(AUTHORS NOTE This chapter is a copy paste from the T version as there was no sex in this chapter. The next chapter will have new Mature content, but this chapter does not, if you already read the T version, ignore this chapter)

CHAPTER FOUR: A simple talk.

"So... I trust you behaved yourself in the village?" Momonga asked Peroroncino upon returning to Nazarick with Shalltear.

"Why is that the first thing you ask me?" But Momonga simply looked at him. Peroroncino shook his head. They were standing in the room where he had come here first in, the round table room with 39 empty chairs.

"Okay, yes alright? I would never do something to jeopardize our relationship with them... in fact, I even gave a girl there a ring to help her if she's in trouble... I'm doing a positive Karma playstyle here." Peroroncino said laughing. Internally it was bothering Momonga more and more how Peroroncino... or Jin, was constantly using gamer terms and acting like this was less than real life... then a question occurred to Momonga.

"Peroroncino. let me ask you something... what do you think would happen if you died in this world?" The odd question made Peroroncino stop to think for a bit. He sat down in his chair and put his feet up on the table.

"I mean, you'd probably just resurrect me, right? It'd be bad to have to level up again, but considering..." He was saying but Momonga interrupted him.

"How do you know you can even be resurrected in this world? We've discovered some magic spells work differently than they did back in YGGDRASIL... what if resurrection magic does not work anymore?... what if it does and "leveling up" is not a thing in this world and the level hit you take becomes permeant? You are operating on some very big assumptions!" Momonga brought up some good points. Peroroncino stayed silent and taking his feet off the table and leaning back in his chair. It was true, he'd been thinking about this world as just another game... but what if Momonga's theory was the correct of the two, what if this was a permadeath game? Shit, even if he died and woke up in his gamer room in his real body, in the old world... he'd regret that immensely... which brought a question to Jin's mind.

"Okay Momonga, I understand your very valid concern... I'll play... I'll proceed like this is just like real life, or rather... we just have the one life, but can I ask you a question?" Peroroncino looked over the huge white table to his friend, Momonga nodded.

"What about going back? We've never even brought that up... how can we go back? Do we even want to?" Peroroncino asked and waited for his friend to think. Soon he spoke with his statement.

"I've given this some thought actually last night... if I had to wager on one answer, I'd say we are stuck here forever... or at least until we die." He said gravely. Jin got the impression Momonga liked it here just as he did.

"What if we did die?" Peroroncino asked. this made Momonga look in surprise.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Peroroncino shrugged.

"Think about it... we get sent here... literally by magic I'm assuming... We are in a world that, compared to our other world is a million times better! What if something happened while we were online, and died? I don't live to far from you, Suzuki! If there was a big accident, or even the nerve gear killing us somehow... anyway, what if THIS IS the afterlife? And we are meant to just live here from now on... where even death can't touch us. Well, you it can't at least... I mean YOU are immortal... I will still age and die probably, so at some point, we'll find out either way." Momomga dropped his head.

"What? What did I say?" Peroroncino cocked his head at Momonga who was visibly shaken.

"I hadn't even thought about that Jin... I just assumed... but you're right, barring anything unforeseen, I will outlive you won't I?" Peroroncino didn't know why Momonga was so shocked by this. He understood why he would be sad, but death was always a reality growing up. Jin wondered if the undead body his friend now was in was changing his perspectives at all.

"What's wrong? Yeah, I mean you are immortal, but I still have a dick... sorry friend but I think I have the better body!" Peroroncino said throwing up his arms. This made Monga burst out into laughter for only a second before he stopped rather quickly.

"I am glad you brought this to my attention Jin," Momonga finally said at last. Opening his hands before clasping them back together.

"Okay, sure... why?" He asked still not caught up on what Momonga was thinking.

"Because now I have a goal... I will not stop till I find a way to make you immortal, or at least until we confirm how resurrection... if at all, works." Momonga said quietly. Peroroncino nodded.

"Okay then... then I will not rest till I get you laid..." Peroroncino laughed, Momonga just facepalmed.

"Why must it always come back to sex with you Jin? We are in a situation of a lifetime, and all you really seem to be concerned about is sex... I know it's your thing but..."

