush; I will need a report from you. The rest of you—proceed according to plan."
"Yes, Zellos-sama!" my retinue replied in unison.
Keno Fasris Invern. Vampire Princess.
"Miss Evileye," an unfamiliar voice pulled her from the black abyss, "the official part of the meeting is over." It turned out that the girl in stern glasses, one of those who had been on the dais, had approached her.
"Eh?" Only then did the sorceress realize that the delegation had gone somewhere, and there was no longer anyone on the throne.
"Lord Zellos has asked to invite you for a private conversation," the stranger informed her with a polite bow.
"A-ah?.." The vampire's thoughts were stuck like a wagon wheel in mud and simply wouldn't turn. Only the perfectly peaceful behavior of the surrounding monsters kept her from falling into an abyss of hysteria.
"Please follow me," the woman bowed politely again. She looked older than Narberal but, like her, possessed flawless beauty.
"Ee-ee..." "I'm going to be eaten, eaten!!!"
"There is no need to be so worried. The Master is very kind and has a high opinion of you, having singled you out from the rest."
Gulping down the lump in her throat, Evileye managed something like a convulsive nod and walked on stiff legs behind her guide. The path to Lord Zellos's quarters did not register in her memory at all; there were apparently walls and other things around, but all the girl's attention was focused on her racing heart and a heap of abstract but undoubtedly terrifying images filling her head. When and how she ended up in a spacious, long hall with a massive desk at the very end escaped her consciousness, and only when the beautiful dark-haired girl in glasses said something, then listened to the answer, bowed, and left, did the vampire princess finally find the strength to focus her attention on the world around her and the being sitting at the desk.
"Hello, Evileye," Lord Zellos greeted her softly. "I hope you will forgive me for such a heavy meeting? I did not wish to subject you to the trial of such traumatic impressions, but I did so so that no unspoken words would remain between us, though I am sorry you had to endure it."
"Y-you have nothing to apologize for, Zellos-sama!" As soon as she realized what was being said to her, the sorceress panicked. He was so sensitive and kind to her; he worried about her feelings! And she... she... she had dared to fall apart and disgrace herself in his eyes!
"No, I do. I know you can feel the power of other beings, and I could have given my servants artifacts to hide their power or cast a corresponding spell, but I did not, and for that I ask forgiveness," the Caster insisted in an apologetic but brook-no-argument tone. "To put your mind at ease, I promise that neither your friends, the delegation, nor you yourself are in any danger in my home. Also, let me assure you that I hold no prejudice against vampires... especially ones as charming as you."
"Ch-charming?" Evileye froze for a moment. It seemed to her that He, just now, had called her charming... That meant, almost beautiful... Those were related concepts, right? But... but... But no! He couldn't have! She imagined it. Definitely, surely, absolutely imagined it... Yes! It was all because of her nerves! She was having auditory hallucinations! That explained everything, because it was impossible that he, surrounded by such dazzling and lovely girls, would consider her plain child's body something worthy of attention.
"Yes, charming," the man of her dreams confirmed as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. The former princess had to exercise all of her titanic will to not shriek in the most disgraceful manner and try to throw herself at him, and... what was supposed to follow that mysterious "and," the girl only imagined vaguely, but it was definitely good. Very good! And therefore, restraining herself was very difficult.
"Ah, Lord Zellos!" Dreams were coming true. Her chosen one had nothing against her nature and had called her charming. Not Tina or Tia, not their beautiful leader, but her! "Mrr-rr, Zellos-sama-aa..."
"..." A heavy sigh came from the man, like someone faced with something habitually hopeless. That quiet sound served as a good substitute for a bucket of ice water down her collar.
"P-pardon me," the ancient sorceress lowered her gaze. She felt unbearably ashamed, as if she had traveled back over two hundred years and a stern governess was scolding her for an incomplete assignment. No! Even worse! What would Zellos-sama think of her now? And she had wanted to ask to be his apprentice... who needs such a flighty apprentice? Despair sank its claws into her heart, making it freeze once more.
