— BukuBukuChagama —

It all felt so surreal.

When Kakuei had told them that he had a dream of them being isekaied, she wondered if his mental health was deteriorating, and she was worried for him. As a product of the love she had built for him, she decided to trust in him, even if she didn't believe his dream would become reality.

And now she realized just how wrong she had been.

Kakuei's words had come true, and now they were in another world in the bodies of their game avatars.

Buku didn't even know what to say; after all, who would?! Being transported to another world wasn't something she'd even consider a possibility, much less her new reality, and the adjustment period had been… harsh.

Initially, when she was transferred over, she couldn't do anything but move, touch, and hear. She couldn't see or smell anything, nor could she physically talk.

As she got used to her body, she realized that the skills she acquired upon appearing in the world allowed her to see and speak, and they were so different from what she had known all her life.

Extra Skill: Magic Sense: Allows the user to use Magic Power as an extra sense to perceive the surrounding magicules and see a full 360 degrees around them, without leaving a single blind-spot. By observing the fluctuation of light and sound waves through their interaction with magicules, they can be processed and converted into perceptible data, allowing the user to see and hear their surroundings. With this, one can see in complete darkness as if it were bright as day and can continue fighting even if their eyes and ears were to be crushed. Ambushes become virtually impossible as the user is fully aware of their environment. It is also possible to shift perspectives to allow the user to look at themselves from a third person point of view.

In her mind, Buku believed this new reality was worth it for several reasons, one of which was her beloved children.

Aura and Mare.

She appeared in the arena on the Sixth Floor and immediately started looking around for her babies. Her slimy head turned left and right as she used her magic sense to spot the two sitting in the arena stands.

"Lady BukuBukuChagama!" Aura cheered, jumping over a hundred meters into the air before landing on the arena floor and running over to her. Within a couple of moments, Aura stood right before Buku.

The slime woman couldn't contain herself as she looked at the girl she spent so much time with in-game and pushed into her in a greedy hug.

"My baby girl!" Buku exclaimed.

Her happiness was met with silence and then a weird feeling filled Buku's body. She looked at Aura to see that her body had nearly been consumed by the slime, making Buku panic.

"Oh no!" She quickly pulled back, allowing Aura to escape the slime. The young girl giggled at her creator and outstretched her hands.

"That was great, Lady BukuBukuChagama!" Aura cheered with childlike excitement. The adorable little girl was too much for Buku to stay away from, she threw herself back into Aura, thanking whatever god sent them here for this opportunity.

After half a minute, Buku moved back again, as she realized if she hadn't, Aura probably would have stayed in her embrace forever—not that she'd have a problem with that.

"What are you doing, Mare?! Lady BukuBukuchagama is here!" Aura suddenly turned around and shouted toward the stands, where Mare was trying his best to watch without being spotted. Trying, yet failing miserably.

"I-I…" Mare stuttered, her gaze flickering between his sister and their creator. "A-Alright."

The cross-dressing boy hopped out of the stands and began jogging over to the two, all while keeping a hand on his skirt to keep it down.

In Buku's mind, she was having a sweetness overload. She never thought how cute these two would be in real life!

Sure, things were weird with this whole World Change thing, but it was a good kind of weird. Now, there were so many opportunities, foods, and places to explore!

And she'd have her family and friends with her through it all!

"Give mommy a hug!"

— Kakuei —

After minutes of going through my skills, I decided that it was time to situate the guild further before I did anything else. Being in a world that I wasn't even sure was the actual New World was more than a bit unnerving, and not learning of the world and being unprepared could spell our doom.

I knew this wasn't a game, and I was sure that all of my friends knew it as well.

I closed my eyes and tilted my head upward, inhaling and exhaling. My existence…it was weird yet relaxed. I didn't know how to describe it. When I was standing in the Tomb, I could feel everything. I could focus my gaze outward and see things that were nowhere next to me, filling me with an odd sense of… pleasure? I can't place the feeling well, but it was good.

I focused my consciousness toward the entrance of Nazarick, where I saw the Pleiades standing there. It was as if I was there with them, but judging by their lack of a reaction, they couldn't see me.

I pulled my consciousness back before using my ring of Hell's Paradise to teleport to their location, appearing just behind them.

They gracefully turned around and dropped to a knee with lowered heads.

"Your presence honors us, Supreme Leader." Yuri Alpha spoke for her sisters as she always does.

I eyed all of them, and now that I was alone with them, I could admire them for how stunning they were. Honestly, no humans in our old world could compare to these girls' level of grace and beauty.

"Has Sebas contacted you?" I asked, bringing my gaze to Yuri Alpha.

"He has not." She answered curtly.

"I see." I frowned in thought. Sebas not contacting the Pleiades could only be a good thing. It means he and my two creations didn't run into someone or something dangerous enough to warrant caution, at least not yet. They shouldn't go out too far, so maybe I should peek.

"I'll see his progress for myself."

— Momonga —

She entered the Sixth Floor Arena and paused at the sight she was seeing. Her friend/lover was smothering the two-floor guardians of the Sixth Floor.

Momonga had been here for just about as long as Buku, but with how anxious her friend was, she wouldn't be surprised if the girl hadn't even noticed her, or if she did, didn't care.

"Don't you think that's enough, Kaori?" Momo asked, letting a nervous laugh escape her lips, earning the attention of the three people.

"There are never enough hugs, Megumi, and don't you forget it!" Buku denied, placing her slimy nubs on the side of her body.

