The Nazarick Triumvirate (collab with daniel santiago 4545)

by theoneandonlyedster

The Undead Overlord. The Dragon Emperor. The Nephilim Champion. Momonga is joined in the New World by two of his guildmates who stayed with him 'til the end, and together they will take the New World by storm as the Nazarick Triumvirate! Collab story. Follows canon plot with some alterations. OCxHarem. Rated M for mature language and mild sex scenes. Now with a TV Tropes page!

3. Pledge Yourselves to the Cause!

Welcome back to Chapter 3 of the Nazarick Triumvirate! I hope you have all been enjoying what myself and daniel have offered to you so far, and we want to thank you again for the love and support you've been showing this story, whether it's through your reviews or even just following and favouriting this story.

Before we start, I wanted to add a small reference table highlighting what honorifics some of the Nazarick denizens use for Henry. Given how he has so many middle names, the other Nazarick dwellers use a mix of those when addressing him so I'll list which one each of them use for convenience and so you all don't get confused:

Albedo/Demiurge: Lord Henry (with Albedo constantly switching to Darling and Beloved).
Shalltear: Lord Augustus
Cocytus/Victim: Lord Edward
Aura/Mare: Lord Trajan
Sebas/the Pleiades: Lord Constantine
Area Guardians: Lord William
Pandora's Actor: (Oh that's a special one I'm not going to spoil here, but I guarantee you'll love it when it comes as it perfectly encapsulates Pandora's Actor's mannerisms!)

daniel: Hey guys! Whoa, this chapter is a doozy, isn't it? Well, rest assured that we had a blast writing it! And don't worry, Henry and his brothers will have their heads in the right place and make sure they are prepared for whatever the New World will throw at them, they will not do a Subaru and let their protagonist status make them think everything will be easy (Love Subaru but he really should have known better and would have benefited from knowing the Isekai survival guide 101!)

With all that out of the way, here is Chapter 3 of the Nazarick Triumvirate! As always, the usual disclaimer that neither I nor daniel own Overlord or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime, manga or Light Novels. The only things we own are our OCs, Henry and Fengxian. ENJOY!

Chapter 3 – Pledge Yourselves to the Cause!

"Such a magnificent display worthy of the Heir of Nazarick! I am so glad I was able to bear witness to it!" The figure exclaimed joyfully. The new arrival had the appearance of a buxom fourteen-year-old girl with pale, shiny skin, gorgeous crimson-red eyes, immaculate facial features and silver hair tied in a ponytail through a large ribbon above it all, allowing their face to be fully on view. They were clad in a soft black evening dress with a big heavy skirt, their upper body dressed in a lace embellished ribbon along with a short-tailored jacket, and their hands were covered with long lace gloves, leaving no skin exposed.

The vampire Shalltear Bloodfallen, Guardian of the First, Second and Third Floors and the creation of Momonga and Henry's good friend Peroroncino, had arrived.

~TNT~

"Oh? Am I the first to arrive? I was worried for a moment that I would be late for this momentous occasion. After all, such a meeting between most of the Floor Guardians of Nazarick has never been seen before," Shalltear spoke in her classy, bell-like voice into the silence following her entrance as she lightly dusted off her dress before turning to Henry and curtsying politely. "My lord Augustus…as I stated just now, that was truly a marvellous display of your might. Thank you for allowing me the chance to see it for myself."

"You are very welcome Shalltear, and I am pleased that you enjoyed the show," Henry replied with a smile. Since he and Shalltear's creator, Peroroncino, had enjoyed a very close bond over their love of eroge material with the Birdman even seeking out Henry for advice on Shalltear's settings and design, he'd been very fond of Shalltear even before she and the rest of the Guardian NPC's had come to life and had sworn to his close friend to look after her when Peroroncino had left the game for good. Though he wasn't attracted to her as he was to Albedo and the three Pleiades maids, he could feel the urge to protect her just like all the others stir in the depths of his soul and silently swore to keep his promise to his friend in this new world.

Once she had finished greeting the Dragonoid, Shalltear's gaze swept over the others before her. She nodded politely at Mare and glared at Aura before her eyes landed on Momonga. Seeing the Skeletal Overlord in all of his glory caused Shalltear's eyes to light up and her expression to change into one of pure joy as, discarding the umbrella she'd been twirling over her shoulder ever since she'd arrived, she ran full pelt towards the Supreme Being before jumping up and hugging his chest fiercely, a rather comical sight given her short frame and the fact that Momonga was nothing but bones where she was hugging him.

If Shalltear minded any of these details, she didn't show it as she pressed tightly into Momonga. "Oh Lord Momonga!" She cried happily. "The one man I could never rule and my eternal beloved! Just being able to be in your presence and feel your body against my own makes me so happy!"

He tried…he really did try so as not to embarrass his friend/father figure, but watching Shalltear's exuberant display combined with sensing how embarrassed Momonga was swiftly becoming was too much as he let out a warm chuckle. (Looks like I'm not the only one attracting the ladies eh, Suki?) He teased his friend in private.

(Ise…you are not helping right now!) Momonga replied as struggled to deal with the conflicting emotions and thoughts running through his mind. Truthfully, he didn't mind Shalltear hugging him this way and would have gladly reciprocated it, but when he'd tried to move his hands downward, he'd suddenly felt his entire body pulse in a swathe of green light, after which he found himself either unable or unwilling to hug the petite vampire. "That's odd…one moment I wanted to return her hug, and now I can't or am unwilling to do so. What's going on? Is it because I'm undead and I'm not to have any emotions? Also, how kinky did Peroroncino make her to not only have her desire to hug a skeleton like me but also enjoy it?!" He was desperately thinking of an excuse to have Shalltear release her hold on him until he was saved by Aura, who was looking none too pleased with her fellow Guardian's behaviour.

"Oi, Shalltear! Give it a rest already!" The older Dark Elf shouted. "You're slobbering all over Lord Momonga!"

Shalltear turned her head slightly, releasing her grip on Momonga as she dropped easily to the ground. "Oh, hello there half-pint," she drawled with a teasing expression. "I didn't realise you were here as well."

Aura let out a snarl, her glare intensifying as Shalltear's red eyes flitted in Mare's direction. "Having such a difficult and overbearing older sister must be difficult for you Mare. How ever do you manage it?" Mare wisely didn't respond, instead backing away nervously as though he could sense what was about to happen.

And sure enough…"What did you say, Miss Fake-Tits?" Aura growled.

"DAMN Aura…already?!" Henry exclaimed to himself, surprised that Aura had one, been so savage, and two, gone right for the one thing Shalltear was embarrassed about above all else,

"W-What?! That's not true! Take that back, elf!" Shalltear squealed in a very un-ladylike manner as she instantly covered the area around her breasts with her hands. and something she could not help in truth as one of her creator's favourite fetishes was lolis

"It so is!" Both Henry and Momonga had the exact same thought at the moment.

"AHA! I knew it!" Aura crowed in satisfaction. "That's why you went through the trouble of using a Gate instead of walking up here yourself! Didn't want all that padding to move around, did you?"

Shalltear was both embarrassed and incensed at the Dark Elf's mockery. "You watch it, shorty! At least I have a set! You have nothing but a boy chest!"

"True, but I'm only 76! I still have time to grow!" Aura retaliated. "Which is more than I can say for you since you're undead! Maybe you should just give up and learn to accept those bug bites you call breasts!"

"ARGH! How dare you! I'll make you regret those words!" Shalltear yelled as she ran over to the twins where she and Aura proceeded to start shouting in each other's faces, with Mare wisely deciding to take a few steps back and stay out of it.

(Isn't this nostalgic, Suzi?) Henry said to Momonga, an amused expression on his face as he watched the two Guardians argue back and forth.

(Indeed. Peroroncino and Bukubukuchagama used to argue like this all the time) Momonga replied, referring to the siblings who'd created Shalltear and Aura and who, as their two Guardians were doing right now, would often get into small squabbles filled with jibes and insults. More often than not, as Aura was doing with Shalltear right now, Bukubukuchagama would often come out on top, but it never resulted in any sort of falling out between the pair. In the end, it was just a pair of siblings doing what siblings did best, and both Momonga and Henry knew that, just like with their creators, there wasn't any real animosity between Aura and Shalltear.

As Momonga and Henry watched this all go down and reminisced on past memories, their reflection was disturbed as Fengxian's voice entered their heads. (I leave you two alone for barely an hour and already we've got an argument forming!) He called out in an amused tone. (And judging by what I can hear…it's Shalltear and Aura, isn't it?)

(Did you expect any different? You remember how their creators used to squabble back in the old days) Momonga replied.

(Nice of you to join us, Ki. What took you so long?) Henry asked.

(Just had to tidy up a few things in my abode, give a few orders to Shinozaki and then collect Cocytus. Heads up by the way, we're inbound…and judging by the annoyed huffs he's making, Cocytus doesn't seem as amused as we are.) As Henry and Momonga looked over towards the arena entrance they saw, just as he'd said, their friend leisurely strolling towards them with Cocytus following close behind.

"Stop. This. Ruckus. At. Once!" Cocytus bellowed once the two were within shouting distance. "The. Two. Of. You. Are. In. The. Presence. Of. Our. Supreme. Beings! Contain. Yourself. At. Once!"

"Hey! She started it by saying my boobs are fake!" Shalltear pouted.

"It's not my fault you got upset! I was only telling the truth!" Aura snapped back.

"Enough!" Cocytus roared again, slamming the pommel of this weapon into the ground which caused a sheet of ice to spread around their immediate vicinity. "I. Will. Not. Stand. For. Such. Childish. Antics. In. The. Presence. Of. My. Honoured. Teacher. Along. With. The. Master. And. Heir. Of. Nazarick!"