"It is quite alright," the man smiled, and hope beat in her chest again, "it's just that your reaction very much resembles the ecstasies of the other... members of my family... mostly the female part."
"Family? Do you mean your daughter?" That short vampire girl, somewhat similar to her but many times stronger and more dangerous. The memory of that pure white skin, queenly posture, and proud gaze tipped the imaginary scales again, sending Evileye into an abyss of despair and hopelessness. "No-no-no, she is Lord Zellos's daughter, they can't have anything like that, no-no!" As if to make it worse, Captain Gazef's words came to mind—that the daughter was adopted and hoped to receive a ring from her "father"... Furthermore, he had that beautiful demon beside him and... and Lady Narberal and several other insanely beautiful girls!
"Her as well," the mage confirmed her worst fears. "Though 'daughter' is not quite the right definition," he said, driving the final nail into the coffin of her hopes.
"I-I see..." the princess slumped.
"I would prefer 'creation,'" the master of the office continued, not noticing (or pretending not to notice) her reaction.
"Creation?" She didn't understand.
"Yes. Everyone you saw today was created by me," the mage smiled at something. "Not without the help of many assistants, but it was I who placed the sparks of soul within them," his companion informed her of the creation of a True Miracle as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather. "Only," he sighed, "those assistants were..." he grimaced. "Well, we were all young and carefree then, and it was more of a joke than real, far-reaching plans. But now we have what we have. Beings possessing vast power and fanatically loyal to me, but at the same time lacking any significant life experience or wisdom. They do not recognize concepts of 'right' and 'wrong,' 'good' and 'evil.' Oh, you have no idea how hard it is to convince a True Vampire that turning everyone indiscriminately into filler for a Blood Pool is a bad thing."
"Eep!" The girl imagined it very well. Having felt for herself what Thirst was and how hard it was in the beginning. "You... you... who are you?"
"I? A God," the being sitting before her replied calmly. "This is not boastfulness or a sense of self-grandeur. It is my nature. The God of Magic and Death. Though once I was a human. And a mage."
"A-a... mneh-ee... uyem," Evileye replied very intelligibly and diplomatically, her head devoid of a single coherent thought, replaced only by a tight knot of emotions, "ykh?"
"No, I was not deceiving anyone, and everything I said before to Gazef and the others is true, just... without unnecessary details."
"A-ah... why did you decide to tell me those details?" the sorceress found the strength to ask, feeling everything inside her itching, turning, tickling, and performing hundreds of other strange actions that caused her body to shake with a violent tremor.
"There are several reasons. And I have already voiced the first one."
"Ah? When?"
"When I said that you are—charming," the man smiled at her, and her heart skipped a beat once more. What he said was terrifying. And thrilling. It turned her entire world upside down, but... she hardly cared, for the one she had fallen in love with at first sight had called her beautiful for the third time now! The mind of an experienced mage still tried to fight back, even hinting that a being calling himself the God of Death, whose domain included vampires, could surely influence her somehow—and if he were also the God of Magic, to which she had dedicated her entire life... but she immediately found arguments against such foul thoughts. Had Lord Zellos truly wished to influence or subjugate her, he wouldn't have told her all this—there simply would have been no point.
"Y-you... like me too. Very much!" she forced out, after which she realized what she had said. Shaken to the very depths of her being by an internal scream, she hid her burning face in her hands in horror. She passionately desired to sink through the earth or simply run far, far away.
"Mmm, then perhaps you will stop being so formal with me?" the man of her dreams continued to smile. All she could do was nod frantically in response, forgetting how to breathe. "Hmm, I see things are complicated here..." Raising his right hand, he touched his temple and froze for a few moments, after which the entrance door opened and an unremarkable girl with short-cropped hair in a maid's uniform entered the office. Or rather, she was "unremarkable" by local standards, but Evileye was ready to swear—this green-eyed servant would easily rank among the top hundred beauties of the kingdom.
"If you please, Master, my lady," the girl placed a tray on the table with a bow.
