Author's Notes

I am not dead. Hurray! I do not have any crippling illnesses of the sort unless excessive coffee drinking counts as one. In short, college life and many times of writing disinterest have put me off this website, but now I am back.

The cross-over story is also being taken out of the dusty old attic. I'll see if I can get some chapters posted before the end of next week alongside this one. Yes, I am still reading your reviews. Thank you for coming over to check out my stories and give your constructive thoughts. I certainly need them after this crazy year which will soon come to a close.

I am excited to watch the new Overlord movie, and that excitement caused a burst of inspiration in my head. This time, I wanted to post a story dedicated to my favorite Pleiades maid. This is not a one-shot story; I hope to cultivate a fully-fledged AU with the same level of motivation I had in my first few chapters posted on this website. I'll keep the story toned down, but it's Overlord we're talking about, so at the minimum, it will be rated for teens. I'll move the rating if needed.

There's nothing much else to say to both my new and old readers alike other than to please enjoy my story and others to come!

Disclaimer:

This fanfiction directly takes characters and other sources from the preexisting light novel series Overlord. I sincerely thank Maruyama, so-bin, and other associates for giving us this beautiful read. The art cover is from FACUNDORAPPER and can be found in his DeviantArt gallery.

Let the world-building continue. Adieu!

"23% complete. Progress has been halted."

"Just… a little more… If I click this, that should be the end of it!"

[…Success! The [Armageddon] protocol has been removed from the main directory. Moving out of general settings. Resuming the Yggdrasil Installation Wizard.]

"—Momonga-sama! Your plan has worked. I have confirmed that Garnet-sama's—the Doctor's—emergency override 'see-dee' has allowed us to access the core settings and eliminate the dreadful protocol that was giving us a fright. I have also made it so you are free to make any modifications. You may now move to the next step of Trifecta!"

"Well done, Pandora's Actor. I am pleased to see my experience helped you out despite my help being insignificant."

"Do not say that, Momonga-sama. Your help was indeed crucial! Thank you for teaching me how to navigate this mechanical device. But to think that the Supreme Being's form is required to move this circular object inside this—what do you call it again—a computer? How curious, indeed."

"Truthfully speaking, it was a gamble. I am glad to see things have worked out so far, but it is not the end just yet. You may dispense with my friend's form, Pandora's Actor."

"Are you sure I am no longer needed for this operation?"

"I would ask you to stay here as your Greater Doppelganger abilities were crucial for the initial procedure. However, given what we have just sacrificed, we must re-count our World Items and see if anything else has disappeared. The disappearance of a World Item should not be taken lightly. This task is vital to Nazarick's safety, so I shall summon several High Wraiths to assist you in your thorough search."

"I am deeply honored to be bestowed your personal servants!"

"Is that so? Still, remember that you have full jurisdiction over them. Command them as you see fit. And bear in mind that this is no precursory inspection. I want you to be as thorough as possible. Check the deepest parts of the storerooms and inform me of even the slightest abnormalities. Albedo will later verify it on her administrative systems, but I trust you know why I am still sending you out to perform this task regardless?"

"Of course! As the Area Guardian of the Treasury, I will devote my heart and soul to this order you gave me, Momonga-sama!"

"Umu. Go now and report to me what you have found before the end of this day."

"57% complete…"

"It has only been a few minutes, no? The progress has been moving surprisingly fast."

"—If I may have a moment of your time, Momonga-sama."

"Ah, please wait a moment. A notification just popped up… 'Buy this limited-edition magic item for only a small price of'—eh? I haven't seen these ads in a while. How is it even showing it without the… forget it. I'm closing it… There. I apologize for the wait, Albedo. What is your question?"

"Y-yes. According to Garnet-sama—I mean, the Doctor's thorough list of instructions written in this small pamphlet, any forcible editing of his creations without his permission will make them berserk. Even if what Pandora's Actor says is true, would it not be wise to keep him around to prevent deviations?"

"I trust that Garnet-san's emergency override CD has worked without a hitch. But moreover, it is precisely the fact they will possibly go berserk that Pandora's Actor has to stay away."

"I-I'm afraid I don't understand."

"I shall explain it to you, Albedo. Listen well. Like the Ariadne System, there is an invisible mechanic within the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. This time, it is within Garnet-san's creations and is of his own doing. I do not know if both of them are even present and working, but I trust that Garnet-san's mechanic works in our favor. The slight issue is that it is a terrible double-edged blade."

"I see, so it is to protect him. But how did that come to be, Momonga-sama? I have never heard of such a thing."

"Umu. The details were kept tight-lipped amongst ourselves, but I suppose I can tell you given our current situation. It was because of Valkyrie's Downfall, which was a time when… well, this may be hard for you to understand considering your predisposition. If you do not mind, I will start from the beginning to jog my memories."