"We've been over this Jin! I... am in a body that does not procreate..." He reminded his friend.

"Oh shit! That's right! Damn! If only... If only I had SOME KIND of spell that could change your race... GEE THAT'D BE COOL, HUH?" Peroroncino said laying on the sarcasm extra think. Momonga then realized that we was not talking to a birdman, but the human version of Peroroncino. As Peroroncino could tell Momonga had caught on.

"I can just MAKE you human for an hour with [TRUE POLYMORPH]... long enough for you to do whatever you want... with whomever you want." He laughed. Momonga sighed loudly.

"I don't know how it's been for you, but when I see the NPC's I kind of only see the remnants of our friends... in a way. I've been seeing them more and more like... adopted children of ours." Momonga admitted in a serious tone. Peroroncino shrugged.

"Yeah, I get that... when I look at Aura all I see is my sister... even with Shalltear. I do see her as a kind of daughter... but that isn't going to stop me from giving her whatever she asks me for... even if she can't help but admire me because I made her, I still feel a weird connection to her that... is more than just lust," Jin said getting seriouse.

"And it doesn't bother you that you are taking advantage of their admiration of you?" Momonga asked.

"No, if they were doing JUST because I asked, then no... but trust me... they want it just as bad as I do! It's like some big honor for them, I bet... so no, I don't feel bad at all," Peroroncino spoke his heart on the matter. Momonga crossed his fingers as he put his hands on the desk.

"It just doesn't seem right is all..." At this Peroroncino frowned.

"Well, it's my fault you messed with Albedo's settings, but I feel like she'd be into you no matter what you did. You should ask her if she likes you more than me... I bet you she does!" Peroroncino pitched the awful idea to Momonga.

"That's a terrible Idea Jin, while it's true... if I had my old emotions, I could see myself with her, who wouldn't want to? But to put her on the spot like that would just be cruel." Jin laughed.

"Well, Albedo is also 'programmed' to respect leadership, this is why I think she'd respect you over me... hell, I'll even consider her "hands off" from now on... I'd really like to see you happy, and maybe Albedo could do that for you!" Jin nodded. Momonga wanted to disagree but he kept talking.

"From what I've gathered by talking to the NPC's... is that, while they respect me and will obey me without question... their personal opinion of you is higher than it is of mine... they see you as the real leader of Nazarick, probably because you stuck by them all those years after the rest of us left you... alone here," Pero seemed to get visably depressed now.

"What? NO! I don't want to be a ruler!" Momonga said waving his hands back and forth. But Peroroncino forced himself to laugh.

"Yeah, and like I do! I mean I'll be your kick-ass advisor or Vice ruler, but every NPC I asked said they would follow your orders over mine if I gave them a conflicting order... that makes you the king of this place by default, and I couldn't be happier!" Peroroncino nodding and slapping the table but now because he was laughing at his luck. Momonga sat in deep thought, he had not thought to ask the NPC's something like that.

"And I mean look at you man! You look like the frickin' God of Death! What am I? Some horny bird guy? Even if I would totally kick your ass in PvP, they don't know that!" Peroroncino laughed and teased his friend over his very high win rates when they would duel back in YGGDRASIL.

"So you think I should play the role of a leader after all?" Momonga asked, but Peroroncino slammed his head into the table.

"NO! You haven't listened to a thing I've said! You need to LEAD them! Not ACT like you are... just be who you are, they will listen to you no matter what... now if we have to deal with outside forces... Sure, put on a good kingly act, as will I... but when your in Nazarick... you should be able to "let your hair down" I can't imagine what would happen to you if you went around pretending to be a king 100% of the time... that shit would drive me crazy!" Momonga smiled.

"You know... without you here, I bet I'd end up doing just that..." he said in thought.

"YEAH! I know this! Why do you think we get along so well? You take things too seriously and overthink the crap out of every little thing... whereas I could care less about anything that isn't fun and play everything by ear... we literally keep each other from straying too far off to one side." Momonga laughed, he had said it perfectly. Momonga thought about that.