"Thank you, Fuaro," Lord Zellos nodded to her after the girl had arranged the food and drinks on the table. In response, the blonde maid flushed crimson and, biting her lip, bowed quickly before retreating with the tray.
This brief scene struck the vampire princess's heart like a painful needle, but before she could work herself up again, the man of her dreams gave an inviting wave of his hand.
"Help yourself, and meanwhile, allow me to tell you about the other reasons."
"The others?" The vampire, lost in her thoughts, didn't immediately realize what he was talking about but quickly snapped to attention. "Y-yes, of course, forgive me."
"I did ask," the God of Death chuckled, standing up to pour a dark-crimson, oily-glimmering liquid into her glass. Keno Fasris Invern swallowed nervously.
"I-I-I don't drink blood!"
"Blood?" He raised an eyebrow. "Actually, this is pomegranate juice..." She had never felt like such a fool... no, perhaps never. "But let us return to the reasons for this conversation." Proving his perfection and magnanimity once again, Lord Zellos acted as if the awkward moment had never happened and returned to the topic.
"Yes?"
"The thing is... I need a critic," he took a sip from his glass. Watching the man, the vampire took a sip of the juice as well. It was sweet, refreshing, and cold, as if it had just been taken from an icebox. For this situation, she admitted, it was perfect.
"Wait a second, what does he need?"
"A critic? Like a theater critic?"
"Almost," the God smiled, making the princess's heart flutter once more. "You see, the trouble is that my creations perceive any action of mine as a Revelation from Above. And they never doubt them. This is certainly flattering, but not only does such 'communication' not lead to much growth, it also fails to let me see my mistakes. From there, it's a short step to becoming convinced of one's own exceptionalism and infallibility."
"B-but aren't gods like that?"
"As practice shows," Zellos chuckled, "entities convinced of their own exceptionalism tend to die quite suddenly, often due to their own stupidity and belief in that very exceptionalism. The history of your Six Great Gods is clear proof of that, as are the Eight Greed Kings. The fact is," he took a sip of juice, in no hurry to step back and take his place at the desk, "that I am truly not the best ruler or politician. These things never interested me, and I created my home in the form of a tomb to retreat from the world rather than participate in its politics. Magic—that is my passion. But after the transfer, circumstances changed, and now I could really use an advisor who can help sort everything out and avoid mistakes that could lead to great trouble for the surrounding lands. And I am offering you the chance to become that very advisor."
"Me? To you? Advice? G-giving it... to you?"
"Yes. As I already told Gazef Stronoff, in my world there were enough beings of a power level comparable to mine. I was on good terms with some, never crossed paths with others, and some would have killed me with great pleasure to seize the results of my labor. In fact, all the defensive systems of Nazarick and most of its inhabitants were created against the designs of the latter. Nabe, Shalltear, Sebas, and the rest—they were all created for battle and are poorly oriented in other aspects of existence. But while over there," the man tilted his head vaguely to the side, "it didn't matter, here it could create massive problems for the surrounding lands."
"I-is it because of their power?" the sorceress began to understand the situation, gripping her glass tighter to keep her hands from shaking. The chill of fear and the butterflies in her stomach were so tangled in the girl's perception that it seemed if she let go of the saving glass, she would immediately collapse in convulsions, or worse—faint right in front of Master Zellos like some impressionable court fool.
"Correct," the most handsome man in the world nodded. "Previously, Nazarick was located in the center of impassable enchanted marshes, very far from the nearest cities and villages, yet various incidents still occurred. But there they weren't too dangerous; had one of my servants gone on a rampage in someone else's domain, they could have been stopped. Perhaps not easily, but certainly without massive casualties for the population. Here, however, any of the Floor Guardians is enough to destroy an entire country, and they..." The God sighed, "have a very poor grasp of the concepts of 'good' and 'evil,' and they absolutely do not know how to restrain their combat impulses."
"That's terrible..." A vivid picture rose before Evileye's eyes of these impossibly strong monsters going outside and beginning to act like the Demon Gods. After all, neither the Thirteen Heroes nor thirteen thousand others could stop them...