"Please enlighten me, Momonga-sama! I will do my best to understand."

"Very well. It will help pass the time as this progress continues in the background. You could say it began a new era of Yggdrasil, and during this era, the power of machines intertwined with magic itself. And so, with that came a revolution. Magic-infused machines of war to intricately designed traps designed to wear down and weaken Players gruesomely. CZ-2128 Delta… that is quite a mouthful. Let us refer to her as Shizu. Yes, 'Shizu' here is a product of this revolution, who holds the 'Automaton' and 'Gunner' classes."

"I see! But I assume there are more benefits centric to that era apart from the creation of Shizu."

"Naturally, Ainz Ooal Gown has already taken advantage of the other boons, primarily traps infused with magic ranging from bugging to damaging to outright killing if one is not careful to go around them. But it is foolish to think we are the only ones who have done so. We have dealt with opposing beings and guilds who gained the power to tamper with traps, machines, and mechanical-oriented NPCs. It became a highly viable tactic in guild raids, and we had seen several cases of these infiltrators during the Great Invasion."

"The Great Invasion…! That was when those foolish beings tried to invade our holy sanctuary."

"So you remember. Garnet-san anticipated there would be foolish people like those seeking to undermine not just NPCs but also our complicated trap system, which helped deter many previous invaders. Since we could not make modifications during the invasion, Garnet-san hastily created specialized data crystals to counter these Players. We would have suffered greater losses without him and Punitto-san's strategic guidance. Nonetheless, it was because the invaders ascended past the Seventh Floor when Garnet-san felt it was right to activate his last-resort trap, the [Armageddon] protocol."

"[Armageddon] protocol…"

"There was a high concentration of explosive and fiery traps on the Seventh Floor, as per Ulbert-san's wishes. They were practically everywhere, inside the flowing magma and ashen ground alike, but they were hidden from the public eye. After the [Armageddon] protocol was activated, the once carefully concealed traps simultaneously activated en mass, and those who were unlucky enough to be caught in the blast suffered more than most."

"Fufu. What a brilliant plan to deal with our enemies. If only I had been there to see it."

"Indeed. It was quite simple but brutally effective. As a bonus, it helped soften them up for the monsters awaiting them in the Eighth Floor. It was not enough to deal with the invading masses, but it served its purpose. Unfortunately, Garnet-san's rushed development of his protocol made it so that further tampering with his creations would also cause it to blow up in our faces."

"What a dreadful outcome. I see why you wish not to have Pandora's Actor around during this precarious stage. And, and the emergency 'see-dee' helped resolve it?"

"More like a brute-force method to get past security firewalls, but essentially, yes. We found what is most likely the last one-use emergency override CD, thanks to Shizu's memory. Genjiro-san likely made it long before he developed the [Armageddon] protocol. Frankly, I never expected it to come to use, but now that we have terminated the protocol, we can safely proceed to the final step."

[95% complete…]

[To complete the final step before installation, the administrator must enter their Yggdrasil password.]

"What? The installation hasn't even begun? What was it even doing up until this point? And why do I enter my credentials at the last 5 percent?"

"This 'Trifecta Software Patch' is truly irritating, Momonga-sama. To think that it has been wasting our precious time while we could have dedicated it to ensuring Nazarick's safety!"

"The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can head back to regular business, Albedo. Now then, the transfer of ownership was successful, so I would assume it would be my password instead of Garnet-san's… I have already gotten this far. Turning back would be a massive waste. Albedo, please turn away. This is highly confidential."

"Yes!"

[…Confirmed password. The Trifecta installation procedure has begun.]

"…What am I hearing…?"

"…This is an interesting way to showcase the usage of one of the 'Twenty.' While the computer screen displayed a retro-ish icon of that World Item, I still don't remember the exact details of what that World Item did. And this music… this is so old-fashioned… Ah! Keygen, was it? So that's what it reminded me of. I never expected those shitty devs to have a unique taste."

"I have heard the term 'shi-tee' devs uttered by the Supreme Beings several times, but sadly, I do not know what this 'key-gen' term means."

"Ah, er, it's like a pleasant-sounding tune? Like something is being crushed, yes. I'm afraid I have no further memory of that… Ho? A notification has popped up. Let's see…"

[Estimated time to completion: 4 minutes and 18 seconds.]

"Well, this is a minuscule amount. It seems we are nearing the end of this grueling process, Momonga-sama."

"That does seem to be the case… No, wait. It seems to be correcting itself."

[Estimated time to completion: 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 57 seconds.]

"This computer—!"

