"Ah, it's good that you're here. Teleport Scathach to the infirmary," Lucian said, glancing at Shiraori. She gave a silent nod in response, her long white sleeves fluttering as she waved her hand. In an instant, Scathach vanished—gone before she could utter a word.
"So, why are you here?" Lucian asked, striding toward the center of the colosseum. He needed to assess the damage wrought by Scathach's ultimate move.
Shiraori followed close behind. "The forest has been scouted entirely. No dangerous entities were detected," she reported. "However, we discovered a small village adjacent to it."
As they reached the epicenter, Lucian's gaze fixed on the massive crater left by the devastating skill.
"Interesting..." Lucian murmured as he scanned the report. The village was populated entirely by ordinary humans—their daily activities meticulously documented, down to the shades of their skin and vague outlines of their facial features. If he ordered it, he mused, his servants would probably summon the guilds greatest painters to render their portraits in absurd detail.
A thought nagged at him. Should he still call them NPCs? The term felt increasingly inadequate. These are people.
He needed to gauge their intelligence, their awareness. More importantly, he had to determine the nature of this world itself.
"Shiraori." Lucian's sharp call made her turn toward him, though her eyes remained serenely closed. "We're scouting that village." A grin spread across his face—one that Shiraori mirrored, though her smile was far more subdued.
"I'll follow you," she said, voice unwavering.
"Yes, you will," Lucian replied without hesitation. "After all, it'd be a shame if some overpowered enemy showed up and my Space Administrator wasn't there to whisk me to safety." His tone was mischievous, baiting a reaction.
As always, Shiraori's expression remained stoic—but the faintest curl at the corner of her lips betrayed her. She adored his teasing. That tiny smile said everything.
"Hmm," Shiraori responded with her usual hum, eyes still gently closed.
Lucian let out an exaggerated sigh. "That's all I get, huh…?" He knew this was her nature—a servant of few words, or rather, few hmms. But experiencing it firsthand still felt oddly surreal. He didn't dislike it, but part of him had hoped she'd at least string together a sentence by now.
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. If his assumptions about this world were correct, he'd have an eternity of time to muse over such trivialities later.
"We'll head to my office first," Lucian declared, snapping his fingers. In an instant, the surroundings warped—the colossal arena, its Valkyrie statues piercing the searing sky, vanished. Instead, they stood in the vast, enclosed space of his private office. As guild master, his authority allowed him to teleport anyone anywhere within its domains at will.
"I need to speak with Mei Mei before departing," he said, striding toward his extravagant wooden desk. "And gather a few essentials."
Lucian's office struck the perfect balance—not overwhelmingly large, yet far from small. The kind of space that felt important without being intimidating.
At the far end of the room, a massive wooden desk dominated the space, its surface etched with intricate golden patterns that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Behind it, floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across the wall, displaying an endless illusion of a starry night sky. Thousands of tiny, twinkling stars cast a dreamlike glow over the entire room, their light soft yet enough to illuminate every corner.
The real lighting was sparse—just a few ambient sources—but strangely, nothing was left in shadow. The wooden floors, carved with delicate floral designs, gleamed faintly underfoot. Bookshelves lined the walls, stuffed with towering stacks of tomes, some piled so high they looked ready to topple. A small, circular staircase in the corner spiraled up to a loft—a second-floor nook dedicated solely to even more books.
The atmosphere was… serene. Refined. Beautiful.
Lucian strode straight to his desk and dropped into the plush violet chair waiting for him. The surface was littered with papers—blueprints, by the looks of them—but he didn't bother examining them. With a lazy flick of his hand, the entire mess vanished, leaving the desk spotless.
"Should I contact the Vice Leader?" she murmured, the words barely louder than a whisper yet carrying perfectly in the still air. Without waiting for permission, she casually flicked her fingers - the chair meant for visitors suddenly vanished from its proper position several paces away and reappeared directly behind her with a soft pop of displaced air. She settled into it with the effortless grace of someone completely unconcerned with formalities.
Lucian watched this display with an amused quirk of his lips. Among all the former NPCs who had gained true consciousness in this new reality, Shiraori might be the closest to becoming her own person. She showed little outward respect toward him and carried herself with remarkable casualness, yet remained supremely capable. He knew her loyalty was absolute, just like the other former NPCs - after all, he could feel their bond. In the game, it had been Level 10, representing utmost devotion. He wondered what degree of affection that bond represented now that everything had become real.