"It's okay, Cocytus, I'm not that bothered really," Fengxian tried to reassure the colossal Guardian. "And you shouldn't be so quick to anger…it's unbecoming for warriors such as ourselves to lose our tempers and lash out."

Cocytus let out another annoyed huff before nodding. "You. Are. Correct. Of. Course," he conceded, albeit somewhat grudgingly. "Forgive. Me. My. Lords."

"There is nothing to forgive, Cocytus," Momonga said magnanimously, with Henry nodding in agreement, before turning his gaze to Aura and Shalltear. "But he is correct. This isn't the time for you both to act so childishly. I want you both to stop right now and, along with Mare, go and offer appropriate greetings to Fengxian."

"We apologise Lord Momonga!" The two said at the same time, offering hasty bows to both Momonga and Henry before, along with Mare, dashing over to properly greet the final Supreme Being as Momonga and Henry turned their attention to the latest arrival.

"Thank you for coming so promptly, Cocytus," Henry smiled, feeling reassured by the giant Guardian's appearance. After having to deal with Aura and Shalltear's argument, it was comforting to have the honourable creation of Warrior Takemikazuchi be among them as a steady and neutral presence. As he regarded Cocytus, it brought back memories of the numerous sparring matches he and Warrior had shared as they'd both strived towards the same goal: Defeat Touch Me in a one-on-one duel and be crowned World Champion in their own right. Even though it'd ultimately been Henry who'd be the one to succeed in this endeavour, it hadn't stopped Warrior from being proud of his comrade even as he continued to strive towards the goal himself. It had saddened Henry greatly when Warrior had left the guild shortly after Touch Me, but out of respect for the bond they'd shared he'd vowed from then on to always conduct himself honourably in battle.

"Yes, we are very glad you've joined us," Momonga added.

"I. Will. Always. Come. When. You. Call. My. Lords," Cocytus replied with a short bow of his massive head.

"Great to see you, Lord Fengxian! We are all thrilled that you have graced us with your presence as well!" Aura said as he and his brother, along with Shalltear, came before and either bowed or curtsied before him as was appropriate.

"W-What my sister said…it is an honour to have you here…" Mare stammered nervously.

"As much as it pains me to agree with the half-pint, it is the greatest privilege to have you here amongst us, my lord Fengxian," Shalltear stated eloquently as she dipped in an elegant curtsy before the armoured colossus. "To have three of the almighty Supreme Beings amongst us…it truly is a momentous day."

Fengxian smiled a little beneath his helm as he regarded the three Guardians before him, with the sight of the twins before him bringing back fond memories of the time he'd spent with their creator, whom he'd respected greatly for both her abilities as a tank along with her willingness to lend an ear should Fengxian have needed to vent. He almost chuckled as he recalled how she'd often teased that his character didn't reflect his real-life personality one bit, and right there and then swore to protect the Guardians she'd created and be as good a role model for them as she'd been for him. As for Shalltear, whilst he'd been and still was creeped out by some of his more erotic tastes, all of which he'd installed in his creation, he'd respected the Winged Lord of Bombardment as a good friend who shared his plight as a younger brother getting teased by their elder sister.

"Thank you all for the kind welcome," he replied shortly as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Titling his head, he looked over and espied what had caught his gaze. "I'd advise you all to look alive. Our last two arrivals are approaching." With those words, he moved away from the twins and Shalltear and stood next to Momonga and Henry as they too caught sight of the two beings approaching.

"My sincerest apologies to everyone present," a masculine and silky-smooth voice rang out, getting the other Guardians' attention as they all turned to face the new arrivals. "I hope you weren't waiting too long." Approaching them all was Albedo and the final Guardian who would be attending this meeting, the Guardian of the Seventh Floor and the creation of guild-member Ulbert Alain Odle: Demiurge.

If Hell had ever obtained the services of a lawyer or personal assistant, they'd look exactly like or very similar to Ulbert's creation. Standing at 5 feet and 9 inches tall, Demiurge was a demon with dark skin and impeccably combed black hair with a pair of round spectacles perched on his nose, behind which were eyes so squinted that they could not be seen by the naked eye. But in truth, Demiurge's eyes lacked eyeballs, and in their place were shining jewels with numerous small cuts. He was clad in a red, British-style suit complete with a tie, and behind his back trailed a long silver tail covered with metal plates and which bore six long spikes at the end.

As a demon and the creation of the evilest entity in all of Ainz Ooal Gown, Demiurge was programmed to be one of the cruellest and most sadistic NPCs out of all of them, with only Albedo and Shalltear coming close to his enjoyment of all things evil. In addition, in his designated role as commander of the NPC defences of the Tomb, he possessed a high level of intelligence and strategic thinking on par with Albedo as well as a keen analytical mind.

Seeing Demiurge brought a series of… non too pleasant memories to the Heir of Nazarick's mind. The reason for this was that the only guild member that Henry outright disliked was Demiurge's creator, Ulbert. From the day Henry joined he was always at odds with Ulbert due to their very different personalities and world views, with Henry being optimistic, seeing the good in people and hoping to hold up the ideals of justice and heroism whilst Ulbert, fully embracing the role of a villain, was nihilistic and gave up on the ideal of justice long ago. Although Henry was sympathetic of Ulbert's circumstances, their relationship was not helped whatsoever by the fact that Henry sided with his idol, Touch Me, in every argument the paladin and demon got into, which made Ulbert see him as nothing more than Touch Me's sidekick. In turn, Henry would do all he could to avoid Ulbert at any given chance, passing on raids when he was present, and exiting a room the moment he entered among others.

Henry also secretly enjoyed the moments he bested Ulbert and when he became world champion, Ulbert was excluded from the list of people Henry thanked for helping him get so far. The point of no return for their relationship was when Ulbert and Touch Me's relationship deteriorated to the point where they both quit the game for good. During their final confrontation, Henry had made it clear to Ulbert that, in no uncertain terms, he blamed him for Touch Me's decision to quit, and the ensuing shouting match between the two, the worst one to have ever occurred between them, ended with each of them saying things that could never be taken back.

Now that he was face-to-face with Demiurge, however, Henry decided to push to the side all of the troubles he had with Ulbert so as not to let them affect his relationship with him. Demiurge was not his creator and was now his own person, and if the pattern he'd observed from the others so far held, he would be completely loyal to himself, Momonga and Fengxian. He silently swore to never be so petty as to treat Demiurge poorly because of his animosity towards Ulbert, and given that Demiurge was supposed to be superior to even Albedo in the brains department, they were going to need him to ensure this world would not screw them over.

Seeing Demiurge again bought back a lot of memories that Momonga had created alongside Ulbert, not only as a fellow guild-mate but also to the fact both of them had been part of the No Cash Item Alliance and had often confided in each other regarding the ills and injustices bought upon them by the real world. Though Momonga didn't share Ulbert's nihilistic views, he'd still regarded him as one of his closest friends and had been greatly saddened when he'd left after his showdown with Touch Me.

Whilst not as antagonistic or unfriendly with Ulbert as Henry and one or two of the others had been, Fengxian had never really seen him as a friend either. Whilst he did his best to sympathise and try and understand Ulbert's circumstances, he'd become more irritated over time as Ulbert never seemed to shut up about it. In return, whilst he'd reluctantly respected Fengxian both as a guild member and a solid part of the raid team, Ulbert had often berated Fengxian whenever the latter had tried to intervene in his and Touch Me and Henry's many arguments, telling him he shouldn't interfere where it didn't concern him. Whenever Fengxian had tried to reason with him by saying as guild members they should all be trying to get along, Ulbert would often admonish him by telling him they were only friends due to this game. If it had been the real world, any one of them would sell each other out to get ahead, even those who claimed to be honourable like Touch Me and Henry. These interactions made it so that, when Ulbert left the game, Fengxian hardly shed a tear over his departure. But just as Henry was doing, Fengxian also silently swore to not let his personal animosity towards Ulbert reflect on his dealings with Demiurge. If they were all going to survive and flourish in this new world, they would all need to work together.

"On the contrary Demiurge, you are right on time," Momonga commented as the aforementioned Guardian and Albedo made their way to stand alongside the others. "I hope you can adhere to such punctuality whenever we need to call on you."

"We are still waiting on Sebas' report from the outside," Henry added. "Once he has completed his observations, he'll be returning here to make his report before all of us. As the Guardians, it is just as vital you know of our new surroundings as it is for us."

"Once we do know more, we can begin to make plans for not only the Tomb's defences but also for any excursions and information gathering to ascertain what sort of people, cultures and technology exist in this New World," Fengxian explained. "As the Guardian in charge of Nazarick's security, your suggestions and advice will be most welcome, Demiurge."

"You flatter me with your kind words, my lords…I am unworthy of such praise," Demiurge replied somewhat abashedly, a tone they weren't expecting from the usually sinister demon. "I am sure whatever I may suggest will be trifling and uneducated compared to the knowledge you possess, but I shall do my utmost to be of service should you request, and hope to learn from you at the same time."

(Hang on a minute…did you two also just hear that?) Henry asked as the Guardians began to form up before them. (Because that just sounded like Demiurge, probably the smartest of the lot besides Albedo, saying that his knowledge and expertise…are way below ours?)

(No, I heard that as well Ise) Momonga replied. (From their manner and the way they have addressed and deferred to us so far, it would appear they see us as vastly superior to them in all things.)

