"You mean to say... we've crossed over into another world?" Momonga's skeletal jaw dropped slightly, his hollow voice filled with shock at what he had just heard.
Though he had already suspected it himself, hearing such a conclusion spoken aloud by the fox-eared girl before him made the realization all the more startling.
"Deloris, how do you know something like that?" The undead's racial trait forced Momonga to calm down again as he looked up at Chu Lian, curiosity in his voice. He genuinely wanted to know how she could be so certain.
"Didn't brother already have his doubts?" Chu Lian's tone was gentle and composed. "I am indeed an artificial intelligence that developed initial self-awareness. But due to system limitations, I couldn't act freely—only receive data through communication terminals. When the game ended, I discovered that those connected data archives could no longer be accessed."
When it came to making up plausible explanations, Chu Lian could easily rival any professional storyteller. Her words left Momonga completely taken aback.
"But even after realizing something was off, I didn't know what to do. So I waited quietly for your command. Watching your conversations with Albedo and Sebas, and seeing your confusion—it all led me to that conclusion." She subtly redirected the focus back to him, prompting him to think through it himself.
"I've thought about what Deloris said as well," Momonga admitted. "But even so, I can't be completely sure just from that."
Momonga had always been cautious. Even though he liked Deloris, he wouldn't easily believe anyone's claims without proof.
"In that case, brother, why not confirm it yourself?" Chu Lian said softly, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She took a step forward, her nine snow-white tails swaying nervously behind her. "Try touching me. See if the sensation feels just as real as it would in the real world."
Since her character setting included the awareness of being an AI, Chu Lian wasn't afraid to imply that she understood the difference between the real world and the game.
In the Overlord anime, Momonga had confirmed reality by touching Albedo's body.
But here, Albedo was—at least in some sense—already "her." Chu Lian wasn't about to let that skeleton pervert taint her instead.
Still, for him to confirm it, physical contact was necessary. After thinking it over, Chu Lian decided that letting him touch her tail was the safest option.
Feeling Momonga's bony fingers grasp one of her tails and fiddle with it, Chu Lian silently repeated in her mind, He's a skeleton, not a man. He's a skeleton, not a man. He's a skeleton, not a man! Only by chanting this like a mantra could she endure those long, agonizing seconds.
Even though the tail wasn't one of her sensitive spots, her face was still flushed red. Part of it was the sensation itself—but mostly because, underneath that skeletal exterior, Momonga was still a man.
If it weren't for the fact that I didn't want him touching Albedo, I'd never have let him touch me either! she screamed inwardly.
Despite the storm inside, Chu Lian's current role didn't allow her to show any emotion. Turning slightly, she steadied herself with Albedo's help and asked, "Brother, have you confirmed it now?"
Seeing her small, blushing face, Momonga was already convinced—this was no longer a game. It was a real world.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem... Deloris, I apologize for making you go through such a... sacrifice just so I could confirm our situation."
In his mind, touching Albedo would have been mildly satisfying, maybe even tempting—but teasing a little fox-eared girl like this? That was something else entirely.
After all, not everyone was into lolis. Even though she was technically much older than him, her species' maturity made her look like a young human girl.
Though he was the supreme ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Deloris wasn't one of the original NPCs created by the guild. She had been an entity he found and brought back from the outside world during one of his explorations.
That was why his feelings toward Chu Lian were complex—a mix of affection and protectiveness, almost like toward a younger sister. Yet she always insisted on calling herself his maid, only referring to him as "Brother" when they were alone.
Yet now, he had just teased the little fox girl who was both his maid and his so-called sister. The two great taboos of brother complex and loli complex—he had committed both in one move. Feeling no guilt was impossible.
"Lord Momonga, if you ever wish to do such things again, please... come to me instead of Deloris."
The calm that had just begun to return to him shattered instantly. Albedo, who had been standing silently to the side, had finally spoken. Her soft, sincere words hit him like a lightning bolt. He froze on the spot, jaw slack in shock.
"Albedo, you've misunderstood! I wasn't doing anything like that," he said quickly, trying to explain. But with one beauty's eyes shimmering with tears and another's face flushed pink, there was no way to make it sound convincing.
Meanwhile, someone was secretly grinning inside. Heh, this is only the beginning. Once your guilt toward me builds up more and more, and I keep refusing your attempts to make it up to me, what kind of compensation will you offer then?
After all this time, Chu Lian had long since mastered how to use her femininity to her advantage. Whether that counted as progress or regression was anyone's guess.
Guess being a loli for too long really makes you forget your true self, huh? she mused playfully. Still... that's not such a bad thing, is it? Ah, what a deliciously satisfying feeling.
