I lean over the table head in my propped up hands whistling a tune as I stare across from me. In the space I’m staring is a skeleton. An admittedly good looking one with a robe of bck, gold and purple with fancy magical baubles draped all over his outfit. Of course I glitter more.
“Say Momonga, isn’t it kinda sad that everyone’s just left us to ourselves?” I ask tilting my head from side to side to a tune dad’s company was considering as an advertising jingle. It’s been stuck in my head for weeks. I’m not humming it or anything though so Momonga doesn’t hear anything but my question and I hear him sigh even if an undead shouldn’t be able to do that. I mean it’s a scrubby middle aged dude moving the skeleton.
“Selene I think you know full well that everyone abandoned this pce for their real lives. I can’t bme them for that.” He replies though there’s a certain bitterness to it. Hehe, no one would dare call me just by name back home but here we’re supposedly equals. I suppose I can let him hold onto that notion ‘till the end.
“But you do though right?” I say nonchantly letting a hint of fang creep through my smile. It’s always more threatening as a vampire. “I mean even if they had their own lives, we built this pce with our own hands. Spent blood, sweat, money and tears to make this the greatest dungeon of any guild. We even managed to get the most world items any guild has had in history, topping in the ten most powerful guilds at our peak. They just threw all that away. Doesn’t that just grind your gears, especially with how you’ve been looking after it all this time?” I needle.
“Of course it does!” He says, smming his fist on the table. A little 0 point damage indicator appears above the table as he does so but my smile just grows erratically. I quickly correct that so he doesn’t notice.
“Right!” I join him, matching his energy. “I mean this is years of our hard work, well spent cash and all of our dreams come true. They abandoned it. Sure they have lives but couldn’t they have at least visited once in a while, at the very least they should’ve been here on the st day. Even Herohero didn’t stay until the st second. I didn’t really want to say it to his face but that hurt you know, even if he has work this is the st time we’ll see each other.” I pretend to rant.
“The st time.” He mutters staring at the gss container for the guild weapon where that ornamented golden staff sits. “We won’t have reason to interact outside of the game will we?” He says, sounding as though he were in a desote nd.
“Yeah.” I agree “I mean I like the time we spent together and all but I’m an heiress you know? I’m not allowed to interact with you lot normally. The game was the only pce I could do that without everyone scraping and bowing, it’s gonna be such a drag without my release.” I recite my supposed reason for joining the game. I mean it’s true but it’s not like I’m here to interact with plebeians in the way everyone thinks I am. What would be the point in that?
“Tell you what.” I suggest shoving myself out of my guild seat and over to the gss case. “Why don’t we take our stuff for a spin, one final time. Change a bunch of settings and stuff. If they don’t care enough to come back on the st day and stay ‘till the end then we can do what we want with it right? Maybe it’ll piss them off enough to come online.”
“I still want to respect their wishes.” Momonga says though he sounds unsure. Come on just a little more. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he comes into work and realises he ruined the memories of his precious friends.
“Why should we care it’s not like they did. Plus don’t you have a few fantasies that everyone stopped you from carrying out or you stopped because it’d be too embarrassing. I dunno about you but Kelly’s hot as fuck. I’d totally re-write her backstory so she’s not just that pervert’s toy, I’d make her actually interesting you know? Maybe Albedo’s more your type though.” I muse. Even if faces have no expression in this game I can totally imagine the guy blushing. Actually ew no, get that out of my head.
“But…” He trails off. Ugh, still hesitating do I really have to threaten you into this. It’s such a pain.
“Well I’m going to the throne room. I might not be able to muck around with the settings but I’m totally gonna put some stuff out of pce. If you want to stop me you’re just gonna have to come get me.” I say and before he can try to stop me I teleport to the throne room using the ring from the guild. Except it only dumps me just outside the door. Right, totally forgot about that.
I ignore the weird inscriptions and artwork on the doors by flinging them open before coming face to face with albedo next to the throne. Except she’s carrying a world item. Tabu you sneaky bugger, what a brilliant idea I didn’t think of.
