Chapter 216 ~ Demoness
<span style="font-weight:400">Sebas sat behind arge mahogany desk within the main office of thete duke Astarte.
<span style="font-weight:400">Having lived within the mansion that had be his base of operations for a few days, he could not help but be disappointed and longed for his home.
<span style="font-weight:400">The mansion itself was a grand and luxurious estate second only to the royal pce. Built upon the blood, sweat, tears, and gold of the people that he had gained through rampant corruption, the estate was a shining model of splendor and grandeur, hiding the darkness it created within the darkest confines of its cers and basement.
<span style="font-weight:400">Compared to the majesty and divine architecture carved by literal Gods, however, the building – and all mortal creations for that reason – paled far inparison.
<span style="font-weight:400">To evenpare it in the first ce would be a slight towards the Great Gods that Sebas would not tolerate in the slightest.
<span style="font-weight:400">That said, for the standard of this world, this mansion was something not just any nobles or wealthy merchants could buy.
<span style="font-weight:400">The wealth required to purchase the estate was astronomical, so much so that only the royal treasury would be able to purchase it directly without having to resort to purchasing loans.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, Yuuji-sama, in the few weeks they arrived in the new world, had managed to procure immense wealth from the kingdom and the empire while also rooting his influence in their economies, bing an indispensable part of it.
<span style="font-weight:400">With it, Yuuji bought two high-end mansions to be their base of operations within the two nations. One within Arwintar, the royal capital of the Empire, for his use, and the other within Re-Estize, the royal capital of the Kingdom, for Shalltear’s use.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sebas could not help but feel immense respect and admiration for the one known as the greatest supreme being of all.
<span style="font-weight:400">To be able to conquer nations without even lifting up a sword was something truly only a supreme being could achieve.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sebas mused in his mind as his eyes were locked onto the magic scroll in his hand.
<span style="font-weight:400">On the desk were many more scrolls that he had bought from the mage’s guild within Arwintar. Most were first-tier, with a few being second-tier, the highest tier sold to the general public.
<span style="font-weight:400">Such low tier magic would normally be spared from his attention. However, one of the missions he had received was to see if he could find any new, interesting, or useful magic they did not possess.
<span style="font-weight:400">In Ainz and Lelouch’s words, they might be utilized in ways they could not expect or be developed into something better.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thefortable silence within the office persisted. That was, until a knock came on the door and a familiar voice resounded from behind it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sebas-sama. May Ie in?”<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. You may enter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The door opened to reveal the beautiful, golden-haired maid who served as his assistant in this mission, Solution.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I havee to deliver a letter for you.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Solution ced a letter with a wax seal onto his desk before stepping a few steps back, and waited as Sebas reached for it and examined it.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It came earlier than expected.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“They <i><span style="font-weight:400">are</i><span style="font-weight:400"> getting desperate, after all. And it is all thanks to Yuuji-sama’s mechanism~!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Solution’s beautiful smile turned into a sadistic grin as she mocked the owner of the wax seal. But just as quickly, her expression turned radiant and full of affection when she mentioned the greatness of her beloved.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sebas nodded his head in agreement, his admiration for Yuuji’s brilliance doubling once more.
<span style="font-weight:400">He broke the wax seal and opened the contents of the envelope, and began to read.
<span style="font-weight:400">“As expected. It is exactly as he foresees…”
<span style="font-weight:400">Solution’s lips grew into a wider grin, and now, there was a tinge of pride within them. Pride for loving such a great being such as Yuuji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then, shall we move on to the next phase, Sebas-sama?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Solution suggested with excitement, anticipation, and a sadistic pleasurecing her every word.
<span style="font-weight:400">However, to her disappointment, the heat butler of Nazarick shook his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No. We shall make them wait. Their unease and desperation will make them easier to “persuade”. When they were truly on the edge, that would be when we extend the olive branch.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“...Very well.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Sebas could hear the obvious disappointment in her voice, which he had no doubt stemming from her enthusiasm to aplish her mission perfectly and return to <i><span style="font-weight:400">his</i><span style="font-weight:400"> side as soon as possible. However, he appreciated her obedience to his words and nodded once more.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It will not be long. Then, we shall return to Nazarick to report the result of our work to the Supreme Beings.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, I understand.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Solution’s smile returned to her face as she bowed and left the room, allowing Sebas to return to his silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">--------------------------------X--------------------------------
<span style="font-weight:400">Albedo stood with her arms folded under her plentiful chest, which had grown evenrger thanks to her beloved’s “Divine Essences” and touches, towering over the prostrating Princess Renner, listening to what she had to say.
<span style="font-weight:400">By her side, Demiurge simrly stood with his hands behind his back, listening in silence.
<span style="font-weight:400">And when she finished exining it all, and what she intended to do to provoke her foolish eldest brother, Albedo and Demiurge could not help but acknowledge the power of the mind subservient to them.