"But why do you just want to play around and sleep with the girls here Jin? I know you aren't oblivious to the real state we are in, it seems like you are just trying to distract yourself from our real problem, and you are leaving all the heavy lifting to me.." Suzuki said, finally saying what he's been wanting to all day.

"Because I'm scared, Suzuki..." Momonga looked surprised, fear was never the vibe he got from Jin this whole time.

"Having beautiful women wanting to sleep with me is a hell of a distraction from how scared I really am... Don't get me wrong, I think what happened to us was fate or something and I'm sure there's a reason... but I will never see my sister again, and who knows what happened to me. If I'm dead or even missing in the other world... then she is also in mourning for my passing or worried sick about me. I know you didn't have anyone after... your mother, Suzuki. But my sister was all I really had in life... and I lost her when I came here. So I've really been trying to distract myself from that fact..." This was a common practice for Jin. When life would get tough or unpleasant, he'd disappear into his H games even longer and with more frequency, he'd made a habit of running from or ignoring his problems.

"I... I didn't think about that Jin..." Momonga kicked himself for being so insensitive. It was obvious Jin was acting out in classic escapism... Peroroncino remained silent, Momonga saw he had tears running down his face now.

"Saying that out loud... kind of made it real for me just now... I'm sorry Momonga, I... can we do this later, I want to go check on something," Jin said seeming depressed.

"Oh? Are you gonna be alright Jin, you uh... are crying and..." Momonga said feeling awkward. He'd never once seen him like this. Jin nodded and got up to leave.

"Yeah, I'll go show Shalltear her present I made for her... that should cheer me up," he said laughing with his back to Momonga, he could tell the laugh sounded fake, but decided to just play along.

"As a human?" Momonga asked. Peroroncino nodded.

"While I feel just fine in my bird form... I feel fine as a human too. Plus, I think Shalltear actually likes this form of mine more... I mean she's gonna get LOTS of both, so... guess we'll find out." Jin finished as he walked out the door. Momonga wondered in silence what he could do to find the other members of the guild... should they have been sent here as well but in a different place, or even land. But it seemed a bad time to bring that up with Jin. At least until he came to terms about never seeing his family again. If Bukubukuchagama was here somewhere, Suzuki Satoru would stop at nothing to find her, or any of the others that might be here... he needed a way to get their attention, no matter the distance or cost...

Outside the door Peroroncino pushing down the sadness that had just surfaced. He had to put on a brave front for Shalltear! He knew she was looking forward to this as well.

"Yo Demi-boy, you got that room ready that I asked you to make?" Peroroncino asked as he cast [MESSAGE] to Demiurge.

"Hello Lord Peroroncino! Yes, I have just completed it as you have asked, but I must know... what enemy have you discovered that will require to be tortured in this room?" Demiurge asked concerned. Peroroncino scratched his head.

"What are you talking about? That room I asked you to make for me is for Shalltear, and it's to fulfill her various fetishes," he explained. There was a long pause. Peroroncino took this time to teleport to the room Demiurge and he was talking about. It was filled with various devices, some traditional, other... not so much.

"But some of those things... are you sure it's just for Shalltear or did I miss understand your wishes? Many of those things could be fatal or extremely painful to a vampire..." Demiurge asked concerned still. But Peroroncino was looking over the room, and Demiurge had nailed it perfectly... he even had the nails he had asked for!

"What do you mean Demiurge? It's exactly what I asked for, she'll love it!" The was another pause.

"As you wish, call on me again if you need anything," Demiurge finally said. Peroroncino looked around the room. The walls and the floor were a deep red, made to match the color of fresh blood. From the ceiling hung many chains and shackles, all made of silver. One wall was made of brick and had silver wrist and ankle manacles built into it. Next to the wall was a table, on it lay many tools of destruction and pleasure, many made of silver.

In the center of the room were a few devices. A simple table with straps attached to it. Next to it was a very weird looking machine like device that had a pumping mechanism and tubes and buckets next to it. There was another large structure with straps but it was tilted at a 75-degree angle and looked like a giant X. Finally, something he knew she'd want to try first...

