CHAPTER 15:

BONDS

Harry had to admit, Jircniv was holding his own quite well in Momonga's presence. A private audience had been arranged when Jircniv had finally managed to organise the condemned prisoners being sent to Nazarick from prisons all across the empire. In exchange, Momonga was going to consult with Fluder Paradyne on how to control undead to use as a labour force. The ancient sorcerer was ecstatic to meet with someone even more accomplished (or at least more specialised) in magic than Harry, even if that was by Yggdrasil standards.

Jircniv, along with his bodyguard in the Imperial Knights and Fluder, were meeting with Harry, Momonga, Antilene and Albedo. Jircniv, as he drank from a goblet of juice, remarked, "I'm honestly embarrassed that a few of the prisoners I sent you turned out to be innocent. I hold my investigation team to a high standard, and as you know, I employ people on a meritocratic system, not one based on that old lie."

"And what lie is that, Emperor?" Albedo asked, using Jircniv's title not as a means of deference, but as a courtesy, a statement of fact.

"Lady Albedo, that lie is one of the oldest, that blood matters more than anything," Jircniv said. "I may have ascended to the throne on account of being a child of my father, the previous emperor, amongst other factors, but I had to fight to attain it, and to retain it. Hence my moniker."

Momonga, after a moment, said solemnly, "If a prince cannot be both feared and loved, then it is better to be feared than loved."

"A curious but apt quotation. I assume it's a quotation from a work from your world?" Jircniv asked.

"Punitto Moe quoted entire tracts from classic works of our world in military and politics. That was a paraphrasing of a famous tenet from Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince," Momonga said.

"It's certainly true," Jircniv said. "But I try to be loved as well, and I'd like to think that, outside the nobility, I am certainly loved more than feared. Unfortunately, within the nobility, they seem to think that blood grants them privileges that they have not earned, and that they refuse to earn. The Furts are a prime example. Even now, my people report to me of their spending beyond their means, the money you gave them promptly squandered."

Antilene rolled her eyes. "We knew that was going to happen, Jircniv. That situation is…oh, what's the phrase you used, old man?"

"A train-wreck," Harry said. "But as they don't have a railroad here, well, calling it a clusterfuck in progress would have to do."

One of the Imperial Knights snorted, and Jircniv sighed. "As is everything in Re-Estize. The nobility is split down the middle, with one half supporting Ramposa, and the other half looking to take power away from him, using Barbro as a puppet. He stays on the throne instead of abdicating because he is obsessed with compromise, when all he is doing is allowing cracks to run deeper and deeper in his own kingdom. He would be a far better ruler if he weren't so soft-hearted. I suspect that one day soon, during one of our annual wars…Re-Estize will finally implode. Honestly, I'd be tempted to ask for your help, but I asked Harry about his own help. He refused politely, and showed us a memory of Super-Tier Magic during his time with the Thirteen Heroes, specifically Fallen Down."

"To think such a level of magic exists, beyond even that thought to be only known to the gods!" Fluder interjected excitedly.

"And he told me that you know more Super-Tier spells than he does. It is one thing to wage war…and quite another thing to cause a massacre of an army from a single spell," Jircniv said, shooting Fluder a reproving glare briefly. "In addition, he wishes to avoid too much attention from the Platinum Dragon Lord. In truth, I would rather win my battles on the merits of my country alone, where possible, and simply have Ainz Ooal Gown as an ally, exchanging goods and information."

"You seem remarkably calm, considering that we have far more power than you," Albedo observed.

"Oh, I am nervous," Jircniv admitted. "Even frightened. But Harry put it all into perspective. I consider him a friend, and I do not worry about him usurping me. I assumed that this was the case with Momonga as well. And of course, Gramps has been champing at the bit to meet with him."

"I only wish to delve deeper into the abyss of magic, Your Majesty," Fluder said. "You cannot blame me for being excited about such an opportunity."

"Forgive me my words," Albedo said, bowing briefly. "I am fully aware that Harry considers you a friend, Emperor, and I am personally grateful to you for giving him succour before Nazarick arrived. That means much to me. I was merely trying to understand your casual attitude to the situation."

"Well, there's more for me to stress about. I think the Slane Theocracy suspects Harry to be one of the mysterious assailants who took down the Sunlight Scripture and part of the Black Scripture," Jircniv said. "After the incident at Carne, the current ambassador was recalled, and another, somewhat less pleasant one, has taken their place. They're trying to cultivate spies, spies that I am working to subvert or circumvent. And too many are asking questions about Harry and Antilene."

"Do you think they suspect Antilene is Zesshi Zetsumei?" Momonga asked as Antilene tensed.

"Possibly," Jircniv said. "But I have no proof, or even a concrete notion, only that they are suspicious of them. I think someone may have joined the dots. It wasn't long after Zesshi Zetsumei disappeared that Harry and Antilene turned up here. Bringing Belius here may have had someone take a closer look at the matter, even if his memories were modified."

