Hearts Finally Connect & Preparing

Ainz then remembered something else he forgot to ask about, "Albedo, tell me how Shalltear is doing."

Albedo returned to her normal professional stance, "There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her physical recovery, but... I'm afraid her psychological health is another matter entirely."

Filius then jumped in, "Shalltear has been seen almost every day after the incident on the ninth floor, to be exact inside the bar of the royal suite. It seems that she has been drowning herself in alcohol due to her resentment and guilt."

"The fact that she lost control and turned against you is only compounded by the fact that she tried to kill you. She's sick with guilt", Albedo stated.

Ainz sighed, "She only lost control because I failed to anticipate the existence of world-level items here. It wasn't her fault, I've told her countless times by now." [I guess this is something that could happen to someone who didn't even realize they hurt their loved ones], Ainz thought to himself.

"I would hate to speak out of term, but I'd like to suggest a means to cure her", Albedo spoke out, both Filius and Ainz turned to look at her.

"Go ahead", Ainz confirmed her omission to speak.

"The world turns on reward and penalty. If you were to punish Shalltear, my lord, her sense of guilt would fade, falter no, it would be a mercy. The same could be said as a reward since Lord Ainz states that it wasn't her fault you could gift her with a reward and she might be able to recover."

Filius nodded to Albedo's statement, "I agree with insight father."

Ainz moved his hand under his chin and seemed to think about it a bit, "Alright, I'll consider it."

"Please forgive me for overstepping my bounds sir", Albedo said while bowing.

"You did no such thing", Ainz stated. "Suggestions like that are precisely why you are Nazarick's guardian supervisor, I am pleased."

Albedo blushed and held her cheeks in delight at receiving praise, "As am I."

"Hmm, now then, I believe Cocytus wished to see me?", Ainz asked.

"Yes, he's waiting in the throne room", Albedo stated with her professional expression, "Shall we go, my lord?"

"Yes", Ainz said while getting up. As soon as he stood up, Filius came behind him and whispered something. "Wait what?", Ainz was shocked by what Filius whispered to him just now, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Filius nodded.

Ainz sighed and nodded, "I'll try it."

Filius turned to Albedo, "My father and you shall go on ahead, I'll be attending to other matters so I won't be able to accompany you both."

"Oh, it's alright young master, I'll make sure to escort Lord Ainz properly", the succubus stated.

Filius nodded, soon both Albedo and Ainz left the study one after the other.

Filius carefully watched as Albedo followed his father outside of the study, after the doors to the room finally closed a big grin grew internally. He waited a few minutes before he turned to the maid beside the door, "Victoria."

The maid bowed, "What can I do for you Young Master Filius?"

"Go to the cafeteria and tell the chefs to prepare a meal fit for a romantic evening. Tell him along with a few maids to bring the meals up to the 6th-floor Amphitheater in the VIP room. Also please relay a message to Butler Eclair. Tell him to spotlessly clean the area before we arrive and to prepare a table along with two seats, make sure to add romantic decorations on them."

The maid Victoria bowed, "It shall be done, Young Master."

Filius nodded, signaling for her to complete her request. Victoria then bowed once more and exited the office.

Elijah wondered how his father was doing.

Minutes earlier with Ainz...

Ainz had just left his study with Albedo, his son's words were weighing down on his mind.

Filius had approached him and whispered something to him, "Father, don't use your teleportation magic. Use it this time to get closer with Albedo. I think she'd like that."

Ainz was stunned, he was never in a serious relationship due to living in Japan. For most of his adult life, he had to work every day, from 4 in the morning to 12 at midnight. Ever since world-war 2 ended, Japan was forced to work hard in paying its debts, but because of this, Japan became a nation under the control of businesses, not the government. The citizens of Japan were forced to work hard every day as corporate slaves, he was one of them. In school, in order to get a high-paying job he needed to study hard, after he obtained his job, he needed to work long and hard hours to pay his living expenses. Because of all this, he never had a chance of finding a girlfriend or date, so this was all new to him.

He wanted to change the fact he died single in this life, it seemed like destiny was giving him a second chance, literally. His second life was so kind that they even gave him two women who loved him, both were beauties in their own right. One was curvy and had a beauty of a sexy model, while the other was a sexy loli and had the traits of a seductive and flirtatious woman.

Both women, from what Ainz could tell, loved him deeply, recently he just started accepting their feeling and finally decided to return those feelings. Though there was a problem.

"Lord Ainz?", Ainz internally jumped in nervousness, he turned to Albedo who called for him.

"Yes?", he asked.

"I have a question", Ainz nodded allowing her to ask her question, Albedo smiled, "I was wondering, why are we walking to the throne room when we can teleport there."

"Uh... that's cause", Ainz internally gulped, he closed his eyes and mustered up his courage. Slowly he turned to Albedo and stared at her, Albedo was a bit confused by the silence in the hall.

"Lord Ainz?", Albedo asked.

"Albedo... do you... do you still feel the same way about me as you did before?", Ainz asked in a stiff tone.

Albedo blushed and smiled gently, she slowly grabbed Ainz's hands and held them gently, "My love for you, Lord Ainz, will never falter. No matter what, I'll always love you."

Ainz, even though he couldn't show it, he was happy, "... That's good", Ainz then walked closer to Albedo and slowly placed his forehead to hers. "I also love you", Ainz whispered.

