Eriri held the crystal in her hand, closing her eyes to sense its power, just as Tatsuki instructed.
"!"
Moments later, she snapped her eyes open. The Dragon Slayer Crystal vanished, and swirling currents of air lifted her off the ground – success!
"Come down, now. Don't start using your powers in the house."
With a light tap, Tatsuki dispersed the air currents, letting Eriri drop – and caught her smoothly.
Had he let her continue, their home would have become a wreck.
"H-hehe…"
Eriri blushed, slightly embarrassed at having gotten carried away so soon after gaining a new power.
"How do you feel?"
"I feel this energy surging within me, able to manipulate air for attacks."
This Celestial Dragon Slayer Magic was presumably the same as Wendy's in Fairy Tail, inheriting the powers of the Sky Dragon Grandeeney – in other words, a wind-based form of Dragon Slayer Magic. Pity the crystal didn't come with any of the Lost Magic that Wendy also had (like healing and support spells).
"Thanks, Tatsuki!"
Though Eriri hadn't tested it extensively, she could already sense its might. For him to give her such a valuable ability without hesitation only made her adore him more. Gratitude and love welled up in her heart; and with that, her quick little hands sprang into action, leaning towards his groin.
"!"
Sayuri blinked in surprise, watching a suddenly daring Eriri. In an instant, she sighed in acceptance. Throwing Tatsuki an alluring smile, she too leaned in.
"…"
Tatsuki leaned back on the sofa and beckoned Kanae over with a nod. Kanae caught his meaning, approaching on light footsteps…
…
After a bit of post-dinner exercise, Tatsuki left the sofa and headed upstairs to the third floor: Yukino's place.
Ringing the doorbell, a newly-bathed Cocolia in casual indoor attire answered.
"Tatsuki, you're here because…?"
At first, she assumed he had an inappropriate purpose, which elicited a hint of anticipation in her tone, but…
"I'm here for Yukino."
"She's in her room."
"All right. I'll catch up with you later."
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and went to knock on Yukino's room.
"…Tatsuki-kun?"
Yukino looked puzzled as he entered.
"Got something to discuss with you," he said, eyeing her. She was wearing equally light sleepwear – the kind she would never have worn at his place.
"…"
Yukino realized how she looked, cheeks flushing slightly, though she stayed composed.
"Well, come in, then."
"Oh, sure."
Since she'd invited him in, there was no reason to refuse. Yukino didn't bother closing the door; she didn't think anything would happen. Nor did Tatsuki.
He got straight to the point: "The student council is missing a treasurer. I think you're more than qualified – would you be interested?"
"M-me?"
That question froze Yukino. She knew she had the abilities, but never thought about doing it. Originally, she'd planned to set up her own Service Club to help those in need. Yet all that changed the day she discovered Tatsuki's mysterious side, effectively catching him in what looked like a sugar-daddy plot, then stumbling into the Apocalypse Game… Now she lived in his building as a maid. None of this would have happened under normal circumstances.
Tatsuki waited for her answer. Yukino remained silent, turning over a great many thoughts. Finally, she decided.
"All right. I'll give it a try." She had stepped outside her old comfort zone. Maybe she could surpass her sister at something?
"Good."
Having heard her reply, Tatsuki didn't linger. He stood and left, closing the door behind him – though not exiting the apartment, for he slipped into Cocolia's bedroom next…
…
"…"
Hoping to get some rest, Yukino found herself again hearing something from the next room. She wanted so badly to tell Tatsuki: Why don't you go back to your own place? Don't you know there's another resident here? She had nowhere to flee.
Worse was how her body once again disobeyed her will. At such close range, her self-control vanished rapidly. Slowly, she kicked off the covers, losing selfcontrol…
…
Yukino did not appear in the morning; she'd claimed she wanted to sleep in, arriving at school late. So Tatsuki headed out with Eriri first.
During a break period, he returned to the Supernatural Research Club. Strangely, Eriri wasn't around, Yukino hadn't arrived, and Yui wasn't there either. Miko was present – but fast asleep. She looked utterly fatigued these days. Marin Kitagawa lounged nearby, phone in hand, picking out cosplay outfits while seated next to Tatsuki.
She said she wanted to see Tatsuki do cosplays, and he had nothing against that. He only requested she pick something normal, not the outlandish baron role from last time. Though a bit disappointed, she still rummaged enthusiastically for fun costumes.
Strictly speaking, their relationship was ambiguous. That kiss they shared hadn't cemented anything, leaving them stuck between friends and lovers. It was unlike Kato Megumi, currently curled up on Tatsuki's lap. She was in Presence Block mode, so Marin was clueless about her. Indeed, her presence was so miniscule that even occupying that position didn't catch Marin's notice.
Sighing, Tatsuki browsed the group chat, wanting to see how everyone else was doing.
Tatsuki: "Nami, any sign of irregularities in your world?"
He kept an eye on her. The last time, it was just a small, stupid reincarnated Arlong. If there were a cunning reincarnator – someone like Doflamingo, cunning and lurking in the shadows – Nami would stand no chance. He'd considered warping over to clean up potential threats.
