—(Shocked) — She will unfold a large what?! —.

I can't keep myself from shouting. I quickly close the book and put it in its place.

(Embarrassed) "I thought Entoma-sama was a gi-girl...".

My ears are burning red. I try to calm myself down.

"I guess she can be a girl and also have one of those... It's not as if I cared about that anyway...I love her no matter what she has between her legs nor if she tries to eat me".

—Anyway, what time's it? I can't be late for my date with Entoma-sama! — (I say as I look for a clock around the room) —.

—21:30, human — (says a voice behind me) —.

—Oh my god, it's that late?! Wait, who said that? — (I say as I turn to face the entrance) —.

—Albedo-sama?! Is that you? —.

—Indeed — (she has a creepy smile from ear to ear) —Demiurge has told me about your plans and I couldn't help myself from paying you a visit before the race begins! —.

—(Scared) —He...he told you?! Wait, what race? What are you talking about Albedo-sama? —.

—The new of your brave purpose has spread quickly around the place. Shalltear wanted to start a bet. It's going 11-1, eleven being Entoma eating you alive. Demiurge's convinced of your success, I don't know what does he see in you, human. Anyway, I betted against you, so please lose two or three limbs as evidence, will you? —.

—(Incensed) —What?! not going to happen! Al-also, A-Ainz-sama would never accept this! —.

—(Upset) —Actually, now that you mention it. Ainz-Sama's outside in an important task, so he put me in charge meanwhile. When he comes back, I don't think he will notice the traumatic experience you will have lived, because we are going to heal your wounds afterwards. Also, he told me he's not going to speak to you anymore. He only allowed you to join Nazarick because he has pity for you, slug. You couldn't just stay where he placed you, he gave you a new life, he did all those things for a mere human like you, why?! Do Ainz-sama prefer humans? Or...maybe he likes men better?! Why would he give you such a favourable treatment?! You trash! Do you thought I couldn't tell that your loyalty is fake? For me, a truly loyal subject of Ainz-sama and creation of the Supreme Beings, it's extremely easy to see through your mask. You came here and lied to Ainz-sama for your own lustful and carnal gain! So, as I said before, I hope you suffer the most terrible of pains.

—No! Albedo-sama, it's not th —.

—Save your pitiful pleas and take your leave, Entoma is waiting for you — (as she says that, a malicious grin reappears on her face) — Also, keep an eye on Yuri, I think she's looking for you with not so good intentions.

Taking one step after the other I slowly walk towards the door. Albedo-Sama's reptilian eyes are fixed in me without washing off that smile. I start running, feeling her suffocating gaze on my nape.

"I need to get to Entoma-Sama's room so I can prove that our love is real! I'm no traitor, I'm loyal to my love's master".

As I turn the corner leading to Entoma-Sama's room's hall I suddenly stop walking. There are they...every Pleiad except Entoma-sama is waiting outside her door. Lupusregina-sama and Solution-sama leaning against the wall and Narberal-sama, Shizu-sama and Yuri-sama are standing in the middle of the hall. They're not talking, they're just waiting.

My heart almost stops.

"What are they doing here?! Fuck!".

I retreat back to the corner.

"Did they see me?!".

I instantly get a confirmation to my question.

—(Screaming) —You can come out, human! We saw you! —.

"Lupusregina-Sama?".

I wait without moving a single finger, covering my mouth and nose with my hands to appease my heavy breathing.

—C'mon human! We're not going to hurt you! —.

"I have no way to escape, there's only one thing I can do right now".

"I must face them!".

I come out of my hideout and show myself.

Scream with boiling blood in my ears:

—What do you want from me?! You can't stop the might of our love! You heard that?! Entoma-sama and I are in love! —.

—Don't worry, we are not going to stop no love! — (giggles and continues talking) —just come closer, or do you want to be late for your date with Entoma? —.

"She sounds believable...I don't think she's lying. But what do they want then? Anyway, she's right... I can't lose more time...".

I start walking towards them with my whole-body trembling but with determined steps. I stop right in front of them.

—(mischievously) —Hello, human —.

Narberal-Sama welcomes me. Behind her is Yuri-sama with a small grin on her face.

"There's something odd about Yuri-sama, didn't Albedo-sama say that she was mad? Why is she smiling then?".

