Misunderstanding Resolved

"Sebas, from this moment on, Nazarick is entering a state of full combat readiness. Tell Albedo to come fully armed."

"Also notify Sephis and Shalltear. Have them come fully armed as well."

"We'll head over first. Have the three Floor Guardians teleport directly there afterward."

Because they were about to undertake their first exploration of the New World, after discussing it with Momonga and Herohero—

the three decided to bring along three Floor Guardians. Albedo would protect Momonga, Sephis would protect Naiyuan, and Shalltear would protect Herohero.

Although Naiyuan knew there was no real need for this, he still chose to bring Sephis along. After all, father and son needed to clear up their misunderstanding, and this was a good opportunity.

As an added precaution, Momonga and Herohero equipped all of their World Items.

In Momonga's words, if anything happened, they would immediately activate the Wheel of Benevolent Fall and Ragnarok to buy time for their escape.

"Lord Momonga, do we really not need to wait for the three Floor Guardians before setting out?"

Sebas asked worriedly. In his eyes, it was far too dangerous for the three Supreme Beings to go out alone.

To be safe, they should wait for the Floor Guardians to arrive before setting out. That would be the most reliable course of action.

Although Sebas was also deeply uncomfortable with the slaughter in the mirror, the safety of the Supreme Beings would always come first.

"There's no need, Sebas. It'll only take a few minutes at most."

"If something really happens to us in such a short time, bringing the Floor Guardians along wouldn't make any difference."

Momonga shook his head. In his view, if the three of them could not even last a mere few minutes, then having the Floor Guardians present would change nothing.

"Let's go. If we wait any longer, those villagers will all be dead."

Naiyuan looked at the mirror. He had noticed that if they kept dragging their feet, no one would be left alive.

"Mm, then I'll leave it to you, Sebas."

Momonga gave a few final instructions before walking over to Naiyuan. By then, Herohero had also finished speaking with Solution.

[Gate]

Momonga activated the tenth-tier spell Gate, and the three vanished from the spot in an instant.

The once-noisy conference room was now left with only Sebas and Solution.

"Then I shall take my leave."

He nodded to Solution. Though she was merely a Battle Maid, she was now closely connected to the Supreme Being Herohero, so he had to show her a certain degree of respect.

Solution said nothing, merely nodding calmly. Only after watching him leave did she begin cleaning the room.

Nazarick's Eighth Floor.

Unlike the forest of the Sixth Floor, the Eighth Floor was a wasteland.

This place was jointly guarded by Sephis and Victim, and was known as the strongest defensive domain in Nazarick.

The endless wilderness appeared unremarkable, yet it was filled with countless terrifying traps. If anyone other than a Player of Nazarick entered this place, even a level one hundred being would be killed instantly.

Over a thousand top Players had once invaded Nazarick, charging through every level until they reached the Eighth Floor. In the end, however, they had all died.

Floor Guardian Victim unleashed an enormous area-wide curse through his death, greatly reducing the Players' resistances. Combined with all kinds of hidden yet powerful trap attacks, they had ultimately succeeded in leaving over a thousand Players on the Eighth Floor forever.

That battle had also earned Nazarick a massive number of rare items and divine-class weapons and equipment.

Deep within the Eighth Floor, inside a massive building beside the Cherry Blossom Sanctuary—

a small creature could be seen floating before its entrance.

It was roughly one meter in size, shaped like an embryo, with a tail and an abnormally bright pink body.

A halo rested atop its head, while a pair of shriveled, featherless wings grew from its back.

Victim. That was his name.

He looked harmless enough on the surface, but he was one link in Nazarick's ultimate line of defense.

"Lord Demiurge suddenly came to visit, and Aura and Mare arrived here not long ago as well."

"Sephis has looked awful ever since he returned. I hope nothing happened."

Victim anxiously fluttered about outside the entrance. As a Floor Guardian of the Eighth Floor, he was deeply worried about Sephis's current state.

The four Floor Guardians had gathered in one place. He clearly remembered the grave expressions on Sephis and Aura's faces when they met, as well as the fury on Demiurge's face when he arrived.