(Which makes some sense when you think about it) Fengxian added. (If they viewed the one who created them as their master or mistress and as such their superior, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to suggest they would see us, as their creator's friends and/or companions, in much the same way…maybe even more so for you Momonga since you were the guild master)

(So what you are saying then Ki is that they are expecting us to be all-powerful and all-knowing in anything and everything?) Henry spoke up. (As much as I'd like to think the three of us are all smart in one way or another…we're not at the level and I doubt we will be for a while. How are we going to live up to such expectations, whilst at the same time not making it obvious that we're not as smart as they think we are?) "Fake it until you make it," was the prevailing thought that ran through his mind as he spoke.

(That's something we'll have to overcome ourselves, and fast. There are no two ways about it) Fengxian replied seriously. (For now, we've established that they are loyal to us and will do as we say, so let's focus on that for now and worry about improving our knowledge later.)

(Ki has a good point. There's nothing much we can do about it for now, not until we've established knowledge of the sort of world we've ended up in) Momonga reasoned as he watched the Guardians all look up at them seriously. (It looks like they've all got something important to say, especially Albedo, so let's deal with this first)

"My lords," Albedo's voice rang out as clear as a bell as they all lowered themselves to one knee before the three of them. "We the Guardians who have assembled here before you…will now enact the ritual of fidelity. Here and now, on this momentous day, we will pledge our undying loyalty and obedience to our ultimate and one, true masters…the Supreme Beings of Nazarick who stayed with us at the end of the old world into the new one: The Great Lord of Nazarick, Lord Momonga, his Glorious Heir and Crown Prince of Nazarick, Lord Henry, and the Grand Marshal and Commander of Nazarick's Armies, Lord Fengxian! What we say now, so shall it be…now and forevermore!"

"Now and forevermore!" The other Guardians echoed, lowering their heads in submission, and as the three last remaining guild members of Ainz Ooal Gown watched on with a mixture of joy, pride and awe, they each made their pledges.

Shalltear was the first to speak. "I, Shalltear Bloodfallen, Guardian of the First, Second and Third Floors, pledge my undying loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Beings."

Cocytus was up next. "I, Cocytus, Guardian. Of. The. Fifth. Floor, Pledge. My. Undying. Loyalty. And. Obedience. To. The. Supreme Beings."

He was followed by the Dark Elf Twins, with Aura going first. "Aura Bella Fiore, Guardian of the Sixth Floor, pledges her undying loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Beings."

Mare was quick to follow his sister's example. "M-Mare Bello Fiore, a-also Guardian of the Sixth Floor, p-pledges his undying loyalty and o-obedience to the S-Supreme Beings."

They were followed by Demiurge. "I, Demiurge, Guardian of the Seventh Floor, pledge my undying loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Beings."

Albedo was the last to make her pledge. "And I, Albedo, Guardian of the Tenth Floor and Overseer of all the Floor Guardians, pledge my undying loyalty and obedience to the Supreme Beings." As she finished her pledge, she dared to raise her head and her eyes to gaze upon the glorious figures before her. "With the exception of the Guardian of the Fourth Floor, Gargantua, and the Guardian of the Eight Floor, Victim, all the Floor Guardians have pledged their undying loyalty and obedience to the will of the Supreme Beings." In a move that surprised both the Supreme Beings and the other Guardians alike, she prostrated herself fully to the ground, her head lowered flat to the arena floor. "Oh merciful, wise and all-powerful ones who have honoured us beyond all compare by staying with us in this new world, I beg of you: Hear and accept the pledges of these, your most devoted servants, and in return we, the Guardians, shall accomplish any task you ask of us, no matter how difficult or life-threatening it may be, with every fibre of our beings so that you will never be disgraced by our actions!"

"Command us, oh great ones, and we shall obey!" The other Guardians all followed up in unison.

~TNT~

The three standing figures were all moved greatly by what they'd just witnessed before them. Seeing and hearing such pledges and acts of loyalty and servitude from the Guardians, who had been so lovingly and carefully created by their friends and fellow guild mates when this had all still been a game, was the final shred of proof, if ever it was needed, that this world, and the beings around them, had come to life and was now their new reality. Looking down at the Guardians before them, they each silently swore to protect and care for every single one of them.

"How am I supposed to react after hearing all of that?! I've never had to deal with this kind of thing before, even though I was the guild master!" Momonga screamed to himself internally in a voice that still sounded very human. "They all think so highly of the three of us, like we're kings and they are our loyal subjects, and right now they are probably expecting a response befitting that…what do I say?!"

Unfortunately for the slightly panicking Overlord, Henry and Fengxian were about to exacerbate his fears as, after a simple look at one another and a short nod, they both stepped down from where they'd been standing and, taking their place between Momonga and the rest of the Guardians, also got down on one knee, an act that caused the Guardians to gasp in awe and Momonga to panic more.

(Ise?! Ki?! Just what are you doing?!) He shouted in their heads, only for them not to respond as the two of them also began to make similar pledges.

Henry went first, his right hand clutched over his heart as he spoke. "I, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar, one of the last Supreme Beings, do hereby pledge my loyalty and service to the ruler of Nazarick and Master of Death himself, Momonga. I swear upon my life and honour to do everything in my power to honour the position you have bestowed upon me. I will commit every fibre of my being to be the most capable Heir, one worthy of the Glorious Tomb of Nazarick and for yourself… Father."

All of the Guardians, but especially Albedo, murmured in approval and happiness upon hearing Henry's pledge, with Albedo and Demiurge in particular gushing at the last part. And as he listened to his friend's oath, Momonga's panic was eased somewhat and replaced by feelings of pride and satisfaction as he looked down at the being he regarded as both his best friend and the younger brother/ideal son he'd envisioned for himself. Stretching a hand forward and resting it upon one of Henry's shoulders, the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown clutched tight in his other hand, he took a moment to compose himself before replying, the words coming to his mind as he spoke:

"I am relieved and proud to see that my choice to name you as my Heir was the correct course of action, and accept your pledge of loyalty. I, Momonga, Leader of the Supreme Beings, Master of Death and Ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, do hereby re-affirm my previous decree naming you, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar, as heir to the Tomb and my Legacy. I very much look forward to the great path and future we will forge together." He then removed the hand from Henry's shoulder and offered it out to him. "Rise, my son, and take your place at my side."

Even though he was tempted to roll his eyes in good humour, Henry instead felt a rush of warmth and acceptance flow through his body as he accepted Momonga's hand and got to his feet. Being the eldest among the three of them at 25, Suzuki/Momonga was very much the father figure out of them. The Guardians once again were awed by what they had just seen as Henry stood next to Momonga, the pair of them looking down at the colossal form of their friend as he prepared to make his own pledge.

In imitation of the Asian warlords and generals he'd studied so thoroughly, Fengxian reached behind himself and unhooked his weapon, laying it on his palms and offering it to Momonga and Henry as he spoke. "I, Fengxian, one of the last Supreme Beings, Grand Marshal of Nazarick and the commander of all its forces, hereby pledge my loyalty and service to our lord, the ruler of Nazarick and Master of Death himself, Momonga. Furthermore, as Grand Marshal and loyal subject to Lord Momonga, I do also swear to dedicate life and limb to the protection and defence of our master's sworn heir, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar. I pledge to protect him, his loved ones, his values and his future heirs, no matter the risk and cost to my own personal safety."

He then lifted his head, the glowing red lights from his helm's eye slots now smouldering fiercely. "Glory to the Great Tomb of Nazarick! Glory to the name of Lord Momonga! And glory to the Heir of Nazarick, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar!"

"Glory to the Great Tomb of Nazarick! Glory to the name of Lord Momonga! Glory to the Heir of Nazarick, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar! And glory to the Grand Marshal of Nazarick, Fengxian!" The Guardians all echoed as they became swept up in what they had heard just now.

(Holy hell, Ki! That was overboard and then some!) Henry exclaimed as, at Momonga's waved signal, Fengxian got up and joined his fellow Supreme Beings.

(It needed to be done. Now everyone here knows what the hierarchy is and will act as such) Fengxian replied. (And it just felt…right…to say what I did)

(You two scared the crap out of me for a moment when you both went to a knee. But thank you…I shall endeavour to try and live up to the vows you just made) Momonga said.

(As Ki said, we did what needed to be done) Henry replied warmly. (Now come, oh great Master of the Tomb of Nazarick…your subjects are waiting for you to address them)

(Fine…but I will get you two back for this one day) Momonga vowed as he turned his attention back to the Guardians, who were still patiently waiting to be addressed with lowered heads. "Raise your heads," he commanded them, whilst at the same time radiating a dark aura that would've spooked the souls of any mortal man who'd happen to be amongst them.

(Um, Suzi? Perhaps tone down the whole 'dark overlord' aura you got going there?) Henry suggested.

(I would if I knew how…it just crept up and I can't seem to do anything about it!) Momonga replied, doing his best to remain calm.

(Actually, this could work out in our favour…if we all seep our auras out, it will further reinforce our authority over them) Fengxian pointed out as he removed his helm, revealing his disfigured face once again as he allowed the power he wielded to seep out from him and wrap around his body as towering black flames. Just like with Momonga's aura, this would not affect any of the others currently before him, but if someone other than him were to look upon him now, they would instantly be cowering on their knees in terror while doing their best to avoid looking at him.

(That…makes sense I guess) Henry admitted as he allowed some of his own power to spring forth whilst performing a slight transformation of his features, his hands morphing into claws and his nose and eyes becoming more draconic as golden flames danced around his body.

