Warning: Plenty of artistic liberty in this chapter.
Once upon a time, in a realm woven from the very threads of enchantment, there was a young girl whose heart shimmered with the magic of music and freedom. Her spirit swirled like a melody, her steps dancing to the rhythm of an ancient song, filling the air with the echoes of joyous rock and roll. She was the essence of happiness, as if plucked straight from the scenes of a timeless film, with each movement telling stories of magic and a soul untethered.
As she skipped through meadows kissed with the soft hues of pastel light, the very fields seemed to part in her wake, as if the land itself was enchanted by her presence. In the distance, cotton clouds of magic danced, parting apart as she moved through them. Glancing back, her eyes twinkled as she spotted the playful flying cherubs—tiny, radiant beings with wings (babies with wings) of gossamer (thin or tiny) who fluttered behind her, their smiles as bright as the sun.
"Mph-mphh!" she called out with a laugh, encouraging them to join her in her joyous march. Her feet barely touched the ground as she continued forward, each step in perfect harmony with the world around her.
The babies, their wings fluttering in synchrony, followed her with renewed energy, their giggles like tinkling bells in the wind. With a beaming smile as she called back, "Mph!" in playful praise, her voice like the gentle chime of a distant melody.
Ahead, a shimmering pool of rainbow light beckoned to her, its surface alive with colors that danced and shifted like a living dream. With a giggle, she slowed her pace, drawn to its magic.
She knelt beside the swirling rainbow, her fingers brushing the surface, creating ripples of light that danced across the air. The babies, drawn by the sparkle of the rainbow, fluttered eagerly around it. With a soft hum, she reached out, gently taking one of the cherubs into her arms, and together they dipped into the vibrant hues of the pool, the baby giggling in delight as the magic swirled around them.
The other babies, caught up in the enchanting moment, plummeted into the pool, their laughter a chorus of joy that filled the air with wonder, as the world of magic stretched on forever, ever bright and full of promise.
Until..
She heard a sinister laugh from her right. Turning toward the sound, she saw the mean wolf. Its steps corrupted the meadows of pastel colors, turning them into gray ashes. The wolf chuckled and approached the pool, stopping at its edge.
She remained crouched, observing the mean wolf's intentions.
"Mph-mph.." she quietly warned the wolf with a stern tone, still crouched at the edge of the pool. The cherubs, ignorant of their precarious situation, continued their adorable laughter. But the wolf didn't heed the warnings of the young girl.
The wolf laughed at her, wagging its finger at her, then began stomping the pool with a gleeful smile. This made the cherubs cry and fly away as one of the wolf's paws stomped on one of the cherubs.
A spark of nerve activated in her head. She stood up for the first time, clenched her fist, and furrowed her eyebrows. "Mph.. mph.." she murmured, stomping her way toward the wolf, walking through the magical pool of rainbows the wolf was kicking.
She gently pushed the wolf by its snout, but the wolf, surprised by the girl's initiative, stumbled back but fortunately regained its balance. The young girl's intention was to scold the wolf, not harm it, of course.
Suddenly, a green cherub—The green goblin yelled, protecting its boss from the man—one she had never seen before, flew in front of her. It said that the wolf never did anything wrong.
She petted the green cherub's head, saying, "Mphh Mphh," letting the cherub know this wasn't a joking matter and the wolf needed scolding.
Gently leading the green cherub away, she turned again to face the wolf. She reached out to put a comforting hand on its shoulder, but the wolf, wary of her actions, ducked down. It then launched at her face with its fangs bared. She looked away in an instant, narrowly dodging the fangs.
Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed the wolf's shoulder with her other hand, keeping it in front of her. The wolf looked at her with a face of terror, its ears folded down, glancing at the ground and then back at her intermittently.
The young girl began to point at the wolf with a scolding finger, saying, "Mphh. Mphh. Mphh! MphhMphh? MPH!" Her words carried the wisdom of always being kind, gentle, and never mean to anyone.
As the wolf listened to the young girl's scoldings —strangled by the masked man, once again met fear in her heart—, it glanced down and slowly nodded. A look of regret appeared on its face.
The young girl's heart softened as she noticed the regret on the wolf's face. "Mph… mph? Mpph mpph!" she asked, wondering if the wolf understood its lesson. The wolf rubbed its paw on its sore neck—the neck marked by the gloves of the masked man, her quickened breath only fueling his dreams of cruelty. The wolf nodded, indicating it understood that she was right, and it was wrong.
