The staff was powerful; it looked and felt mighty, but I had no use for it. Rather, there was someone else who could put it to a lot better use. Alana and Anna were down there at the forest gates, looking at everything.
I made the staff levitate towards her, and she looked at me confused.
"That's your gift for our marriage~"
!!!
Immediately, a huge bush took over her as Alana nudged her with Yuna, even wrapping her shoulders teasingly.
However, something unexpected happened when Anna took the staff; I guess I should have seen it coming, or maybe not. The staff resonated with Anna.
Anna levitated into the skies, and a green earthly cocoon enveloped her. It didn't look like anything dangerous, but I still glared at Ains Ooal Gown, who looked just as confused as I... so that told me he didn't know what was going on either.
"What's so special about that staff?" I asked him in Japanese.
He looked at me in shock, but then regained his calm and answered, also in Japanese.
"Why should I tell you anything? You're my enemy".
I laughed out loud and looked at him. I wonder if he thinks he has a choice in this situation.
"It doesn't matter. We finally see each other face-to-face, Ains. As we wait for whatever is happening to Anna to finish, how about we have a chat? I'm sorry, but given the circumstances, I can't offer you a cup of tea"
He calmed down with a slight self-mockery, "Osiris, I have wanted to kill you for the longest while".
"You were having some big delusions, unfortunately. Nice to meet you, my name is Ray"
"That's not a Japanese name".
"My father was American and my mother is Japanese", I coughed, making something up since I had no dad and my mom is my woman... but he doesn't need to know that.
"Nice to meet you, I guess... My name is Suzuki Satoru".
"How did you end up in this world, Satoru-san".
"I don't know. Could you stop using honorifics? It is rather... unfit" He frowned, It is kinda right considering he's at my mercy. Is it a sin to be respectful? That's my Japanese side for you.
We looked at one another, and I sighed as we watched his army get destroyed, "I apologise over Nazarick's incident, it was kind of something I needed to do".
"You think an apology will do?"
"I know it won't. But at the end of the day, you're in no position to refuse, are you? I could slaughter you right now without an apology. Don't you think it is better to go on your way with a clear conscience?" I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, he didn't find it funny.
"…"
"I will offer you something–"
"Solution, Shaltear and Albedo–" He asked. I stopped him.
"They are mine now. You don't need to worry about them, Satoru".
"Osiris, you–!"
"They're happier with me", I finished.
"There is no other way, you brainwashed them!" Ains shamelessly accused me, I felt shocked. Me? Brainwash?
"... huh, that's subjective. I haven't used any spell or magic to manipulate their memories or feelings. Listen, if they fall for me, that's on them, not me. You can't blame me for having a delicious milk," I mumbled, outraged.
"Wh- What did you say?".
"Delicious blood, I mean... Shaltear loves it. In any case, don't ask questions about them".
He couldn't stop shaking out of frustration; it was as if he wasn't going to believe anything I said, so he left me no choice but to show him.
I created a portal to the moonlight mist, and Albedo appeared out of it. When she looked at me, her eyes shone for a moment, but then she saw Ains and froze.
"A-Ains-sama?".
"Albedo, are you okay!?"
"I-I" She stuttered and didn't know what to do or say. I pulled her into my arms, Albedo bit her lips and tried to push me away, but so weakly that I almost wanted to laugh.
"I intend to forgive Ains' life, Albedo... but you have to say right now in front of both of us" I whispered next to her ear, "Who is your master?~"
!!!
Albedo shook uncontrollably, looking between the two of us.
"Listen, Albedo... there is still a way out of this, you don't have to do what he says!" Satoru screamed, making me interested in whatever means he had left. Perhaps something related to that staff, who knows? I kept my senses focused on Anna, but aside from some progressive increase in strength, I didn't feel anything out of place.
What other cards does he have?
"Do you know something, both of you. I am not the kind of tyrant you both are portraying me to be. I am someone rather merciful, actually... both of you have done nothing against the people that I care about".
"..." Both of them listened to me attentively.
"My intention is simple. Satoru... I can send you back to Japan as a human to live your life normally once more, whatever that was... but you will lose all of your memories of this world. That is my deal for you, that is the only way I can let you live".
"That–"
"As for you, Albedo, I will give you the freedom of choice" Finaly, I let go of her, and when I did, she looked lost. "If you love Ains so much, I can allow you to be with him. I'll transform you into a human, I will wipe your memories as well... and you can go with him to the earth, both of you will be allowed to live".
!!!
Perhaps it looked like too good a deal as they both stared at one another. They'd be forgiven, but that meant they'd both be giving up on Nazarick. Albedo looked at me and bit her lips, "B-By memories, you mean, you and I–"
"Naturally, you and I won't see each other again".
Not only did I see her eyes shake, but I also felt her fear... through our connection.
"I will allow you both to be together for a while, until Anna is crowned as the new Queen of the Elves, and then I'll hear your decision, but regardless of what you choose, Ains Ooal Gown, for you... this is a game over".
"W-Wait!" Albedo jumped on me, trying to stop me, but when I flicked my fingers, they were both gone. I sent the two of them to the Re-Estize Kingdom, where Nazarick's last two forces were: Narberal Gamma and Sebas Tian.
...
"Dear, are you finished?" Galadriel asked me, her voice so thunderous that it resonated in the whole battlefield. There were no longer any undead remaining. Only a few flying dragons had already surrendered and awaited the verdict.
"Yes, you can go back to normal. Thanks, my sweetheart".
"I didn't think you'd let her go" Elysir crossed her arms with a big smile, "She was happy with my decision".
I shrugged my shoulders, "I have too many women, Ely. This is me giving her one last chance to change her mind".
"Do you think she can? Ray... you gave the choice to the only one among your women who doesn't have a choice" Ely sighed and levitated up to me, she touched my lower abdomen, the place where that tattoo was.
"Both of you can no longer be separated, don't you understand? If you get rid of her without getting rid of this... it is only torture".
Elysir dematerialised, her role in this war completed, but she left behind some ephemeral words.
"Besides, that girl may be the biggest gift for our marriage. Without her, how do you expect to keep us all together in one home without arguments? When we pets and wives can't look each other in the eye. Think about it, Ray".
"..."
Just then, I didn't understand what she meant... but soon I would. That Albedo was in a way, the biggest blessing for us.