After completing the quest, Shido, Rumia, and Frieren reported back to the guild before settling into a steady routine. Each week, they would clear at least two or three quests, and during their free time, Rumia would train in magic under Frieren's guidance. She also practiced wielding her Metal Vessel and Djinn Equip with Paimon's help.
The first time Paimon revealed herself, however, she caused quite a stir. Her sudden appearance shocked everyone so much that Shido hurriedly covered Tuare's eyes. After all, Paimon's apperance was far from modest.
Paimon manifested as a stunning, voluptuous woman with long flowing hair and pointed ears. Dark markings accentuated the area around her eyes, and her fingernails extended in elegant, sharp lengths. Gleaming jewelry adorned her body, including multiple piercings on her ears and even her nipples. With so little clothing to cover her, much of her body was left exposed including her bare breasts and belly.
Paimon's appearance was simply too much for the group to handle. Even Frieren, a thousand-year-old elf who had seen more than most, found herself blushing at the sight of the Djinn's nearly bare body. Shido, meanwhile, could only reveal a wry smile, feeling just as awkward, especially since he was the one who had purchased the Metal Vessel in the first place. Clementine, on the other hand, looked on in awe by her amazing body and couldn't help but admire it.
But the one most overwhelmed was Rumia. After all, this was her Djinn. Her face burned crimson as Paimon stood proudly, utterly indifferent to her master's shame. Instead, the Djinn's attention was drawn entirely to Shido. His refined features and natural charm left her entranced despite being a Djinn. She couldn't resist a sultry grin as she licked her lips, openly displaying her desire.
Unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, Rumia finally snapped. With a flustered cry, she yanked Paimon back into her Metal Vessel. A disappointed, almost pouting sound echoed from the Djinn before fading away, leaving behind a thick silence and Rumia's still-burning cheeks.
There was silence in the air for a moment before Rumia turned and look at everyone, but except for Shido and Tuare who didn't know anything. Frieren, on the other hand, had already buried herself in her book, feigning indifference as if nothing at all had happened. Clementine had slipped away entirely, vanishing without a trace.
In the end, Rumia looked at Shido with teary eyes and a flushed face. Unable to do anything else, he gently consoled her, and Rumia buried her face against his chest, too embarrassed to let him see her expression.
Meanwhile, Tuare remained confused, unable to grasp the meaning behind everyone's strange behavior. Even so, she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy seeing Rumia embraced by Shido. That jealousy, however, quickly faded the moment Shido beckoned to her. Tuare's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she leapt into his arms.
With both girls in his embrace, Shido lifted his gaze to the sky, where the sun shone brightly in the clear blue.
'Haaa… what a nice day.'
...
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Shido's party continued their daily routine, gradually raising the ranks of both Rumia and Frieren.
Meanwhile, in Nazarick, Shido's other self had already managed to integrate himself with almost every resident, except for a few creepy ones like Neuronist Painkill.
Currently, he walked alone inside the treasury, glancing at the many powerful magic items and artifacts on display. But his eyes were fixed on the farthest section, where the World Items rested in silence.
As for how Shido managed to sneak into one of Nazarick's most important places, it was thanks to a duplicate of Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown he copied from Albedo, allowing him to teleport directly into the treasury. He had also purchased a high-level stealth skill that erased all traces of his existence, rendering the traps and defenses useless.
Even Pandora's Actor failed to notice him when he walked right past. Still, Shido couldn't help but think that Pandora's lifestyle in this room was the dream of every NEET, lounging on a sofa, snacking, and watching theatre performances on the 9th floor through a crystal monitor. If a television were present, the image would be complete.
But Shido paid little attention to him, his focus drawn instead to the world items hidden within the treasury. After slipping past the final trap, he at last stood before the vault where all of Nazarick's treasures were kept.
The moment his eyes fell on the sight before him, they gleamed with a golden light as he stare at this vast amount of treasury within this room.
'I'm rich!'
Shido could barely contain his excitement as he gazed at the mountains of magical artifacts and weapons. Swords, spears, daggers, bows, axes, an endless variety of enchanted armaments glittered before him.
Yet, Shido had no intention of outright stealing anything, as doing so would immediately draw suspicion. Instead, he created copies of each item and stored them away in his inventory.
The only problem was that his inventory quickly reached its limit. With no other choice, Shido expanded its capacity to 120 square meters. The cost was steep, every 10 square meters required 1,000 SP, meaning he had to spend a total of 100,000 SP.
Still, the price was worth it. By the time he was done, Shido had managed to replicate the majority of the vault's treasures. Even so, he hadn't copied everything as the sheer quantity was overwhelming, and he still haven't made a copy of those world items at the back.
It took him nearly two hours to finish duplicating most of the treasures before finally approaching the section where the world items were kept. Though the weapons and artifacts he created were merely copies, there was no discernible difference between them and the originals. And thanks to his Multiply ability, even if one were destroyed, Shido could simply produce another.
Now what he was just missing was the Gates of Babylon. When he completed another quest, Shido swear to get that thing that made that prideful king arrogant.