—We just wanted to wish you good luck with our little sister. We're sure that your love will bloom like a spring flower! —.

—(Confused) —Huh? tha-thank y- —.

—(Cocky) —Of course, in this metaphor Entoma is the locust that feeds on the flower, that you, the roots, are offering in naivety. As the flower is consumed, the roots, now stripped of its one purpose, will rot and end up dying in a grave of worms. Also, Albedo-sama told us about how you lied to Ainz-sama to take advantage of Entoma —.

"Take advantage of...?!".

I clench my firsts and my face starts turning deep red as the anger I feel takes control of me. Then I explode:

—I will prove you're wrong and when I do, you will all accept me as part of the Great Tomb of Nazarick! Now step aside, both of you! Entoma-sama is waiting for me! —.

"I hate all of them so much! (Except Entoma-sama of course) I could punch them in the face!".

The grin in Yuri-Sama's face disappears and is replaced with a teeth clench and a furrow in her eyebrows. She's going to say something but Narberal rise her hand as saying "let me handle this".

—(Ruthless) —We hope you die —says Narberal at the same time that she and Yuri move aside —we will let Entoma take care of you.

I'm passing by when a leg in a high silver-plated boot trip me up. I end up almost breaking my face against the wall, but I regain balance in the last second.

—Oops! — (Solution, all start giggling) —.

I look at them pissed off but continue my way.

"Knock...knock...knock".

I slowly knock three times on the door, wait five seconds, open the door and walk in, closing it after me.

—(Polite, respectful) —Entoma-sama? —.

The velvet curtains are closed, leaving the room in absolute darkness.

(Scared) —E-entoma-sama? — (I repeat) —this is no-not funny...co-come out please... —.

I feel the cold sweat drops slipping down my neck. I look around the black room trying to adapt my sight to it. Then, I hear something above me.

"hhssssshhhhh".

—(Desperate) —What was that?! Entoma-sama?! Please?! —.

Doubts start appearing in my mind.

(Quoting Narberal) "We will let Entoma take care of you".

I can hear my heart pounding right into my ears. I start hyperventilating. But my will is stronger than my body.

"I can't go back, I'm here now. I have to face my fears, for Entoma-Sama's love!".

I start walking forward into the darkness with my whole-body trembling in crippling panic. Then, suddenly something that comes from above me sticks to my leg and pulls up, making me trip and end up hitting my head against the floor... With blurred gaze and tears covering my eyes, the last thing I see, as I'm being pulled away from the white marble floor, is red tears dropping from the tip of my nose, splashing with echo somewhere in the black, empty space. And the scent of lavender in the air.

I wake up laying on the ground. I feel a freezing cold that numbs my body. My head still feels dizzy. My mouth's completely dry, it's difficult to gulp. My heavy breathing results in a mist that I'm unable to see. I try to move my hands to my face but...

"I can't move...".

There's something holding tight my arms. My legs are free so I try kicking down. The ground is as hard as steel. But somehow, it's also elastic, repelling my kick like a trampoline. I'm unable to do anything so I start to panic.

—E-entoma?! Anybody? Help?! Help me, please! — (I scream desperately into the void) —.

There is no answer except the reverberation of my own voice.

"PLEASE… PLEASE… PLEASE… PLEASE…

"...".

—Ha-ha... Okay, calm down... there's no need to panic...— (I say trying to convince myself as I normalize my breathing) —let's... wait... surely something will happen… eventually… —.

The skin of my whole body is itching, no, it's almost burning, but it's also trembling. The sound of my teeth clattering breaks the silence. Suddenly, I feel the ground vibrating like what an earthquake would cause. There's something doing weight not far from me, it's slowly coming closer.

"The vibration is getting stronger, it's near!".

My heart starts pounding faster. I can feel every step this thing takes.

"It's almost on me!".

I try to hold my breath so I don't make a noise. Then, abruptly, the vibration stops.

"...? Is it gone?".

Two eyes glow red above me.

A blink erases them for a second.

Four eyes glow red above me.

Black.

Six eyes glow red above me.

This time I don't blink. Two more eyes, slowly open themselves letting the red glow escape little by little.

Eight eyes glow red above me.

I'm paralyzed.

"Ba-Dum... ba-Dum... ba-Dum ...".

My heart stops beating. And a piercing pain strikes my chest.

Silence.