Sauntering up to the throne, I take my rightful pce and wait for the idiot to finally make up his mind. I check the time real quick but we’ve still got a few minutes ‘till the server shuts down. Enough to do some changes before everything goes bck so I sit there with chin in hand and stare absently at Albedo. She’s not really my type but she’s got the kinda bod that would be a prerequisite. Still I get bored fairly quickly and decide to pn out the changes I’m gonna make, because honestly there are far too many I want to practically manage.
I mean Kelly doesn’t really matter because I’ve never been into mindless dolls anyway but I definitely wanna change any stuff Tabu made. Dude’s made of distilled chaos. I like the fallout of his schemes but I can never control them and the biggest of those is definitely Rubedo.
He made our most powerful asset into a lore described time bomb, I’m not having that. Finally Momonga arrives and in his hand is the guild weapon. Excellent, I cp my hands to bring his attention to me and use one of my shadow movement skills to appear right in front of him. Then I immediately walk out without saying a word.
Of course he follows like an ugly little duckling. I take him straight to the 8th level and wander straight up to Rubedo saying “You know this is Tabu’s big thing right? The disaster that will happen to Nazarick if she is ever freed, I’m not gonna let him abandon us then ruin our work ter. You mind changing it up for me?” I ask sweetly sending a blinking eyeshes emote. Once this is done I’ll let him change some stuff he secretly wants, like making Albedo lust after him or something.
It takes a little more finagling but eventually he changes her backstory to something like ‘locked up because she knows she’s too powerful and doesn’t want to hurt anyone.’ Kinda cliché and definitely makes her less useful but better than before.
Then I take him to the throne room again, we change Albedo’s settings by pointing out the line about her being a slut(hehe too easy). I find some other stuff hidden in the baths and whatnot. I get him to change as much as I can within the time and his morals before returning to the throne room. I convince him to let me sit on the throne by saying something like ‘it reminds me of home’ or something. Also I have him fetch my trusty butler to stay at my side while he can have Sebas and Albedo next to him as he stands at my side. Like a servant hehe.
Speaking of my trusty butler I check his settings just to be sure. I named him clenup because that’s all he is. A type of slime evolved from the sterile slime known as the alchemical variety allows him to literally clean anywhere he walks.
I gave him merchant csses and stuff but I can’t really change those and I think the rare css ‘Great war alchemist’ is kinda cool anyway. Funds wars single handedly, deals with all the politics and business I don’t want to while basically filling all the roles I would want by my side IRL. Perfect. I also made him look like a war veteran with straw in his mouth and a short stubble because that just fits you know.
Anyway “Bow.” I tell them all and they do so. Meh it’s not nearly as fun when they’re dolls so I turn my attention to Momonga. Hmmm… I almost want to try and get him to bow too in the end but I’m just not sure I could get that without breaking my cover. Sucks but oh well.
So I watch the clock with a smile and just before the game turns off for good I give it a final goodbye. “It was fun Yggdrasil. Please make another one as fast as you can, I’m not sure how long I can bottle it up without my release.” I almost plead. I know the developers won’t listen to stuff like this, even if it’s from me. Still I’m just not sure I can hide without this game. Bottles eventually uncork and I know all too well how easy it is to pressurise the inside of mine.
Then the clock hits 0000. Then 0001. “What!” My eyes shoot open wide in an instant and I stand up from the throne with such force that a gust of wind is generated and blows through the room. My voice resonates in an unnatural way I don’t care to pinpoint. For now I turn to Momonga and we both nod before attempting to contact the admins in all the means I am aware of. Starting with checking if there is an announcement.
In the end I find that I can’t open any sort of console, not even the one for my own skills. “Is something the matter Mistress.” I hear a grizzly voice from my right and when I turn I find my doll of a butler staring at me with genuine puzzlement on his face. ON HIS FACE!
I turn my attention to Albedo, Momonga and Sebas. All but Momonga bow at my gaze saying something along the lines of “Is there anything I can help with Supreme One.” This is impossible, I lock gazes with momonga and he seems to be panicking as well, pressing against the air looking for menus but finding nothing. Then I see as his movements stop being frantic. Strangely I find myself searching for solutions instead of filing myself and I try using the message spell to contact the developers.