"W-wait! Albedo, put down your weapon! I understand your frustrations, but disruptions may set us back to the beginning, if not destroy the computer stand!"

"…Understood. I apologize for how I was acting, Momonga-sama. As the Guardian Overseer, I should know better than to act like a child throwing a tantrum. It seems this computer has tested my patience on several occasions. I sincerely hope something great comes out of this."

"I agree. Well, it would be grueling to wait around for that long. I will assist Pandora's Actor in his search for the World Items. Would you care to come with me? I will have one of the High Wraiths helping out Pandora's Actor stand by the computer and report to me via [Message] if anything shows up on the computer screen."

"I believe it is necessary to have at least one person familiar with computers standing by. You may leave Shizu to me."

"Is that so? I do not want to sound demeaning when I say this, but you know how to use a computer?"

"Yes! My creator, Tabula-sama, has taught me how to use a computer. I have undergone both housewife and secretary training!"

"Ah, secretary? It makes sense for Tabula-san to add that in your settings, considering your role as a 'Guardian Overseer'… wait, did you say housewife?"

"Yes! I will utilize my experience as a housewife to the fullest after I marry my future husband!"

"I-I see… Then, if there's nothing else, I will see you in twenty minutes."

[99% complete…]

"I am terribly sorry for this, Momonga-sama! The progression appears to have halted yet again. I have repeatedly tried clicking the mouse to make it go faster, but even that strategy has failed."

"I-I see. I don't fault you for using such a strategy. Nonetheless, thank you for watching over Shizu, Albedo. It seems Pandora's Actor is more than halfway in his inspection. It seems he has gone out of his way to overhaul Genjiro-san's original categorization."

"That falls outside the scope of the order you have given him, correct? Will you reprimand him for this behavior?"

"Not at all. In fact, I informed him that I welcome this change. I have sent over some of my lower and mid-tier undead summons to assist in hauling the heavier loads. However, I have told him not to interfere with the magic items hiding inside the gold piles."

"I see. That was an intentional move by Genjiro-sama!"

"You are correct, Albedo. Now, have there been any other problems?"

"None at the moment, I'm afraid. So far, no abnormalities have been reported. There is the occasional 'pop-up,' but those have been swiftly dealt with. If I may be so bold, closing them is surprisingly… satisfying."

"Is that so? I also find the action oddly satisfying. Well, thank you for your hard work nonetheless. Allow me to take over the computer."

"Understood."

"…Tch. It had to be at the last percentage. What else is new… Right, this looks important."

[The World Item's compatibility with the Trifecta patch has been verified. Two out of three job classes have already been added. However, due to a lack of a Caloric Stone, a one-time expense of Yggdrasil currency is required to finish adding the final job class. The total amount of Yggdrasil currency needed for the job class addition is—

"—100 trillion-?!"

"What's wrong, Momonga-sama?! You're stumbling! Are you alright?"

"Y-yes. I was a bit surprised, that's all. The fact that a single Caloric Stone was initially required is simply absurd. That's essentially saying we'd need one of the Twenty and another World Item. At least we are provided another avenue of spending. Either way, this comes at a great cost, it seems…"

[…Confirmed gold acquisition. The third job class has been successfully added to the World Item's user. The Trifecta patch has been completed. Thank you for using the Yggdrasil Installation Wizard. Have a pleasant day!]

"Momonga-sama. I have confirmed that the Treasury's gold count has depleted by exactly the stated amount on the computer."

"Thank you, Albedo. I believe that is all. Ah—there goes the computer stand. How anti-climatic…"

"I am glad that nothing catastrophic had occurred by the end of this ordeal. But if even you are surprised by this financial cost, is this truly worth the endeavor?"

"Yes. Long ago, Genjiro-san reported that the Treasury once numbered hundreds of trillions. We have not seen lesser values since then, but the count is staggeringly large nowadays. Therefore, the Treasury will not suffer terribly from this expense."

"I understand!"

"Umu. The more important matter is that these three Job classes the Trifecta patch offers cannot be found anywhere else. It vexes me that we are not told what they can do, but thankfully, we can gain some insight from the fact that the Trifecta patch depended on the World Item's compatibility with the 'Automaton' and 'Gunner' classes. We will likely see Shizu's pre-existing classes be empowered apart from her new ones. Regardless, the potential behind Shizu's growth is simply too good to pass up."

"But of course, you have already reached a conclusion before me, Momonga-sama. My knowledge in the realm of these racial and job classes falls short in comparison to your infallible mind, which has already comprehended the enigma of magic itself."

"The enigma of magic… you flatter me too much, Albedo."

"But it is true! And while I can at least be sure the rewards we reap will be magnificent, It may be best for us to carefully observe any future changes within Garnet-sama's beloved creation for the upcoming days."