Soon, the green cherub flew next to the wolf, asking if it was okay now. The wolf nodded, saying it had been a bad person, while rubbing its own head. The green cherub smiled, gave a thumbs-up, and left, thanking the young girl for her determination in teaching right from wrong.
The young girl smiled at the wolf, and the wolf smiled back. Then the wolf asked if she would like to play tag. The young girl nodded happily, bouncing on the spot. The wolf turned around and jogged away, and she chased him with a giant lollipop. Both laughed as she playfully swung the oversized lollipop.
Finally, one hit the wolf's arm, causing him to fall. He feigned great pain, rolling around while laughing- She clutched at the stump, her fingers fumbling over the blood-slicked skin- as the wolf stopped rolling and looked up at her, asking if he could have that lollipop. The girl said of course! And-
Pyro raised his axe above his head, letting out a muffled "Mphmph." Enri, no longer clutching the stump of her severed arm, instinctively threw herself to the floor, shielding her head with her remaining arm as she squeezed her eyes shut.
When nothing happened, she cautiously opened them, locking eyes with Pyro. She imagined that he's savoring the thought of her blood splattering across him. A delighted, chirping "Mph mph mph!" escaped him.
The axe swung down. The air parted as it raced toward her—then struck her arm.
Enri's breath quivered. She felt no pain, but she saw what had happened. Pyro's axe was lodged deep in her arm. He nudged it, trying to free it.
Panicked, Enri scrambled away, attempting to dislodge herself as well—until a pair of elegant hands, adorned with pristine porcelain gloves, intervened. One hand gripped the axe's shaft, the other rested gently on Enri's wounded arm.
Both Pyro and Enri turned their gaze to the newcomer.
A striking woman with porcelain skin and jet-black wings folded neatly behind her waist stood before them. With effortless grace, she lifted the axe from Enri's flesh.
As Enri dragged herself away, Pyro yanked at his weapon, trying to reclaim it. But the woman remained unmoving—solid as a statue.
Her golden eyes bore into Pyro's mask. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke.
"Ainz-sama has deemed your actions a threat to his interests. In his name, I shall put a stop to your insolence."
With a flick of her wrist, she tore the axe from Pyro's grip and sent it spinning through the air until it embedded itself in a nearby wall.
She cracked her knuckles. Then, in a swift motion, she spun on her heel and delivered a backfist to Pyro's head. He staggered sideways before quickly regaining his footing "Mph HHhH," he grumbled, rubbing the side where she had struck him.
He stood still for a moment, staring at her. Then, an axe materialized in one of his hands—this time, its head wrapped in barbed wire. In the other, a small, crimson weapon with a large nozzle appeared.
Without hesitation, Pyro aimed the small weapon at Albedo and fired. A roaring orb of fire shot toward her.
She narrowed her eyes but remained still.
The fireball struck her square on the chest, exploding on impact. Flames engulfed her, hungrily eating at her skin and dress. She inspected herself with mild irritation. The fire did nothing—at best, it merely burned away any grime or dirt, if there had been any at all.
While the flames clung harmlessly to her, Pyro charged forward, hurling his barbed-wire axe at her. She raised her arms, bracing for impact.
But instead of bringing the axe down in a crushing blow, Pyro swung it through the air in an horizontal arc.
Albedo's eyes widened. The axe began to glow red, crackling with streaks of electricity.
Then—impact.
"Tch—"
The strike lifted her off the ground, sending her crashing into the barrier behind her. She landed on her feet, she immediately noticed the flames were gone. Lowering her arms as a shallow cut on her forearm stung faintly.
Looking at the stinging sensation- It was nothing. A mere scratch. But—
"How dare you, filthy human…" Her voice seethed with fury as she glared at him, grinding her teeth. "To defile the body and garments bestowed upon me by the Supreme Beings!"
Her eyes glowed with rage.
Clenching her fists, she advanced toward Pyro, her steps slow and menacing.
Pyro's weapons vanished, replaced by a large, two-handed weapon.
Before she could react, the weapon shot a torrent of flames engulfed her once more, then it farted gas and propelled her backward. The flames meant nothing to her, but the airblast did. Annoyance flickered across her face.