"Yes, and the worst part is that I cannot completely close myself off from the world, if only because the world will find me one way or another. But I repeat: I am not the best ruler or diplomat. Furthermore, living as a hermit surrounded by my servants has made me... not exactly callous, but I might not immediately realize that certain actions and behaviors common to my servants might be beyond the pale for ordinary people. And that is exactly why I need someone who can look at everything with a fresh eye and point out unacceptable actions in time."
"S-such as what?"
"For example, if I had ordered my servants to find such an assistant themselves, they would have simply kidnapped them... at best. And along the way, they would have lectured them to death on how to behave, how to breathe, and where to look in my presence. Most likely, with the active use of torture and charm magic during the instruction."
"That's monstrous!" Evileye was horrified for the nth time that day.
"That is exactly why I did not do that," the mage reassured her. "However, that doesn't mean I will be able to see other mistakes like that one."
"But why me? I don't know anything about diplomacy or management either!" Every fiber of the fallen kingdom's princess protested the thought of refusing her beloved, but she couldn't agree, knowing her own incompetence. Better he be disappointed in her now than she fail him and disappoint him later... That is...
"Aaaaah!!!" From the internal scream of realization, the glass in the girl's hands shook slightly. "He'll be disappointed in me either way! Why did I say that?!! What do I do now?! But... but... the second disappointment is still worse, because I would be failing him! But I don't want him to be disappointed in me! Anything but that! What to do?! What should I do?!"
"However, you are a vampire," the man smiled gently and... and placed his hand on her shoulder! At this turn of events, all the shaking vanished instantly, and Evileye's body went rigid. "You know what it's like to be a monster in the eyes of humans," Lord Zellos continued, as if noticing nothing, but looking warmly and kindly into her eyes. "You know what natural impulses are, and you've learned to live with them; you've even found friends in human society. Finally, you are strong, beautiful, and can stand up for yourself. I couldn't find anyone better for this role. And I am sure that together we can handle this problem. If you wish, of course. If not—I will not force you."
Wonderful and so vast, words glowing and ringing with the most beautiful music—"beautiful," "no one better," and "together"—flooded the vampire princess's consciousness, washing away absolutely all worldly cares, anxieties, and fears. The best and most beautiful... her beloved was hugging her, looking into her eyes, and offering for them to be "together"...
"Well, what do you say?" the God asked, continuing to look tenderly at her face as the pause began to stretch. "Besides, we will be able to get to know each other better."
"I-I agree!" her mouth shouted, almost faster than she could process what was being said.
"That's wonderful then. Questions of salary and the like can be discussed later, but for now, I believe you should reflect on everything you've heard. Besides, your friends have been waiting quite a while. I think a rest in the Nazarick Spa Resort will help you cope with the nervous tension and process your impressions."
"Spa? There are baths here?" A terribly shameful fantasy of the man standing before her undressing for water procedures flashed before her eyes. It was so sudden and intolerably vivid that all the juice remaining in the glass vanished into her stomach with such speed and agility that it didn't even have time to leave its taste on her tongue.
"Of course," her ideal nodded, "several types, in fact. But I won't tell you—you'll see for yourself. And yes, Evileye, may I ask you for a favor?" The look in Lord Zellos's dark eyes changed subtly, but the girl immediately understood that the request should be taken with the utmost seriousness.
"Y-yes, of course!" the vampire nodded, pulling herself together with surprising speed despite all the excitement.
"Please do not tell everyone about the situation with my creations or my status. To avoid unnecessary panic and misunderstandings."
"Very well." The vampire princess understood perfectly well what might happen in the world if the fact leaked out that ten beings on the level of the Theocracy's Gods had appeared in the ecumene, beings who did not understand the morality and norms of society. It was indeed better to keep this knowledge secret. Even from Blue Rose.
"Thank you," the man smiled sincerely, once again making her blood boil and rush to her cheeks. "Then I wish you a pleasant rest. Fuaro will see you out..."