"You are quite right that we have much to observe. However, if the results disappoint, you must not hold anyone accountable. We must move on with the failed knowledge and cultivate it into success in similar fields. But that doesn't mean I openly endorse repeated defeats for one victory. I may consider that option if it is just me, but not for Nazarick."

"I-I see…"

"Hm? Please speak your mind, Albedo. I will not rebuke you for your thoughts on the matter."

"I sincerely apologize, Momonga-sama! I did not mean to sound so hesitant. It is just that I cannot fathom you entertaining the notion that Ainz Ooal Gown, let alone you, can suffer at the hands of defeat."

"We have suffered losses from time to time, but we always emerged victorious in the end. Careful time and thinking can transform even the most catastrophic failures into golden opportunities. But things seem to be going quite well for Shizu. However, since I have not troubled myself with learning about an Automaton, I will have to sift for any notes that Garnet-san may have left behind and build up points of reference."

"But why, if I may ask, did you not do so when looking for the emergency override see-dee?"

"It pains me to invade my friend's privacy, so I stayed my hand from further intrusion. But now I must ensure that whatever happens to Shizu is not the product of my mistake. As for committing to the Trifecta patch and the unexpected loss of one of the Twenty… I will take responsibility and apologize to Garnet-san and others if need be."

"Momonga-sama…"

"It is alright, Albedo. More importantly, I hope they will understand that I meant no harm to them and bore no ill intentions. Empowering Shizu is a stepping stone to preserving the legacy of Nazarick—my friends. Furthermore, with them presently gone, I will not hesitate to take up their mantles of caring and nurturing for Nazarick's inhabitants. In a sense, you are all my children."

"As… as expected as the one who leads the Supreme Beings. Although I cannot imagine someone as great as you bear witness to failure, your compassion to both Nazarick and the Supreme Beings is unparalleled. We are not worthy of your good graces."

"Nonsense. As it currently stands, it is only sensible for me to look after my friend's children when they themselves cannot fulfill that duty. I will see that done, no matter what."

"I shall strive to emulate these values you hold dear and help you better Nazarick in all sorts of manners! I am falling for you even more so than before, Momonga-sama!"

"Ah…yes. Thank you, Albedo. Ahem! It seems this process will be smooth sailing. I believe it is time to deliver the good news to Shizu's sisters. They must no doubt be anxious about their comrade's health."

"Indeed! Yuri and her fellow sisters will be pleased to see this new side of the new and improved Automaton. Or, if I may be so bold—the Doctor's spiritual successor?"

"Spiritual successor? Yes… I believe my friend would have loved to see Shizu growing up and not only walking his path but branching off to something new and exciting. At first, I thought this Trifecta upgrade was outrageously expensive, given that it suddenly usurped one of the 'Twenty' that should have been well-hidden in the deepest parts of the Treasury, never mind the loss of 100 trillion gold coins. But now that I think about it… it seems we are about to witness something entirely unprecedented."

"Indeed, Momonga-sama. Her future development will be crucial to Nazarick's advancements itself. It might even reach a level that will make the other Supreme Beings unable to bat an eye."

"Fufu. That is something to think about. If Garnet-san were to see this right now… it would have been a sight to behold."

"Momonga-sama? Is something wrong?"

"…No. I was recalling memories. Now then, please log the time and remind me ten minutes before the estimated completion. After you inform Yuri, Please inform Pandora's Actor to keep a watch… No, wait. I rescind that order. Take Shizu to the Amphitheater and have Aura and Mare watch over her. Make sure to have Shizu placed in the center of the arena. And ask Aura to bring her servants as additional bodyguards. They may need it in case something goes awry."

"Understood. Shall I accompany you afterward?"

"Indeed. I require assistance in inspecting Nazarick's remaining floors and ascertaining any abnormalities. This is mainly to see if I can identify and isolate incidents concerning Shizu. There is also a possibility that the Trifecta patch will affect the rest of Garnet-san's creations. Since Sebas is still performing reconnaissance outside Nazarick, we do not know what is out there that may threaten our livelihoods. We must remain vigilant and move swiftly during our checks. In addition, if the [Armageddon] protocol re-surfaces, we must be ready to tackle the issue with all due haste."

"Can we not rely on those emergency override see-dees Shizu had found earlier?"

"I'm afraid that was the last one in Genjiro-san's personal stockpiles. I will ask Pandora's Actor to search in the Treasury, but they are extremely precious to my friend. I highly doubt we will be able to find it there, but it is worth a try."

"I understand. Also, may I have your permission to immediately notify the Floor Guardians to maintain a higher level of alertness throughout their respective floors? While the chain of command within Nazarick is firmly established, I will ensure that this order will be passed down to the respective Area Guardian, then to the lower servants they command."

