Philian Apolesai

Reward

Demiurge lingered at the threshold of Vesi's room, his gaze fixed on her sleeping form beneath the silken covers. She seemed peaceful at last, a stark contrast to the tremors of fear and uncertainty that wracked her body when they first reunited. As much as it pained him to leave, Lord Ainz had summoned him, and duty could never be ignored. He moved out of her bedroom, passing through the false wall and ready to leave but then there was the matter of the door.

There were few fools that would enter a supreme one's room without permission, but the one that would was cause for concern. This hidden door was good, but it was useless to her if it was open like this. On a whim, Demiurge walked back to the painting of the World Tree. Running his hand along its frame as Vesi had before pressing in on the nameplate beneath the World Tree painting again, watching with satisfaction as the hidden mechanisms secured the room. Still, a sense of unease tugged at him. Sealing the door didn't feel like enough. That succubus knew that Vesi was here and, should she try something while he was gone, it wouldn't take her long to find a way in.

He needed to be certain.

With a wave of his hand, Demiurge summoned the familiar, shimmering energy of [Alarm] spells. One at the false door—just in case. Another at the main entrance, carefully attuned to his own magical signature.

He left, walking down the hall with a lighter heart.

[Philian Apolesai]

Once outside the office doors, Demiurge straightened his jacket. Ensuring everything about his appearance was perfect before seeing his lord once more. There was only one thing Lord Ainz would want to immediately and Demiurge needed to have a perfect report for him. That brought up Pandora's Actor—and Pulcinella, that foolish clown. Pulcinella certainly deserved some form of punishment for his negligence, while Pandora's efforts had been commendable, perhaps even worthy of a reward. But speaking of them would only complicate matters. As a guardian, it was Demiurge's sworn duty to make his master's life easier—and the easiest path here was to take all the credit.

His usual devilish grin split across his face as he pushed open the office doors.

[Philian Apolesai]

From the entryway he can already feel the tension in the air. His lord, regal as usual, is sitting at his desk. Behind him, Albedo stands rigid, her gaze locked on Demiurge with an intensity that's impossible to ignore. He can feel her disdain, the quiet fury simmering beneath those golden eyes. However, if she is here, she cannot be out enacting some mad plan to harm Lady Vesi. A withering glare or snide remark directed at him meant nothing. As long as she behaved, her bitter rage was irrelevant.

"Ah, Demiurge." Ainz greeted as the demon neared his desk. "I trust Vesi is resting well?"

"My Lord," Demiurge crossed his arm over his chest as he bowed. "Yes, Lady Vesi is sleeping now. As she still seemed perturbed, I took the liberty of securing her room."

Abeldo's wings fluttered quietly but she still said nothing while Ainz muttered under his breath. "She's feeling scared?" Demiurge elected not to respond as Ainz shifted around in his chair, bringing a bony hand to his chin in thought.

"I'll have to deal with that later," Ainz brought his attention back to Demiurge. "First, I want to know where she was. How did you find her?"

Demiurge's smile widened just a fraction. Things were going to fall perfectly into place.

"I was made aware of her return last night as I journeyed to my farm. Where she was before then, I cannot say. Eventually, I was able to locate her by following faint traces of her aura, weak but unmistakably hers. She was in the forests East of the Holy Robel Kingdom."