Momonga sighed. "Because for someone to deliver him to you, that meant that someone had been at Carne and has connections to you. Damnation."

"All they have are suspicions," Jircniv said. "I thought I'd warn you so you could take countermeasures."

"And they will be taken," Albedo said, before turning to Momonga and Harry and bowing. "My lords, with your permission, I will have Demiurge send a detachment of Shadow Demons, to keep an eye on this ambassador and his staff." She then turned to Jircniv. "I can supply you with the intelligence they gather as well, Emperor."

"Generous," Jircniv noted. "But what's the price?"

"Your continued loyalty to us is a start, but honestly…I could do with some help with statecraft, on how to rule," Momonga said. "Albedo is aware of who and what we once were, true, but I still need to present the façade of a wise and powerful ruler to the other denizens of Nazarick, and the lessons of my old friends only do so much. And despite your ascension to the throne at a young age, at twelve, aside from bloody purges, your rule has been quite an excellent one, from what I can gather."

"You flatter me, Momonga, but considering that you are new to such things, I will gladly help out…"

After arriving back in Harry's mansion, Albedo remarked, "The Emperor is getting much out of this."

"Actually, he's covered for me and Antilene quite a few times," Harry said. "Politically speaking, I actually owe him some debts. Covering for dealing with Leinas' family, as well as the family of her former fiancée, are examples of it. He just knows better than to press the issue too much with an entity that could wipe out his palace with ease, and this should help redress the balance. Of course, I've also assassinated some of his political enemies as well, so it's not like I haven't repaid part of the debt anyway."

Antilene nodded, but she scowled. "Still, to think the Theocracy is beginning to nose around. Your suggestion has merit, Albedo."

Albedo scoffed. "The Theocracy should not be able to do anything to harm either of you directly, especially now that we have Downfall of Castle and Country safely locked away in the Treasury. Of course, their other World Items are a concern, but they now lack a means of direct subversion of the powerful. However, they can still harm those whom you value…and indeed, I have come to value. Arche and her sisters are particularly vulnerable, as is Foresight and Leinas. Jircniv and his subordinates are protected to some degree by his political power, though if the Theocracy get desperate enough, I fear that may not be enough."

"Using the Shadow Demons should be enough for now. And if they seem like they're getting too nosy, we'll have to find a way to subvert them," Harry pointed out. "Eliminating them should be a last resort, otherwise, it'd cause trouble for Jircniv and make the Theocracy suspicious. That being said, I'll have to tell Foresight about this. Arche is off visiting them with Leinas."

"Maybe, if the Slane Theocracy does consider using them as leverage, I could hire Foresight on a semi-permanent basis to protect Carne, use the Emmotts as proxies," Momonga said. "Carne has become somewhat fortified, and the Goblins Enri summoned would help as protectors. If people ask questions, they could simply say that they hired the Workers as added muscle, with help from yours truly. As for Arche's sisters, if you're worried about their safety in Arwintar, we can house them in Nazarick. On the times they have visited, many of the Floor Guardians got along well with them, especially Aura and Mare, along with Cocytus."

"Yuri Alpha also seemed to get along well with them, as did Shizu, and I think Pestonya was a surprise hit with them," Harry said. "Honestly, I didn't think a literally dog-faced maid would get along well with children, and vice-versa, but colour me pleasantly surprised. But yeah, if things get dicey, I'll do just that."

"At least we have a plan," Antilene mused. "Well, welcome to the giddy joys of political intrigue…"

Momonga had headed back to Nazarick for now, while Antilene decided to go and find Arche and Leinas and warn them. This left Harry and Albedo together, and alone. And Albedo had suggested they do something interesting, something Shalltear mentioned to her once.

She was giving him a lap pillow.

He was actually enjoying it, looking up at her while she stroked his hair gently. "You're really affectionate, aren't you?"

"A Succubus is capable of more than mere carnal pleasure, though I will admit, that night…" A serene smile touched her lips, even as she blushed a little. "It was everything I hoped for and more. Though, that thing you did with your tongue…"

"I'm a Parselmouth. I think that helps when, well…" He shrugged. "But the way you took control and set the pace…was that Tabula's doing, or you?"

"Does it matter, my love?" she asked. "You enjoyed it, regardless. No, we enjoyed it. For all that I despised that you slept with another woman before me, and she turned out to be treacherous, it at least gave you practise for when this time came, for the pleasure you gave me was rapturous."

True enough. Ginnymort had been surprisingly open to experimentation during their own coupling. But the reminder made him scowl, and Albedo cringed. "My apologies for reminding you of that."

"No, it's fine, Albedo," Harry said. "In a perverse way, if it wasn't for Ginnymort doing what she did, I would never have met you, let alone everyone else here. I lost everything…and yet, I gained so much. Then again, that was mostly thanks to Hermione putting me into Yggdrasil."

