He basks in the air as he took deep breaths, as if confirming something within it. But the more lingering smoke and floral scents entered his nose, he was then assured that he was still alive.
With a clench of his fists and flex of his shoulders, he reached out once more and smiled at the awe and blushes of the two little elves as they felt each other's warmth. All the while Suzuki gently rubbed their heads, finding comfort in their innocence.
He laugh softly, seeing how Mare enjoyed his attention. While Aura on the other hand was cutely purring as he massaged her scalp.
Footfalls reached his ears and his attentions shifted at their direction. From one of the tunnels, he saw various Floor Guardians, walking at their direction.
There was a fatherly affection that bloomed within him. The urging desire to shield the two kids from them. But he fought it off, and stood tall, still administering head pats and rubbing the hair of the two.
"It is of little consequence." he says to the two. "But remember, as a hunter, a prey can be feral when challenged, a prey can desperate when cornered, and most of all... it can be petty when it knows its defeated... Never let your guard's down, not till the end. Such is a mark of a hunter. But regardless..." with a small whisper, "Well done you two." he then ushered them off and returns to his throne.
Back in his Overlord form and standing in front of the floor guardians, Momonga cheered at the small mercy his luck would sometimes grant him with.
Because if he could, Momonga would have stood flabbergasted at the devotions they had just showered him with, and he knew he would have to explain why he looked stupid with his jaw probably falling to the ground.
'Vow of fidelity? who came up with this thing!?'
Fending off the mind numbing actions of the NPC's. Momonga decided to prioritize his mission deciding for the blunt and forward route instead.
'I can fend them off if I have to... I just wish it wouldn't have to come to that.' a thought he unconsciously calculated after finding confidence in the presence of the two sword-staves floating next to him.
"Your oaths... are flimsy at best."
A gloom befell everyone present, yet no one spoke up. Either too afraid or angry, Momonga doesn't know anything to speculate yet. Still he carried on believing that he needs a means to measure the trustworthy and those who aren't.
"But fear not Guardians. You will be given the chance to prove yourselves."
Momonga noticed the new gleam in their eyes. And the eagerness in bold display.
"Floor Guardian, Demiurge. You shall coordinate with the other Floor Guardians from yours and above in strengthening the defenses of Nazarick."
"I shall see to your will done Momonga-sama." the devil responds with a swish of his tail.
"Umu. Bring your reports to Albedo who will pass it on to me." his eyes turns to the butler. "Report."
"My Lord, we appear to have been moved into a grassland. I'm sorry but we could not find any landmark to determine our location. Nothing but flatlands and the treeline of a nearby forest. No intelligent life but a few wild animals. The only thing alarming is that Lupus Regina smelled human deep within the jungle but too far to have taken notice of us in anyway."
"Well done, Sebas. For now, I will need you to organize the maids in rotation. Someone must always be present with Eli- Seraphina. Afterwards, you may return to your duties."
'this should do. I know how Sebas was created... if I can gauge his loyalty soon then that is one powerhouse as an immediate aid for us in the future.'
"Mare."
"Y-yes... Momonga-sama?"
"Can you cover the walls of Nazarick and hide it within a hill."
"My-my Lord-" Albedo was about to question his decision, but in her haste, Momonga believed she was about to rebuke and in response to his sudden anger, he unconsciously unleashed his [Aura of Despair] coupled with his [Aura of Destruction].
The warmth of the coliseum suddenly plummeted as a darkness overflowed from the Overlord like tendrils of shadows. While his feet burnt the very ground he stood on, searing it with purple flames.
With a grave voice that felt like cold steel gripping their hearts, Momonga ascertains his place amongst his NPC's.
"Do not interrupt me again... ever... Overseer."
"I-I deeply apologize Momonga-sama!" Albedo pleaded with her head pressed against the dirt and tears pooling at the corner of her eyes with her own heart clenching in pain at his reaction.
Only when his aura subsided and the flames flickered into embers did the everyone's tense shoulders lessen.
"Mo-Momonga-sama..." whispers Aura Bela Fiora, Floor Guardian of the sixth floor.
"Yes, Aura." he spoke in such a gentle tone that put the little girl at ease.
"Uhmm... it would be best, if we hide the tomb behind either tall trees instead.. to uhmm... make it seem like it was always part of the forest or.. uhh... We-we could add more hills so that scouts and rangers wouldn't suspect a thing when they see it..."
Momonga blinked..."Hahahahaha!"
His hearty laugh seemed as if it was shaking the very coliseum itself. Warm and welcoming, far from the oppressive feeling he has seconds ago.
"An excellent suggestion Aura! It is a fine tactic indeed. I would assume we should forgo illusions unless they are truly searching the place to avoid suspicion. And using the artificial trees, we could create various external traps, controlled pathways, dead ends, or even kill boxes..."
"That's exactly what I was thinking Momonga-sama!!"
Seeing how everyone turned to her, wide eyed at her childish display made Aura blush at the attention. Only to jolt back into reality, when she felt Momonga, running his hand through her hair.
Hearing a familiar purr from her little brother made her realize how they were both at the receiving end of his affection.
"Well done you two... your mother would be proud seeing her tactical mind reflect through you."
The two held back their tears with glistening eyes. Smiling widely at his words.
"Umu. Then it is decided, the external defense of Nazarick I will entrust to the two of you. Make of it what you believe proper, as for your forces..."
'Aura has her summons and some of them even have the befits of pets but, they're too recognizable. I've at least confirmed summons, but should I give it to them... a test. Yes, yes it would do.'