<span style="font-weight:400">Albedo’s luscious pink lips curled into a slightly wider smile. Everything was just as her beloved had said. The princess was truly an “asset” worth keeping.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well done~ Keep this up and you won’t need to worry about anything. We demons are extremely particr with contracts. Deception in all things, but where your oath is given. You and your beloved “puppy” shall be safe when my Master reigns supreme.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Simply by being in her presence, the princess could feel the heat of damnation radiating from the monsters before her. Particrly the demoness with world-shaking beauty and jet-ck feathered wings.
<span style="font-weight:400">She felt even more powerful and… dangerous than the man who appeared and seemed like the “Devil” himself.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘Just what kind of monster is this being for these devils to serve it?’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">Renner asked herself, but even with her vast intelligence, observation, and deduction skills, she could not find an answer that was not itself unthinkable.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hah… But truly, listening to <i><span style="font-weight:400">‘his’</i><span style="font-weight:400"> words, even through you, has been an aggravating experience, more than I expected. But at least, his foolishness did have some uses. Having you serve refreshments instead of maids would prevent information from spreading like a disease.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Albedo snorted softly, which Renner followed suit almost immediately.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I agree, mydy.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The contempt that dripped from her lips spoke volumes on how she felt about the arrangement as she recalled how her eldest brother had her serve tea for him because she should be “ying the role” as a woman.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Very well, continue to push the fool towards idiocy for now. And when my beloved master arrives, make sure that the Noble Faction acts just like themselves.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Albedo let out a cruel, mockingugh with a crystal timber, which Renner joined.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course. And mydy, will I be allowed to meet your master beforehand? I must admit, from the many stories you have told of his overwhelming power, majesty, and your romance, I admit I am curious to behold the majesty of such supreme being for myself.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Albedo’s smile turned softer when she saw the genuine curiosity and interest of the little mortal princess before her. She recalled her having the same expression whenever she would ask her stories of her romance as a reference for the princess’s own romantic pursuit.
<span style="font-weight:400">Of course, even the Golden Princess herself knew the futility of attempting to ce her “pet” in Albedo’s master and most beloved’s ce. However, hearing such a beautiful love story from a being such as Albedo was more interesting than whatever gossip and shallow love the idle maids and youngdies had for their excuse of “romance”.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Seed, and meeting him shall be your first reward. And as I’ve said many times before, to be in his presence alone is a bliss you would wish for again and again when he is gone.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then, I look forward to my sess, Lady Albedo, Lord Demiurge.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Renner grinned, her eyes dark with giddy malevolence, and the great subus and archdevil called up the [Gate], and vanished with two steps into the whirling void.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once she was sure they were gone, Renner raised to her feet when there was a knock at her wide, white double doors.
<span style="font-weight:400">The mask of the Golden Princess was affixed once more upon her visage before she responded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Enter.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The enchanted locks opened, allowing her visitor to open it with ease.
<span style="font-weight:400">A beautiful, golden-haired boy in the spring of his youth came. It was her puppy, her Climb, her bodyguard, her everything.
<span style="font-weight:400">He knelt in front of Renner with his head bowed in absolute reverence, his mithril and orichalcum blended armor clinked with minimal noise with his movement.
<span style="font-weight:400">Fifteen springs, as best as either of them could say, had passed, and the look of love and devotion was never absent in his visage. And she hated it when he bowed his head down.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Raise your head.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Shemanded as a princess should, and he obeyed, as a knight.
<span style="font-weight:400">“My princess, do you wish to inspect the city again and grant your blessings unto the popce?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, my climb, yes. And you will protect me, won’t you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">
<span style="font-weight:400">She asked with innocent blue eyes.
<i><span style="font-weight:400">‘No matter the cost!’</i>
<span style="font-weight:400">He cried out inside of his mind, losing his gaze into the endless clear pool of radiant blue. But aloud, he answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Of course, mydy.”
<span style="font-weight:400">He did his best to keep the overwhelming love he had for her, her ideals, her character, her appearance, her everything from seeping into his spoken words. How well he did, he hoped it was well enough to not let his innocent princess perceive the inappropriate feelings a knight shan’t ever have towards his princess.
<span style="font-weight:400">He quickly distracted himself and spoke out his concern regarding her wish.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Mydy, I understand your generosity and love for the less fortunate popce of the kingdom. However, for your safety, I must still suggest additional bodyguards to protect you. It is no secret that you ending the ve trade had put you in sights of the Eight Fingers, and with them running more and more rampant as ofte, being out in public with only me to guard your body may be dangerous.”
<span style="font-weight:400">This was the nth time he had suggested such a thing to her. And again, she shot him down.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I understand, but I ept the risk. And most of all, I believe in you. So, please try your hardest.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She gave him a soft, radiant smile that thrilled him to the core, and the matter was closed. The princess’ trust in him fuelled his determination more than what he had for himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Are the chest of copper coins and ‘bread slip’ papers ready?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, my princess. Everything has been arranged and the carriage is ready for your immediate departure.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good. Then, we shall head out immediately.”