Enough.
"[Guardian of the Throne: Activate!]"
The moment her passive reactivated, she dropped to the ground effortlessly. Rising to her full height, she clenched her fist and leaped toward Pyro.
He attempted to airblast her away again, but this time, it had no effect.
Albedo's fist connected—
A single strike to his goggles sent Pyro crashing through the wooden walls, tumbling onto the grass outside. He rolled to a stop, motionless.
Not for long though—Pyro immediately rose, now wielding a different flamethrower. Albedo prepared to rush forward and take him down, but halted as she saw the new weapon in his hands. Its design was unlike anything human-made, a strange, alien appearance that caught her off guard.
Then, her eyes widened as she saw what he was doing. Pyro's entire form glowed a fierce red, his eyes burning with a piercing yellow light. He widened his stance, raising the flamethrower above his head and bopping it, letting out muffled laughter through his mask. The simple, primal taunt caused a tic in her eye—whatever he was doing only fueled her anger further.
As soon as the mocking ceased, he lowered his weapon. The red glow faded, but now, his flamethrower crackled with electricity. With a muffled warcry, he charged at her, sending a barrage of fireballs her way.
Albedo didn't even bother raising her guard. The flames would likely go right through it. She braced herself, anticipating a repeat of the barb-wired axe's effect. As the fire particles approached, they blinded her, the Pyro disappearing behind the blaze.
When the torrent of fire engulfed her, she screeched and jumped back, and started to keep distance from him. Once again, the particles of flames clinged around her, but they still caused no harm. The agony inflicted from the glowing flamethrower was sharp and stinging, but her body remained unharmed, her strength intact. It was nothing more than an insult—an ineffective mockery of suffering. And for that, she would make him pay.
Fury flashed across her face as she glared at the flames, her teeth grinding. "How dare you..."
She stopped herself. The fire pricked and stung her like a swarm of bees, but as the pain simmered, she realized the true humiliation. The flames, though painful, were nothing compared to her earlier shame. She had retreated from a human.
"How shameful… running away from an insolent worm like you! You'll pay dearly for making a fool of me!" Her voice was laced with icy fury as she pointed at him, even while the flamethrower continued to eat her pain receptors.
With a roar, she dashed forward, grabbing Pyro's head and lifting him off the ground. She spun, so fast that a vortex of air formed around her, and then hurled him into the sky, disappearing among the clouds.
Crouching low, Albedo pushed off the ground, her wings flapping with explosive force as she soared after him. But just as she approached, a red dot rapidly grew larger. Pyro's boots collided with her face in a loud crunch
Before Albedo could grab him, Pyro flew away, leaving a trail of smoke behind. She fixed her eyes on him as he hovered before her, both hands gripping the jetpack.
Albedo wiped her face, looking at her hands, laid the dirt and filth of whatever Pyro's stepped on previously. She discarded the dirt and filth left by Pyro's boots.
Her eyes glinted with cold, controlled wrath. "You are the most foolish human I've ever met," she said, no longer speaking in a tone of senseless rage. Or atleast, she wasn't vocally, and visibly enraged anymore.
In a flash, she grabbed his legs and spun him once more. Pyro's muffled screams were drowned out by the force of the motion. This time, she launched him downward with the ferocity of an orbital strike. Because the air was unable to catch up, a trail of vacuum followed him. Pyro hit the ground with a resounding crash, a small crater forming around him. This time, he lay completely still.
Albedo from the skies plummeted down and sat on him- She raised her fist for another blow—then paused.
"Already dead?"
She glared at his mask for a while, but couldn't get any clues. Annoyed at the lack of response, she delivered a few sharp slaps to his mask to get a reaction. Without a response, she used her ears instead.
Muffled breathing.
Annoyed once again, she rose, standing over his unconscious form. Brushing herself off, she inspected the gloves he had damaged. A minuscule cut marred the wrists of her gloves and her forearm.
Such an offense was unforgivable.
She scowled down at Pyro. "Consider yourself fortunate that my orders were only to stop you. Were it not for that, I'd have you bound in the deepest chambers of Nazarick, where I would personally make use of you as nothing more than a source of relief for my frustrations. That is all your existence would amount to, if not for the faint spark of potential Ainz-sama sees in you."