"I see… Alright, you have my permission. Once we have fully resolved this incident, I will gather the Floor Guardians in the Throne Room. There, I will discuss how Nazarick will move forward. Now, let's go, Albedo!"

"Yes, Momonga-sama!"

After leaving the Sixth Floor's grand arena, the "Pleiades Battle Maid" Shizu arrived at an impasse. It had nothing to do with her sudden immobility in the middle of the great and vast halls she now stood in.

After receiving orders from her new designated master, Momonga, the ruler of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, her destination was set in stone. All Shizu needed to do was follow orders.

However, a reply from one of her beloved sisters, especially if it had come from the de facto leader of the Seven Stars Pleiades, cannot simply be tossed away. After what should have been a crisp and straightforward exchange of greetings and goodbyes, the Automaton maid was currently at a loss for words.

(—Thank the Supreme Beings you are alright, Shizu. I did not expect your excursion to the Treasury Room with Momonga-sama and Yuri-san to cause this much trouble. Ah, I'm not blaming you, of course! It was an unpredictable outcome. Or maybe Momonga-sama knew about it from the beginning? I'm not sure… Anyway, please tell me if you are feeling off. I will use whatever spells I can to assist you.)

(…Thanks, but I believe I am in a much more stable condition.)

(Is that so? Then I wish you good health, Shizu. Also, please let Momonga-sama know I will stake my life for him, as will the rest of my comrades on the floor I preside on.)

(…Mm. I will relay your thoughts to him when I can, Omega-san. I have heard from Albedo-sama that you have been chosen as the primary candidate for protecting the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown in the event Momonga-sama goes out on future excursions. Do your best.)

(Of course! And there's no need for honorifics. We're sisters, remember? Please refer to me as Aureole.)

(…Will do, Aureole. Sorry, but our sisters expect me, so I must go now. We can talk later. Bye.)

Right before she was about to close down talks, she received a cooing noise from her younger sister, much to her displeasure. Perhaps Shizu had accidentally placed more emotional weight towards the end of her talks, but in reality, she was eager to move on to other business.

Aren't I the older one? Why would she act like this now? This is troubling.

An inexplicable expression appeared on Shizu's face. She briefly looked at her camouflaged gloves, then up on the marble ceiling.

Everywhere she looked, she could see various arts decorating the surface. She only took a brief second to admire the work of her masters before settling her thoughts down.

Not wanting to get into a further mess, Shizu hurriedly cut the communications channel with Aureole on the other side of [Message].

The [Message] spell was the standard go-to communications spell used by all residents in the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. Even for prolonged periods, the insignificant mana drain and its seeming ability to be used at any given distance made it a critical role for the rapidly developing communications network throughout Nazarick.

Shizu accurately predicted there would be no shortage of frantic messages on the sender's end once she chose to drop honorifics for the foreseeable future.

However, Shizu also had another reason to cease communications with Aureole prematurely.

One was a slight but swelling feeling of pity for her younger sister.

Aureole's role was already crucial as not only was she located on the later floors of Nazarick, but her buffing and commander abilities made her a strong support. Shizu did not want to interrupt her duty, which the ever-so-unfathomable Supreme Beings had given to her.

However, Shizu also knew Aureole's current schedule left her little time to talk with the rest of the Seven Pleiades Sisters, whom she could call her beloved siblings and battle-hardened comrades.

Aureole must have known this, too, as she wasted no time talking Shizu's ear out. For the past ten minutes, she had listed a series of events ranging from the sudden transportation of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick to the restless atmosphere on the Eighth Floor.

She is… too excited. Then again, it has been a while since we all gathered around for a chat. I could ask Yuri-san to convince Sebas-sama to free up a time slot for us sisters to meet with Aureole. We can all have our usual tea party, but hosted inside the Cherry Blossom Sanctuary, where Aureole always remains.

Shizu imagined her sisters doting on Aureole as they had always done. The recollection of those memories made her smile. She assured herself with an unusually loud "Hm, hm" after deciding on her next move.

She had never let these worries trouble her in the past, but now she felt somewhat obligated to at least try and connect with her sisters. She felt joy welling up in her heart, another feeling she only reserved for bonding with her sisters or devoting her life to the Doctor and the other Supreme Beings.

…Is it alright for me to think like this?

As for Shizu herself, an Automaton like her would harbor as much emotional control as someone like her fellow sister and Vice-Captain of the Seven Pleiades Sisters, Yuri Alpha.

The impeccably dressed maid, who always had her hair neatly styled in a bun and was the epitome of a maid's professionalism, was a Dullahan. She and Shizu exhibited a remarkable emotional restraint, appearing unable to express anything more profound than the smallest and briefest smiles.