Rather than being cowed by the displays before them, the Guardians were each wearing looks of awe and incredulity as they bore witness to the true power of their masters. In their minds, they considered themselves immensely blessed yet unworthy to have been able to look upon such magnificence.

Fengxian took it upon himself to address them first as they all powered down their auras and returned to normal. "You all did well to gather here as you have," he told them. "On behalf of my Lord and his Heir, we thank you for not only being so prompt, but also for your respective pledges and for being so prepared to serve."

"Your thanks are wasted on us, oh great ones," Albedo responded reverently. "We here have all pledged ourselves to the eternal service of the Supreme Ones and live to obey, though we fear our abilities may not live up to your expectations. Despite this, we vow to work hard and live up to not only your expectations but also those of the lost Supreme Beings who created us."

"So we swear!" The others all said in unison

All three were impressed by their dedication and eagerness to carry out their duties, whilst at the same time touched that they would do so out of respect for their creators who were no longer among them. "A wonderful response, our Floor Guardians!" Ainz declared proudly, his arms spread wide. "I, along with my Heir and Grand Marshal, have no doubt that all of you will be able to fulfil your duties without fail!" As the Guardians all smiled with joy, no doubt pleased by Momonga's words and his belief in them, Henry caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Looking over, he saw that Sebas was standing in the covered entrance to the arena, waiting to be summoned to make his report.

(Suzi, Ki…Sebas is back. We'd best get to it) He told his friends privately before addressing everyone out loud. "As you have all been told, the situation outside the Tomb is at present entirely unknown to us, a result of the strange phenomena that brought us to this new world in the first place," he explained as he beckoned Sebas with a wave of his armoured hand. "With this being the case, my father and I decided to have Sebas, Lupusregina and CZ Delta survey the surrounding area." He then turned to Sebas who, upon approaching the three Supreme Beings, had knelt respectfully before them and was waiting patiently to be addressed. "Now then, Sebas…what have you discovered?"

"My lords, I have completed the scouting of the surrounding area as you requested," the butler began, speaking loud enough so that all of the Guardians could hear. "From what I could see around the radius you designated, we are surrounded all on sides by grasslands."

"Grasslands?" Momonga replied, shocked. Back in YGGDRASIL, the area around the Great Tomb had been swamps and marshlands. Hearing Sebas' report was the last proof they needed that they were indeed in a new world. If he'd looked to his sides, he'd have seen Henry's expression also change to one of shock, and even though Fengxian had replaced his helm, he most likely had had the same reaction

"That is correct, my lords. It is completely different from the swamps that used to surround the Great Tomb of Nazarick," Sebas continued. "There isn't a single building, human, or monster in the entire one-kilometre radius. It would appear we are completely isolated."

"Very good Sebas, you have done very well," Momonga praised him before turning his gaze to the others. "As you have just heard, and as myself and the others suspected, Nazarick has been transported to an unknown land by equally mysterious means. As such, we should exercise the utmost caution as we seek to acquire more knowledge of our surroundings."

"With this being the case, Nazarick's security should be our primary concern," Fengxian took over. "Albedo, Demiurge, this is your remit, and as such we have a task for you both."

"My lords," both Guardians replied promptly.

"Ensure Nazarick's defences are fortified, and that our security systems are raised to maximum alert. Until we know more, consider the Tomb to be under threat from potential enemy infiltration and attack and ready counter-measures to repel these threats just in case," he continued. "At the same time, I want you both to create a stronger information-gathering system and have it ready for our inspection. If it meets our approval, you will then be responsible for ensuring all of the Floor Guardians know of their responsibilities to deal with any potential threats. As for the rest of you, you will follow their lead in these matters. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Lord Fengxian!" They all responded, except for Henry and Momonga. Since Fengxian was the Grand Marshal of Nazarick, he was nominally in charge of Nazarick's defences and forces for the time being and so were content to leave things to him. They'd speak up if they felt they could offer an alternative but for the moment their friend had things well in hand.

"At the same time, we should figure out how best to conceal the Tomb from any potential unfriendly eyes," Fengxian continued, tapping his chin beneath his helm as his eyes roved over the Guardians one by one, considering each of the strengths, weaknesses and capabilities. As his eyes landed on Mare, he suddenly hit upon a promising idea. "Mare," he called, causing the timid Guardian to raise his head. "Do you have any suggestions on how to use your magic to achieve this?"

"I-it would be difficult to conceal all of the walls in magic, but if we used dirt and vegetation from our surroundings, we could camouflage the Tomb from intruders." His reply was met with sounds of approval from most of the Guardians present…except one.

"How dare you…!" Albedo growled, her normally beautiful expression twisted into a snarl. "You would dare besmirch the great walls of Nazarick with dirt and mud?!"

All three of the Supreme Beings were briefly startled by Albedo's outburst. Not only was it unexpected given their deference so far, but it seemed somewhat out of character for the normally composed and serene Guardian Overseer. Henry was the first to recover and, despite the great affection he had for Albedo, was quick to reprimand her. "That's enough, Albedo! Do not make needless remarks!" He shouted in a commanding tone. "Mare's suggestion is perfectly sound and will keep us safe, and as such you should be commending his idea instead of insulting him. Apologise…NOW!"

"F-Forgive me, Lord Henry…I was careless with my words and shall endeavour to be more controlled in future," she quickly apologised, her tone completely contrite as she titled her head at Mare. "I am sorry, Mare. As Lord Henry said, your suggestion is the ideal solution and I should have recognised that immediately. Forgive my outburst."

"A-Apology accepted, Lady Albedo," Mare replied graciously, causing the three Supreme Beings and the other Guardians to let out sighs of relief.

"As my son just explained, it is a wise suggestion and should be enacted post-haste," Momonga continued. "Mare, are you confident the dirt will be sufficient?"

"I-it should be, my lord…so long as you allow it," the timid Dark Elf replied.

Momonga glanced at both Henry and Fengxian, who nodded in wordless agreement, before continuing. "I do…but one random mound would look out of place. Sebas…did you spot any hills in the surrounding landscape?"

"No, my lord…the area is completely barren as far as the eye can see," the butler replied.

"I see…however, if we were to make dummy hills to blend it with the landscape, that could work instead," Momonga reasoned with a decisive nod. "Mare, see this done with all speed and efficiency once we are finished here. As for the rest of you…Aura, as the fastest amongst all those assembled, I want you to take stock of our food, resources and other perishable supplies and make a list out of it. Should any of the Area Guardians not allow you access for whatever reason, tell them you have my authority to pass."

"It will be done with all haste, my lord!" The older Dark Elf replied proudly.

"Henry," Momonga continued, rotating his head so that he was looking at his 'son'. "When you have a moment, I want you to go down to the Treasury and check in with Pandora's Actor, and between the two of you take stock of our funds and the number of World Class Items in our possession."

"I will see it done, Father," Henry replied with a short bow. "All I request is a private moment with Albedo beforehand so that we can talk about one or two things…if that is okay with you?"

"So granted, my son," Momonga replied graciously, drawing a smile from Henry and causing Albedo's eyes and expression to light up in anticipation as he continued. "Shalltear…until we have our defence system in place, I want you to organise constant patrols around the First, Second and Third Floors to guard against any sudden assault. If you feel that your Vampire Brides and other summons aren't sufficient, you are allowed to ask Marshal Fengxian for additional forces or assistance."

"Thank you, my lord…it shall be done as you command," Shalltear answered, dipping her head low.

"Sebas, I want you to gather the Pleiades and Homunculus maids and inform them of the current situation, and then assist me in planning and organising a rota for them to follow."

"As you command, Lord Momonga," Sebas responded.

"Lastly, Fengxian…I would like for you to take stock of the forces we currently have available to us as well along with our weapons stockpiles. Cocytus, you are to assist him in whatever capacity he deems necessary. Is that clear to you both?"

"Perfectly, my lord. I will see to it once" Fengxian replied with a low bow.

"I. Live. To. Serve. The. Supreme. Ones," Cocytus added, another icy breath escaping into the air around them.

"Very good…now then before you head off to accomplish these tasks, I have one final question for each of you." The Guardians all raised their heads in anticipation. "How do you personally see all three of us, starting with Grand Marshal Fengxian?"

"Lord Fengxian is a mighty warrior beyond compare! Any foes who dare cross our path in this new world will fall before his blade!" Shalltear exclaimed.

"My. Honoured. Teacher. Is. A. Great. And. Honourable. Warrior, Worthy. To. Lead. Our. Armies." Cocytus spoke up next. "I. Look. Forward. To. All. He. Has. To. Teach. Me."

"Lord Fengxian is super strong and really friendly! It is an honour beyond words to have him here with us!" Aura proclaimed.

"T-The Grand Marshal is a kind and strong person who will defend us all!" Mare added.

"He is the greatest military mind among us and an unbeatable warrior on the battlefield!" Demiurge stated proudly.

"My lord Fengxian is a strong and impenetrable wall against injustice. With him leading our armies, none will dare to oppose us," Sebas stated.

"The Grand Marshal is a selfless and indomitable warrior who chose to stay with our Lord and his Heir to the very end, and the one who will lead our armies to future glory in battle!" Albedo declared. If his face were capable of it, Fengxian would be smiling broadly. Internally, he was feeling incredibly touched by their words and vowed to live up to their example.

"Very good…how about the Crown Prince of Nazarick, Lord Henry?" Momonga asked next.

"The Heir of Nazarick is the very image of an honourable warrior who will shine light on the inhabitants of this undeserving world!" Shalltear shouted.

"My. Lord. Edward. Is. The. Perfect. Image. Of. Chivalry. Honour. And. Regality," Cocytus added.