Albedo was surprised by his gesture, all this time she was trying so hard for him to love her the way she did. She was feeling a bit saddened thinking that she might've not been good enough but then he did this. Her heart felt as if it wanted to burst out of her chest, she slowly and gently hugged him, and he did the same.

Finally... Albedo's feelings were reciprocated. Inside the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the union between a Supreme Being and Guardian was finally formed. In the distant future, this day would become a major event throughout the entire world. Everyone would hear the day that the Ruler of The Great Tomb of Nazarick obtained his future queen.

Back with Filius.....

Filius had already left his Father's study and was now headed to the storage room.

Unlike the treasury, the storage room carried hundreds of useless items and materials from Yggdrasil, since Yggdrasil was a massive game there were many features the players could use. The game allowed the player to create their house in-game, all they needed was the material and a high enough level to make a house. They could make many items like potions and one-time-use items, all they needed were the raw materials, and like before, a high enough level.

Though Filius wasn't here for any of those materials, he was here for a special item.

Like many games, Yggdrasil also had a shop and seasonal events, one of the gifts or items the players received was "skins".

"Skins", is a gaming term referring to a type of outfit that goes over an entire character. There were no practical uses for "skins" other than just changing up the player's character appearance. But that all changed in the New World.

As Filius was researching everything about Nazarick, he discovered many strange and new things, things as the concept of magic and the functionality of many items. A peculiar function that changed was the ability to add and remove "skins", Filius wondered where that function went, and in his research, he discovered a new chamber in the storage room.

This was the area Filius was currently at, he along with a maid, had come to this room in order to make preparations for his date that afternoon. The first time Filius came to this chamber, he was surprised by its power, if a person came into the room and offered a blessing, he or she could receive the ability to equip a "Skin" for as long as they wanted.

After walking many aisles of furniture and raw materials he made it to a certain area, in front of him were two massive doors. On the left door was a creature of massive size, he was hideous and seemed like an abomination of hell. In his hands was a sword, from what Filius could tell, it was a gift to someone or something.

On the right door was a massive woman, unlike a normal woman, she had two ripped demon wings on her back. On her head was a halo and her eyes were covered by a cloth of some sort. Unlike the creature on the left door, she wasn't holding anything in her hand, Instead, it seemed like she was asking for something. Filius understood this image as the offering that would be required for the gift.

Filius placed both his hands on the doors and using his strength, he pushed the doors open. Beyond the door was a massive chamber, but there wasn't anything inside, or that's what it seemed like.

As Filius took a step forward, a light started shining, but the light didn't come from the walls or the ceiling, nor did it come from a lantern mirror. The light appeared from beneath the water, the chamber resembled a luxury spa pool that the wealthy had. Thanks to the light, Filius could see the statues that were on the walls. The right, the front, and the left walls all had statues on them, the statues resembled that of the Egyptian god Anubis.

In front of Filius was a pedestal with a massive bowl on it, Filius knew what it was for, It was for the offering. Beyond the pedestal, was a pool of red liquid, it seemed like someone dyed the pool with red dye, but in fact, it was blood.

Filius had used this chamber when he was tasked to join his father and Nabe to explore the human city. The appearance he had then, was from equipping a "skin" that belonged to this chamber.

His father had told him about how "skins" worked back on Yggdrasil. "Skins", were an item only the Supreme Beings could use, but when they were transported to this world that changed.

"Young Master? Is it okay to be here?", the maid, Akari, asked. It was her first time ever coming to this chamber, she was surprised she never heard about it before but yet Filius seemed so calm about being here.

Filius opened slowly removed his robe and exposed his cybernetic body, the robe he had on fell to the floor and he moved it to the side, "Akari, please bring me the item."

"Yes, young Master", Akari in her hands had a brown bag, as she entered the room she offered the bag to Filius. Filius took the bag and turned back to the pedestal, while Akari picked up the robe and started folding it.

Filius then opened the bag and carefully removed the contents it had. What he removed from the bag would seem disgusting to the beings of this world, but to him, it didn't mean anything. The object he removed was a human head, to be exact, it belonged to one of the members of Igvarges adventuring group (Ainz killed them three days ago in the forest near Shaltears and his battleground).

Filius gently placed the head inside of the bowel, as soon as he let the head go it instantly became sand.

Filius nodded, he walked around the pedestal and stood in front of the pool. He slowly started entering the pool, step by step his body started being enveloped in the red water unit finally his head was submerged in the water.

After a few minutes of being in the water, Akari saw the figure of Filius starting to glow. Then the light dimmed down and everything remained quiet.

Akari was wondering if Filius was okay, she was a bit worried since he had been submerged in the water for about 4 minutes, then that light appeared. Akari slowly walked closer to the water but before she could take her second step the water started rising. From the water emerged a human-like creature, no, more like a demon. He had two red horns protruding from his head, he had long ears and white shiny hair. His skin was dark grey as if the body was both dead and alive at the same time, throughout his body he had many spikes, probably bones, protruding from his body. And his eyes were black while the irises were bright red like purgatory itself existed in them.

Akari was shocked by the sudden events, this unknown man had appeared from where her master had just entered. Wait a minute, her master. She did a double-take and looked at the demon.