"There's no need for that," Lucian responded, his gaze drifting to the elongated shadow stretching from his feet.The artificial moonlight streaming through the huge windows cast elongated silhouettes across the polished wooden floor. His gaze fixed intently on the darkness pooled at his feet - a darkness that seemed somehow deeper, more substantial than it should be.
"Mei Mei," he called, his voice taking on a resonant quality, "come here."
As he spoke, the faintest crimson glow ignited in his irises - so subtle it might have been a trick of the light, were it not for the way the shadows at his feet seemed to ripple in response.
Mei Mei, who had been in the room watching over the sleeping Suzune, shivered under Lucian's penetrating gaze. His eyes seemed to see straight through her shadowy form, and when he spoke those words, her very core trembled. Without hesitation, she dissolved into darkness and vanished from the room.
The moment Lucian finished speaking, the shadow at his feet writhed as if alive. From its inky depths, a figure burst forth, launching herself directly at him.
Lucian didn't flinch. He simply spread his arms and caught Mei Mei as she melted into his embrace. Her lips sought his instinctively, craving comfort—and Lucian found himself wanting that affection just as much. Their mouths met, lips and tongues intertwining in a heated exchange that lasted only seconds before they finally parted. Mei Mei stepped back, now standing properly before him, though the passion of their connection still lingered in Mei Meis mind.
"What do you need me for, Master?" Mei Mei asked, her face still dreamy, as if intoxicated by the lingering taste of his lips. Truthfully, she was still lost in that blissful haze.
Lucian studied his devoted maid. He'd known she was watching him ever since he left the throne room—her presence, her gaze, none of it escaped his notice. His senses were beyond enhanced; if anyone so much as glanced at him, he could feel it instantly. And when he looked at something, only the truth remained. Countless abilities allowed him to see through deception effortlessly—no spells required for such trivial matters.
"Read this."
He tossed her a thick stack of papers bound together by a modern stapler. Mei Mei caught it effortlessly, her spiralling black eyes scanning all fifty pages in under two minutes. A knowing look flickered across her face.
"I'm coming with you," she declared without hesitation, the moment she finished reading.
"Of course you'll come with me. Always." Lucian's reply came with a smile so tender it made Mei Mei's cheeks flush crimson. The expression was so disarming that even Shiraori—who rarely opened her eyes—parted her lids just to sear this rare moment into her memory.
Shiraori observed their exchange with quiet torment. A corrosive mix of jealousy and envy churned within her, yet her doll like face betrayed nothing. She consoled herself with the certainty that her time would come—that someday, she too would have her moment with their master. How she longed to be in his maid's place, to melt into his embrace and breathe in his essence. But these desperate yearnings remained locked behind her impassive mask, her deepest ambitions hidden beneath perfected composure.
"Shiraori will follow as well... in case we need an emergency escape route." Lucian's gaze shifted to his other servant, who bowed her head in silent acknowledgment. Mei Mei gave a small nod of agreement beside him.
"Now then," Lucian mused, "I should prepare for potential ambushes... or other complications."
He raised his hand, and the air beside him rippled violently as a swirling black portal materialized—a direct gateway to his personal Item Box/Inventory. Without hesitation, he plunged his arm into the void up to the elbow. When he withdrew it, his fingers clutched an ominous helmet.
The design was deceptively simple: matte black steel, unadorned except for a single anchor-like horn jutting from one side. Yet its very presence seemed to devour the surrounding light, the pitch-black surface appearing almost liquid in the dim office glow.
"Take this, Mei Mei." Lucian extended the pitch-black helmet toward her.
Mei Mei accepted it with both hands, tilting her head. "What is this?" she asked, genuine curiosity coloring her voice. Though she had played Yggdrasil extensively, her activity had waned near the endgame. Many of Lucian's later exploits—including the acquisition of this particular World Item—remained unknown to her.
