章 17: Lucifer and Nabe—The Adventurers
In the Office of the Supreme Ruler of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, Aurelius struggled with the dilemma of crafting his policies and charting his path forward. In the luxurious yet peaceful atmosphere of his office, he crumpled up a piece of paper in frustration.
Seated in a plush black leather chair, he crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.
'Should I move forward as an adventurer? Or perhaps take control of the kingdom first? No, that won't do.'
Should he follow in the original's footsteps and establish himself as an adventurer in E-Rantel, or forge his own path and push everything horizontally?
This was the question that lingered in his head, and he couldn't figure out the answer.
Aurelius possessed a completely different personality from Momonga.
While Momonga leaned more towards caution, Aurelius exhibited a more dragon-like demeanor—prudent yet not shackled by excessive hesitation like Momonga.
Especially because Aurelius had future knowledge.
'No... Let's approach it from a different angle. My presence here guarantees that events will inevitably diverge from their original course. Even if I were to replicate the original's actions to the dot—which I have no intention of doing—the future will shift eventually. So the real question isn't how I should proceed, but rather how adeptly I can manipulate the timeline and leverage my future knowledge, as well as at what juncture I'm willing to take calculated risks. But my math is weak... Pfft~Hahaha.'
Aurelius chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
'Well, I can always rely on my think tanks for that.'
What Momonga did in the original work worked perfectly because of his Plot Armor, along with Demiurge and Albedo, who filled in the gaps and loopholes.
So, the plans and strategies employed in the original timeline themselves weren't flawed. The issue was that Momonga handled situations like a moron, largely acting in accordance with his pathetic thinking, such as earning pennies and unexpectedly running into Demiurge, and subtly being manipulated by the plot without even realizing it.
"But I am different. I know what I want."
After thinking about it, Aurelius finally made up his mind.
"It's settled then. I'll make use of what I can for as long as I can and seize every opportunity until the storyline goes completely off course, which should occur around the time I launch an assault on the Black Scripture of the Slane Theocracy for their World Item, Downfall of Castle and Country."
With this decision made, Aurelius was about to rise from his chair when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
-Click! Creak!-
The door swung slowly open, revealing the beautiful Albedo's figure.
"My lord, I have something to report to you."
"Yes, bring it."
She handed him the bundle of papers, containing a report penned by Aura Bella Fiora, the 6th-floor guardian.
Aura had been conducting an investigation in the vast forest surrounding the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, as instructed.
The report indicated that she was progressing smoothly towards the lake at the base of the mountain range, located at the forest's end.
"Very well, instruct Aura's unit to proceed with the order as outlined."
"I understand."
Knock! Knock!
Suddenly, a series of knocks interrupted the moment.
Observing Aurelius's expression, Albedo bowed her head and moved towards the door, identifying the visitor before announcing their presence.
"My lord, Shalltear, requests an audience."
"Allow her to enter."
With Aurelius's consent, a dainty figure gracefully stepped into the room, wearing a pitch-black ball gown with a voluminous skirt.
Her visage was undeniably exquisite, deserving of the accolade "world-class," and her lengthy silver hair locks swayed in sync with her strides, casting an aura that belied her apparent age.
She was Shalltear Bloodfallen, the True Vampire, and the guardian of the 1st to the 3rd floors.
"Aurelius-Sama, with each of our encounters, your strength and beauty only seem to increase."
"Thank you. And how are you, Shalltear? What's on your mind?"
"Well, um... can you ask Albedo to step out for a moment?"
Shalltear's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she shot a pointed glance at Albedo.
Aurelius grimaced, realizing what Shalltear was about to say, but he still gestured for Albedo to temporarily leave the room.
Albedo clicked her tongue in annoyance at Shaltear but obediently bowed to Aurelius before exiting his office.
"Now, tell me what's troubling you. I've sent Albedo away as you requested."
Without delay, Shalltear hurried over and settled onto Aurelius's thigh, twisting her body into a position that allowed for maximum contact with him.
The gentle touch of her skirt threatened to awaken his cock, but Aurelius suppressed it, focusing on Shalltear's concerns.
"Aurelius Sama, you've given both Albedo and Luminous a chance, b-but when will it be my turn?"
"I see, so you've heard about it already."
"I-I have, Sniff..."
Shalltear pretended to cry with fake tears, and Aurelius tenderly caressed her cheek, wiping away each tear.
"Be patient. Just as much as you desire me, I also want to hold you close. But I have obligations to attend to now. Once they're fulfilled, I'll embrace you as promised."
"Really?"
"Yes, so please don't cry like that."
"I'm sorry!"
Aurelius hugged her in a comforting embrace, holding her small, slender frame close.
Shalltear's rough breath spewed out unevenly, and her cold body seemed to melt away in his arms.
"I'll wait... I'll also give priority to the work and follow all your orders to the best of my ability."
Eventually, Shalltear composed herself and straightened her attire while still nestled on Aurelius's thighs.
"Yes, and I have something for you."
Suddenly, Aurelius took out a green, shiny blue item from his [Subspace], but when he handed it to Shalltear, she couldn't help but look at him with a bewildered look.
