Yuuji, Aika, Momon, and Lupu ehe grand hall and every eye turo the Adamantite ranked Adventurer party Providence who, for all appearances, appeared more like nobles of the highest pedigree than adventurers.

  They were dressed in formal party attires, in suits and dresses, which elevated their appearances enough to stun all onlookers.

  Yuuji, Aika, and Lupu were especially eye-catg that a great many nobles, despite their frequency with those of great beauty and appearance, were starstruck.

  Fortunately, Aika still wore her mask, whiewhat obscured her visage. Else, all men within the room, eveoid those uned with romance such as Gazef, would’ve fallen into the alluring ag beauty of the great succubus.

  A long table was id out for the grand occasion. The feast to celebrate heroes of the Kingdom who had thwarted evils that threatehe lives of the citizens and protected cities from monstrous camities.

  At the head of the long, marble table was ay space for one. o the left hand at the er end was Gazef Stronnof, and at its right was the King’s son, Prince Zanac, followed by his daughter, Princess Renner. Behiood her bodyguard, while to her ht hand sat the Marquis Raeven.

  Their eyes all locked onto the appearances of Providenbsp;

  The seat to Gazef’s left was occupied by Pandora’s Actor in his guise as Ainz Ooal Gown. And to his left were four empty spots, and it was immediately obvious to them who those species were for.

  The proximity at the table was the measure of the position within the court.

  ‘Just like in during Bight’s meetings.’

  Yuuij recalled from his time in the Bights.

  Duriings, Lelouch, or “Zero”, would sit at the head. To his right was Yuuji, or “Mordred”, and Karen, the two top Knightmare pilot aces of the Bights.To his left was Tatsuya, or “Silver”, Satoru, or “Ainz”, and then Ohgi, the heads of Bight’s R&D, human resource, and operatioments. Then, the rest of the members.

  Momon was also familiar with such arras. They were just like in his normal work meetings from his old world.

  After Provideook their pces, servants began to wheel out carts filled with feasts in silver trays or bottles of wihe long table was quickly filled with a myriad of dishes and drinks, a magnifit spread of luxury.

  Then, after it was set, a herald called out.

  “All rise for King Ramposaa III!”

  Yuuji and the others stood like all the rest, and with slow and stately steps, the Kiered and walked to his pce at the table.

  He sat down and the servants began to pour wiarting from the king and w their way to the back as the King began to speak.

  “The ruling monarch is the fad beati of the Kingdom. But the people, his people, they are his blood, his hands, and the feet that march to war and the living embodiment of his rule. As King, my greatest purpose which I have always sought to do roteg my people as best as I could. However, at times, even the greatest king needs help, for they are, in the end, mortals with their own limitations.”

  The old, but now seemingly more resolute and hopeful king turowards Pandora’s Actor and Providenbsp;

  “You embodied what it means to do just that. Ainz Ooal Gown crushed the raiders that threatened not only my people, but our Royal Head Warrior as well. Provideook it upon themselves to protect a city from not one, but two skeletal dragons, aroyed a Zuranon ehin E-Rantel, saving the city from turning into a nd of the undead. They have, even if they hadn’t k, embodied the true will and desire of my rule. And for that…”

  King Ramposa took his silver cup, which had been filled by the servants, and raised it.

  “I thank you, ead every single one of you. Hail to the heroes of the Kingdom!”

  ““Hail to the heroes!””

  The court cheered, having raised their gsses after the King. Then they drank as one.

  “Now, you may be seated. Eat, drink, and be merry. That too, is the will of your king.”

  Now, the feast has finally truly started. But questions and versations with the “heroes” seemed to attract the is of some of the sharper ones more than the magnifit feast before them. Marquis Raeven, for one, would love to dig deeper ao know the figures, “heroes”, before him. If they were to be potential allies, or perhaps… threats.

  However, ces for doing so directly were hard to e by as the Adamantite Party seemed to be more ied in versing with the supreme magus who mao best a whole scripture of the Theocrabsp;

  And in the end, Raeven could only listen and tried his best to piece together a general profile of the members of Providend the magus Ainz Ooal Gown through their versations.

  The table grew steadily drunker as the eveni on. The occasional sound of toppling of a body or a loud thud when one had fallen face first onto the table punctuated the sound of the remaining versations as servants had begun helping some of the nobles away from their tables to sleep it off in various guest quarters.

  It wasn’t lost on Renner and the King, however, that her Lown, Alexander, Lilith, or Momon seemed to engage mu drinking. Though, Lupu seemed to enjoy herself as she frequently cast “Cure Poison” to start anew every time she began to feel drunk.

  Finally, only the King and his immediate circle remained both scious and present, along with their huests. And the King rose to his feet.

  “Providence, Lown, walk with me.”

  He said, and in that moment, Gazef and the rest put their hands oable, about to push themselves to their feet to join him, only for the King to hold up his hand to stop them.

