Multiverse: A Journey Beginning with the Supreme Sovereign

In this reality, because of his close relationship with Tabula Smaragdina, Saigō knew that Albedo's settings definitely differed somewhat from what he remembered.

For NPCs created by guild members, while those members were still around, only the creators themselves could see and alter their settings.

Saigō was truly afraid that some brain-dead fool in the guild had added a traitor setting to their NPC. If so, that NPC would really become a traitor!

"Lord Zarathustra, please give the order!"

Albedo pressed her forehead to the ground and prostrated herself, speaking in a soft, seductive voice with utmost respect.

"Any order at all?"

Seated upon the throne, Saigō rested his chin on one hand and tilted his head slightly as he asked with a faintly teasing smile.

"I will carry out any command of yours unconditionally."

"...Or do you wish for me to serve you here? Ahh, that would be wonderful, but please do not tell Lord Tabula Smaragdina."

"Of course, if you insist on telling Lord Tabula Smaragdina, I will be even more excited. I believe Lord Tabula Smaragdina will forgive me for betraying him!"

Albedo's face flushed red, her expression filled with anticipation as she eagerly waited for Saigō's next command.

As expected of Tabula Smaragdina's style.

Saigō sighed softly. He had more or less figured out all of Albedo's settings.

Momonga was already staring in stunned disbelief, completely at a loss.

Watching Saigō and Albedo interact, he began to panic.

Hey, hey, hey, this game was rated for all ages. Any R18 behavior was prohibited—and impossible to carry out.

What was going on here? And why had the NPCs come alive?

Albedo knelt on the floor, her bewitching figure revealing flawless curves. Even Momonga, as a man, felt his spirits rise at the sight of her seductive posture.

But in the next instant, a deathly chill surged from deep within his body, extinguishing every last trace of desire and calming even his restless emotions.

It had originally been a passive skill of the "Ruler of Death" class in Yggdrasills, Compulsory Release, which allowed a Ruler of Death to eliminate excessive desires and remain sufficiently calm.

In the game, the skill merely added some resistances and attributes. But in reality, it truly allowed Momonga to cast aside distracting desires and maintain his rationality.

Still, that made perfect sense. As an undead being who was nothing more than a skeleton, he should not have retained a man's desire for women in the first place.

Besides, his current body did not even have that kind of capability.

Momonga was grateful for this skill, because it allowed him to think more calmly now.

As for the desires he had lost, since he had already forgotten them under the skill's effects, he felt no regret.

Momonga was not an idiot. Perhaps in reality, his emotions had prevented him from thinking correctly and wisely.

Now, however, he possessed a passive skill and was skilled at gathering information.

Before long, through the changes in the game interface, the altered game functions, and the miracle of the NPCs coming alive, he roughly guessed what had happened.

Why would Zarathustra give Albedo such a strange command? Surely he isn't interested in her just because she's beautiful?

...No, that's not it. I understand now. So that's how it is!

The game has undergone strange changes, and the NPCs have come alive and gained their own consciousness. That means these NPCs may be able to betray us.

...Zarathustra is using an excessive command to test whether Albedo will resist.

If Albedo resists the order, it means she is dangerous. This is the King's Chamber, and Zarathustra is the strongest in the world. He can easily deal with Albedo and warn me not to let my guard down around the other NPCs.

...The NPCs in the Great Tomb of Nazarick are all high-level. If all of them attacked together, even Zarathustra would be in danger.

So, by turning a potential group battle into an individual battle and making use of his strength as the strongest in the world, he has found the optimal solution for this situation.

Thinking this, Momonga could not help but marvel. ...As expected of Zarathustra. In such a short time, he analyzed the situation and made the most correct judgment, while I'm still floundering around.

...He's still the same as before. As long as this guy is in the guild, people can feel at ease.

Saigō noticed Momonga's gaze and looked over in confusion. In Momonga's crimson eyes, he saw admiration and an inexplicable dependence on him.

Was this guy thinking about something strange?

Saigō was completely baffled.

His reason for giving Albedo that command was actually very simple. When a peerless beauty obeyed your every command and allowed you to take whatever you wanted—

Only a young, thin-skinned boy would probably get embarrassed and do nothing.

As a normal man, Saigō believed that charging in was the correct choice at such a time!

Shaking his head, Saigō knew this was not the time to think about matters between men and women.

Though Saigō had long been prepared for the changes in the world, he still needed to confirm some things about himself first.

He rose from the throne and ordered Albedo, "...Come with me."

Then he looked at Momonga. "...Momonga, go gather all the Floor Guardians."

Hearing Saigō's words, Momonga thought carefully and felt that he understood Saigō's intentions.

Was he planning to gather the strongest Floor Guardians in the Great Tomb of Nazarick and test their loyalty?

"I'll be taking this with me. No problem, right?"

Saigō walked over to the "Avesta" floating in midair and spoke.

Momonga hurriedly replied, "...Of course there's no problem. That was yours to begin with, Zarathustra. It does not belong to the guild."

As soon as he said that, Momonga suddenly understood.

Zarathustra was reminding me to quickly get a World Item for protection, just in case!

Saigō put away the Simulated Star Creation Chart, "Avesta." As he was about to leave the throne room, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and said in a deep voice:

"...Momonga."

"Hm? I'm here. Is there something else?"

Momonga, who had been deep in thought, froze for a moment and asked in confusion.

Saigō gave him an indescribable look and chuckled softly.

"God is Dead!"