She Lifted him by his suit's collar, she sneered before spitting onto his goggles. Then, without another word, she began dragging him like a wheel-less baggage. As she walked, she took a moment to inspect herself again. The flames still clung to her. They were harmless—but irritating.
From the hole in the wall, a familiar voice called out.
"Oya! How'd it go?—Whoa! You're on fire!" Aura pointed at her, eyes wide.
Albedo huffed.
Aura chuckled, "So, about the—" Then she noticed Pyro. "Well, that explains it," Aura muttered, scratching her head.
Albedo wiped her face in a futile attempt to put out the flames. "He was far too weak to harm me."
Aura shrugged "Well, a human can do only so much."
Albedo clenched her jaw, lifting her arm to reveal the shallow cut into the dress "However, this. It is an insult that will not be forgotten."
"So.. he did hurt you? Huh?" Aura asked with a worried look
Albedo shook her head "No, a mere human could never truly harm me. However, I must admit, while painful, they were as harmless as an infant."
Aura's worried look shifted to a tinge of nervousness, but she jogged closer. "Anyways, that knockback looked pretty nasty."
"It was. I deactivated my passive to collect useful data."
Aura nodded, "But, anyway. We need to move—his teammates are coming. Ainz-sama is delaying the portal for as long as possible."
Albedo nodded. Both turned to return to the lab, but Aura stopped near the hole in the wall.
"Drop Pyro outside. Make it look like Enri punched him out."
Albedo hesitated. "Wouldn't that make it seem like she attacked their teammate? If they suspect that, they might refuse to work for Ainz-sama or the woman."
Aura shrugged. "Ainz-sama's orders."
Beyond them, Ainz stood before the portal, both hands raised to the portal, chanting [Delay Teleportation] over and over. Infact, onto the portal emerged a boot, frozen mid-step, stuck in time.
Sebas knelt beside Enri, who groaned in pain. Blood trickled from her severed arm and the gash on her forearm.
"Enri, Ainz-sama asks you to endure the pain a little longer. The mercenaries must not suspect that you attacked their ally without reason."
Enri gritted her teeth. "Quit stalling and fix me already, you useless oldman!" She groaned, reaching for the stump of her severed arm, but couldnt as her other forearm and hand hung limp and lifeless.
Sebas remained silent, his gaze dropping in thought. Then, an idea struck him. "I can stop the bleeding and dull the pain—by cauterizing the wounds and applying a bit of my Ki on it"
"Then what are you waiting for? just do it already!"
Sebas nodded, carefully hovering a finger over the exposed vessels. He sealed them off with precise heat, and dulled the pain with ki. The bleeding stopped, though the injury still appeared fresh. Then Sebas hovered a hand on her forehead and a soft glow emanated from it.
Her earlier cries started to fade. Enri slowly sat up, and glanced at Sebas. After a moment, "…Sorry about that. I didn't mean what I said."
Sebas gave a slight nod before rising. "I take no offense. It is expected that your kind struggles to think clearly in pain."
Ainz spoke, his voice calm but urgent as he maintained the spell. "Make it quick. I cannot delay much longer."
Aura called out. "Now, Albedo—drop Pyro!"
Without hesitation, Albedo tossed Pyro through the hole. Aura quickly phased through the barrier, but Sebas stopped Albedo with a firm voice. "Wait, Albedo."
She paused, turning to face him.
"Is Pyro dead?"
Albedo shook her head. "No, just unconscious."
Sebas nodded in acknowledgment, and with that, they both crossed the barrier. As Albedo stepped through, the lingering flames on her body vanished.
Ainz turned to Enri. "Enri, you need to tell the mercenaries that Pyro attacked you. However, you must convince them that it was you who put him out of commission."
Everyone was behind the barrier, except Ainz. He had phased through it himself, continuing to cast the spell until he reunited with the other guardians.
As the mercenaries emerged from the portal, they stepped into the room where the supposedly injured Enri awaited. The mercenaries approached Pyro first, ignoring Enri in the process. They exchanged looks between her and Pyro, before Heavy turned his attention to Enri.
"Hope Pyro forgets," he muttered, his voice dark. "If he doesn't... you're scarred for a lifetime."
He traced his thumb across his neck in a gesture that made his meaning clear: she was as good as dead if Pyro remembered.