However, from what Shizu could gather, her "upgrades" were not so much a new line of code as overhauling her original programming. She began to think the Trifecta patch had broken a dam in her, unleashing a wave of emotions she had never felt.

Combined with the fact that the Doctor was nowhere to be seen, along with the rest of the Supreme Beings, she was now like her other comrades, bearing a distinct sense of loss and desperately trying to fill the void with zealous loyalty to the last remaining Supreme Being who stayed behind.

These feelings, which would rage like a whirlpool in anyone else, only gave her a slight migraine. Shizu quickly stamped them out, and it was swift to the point she could not even recall having had them in the first place.

Her ability to control her emotions and temper with extreme precision stemmed from her racial abilities, checking her and ensuring her wellbeing. She held solace in the fact she had not entirely abandoned her original roots. But for some reason, Shizu felt those headaches from earlier were only the beginning of her woes.

I still look and act the same, but these new thoughts of mine are bombarding even my regular directives that keep me in check. Did the Doctor anticipate this latest development? Or did Momonga-sama have something else in mind for me?

Countless more scenarios popped into her head. She could not arrive at a satisfactory conclusion for either of them, and Shizu let out a bitter sigh.

Shizu was always grateful to be of more assistance to the Supreme Beings. She felt the rest of her comrades shared the same dream of seeing Nazarick enter a golden age heralded by its presiding ruler. But she could not help but fret about the possibility that her new abilities may force her to abandon her original duties to serve Nazarick's goals better.

But I would regret not fully utilizing the Trifecta's new job classes that Momonga-sama has allowed me to bear. That would be the most undesirable outcome.

Outgrowing someone in the monstrous hierarchy of Nazarick was only to be expected. There were many ways one could gain power. Strength, intellect, and wisdom were among the few pillars of a power base.

"Perhaps that's what the Trifecta upgrade was having me aim towards?" Shizu thought to herself. She found it challenging to find any of those three values within herself, especially since she could only compare to the Area and Floor Guardians, the dwellers lurking in the shadows of the Eighth Floor, or the unfathomably powerful Supreme Beings.

Even if I figure out how to use these job classes, my sisters might hate me for who I can become. If that happens, I can only bear the brunt of their bitterness and rage. Still, if Momonga-sama wishes to set me on a path separate from my sisters, I must walk it down without question.

Shizu slowly blinked, ridding herself of the twitching in her right eye. She realized she had been thinking too long.

Her left hand, which had been twirling one of her red-gold locks of hair in no particular pattern, was now set aside at her waist, now clenched unusually tight on one of her outfit's armored plates. When she let go, she realized she had made a dent that loosely resembled a hand imprint.

In addition, Shizu had been focusing too hard, staring off into the distance, and nearby maids who were likely en route to their work destinations interpreted the Automaton maid's action as a vicious glare. She paid no attention to the frightened maids walking past her and proceeded to walk toward her destination at a brisk pace.

Not long after, her calculative mind ran a series of internal commands comparable to moving cogs and gears. It put her in a daze, frustrating her to no end.

Her master, Momonga, had anticipated this outcome, so he ordered two maids to accompany her beforehand.

Shizu was surprised to hear that the ruler of Nazarick had a similar thought process to the Doctor in handling certain issues about the workarounds of her built-in systems. She was even more surprised when the skeletal overlord insisted she go to her instead of the Doctor's room. However, when her master explained why she may accidentally trigger one of the Doctor's traps due to differences between her past and present self, she had no choice but to accept the situation and move on.

In addition, Shizu perfectly recalled one of her master's advice:

"You will probably have the mechanical equivalent of hiccups. After all, internal software patches are not smooth. Garnet-san agreed with me on this one, and if someone like him finds merit in my words, I trust you will practice caution for the next few days, if not a week, for things to settle down on your end."

—Then again, Momonga-sama is a supreme master of magic. He may know just as much as the Doctor regarding these kinds of things. I may have to ask him for further clarification. But… how do I describe this?… I'm a little nervous. Uwah…

"—Are you alright, Delta-sama?" someone said.

"—Please watch your step, Delta-sama!" another chipped in.

The two "Homunculus Maids," Cixous and Decrement, addressed Shizu with similar comments, equally concerned about her irregular movements.

They had been escorting Shizu for the duration of her trip. They were undeterred by Shizu's abrupt trips in her walking pattern.

As a matter of fact, they had been quite patient and waited when Shizu stopped to either contemplate or deal with minor headaches that the Trifecta patch was probably giving her. Shizu herself was thankful for their understanding, though she did not voice that opinion out loud.

However—

—There is an even bigger issue. I cannot let this slip by, no matter what.