Saigō's Secret

Saigō strode steadily onward. After leaving the King's Chamber, he descended from the tenth floor to the ninth.

Behind him, Albedo gently folded her gloved hands before her. Like an elegant young lady from a distinguished family, she followed with light, graceful steps.

Her golden, iridescent eyes remained fixed upon Saigō's back beneath his magnificent robes. From time to time, her gaze flickered and a rosy blush appeared on her cheeks.

Her slender legs beneath the silk gown moved together, her body trembling faintly. No one knew what she was thinking as her eyes turned hazy.

Saigō suddenly stopped.

Albedo, who had been somewhat absentminded, quickly came back to herself. She stopped at a respectful distance from Saigō, lowered her head, and displayed her reverence.

Though Albedo wished she could stand closer, such a distance would have been an affront to a Supreme Sovereign, something she would never dare do.

"Albedo!"

A low, imposing voice emerged from beneath Saigō's hood, from the face formed of Black Flame.

"I am here, Lord Zarathustra!"

Albedo replied in a soft, charming voice.

"This is far enough. You may withdraw! As the Overseer of the Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, you have your own duties to attend to."

"...Now that circumstances have changed, you must be all the more vigilant as Overseer and fulfill your responsibilities!"

With his back to Albedo, Saigō issued his orders.

Albedo felt a pang of regret. She had thought that this time, she would be able to enter Lord Zarathustra's King's Chamber and receive his favor.

But a Supreme Sovereign was indeed a Supreme Sovereign. He would never be troubled by such emotions. All his thoughts were devoted to the truths of the world and great undertakings.

Lowering her eyes, she replied softly, "...Yes, Lord Zarathustra. I will heed your teachings and fulfill my duties as Overseer of the Guardians."

Saigō nodded slightly. "...Good. Then go carry out your duties. Oh, and from now on, you will personally clean my room. There is no need to trouble the Maids."

At Saigō's words, Albedo's delicate body trembled. Ecstasy appeared on her face, and the corners of her lips involuntarily stretched into a terrifying arc.

But Albedo quickly realized that her current expression was not ladylike enough and that she had lost her composure.

She suppressed the joy in her heart, striving to maintain the bearing of a proper lady as she bowed. "...Your will, Lord Zarathustra!"

"Go!"

Saigō waved a hand in dismissal.

"I offer this tribute of loyalty to the Supreme Sovereign!"

Albedo knelt and performed a grand salute. Then she rose, bowed with her head lowered, folded her hands before her, and slowly backed away.

Once Albedo disappeared from his sight, Saigō seemed to faintly hear the laughter of that white demon.

He shook his head and entered his own room.

The ninth floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick contained the Royal Suite, the living quarters belonging to the guild members.

Back when this was still a game, these rooms had not served much purpose beyond allowing players to log in and out.

No matter how exquisite and magnificent the furnishings were, this had ultimately been a game. Players had no real use for them; they were merely decorative textures.

But things were different now. With the game becoming reality, the furniture and decorations finally had a purpose.

Saigō's room was enormous, practically a small palace. Its overall design possessed the grandeur and magnificence of the Baroque style, along with Roman splendor and luxury.

When Saigō learned that this journey through worlds might become reality once again, he had deliberately put some effort into decorating his room.

Of course, he understood Albedo's thoughts.

As someone who had achieved great success in reality as well, Saigō would not be too shy to touch a breathtaking beauty who was entirely his for the taking.

The reason he remained calm and rational was absolutely not because the guild was in danger. It was simply because—

Standing before the full-length mirror in his room, Saigō examined his current appearance.

He wore a pure black robe trimmed with gold, and his entire body was formed from black flames.

That terrifying appearance was both demonic and beautiful, yet anyone who saw him would feel the dreadful fear that this man is a demon.

Saigō now resembled a lifeform born of elemental matter and the concept of decay, much like Momonga's skeletal form.

"Damn it, I'm a dickless wonder now too!"

Saigō cursed under his breath, his tone utterly helpless.

Fortunately, this was merely one of his demonic forms. As long as he could unseal his other forms, he could become a man with a dick again.

Saigō had always known that the source of his power was not the game Yggdrasills, but the gift of the Mother of Evil Gods and the "Third Star Particle" in his blood!

If the gift of the Mother of Evil Gods was a complex machine with all sorts of mysterious abilities—

Then the Third Star Particle was the energy used to activate those incredible powers.

"Sorry, Tabula Smaragdina. Though we are close, I couldn't bring you along if I wanted to reduce the unknown factors as much as possible."

"...But you needn't worry about reality. I have transferred part of my assets in 'reality' into your name. That will be enough for you to live without want."

Saigō sighed.

He was someone with feelings. He had known Tabula Smaragdina for twelve years, and it could be said that Tabula Smaragdina was his best friend in this world.

But who knew whether bringing Tabula Smaragdina along during the journey would produce some unknowable consequence? Saigō was unwilling to gamble on it.

As for the other guild members, Saigō would rather not.

Leaving aside Momonga and his good-natured personality, if every member of Ainz Ooal Gown had traveled with them, Saigō could already foresee the outcome.

Ainz Ooal Gown would certainly fall apart, and most of its members would die in this new world.

Though their justice values were all "negative," making them seem like utterly evil people, that was merely game data and had nothing to do with who they truly were.

Take Touch Me, for instance—he was brimming with justice, while Ulbert was truly evil.

If those two traveled together, they would definitely come to blows, resulting in one side's complete death.