Enri's voice wavered. "W-what do you mean? You're making me nervous…"
Heavy crossed his arms and leaned in slightly. "I fear no man," he stated with confidence. Then, glancing back at Pyro, he continued, "But that thing… It scares me." He whispered the last part to her, his tone almost conspiratorial.
Enri's gaze shifted to Scout, who was nearby. He caught her eye for a moment before dismissing her with a cold remark. "I'm not talking about that freak, alright?" he muttered, turning away.
Engineer removed his helmet and rested it on his chest, his gaze now fixed on Enri. "You better hope that tongue-tied boy doesn't remember what you did to him. Otherwise, you'll need to pray—and that might not even save you."
Soldier then said "You deserve it! Too bad that woman didn't manage to kill you!"
Sniper whispered to her "If he remembers. I'll attend your funeral"
Enri nodded slowly, trying to keep her composure despite the tension rising in the room.
Heavy sighed and materialized a small item from nowhere, crouching down as he offered it to her. The smell was mouth-watering—earthy, tangy, and savory, with the rich aroma of fresh bread, cheese, and smoked ham.
It was food?
"Do you want?" Heavy asked. "Sandvich makes you strong."
Enri stared at the sandvich in his hands. "Sandvich? It's something to eat?"
Heavy nodded, and she attempted to reach for it. However, her remaining arm was barely functional, leaving the sandwich just out of reach. "Um... should I eat it?" she asked hesitantly.
Heavy nodded again. "Eat," he urged, moving the sandwich closer.
With a small jerk, Enri leaned forward and took a tiny bite. Immediately, she felt a tingling sensation in her arm—the stump that had once been her limb began to fade, and a small part grew back in its place. She looked at her other arm, amazed to see her hand gaining minimal functionality.
She took a few more bites, and soon enough, she was able to hold the sandwich on her own. She devoured more of it, the healing effects taking full effect. By the time she had finished, her arms were fully restored, including the bruises that had once marred her skin. She no longer felt any pain, but instead felt energized and ready for anything.
She stood up and faced Heavy. "Is this sandwich mixed with a healing potion?" she asked, pointing to the half-eaten meal still in her hands.
Heavy shook his head.
Medic, who had been silent up until now, spoke up, his voice thick with his accent. "Tell me, Enri, why veren't you screaming in ze pain you should have been in?"
Enri squeaked at the question, flustered. "Oh... I've been like this for a long time. It just... eventually dulled."
Medic rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowing as he gave a dismissive wave. "Ah, nein. You bring liez to me."
"I'm not lying!" Enri protested, but the medic was already losing interest.
With an annoyed groan, Medic waved her off. "I don't vant to know. I vant to have a big house now. So, you vill bring us to our house, this instant! Do you understand me, Mizz Enri?"
Enri sighed in relief and nodded.
Then Heavy walked towards Pyro, hauled him on his back like a sack of potatoes. He turned to leave, saying simply, "Bring me home." He walked toward the portal and phased through it, the rest of the team following behind him.
Enri unfolded her clothes and stepped forward, leading them through the portal to where they would be staying.
Ainz and the Floor Guardians stood quietly behind the barrier. Ainz let out a sigh, and though the Floor Guardians noticed it, none of them said a word.
Ainz took a few steps closer to the barrier. "I trust the mercenaries won't attack Enri…" A thought suddenly crept into his mind. "What if they do? What then? Do I revive her? But what if they have an anti-reviving method?"
"Prevention is better than cure after all." He summoned a few Hanzos—ninjas skilled in stealth and deadly surprise attacks—and sent them through the portal.
After dismissing them, he flicked his fingers, causing both the portal and the barrier to dissipate. Ainz walked forward, his gaze falling on the pile of weapons stacked haphazardly on the comically large table. "Honestly, I don't even want to do this anymore. I'm starting to regret getting involved in this."
He raised his hand over the weapons, pausing as another thought crossed his mind. "I wonder what the floor guardians are thinking of this situation"
The weapons' outlines began to softly glow with a light-blue hue. After scanning their stats, Ainz rubbed his skull in frustration.
"This is bullshit…"
Suddenly, he received a [Message]. He rested his finger on his temple and replied,
"[Who is it?]"
"[Ainz-sama, this is Demiurge. It's about the Spy.]"
Ainz nodded a few times and words from Demiurge, Ainz froze. He let out a sound that sent a chill through the Floor Guardians—
"-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
End of the chapter