What the three of them talked about afterward, no one knew. The only thing that could be confirmed was that Demiurge's evaluation of Chu Lian had risen another level, and he recognized her position as a successor even more.
After returning, Chu Lian finally felt relieved. Having just discussed those matters with the two of them and been accepted meant she could act much more freely going forward.
What she needed to do now was truly earn the recognition of the Floor Guardians. Only then would she be able to carry out her own plans smoothly.
And without harming Momonga or damaging Nazarick, she needed to secure the greatest possible benefits for herself during this dungeon run.
Chu Lian believed that if everything went smoothly, that matter had a very high chance of succeeding. It was something not listed among the system's quests or information, yet it concealed an enormous hidden reward.
"Lian'er, I didn't expect you to become this crafty. To think you'd design things like that." The moment she lay down on the bed after returning, Ayase's figure appeared behind her. One arm gently wrapped around the little beauty whose body instantly stiffened, while the other played with the two pairs of extremely sensitive fox ears atop her head. Her body began to tremble slowly, and the bell at her neck rang with a crisp chime.
"Ayase, I didn't do anything wrong. Why are you treating me like this?" Chu Lian absolutely refused to admit the guess Ayase had just made. Otherwise, she would really end up learning what it meant to feel like a woman this time.
"Oh? Really? Flirting with other women right in front of me and still saying you did nothing wrong?" Ayase had no intention of letting her go so easily. She had clearly decided to tease her thoroughly.
This dungeon journey was rare in that no one else disturbed the two of them, so she had completely relaxed. Whenever she felt like tasting Chu Lian, she would do so, regardless of whether she agreed or not.
As for Shiroha within the system and Hare Menjou within Chu Lian's sea of consciousness? They could be ignored. The former could simply have her senses sealed, leaving her unable to perceive anything outside. The latter would be unable to see certain things if Chu Lian herself did not wish it, so there was no need to worry about interruptions.
"I really didn't, Ayase. You can't do this." Her face flushed red, and Chu Lian's voice carried a hint of pleading and soft whimpers. She was becoming slightly aroused.
"Didn't? Then do you want it or not?" Ayase continued teasing her fox ears, asking in a seductive voice.
"I absolutely don't." Chu Lian refused decisively. Unfortunately, the sensations from her body were not something she could reject.
As Ayase pinched her fox ears again, the blush on her face spread like crimson clouds, and her eyes grew watery.
"Your mouth says no, but your body is very honest." Lowering her head to bite her ear, Ayase had already decided to go further.
"Mm... ah..." The girl's soft murmurs echoed faintly through the room, and that starry, moonlit night gradually passed.
...
The next day, after washing up, Chu Lian still wore a dazed expression as she approached Momonga, who was looking into a mirror. She said softly, "Big brother, Sebas, good morning."
"Deloris, it seems you didn't rest well," Momonga said as a faint, pleasant feminine fragrance reached him. He looked at Chu Lian's tired face. Sebas, standing at the side, bowed and greeted, "Good morning, Lady Deloris."
"I just thought too much last night, so I didn't sleep well." Hearing the question, Chu Lian blushed but did not reveal the real reason. After all, being forcibly held down for so long... it would be strange if she slept well.
"You need to pay attention to rest in the future. You're different from us undead, and your strength is still relatively weak. You can't go without sleep, so you must arrange your time properly," Momonga advised without probing further.
"Thank you for your guidance, Big Brother. Deloris understands and will rest properly in the future." After bowing, Chu Lian felt more awake through the conversation.
Seeing her obedience, Momonga nodded with an "Mm" before turning his gaze back to the mirror. His hands moved apart and together repeatedly, as if testing something.
Before long, the mirror emitted two sounds similar to beep beep, and Sebas immediately began applauding. "Congratulations, Lord Momonga."
"Thank you, Sebas. I'm sorry for making you accompany me all this time," Momonga said gratefully.
"To remain at my master's side and follow your commands is precisely the purpose for which Lord Touch Me created me as a butler." Sebas's eternally serious face showed no expression, yet his words conveyed his feelings clearly to both Chu Lian and Momonga.
"Is that so." He responded quietly before turning back to the mirror. "Next, let's look for a place with people."
However, upon seeing the scene within the mirror, he paused slightly. "Is there a festival going on?"
Chu Lian looked over and recognized the scene immediately. Soldiers from the Slane Theocracy disguised as Baharuth Empire troops were attacking Carne Village. She wanted to save those people, but she knew it wasn't her place to speak yet, so she remained silent.
Hearing Momonga's question, Sebas also came over to look. After a glance, he said, "I'm afraid not."
With a wave of Momonga's hand, the scene in the mirror enlarged. They saw soldiers wearing a nation's armor slaughtering the villagers one after another.
The defenseless villagers had no means of resisting and could only wait to be killed.
Because the soldiers wore helmets, their expressions could not be seen.