Nami: "No anomalies that I can find."
Nami: "But I've been keeping track of the news… Something might be brewing on the seas, but it's guesswork. Not sure what exactly."
Shinobu Kocho: "Might be an anomaly indeed. Be careful, Nami."
Tatsuki: "Yes, watch out."
Nami: "Relax, I've been getting stronger. My synergy with Observation Haki is good, especially since I can manipulate storms. My Haki's leveling up fast!"
Tatsuki: "Your power works somewhat like electromagnetism. Learn more about conversions – you've got room for a lot of growth. I'll send you some reference books on it."
Nami: "Study…all right."
Tatsuki: "Bronya, how's Jarilo‑VI these days?"
Bronya: "Thank you for asking; it's going well. Belobog is stable, and we're actually starting to expand outward. The Underworld folks now have access to new resources, though I'm still not taking direct control of the Underworld."
Tatsuki: "Makes sense – the Overworld/Underworld gap can't be erased in a day. Step by step."
Bronya: "I appreciate your understanding."
March 7: "Tatsuki, you're amazing – changing an entire planet! We came back to the Astral Express, looked at Jarilo‑VI… so different. No more endless white snowscape. Even Himeko and Uncle Yang were amazed."
Tatsuki: "Quite an honor."
Tatsuki: "Although, if I did it over again, I could do it more easily now."
Silver Wolf: "Huh? You got stronger again?"
Tatsuki: "Yep, just a bit stronger."
Ainz: "Wrong, wrong, it's not a bit – it's a ton! Boss, you're amazing!"
Silver Wolf: "Incredible. If you keep getting stronger, maybe you'll surpass the Aeons someday."
Surpassing the Aeons? Possibly, if he kept powering up.
Ainz: "Ahem, Silver Wolf, Tatsuki – oh big shots, I've managed to get that VR gear. Are you up for a run?"
Aqua: "Huh, what's so great about gaming? If you worship the Axis cult, your spirit transcends mortal constraints!"
Tatsuki: "Yes, by discarding your brain and becoming an idiot."
Aqua: "Idiot Tatsuki! Big dummy!"
Silver Wolf: "Hehe. I do have some free time before my next mission. Gimme the game interface…"
Tatsuki: "Same, I'm free."
Ainz: "Awesome! Wait just a sec, big shots!"
Ainz gave them the method. For 1 000 apocalypse points, a dimensional wormhole opened.
"Eh?! W-what is that?!"
Marin exclaimed in alarm, waking Megumi and Miko. Miko rubbed her eyes, half-asleep, then seeing a black hole, she let out a screech: "Black… black hole?!"
"Calm down," Tatsuki said quietly, subduing their panic. "It's a portal for traveling to another world. Y'know, parallel worlds, right?"
Marin and Miko nodded, hamster-like.
"Then there's no problem – I'll just pay a quick visit to another world."
He kissed Megumi's cheek, then stepped into the portal, which sealed behind him. Only then did the two women cry out in wonder.
…
They arrived in Ainz's extremely bare apartment – which left Tatsuki and Silver Wolf exchanging glances.
"Your place… is kinda small," Silver Wolf commented.
"…H-haha."
Suzuki Satoru rubbed his head sheepishly. I'm broke, okay?
"Big shots! The headgear is here!"
He swiftly handed over two VR helmets.
"Headgear? Not needed. Hang on."
Silver Wolf typed away at a holographic keyboard, conjuring two rings out of thin air. She tossed one to Tatsuki. "Everything's linked to these rings now. Just put it on."
Tatsuki slipped it on. "Your hacking skill is truly amazing."
"Of course! Less talk, more game."
"…"
Donning his own headgear, Ainz launched the game. Meanwhile, Silver Wolf and Tatsuki each used their ring-based interface to log in.
…
Character Creation and such passed quickly. In-game, Tatsuki spawned inside a dark, dreary fortress. A cloaked skeleton stood before him—that was Momonga / Ainz. Next to him was Silver Wolf, appearing exactly like her real self.
Silver Wolf said, "Don't be surprised. I adjusted both our data, so you and I won't undergo any shape changes."
Glancing over himself, Tatsuki saw that, indeed, his avatar looked no different from his real body. He'd chosen human. A message soon popped up.
Ainz: "Big shots, I've invited you to join my guild. Please accept!"
They did, and quickly another prompt appeared for Tatsuki.
[Dear Player Tatsuki, you have become Guild Master of Ainz Ooal Gown!]
"…"
Ainz had really handed over the guild's leadership.
Ainz: "Big shots, I'll help you guys level up!"
Tatsuki: "Honestly, we might not need that."
Silver Wolf: "Yeah, no thanks."
Silver Wolf had the confidence of a pro gamer, whereas Tatsuki saw that his real-world abilities worked here for some reason. He didn't know how, but that meant total free reign.
…
It took them only a day to go from level 1 to max. They obliterated everything, from monsters to big guilds in PvP. With just two of them, they wiped out entire armies. Very soon, they and their guild, Ainz Ooal Gown, became the undisputed pinnacle of the game world.