"Lord Trajan is incredibly charismatic and powerful, the epitome of how the Heir of Nazarick should be!" Aura then said.

"M-y lord Trajan is the kindest and warmest person I've ever known," Mare added.

"Lord Henry is the perfect choice as the heir for our great Lord Momonga," Demiurge declared proudly. "The future of Nazarick couldn't be in safer or more glorious hands!"

"Never before has there existed a person more selfless or caring than our great Heir and Crown Prince, Lord Constantine," Sebas stated warmly as he gazed at Henry with pride. "I couldn't be prouder to be in his eternal service."

"There has never been nor will there ever be a man as great as Lord Henry in all of history, not only as the glorious heir of Lord Momonga, but also as the man that I love with the entirety of my being!" Albedo declared, her face shining with love and admiration as she looked upon the majesty of her beloved. "I crave the honour of sharing his bed and gifting him and Nazarick with countless heirs!" This last remark caused Henry to visibly blush despite his best attempts. As Fengxian had done, he also swore to live up to what they all saw in him.

"And lastly, how do you view myself?" Momonga asked once more.

"Beauty incarnate! There is nothing living or undead that could compare with your radiant glow!" Shalltear exclaimed, a faint red blush forming on her pale cheeks.

"Our. Lord. Whose. Strength. Is. Unrivalled. By. Any. Guardian," Cocytus followed up. "You. Are. Truly. Worthy. Of. Ruling. The. Great. Tomb. Of. Nazarick…Always. And. Absolutely!"

"Compassionate…you are all always three steps ahead of the game, my lord!" Aura shouted

"Lord Momonga is a leader who is kind as well as merciful," Mare added.

"A man who makes wise decisions and who acts upon them efficiently and without any form of hesitation," Demiurge followed up. "Also, your enigmatic nature makes it nigh on impossible to predict your next move."

"You are the head of all the Supreme Beings, my lord," Sebas stated. "Even though the other Creators, aside from my lord Constantine and Lord Fengxian, have left us behind, you chose to mercifully stay with Nazarick until the very end."

"You are the highest-ranking member of the Supreme Beings, our ultimate master and the ruler of Nazarick!" Albedo declared once more. "You are also the man whom I look to as a father-in-law, whose approval means as much to me as my beloved Henry does!" Momonga was glad his face couldn't show any emotions because if it could do so, he'd die from embarrassment at the high pedestal the Guardians had placed him and the others on!

"I-I see…thank you, all of you," he said once they had all spoken their thoughts. "We have heard your words and given you your orders. All of you, work faithfully in our names!" (If you two don't mind…I think I need to be alone for a while to process all that. If either of you needs me, I plan to take a look outside the Great Tomb for myself shortly) With both those external and internal words said, he used his Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to teleport away.

"I too shall also retire…I need to meditate on today's events," Fengxian spoke into the silence that followed Momonga's sudden departure. "I expect all of you to work diligently to carry out our Lord's orders. Cocytus…when you are finished up here, I'd like to speak privately with you in my dwelling on the Fifth Floor. I'll make sure to have Shinozaki know to expect you." He then too used his Ring to make his own exit, leaving the Guardians alone with Henry.

"Albedo, dear…would you care to take a walk with me outside? There are a few things I wish to discuss with you in private," he asked the Guardian Overseer, offering his hand out to help her to her feet.

"I…I'd be delighted to accompany you, my lord Henry," Albedo nearly stammered, blushing tremendously as she allowed him to help her to her feet. Her blush, if possible, deepened further and her heart started beating furiously when she saw Henry produce a ring from within his armour and offered it to her.

"This is one of the Rings of Ainz Ooal Gown, which will allow you to teleport anywhere within the Great Tomb of Nazarick," he explained as he slid it onto one of her delicate fingers. "Not only will it be crucial for you in your role as Guardian Overseer, but it will also allow you to teleport with me to the entrance to the Tomb. Shall we?"

Albedo's angelic smile grew wider as she linked her arm in Henry's, the two teleporting away a moment later.

~TNT~

As Henry and Albedo vanished, leaving the rest of the Guardians by themselves, they all proceeded to let out a breath they had unknowingly been holding even since Momonga's disappearance before turning to consult with one another

"W-wow…that was so scary, wasn't it sis?" Mare asked his sister.

"For real! Between all three of their overwhelming power, I thought we would be crushed into nothing for sure!" Aura replied as her normally cheerful demeanour returned.

"As is to be expected of our Supreme Beings…" Demiurge commented, his tail swishing behind him. "They were indeed merciful to allow us to live after such a display."

"It. Is. Obvious. That. The. Power. They. Wield. Is. Of. Magnitudes. Far. Greater. Than. What. We. Can. Wield, But. I. Was. Not. Expecting. The. Difference. To. Be. So. Vast!" Cocytus added. "Our. Lords. Truly. Are. All-Powerful. And. Divine!"

"It is as Cocytus said…Lord Momonga must have released a small fraction of his all-powerful aura to demonstrate his right to rule the Great Tomb," Demiurge explained further. "And since Lord Henry and Lord Fengxian did the same shortly after, they not only must have recognised Lord Momonga as their superior but also shown their own might. Hmm…now that I think about it, they must have done so to challenge us to disrespect and betray them."

"So. It. Was. A. Test. Of. Our. Resolve. And. Loyalty. In. Response. To. Our. Pledges!" Cocytus realised. "I. Understand. Clearly. Now!"

"Lord Momonga and Lord Trajan weren't like that when they were alone with Mare and I," Aura then pointed out. "They were really gentle and kind. Lord Momonga even gave us something to drink when we were thirsty, and Lord Trajan gave us lots of encouragement and even ruffled our hair!"

"Mirroring displays showcasing both their kindness and power in the space of a few minutes…our lords truly are worthy of our loyalty and respect," Sebas mused. "If our business is concluded here, I shall take my leave. Lord Momonga has entrusted me with an important task and I will see to it immediately. And as his and Lord Constantine's butler, it is imperative I return to their side as swiftly as possible." With one final bow, Sebas turned and headed back through the entrance to the arena.

"Indeed, we all have our own tasks to be getting on with," Demiurge noted before looking over at Shalltear, who hadn't said a word during this entire exchange. "You've been quiet over there, Shalltear. Is something the matter?"

The remaining Guardians' gazes went over to the vampire who was the only one who hadn't gotten off their knees yet and had only lifted her head when Demiurge called on her. Her face was currently set in a dazed expression, and judging by the drips coming off the side of her mouth she had also been drooling. "Oh, it's nothing Demiurge…it's just…being exposed to Lord Momonga's presence and glorious power was a little too much for me to bear," she replied almost breathlessly. "I fear in my excitement, my underwear may have suffered through a bit of a crisis!"

"Ugh, Shalltear! Too much information!" Aura gagged as the others all looked uncomfortable at what Shalltear was implying.

"O-of course Shalltear…a completely understandable reaction, but make sure you clean yourself up before doing anything else," Demiurge replied in exasperation. "The Supreme Beings have given you a crucial task, one that you should not be conducting with…soiled undergarments…"

"Y-yes, Demiurge…I will do just that," Shalltear mumbled as she did her best to overcome the stupor she was currently in.

"B-before we go Demiurge…there's one more thing that happened just now that I don't understand," Mare interjected. "Why did Lord Trajan and Overseer Albedo leave together just now? And why did they both look so happy about it?"

"Hmmm…it would appear Lady Bukubukuchagama didn't give either him or Aura the talk…I suppose a condensed version will have to do for now…" "Well Mare, it was common knowledge among the other Supreme Beings that Lord Henry was very fond of our Guardian Overseer and three of the Pleiades maids. In fact, I often overheard many of them tease Lord Henry about it since he didn't even try to keep it a secret," he explained. "From what we have just witnessed, it would appear that our Guardian Overseer shares these feelings, and I believe the two have gone to…'talk it out' I believe the expression is."

"What does that mean exactly?" Aura asked.

"If their talks are positive, and provided they have Lord Momonga's blessing, I believe Lord Henry intends to take Lady Albedo as his consort," he answered, a gleam of anticipation sparkling from behind his spectacles. "And after he no doubt succeeds in this endeavour, I suspect he will also take Solution, Lupusregina and Narberal as members of his glorious harem. And from such unions will no doubt come multiple lines of heirs that, should our Supreme Beings one day have to leave us as the rest did, we could serve and pledge our loyalty to." His words caused all of the Guardians present to gasp and beam in excitement

"That….That. Would. Be…Wonderful!" Cocytus cheered exuberantly. "I. Would. Be. Uncle. Cocytus! And. Carry. All. Of. Their. Children. On. My. Shoulders! That. Will. Be. Such. A. Glorious. Day!"

"A great future lies ahead of us, but to get there we have to work hard and carry out the directives of our lords, so do not get too excited just yet Cocytus," Demiurge told him sternly. "I believe Lord Fengxian has requested your presence in his dwelling, so you should see to getting there with all haste." Cocytus nodded without a word and took himself off in the same direction as Sebas had departed in earlier, but even as he left, they could see the extra leaps of excitement in his steps.

"I'd better be off too! I've got a lot of ground to cover and not much time to do it! See you shortly bro, Lord Demiurge, Miss Fake Tits." With a rapid salute, Aura also took off before Shalltear could get mad at her parting insult.

"Since we are all heading to the First Floor, could you make a Gate for us, Shalltear?" Demiurge asked, anticipating the mini-explosion she was about to have and doing his best to deflect her attention, and his efforts appeared to work as, with a small huff to compose herself, Shalltear opened up a [Gate] which she, Mare and Demiurge all proceeded to pass through.

