After Kaiselin departed using the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, the crushing pressure that had pinned the Guardians vanished.
Time trickled by, and the Guardians exhaled in relief. The taut air loosened; fear gave way to reverence.
Albedo, the Overseer, was the first to move. The knees of her white dress were a little dusty, but she paid it no mind.
One by one, the Guardians rose to their feet.
Mare was the first to speak.
"W-wasn't that terrifying, sis?"
"You're telling me. I thought I was going to be pancaked."
"Hnn…♡"
"As the Supreme One… it was clear He was stronger than us… but to this degree…"
All of them voiced awed admiration for the overwhelming presence they had just faced.
The pressure that had crushed them into the ground was the black-crimson aura Kaiselin had released.
Dragon Fear.
A power only dragons could emit. An advanced form of Despair Aura—it inflicted fear while penalizing the target's abilities, and on top of that, exerted mental manipulation and bodily domination.
"Haa…♡ I… might have gotten a little wet…♡"
Shalltear, the silver-haired girl with porcelain skin, flushed bright red and made a lewd face.
The other Guardians stared at her, appalled.
"Pervert."
"P-pervert?! You brat! Isn't it weird that you're fine after feeling Lord Kaiselin's Dragon Fear up close?!"
Shalltear snapped at Aura.
"Hmph. Nyeh~"
Aura just smirked and kept teasing her.
As the mood began to overheat, Sebas cleared his throat.
"In that case, I shall take my leave. I do not know where Lord Kaiselin has gone, but I must be at His side to attend Him."
"Very well, Sebas. See to it that you assist Lord Kaiselin without causing offense. Report to me at once if anything happens. Especially if Lord Kaiselin summons me—I will fly to Him immediately, no matter what I'm doing!"
Demiurge chuckled at Albedo's barely concealed fantasies.
"Ah, but if He summons me to His bedchamber, let Him know—delicately—that I may need a moment. A bath, certain preparations… Of course, if He wishes me as I am, I shall obey. I keep myself immaculate and my attire ready at all times so I can respond instantly. In short, Lord Kaiselin's will is the highest—"
"Understood, Albedo. If we spend too long here, I will have less time to attend Him. I shall go now. Guardians, I bid you good day."
Sebas bowed to them all and departed.
"And who, exactly, decided she'd be spending the night with Lord Kaiselin?"
Shalltear's barbed remark was pointed squarely at Albedo.
"Hah? Got a problem, you eel?"
"Of course I do, you loudmouthed gorilla!"
They glared at each other in earnest, while the others averted their eyes—save for one white-haired girl whose lips curled as she cut in.
"In the end… I'll be the one sleeping with Lord Kaiselin. You two can suck your fingers and console yourselves."
At Luminous's taunt, both Shalltear and Albedo's eyes burned red.
"Ex. cuse. me?"
"How dare you—lizard!"
"Oh? Lord Kaiselin crafted my form Himself. And that 'lizard' comment… is getting on my nerves."
Albedo laughed, pleased.
"Ha! If you look like a lizard, I'll call you a lizard. What else should I call you?"
"Lord Kaiselin is a dragon too!"
"Oh dear, Lord Kaiselin is no mere dragon. He is a Supreme Being—beyond dragons."
"Don't dodge the point, you loose—"
"What did you just say, you lizard wench?!"
"Don't leave me out of this!"
"Stay out of it!"
"Aww, jealous, are we? Not being chosen really stings, huh? Why don't you peasants go amuse yourselves? Go fondle your own— Oh, Shalltear, you don't have any. My mistake."
"You what?! You wanna die?!"
"Who do you think you are, fun-size, mouthing off like that?!"
"Got a problem?! If you're jealous of the form Lord Kaiselin chose for me, just say so! Maybe I'll consider letting you be the second wife."
"Who said you're the primary, huh?! I'll burn your womb to ash!"
"Try it, you slack—"
"I'll kill you both!"
As the fight escalated, the male Guardians backed away to avoid getting dragged into it.
"Hmm… Aura, I'll leave the women to you. If something happens, tell me, and I'll step in."