"—No. Well, yes, I am alright. But do not call me Delta."

"Forgive us for our trespasses. Please correct me if we are wrong, but aren't you formally addressed as Delta-sama?"

"CZ-2128 Delta is my designation. That is what the Doctor told me. But now the other 'mes' are decommissioned due to a certain liability Momonga-sama informed me about. Now that I am the only working Automaton in Nazarick, Momonga-sama has given me the new and unique designation 'Shizu.' So that is my name from now on. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Shizu-sama!" they both said at the same time.

A dawn of understanding appeared on both Cixous and Decrements' faces. The Automaton quietly swept her gaze over the two, and she contemplated handling the maids' emotionally charged responses.

Shizu reflected on her behavior over the last few minutes and realized she had come across as distant. She would naturally dedicate most of her time to furthering the camaraderie with the Pleiades. Still, as fellow maids under the same umbrella and working toward the same goal, Shizu resolved to address the gap in social relations as soon as possible.

The Automaton stepped forward, prompting the two Homunculus Maids to stiffen their postures. She thought about the Doctor complimenting her for doing a good job and immediately found a proper reply to their loyalty.

Remembering her brief training as a regular maid before permanently switching to the role of a Pleiades Battle Maid, she swiftly bowed before them, maintaining her professionalism from start to beginning.

She straightened her back to meet the widened gazes of her maid escorts.

"…Cixous and Decrement, was it? We are nearing my destination. Momonga-sama has ordered that you two go back to your original duties. Thank you for escorting me. I do not mind if you two stay as my escorts for the foreseeable future."

Shizu ended her gesture of courtesy with a gentle smile.

However, their response to her thanks completely exceeded the Automaton's expectations.

"Please take them to the infirmary," Shizu said to Foire. She was another one of the Homunculus Maids in Nazarick. The blonde-haired woman bobbed her head up and down hurriedly as her eyes darted between her maid companions and the Pleiades Battle Maid.

"Y-yes…"

Just what happened to them?

When Shizu arrived at her destination, the maid chosen to receive her was surprised to see the Automaton maid grasping the gloved hands of the unconscious Cixous and Decrement.

When Foire spotted Shizu from a distance, she thought she looked gentle and frail. Upon a closer look at the darkened silhouettes shadowing the Automaton maid, Foire realized Shizu had ruthlessly tugged her fellow maids like sacks of potatoes for quite some time.

Shizu carefully laid them down before Foire, who remained dumbstruck. Shizu was inches away from placing her hand on the engraved doorknob until her name was called out.

"Ah, please wait a moment, Delta-sama!"

"…Yes?"

Shizu was inches away from placing her hand on the engraved doorknob. She stopped and turned with an irritated expression on her face. Foire felt an unusual pressure bearing down on her, and she felt uncontrollable goosebumps.

"I, I have heard gossiping that Momonga-sama is planning to take you outside Nazarick to test your new abilities. Is that true?"

"…"

"…?"

This is getting awkward. Please say something—Foire internally begged.

"…I haven't heard anything like that. Where did you hear this? Tell me right now."

Foire saw Shizu's right eye turn into a slit. The green haze in the Automaton's iris shifted colors towards a somber orange, then to a madder red dye.

Foire had never seen such a thing, but the way Shizu looked at her sent chills up her spine. She seriously thought she was about to lose her life if she did not say anything in the next second.

"Eek! I-I believe you would've also gotten a [Message] detailing new orders! Momonga-sama passed down the order to Albedo-sama or Sebas-sama outside the Throne Room. I know that much because one of us Homunculus Maids first heard about it. They're not allowed in the Throne Room most of the time. They were likely eavesdropping on them in a public space. Also, facts can get mixed in with opinions and blur the line, so please take my words with a grain of salt…"

The drastic shift back to a calm color of green in Shizu's eye and the disappearance of her foreboding pressure terrified Foire to no end. It was as though someone flipped a light switch in the Automaton, an analogy the frightened maid thought was most fitting considering her mechanical nature.

"…Mm. I had just received the [Message] from Momonga-sama. I have confirmed your words. I apologize for acting rude earlier."

Foire breathed a sigh of relief, but then she saw what appeared to be a conflicted look on Shizu's face.

"But before I am sent out, I must have my diagnostics run on me inside the Doctor's room… wait, I just remembered. I am forbidden from performing my usual check-up routine. It is understandable if Momonga-sama takes over the Doctor's task. But the Doctor… really, where has he gone?"

Previously, judging the moving expressions on Shizu's face was difficult. But Foire was confident she could see a somewhat sad look on Shizu's face. While Foire knew nothing about the Doctor, she felt it was Shizu's creator or someone dear to the Automaton maid.

