"Everyone, let us offer our loyalty to the Supreme Being!"
Led by Albedo, the Floor Guardians knelt in unison. Ainz Ooal Gown stood alone, radiating a deathly aura, facing their fanatical devotion—each one a level 100 NPC whose unwavering faith bordered on overwhelming.
After asking how they truly saw him, the Guardians showered him with praise so effusive that even the most stoic soul would blush.
Ainz felt a lump rise in his throat. Once he'd finished arranging the necessary matters, he was ready to flee at top speed.
"Lord Ainz," Albedo called out, "do you know where Lord Siegfried is now?"
Ainz paused for a moment, then replied in a deep, measured voice, "Siegfried went to scout the area around Nazarick. We've already discussed the current situation."
"But…"
"Albedo!" Cocytus exhaled a chilling breath, his voice sharp as ice. "You must not show such disrespect to the Supreme Being!"
"I'm terribly sorry!" Albedo bowed deeply, her expression twisting in a way no one could see—her wings trembling almost imperceptibly.
"Albedo," Demiurge added coolly, "this is hardly a matter for the Guardian Overseer to concern herself with."
"However… the time should be almost up."
Ainz wiped away imaginary cold sweat. A faint green glow emanated from his body—an involuntary manifestation of his unique passive skill, Forced Calmness, which only activated when his emotions spiraled into turmoil.
Siegfried… are we really leaving him to shoulder all the blame? Why did he vanish after sending that message? Weren't we supposed to be his unwavering support?
Momonga reminded himself: this was no longer a game. Safety came first. Even if the Guardians were loyal, there was no guarantee they wouldn't encounter something far stronger beyond Nazarick's walls.
Don't let anything go wrong!
"Am I too late?"
Siegfried emerged from the shadowy entrance passage. Instantly, the surrounding magical barriers flared to life, and every Guardian turned toward him in unison.
Stepping through the wards, Siegfried took in the vast arena. Tiered spectator seating stretched upward for several levels—clearly designed for grand battles. Summoning familiars here would be trivial.
Though he held the special class of Dragon Knight and a cavalry-type subclass—granting him the ability to summon dragon familiars past level 60—this space was meant for observation, not intrusion. Any who trespassed uninvited would meet a swift end.
Siegfried had already pulled off his helmet. He wasn't in full plate, but his armor protected vital joints and his chest. Crafted from platinum-gold alloy, it shimmered faintly—a divine artifact in its own right.
"Siegfried, you've come at the perfect time," Ainz said, gesturing. "Come, meet the Guardians of Nazarick."
To the players, the Guardians were familiar faces—but to NPCs like them, the relationship was distant, almost transactional. Unless someone had bored themselves reading every scrap of in-game lore, they likely wouldn't recognize all of them.
"Um… well… do I need to reintroduce myself, Lord Siegfried?" Mare asked timidly.
Aura sighed beside him. She always had to explain things to her troublesome brother—but she was still surprised he spoke first.
"I am Shalltear Bloodfallen," the vampire said with a slow, deliberate lick of her crimson lips. A faint, intoxicating fragrance drifted from her breath.
With Siegfried's heightened senses, the scent felt as though it were pressed directly against his face—but he kept his composure.
He might no longer be human, but he refused to become a beast.
Shalltear Bloodfallen—Guardian of Floors One through Three—was a True Ancestor, an undead vampire often likened to a lamprey in her predatory elegance.
Thank goodness Peroroncino isn't here, Siegfried thought dryly. That H-game fanatic probably has necrophilia on his fetish list.
Following Shalltear, the others introduced themselves in order: Cocytus of the Fifth Floor; Aura and Mare of the Sixth; and Demiurge of the Seventh.
Citing urgency, Siegfried waived the formal kneeling ritual. A simple bow—like Shalltear's—would suffice.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick needed a ruler who was both dignified and compassionate. Siegfried saw himself not as a monarch, but as an advisor—free-spirited, detached from power, and unburdened by ceremony. There was no need for him to project overwhelming authority.