"...I shall inform my own creations, Alucard and Pandora's Actor to provide them for you."
"Albedo."
"M-my Lord."
"I expect their report within the week."
"Yes my Lord."
"One last thing... Cocytus... I need an aid in my training." the insectoid's head nearly snapped out of his neck with how fast he raised it with a puff of frigid air. "I fear my skills have dulled, with the lack of challenges over years."
Cocytus, massive frame slightly shook in barely restrained excitement. With a massive puff of frigid air. He smashed one of his fists against his chest in a bow.
A response that sent Momonga's eyes ablaze.
"You have your orders. See to them done. Albedo, I expect you in my office to coordinate with me the workings of Nazarick."
"As you wish, Momonga-sama!"
And with that he vanished along with Sebas, leaving behind the guardian's who remained silent for a time.
"Th-that was really scary..."
"Heh! That was Momonga-sama!"
"Indeed! The. First. Of. The. Supreme. One. Is. As. Mighty. As. We. Believe."
"I agree, he was beyond even my wildest imagination." Demiurge adjust his glasses, hiding the glint that pointed directly at the silent Overseer. "Now pray tell, what had caused such... reaction from our Supreme Ruler, Overseer." his accusing tone made everyone turn in Albedo's direction.
"Fear." she whispers.
The air tensed and shook as the collective attention of the guardians regarded her words. The first to speak was Cocytus, who slammed the butt of his glaive creating a field of ice that slowly grew spikes.
"Do. Not. Utter. Such. Blasphemy! The. Supreme. One. Fear. No. One!"
But Albedo did not back down. "They fear Cocytus... not for themselves... but for others. Lady Seraphina is unwell."
*gasp!!!
"Why keep this from us!?" Shalltear shrieked.
"You are a prime example of that Shalltear." Albedo answers coldly. Halting the vampire in her tracks, faltering at her accusation.
"As guardians, we deserve to know such details Overseer." Demiurge remarks. "For how are we to prepare for the necessities we're about to face if we are caught unaware of such important matters."
"You have your task, but if given reason to, I have no doubt you would abandon your post to see to their well being... just like the rest of us." Her words rang true to everyone, effectively halting all objections. And with a sigh, she reminded them. "Besides..." her eyes trailed coldly to Shalltear. "...some of us lack the... necessary decorum to be in their glorious presence." said Albedo as she sniffed in disdain as if smelling something foul and rotten.
But Shalltear merely looked on smugly at Albedo. "How could someone not get wet after such magnificent display. Albedo~"
"Tsk! I at least had the decency to control myself! But then again-" Albedo then looked down at Shalltear with a wide smile. "What am I to expect from the 'back-up woman' to the Supreme One."
Shalltear stood quiet for a second, her face hidden behind the shadows of her hair. Till suddenly, her eyes flashed red and her form slowly shifted.
From her childlike bodice, she slowly gained height standing a whole feet taller than she used to, her breast expanded, waist slimmed, and hips widening. All the while she shed her red victorian bell dress, into a white frilled victorian dress.
After a mere five seconds, Shalltear stood at equal height to Albedo, breast pressed against the succubus' own, and her red eyes leveled with her golden ones.
Gone was the child, replaced with a maturer version of herself. And as Albedo took in her form, she could only click her tounge in annoyance at the memory. The day they announced her, the Guardian Overseer as a concubine... and the day Lord Peroroncino gave Shalltear that form.
"Do not forget, Overseer. My body~" Shalltear emphasized as she ran her hands across her curves "-was made with the preference of the Supreme One in mind. Never forget that you big mouthed gorilla-"
"Lamprey!!!"
Dirt and sand rose as the very air shook once again. With both Guardians wrestling against each other using their own aura. A clash of crimson vs gold.
At the side stood the rest of the Guardians. Watching as the two started to bicker against each other.
"Seriously." remarks Demiurge. "Is there a point to this competition?"
"Um-uhm... Momonga-sama already has Lady Se-Seraphina."
*Pffshh! "This. Is. More. Of. A. Contest. On. Who. Would. Come. Next. To. The. Great. Lady. Herself."
"I understand where you're coming from Cocytus but there is still plenty of time for Lady Seraphina to change her mind."
"What do you mean Demiurge?" asks Aura.
"Ah! Yes. It is no secret that Lord Momonga had openly confessed his love to Lady Seraphina. They had even wedded. But it is also no secret that she had yet to consummate that marriage. And our dear Lady is afraid of such commitment. Even going as far as pushing other women towards him."
"Ehhh!!! But- bu- But! why!?"
"I'm afraid I do not know. All I know is that she was afraid of the future. Such deep answer.... who could truly understand the precarious lives our Creators lives. But I digress, it is as I had said. Such thoughts could still change, even now. I had once heard Momonga-sama openly confessed to my creator that he will not be giving up on their future. So you see... I see this as a futile endeavour. They are bound to be together that much is true."
"Doe-does Seraphina-sama even want another woman to carry his child?" asks Mare.
"Yes. I believe so." answers Demiurge. "Lady Seraphina had even gone so far as to label it as his duty. Though I admit, such a child would be an incredible addition to our forces. Something akin to the future of Nazarick."
Hearing Cocytus release another puff of frigid air, Demiurge shook his head and walked away. "Now then, I will be leaving matters of woman amongst women. Good luck Aura."
"EEHHHH!!? DEMIURGE!?"