Foire felt her heartstrings being tugged upon seeing the somber expression on Shizu's doll-like face. Seeing such emotions reflected on the usually stoic maid pained her, so she quickly launched into another round of explanations.

"I-I think the Doctor will come back, just like the others! Momonga-sama is the most generous Supreme Being. He will surely find a way to bring all of them back!"

"…Thank you, Foire. I know you are trying to reassure me. And I am not worried about the Doctor being gone. He has ensured that I will be placed under Momonga-sama's command until he returns. Momonga-sama's rule over Nazarick is eternal, and his orders are absolute. There should be no issue with that whatsoever."

Foire fervently nodded, agreeing with every word from Shizu's mouth.

"Absolutely! And think about it this way, Shizu-sama! Besides Albedo-sama, no one else has received the great honor of being one of Momonga-sama's personal adjutants. It's probably the highest honor one in Nazarick can receive! Eh, wait—you know my name?!"

"Mhm. My new patch—upgrade, I mean—allows me to read out the names and info of others. It easily works on lower-level beings. I have not tried it out yet on people equal to the Pleiades or greater than us. There is also the level of magic items and anti-divination measures to consider… That is why the diagnostics are important."

Shizu made the gesture of tapping the side of her head to illustrate her ability at work, or something like that.

Foire could not exactly figure out the meaning behind her gesture but did not question it further. She was still calming down after the brief display of hostility from the Automaton earlier.

"Eh…? Ah, that's right! Other than your, erm, diagnostics, you can also perform test runs. Nazarick has plenty of monsters you can analyze freely without repercussions, while doing so outside may be too dangerous. Is that correct?"

Foire heard from one of her kin that Sebas Tian, the head-butler of Nazarick and the NPC created by the great Touch-Me, was sent out on a scouting run in order to investigate the teleportation phenomenon that sent ripples of confusion throughout the Great Tomb.

She did not care much about what happened on the surface, but she felt mildly afraid events similar to the Great Invasion may happen again.

The swamp that Nazarick once inhabited was a dangerous environment, which provided an ample protective layer that once deterred weak creatures and the like from laying their filthy hands on this glorious sanctuary. If we are in a totally different environment, doesn't that mean we are at greater risk than ever?

"—That's right. I also like to stay in the Doctor's room for a bit… My bad, I have gone off-topic. If you'll excuse me, I have to meet my sisters. It was nice talking to you, Foire. Take care."

Foire was in a state of self-introspection but snapped back into reality when Shizu spoke up. She began fumbling with the words she wanted to say back to the person she idolized.

"I-i-it was nice talking to you as well, CZ-sama!"

"…It's Shizu."

"M-my sincerest apologies, Shizu-sama!"

"…It's fine. You and the other maids can call me Shizu. I don't mind."

"Yes! Thank you!"

After the door made a gentle shut, Foire let out an exasperated sigh directed towards her unconscious comrades.

Foire had to applaud herself for not ending up like a blubbering mess. She also restrained herself from blurting out, "You can keep talking about your hobbies and other things you like. I don't mind!"

Speaking in person with one of the Seven Pleiades was a rare opportunity. And while it had not been long since the maids were suddenly given the ability to move around Nazarick's luxurious floors freely, everyone unanimously agreed that, among all the Pleiades maids, Shizu was the most popular in their rankings.

If Shizu is acting like this, what about the other Pleiades maids? Will they behave differently from before? Even if they show even more outstanding qualities, Shizu will remain the most popular!

"…Haah. If only I were chosen to escort Shizu… hm?"

Foire kneeled to get a closer look at her fellow workers. She could see dazed looks and faint traces of blushes on their rosy-tinted cheeks.

There also seemed to be blood marks under their noses, but Foire quickly ascertained the markings as wiped. Shizu likely used a handkerchief or towel to remove the stains, but her method seemed rather rough.

"Shizu has always been one of the more kind and considerate Pleiades Battle Maids, even if she doesn't show it on her face! Although, that brief moment when she got angry almost made me want to run away. Ahh, if only I could look at her again. She's so pretty! And the way she walked up to me with that casual air of authority around her. As expected as one of the Pleiades…"

Foire felt her cheeks flush with heat, and she slapped her face lightly.

She began tugging Foire and Decrement—she had to employ the help of other maids who were passing by—and moved towards the infirmary not far from where she was.

The Homunculus Maid began muttering about ways to break the news to her other workers, boasting about how she was among the first few to meet Shizu since the Great Teleportation.

The Automaton was drastically different from how she previously acted, but Foire found her encounter with Shizu to be a wonderful experience. She had observed various behaviors and changes throughout her relatively short life, and she sincerely hoped that the ever-changing Pleiades Battle Maid would remain like this from now on.