A smirk played across Lucian's lips. "Hades Helm. A World Item." His fingers traced the anchor-like horn as he added, " I got it after crushing Hades himself and his entire underworld legion." The memory flashed through his mind—the apocalyptic battle against a World Enemy and its army, a fight that had stretched for eighteen real-world hours. Every second of that grueling conflict had been worth it for this prize.
"It's just insurance against other World Items," Lucian explained as Mei Mei lifted the helmet. "Don't worry—it bonds to your head and becomes invisible. You won't feel a thing, though you'll instinctively know how to activate it."
Mei Mei placed the obsidian helm on her head. In an instant, the dark metal liquefied and vanished as if absorbed by her very skin.
"Wha—" she began, startled.
"About its effects?" Lucian cut in with a knowing grin. "It renders you completely imperceptible to all existence." His fingers drummed against the desk. "This isn't ordinary invisibility. The helm makes you undetectable by any means—scrying, divination, even direct observation."
He leaned forward, eyes glinting. "Not even I could perceive you... unless I used my Sin skills." The admission carried weight—this World Item's power could bypass even the [Greatest Einherjar]'s awareness.
"Oh." Mei Mei's voice held quiet awe as she instinctively activated the World Item. In that instant—to both Shiraori and Lucian's shock—she vanished completely, as though erased from existence itself.
Shiraori's eyes flew open, her distinctive X-shaped pupils–four inhuman irises encircling central human ones–rapidly scanning every inch of the room. She employed every analytical skill at her disposal—save for her Evil Eyes—yet detected no trace of Mei Mei. Not a slither of presence, not even the faintest spatial distortion.
"Amazing." The word escaped Shiraori's lips in rare, genuine astonishment before her expression smoothed back into its usual placidity. Her eyelids slid shut once more, veiling those extraordinary eyes as if nothing had happened.
"Mei Mei, stop clinging to me and become visible now," Lucian chided, his eyes flaring neon green as his hand patted empty air—only for his fingers to make contact with invisible flesh. With a ripple of distorted space, Mei Mei suddenly materialized in his embrace, as if she'd been molded against him all along.
"This is incredible, Master! Perfect for someone like me!" Mei Mei breathed, equal parts awed and grateful. The implications sent euphoric shivers through her—now she could follow Lucian eternally, unseen by all. She could become his true shadow, bound to him in ways no one else could be and see.
Lucian's smile held both warmth and warning. "It's not a [Bound]-type World Item, but it serves its purpose. Just make sure no one steals it from you." His fingers tightened slightly on her shoulder for emphasis.
Mei Mei nodded, pressing the now-visible helm to her chest. "I'll cherish this forever, Master," she vowed, then added with playful mischief, "Though I'd have preferred a wedding ring."
What Mei Mei didn't expect was for Lucian to suddenly lean in, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered something that sent a scorching blush from her cheeks down to her neck.
"Mhmm~" She nodded, her crimson eyes shimmering with barely contained excitement.
Lucian then turned to Shiraori, who was—rather adorably—pouting in the corner. It was clearly an act, a ploy for his attention, but he preferred her smiles over this faux sulking. "Shiraori, no need for that face," he chided lightly.
Then, with deliberate reassurance, he added, "You won't need a World Item. You're protected by Solomon's Authority." It was a tattoo-like World Item—earned through one of Yggdrasil's most secretive quests—was among Lucian's most prized possessions. Not only was it staggeringly versatile, but it also passively shielded him and his eight bound servants from any other world items effects.
"Understood, Master." Shiraori dipped her head, her usual composure returning—though the faintest upward curl at the corner of her lips betrayed her. Lucian's explicit acknowledgment of her safety sent a surge of warmth through her. He had thought of her. That alone was enough.
"But what about you, Master?" Mei Mei pressed, her fingers tightening slightly on his sleeve. "Even if I take every blow meant for you first—" She trailed off, unfamiliar with Solomon Authority's full capabilities.
"I have five World Items bound to me, and..." Lucian extended his slender, elegant fingers - their nails lacquered a deep crimson like freshly spilled blood. Though his hands appeared bare at first, as he curled his fingers, a ring materialized on his right forefinger. Its design perfectly matched the rings still orbiting the World Item [Neutron Aether Everstar] at the guild base's pinnacle.