"Yeah, she'll love this... her vampire brides probably won't however..." He remarked to himself. Now all was left to do but call Shalltear down here and show her the playroom he made for her and her vampire brides. As Shalltear liked to be on both sides of the whip... literally.

But as he was picturing Shalltear whipping her brides a [MESSAGE] broke his fantasy, it was Sebas.

"I am sorry to bother you Lord Peroroncino, but I have someone who desperately wants to be interviewed by you," Sebas said. Peroroncino was intrigued, but at the same time... well, no matter he'd grant this audience with this unknown person. Peroroncino teleported to his office and took a seat, makign sure his cheeks were dry and his eye's not red.

"Very well Sebas, send them in, I am in my office already," Peroroncino said. Peroroncino wondered who was coming but he knew better to get his wishes up, Gargantuan was probably about to come smashing through the door somehow. But who walked through the door was not a giant golem, it was a short birdman.

"Oh! Eclaire! What do you wish to see me about?" Peroroncino could take a guess as to what was coming. The short penguin with long blonde eyelashes waddled over and jumped up on the couch.

"It is simple! I overheard from Shizu that you were interviewing people... and yet you seemed to forgotten to interview me for whatever job that you are looking to have filled... and I can only assume it's to be your second position in Nazarick, yes?" the penguin said with a devious look. Peroroncino was perplexed.

"Um, no... why would I want that? " Peroroncino asked his fellow birdman.

"Well, it's simple Lord Peroroncino, because I seek to strike an alliance with you!" Peroroncino sat back trying to hide his smile. This was gonna be good he thought.

"Oh? And who would this alliance be against?" he asked smiling. Eclaire twirled his eyebrow and stroked his beard knowingly.

"We topple Lord Momonga! And we place you in his stead! Then you place me as your "number two"! Eclaire explained. Peroroncino laughed a bit, this guys settings were the best, even if others found him to be annoying.

"But once you are my "number two" wouldn't you just then try to overthrow me by making yet another alliance to place yourself in the "number one" position in Nazarick?" Peroroncino asked innocently, but the look of shock, fear, and dread took over the face of Eclaire. Sweat began to form on his brow and speech seemed hard.

"HOW... how did you suss out my master plan so quickly?" He was shaking like he was freezing but he was sweating profusely. He was on the verge of mental shock. Peroroncino crossed his fingers and placed his chin on them.

"Because, Eclair Eclaire Eclair... I am the most brilliant mind in all of Nazarick! I just pretend to be a fool to make my enemies reveal themselves, AS YOU NOW HAVE!" Peroroncino jumped up trying not to laugh and pointing dramatically at the shaking Penguin. Eclair threw himself down on the floor in a full prostrating bow and cried out.

"Please! Lord Peroroncino! I... I was a fool to think I could outwit you! Your brilliance has untangled my devious web of deceit and betrayal! I beg of you, show me mercy for I did not know my place! But I have learned it yes? And... and I will devote myself every day to making the great tomb of Nazarick as spotless and clean in your glorious honor, until the day you see fit to take the number one place... that you so deserve!" The penguin cried out as tears ran down his face. Peroroncino was on the verge of bursting out laughing, but he had to keep this up... it was simply too much fun to mess around with Eclaire.

"Hmmm, well I see you have learned your lesson then Eclaire... I will forgive you this time! But only if you clean harder than before!" Peroroncino demanded pointing down to the smaller birdman. Eclair began to bow repeatedly.

"Yes! Lord Peroroncino! And I will tell the others of your grand intellect that is only prevailed by your generous mercy!" He said, continuing to bow over and over. Peroroncino sat back stroking his chin, pretending to think loudly and dramatically.

"Okay, then I as your first order as my personal assassin butler... I order to you kill the mold that's growing in the dungeons!" Eclair jumped to his feet, a killer glean appeared in his eyes.

"Yes! my Lord Peroroncino! I shall show it no mercy!" He cried as he ran out the door with renewed vigor. As soon as Eclair left the room and shut the door an evil smile snuck to the corner of Eclairs mouth/beak.

"...fool!" Eclair muttered to himself as he rubbed his hands together. Then he made his way to the dungeon as commanded.