---
The miniature cutie left, escorted by the homunculus maid, while I couldn't suppress a smile. Everything had gone perfectly, even better than I dared hope. Most likely, my nature truly has a passive influence on the undead and those somehow related to them, even if they aren't fully undead. Otherwise, I simply can't explain such a sharp and strong reaction from a girl who has only seen me a couple of times. I recall that even in the canon, she fell for Momonga instantly, despite only seeing his armor and not even sensing his magical power, since he wore a ring to hide it. Most likely, it was the Overlord classes and such, but essentially, the reasons didn't matter. Yes, such a, hmm... passive charm wasn't quite fair—not fair at all, if I'm being honest—but I didn't feel any particular pangs of conscience. It was rather unpleasant to realize that such a lovely girl had fallen for me not because I deserved it or actually earned her feelings, but because her instincts had kicked in. In other words, the feeling was a forgery and a surrogate. But while this slightly spoiled the moment, it didn't seriously upset me. I certainly liked Evileye, but true love was a long way off, so there was no room for a tragedy like "the girl I love doesn't love me for real." It was just a minor, almost phantom sting to male pride, nothing more. As for the moral aspects, I wasn't going to drag her off to be raped using her "dazed" state, nor was I going to use this state for anything negative that she wouldn't have agreed to in her right mind. From this perspective, my offer was exactly what was fully and absolutely in her own established interests. After all, adventurers protect ordinary people from monsters, so I gave her the best possible way to protect everyone from the most terrible monsters in the world. In short, everything went perfectly, if not entirely fairly, but better this way than forcing her to work through fear alone and the realization that if she refused, the world could go to absolute hell.
Now I just have to survive the diplomatic dance without losses, send the Black Scripture back with a plan to kidnap Zesshi Zetsumei from the Theocracy and "recruit" the other Scriptures with Player descendants, organize searches in the vicinity for any possible lairs of Catastrophe Dragon Lords, decide something else with the Zurrernorn cult to keep Demiurge busy with something meticulous and without mass casualties, and... and I can return to studying the magic so dear to my heart!
"Master, we have arrived as per your command." Following a delicate knock, a glowing Albedo and Shalltear appeared at the office door. Khem, well, I had completely forgotten that besides everything else, a severe trial of my masculine strength awaited me from two perverted nymphomaniacs at once. And while I could still somehow stall with the Theocracy and the Dragon Lords, there was no escaping this fate. Not that I exactly wanted to, especially after the recent bath...
"Excellent. How are our guests?"
"Settled according to the original plan, though judging by their reaction to such insignificant forces, they are utterly useless," the demoness replied in a serene and gentle tone, modestly folding her hands before her.
As I reasonably suspected, they had indeed torn Nabe apart yesterday—meaning they had extorted every detail about what I have where and how I like things best, down to the tiniest details... Given that Sebas hadn't stood guard in vain either, managing to stop Shalltear as she charged toward the scent of debauchery—with Nigredo and Aura hot on her heels—and then explaining the nature of the punishment to the girls, after which, according to him, all three turned pale and vanished from the horizon as if I might jump out and include them in the execution... I didn't rule out that literally all interested parties had participated in the torture. Whatever the case, the fact remained: in the morning, all the ladies were suspiciously quiet, compliant, and peaceful, and only Narberal was desperately embarrassed to meet my eyes.
"On the contrary," I propped my right cheek with my hand, noting how both beauties simultaneously began to circle my desk from both sides to stand on either side of me, "of all the neighboring powers, Re-Estize represents the most convenient springboard for our actions."
"Forgive my ignorance, Master, but why do you think so?" Shalltear hurried to show curiosity, as if jealous that she had fallen out of focus while I spoke only to Albedo.
"The reason, strange as it sounds at first, is precisely their weakness. A strong state always strives to bring everything under its control, and had we formed an alliance with the Baharuth Empire or the Slane Theocracy, sooner or later they would have begun trying to fully subjugate Nazarick. To incorporate it and its resources into the state machinery."
"But shouldn't they realize that we would simply destroy them then?"