"Draupnir," he announced. Turning his palm upward, he revealed a glowing red tattoo - its intricate circular patterns resembling the command seals from an ancient anime he remembered. The mark pulsed with power as he spoke: "[Solomon Authority]."
Lucian's fingers hooked lazily into the golden embroidery of his robe's collar, tugging it aside with deliberate, teasing slowness. The fabric parted just enough to reveal the pale, sculpted curve of his collarbone—a glimpse of flawless skin that burned itself into Shiraori and Mei Mei's minds like a brand.
A synchronized gulp echoed between them.
Then—disaster struck.
A violent spray of crimson erupted from both women's noses, painting the air in twin arcs. Mei Mei clutched her chest as if struck by a mortal wound, while Shiraori's usually closed eyes flew open, her X-shaped pupils dilating wildly. The sheer audacity of that collarbone—its elegant slope, the way it caught the light—was nothing short of lethal.
"Perverts," Lucian chided with a mixture of amusement and mock disdain, his fingertip tracing the nearly invisible white mark coiled around his neck - so faint one might miss if not staring intently.
"Wakey wakey," he murmured, tapping it twice.
With a WHOOSH!
A gleaming white serpent exploded from his neck in a flash of pale scales. Mei Mei instantly materialized her twin divine-class daggers, her body coiled to strike—
—Only to freeze as the snake did... absolutely nothing threatening.
Instead, it draped itself over Lucian's shoulders like an affectionate scarf, nuzzling its head against his cheek in worshipful submission, its forked tongue darting out to pepper his face with adoring licks.
"Haha—ah, that tickles, Suzhen," Lucian chuckled, scratching under the serpent's chin. In response, the snake smiled—a disturbingly human expression of bliss—its tail thumping against his collarbone like an overjoyed puppy's.
"This," Lucian announced, glancing at Mei Mei's still-raised weapons, "is also a World Item. [Bai Suzhen]."
Slowly, Mei Mei lowered her blades, her murderous intent dissolving into bewildered look.
Shiraori observed the scene in silence. Having accompanied Lucian to many battles, she was already familiar with Bai Suzhen. Though the snake currently appeared small and docile, its true battle form was terrifyingly massive—easily dwarfing its current harmless appearance.
Mei Mei, however, studied the snake with narrowed eyes. The moment [Bai Suzhen] swiveled its head toward her, crimson eyes gleaming with what could only be described as playful malice, she stiffened.
"…Is it a she?" Mei Mei asked abruptly.
Lucian blinked. "How did you—?" Suzhen was female, but her gender wasn't exactly… obvious.
Mei Mei exhaled through her nose. "I just know."
The snake's forked tongue flicked out in a silent, mocking laugh.
After a few more moments of peaceful discussion about their powers and other World Items, Lucian stretched his arms, signaling the end of their conversation. Mei Mei mirrored his movement, her spiralling black eyes glinting with anticipation.
"First, call Adele," Lucian said, rubbing his temple. "That girl will work herself into a frenzy if I don't reassure her personally."
Mei Mei smirked, already knowing exactly what he meant. "Understood, Master." In an instant, she vanished—teleporting away to fetch Adele.
Lucian sighed.
Adele… was special.
Out of all the former NPCs now living and breathing in this world, she was the one he felt most… responsible for. In yggdrasil, she had been designed as his daughter— a cute devoted daddy's girl with programmed unconditional affection for him.
But now that she was real, with real emotions, real fears, and a real heart… things were more complicated.
'I'm too young to be a father' , he thought wryly. And yet, the affection he felt for her wasn't something he could just ignore. If she was his daughter now, then he'd give her everything she deserved—protection, guidance, love.
But then there was the other problem.
Adele's devotion wasn't just daughterly.
Like his other female servants, her feelings had become complicated in this new reality—perhaps even crossing lines that made him slightly uncomfortable.
'This feels... borderline criminal.'
Lucian's brooding silence was unexpectedly broken by Shiraori's soft voice - a rare occurrence that immediately drew his attention.
"Adele is a good girl," she murmured, her words barely louder than a whisper yet carrying surprising warmth.
Lucian smiled. "Obviously she is..." There was unmistakable pride in his voice. Even though barely twenty-four hours had passed since these former NPCs became real for him, they already felt like family to him. A fierce protectiveness burned in his chest—he would keep them safe.