Peroroncino laughed to himself... that had been all too fun! And his spirits were in better shape as well! But now... it was finally time to show Shalltear her present. He got up and cast [MESSAGE].

"Hey slut, whatcha up to?" He asked Shalltear, he swore he could have heard her shriek in joy.

"Nothing Lord Peroroncino, I was about to have my vampire Bride assist me with bathing myself to be clean for you!" She said in an excited voice. he shook his head, though he did not need to.

"No, stop, I want you filthy! It's uh... why I made you stand in that field all night..." he lied. But the [MESSAGE] was suddenly cut off. What had happened? He tried to cast [MESSAGE] to her again but it would not connect, then he received one from someone else, one of Shalltear's vampire brides.

"I am sorry Lord Peroroncino, but Mistress Shalltear seems to have fainted..." She informed him. He chuckled to himself.

"Just have her meet me in the dungeon when she wakes up, make sure you and the rest of her bride come as well" He commented, they informed him she was already coming around and would tell her what he had said. He teleported back to the dungeon room, shortly there was knock at the door and Shalltear came in with three of her favorite brides. Her eyes went wide as soon as she saw the room and what it contained, he could already smell her excitement welling up. He walked past her and slammed the door as loud as he could in a dramatic fashion. Shalltear had many perverse fetishes... and this room was tailor-made to help cater to each and everyone...

Momonga wondered just what his friend had in plan for Shalltear, but really didn't want to know. As soon as he stepped out of the room Albedo was waiting for him.

"Lord Momonga! She said with a bow. He wove his hand.

"You needn't bow to me every time you see me Albedo." He told her, she looked up at him with love in her eyes.

"Lord Peroroncino told me the same thing, but I bow because I wish to my Lord." She said smiling up at him.

"Hmm, I see... well then, it's fine, just know you don't need my permission to raise from your bow then," He said smiling on the inside. She stood up.

"As you wish my Lord. Lord Momonga, may I accompany you?" Albedo asked. Momonga nodded.

"Of course Albedo, I was just going to check in on Demiurge, I wanted to ask him about this "E-Rantel". If it's a trade town. It could come in handy if we seek to branch out, I'd like to give him my ideas regarding checking out the town." Momonga told her.

"Oh my! You were already thinking about that place? We've yet to even really understand our situation here and you are thinking that far ahead? I am amazed Lord Momonga you would have such insight!" She looked to be serious, not trying to suck up to him.

"By the way Albedo. I uh, have to ask, why are you not with Peroroncino? Uh, I think he will be interviewing more women today." He said, but she smiled and shook her head.

"Forgive me for being so blunt, but if given the choice I would choose to remain by your side Lord Momonga, for it was you that stayed by our sides the whole time. While we are all grateful for the return of Lord Peroroncino, none of us forgot that you never left us in the first place and stayed by our side the whole time!" She said smiling up at him as they casually walked down the hallway.

"I see, well I do enjoy your company," He said and they continued their walk together as her wings began to flutter up and down behind her. What Jin had told him was coming back to him, but he just didn't see things the way his carefree friend did. How could he possibly take advantage of her when it was literally impossible for her to say no? It simply didn't sound right to him.

"Albedo... if I asked... not ordered, but simply asked you to... refuse the sexual advances of Peroroncino, would you listen to me then?" He asked out of curiosity, more than anything. She took no time in answering.

"I would hold any order... or request... that you made, to be more worthy of following." She said honestly. So even though she was made to love us both, it isn't equal? I guess that makes sense he thought to himself, he was the one that had altered her settings and not Pero, maybe that had something to do with that as well? He wondered.

"Then do you speak for everyone when you say you remember I stayed here the whole while?" he was surprised that they had memories from when they were still just NPCs in a game.

"I cannot speak for every single being of Nazarick, but as far as the floor guardians go, we are loyal to Nazarick, and you have done the most work in Nazarick, Lord Peroroncino wasn't even one of the founding members as you were, not to mention you elected to be above them all... I think you will find our loyalties would be with you if you two ever were to ask us to pick a side." Albedo calmly said. While they thought of fighting Peroroncino was unsettling, it was a comfort to know that his years of dedication actually were acknowledged by the NPCs now!