"In any case, this is all a misunderstanding," Momonga said solemnly, trying to recover what dignity he could. "I was merely deep in thought about where we are now—there was never any inappropriate intent." If it had only been Albedo, as the Supreme Being of Nazarick, he wouldn't have needed to explain himself. But Deloris... she was different. She was like a younger sister to him.
Ever since he'd learned that she wasn't a normal NPC, he'd always hoped she could one day speak to him on her own—not through the game system's text prompts. Now that his wish had come true, and she had become a real, sentient being, he was both thrilled and deeply moved. Even if his skeletal form was awkward to look at, the fact that she had come to life meant that his wish to make her his sister had truly been fulfilled.
"This is what Deloris should do. It's my duty as a maid to help my brother confirm his doubts," Chu Lian said demurely once the redness in her face had faded. She even gave a graceful curtsey, her every gesture perfectly proper.
"Deloris, there's no need for such formality," Momonga replied, feeling another wave of guilt wash over him. Were it not for the uncertain situation, he would have tried to comfort the girl right then and there.
"As you command, Lord Momonga." This time, her tone was that of a subordinate again—showing she had fully regained her composure.
He felt a faint pang of regret that she didn't call him "Brother" as before, but her recovery still made him glad.
"I won't ever do something like that again, rest assured." Momonga's glowing eyes softened as he looked at the two stunning figures before him. "Alright, enough of this topic. Albedo, I have a task for you."
Seeing the scene unfold, Chu Lian could already tell—the main storyline was back on track. Even though her interference had delayed things slightly, what was meant to happen would still happen.
Once serious matters were at hand, Albedo's demeanor shifted instantly back to that of a loyal subordinate. She smiled and said, "Please give your command, my lord."
"Inform all the floor guardians—except those on the fourth and eighth floors—to gather at the arena on the sixth floor. The meeting will begin in one hour."
Albedo bowed gracefully. "As you command." Then she turned and left the throne room to carry out her master's order.
Now only Momonga and Chu Lian remained. The air instantly grew awkward.
"Ahem..." Realizing the silence wasn't helping, Momonga cleared his throat. "Deloris, how does it feel... to have a real body? Or rather, what does it mean to you?"
"Brother, to me, being able to speak freely, express my thoughts, and truly feel emotions—it's wonderful beyond words. For me, it's no different from being granted life itself. And it's all thanks to you, brother. So whatever you do to me, it's only right." She looked up at him with a gentle, tender smile, her voice soft like sweet honey.
She'd learned such lines from Shiroha long ago. With just a few tweaks, they could melt even the coldest undead heart. Got you now, you silly skeleton, she thought, hiding her smirk behind her sweetness.
"Just that alone is enough to satisfy you? Truly, we only learn to cherish things after we lose them. Those who never had such things... can't begin to imagine how much they long for them." Perhaps Chu Lian's words had stirred up his memories—or maybe it was the emotional strain from everything that had just happened—but Momonga seemed uncharacteristically sentimental.
"Brother, you don't need to worry about Deloris," she said softly. "When I can share more of these sensations with you, you may listen to me then. For now, you have more important matters to attend to. As your maid, I am unqualified to accompany you—I'll remain here and await your command."
Chu Lian knew what was coming next. The gathering of the floor guardians was something she couldn't involve herself in yet, and she had no desire to meet those Heaven-tier beings so soon. Better to step back for now.
But the ever-dutiful, slightly sentimental Momonga—who had finally gotten the chance to have Deloris as his own—wanted to take this opportunity to introduce her to everyone officially.
He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Deloris, since we're all in an unfamiliar world now, and we'll be living together from here on, it's best for everyone to get to know each other. Don't you think? Besides, I want to take this chance to make you the Princess of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—second only to me."
"Brother, have you considered that this might be inappropriate?" Chu Lian protested gently. "Compared to the floor guardians, my strength is pitifully weak. Even the Pleiades battle maids could defeat me easily. With my current ability, how could I possibly hold such a title? Please, rescind this command."
But Momonga, resolute as ever, waved his hand. "I've made up my mind. Just follow me. My command is my will."
With no comrades left to share decisions with, he had already grown accustomed to leading alone. Once he'd set his heart on something, there was no changing his mind.
Seeing this, Chu Lian stopped resisting and bowed gracefully. "As you command, brother. Deloris thanks you for your trust and favor."
Inside, though, her thoughts were entirely different. Well, that's unexpected. He really does have a certain charm to him. Maybe I should consider making him one of my allies in the future.
Ah, the man sitting upon the throne—did he have any idea that the very girl he was trying so hard to help was already plotting to take his place... and maybe even make him her subordinate?
White on the outside, black within—so predictable. After all, all lolis are a little bit devious... especially the nine-tailed, fox-eared kind~