"I hope Suzune wakes up soon," Lucian muttered. He wanted both of his girls by his side, especially when venturing into a new world. He missed Mizuki too, though finding her now seemed impossible... But he would reunite with her eventually. There was no force in any world that could keep him apart from someone he loved. That was one thing he would never allow.
Few seconds later, a soft knock echoed through the office, followed by a familiar, honey-sweet voice tinged with nervousness.
"M-May I enter, Father...?"
Lucian's crimson eyes lit up instantly, his lips curling into a smile from hearing Adele's voice. "Come in," he called, leaning back in his plush violet chair.
The door creaked open to reveal Adele standing there, her delicate fingers clutching the hem of her maid dress. Her cheeks burned a vivid pink—far more flushed than usual. Behind her, Mei Mei hovered like a smug shadow, the corners of her lips twitching with barely contained amusement.
Lucian could already tell—whatever "motherly talk" Mei Mei had subjected Adele to, it was definitely something inappropriate. He resisted the urge to sigh. Instead, he straightened his posture, letting his smile fade into something more solemn as he folded his arms atop the desk, resting his chin on his interlaced fingers.
"I'll be departing soon," he announced, his voice low but firm. "To investigate that village the Valkyries scouted."
Lucian's smiled softly as he rose from his seat, the hem of his golden robes brushing silently against the wooden floor with each measured step toward Adele.
"I would like you," he began, his voice warm yet carrying the weight of command, "my daughter, to watch over the base in my absence."
Adele immediately bowed her head, her Black hair cascading forward like a curtain of black light. When she spoke, her voice trembled with devotion—not the usual affection she should usually display, but something deeper, more solemn.
"I swear upon my life, I will protect Great Luxuria with everything I have." When she spoke, her voice carried weird solemnity.
Though her heart ached to protest—to beg him to take her along—she swallowed the words before they could escape. The truth was bitter but undeniable: she wasn't strong enough. Not yet. If high-level enemies appeared, she would only become a burden, a weakness for her beloved father to protect.
'So instead...'
Her fingers curled into determined fists at her sides. 'I'll make this place even more immaculate for his return.'
Lucian's keen eyes didn't miss the subtle signs of Adele's anxiety—the slight crease between her brows, the way her dhampir ears drooped ever so slightly. To him, she might as well have been an open book.
"Don't worry like that," he said gently, reaching out to tilt her chin up. "I won't get hurt. See? I'm even bringing your mother along." He gestured toward Mei Mei, who had already informed Adele of her accompanying role.
This did ease Adele's tension somewhat. If there was anyone she trusted completely to protect her father, it was her mother, Mei Mei—especially after the exhaustive "lessons" her mother had drilled into her about safeguarding Lucian.
"I... I hope you have a safe trip, Father," Adele murmured, her voice softening.
Then, without warning, Lucian's hand settled atop her head, ruffling her hair in that affectionate way she adored. For a brief, glorious moment, pure bliss flooded her senses—before he pulled away, leaving her yearning for more.
"Let's depart. We'll be descending by flight," Lucian declared, snapping his fingers sharply.
The world twisted instantly - one moment they stood in familiar confines of Lucians office, the next, wind howled around them as they materialized at the edge of a bridge so vast it seemed to pierce the heavens themselves. Far in the distance, the spires of Valhalla gleamed, the entirety of Great Luxuria sprawled beneath it.
Lucian stepped forward, his boots scraping against marble. Beside him, Mei Mei's [Flight Necklace Premium 91]—a delicate silver chain adorned with a golden feathered wing—glowed softly as it activated and enhanced [Fly] spell, lifting her effortlessly into the air. Shiraori didn't even bother with such things; as one with [Dimensional Archon] Job Class, the sky was as much her domain as solid ground.
Then—
Lucian's wings unfurled.
A burst of golden light erupted as his Vampiric Transcendent Wings burst forth—each magnificent wing span stretching five meters wide, their feathers gleaming with sunlight. The sheer pressure of their emergence sent shock waves through the air, kicking up dust and sending loose pebbles skittering off the bridge's edge into the earth bellow.
Without hesitation, Lucian stepped off the precipice—
—And the world exploded into motion.