~TNT~

"I can't believe this is happening…" Henry thought to himself as he and Albedo walked arm-in-arm atop the walls of the Great Tomb. To anyone else, it would appear that the two were simply taking a nightly stroll and taking in the beauty of the scenery around them, but in reality, Henry's mind and heart were racing away in both nervousness and anticipation. "Even though I dreamt of having Albedo as my own for all these years, I never thought the day would come when that would be a reality. I don't think I've ever been so happy and fulfilled…" He frowned slightly, turning his head away from Albedo as he remembered why exactly this had come about. "But this wasn't because she actually fell in love with me…it was a mix of my final wishes before the game shut down and Suzuki's generosity that allowed this to happen. She ought to know the truth but…how do I say that in a way that makes sense? I don't want her to get the wrong idea or be upset with me!"

Little did Henry know that he wasn't alone in his feelings of nervousness, but for Albedo the reasons were different. "A late-night excursion with my beloved Crown Prince! How I have wished for this ever since I realised that my lord Henry was the man of my dreams!" She thought to herself with mounting excitement, her heart beating furiously. As she gave a side-long look at her beloved, she noted with worry that Henry's gaze was elsewhere, and the frown forming on his face was enough to almost shatter her heart. "Why is my beloved suddenly so upset? Did I do something wrong? Was I too forward in my declaration earlier?! Oh no…if I've done something to offend or sadden my beloved, I would never be able to forgive myself! I must find out what is bothering him and help if I can…that is what a dutiful servant and lover should do!" "M-my lord Henry…is there something that's bothering you?" She asked hesitantly and somewhat timidly, fearing what he might say or do should be upset with her.

Henry stopped and turned his gaze back to her, his expression softening slightly at the obvious concern on her face. "Oh Kami…she is so beautiful…but why is she looking so concerned and fearful? Did she notice my expression? I'm still not sure how to best put this into words!" "W-why would you ask such a thing, my dear?" He replied, trying to be confident and composed but failing given his current nerves.

"He is upset with me, but he's trying so hard to mask it that it's making him stutter with nerves! Oh my beloved Henry…please let me help you!" "I-forgive me, my Crown Prince, but I could not help but notice just now that your expression had shifted to one of worry, and I was afraid that I may have done something to upset or offend you." She then went to a knee, her head bowed low. "Please…if there is anything your unworthy servant can do to help or assuage your worries…you need only ask and I shall give my all to see it done."

"She…she actually thinks I'm upset with her! I'm such an idiot! I let my worries show and now it's got her assuming that she's the one at fault when nothing could be further from the truth!" Instead of responding, Henry instead pulled her back to her feet and, before she could say anything, he pulled her close and wrapped her in a warm and protective hug, an act that caused her to squeal slightly in shock. "I'm sorry Albedo, I didn't mean to make you worry," he apologised. "The truth is…there is something on my mind that I need to tell you but…I'm not sure where to start or how to say it."

Albedo hesitated slightly before wrapping her arms slowly around Henry's waist to return his embrace. "There is nothing to apologise for, my Prince," she responded. "I'm sure you have a great many concerns on your mind after all, so it is only natural that you may over overwhelmed every once in a while." The two then broke the embrace as she smiled warmly at him, the concern in his eyes causing her heart to flutter once more. "I am here to listen and help you, my lord, so please…take your time and explain what is bothering you right now. If there is anything I can do to assist you, then I will."

Whatever nerves Henry had been feeling melted away upon seeing the caring smile on her face as well as the warmth and concern radiating from her. Feeling a lot more confident, he began to speak. "Albedo…ever since I laid eyes on you for the first time, I have dreamed and desired of having you at my side for the rest of my life," he said slowly, with Albedo's face now shining in happiness from what he just said. She looked as though she was about to interrupt but he shook his head to stop her as he continued. "But before we got to this new world, I thought my dreams would remain only that, but just before we were transported here…Lord Momonga altered the settings that your creator, Tabula, gave to you slightly so that you would be in love with me and see Lord Momonga as your father figure." He took another breath to compose himself as he continued further. "Even though the only reason that you love me is that you were programmed to do so…I wanted you to know at least that the feelings and love I have for you are genuine and that, should it be what you desire as well, I would be honoured and delighted beyond measure if you would agree to become my consort." "There it is…out in the open. At least she knows now…"

"HE LOVES ME! MY DARLING CROWN PRINCE LOVES ME! I was a fool to ever doubt his feelings for me!" Albedo squealed internally whilst doing her best to maintain her calm and composed demeanour, although that in itself was proving to be near impossible given how happy she was right now. "Darling…I cannot put into words how happy your words have just made me," she answered immediately, her heart beating even faster now. "And though I can understand why you may feel guilty by saying that these feelings for you are a result of a change in my settings, it doesn't change the fact that the love and desire I hold for you is true…and I am sure if my creator, Lord Tabula, were here, he'd be happy for us as well."

"Oh you'd have no idea Albedo…" Henry could almost hear Tabula's laughter in his mind as what he'd teased Henry about for so long was now coming true.

"If you'd permit me to be frank with you, my Prince, I was worried for a moment that I'd done something to worry or offend you just now, and if I had I'd have done everything asked of me to atone for my failures…" Albedo was babbling now even as she pressed herself into Henry's chest. "But I realise now that I was wrong to ever doubt your feelings for me. And as for your proposal…my answer is and always will be 'yes'. I would be delighted and honoured beyond words to be your consort!" With those words, she felt a surge of confidence rise within her that caused her to lift her head and smash her lips against his as she initiated their first, deep kiss.

"She said yes! Despite everything, she said yes and that she loves me!" Henry screamed internally as he passionately returned her kiss, the warm feelings inside of him threatening to envelop his body like a wave of fire….and by Kami's grace, her lips were so unbelievably soft and tasted of strawberries! "If this already wasn't the best day of my life, it is now!" Judging by how feverishly both were attacking the insides of each other's mouths with their tongues, they wouldn't be going anywhere for a while…nor would they want to.

However, the need for oxygen unfortunately made itself known, and so much to their displeasure both parties had to separate from one another, flushed and panting heavily as they did so as they remained held to each other.

"That was incredible, Darling!" Albedo's smile seemed like it would tear her mouth from how wide it was.

"Indeed it was, Albedo," Henry replied with a goofy grin plastered across his face. He was on cloud nine right now, the main woman of his dreams was now his and his alone! However, his moment of euphoria faded somewhat when a certain trio of maids entered his mind. "I hope Albedo doesn't mind what I'm about to ask of her next…best rip this band-aid off quickly and get it out the way…" He thought as he cleared his throat once more. "Albedo…I hope you don't mind this but…I have another confession to make."

"Yes, Darling?" Her honey-covered tone oozing with devotion made him feel slightly worse about what he was about to ask but he pressed on regardless.

"As happy as I am right now that you have fully accepted me, for which I promise to always have and hold you as the dearest to my heart…" He took a deep breath before biting the bullet. "There are three others who currently hold a place there as well."

To his shock, surprise and joy, her only reaction was to smile gently in return. "Of course…they would be Solution Epsilon, Lupusregina Beta and Narberal Gamma I presume?"

"Huh?! How did she…?!" Henry was stunned for a moment. "You knew?!"

"Naturally, Darling," she replied with a small teasing lilt added to her voice. "It would be impossible not to know with Lady Bukubukuchagama announcing that you were admiring them and myself every so often."

"Even in this new world…my beloved sister-figure finds a way to embarrass me…" Henry thought to himself with a chuckle. "And…this doesn't bother you?"

"Of course not, my beloved Crown Prince!" Albedo looked somewhat offended at the very prospect that any act by her beloved would displease her. "As Heir to the Great Tomb of Nazarick, you have the divine right to take as many lovers as your heart desires! And since those three managed to enchant you as well, I am positive that they are worthy to join us."

Henry's ecstasy was rising tenfold with every word she spoke. Even though it was still too early to tell for sure, this new world was proving to be one of the better places to be Isekai'd to. "Thank you, honey," he replied graciously as he once more held her close. "After we have shared our first night together, I will make sure to formally introduce your future sisters into the royal harem tomorrow morning."

"As you say, my love," Albedo answered graciously as she reached up and stroked his cheek once again.

~TNT~

Whilst the two lovebirds were revelling in their mutual bliss, Momonga had teleported to his private rooms in order to recover from what had just occurred.

"Oh man, I'm so tired…having to play the part of the evil overlord is exhausting!" He bemoaned with a loud, outward sight. "Why are they acting this way? It's like the three of us are gods to them…how is anyone able to live up to those expectations!"

After taking a few moments to vent his thoughts and catch his breath, Momonga decided to take the opportunity to test out a few of his abilities and test if any of the previous restrictions from YGGDRASIL were still present in this new world. With Narberal Gamma, who'd been sent to his quarters by Sebas to keep watch over him, watching on, he spent a couple of minutes looking through his list of skills, spells and abilities and found that nearly all of them were still accessible. Also, he could use his item storage function to store and withdraw items just like he could in the game. But his most disturbing discovery was when he looked back through his racial and job classes in order to figure out why his emotions had been suppressed earlier when Shalltear had hugged him, and as he scrolled through the list the explanation slowly dawned on him.