Something connects to my mind and feels as though it searches throughout the cosmos before returning with the typical dial up tone that means no one’s on the other end. The heck. So organise assets, evaluate priorities do as dad always taught you when there’s an incomprehensible problem.
Current assets include myself, Momonga, possibly the NPCs given the clear loyalty they are dispying and the pity of the masses. Assuming we’re still connected to our world. Largest priority is information about my current situation, specifically: How? Where? Why and what can I do in or about it. Assuming the NPCs are allies- no there’s a faster way to complete multiple objectives at once.
“Clenup go find out where we are, I don’t care about the means. Hostility encountered should be reported immediately then if possible captured swiftly. Report back as soon as pertinent information is found. Sebas, go fetch the other guardians for an audience in the throne room within the hour.” I order just like I do back home.
I turn to Albedo next, ignoring their bow and swift departure. “You’re going to answer our questions. I do not want to hear lies, if you do not know an answer I expect you to inform us as much. If you do know an answer, I expect details to be summarised but complete. Am I understood?” I tell her and she bows indicating ascent before I turn to Momonga.
“No luck with the Gms?” I ask and he shakes his head. I continue asking if he’s tried the console and such but no luck with that either. “How about spells, skills and such? Are our abilities working properly- actually I don’t need to ask you that. Albedo you should know.” I turn to her.
Before she answers the unnatural tone to my voice pops up in my mind again and I focus on it. Yeah, it’s like I’m using multiple voices at once from multiple directions. Creepy.“To my knowledge your aura of night is currently active Supreme One. I do possess darkvision however, as well as several means to give myself immunity to madness and the other status effects it inflicts. No other skills are verifiably active.” She tells me and I nod accepting that expnation before thinking about all my abilities. My build is rgely an assassin type with a bunch of abilities that make me essentially immune to detection from even high level characters who dabble in the field. My racial csses are mostly to strengthen my damage or grant access to special csses. I get abilities like Create lesser vampire(10 per day), Create lunar vampire(5 per day), Create true night vampire(1 per day), Regenerate(20 per day), Night’s familiars, Beloved of night, Ruler of true night, Aura of night, True night’s grace(10 per day), Descent(1 per day). Some are OP others are just the basics of vampires.
Speaking of which I get all the stuff that comes with being a vampire too. Charm eyes, natural weapons, special vision, immunity to most common spells below 6th tier, a boost to my stats at night on top of those from my csses and special racial traits. Of course the weaknesses come part and package. A particur one called ‘Day’s scorn’ causes enough damage during the day that it’s not worth even trying to grind in that time. On top of all the typical stat drops.
Then there’s my css stuff which I should probably use to check everything’s working properly. The spells I selected using my css are mostly for hiding, perception or strengthening though. More boosts to my stats at night, boosts to sneak attacks and crit rates(Oh I wonder how that’s gonna work here), boosts to hiding abilities, Shadowwalk, World of shadows, Moon’s garden, Shadow’s blessing, Moon’s blessing. Honestly it’s mostly typical for an assassin’s kit. The only exception is the fact that I’m practically unbeatable during true night and with the right preparations I can create true night even if it’s not currently active. Oh and there’s also my gear. I’m a bit of a famous whale among the pyerbase so my inventory is full of stuff but me and Momonga are the only ones who have a personal set of divine css gear and a world item. I personally acquired mine though so the guild couldn’t take my set. I touch my earrings but quickly pull myself away from their allure and start to test my abilities. If they don’t exist then all of that is pointless anyway.
First an ability that can be used both during the day and night. “The unknown” I whisper quietly and I feel the ability activate in a way that is difficult to describe. As though one switch among many has been flipped. The sensation of losing mana is simirly odd, this isn’t enough to even offset my mana regeneration but it still feels as though I am using a muscle I didn’t know I had.
I then walk up to Momonga and snap my fingers in front of his face. He can see through most forms of invisibility but mine is a tenth tier spell used by a high level thief css. I would be shocked if his character could see it. Sure enough he’s still staring at the throne that I had been sitting in seconds ago and his skeletal face showed no reaction to me snapping my fingers in front of his face. I’m also fairly sure I could have seen such a reaction. Since I noticed his eye sockets light up far brighter when the service time ended and they have dimmed since. I assume that is an analogue for opening his eyes wide. Or perhaps just strong emotions in general.