"Hey, Demiurge! Don't you dump this on me!"
Demiurge merely gestured and withdrew. Cocytus and Mare followed, eager to avoid entanglement.
"Can't… stop them. Perhaps… it means… their bonds are strong."
"Personally, I'm very curious to see how this ends."
"What do you mean… Demiurge?"
"In terms of strengthening our forces—and Nazarick's future."
"W-what do you mean, Demiurge?"
"Hm…"
Mare's bright, questioning eyes gave him pause.
"Think about it. A great ruler needs an heir. Lord Kaiselin stayed when others left, but He could one day lose interest and go where the others went. We should ensure there is someone else to whom we can pledge our loyalty."
"Um… d-does that mean one of them will succeed Lord Kaiselin?"
"That thought… borders on blasphemy. Our duty… as Guardians… is to serve with utmost loyalty… so that Lord Kaiselin remains."
Demiurge nodded at Cocytus's rebuke.
"Of course, Cocytus. Still—wouldn't you also like to serve Lord Kaiselin's child?"
"Hmm… that… is indeed… inspiring…"
Cocytus imagined running with Kaiselin's child upon his back; teaching them the sword; cleaving through enemies to protect them; and one day, receiving their commands.
"Ah… magnificent. Truly… magnificent. This old man… this old man…"
Demiurge eyed him with a troubled look as Cocytus drifted a bit too far into the fantasy.
"Cocytus. Come back to us."
"Ah. My apologies. A rare… and vivid… experience."
They conversed a moment longer, then glanced toward the women.
"Aura. Are they still fighting?"
"The fighting's over. Now they're… discussing something else."
"Namely, who gets to be the primary wife."
"The conclusion, for now, is that it makes little sense for the Absolute Ruler of Nazarick to have only one consort. As for who the primary will be…"
"Obviously me. Still, I suppose the unchosen deserve a chance."
"Excuse me?"
Shalltear and Albedo bristled again at Luminous's words.
"Whoa, whoa. Settle down, you two. Albedo, shouldn't you be issuing orders? We have work to do."
"You're right. Hah… I should. Shalltear, Luminous—we'll revisit this soon. We'll take our time and talk."
"No objection."
"None here."
"Good. Then let us begin planning."
With Albedo's orders delivered, the Guardians dispersed.
Kaiselin's chambers, Royal Suite, Ninth Floor.
I threw myself onto the bed.
—Whump.
—Foof.
Warmth melted into my body like frost under the sun, and peace washed over me.
Except for one thing.
Lying on my back, I checked… below.
"Ha… damn it. I can't calm down. Albedo's breasts, Luminous's perfect thighs, Shalltear's sultry lips… How am I supposed to hold back?"
The original's Momonga popped into my head, and I clicked my tongue.
"Damn useless prude. The more I think about him, the more pissed I get. Whatever. It's all mine now."
I swore never to think of Momonga again and pondered who would share my bed tonight.
"Albedo, of course. Luminous is a heroine I crafted to my taste… but not yet. Right now, I want to taste Albedo."
Decision made, I sent a [Message] to Sebas.
[Sebas. Can you hear me?]
[Yes, Lord Kaiselin. What do you require?]
[Summon Albedo to my room.]
[At once. I will contact her immediately.]
I ended the spell, inhaled once, and—
Knock, knock.
"…Already?"
It hadn't even been a second. That speed was terrifying.
I steadied my voice, regal and composed.
"Enter."
The door opened slowly, and in swept the ebon goddess—Albedo—her ample chest heaving.
Her cheeks were flushed; her lips curled up as if to ascend to heaven.
"Ahem… Yes. You've come, Albedo."
"Yes, Lord Kaiselin. At Your call, I ran here in a single step…♡"
The black wings at her hips fluttered.
Her golden, bewitching eyes raked over me, full of anticipation.
"I summoned you to… resume what we could not finish in the Throne Hall."
"Haaah…♡ Haah…♡ R-resume… my Lord?"
"Yes. Come closer. I will not let you sleep tonight."
"As You wish… Lord Kaiselin…♡"
And thus began the night between Albedo and me—hot enough to burn.