BOOM!
A thunderous sonic boom shattered the atmosphere as Lucian vanished, his form becoming little more than a streak of golden light rocketing toward the void. Mei Mei and Shiraori shot after him, their own flight creating shock waves in their wake.
"Resistance... inertia... all meaningless before absolute power," he mused mid-flight. Even at such tremendous velocities, he felt no wind resistance, no g-forces, not even the slightest discomfort when stopping abruptly - his superior physical form and transcendent wings rendering any trivialities obsolete.
"Master," Mei Mei's voice murmured from within his shadow, her form clinging to him like living darkness. "I thought we were scouting the village?"
The [Fly] spell, even when enhanced, couldn't match Lucian's speed, so she had merged with his shadow using [Shadow Slave]—a skill that bound her to him as his living silhouette. Shiraori, of course, had no such limitations. As a [Dimensional Archon], she could simply carve through space itself to follow.
"I just want to check something," Lucian said as he thought of quickening his pace.
Then–
He moved faster.
The world dissolved into streaks of color as he accelerated beyond mortal limits. Shiraori flickered in and out of existence behind him, space itself warping to accommodate her movement. Mei Mei remained safely anchored in his shadow, unaffected by the sudden velocity.
An instant later–
He stopped.
Lucian let his body drift weightlessly, the sudden stillness jarring after such motion. And then -
His breath caught.
Before him stretched a view beyond mortal comprehension.
A horizon curved like perfect glass ball.
They had breached the atmosphere entirely, and now -
The entire planet sprawled before them in breathtaking splendor.
Azure oceans shimmered beneath swirling cloud veils, continents painted in vibrant greens and gold under the sunlight's caress. More magnificent than any scenery from his old world, more vivid than any memory.
Click.
Space fractured audibly as Shiraori materialized beside him, the dimensional rift sealing itself seamlessly behind her. For a long moment, neither spoke, both enraptured by the view.
"...Beautiful," Lucian finally murmured, the word barely more than an exhale. The sunlight danced across his face as he took in the impossible beauty of this world - their world now.
"Yes." Meimei replied.
Shiraori said nothing—she merely drank in the expanse of the world before her. Her eyes, usually closed, were now wide open, absorbing the breathtaking beauty of this planet.
The four Arachne pupils encircling each of her human-like irises gleamed with unrestrained delight. This world… Its splendor would be her stepping stone into her master's heart.
And she could see it—the flicker of desire in his eyes.
Shiraori wasn't admiring the planet's majesty. She was staring at him—at her Master. Even amidst the most resplendent scenery, he was the most captivating sight. His beauty eclipsed everything else.
And then, she noticed it. His pupils dilated ever so slightly.
He liked this world.
'Master~' Shiraori inwardly moaned, her heart aflame. She adored that look—the spark of want in his gaze. That alone gave her purpose. A reason to exist, to thrive, to serve him.
'I'll serve this entire world to you on a silver platter, my Master~' Her heart practically screeched in delight.
Without Lucian's notice, she flicked her sleeves, unleashing countless spiders into the world below.
If her Master desired this planet… then she would make it his.
"Don't think about it, Master. I won't let you."
Meimei's cold, almost terrifying voice shattered Shiraori's reverie. She glanced up—her master's gaze had shifted from the ground to the sky, where an alien moon glowed brilliantly.
Lucian sighed. "I just wanted to test if I can breathe in space."
"You don't even need to breathe," Meimei countered.
"Don't be reckless. Not when we don't fully understand our limits yet."
"Fine!"Lucian pouted adorably. "You're no fun."
And then—he dropped.
Gravity took hold as his wings dissolved into motes of light. "Free-falling is amazing," he mused, flipping mid-air to face the ground. "I wonder if sky divers on Earth felt like this."
Shiraori mirrored his descent, following closely behind.
Meimei's voice cut through the roaring winds. "Sky divers used parachutes."
"Heheh… who needs those? Definitely not me."
Just before they were about to crash into the forest below—a mere ten meters from impact—Lucian's wings materialized once more, halting his fall with a powerful beat.
"Shiraori, lead the way."
With a silent nod, she teleported ahead, hovering effortlessly. Lucian and Meimei took flight beside her, following as she guided them forward.
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