“— Hey, I already asked this before, but isn’t this girl really weird?”
Aura asked her question while holding Shalltear back, while Ainz was stunned.
“…My sincere apologies, Ainz-sama. I couldn’t help myself. Eh, please think of this as the result of accumulating too much stress from working for Nazarick. Please.”
“That, that can’t be helped. Yes. Albedo, I am grateful for the hard work you put in everyday.”
Ainz who wanted to walk away in brisk steps was stopped by a hand grabbing his robes. There was no need to wonder who this hand belonged to.
“Albedo, what is the matter? Why are you so reluctant to let me leave?”
“When I hear these words… It ignites a fire in my heart. My abdomen is also squirming. That’s why— Ainz-sama...”
“Hey, wait, calm down Albedo! Co-Cocytus!”
“Leave. It. To. Me!”
The cold air that filled the room instantly lowered the room temperature in no time, making Albedo, who was going berserk, regain her wits.
“I. Will. Not. Forgive. Your. Rudeness. Towards. Ainz-sama. Even. If. You. Are. The. Overseer. Of.
The. Guardians.”
Cocytus who put himself between Ainz and Albedo held a silvery white spear in his hand, it was obvious that he would attack if the situation warranted it.
“—Pardon my impudence, Ainz-sama. I lost myself back then.”
“I accept your apology, Albedo.”
Obeying his master’s will, Cocytus stepped aside, but held on to his spear.
“I know you are very stressed from your work, losing control is probably the way you relieve your frustration. Anyway, go take a bath and relieve your stress. Cocytus, good work.”
After Ainz finished, he parted the curtains of the men’s bath, but stopped because of the footsteps following behind him.
“…Why are you following me, Albedo? Just to be clear, this is the men’s bath, not the women’s bath.”
“I want to wash your back for you.”
“…Rejected. Furthermore, I am not alone and will be entering the bath with the other male Guardians. Are you fine with them seeing your naked body?”
She might say it is fine since she is a succubus, Ainz thought, but Albedo replied immediately.
“Well then, there are family baths in another place—”
“Family baths are not meant for that kind of thing!”
“But, Ainz-sama. I think it is too sly to only shower the men with your affection.”
“That’s right”, Shalltear whose mouth was being covered by Aura chipped in. The idea of going in together made Aura’s eyes sparkle, she preferred group activities. Cocytus seemed a bit troubled.
Bathing together is showing affection? …The previous incident too, isn’t Albedo a bit odd? Is she acting strange because of that incident?
“Albedo, let me say this first. I prefer women to men, and I am a pure heterosexual.” Ainz silenced Albedo who wanted to say something in return. “Maybe in the future, a relationship like that might develop. However, while the situation about this world isn’t clear, having such a relationship with one of you will be detrimental to the future of the organization.”
Uuuuu, Albedo furrowed her brows.
“And all of you are like the daughters of my friends— the relationship is too complicated.”
“I was wondering what was happening at the entrance, so it was you people giving trouble to Ainz-sama.”
“O-Onee-san… is dead.”
“I’m not dead”, the girl retorted weakly.
“I was waiting for the two of you.”
“Sorry for being late. However… Overseer-san, isn’t it about time for you to learn how to control your emotions?”
Demiurge’s narrow eyes widened slightly, showing his hostility openly. It was frightening when someone who was gentle became angry. True to these words, the atmosphere became tense.
Influenced by the tension, Cocytus took a stance against Albedo too. Albedo was smiling as usual.
No, her smile was deeper than usual.
“— Fools!”
Ainz roared angrily.
“Do not quarrel in front of me! Imbeciles!”
All the Guardians went down on one knee and trembled.
“We are very sorry, Ainz-sama!”
“…Enough, get up, everyone.” After seeing that everyone was up, Ainz spoke gently as if to soothe troubled children.
“Stop such barbaric disputes. That will disappoint me greatly, understood?”
After receiving acknowledgement from all those present, the wrath in Ainz’ heart vanished completely.
“Alright, let’s take a bath and change the mood. The men’s group will follow me. Aura, you are now the supervisor of the women’s group. Do not let those two behind you do anything stupid.”
“By your will!”
A fire burned brightly in Aura’s eyes. At first, Albedo and Shalltear thought it was a good chance to sneak into the men’s side, but their resolve was shaken after they saw how hyped up Aura was.
Ainz opened the curtains with the character ‘men’ on it, ignoring the ruckus behind him. He took off his clothes in the changing room. Usually, it was bothersome to remove his equipment, but he had already made preparations in advance and stripped in no time and walked forth briskly.
I’m naked right now, but how should I move…
His body was a skeleton without any meat or skin. It was unthinkable for Suzuki Satoru, but this was natural in this world. Ainz had wondered on multiple occasions how he should reconcile this difference in his actions.
“I will go ahead first.”
“Please, please wait for me!”
The naked Mare followed with brisk steps. He was normally dressed in a girl’s attire, but he looked like a boy right now. As he was still a child, there weren’t any bulging muscles on him. To think that such a soft body possessed such power, this was something unique to the nature of this world, just like Ainz.
Ainz thought that as he looked at Mare, and warned:
“Don’t run here. The floor is wet, it is dangerous.”
Guardians wouldn’t die even if they slipped and hit their head, but Mare looked just like a kid, so Ainz couldn’t help but worry.
“Y-Yes, I am very sorry.”
Don’t apologize so seriously, Ainz thought.
“Sorry for the wait.”
Demiurge and Cocytus followed shortly. Demiurge had a lean and well toned body. He probably followed a proper training regime, but part of the reason was due to the settings of Ulbert.
“Cocytus looks the same as he always does.”
“Well, he is always naked.”
“Could. You. Not. Phrase. It. In. Such. A. Lewd. Way?”