After all, it had been a long time since he'd had to check on his race and job levels. After reaching level 100 in the game and finalising his build, he'd never felt the need to go back over them that frequently. And as he read through them, he took special notice of his karma rating, -500/Extreme Evil, as well as his Racial Levels in 'Skeleton Mage', 'Elder Lich' and 'Overlord' and Job Levels in 'Necromancer' and 'Ruler of Death'. Seeing all of these, as well as recalling some of his, Henry's and Fengxian's earlier mannerisms, the pieces of what he'd thought would be a complicated puzzle were falling into place:

He was an undead and an evil, skeletal necromancer. From what he could recall in the various anime and manga he'd consumed, undead weren't supposed to have emotions of any sort, instead existing as cold and unfeeling monsters bent on committing evil deeds and spreading the plague of undeath. That's why his emotion suppression had kicked in with Shalltear.

"If our racial and job classes are starting to affect us this much, who knows what will happen further down the line as become more and more entwined with our new selves," he pondered, a slight shudder passing through his skeletal body as he moved to pick up a sword. "It's already starting to affect me and the others in some way. After all, from what I know of him, Ise was never as confident and sure of himself as he showed just now. As for Ki…he's normally quite sociable and easy-going, but at the moment he seems to be colder and more distant than usual. The three of us will definitely need to talk about this at some point…Agh!" His thoughts were interrupted as the sword he'd attempted to wield fell out of his hand and clattered to the ground, shocking his hand in the process.

"Is everything alright, my lord?" Narberal asked from where she was standing

"I-It's fine, Narberal…I was just testing something…" "It looks as though the restriction on magic casters not being able to use warrior-class weapons is still in effect. However, I have just the thing to bypass that rule. Let's see if it still works." He activated the Perfect Warrior spell, allowing him to convert his magic caster levels into the equivalent number of warrior levels and thus letting him temporarily become a half-baked level 100 warrior. This also had the effect of changing his attire as he found himself clad in a set of jet-black body armour adorned with purple and golden markings, complete with a red cape that he wore out of respect for his friend Touch Me. With Perfect Warrior now activated, he was able to pick up the sword that had previously fallen out of his grasp and swung it over a few times.

"Hmm…good to know this still works as intended. Now that I've tested everything, I should probably go and check on Mare and see how he's doing." "See that this is returned to the Armoury, Narberal," he told her, passing the sword to her. "If anyone needs me, I'll be going outside the Tomb for a few moments."

"Of course, Lord Momonga," Narberal replied with a small bow, taking the sword in both hands. She then hesitated a little as she drew up the courage to address him. "M-my lord…forgive my impudence but I was wondering…no, never mind, my lord…it is unimportant. Please forget I said anything.

"What was that about I wonder?" "Is there something troubling you, Narberal?" Momonga asked as he prepared to leave.

"F-forgive me again for my impudence my lord, but myself, Solution and Lupusregina were all wondering…do you know where Crown Prince Henry is right now?" As she spoke, the faintest hint of a blush could be seen on her cheeks.

"No way…they also have feelings for Ise? Wait a minute...!" Ainz wracked his memory for a moment before suddenly remembering. "That's right...Narberal's creator, Nishikienrai, along with HeroHero and Mekongawa, the creators of Solution and Lupusregina, did alter their settings so that they would be in love with him too, just like Albedo is after I changed her settings. You really are one lucky guy right now, Ise..." "My son and heir is currently having a moment with Albedo outside of the tomb. Why? Was there something you wished to ask him? I could always pass a message."

"O-oh, n-no my lord, it is nothing important. You are most gracious for bearing with my unimportant indulgence," Narberal apologised as she continued to blush away like a schoolgirl. "I-I'll return this sword to the Armoury at once and get out of your way!" With a hurried bow, she dashed out of Momonga's quarters before he could question her any further.

"Oh I am definitely NOT telling Ise about this! It'll be both the shock and best day of his life when he realises he has four beauties besotted with him!" Chuckling at this thought, Momonga teleported to the First Floor, still in his Perfect Warrior attire.

~TNT~

"I won't be able to use my magic in this form," he thought to himself ashe climbed a set of stairs that would lead him up towards the Tomb's entrance. "However, I'll still be able to use items as normal. With the right trinket equipped, I should be able to fly as well as I-EH?!" Momonga was stopped in his tracks at the top of the flight of stairs by the sight of three mammoth demons blocking his path, all of whom turned their gazes to him as he approached.

These demons were three of the Evil Lords under Demiurge's command: Envy, Greed and Wrath, all of them around Level 80. Envy was the smallest of the trio and bore the appearance of a feminine-looking monster, dressed in a tight-fitting bondage outfit with a crow's head. Greed was slightly taller and bore a more humanoid-looking appearance, with full-plate armour that was open at the chest showcasing his abdominal muscles. He also had black bat wings and two demonic horns protruding from his temples. And towering about the both of them was Wrath, who had the appearance of a ferocious demon with fangs that protruded from his mouth along with a massive body covered in scales. He also had stout arms, sharp claws, a pair of flaming wings and a snake-like tail.

"Evil Lords Envy, Wrath and Greed? What are they doing here?!" Momonga thought to himself with a slight panic. Before he could speak, all three demons suddenly parted ranks, revealing Demiurge standing a little ways off from them who, upon seeing who it was, immediately dropped into a respectful kneel.

"It's you, my lord!" He said reverently. "But why are you travelling here without an armed escort? And…wearing such armour?"

"Crap! How did he know it was me?! Think…how can I bluff my way out of this?!" Momonga cried internally. "Wait…I told Narberal I was coming to check on Mare…that should do it!" "Forgive my sudden appearance Demiurge…I was merely on my way to see how Mare is progressing with his efforts to conceal the tomb. As for my appearance…I just wanted to remain as inconspicuous as possible so as not to disturb anyone. But what are you doing here?"

"Such consideration and foresight from you my lord…you did not want to distract the other Guardians and denizens of Nazarick from their duties whilst making sure they carrying out their tasks to your specifications! I am in awe of your providence!" Demiurge declared, awed. "As for myself, my lord, I was searching for Overseer Albedo so that we could begin our own task…and since Lord Henry mentioned he was going to bring her outside the Tomb, I thought I would wait here until they were done."

"I see…how thoughtful of you Demiurge…" Momonga managed to get out as he internally cheered. "Phew! He actually bought it! Maybe I am starting to get the hang of this!"

"However, I would be remiss in my duties if I let my lord go outside the Tomb with an escort, so please let myself and my Evil Lords accompany you," the d suit-wearing demon continued.

"I just wanted a breath of fresh air!" Momonga moaned to himself. "But if I refuse, I risk offending him, which is the last thing I want to do right now!" "Very well, Demiurge. I will allow you at least to accompany me," he conceded as he stepped past Demiurge and the Evil Lords and continued his walk towards the entrance to the Tomb.

"Thank you for indulging my selfishness, my lord…I will not fail you!" Demiurge declared in a relieved tone, standing up and following behind his lord as they made their way towards the outside world. As the stone hallways of the tomb gave way to soft grass that was accompanied by a cool breeze, Momonga looked up towards the sky and marvelled at what he saw: a clear night sky, with barely a cloud in sight and the stars overhead shining brightly. Never before had he born witness to such a sight back in his own world, with the black smoke from the factories completely obscuring it every hour of every day. To see such a beautiful sky without any obstructions was incredible!

"Amazing…Blue Planet would have loved this sight…" He thought to himself as he pulled a necklace out of his inventory and slipped it over his head. "Fly!" He called out, and after a moment he shot straight up into the air like an arrow fired from a bow. If he'd looked down during his ascent, he would've seen Demiurge transform into his half-demon form, allowing him to sprout a pair of large black wings which he used to follow behind.

As Momonga reached the peak of his ascent, he removed his helm and allowed himself a few moments to gaze down at the beauty of this new world. "Wow…I can see everything for miles under the moon's clear night…" He marvelled to himself. Even though he and the others had promised each other to treat this new world cautiously in case it ended up being a disastrous experience, he couldn't help but think that, if their new home looked as beautiful as this, which was a massive step up from everything they had known in their old world, then perhaps it might not be as bad as they feared. "The stars in the sky…they glitter like jewels in a treasure box…" he found himself murmuring aloud.

"I believe this world exists so that you and the other Supreme Beings may adorn yourselves with its vast riches, my lord," he heard Demiurge speak from behind him, his voice unaffected by the toad-like form he was currently wearing. "As your chief servants, we Guardians exist to help you do so."

"Hmmm…poetically put Demiurge…and you may be right about that…" Momonga mused as he continued to gaze upon the world. After all, it didn't take much foresight to know that, by arriving here and with their subsequent venturing out into this new world that was to come, he and the others would be changing up the history of this world for good. And with their powers…who knows what they might be able to accomplish? "Perhaps we were sent to this land to claim these jewels for ourselves, along with all the treasures that shine beneath them. But to hoard such things would be the height of foolishness…maybe we could acquire such jewels to adorn the Great Tomb as a permanent symbol of the power we wield…"

"Such moving words, my lord Momonga," Demiurge replied with a bow, his hand over his heart. "If you and the others were to command it, all of Nazarick would mobilize to collect these jewels and present them to you."

Momonga chuckled at Demiurge's passionate words. "We still don't know anything about this world, so to consider those notions right now would be the height of foolishness." He then looked back down towards the world below. "Still though…the idea of world domination…that does sound interesting, and I'm sure Henry and Fengxian would think so too…" Unbeknownst to him at the time, Demiurge had taken these words to heart and swore to dedicate his efforts to see the ambitions of the Supreme Beings fulfilled, no matter what it took. After all, such was to be expected from the three who deserved to rule over all.