Satisfied I plop back down in the throne and de-active my spell while casting another ability, this time one that can only be activated during true night. “Moon’s eye.” I mutter again and this time I get a bird’s eye view of our current location, the only detection ability I really need. It’s not a window this time though, it feels more like I’ve opened another eye with a distinct viewpoint.
As it turns out I didn’t need to tell Clenup to check where we are, since I can see that Nazarick is in the middle of a set of pins. Good that I can tell. It means I can check their loyalty and get a first hand view of the situation at the same time. Since our abilities work just fine… “I do believe skills and spells work slightly differently but they still exist. We can check the rest ter. For now we get our questions answered and then we decide whether we should do anything about our situation.” Telling Momonga as much I get to work asking questions.
The general outline was ‘what differences can you discern between now and a few minutes ago?’ while mentioning events in the tomb and seeing if she remembers any of them and if so from what perspective.
I can’t ask a subordinate something like ‘how do you see me’ because if I did they wouldn’t give a straight answer and even if they did it would be akin to openly questioning their loyalty. That’s a serious accusation. Still I can get most of my questions answered and they certainly surprise me, given that she can’t tell the difference between now and a few minutes ago. She can tell that there was a difference though. She is also capable of telling me about certain events in the tomb either through heresay or because she cims to have been personally present. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was but I wouldn’t actually know.
Once we’re done it’s almost time for the guardians to arrive so I tell Albedo to stand by the throne. How do I pce Momonga though? I need to subtly hint that he’s lower on the hierarchy than me but not outright snub him, he wouldn’t mind but I’m fairly certain the subordinates would.
“Hey Momonga did you ever learn the create item spells?” I ask. I figure they could be used in more creative ways in this new patch or world. Ah let’s face it. The obvious fact by this point is that we’re not in a simution or new patch because if we were this would be unwful cyber imprisonment and no one’s bold enough to do that to me. Even if it was an accident, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about that. May as well enjoy the situation while we can in that case and if we’re actually in another world then this is a dream come true honestly.
“I did.” He answers sounding confused but his bony visage not showing a hint of it.
“In that case see if you can create a chair using that spell it would be best to try and make it look like a throne. It doesn’t have to be as good as this one but something simir would be best.” I suggest. There, he’d still be on the same ptform as me but his throne is a little more shabby and not a world css item in and of itself. That should show the difference in status without outright saying he’s beneath me. I do notice Albedo’s gre though, I’ll have to watch that.
Unfortunately I can’t use moon’s eye inside Nazarick though if I could that would be a serious breach in security. So I patiently wait until the doors swing open. At their front is a man in an outfit that screams ‘noble’ with a suit and tie immacutely tied and straightened.
Behind the man with nary a wrinkle in his clothing is a girl the complete opposite. Golden wings scattering the ashes of misery drag across the ground. Wrinkled white vestments are draped carelessly over a set of full pte armour covered in dents and scratches. Slung over her back is a huge ivory bow. At her hip is both a set of longswords and a rapier within arm’s reach while a mace is dangling just behind them.
After the girl is a massive blue insect. Sharp mandibles refrain from ccking as four arms swing powerfully enough to have a presence all of their own. A tail peeks into view from behind the creature. His surroundings are covered in a yer of frost as he passes but do not extend past a small radius around him, in deference to his masters.
The twins bounce into the room next. Despite their far more lively steps they still sync well with the other guardians, including each other. Which is quite the feat considering one is considerably faster. A girl with the grin of a predator, a jacket of dragon leather and the body of a dark elf child saunters confidently towards the throne. Her heterochromatic eyes glint with both reverence and tempered malice. Behind her stumbles a boy clutching what looks like a wooden stick to his chest as though it were a precious object. He uses it almost like a cane, tapping against the floor in time with his steps. The ‘he’ I used however is slightly in question, given that he’s wearing a skirt with knee-high stockings and I really wonder why that teapot didn’t realise she was just as perverted as her brother.