With that thought fueling his anticipation, Shido pressed on until he reached the innermost chamber of the treasury. The sight that awaited him made his throat tighten and his heart race.
'World Items!'
...
9th Floor: Royal Suite, Bar
"...Shido, where did you suddenly disappear to~? Hic!"
Shido had just returned from his little treasure hunt when he was greeted by the sight of Shalltear swaying unsteadily at the bar counter, her words slurred with a drunken haze. He could only stare, dumbfounded. This vampire… really? It was still the middle of the afternoon, and she was already drunk?
"...Haaa, Shaltear, why did you drink so much?"
With a weary sigh, Shido rubbed his temple. As expected, this troublesome vampire never failed to cause headaches. However, his question was soon answered by Sous-chef who managed the bar, polishing a glass.
"Shalltear-sama became like this after you left, grumbling that you didn't want to stay with her, Shido-sama."
"…This girl… is really a pain."
"Ahaha…"
The sous-chef, whose head resembled a mushroom and whose hands were like roots, looked oddly dignified in his elegant bartender's suit. Faced with Shido's exasperated words, he could only laugh awkwardly.
"Alright, Shalltear. That's enough. You need to stop drinking and get some rest."
With a resigned sigh, Shido crouched down and hoisted Shalltear onto his back. She clung to him loosely, her body slumping in a piggyback position as he carried the drunk vampire out of the bar.
Yet Shalltear acted like a spoiled child, swinging her arms weakly and smacking the back of Shido's head. Luckily, there was no strength behind her blows.
"No waaay~! I don't wanna~! Hic!"
"Nope. As your assistant, I'm responsible for your actions."
Shalltear puffed out her cheeks, pouting and whining that she still wanted to drink. Shido ignored her complaints and continued walking with her on his back. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, despite her pressing her chest against him, Shalltear's petite, childlike body gave him nothing to feel at all.
"They're really close…"
Watching the two bicker as they left, Sous-chef inwardly smile before returning to polishing the glass in his hands.
Shalltear's antics continued all the way down the corridor, swinging her arms and legs like a restless child. By the time they reached her chambers, guarded by the vampire brides, she had grown exhausted from all her grumbling and flailing. Her body slumped weakly against Shido's back, her lips faintly pursed in a stubborn pout.
But as her face rested near his neck, Shalltear's instincts stirred. Subconsciously, she licked her lips and inhaled the faint, manly yet strangely sweet scent rising from his skin.
Shido entered Shalltear's bedchamber without hindrance. The vampire brides stationed at the entrance merely bowed their heads in acknowledgment. They were already familiar with Shido, often seeing him together with their master, and thus had no reason to block his way. Moreover, despite holding the title of only an Area Guardian, his strength was said to rival even that of the Floor Guardians. None of them dared to question him.
Still, a few of the brides found themselves flustered in his presence. Their faces flushed crimson, intoxicated by his striking appearance. Yet, bound by loyalty to Shalltear, they restrained themselves, doing nothing more than occasionally offering Shido a glimpse of their alluring beauty. And while he didn't say it aloud, Shido enjoy the sight.
Yet just as Shido was about to lay her down on the bed, he suddenly felt a sharp prick on his neck, like the bite of a mosquito.
"?!"
Turning his head, Shido was left speechless. The mischievous vampire had sneakily sunk her fangs into him, drinking his blood without hesitation.
Though he didn't particularly mind, his body was more than strong enough to endure it even if Shalltear suck a gallon of his blood. But Shido wouldn't let this slide. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he decided to punish this naughty vampire for her shameless act.
"Ahn~!"
Shido thrown Shalltear on her bed, making a moan escaping her lips. Yet, because of this, Shalltear seemed to sober, however, Shido's blood was so irresistible and sucking just a bit was not enough.
Also there was something in Shido's blood that made it more delicious. Shido's blood was like an aphrodisiac that caused Shalltear's body to turn hotter.
While she became sober from her drunk state, she instead became drunk of Shido's blood. Shalltear sat on her bed before loosening her every part of her dress until she was only in her underwear revealing her petite child like body.
She turned her face toward Shido, her eyes glimmering with unmistakable desire. Her cheeks were flushed, a mix of the heat rising within her body and the blood from Shido. With hurried breaths, Shalltear slowly crawled across the bed on all fours, moving toward him, tempting him to make a move.
"Shido, do you want to continue?"
Those words hit him like a trigger, igniting the fire within. On top of that, seeing Shalltear's half-naked, seductive form crawling toward him made something in Shido's mind almost snap.
"You're playing with fire, woman." Still Shido warned her, since he didn't want her to make mistake. Yet, Shalltear was really provoking him too much.
She arrived in front of Shido and kneeled before moving her face on beside his ears while softly whispering.
"Fufufu, I love playing with fire—Ahhnn~!"
Before she finished her words, Shido didn't hesitate anymore and he pounced on her like a wild beast. Before long, the room erupted with lewd sounds and soft moans of pleasure, echoing from time to time, leaving the lower parts of the vampire brides outside thoroughly drenched.