Meanwhile, the two children stared at the Supreme Beings nervously.

"I guess you're right." Momo sighed, scratching the back of her head. "I just don't think it's the smartest thing to do considering you're…"

"Y-Yeah…I'll do it in moderation." Buku relented.

"Aw." Aura said quietly and Mare let out a noise of discontent.

They may not like it, but it's probably for the best that they don't keep hugging, at least until they find a way for Buku to get a more solid, humanoid body.

"Ara, am I the first to arrive?"

Four heads turned to the entrance of the arena to see Shalltear, the Guardian of the First, Second, and Third Floors, walking toward them with a pleasant smile on her lips. She walked over to them before stopping and curtseying.

"It is an honor to be in your presence again, Supreme Ones."

"Shalltear." Buku greeted her with a happy tone.

"I'm glad you've come so fast, Shalltear." Momo smiled at the True Vampire.

"Of course, it is the duty of the Guardians to answer the call of the Supreme Beings as soon as possible. To do anything less would warrant a fate worse than death." Shalltear explained professionally, but the blush and beaming smile gave her away.

"Indeed." Another voice agreed.

They all turned to the voice to see Cocytus, Guardian of the Fifth Floor, walking toward them with his hulking form and shining armor. He dropped to a knee and lowered his head.

"It is always a great day to be in the presence of the Supreme Ones."

"Thank you for coming, Cocy-"

"Shalltear?!"

All heads turned to see Pero standing behind them, pointing at the Vampire.

"L-Lord Peroronchino!"

Oh, this couldn't be good.

— Albedo —

Albedo walked through the Eighth Floor, letting out a deep, reminiscent sigh. She had been here many times in the past, brought by their creator, Lord Tabula, along with her sisters, to visit Rubedo and make adjustments to her.

The Eighth Floor has and will always hold a special place in Albedo's heart, mainly because of the people who protect it and the general atmosphere of the place. Beyond all of that, this was the floor where the most tremendous invasion force in Yggdrasil's history came to a halt—the day the conquerors of Nazarick ascended to the rank of Supreme Beings.

Albedo made her way through the quiet landscape of the graveyard and into a grave house. Upon entering, she was greeted with the sight of a redheaded beauty, sitting on her throne, waiting for her chance to be of use once more.

"Greetings, dear sister."

The redheaded woman opened her eyes, the top half of her face hidden by a mask, and looked at her older sister.

"Albedo…you've come…why?"

Albedo giggled at her sister's demeanor. She had always been the most introverted of all of them, never speaking when she didn't feel it was necessary.

"Lord Kakuei has summoned the Guardians to the Sixth Floor Arena, with the exception of Victim and Gargantua. You are to come in his place, dear sister."

"..." Rubedo remained quiet for a few seconds before standing up from her throne. "I shall answer his call…"

"Good, then let us-"

With a flash of light, Rubedo disappeared.

Albedo stood there in silence for a moment before letting out a long laugh. Her little sister was indeed the cutest!

— Later —

Albedo had finished summoning all the Guardians and finally arrived at the Sixth Floor Arena, where she saw everyone already there, except for Lord Kakuei, Lord Touch Me, and the…other two. She had no real idea who they were, nor did she know their association with the Supreme Beings, but she knew their presence commanded their respect and loyalty, and the Supreme Beings respected them, so they must be important.

"I have completed my task, Supreme Ones." Albedo bowed.

"Good work, Albedo." Lord Ulbert nodded, his eyes roaming over all the Guardians in unmasked interest. Then, his gaze went to Sebas. "I'm quite curious to know what you've learned of our new setting."

Sebas looked up at the demon with an expressionless face.

"There's an order to these things, Ulbert." Everyone looked at the entrance of the arena to see Lord Kakuei, Lord Touch Me, and the two others walking toward them.

"...Forgive me if I'm a bit impatient." Lord Ulbert frowned.

"I understand your concern, and we'll get to the bottom of this soon…for now, we must make things proceed naturally." Lord Kakuei explained before looking at Albedo, a small smile appearing on his face. "Begin.

"I, Shalltear Bloodfallen, Guardian of the First, Second, and Third Floors, serve and obey."

I, Cocytus, Guardian of the Fifth Floor, serve and obey."

I, Aura Bella Fiore, Guardian of the Sixth Floor, serve and obey." / "I-I, M-Mare Bella F-Fiore, a-also Guardian of the Sixth Floor, serve and obey."

"I, Demiurge, Guardian of the Seventh Floor, serve and obey."

I, Rubedo, Valkyrie Warrior of the Eighth Floor, serve and obey."

"I, Albedo, Leader of the Guardians, serve and obey. We, the Guardians, pledge our undying, unending fidelity to the ones who stand above the realms, the Almighty Supreme Ones."

— Chapter End —

Beta Reader: Basilisk Dragonboy1 LuluViBritania (FF.N, SB, WN and QQ)/-LuluViB99th Britannian Emperor(Discord)

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay. To say the end of this year has been kicking my ass would be a massive understatement. So much shit has been going on, and I've just been trying my best to stay positive. Needless to say, writing wasn't one of the things that kept me happy during that time, but I'm happy to say that I'm feeling better and things have straightened themselves out. I thank God for that and I should be back to my normal schedule from now on.

One last note: I don't know if I mentioned this, but Rubedo basically just looks like Malenia from Elden Ring but without the rot and towering form.