Behind the twins is Sebas. The supposedly ever-faithful butler who was set up by that overly righteous family man so I know there’s a trap for me in there somewhere. I was always a better pyer but the idiot managed to win a tournament because it was held during the day. I was already fully kitted out by then anyway but it still sucks that I now can’t beat him for the rest of time simply because a tournament was held during the day. I probably could’ve been top of the leaderboard if not for that imbecile.
They all approach the throne while I’m stewing in my rage but I maintain the smile on my face, years of practice. Then they all prostrate as one. Including Albedo now in a simir position beside them, they all procim “Our all belongs to the Supreme Ones. Body and mind are yours to do with as you see fit. This we vow.” in unison.
That’s certainly a power trip. I gnce at Momonga and his eye sockets are rather bright, though I don’t think he’s drunk on power. If anything he’s probably scared of the responsibility. I meanwhile “Look at me.” I order and their heads raise, I stare deeply into each of their eyes in turn subtly observing them as I do. Hmm… calcuting eyes, well-preened appearance, not a button out of pce I can work with that. Shabby clothing before her master, pleading eyes, wings drooping but not twitching, competent but needy. It’s a little difficult to understand an insect. Tail is still like a drawn bde, arms on the floor but posture rigid, sharp eyes with absolute faith. Perhaps a warrior type? Takemikazuchi would make him like that but I don’t know how much stock I can put in fvour text. Aura is like me when I was younger, I can use that. Mare… he doesn’t actually avert his eyes when I look at him, an act then but why? He’s too obvious about it even if he is an exceptional actor he’s clearly not trying to hide it from me. Finally Sebas. I search for any hints of disgust, a twitch of the brow or a foot slightly further back than the rest but find none. His eyes are determined but his dispy of loyalty was no different than the rest. I’ll have to investigate. When I look over at Albedo I see that despite her head being pointed at the ground it is inclined further in Momonga’s direction than my own. I’ll keep an eye on it but I have an idea on that front.
Just then the doors open once more and Clenup enters the room gently closing them behind him with reverence. Just like Albedo when he prostrates he orients more towards me than Momonga. His eyes are balls of bck slime but they were always focussed on me. The straw he’s chewing on remains in his mouth. When he prostrated he deliberately maintained the form of his legs while doing so even though I saw that they melted for a second first. Melting his lower half to slime was his first instinct, a suppressed one.
His clothes are fine but instead of a gaudy suit and tie his is more subdued, a deep bck with a white under-shirt. Bck trousers and polished boots that don’t scrape the floor. As a slime he has penalties for wearing actual clothing but that is acceptable given that he’s not very combat oriented in the first pce. His sleeves have a small grey powder now that I look. I’m fairly certain the fvour text suggests that is some sort of alchemical experiment akin to gunpowder that he could never remove. I look for other pieces of fvour text I specified in both his demeanour and appearance. A scorch mark on his shoe, the straw being slightly bent at the end, the way he pretends to favour his right foot and a scar on his ankle that he puts on his body deliberately. I find all of them and satisfied with my inspection return to the topic at hand.
“Report.” I order looking him directly in the eye and he bows his head.
“I obey Mistress. All of myself is yours always and forever.” He starts likely imitating the vow made by the other guardians before he arrived. “Best I could tell we’re on a grand set of pins. Not a single monster in sight, no environmental effects even I cold traverse the nd without a problem. All I could find within the immediate area was small animals with little to no combat power.” He tells all present though his lowered head is still oriented towards me.
So first of all he can leave the tomb. I completely forgot that was a feature when the NPCs became people but it’s not too impossible to think sapient beings can go wherever they want. Second where on Yggdrasil is that?
No environment is so peaceful barring the beginner areas and if we were there people would be swarming the pins. Not that the beginner areas are pins in the first pce. They’re a destroyed wastend with little to find in terms of food or water. Not much of a problem for us undead but still. Also what’s with the small animals, there was no such thing in Yggdrasil because that would make finding food far too easy. I don’t think eating them would have any beneficial effects. Still it’s ludicrous that you can just hunt easy prey in the middle of a pin without something attacking you. Also how has the entire tomb been moved, it’s immune to stuff like that.