  “No, I wish to speak with the heroes alone.”

  The King said with haste, a with Providend Ainz Ooal Gown following behind.

  --------------------------------X--------------------------------

  Pitch darkness weled them when the King led Providend Pandora’s Actor to the gardens in the back of the castle.

  However, despite the darkness, seeing wasn’t that difficult.

  With the absence of clouds, the tapestry of darkhat was the night sky shone and glimmered with moonlight and twinkling stars.

  Satoru stared into the evening sky, mesmerized by the splendor of nature and the beauty of the world he could never see in his previous world. No matter how many times he had e when he arrived in this world, he still never got tired of it.

  “Tranquil, isn’t it? A rare peaceful moment, especially at times such as now.”

  The King took a deep breath, his eyes still locked on the moon, and breathed out with almost a sigh.

  The path ched uheir heels as the Kihem down the garden path, and soon, they could hear the sound of water. He led them to the ter of the garden, where a beautiful marble water fountain stood.

  Theurowards his guest. First towards the handsome young man before him – perhaps the most handsome man he had ever seen – and leader of the new adamantite ranked adventurer party.

  “Sir Alexander, I have promised to reward you and your party, and you will receive it no matter your answer. My request for you is simple, and oh abundant pensation to be had.”

  Yuuji and Provideurned and looked at the King.

  “I want you and Provideo take dow Fingers. Hunt down their leadership, which was made up of Adamantite or nearly Adamantite killers. They are the rot of the Kingdom, like a terrible disease or perhaps termites in unprotected wood. They’ve eaten their way into the structure of the Kingdom, threatening t it down little by little. They’ve retly faltered, and I was going to use that ce to break them. But they instead doubled down on their atrocities and strengtheheir death grip. This will not be easy and it would pose a great risk. But if you take down the big fishes, then my personal guards and the royal guards take down the rest.”

  “That is… quite the request indeed, King Rampossa. Simple, as you said, but not easy.”

  Yuuji said, pretending to be surprised, and gowards Aika to his side.

  Aika held his hand and looked up to him. Her lips, which were visible just below her mask, curved into an enting smile as she nodded.

  Theurowards Momon and Lupu, who nodded and winked respectively.

  “What are you ?”

  “Lordship of any nds you choose I have avaible to give you. If everything goes well, then even nds equivalent to one of the great nobles is also a possibility.”

  Yuuji thought for a moment. Lands were one of the things he had expected the King to give as pensation. And at first, he was indeed quite ied. But soon, he realized.

  Why would he waste his time l over a city while they would be quering nations and kingdoms? Moreover, he wouldn’t have the time to ma anyway since he’d be busy with things over in Nazarid his world.

  But… perhaps Albedo or Demiurge could use it. Perhaps as a pce to start spreading Nazarick’s influence subtly though ey, social, and culture within the kingdom.

  “That is acceptable pensation.”

  “Very well. We discuss whid after the job is done, and how far out that nd should go. I trust you will accept my word when I say I will be generous?”

  King Ramposa replied, his pierg eyes held firmly up to the eyes of the young, yet extremely sharp Adamantite adventurer.

  He could feel it. His instincts told him that the young man before him was no mere powerful adventurer. In fact, from the moment he saw him, he felt like he was looking at a fn monarch rather than an adventurer.

  He had no proof. But, he trusted the instinct he had honed over decades that had saved him tless times from many ing schemes and terrible en.

  So, he wouldn’t look down upon him.

  “I do. I accept your terms. All that you’ve asked shall be done. I will begin tomorrow.”

  Rampossa nodded deeply. That was o off his shoulders.

  Theurowards the supreme magic caster.

  “Lown. I’ve learhat magic casters are prickly lot as a rule. What I am about to request of you is eveer than what I asked of Sir Alexander and Providence. Will you, also, do as I have asked, and what will you ask iurn for your aid?”

  Pandora’s Actor responded accly to the pns thought up by the Supreme Beings, Albedo, and Demiurge.

  “I uand your desire to have a strong magic caster in your service, King Ramposa. However, I am far older than I appear, and I dislike serving. I emerged from my studies only to help people I found in sudden distress by ce. Being sucked into cames for someone else has no appeal to me.”

  Rampossa felt his heart about to drop to his guts. His eyes widening slightly.

  But before his hope had fully extinguished, he felt a hand on his shoulder. A rge, firm, yet warm hand.

  “Therefore, if I were to do as you asked, rest the peace I valued so highly, it would only be worthwhile if I were to be an indepe ruler.”

  King Rampossa’s eyes widened.

  “Give me the nd of the Katze pins south of E-Rantel, aending to the western border of the Draigdom. When Baharuth capitutes, I will also take nds from them in exge for peace. I will be a buffer state between you and the empire, and they will not threaten you again. Give me an alliaween the Kingdom I will have founded and yourself, and never again will your harvest be interrupted by wars in the north.”