"Well, rest assured we would never put either of you in that kind of position, do worry not," Momonga said, reassuring her. He noticed her face was blushing a bit more than it was earlier.

It wasn't long until they came to the area where Demiurge had been spending his recent time, looking through the viewing mirror. When he saw Momonga he stood up, put an arm over his chest and bowed.

"Hello, Demiurge find anything interesting on that thing?" Demiurge nodded. As he motioned toward the mirror.

"Indeed, as you asked I've been studying this E-Rantel, it seems to be a staging area for humans to go out and fight undead on a huge plain where they seem to naturally spawn," Demiurge said showing him the busy streets. Momonga peered at the people walking around. The guards seemed normal, nobody was wearing anything even close to impressive.

"The ones with the necklaces of different metals are the ones called "adventurers" that Lord Peroroncino mentioned. They seem to get paid for their services in keeping the undead at bay. Mononga nodded, this place no doubt would play a big role in any future relations with the outside world, he actually wanted to get a foothold there as soon as possible, but without drawing attention to themselves.

"What are the chances that someone might discover the location of Nazarick, by accident I wonder?" Momonga pondered out loud. Demiurge seemed to think he was aking a question.

"I believe they are incredibly low from what I can see there is no reason for anyone to come out to where we are. I have not seen anyone cast [FLY] either, even ones that look like casters... I find this very odd." demiurge told his Lord.

"Could it be the city has rules against using magic in it's borders?" Albedo asked. Demiurge nodded.

"That could be possible, yet I've noticed something else... You see this building here? it's a temple where one can go to get healed bu faith magic... however I've yet to see anyone perform a healing spell above the second tier." he said looking confused.

"So low? Have you seen anyone with a serious injury healed?" Momonga asked, but Demiurge shook his head no.

"I've seen them repeatedly try to heal a man with low spells when a single fourth tier spell should have been fine, instead they used four two-tier healing spells..." he said pointing to an area that the viewing mirror could make out inside through an opening.

"Why is that you think?" Demiurge furrowed his brow,

"I wasn't sure until I watched a few people fighting the undead, but no one has used a spell above second tier... also the undead that spawn are... insanely weak, why a town would pay bounties to kill something so easy leads me to believe that the overall level of this area is so low that I find it hard to believe." Momonga and Albedo looked at him in confusion.

"Explain," Momonga asked. Demiurge pushed up on his glasses before speaking.

"Based on what I have observed, I think that there isn't a single human or undead above the level of 20 in that city or the plan... even monsters I've seen in the forest don't seem like anything that could even be considered interesting, much less dangerous.

"So weak... is that really possible?" Demiurge nodded.

"There may yet be higher leveled threats, but none in our general vicinity." he finished. Momonga thought long and hard about this. It was good that they were safe at this time while they figure out their next several moves.

"I've also noticed a burned village not too far from the villages called Carne and some soldiers in the area, they headed to the destroyed village... I've been searching the area for more information as to what's going on, but it seems likely that the Carne Village might be swept up in whatever is going on if they keep heading in the direction that they are now." Demiurge warned.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work," Momonga said, Demiurge bowed again.

"Of course Lord Momonga!"

"Alright Demiurge, keep at this and learn as much for me as you can, I am also interested in that little village that Peroroncino found, there may be a way to use them for short term experiments... but for now I want to wait and let you observe longer, if you don't mind?" He asked Demiurge who smiled and shook his head to show he was fine with it. After excusing himself Albedo followed Momonga out of the room.

"What were you planning on doing My Lord?" albedo asked. Momomga made his way to his personal room.

"I would like to also meet with this town chief that Peroroncino talked with, while we found out much from him, Peroroncino failed to ask some important questions I would like answered," Momonga said.

"And... I want you to accompany Albedo." She seemed to light up with an inner sun at the mention that he wanted her.

"YES! If... you 'want me' i will do anything you wish my Lord!" She said removing her dress. He frantically wove his hands.

"Uh, n... that..." he said but she quickly equipped a set of black armor and looked at him perplexed. Momonga laughed and nodded. As he searched his inventory for a suitable disguise that would not scare the humans.