I take a gnce at Momonga and his eyes are alight once more, he’s thinking in a simir manner I imagine. I turn my attention back to the guardians. “With only two of us present and the clearly abnormal situation we’re in we find ourselves cking manpower for jobs outside of the tomb. Which is why we will be using you to fill those gaps.” I tell them.
While I speak to the guardians my moon’s eye zooms in on the terrain around us looking for signs of habitation or monsters. Hmm… There are a few undead shambling about in an area a good distance away. Closer by though there’s a vilge that doesn’t look like anything special but the fact that it houses sapient beings at all is a source for celebration. I take a closer look and discover they are all humans. It looks somewhat medieval in terms of technology with wells, straw roofs and wooden huts. The only thing I question is the fact that an average vilge girl is hauling several buckets of water at once. She’s stronger than your average man back home but I’m not exactly certain how strength is calcuted in this new world.
Remembering the fact that I created a gust of wind by just standing up mildly fast it’s safe to assume we’re a tad stronger than normal as well. Still not worth risking ourselves. I think over the NPCs I have access to before ordering Sebas “Fetch the Pleiades.” and looking around the vilge while I do so. There’s a forest nearby too, that could be a good area to send Aura. Particurly since that is rather close to the tomb, which we will have to hide now that I remember how much it sticks out.
For now lets create a perimeter of expendable troops that would be natural to find nearby. Alongside a more stealthy guard force. “Heard the pop monsters outside the tomb and see if you can keep them circling a certain radius around the tomb. If not just release as many as possible.” I order to no one in particur. Just then Sebas returns with the requested subordinates and I broadly grin at a few in particur. A red haired girl with a rugged country girl face and fierce golden eyes. A blond haired dy who looks like she comes from wealth but wears the same incongruous maid outfit with empty blue eyes. Finally a girl with a pstic child-like face and hair separated into two bundles almost like animal ears.
“Entoma, Solution, Lupisregina there is a vilge several hours run north from here containing a number of what appear to be humans. You will ascertain several pieces of information from them. You must determine their affiliation, standing and strength as well as learning any information they have on the surrounding area. An idea of the political ndscape would also be appreciated.” I order once they have all prostrated.
“Do not let them discover your race, strength or affiliation. Silence witnesses as required so long as you know for certain you have the capability to do so without blowing your cover. Solution will take point. Prepare a story beforehand if questions are asked as to your presence and adapt it on the fly as needed. Make certain however that you deliver every detail of your backstory during reports. Emergencies or situations out of the norm will be reported immediately through Lupisregina’s message spell to your direct superior Sebas.” I quickly turn my eyes to the man in question. “Sebas if you receive such a message I expect to be informed immediately.”
I can feel Momonga’s cautious gre but he doesn’t say anything. Good, he knows not to contradict a superior.“Are my instructions clear?” I turn back to them and ask, the three in question nodding with determination. “Excellent. I expect regur reports by the day. Fail to report even once and we shall immediately deem you compromised by unknown means. You are dismissed and shall begin operations immediately.”
As they leave I return my attention to the rest of the guardians. “Aura there is a forest near to the vilge the maids are headed to that needs to be inspected. Creatures of note, a map of the area and anomalies should be reported during your inspection. Do not interact with the maids in a way that would suggest you are working together unless you take exceptional precautions to ensure you are alone. Even such contact should be limited to emergencies. Begin at once.” I order them and she bows in acknowledgement before leaving.
“The rest of you this is an unknown nd with unknown dangers. We are not at our best and likely never shall be again, prepare for your workload to increase accordingly. Albedo stay behind once I have dismissed everyone else. Demiurge get me a report on information exchange and the duties of each guardian on their respective floors. I also want a detailed strategy regarding defence against an unknown enemy.” I once again rattle off orders.
“Kelly make certain nothing sneaks into the first floor without your knowledge, I want you to be certain nothing will slip past without time to report an intruder. Cocytus prepare for combat. Sebas get to hearding those pops outside and once you have finished report to either Momonga or myself. You are all dismissed.” I say and they all get up and bow before leaving. I turn to Momonga and see Albedo by his side watching me with something approaching vigince. “Momonga how would you like to explore a new world?” I ask with a huge grin on my face.