  The sonorous, noble voice tio resound. His words, one by one, restore the hope he thought he had lost.

  Finally… he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

  “Peace within and peace without for not even 200 kilometers of nd across? That’s the best bargain I’ve heard.”

  King Rampossa replied. A brief smile appeared on his tired visage, before he stuck out his hand.

  “Are you sure you do this?”

  Pandora’s Actor reached out to the king and colpsed forearm to forearm.

  “I .”

  He said with a voice that closed all doubt. Like a coffin lid closing in the dead.

  And King Ramposa III’s heart finally lightehe weight on his shoulders lifted up slightly by the two great men before him.

  --------------------------------X--------------------------------

  Uhe guise of the dark night sky, dressed in her usual dress and battlemaid’s uniform respectively, Shalltear aoma stood outside a manor.

  Shalltear stood in silence, her eyes gleaming with crimson radiance, before she addressed the now a mix of Succubus and Araoid battle maid by her side.

  “Roughly 30 guards around the estate, as you’ve reoitered with your is. Do you think you kill all of them?”

  Entoma, with her previous bug mask now beirue visage and being much more beautiful than before, smiled bewitgly in fidenbsp;

  “Of course~ I’ve already scattered my bugs everywhere! They poison and paralyze them the moment I tell them to~!”

  Shalltear nodded, her lips curved into a smile to mattoma.

  “Great work.Then, I’ll go pick up our target. Feel free to start whenever.”

  Entoma raised her hands and waved them with her flowing robes.

  “Yes~ Have a rip~”

  The manor was quite rge with various exotic woods, marble ns, and worked stone used in its stru. There were also an expensively maintained wn that held statues of marble and rge fountains that kept a stant flow of running water through the air. An obvious dispy of luxury and grandeur.

  Shalltear entered and immediately saw two guards notig her preseheir eyes widened in shock before turning into an amused one upon seeing her lithe aiful figure.

  But just as they were to speak, one froze. Their body, every single muscle refusing to move, before they fall to the ground. Soon, he saw his partner smming the ground beside him as well with white liquid frothing out of his mouth, his skin deadly purple, and his eyes rolled backwards.

  “Hm, quite effective. As expected, she has bee stronger after being a part of Her household.”

  A beautiful bell-like voice resounded, apanied by light the clid cck of heels against the worked-stone floor.

  “Hm, one’s still alive, but paralyzed… Oh well, one mift for Demiurge. He’d welore bodies for his experiments.”

  The guard frozen on the ground could hardly believe, or even uood, the disturbing words that flowed freely through the seemingly young aiful figure.

  He could not ask for any crification, but what happeo him and the implications of her words, if they were true, sent a chill down his frozen spine.

  Sweat began p out of every pore in his body, and the chilling wind of night brushed against him as the little girl walked past.

  His eyes, frozen wide-opened, could only stare at the gruesome visage of his fellow guard, uo look away from the frightening sight. And his eyes, still funing well, could only hear the sounds of bodies and armor cttering onto the ground one by one, as the light click cck of heels hit against the marble floor.

  Soon, Shalltear arrived in the rgest room. She turhe brass handle and opehe door.

  In the bed, a woman id in her sleep. Her chest heaved up and doidly. Her face flushed. Ahighs rubbing together with an obvious stench of the lowly woman’s pheromones drifting around the air.

  ‘Must be Entoma’s new spell from being a succubus.’

  She noted. It was, after all, unnatural for her to suddenly a such a way randomly. Unless she had also seen her beloved master. In that case, dreaming of being ravaged by him daily would be uandable.

  Shalltear walked to the edge of the bed, looked down, and sshed down at her legs with her elongated nails.

  “AAAAARGH– KHHHKK!”

  “Ssshh… Quiet noon’t want to wake the others, now do we? Well, if there are still “others” around here.”

  Hilma froze, frozen out of her will. Her eyes, bloodshot, widened in pure shod pain. Her body arched up from the pain that suddenly exploded in her mind. She wao scream, even if it meant rippihroat out if it meant it could release some of the pain and anguish she was feeling from losing her legs.

  But she couldn’t. Her mouth was frozen opened in a silent scream as her eyes slowly focused on the figure before her. A little girl, a doll more beautiful beyond any little girls she had seen turned into the pythings of “great” nobles and even the idiot prinbsp;

  ‘What’s happening?! Who are they?! My legs! It’s gone!’

  Searing pain, anguish, fear, and fusion were all that filled her mind at this very moment. She couldn’t even think of postuting who the little girl was, how she could appear in her room, or what her words meant.

  “Now then, e on. I’ll bring you to Demiurge to be baptized. Then… Fufufu~ I’ll have my reward a Yuuji-sama~”

  Shalltear grabbed Hilma by her fading golden locks, frozen by her “Hold Person” spell, and began dragging her down from her bed and trag her path back out of the mansion. The blood flowing out of her legs marked her path.

  VergsX