"My lord, t-this!"
"The World Item, Medusa's Flute. You'll need it in the future. I trust you're aware of its effects."
"Ah...♡ My Love...♡ My lord."
Shalltear's crimson eyes shone with intense desire right away.
He was the only one she couldn't dominate, the one she loved unconditionally, the one who held absolute power over her.
Once again, Shalltear found herself drawn in by his irresistible charm.
Unbeknownst to her, though, the World Item wasn't a token of love. Rather, it was really for his future plans and was also a precautionary measure against unforeseen circumstances, because if there was anyone who could get into some trouble in the future, it was definitely Shaltear because of her reckless nature.
'I'll have to fix her nature too.'
....
E-Rantel, the city of the Re-Estize Kingdom, held a strategic position at the border with neighboring countries, the Baharuth Empire and the Slane Theocracy. Encircled by a triple wall, it earned the title of fortress city.
Within such a city, each district, separated by the walls, boasted its own distinct characteristics.
The outermost wall housed military facilities, serving as a base for the kingdom's army. Meanwhile, the innermost area, heavily guarded at all times, hosted essential logistical facilities such as administrative buildings, which formed the heart of the city, as well as warehouses for troop provisions.
Between these two districts lies the citizenry's domain.
When one mentioned the city's name, it was this bustling district that first sprang to mind.
Amidst the throngs of people, negotiations between shopkeepers and customers unfolded as usual. Old women, merchants, young men enticed by the aroma of grilling meat, and armor-clad soldiers—all mingled in the lively plaza.
However, the arrival of a mysterious duo abruptly silenced this bustling scene, capturing the attention of all present.
One of them, a woman appearing to be in her late twenties or early thirties, had sharp and slender eyes that looked as if painted with a brush, emitting an obsidian gleam. Her glossy black hair, tied back in a ponytail, glistened under the sunlight against her fair, pearl-like complexion.
What truly captivated onlookers was her exotic beauty, which exuded a serene aura despite her plain attire—a sturdy, unassuming dark brown robe.
By her side stood a tall man with a gentle smile, a stark contrast to the woman's demeanor, boasting unparalleled beauty.
"Wow... He's incredibly handsome!"
The whispers of admiration from the city's young women strolling through the square spread like wildfire. But the man, who exuded a beauty capable of ensnaring souls, simply smiled in response.
He gleamed silver in the sunlight, donning luxurious full-plate armor embellished with intricate gold and silver motifs. His golden hair swayed gracefully in the breeze, revealing eyes that sparkled like blue-white diamonds.
Despite his elegant appearance, his muscular physique and the pair of greatswords at his waist, concealed beneath a pristine white cloak, gave him the aura of a legendary hero.
The duo scanned their surroundings before the blond man took the lead, guiding the woman.
As they departed, bystanders kept their eyes fixed on their retreating figures, whispering in unison. However, their attention was merely piqued by their rare sight, devoid of any sense of wariness or fear.
This was because the pair just came out of the Adventurer's Guild, an establishment specializing in monster eradication. Subsequently, armored individuals frequently visited there, making the sight of such figures commonplace and eliminating any need for vigilance due to their armor and weapons.
Despite the curious gazes of the crowd, the duo continued on their way in silence, eventually finding themselves in a secluded spot devoid of onlookers. There, the jet-black woman—known as Nabe—knelt before her blond companion, bowing her head respectfully.
"Aurelius-Sama."
"What are you doing?! Rise quickly. At this moment, we are simply adventurers and partners. Also, refrain from referring to me as Aurelius.
"Ha, ha... How?! That's blasphemous."
Sensing Narberal's attempt to raise her voice, Aurelius gently grasped her wrist and guided her away, gesturing for her to lower her volume.
"Didn't I explain this earlier? I am Lucifer, and you are my partner, Nabe. So stop with my true name and honorific title. Consider it an order."
After a while, Narberal replied reluctantly.
"I understand, Au... Mr. Lucifer..."
"Very well. In fact, you can address me by my name without any honorifics. Shouldn't partners be less formal?"
"That would be... disrespectful."
Narberal attempted to raise her voice again, but Aurelius swiftly covered her mouth.
"Sigh... I see. Feel free to use honorific titles as you see fit. But remember, we must conceal our identities. You understand that, right?"
"Of course, I understand."
"Good. Let's head to the inn now."
"Yes!"
As Aurelius began to move, he suddenly halted and turned back to Narberal.
"There's something I need to ask you: do you view humans as inferior beings?"
"That's correct. They are useless filth with no value. They deserve only to be eradicated."
'Just as in the original.'
Aurelius sighed inwardly, not because of Narberal's hatred for humans but because she lacked the discretion to discern when to express and conceal such sentiments.
She was completely unfamiliar with the outside world and lacked common sense. Aurelius grimaced, realizing he needed to instill some basic common sense in her.
"And one more thing. When we get into combat or confront someone, suppress your killing intent. Let me handle it first, and only reveal your full strength when facing a truly formidable opponent, understood?"
"I understand. Aur-Lucifer-Mr."
"Very well. Let's head to the inn that the guild guide has recommended."
"Yes!"
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