As the Overlord and the demon mused on their thoughts, their attention was suddenly taken as they heard the sound of earth being moved from far below them. "That sounds like Mare's work…" Momonga realised as he and Demiurge descended from the sky. And sure enough, as the pair came within sight of the walls of the Great Tomb, they saw the diminutive Guardian moving piles of earth onto the tomb's outer walls whilst at the same time taking great care not to damage it. Following these piles of earth were scattered clumps of trees forming out of the ground. "Impressive…Mare's power is truly extraordinary…" Momonga thought as beheld his work.

"Lord Momonga…may I ask what you plan to do next?" Demiurge asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"As you can see for yourself, Mare has done what I asked of him and more," he answered, indicating Mare's expert camouflage work. "I was thinking of rewarding him for his efforts and would like your opinion on what you think I should give him."

"I believe simply expressing your gratitude would be enough for him, my lord," Demiurge suggested.

"Hmm…" Momonga considered as he and Demiurge descended onto the walls not far from where Mare was working. The Dark Elf, upon seeing who it was, finished up what he was doing and rushed over to greet them.

"L-Lord Momonga!" He exclaimed joyfully, coming to a stop before them. "What brings you and Demiurge here?" His eyes then suddenly fell as a bout of nervousness overcame him. "O-oh no…did I do something wrong? I'm sorry, my lord! I promise I'll do better-!"

"It's alright Mare," Momonga reassured him. "I'm not even going to bother asking how he recognised me as well!" "I actually came to congratulate you on a job well done. What you have done here is crucial to the ongoing survival of Nazarick and will ensure that we remain safe and undetected as we seek to know more about this new world."

"I-I did well? You really mean that, Lord Momonga?" Mare asked hopefully.

"I do, and I want you to know how appreciative I am of your efforts. Your performance thus far has been exemplary, and as a result, I wanted to reward you. I want you to have this." Momonga held out his hand to the small Guardian, with one of the Rings of Ainz Ooal Gown resting on its palm.

"T-That's a Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, fit only to be worn by the Supreme Beings!" Mare exclaimed with shock. "I can't possibly accept this my lord…it's not right!"

"On the contrary, you are more than deserving of it," Momonga assured him as he slid the ring onto Mare's finger. "Furthermore, as one of Nazarick's Guardians, it will allow you to move freely throughout all of its ten floors unimpeded and allow you to continue your work. Take it…and serve Nazarick well."

"T-Thank you so much, Lord Momonga!" Mare exclaimed as the ring settled on his finger with a flash. "I'll be sure to work extra, extra hard to prove worthy of it so as bring great honour to the Great Tomb of Nazarick!"

"Just keep doing what you have been doing Mare," Momonga told him, rubbing his hair affectionately. "I'll be depending on you Mare."

"I won't let you down but…my lord, may I ask one more question?" Mare's joyful expression turned quizzical. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"Oh no Mare, not you too!" Momonga thought frantically. "I doubt the explanation I gave Narberal or Demiurge will suffice at this moment…what do I-?!"

"It's because he didn't want to distract you, Mare," spoke a clear, masculine voice from nearby, and as Momonga and the others looked over they saw Henry and Albedo approach them. They were currently arm-in-arm and wore matching expressions of contentment and joy. "After all, you were working so hard and with great care, it would have been a great shame if your work had been ruined by us merely coming to see you, which is why my father chose to alter his attire so that you wouldn't notice."

"Indeed…after all, if our lord Momonga had approached any of us in his true form, we would have ceased whatever we were doing in order to do our best to please him," Albedo almost purred.

(Thanks for the save there, Ise) Momonga conveyed with the Message spell. (I take it by your expression everything went well?)

(Like you wouldn't believe, Suzi…I'll tell you all about it another time) came Henry's reply.

"I take it you two have concluded whatever business you had to take care of?" Momonga asked Henry and Albedo out loud.

"We have indeed, Father. The results were…better than we expected." Henry answered as he and Albedo took a knee before him. "Father…with your permission, I would like to take Guardian Overseer Albedo as my primary consort. If you allow it, I promise to protect and love her with everything I have."

Momonga chuckled as both Demiurge and Mare let out gasps of delight. He then turned to look down at Albedo. "Is that what you desire as well, Albedo?"

"With every fibre of my being, lord Momonga," Albedo answered immediately, her eyes shining with affection. "If you allow this, I swear I will love and cherish my beloved Crown Prince for the rest of my days, and provide him and Nazarick with a line of glorious Heirs to secure your dynasty for all time."

If he could, Momonga would have been smiling widely at their answers. Seeing as he couldn't, he settled for another loud, throaty chuckle. "Then who am I to stand in your way? You have my blessing," he answered, gesturing for them to rise. As much as he wished he could hug them, he knew his emotion suppression would block it so words would have to suffice for now. "Congratulations to you both."

"Congratulations Lord Trajan! And to you as well, Overseer Albedo!" Mare exclaimed, causing the aforementioned demoness to blush.

"Indeed, many congratulations! I look forward to witnessing the results of your glorious union!" Demiurge added.

"Thank you, Mare, and you as well, Demiurge," Henry replied as the pair got to their feet, blushing furiously at the implications behind the demon's words. As he'd done many times so far this evening, he decided to bite the bullet and get this officially out of the way as well. "Father…with your permission I would also seek your blessing to court Solution, Lupusregina and Narberal as well. Albedo has already given her blessing, but I wish for yours as well before adding them to my harem."

"Oh Ise, you are in for an absolute treat seeing as they feel the same about you…" "So granted, my son…I wish you the best in your efforts," he replied graciously before noticing the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown already adorning Albedo's finger. Momonga had planned to give her a ring of his own, but it would seem Henry had realised she needed one and beaten him to the punch. "I see you have already gifted Albedo with another of the rings. I would have done so myself if you hadn't so good work." Instead, he turned around and offered the Ring he'd planned to give Albedo to Demiurge. "In that case…I'd like you to have this ring also, Demiurge. As with Mare and Albedo, it will assist you greatly in your duties around the Great Tomb."

"My lord…I am unworthy of this great honour you have bestowed upon me!" Demiurge exclaimed, accepting the gift and fitting it on his finger. "I too promise to work with the utmost diligence to bring glory and honour to you and all of Nazarick!"

"I have no doubt you will be worthy of this charge," Momonga replied before looking at them all one more time. "You have all done well today, and I am proud of you all. May you continue to bring honour and glory to Nazarick through your deeds!" He proclaimed. "For now, I intend to retire to my quarters for the night. I will see you all again in the morning."

"Good night, Lord Momonga/Father!" They all echoed as he used the Ring once again to teleport to his quarters.

"I'd best be off too…I still need to check in with Pandora's Actor and inspect the Treasury," Henry said before turning to Albedo. "Darling, I want you to go with Demiurge and start with the task we've set for you. When I am finished, I will call for you to come to my quarters…if that is okay with you?"

Albedo's eyes sparkled with anticipation before her face settled back into its normal composed expression. "As you say, my beloved Crown Prince. I shall await your call." She then turned to look at Demiurge. "Shall we, Demiurge?"

"Of course, Guardian Overseer. Lead the way!" The demon replied. With two flashes from their rings, both Guardians also vanished.

"That's my cue to leave," Henry finally stated as he leaned over and ruffled Mare's hair one more time. "Keep up the good work Mare…you're doing brilliantly."

"T-thank you, Lord Trajan!" Mare beamed. "And congratulations again!" Henry chuckled at his words before activating his own Ring and teleporting to the Treasury where Pandora's Actor awaited.

~TNT~

Whilst all this was going on outside the Tomb, Fengxian had retreated to his dwelling to meditate on the day's events. Given everything that had gone on in the past few hours, he believed it would do him some good to take a moment to empty his mind and relax, which in turn might help bring further clarity to the monumental goings-on that had taken place today and allow him to be better prepared for what was to come.

After letting Shinozaki know to expect Cocytus to appear at any moment, he began by sitting comfortably on the floor of his room and removing his helm, allowing his face to be fully uncovered. He then closed his eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling and then exhaling through his nose. As the breath left him, he visualised his exhale getting rid of any unwanted energy or thoughts that threatened to distract him at this time.

In. Out. In. Out. Through it all, he kept his mind free of any preoccupations and focused solely on his breathing. A clearer mind would lead to a sharper and deadlier mind, which would make him far more effective on the battlefield.

Even when Cocytus arrived shortly after, he didn't allow the Guardian's intrusion to disrupt his flow. As he concentrated on his breathing, he motioned for Cocytus to join him, and within a few moments the two of them, along with Shinozaki who had also been willing to take part, were all sitting in silent and focused meditation, focusing on their breathing and emptying their minds of all concerns and stresses.

In. Out.

In. Out.

In. Out.

After all, the more focused their minds were, the more use they could be to Lord Momonga and the Crown Prince. And the better use they could be for them, the more glory they could bring to Nazarick…a goal that all three individuals present vowed to strive for with every fibre of their being.

daniel: Well, this was quite the chapter but we are proud of it all! Can't wait for the next one where not only will Henry gain 3 harem members in one go but the trio will meet with the most honourable man in the entire new world!

As my co-author said, this was indeed a doozy to get through…but I don't regret how long it is. I wanted to get all of this into one chapter and I'm incredibly proud we managed to do so, even if it is 2k words longer than our usual chapter length. Originally I was going to have Fengxian's part at the end there slightly longer, but given I was already at 15k words I decided to condense it to keep the word count at a good amount.

And yup, next time out we'll be debuting in Carne Village where we'll meet some of our favourite characters such as Enri and Gazef whilst at the same time doling out sweet justice to the invaders! I hope you are all looking forward to that as much as we are! So until then, on behalf of myself and my co-author daniel, thank you so much for reading and for all the love that's been to this story so far, and we'll see you all in the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!