"Guardian Overseer Albedo greets Your Excellency," she said, bowing slightly—carefully ignoring the dust clinging to her immaculate white robes.
Given his current standing, Siegfried gave a polite nod, striking a balance between respect and approachability, like any responsible adult in a professional setting.
"You may call me Siegfried Heraswalg," he said. "If you insist on titles, 'Lord Sieg' will do—that's what everyone calls me."
Everyone? That meant the other Supreme Beings!
Albedo's expression stiffened in shock. The other Guardians—and even Sebastian, watching from the shadows—grew visibly uneasy, as if this casual familiarity were more alarming than outright reprimand.
Siegfried instantly regretted his words. He'd underestimated just how sacred the Supreme Beings were in their eyes. Still, he didn't think he'd done anything wrong.
"…Actually, I prefer 'Lord Sieg.' But if you dislike it, that's fine."
Albedo's face flickered with something unnatural—then smoothed back into perfect grace. "Understood… Lord Sieg."
No one objected. As expected of the Guardian Overseer.
Siegfried nodded, then disarmed before them all, revealing his true form. Aside from his horns, tail, and glowing eyes, he was undeniably handsome.
In place of armor, he wore a sharply tailored black suit—no tie, the cut ambiguous, blending modern elegance with subtle fantasy flair, as if pulled straight from a high-budget RPG.
"For convenience, I'll operate in this form. If the Guild Master has nothing further, you're all dismissed to rest."
Momonga blinked in surprise—he realized he'd never actually seen Siegfried's true face before.
"Ahem. Dismissed," he managed. "And… don't overexert yourselves."
The Guardians bowed deeply. In a flash of magic, the two Supreme Beings teleported away together.
The world shifted. Around them stretched a luxurious suite—plush carpets, gilded fixtures, ambient lighting. Siegfried sank onto a sofa and lifted a steaming cup of coffee to his lips.
Ainz, meanwhile, was seething. A hundred questions burned in his mind, but he didn't know where to start.
"Siegfried… after everything that just happened, how can you be so calm?"
"Maybe I adapt faster," Siegfried replied lightly. "Besides—aren't you thinking more clearly now? You handled the Guardians quite well."
"I was just acting on instinct…" Ainz frowned. "Wait—you were here earlier?"
"Keep an eye on Albedo," Siegfried said simply. "Her eyes were practically murderous."
He'd originally planned to eavesdrop, then fabricate an excuse for his absence—so no one would blame him for skipping the meeting. But seeing Ainz cornered, he'd stepped in.
Albedo's undisguised obsession was impossible to miss. Had Ainz not been present, Siegfried might have found himself on the receiving end of her wrath. Such open aggression wouldn't do.
"I understand," Ainz said, his tone softening. He changed the subject. "So… what exactly happened out there?"
Siegfried shrugged. "Nothing to hide. You mages don't grasp the struggles of warriors. In-game, armor was just aesthetics—but here? Wearing full plate makes daily life impossible."
"But it's not safe! What if enemies attack?"
"You know my class build is complex," Siegfried said calmly. "I can unleash my full power even without the Dragon Blood Armor—and I've got Instant Armor as backup. Don't worry."
Ainz sighed helplessly. He couldn't fault the logic—but the pressure was mounting.
If he failed to meet the Guardians' expectations, he'd disappoint them. Worse—he wouldn't be able to face Emerald Sea Record… or Sieg himself.
What should I do?!
"You're hiding something from me, Guild Master," Siegfried said, voice laced with gentle concern.
Ainz's jaw dropped—or would have, if he still had one. A green aura flickered around him again.
If his skull weren't expressionless, his face would've cycled through panic, guilt, and dread.
"Sieg-san… I have something to confess. Something about Albedo."
Siegfried feigned surprise—though the corner of his lips twitched upward.
The enthusiast's amusement was about to begin.
"What?!"