Since the four claimed they had something to discuss, Victim could only wait anxiously outside. There was nothing he could do except silently pray that nothing would happen.

And inside the room, just as Victim had expected, the four were locked in a tense standoff.

Sephis, Mare, and Aura stood together, all watching the suddenly arrived Demiurge.

"I never expected that not only Sephis, but you two, Aura and Mare, were involved as well."

Demiurge looked at the three of them and spoke coldly.

He had originally thought this was Sephis's idea alone, but judging from the situation now, this had clearly been premeditated. Three Floor Guardians had actually taken part in it.

"Demiurge, you know?"

Aura no longer had her usual liveliness. Instead, she stared at him with a dark expression.

At the same time, Mare walked directly to the door, blocking Demiurge's path of retreat.

"Would it be strange for me to know?"

"I truly never expected that, as Floor Guardians, you would dare plot against the Supreme Beings! Who gave you the nerve?!"

Demiurge noticed Mare's actions, but did not care. Instead, he fixed his eyes on the three of them and roared.

He had never felt this angry before. He could not show it in front of Lord Naiyuan earlier, but the moment he saw these three, his emotions completely exploded.

"You know too much, Demiurge."

Hearing his roar, Aura's expression worsened. She leaned forward slightly, already prepared to make a move.

They had to subdue him. Otherwise, none of the three would meet a good end.

A magic circle began to form in Aura's hand, while Mare took out his staff.

This was the Eighth Floor. So long as the three of them worked together and used the building's defensive magic, they could take him down without anyone knowing.

The only troublesome factor was Victim outside.

"You two intend to fight me?"

Demiurge made no move. Instead, he questioned the two of them, as though he did not care about his current predicament at all.

"You won't resist?"

Aura looked at Demiurge in confusion. His appearance of surrendering without a struggle seemed very strange to her.

"What about you, Sephis? Are you planning to kill me too?"

Demiurge calmly shook his head. Rather than answer Aura's question, he turned toward Sephis.

From beginning to end, Sephis had not said a single word. He had simply stood there silently, watching the conversation between the three of them.

"Stop, Aura and Mare."

Sephis exchanged looks with Demiurge for a moment before calmly speaking to the two who were preparing to attack.

"But..."

Upon hearing Sephis's words, Aura instinctively wanted to argue, but his next sentence made her completely abandon that thought.

"This is Father's order. Am I right, Demiurge?"

Sephis stared coldly at Demiurge as he spoke, while reminding Aura and Mare that Demiurge had come under Father's instructions.

He had already found it strange earlier. Based on his understanding of Demiurge, if Demiurge had discovered their plan, he should not have come alone.

He should have brought the other Floor Guardians to surround and suppress them.

The only possibility was that Father had ordered him to do this. Only then would Demiurge conceal the matter.

"It seems you are smarter than I imagined, Sephis. But I cannot understand why you would come up with such a treasonous plan."

Tacitly acknowledging his question, the anger on Demiurge's face began to fade. He then asked in utter bewilderment.

"This isn't Sephis's fault. I was the one who suggested it."

Aura stepped forward from the side and spoke to Demiurge. Though she did not fully understand the situation, she knew one thing: this was Father's order.

Since Demiurge had come carrying Father's orders, she could not attack him.

"No, this is not your fault. I also misunderstood the relationship between the Three Lords. My narrow definition of family gave rise to this idea."

Sephis pulled Aura behind him and took responsibility himself.

If he had realized sooner how important the other two Supreme Beings were to Father, this would not have happened.

Family members teasing and joking with each other was perfectly normal. Why had he not thought of that back then?

Sephis thought regretfully.

"Tell me in detail. Why did you come up with such a treasonous idea?"

Demiurge fell silent for a moment before looking at the three with a grave expression.

He needed to understand how they had come up with such an idea, then consider whether they were worth concealing the truth for.

Although Lord Naiyuan had given him a subtle hint, and he would not allow this matter to spread, he still had to understand the entire course of events.