"That's if they tried to pull it off by force. But what if they started using all their respect and subservience to persuade me to become their ruler?" Catching the vampire's eye, I raised my left eyebrow.
"Eh... Well... Then..." Shalltear was so flustered that she cast a questioning glance at Albedo with a clear plea for help written on her face.
"Exactly," I sighed, not giving the girls time to formulate an answer. How pleasant it is to be able to sigh! "And I do not wish to rule human states. I may like individual humans, and those I will invite to Nazarick, granting them my protection and patronage. But to patronize anyone, regardless of talent, personality, and other qualities, just because they were lucky enough to be born in a specific territory? No, thank you. Besides, if we start directly managing human states, it will end very badly."
"Why do you think so, Master?" Albedo asked this time.
"The main reason is that we could make such a state ideal, or at least close to that concept. The problem of hard labor is solved by low-level undead and golems; the problem of hunger is eliminated by magic—after all, Mare alone is enough to ensure unprecedented harvests on all the country's fields for hundreds of years to come. Crime is eliminated only slightly more with difficulty and won't grow back, because crime only flourishes if it has merged with official authorities. And what can criminals offer the immortal rulers of a country? A cut of the profits? It's not even funny. Add to this reasonable and just laws that won't change every few years to please one power group or another, and we already have a state whose residents are provided with everything they need and are confident in the future unlike in any currently existing power. However, an ideal state needs ideal subjects, because non-ideal ones won't be able to appreciate or properly use what they have. The first generation or two will see great positive growth in creativity and useful ideas, but the grandchildren of the first people who swore fealty to us will grow up sacredly convinced that all their benefits are forever and a matter of course, that there is no need to move, strain, or strive for anything complex. Why? If they already have everything, if all their problems are solved by immortal and wise gods, if they can just enjoy life and be responsible for nothing? In the end, we will get a nation of consumers at a trough, incapable of giving birth to new ideas or making interesting discoveries—a nation in which there won't even be individuals worthy of respect and conversation. No, certainly, some exceptions will be found even there, but they will be vanishingly few. We need humans to be of use to Nazarick, not for us to become their servants."
"Ohhh..." the girls murmured in unison, clearly sinking into deep realization.
I, by the way, also sank. I hadn't prepared a speech at all; I just formulated and laid out those vague thoughts and feelings I had come to in my previous life as I went along. Only... does this mean I just gave an answer to the skeptics' eternal question for believers: "if God exists, why doesn't he do anything to fix all the crap going on in the world?" That is... sort of... yes, it sounds logical. I mean, if even I, who never created humanity or patronized it, perfectly understand that if people are given ideal living conditions that require zero effort, they will instantly turn into bloated pigs, then a full-fledged god would surely have figured it out, especially one as posh-solo-perfect as the Abrahamic religions represent him. And here the question arises: was this a thought I came up with, meaning with my own mind and so on, or did the level five god-essence prompt me? Because it's rather too fitting, timely, and easy, with no visible precursors, since, well... I didn't really enjoy philosophizing about the divine before.
"Let's return to the matter of the embassy," I said, deciding not to rack my brain, and addressed the girls. "I asked you to take a closer look at Evileye and her team..."
"Those vulgar women are unworthy of your attention, my Master," Albedo replied with a prim tilt of her nose and eyes closed, iron-clad conviction in her voice.
"Don't listen to her, Sovereign!" Shalltear immediately countered, beaming with an enthusiastic smile. "They clearly have sharp minds and rich life experience! Their ideas could be extremely useful for Nazarick! Especially those two cute twins."
"Why, you debauched woman!" the demoness flared.
"I don't want to hear anything from someone who was writing those ideas down in a notebook with her tongue poking out from effort!" the True Vampire said with a coy gesture of her hand.
"Am I right to assume that Narberal recounted the progress of our observation of their team to you?" I already realized the answer was "yes," and besides, I hadn't really believed in any other outcome, but the bickering had to end.