"Indeed. I…I envy you your friends, Harry. Both those you made at Hogwarts, and those you made in Ainz Ooal Gown," Albedo admitted. "True, I am friends with the other denizens of Nazarick to varying degrees, but I am also their boss, the Overseer of Nazarick and its Floor Guardians. In addition, my true nature…"

"…Means nothing, Albedo. You're a sentient being, capable of changing, for better or for worse," Harry said. "And I've seen the way you act with many of them. When you're not bickering with Shalltear, you seem to get along well with her. And the way you've acted with my…no, our children, both those from within Nazarick and out…I'm proud of you, Albedo, and Tabula would be too."

Albedo squirmed in delight, her wings flapping. "…And…and that is why I love you, Harry," she said, her voice husky with emotion. "I mean, truly love you. Satoru may have changed my settings on a whim, to give you a companion of sorts…but it feels like that love has grown into something more. Instead of treating me as a concubine or a servant, which I would still be content with, you treat me as near an equal as our relationship can be. Even before the chains binding me as an NPC were broken, you poured out your heart to me, while watching the fireworks. And Satoru…he treats me as if I was his own child. No, more than that. To the Supreme Beings, we of Nazarick are family. Something both of you needed."

"…You think so?"

Albedo nodded. "I did speak privately with Satoru about his life…about his absentee father, about his mother, perishing from overwork on his birthday when he was young. The drudgery of his existence, alleviated only by Yggdrasil. His devotion to something that, to him, was unreal could be considered foolish, and yet…here he is, along with you. The last remaining Supreme Beings. Both of you deserve the love and affection you were denied, by either a cruel jest of fate, or by malice. Your happiness is our paramount desire. That you wish to share that happiness with us is proof of your magnanimous natures. And your devotion to us, beings who should be your servants, is truly moving. If you wish for us to be family, a family of choice, then we will provide."

Harry smiled up at her, touched by her explanation. "…Thanks, Albedo."

"You're very welcome," Albedo said, mirroring his smile. "Incidentally, I have begun testing the limits of my Bicorn summon, now that I can ride him. He will certainly be of considerable help during ground battles in conserving my own stamina. And I think we can take him for romantic rides through the countryside."

"Now there's a thought, riding through Re-Estize or the Empire on a demonic warhorse," Harry chuckled. "But seriously, that sounds wonderful, Albedo. I'm glad I could help."

"Harry…that night…it was everything I dreamed of, and more," she said quietly. "I'm sorry I rushed matters, I really am, but…I also wished to be of greater use to Nazarick."

"Hey…if it helps, I think we both really enjoyed that night. And hopefully, we can have many more like it to come, hey?"

She smirked. "Oh, I don't think there'll be any 'hopefully' about it, my love. Not at all…"

CHAPTER 15 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Jircniv's finally met Momonga under better circumstances, and Harry and Albedo have a nice little moment. But the Slane Theocracy are getting suspicious…

Review-answering time! Dragon Man 180: Maybe? But Albedo is smart enough to ensure that they aren't in danger in the first place.

Nathair1: While the PDL would potentially take Harry's children hostage, he wouldn't actually harm Arche or her sisters. Of course, Aura and Mare, being NPCs, are fair game, and Antilene is already a child soldier thanks to her experiences in the Black Scripture. As for Peroroncino, I think he's closer to Issei from High School DxD.

As for Albedo's dress in question, you can see an image of it on the wiki if you look up screenshots from Episode 2 of that season, or else the illustrations from Volume 10 of the light novels, The Ruler of Conspiracy. Failing that, there are clips on Youtube: Crunchyroll has a clip on their channel from the episode in question, with the clip titled 'A Kiss Goodbye' (it's actually a rather sweet scene, so watch it anyway), and there's an unofficial clip on another channel titled 'Albedo shows off the power of Nazarick', which shows her arrival in Re-Estize. Also, you can watch scenes where Albedo loses her temper over Philip having the temerity of touching her shoulder, with Crunchyroll having a clip from those scenes, titled 'How to Seduce Albedo?'.

Thristan: Uhh, what? Actually, they're pretty much the same. The only substantial difference is that Bellatrix is infatuated with Voldemort, whereas Clementine loves only bloodshed. Actually, I think that Clementine would probably win against Bellatrix a lot of the time: Clementine brags about facing off against magic casters all the time, and probably has enough agility to dodge spells. She only lost against Momonga because…well, she's a scrub compared to HIM.

Mugen-Muse: I think Peroroncino merely wanted Shalltear's kinks to be "YES". I think the rest of her backstory was actually quite detailed. She's said to be a descendent of one of the bosses from Yggdrasil, for example, Cainabel. And don't worry, nobody interrupted Harry and Albedo's fun time. Though I think Shalltear and Lupusregina Beta would have been tempted to watch on and take notes, the perverts…

No numbered annotations this time.