"Let me explain."

"It began when the Three Lords came to the Sixth Floor..."

The three exchanged looks, and in the end, Aura stepped forward and began recounting what had happened.

As Aura spoke, Demiurge's expression began to change.

From solemnity to calmness, then contemplation, and finally complete bewilderment.

He understood what she was saying, but why could he not understand their thought process?

"This is why you wanted to assassinate the Supreme Beings?"

Demiurge took a deep breath, covered his face with one hand, and spoke wearily.

"Is there a problem?"

Aura and Mare looked at Demiurge as though asking what was wrong.

"From your words, I saw the friendship and affection between the Three Supreme Beings. Why would you think of testing them and resorting to conspiracies?"

"Uh, maybe because Lord Momonga and Lord Herohero didn't show any expression. They didn't really look like good people."

Aura scratched her head and answered uncertainly.

"I understand. I'll pretend this never happened. In the future, stop making wild assumptions."

"And Sephis, Lord Naiyuan cares deeply about you. He regrets what happened before, which is why he sent me to find you."

Having understood the course of events, Demiurge sighed before turning to Sephis and conveying the Supreme Being's will.

"Father cares about me?"

The cold expression on Sephis's face instantly vanished. He teleported directly before Demiurge and asked excitedly.

"Yes. Otherwise, I would not have come."

"That's great. Father isn't angry with him. He still has a chance. He..."

After receiving confirmation, Sephis kept muttering to himself. The confusion and gloom in his heart were completely swept away, and he returned to normal.

Although nothing showed on the surface, he had remained deeply troubled by what happened before. Their previous conversation and Father's reprimand had left him in a state of anxious unease.

"Aura and Mare, in the future, do not tell Sephis things you have not fully understood. If Lord Naiyuan had not guessed what was happening and protected you this time, you should understand the consequences."

Demiurge warned the two ashamed siblings. In truth, he had been more inclined to throw them into prison, or better yet, execute them outright. But they were the children of a Supreme Being, so he abandoned that thought.

"Understood."

Not only had they failed to help Father, they had nearly caused a grave disaster. Aura and Mare both felt awful.

The tense atmosphere vanished. The four, whose misunderstanding had been resolved, returned to normal—or at least appeared to return to normal.

"Is Sephis here?"

A figure passed through the doors and entered. Sebas looked around, with a small creature following beside him. It was Victim, who was cautiously floating at Sebas's side.

Victim secretly observed everything in the room. When he saw that nothing had happened, he could not help but sigh in relief.

"Lord Sephis, because I had orders from the Supreme Beings, I didn't stop Sebas."

Floating to Sephis's ear, Victim explained himself.

"It's fine. Thank you for guarding the door for us, Victim."

Sephis patted his head and said with a smile.

"We're friends. There's no need to worry about something so small."

Victim's eyes narrowed into slits. Sephis's gratitude made him very happy.

"Sebas, do the Supreme Beings have any orders?"

After chatting with Victim for a few moments, Sephis turned to Sebas and asked.

"The Three Supreme Beings have already gone to the outside world. Lord Momonga told me to inform you to go protect Lord Naiyuan."

"Lady Albedo and Lady Shalltear will be going with you."

Sebas spoke quickly, while looking doubtfully at Demiurge, Aura, and Mare nearby. He found it strange that the three were here.

"What? Father has gone to the outside world? No, I need to leave immediately."

"Thank you, Demiurge. Come visit my place when you have time."

"And Aura and Mare, the same goes for you."

After quickly making his preparations, Sephis said a few words to them before rushing straight out.

His speed was so great that it astonished them all.

The remaining people looked at one another. Demiurge glanced at Sebas, nodded, and left as well.

His objective had been accomplished. He had nothing to say to Sebas. This matter would be buried deep in his memories and never revealed to anyone.

"I hope this never happens again. Otherwise, even if you are Lord Naiyuan's..."

"We understand."

Demiurge's telepathic voice echoed in Aura and Mare's ears.

He could conceal this incident for Lord Naiyuan's sake, but only this once.