But from their clean and efficient movements, it was obvious that they did not treat these people as members of their own kind. They slaughtered them like animals.
Seeing the two silently watching, Chu Lian finally spoke. "Big brother, we should go save them."
"Oh? Sebas, what's your opinion?" Instead of answering directly, Momonga turned to Sebas.
"Everything depends on your will," Sebas replied ambiguously.
Momonga glanced at Chu Lian and then at Sebas. It was as though he saw scenes from the past.
Once, when he had been weak and bullied, the one who stepped forward to save and accept him, carrying out justice, had been Touch Me—Sebas's creator.
And there was also the fox-eared girl with clear eyes whom he had encountered in the wilderness. Moved by her gaze, he had brought her back from helplessness to the Great Tomb of Nazarick to live alongside his companions. He suddenly smiled lightly. "Looks like it's time to do something."
Standing up, he said to the serious butler, "Sebas, I'm going to this village. Put Nazarick on the highest level of alert."
Sebas bowed. "Yes."
"Have Albedo come fully armed. Prepare support troops as well. Send several personnel with strong concealment abilities or invisibility to this village."
"Understood." Sebas memorized the orders and prepared to leave.
At that moment, however, Chu Lian stopped him and volunteered, "Sebas, please wait a moment. Big brother, there's no need to trouble Albedo. Let her stay behind and command the overall situation. I can protect you."
"Oh? This trip might be dangerous. I don't want you taking risks," Momonga said, somewhat opposed. Even if he himself faced danger, he didn't want Deloris to do so.
Moreover, compared to Deloris—who was only level 45 and whose abilities beyond destructive power were unknown—Albedo, whose strength was close to his own and who specialized in close combat, was clearly more suitable.
"I won't let Big Brother face danger. Deloris isn't weak either. Even if I encounter danger, I firmly believe Big Brother will save me. Right?" Her eyes were filled with expectation and trust as she spoke.
Seeing that trust stirred something deep within Momonga, who had been alone in reality for so long. The desire to protect surged like a tide.
This is the responsibility of an older brother with a little sister! Look at how much she trusts me. How could I disappoint her? At worst, I'll use some rare items to escape if danger arises. This time, I must let Deloris know I'm a reliable big brother.
The red glow in his eye sockets seemed to burn brighter. To Chu Lian, the skeleton before her seemed to stand taller, an aura rising from him that made one feel safe.
Resisting the urge to complain aloud, Chu Lian grumbled inwardly: Damn siscon. I just acted cute for a moment and he's already fired up? Siscons really are beyond saving. Completely hopeless!
"Hehe, Little Lian'er, just half a month ago you were complaining about lolicons, and now you're complaining about siscons too. Next are you going to complain about brothercons, sistercons, momcons, uncle-lovers, glasses-lovers, sister-duo lovers, kouhai-lovers, tsundere-lovers, single-ponytail lovers, mother-daughter lovers, leg-lovers, foot-lovers, white-stocking lovers, black-stocking lovers and so on?" Ayase's amused voice sounded in her mind.
"As long as they aren't obsessed with me, there's no problem," Chu Lian replied. She didn't care what others liked, only when she herself became the target.
"That's not necessarily true. Aside from brothercon, sistercon, and uncle-lover, you pretty much possess the other traits I mentioned. Tsundere, single ponytail, glasses, leg lover traits... those personal attributes speak for themselves."
"Sistercon? You've got a perverted little sister obsessed with you. Mothercon? You've got a yandere daughter obsessed with you. Sister-duo lovers? You and Chu Chu plus your older sister are perfect targets. Kouhai-lover? As a first-year middle school student, everyone above you counts. And mother-daughter lovers... well, that goes without saying. Two lolis as mother and daughter, your popularity online is ridiculously high. A national coupling."
Chu Lian fell silent, completely speechless.
She had only made a small complaint, yet Ayase nearly sank her with one blow.
If she said anything more, she'd probably be bombarded endlessly by Ayase's teasing.
"But still, creatures like siscons and lolicons must absolutely be beaten to death. They can obsess over anyone else, but obsessing over you is unacceptable." Ayase reaffirmed Chu Lian's earlier thought, leaving her unsure what expression to make.
At times like this, a smile was the only option.
While she conversed with Ayase in her mind, Momonga finished making preparations outside. Taking out the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, he said to Chu Lian, "Deloris, put on a robe to conceal your identity. It's not suitable for humans to know we're non-human yet."
"Yes, Big Brother." Chu Lian responded, pulling a luxurious robe from her space and draping it over herself. Her nine tails shrank and hid beneath the hem, and once she pulled up the hood, no one could tell she was a fox girl.
"Let's go." Seeing her conceal herself, Momonga didn't bother disguising his own face. Instead, he opened a teleportation gate and stepped inside.
"Is Ainz's conquest of Carne Village beginning now?" Watching him enter, Chu Lian murmured to herself before following him in...