"Yes, Master!" Shalltear replied without the slightest hesitation, shining like polished gold. "And I insist that this is a very promising team of adventurers, and if our Overseer doesn't wish to deal with them, I will gladly take them under my wing!"
"I said no such thing!" Albedo instantly changed her tune. "My words should be taken to mean that the Sovereign has no need to burden himself with unnecessary trouble when I can take it upon myself and look after our guests in the best possible way!"
"I am glad you have already found an area where you can appreciate human imagination," oh Great Powers, what nonsense am I talking... "But nonetheless, let us move slightly away from the topic of my seduction and return to more serious things. I understand that the topic of getting me into bed is far more serious to both of you than any embassies or guests, but please, let's return to it a bit later."
"Y-yes, Master!" the girls together acted like the sweetest angels, pulling embarrassed, panicked smiles onto their faces and flushing deep red.
"Wonderful. So, since you have nothing more to add about Blue Rose..."
"Forgive me, Sovereign," Shalltear countered a bit awkwardly, raising her hand as if afraid of being late, "I'm not quite sure this is worth your attention, but you said to ask if something was unclear, and... well, in short..." The vampire clearly felt uncomfortable, and with every second, it grew—evidently she had scared herself that she might say something out of turn.
"That's right, Shalltear. What did you want to say?" I encouraged the girl, looking into her eyes.
"It's just that you said this Evileye is a High Vampire, but having looked at her personally, I can say without a doubt that she is a True Vampire. Not quite like me," Bloodfallen moved her fingers in the air with an embarrassed, apologetic gesture, "and her blood is noticeably weaker, but she is, beyond question, a True Vampire. Forgive me, Sovereign, if I have said something wrong." The miniature beauty lowered her gaze.
"No, Shalltear, you've done well; that is indeed valuable information." I thoughtfully rubbed my chin, involuntarily sinking into thoughts about whether Evileye had another form, far less pleasing to the eye than her everyday one. "Perhaps... anyway, more on that later," I cut off my thought, having nearly spoken to the effect that I wanted to send Evileye to train under Shalltear. Better not to touch that topic for now. Yes... not touch...
As if in reality, a scene rose before my eyes of the doors to my "youngest daughter's" private quarters slamming open with a bang and a half-naked figure of a miniature blonde flying out:
"Aaaaah!!! Help, she's a pervert!!!" Evileye screamed in horror, desperately trying to escape.
"Where are you going?" a honeyed voice came from behind, and the silver-haired little girl who had instantly caught up with her prey, dressed in the red lace chemise I already recognized, made a "snatch." "I haven't even told you half of how you should please the Master!"
"Heee-lp!!!"
The scene spawned by my imagination was so tangible and vivid that I involuntarily shook my head, chasing it out of my skull. More importantly, the sight of an innocent little girl being dragged into the lair of a terrifying monster was followed by a scene of me, supposedly observing this process while standing nearby in Albedo's company, and asking something like:
"Should I clarify that by 'training' I meant blood magic and vampire techniques?"
"No need, Master Zellos," the Overseer purred, wrapping her arms around my arm, "they seem to be having plenty of fun as it is. Let me make you some tea and a relaxing massage instead!.."
And at the realization that I would most likely have agreed to this proposal, throwing Evileye to be torn apart by unrestrained debauchery and vice, I felt quite unwell. So... so no. Better not to touch this topic. At all. Not even with a ten-meter pole.
Even if the sight of two charming vampire lolis in lace chem—Right! Do not touch, I said! And do not think about it!
"Master?" Albedo's solicitous, questioning voice brought me back to reality.
"Ah, forgive me, I was lost in thought," I shook my head again, rubbing my eyes with my fingers. "I think we should head to Demiurge. The guests have likely already begun discussing the meeting, and while he and Nigredo observe everything, it wouldn't hurt us to watch as well."
"Yes, Master!" the beauties agreed in unison, their entire appearance expressing a readiness to go, and preferably as close to me as possible... Well... I'd better deal with this embassy quickly, because the hormones are pressing on my head harder and harder, and the stress isn't getting any lower.