The adventurer party known as Blue Rose stood as one of the Kingdom's brightest hopes. Each member was a name spoken with respect—or envy—throughout Re-Estize, their fame second only to Adamantite-ranked legends like Darkness of Baharuth. United under their leader, Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, the noble-born swordswoman clad in enchanted armor, they carried themselves not only as adventurers but as protectors of the weak and champions of justice.
At her side were her trusted companions: Gagaran, the towering warrior whose crimson great-maul struck fear into any foe bold enough to face her head-on; Tia and Tina, the silent, masked assassins whose movements were as deadly as they were precise; and Evileye, the masked magic caster, shrouded in mystery and whispered to wield power rivaling the great mages of the age. Together, they embodied strength, unity, and an ideal the Kingdom clung to desperately in uncertain times.
To the people, they were heroes. To the nobles, they were a political weapon. But to Nazarick… Blue Rose was merely the next piece drawn into the web, their brilliance soon to be tested against a darkness far beyond their imagining.
//////
"Say, Lakyus… why did you even accept this quest? To hunt a vampire, of all things?"
The question came from Evileye, the red-coated, masked magic caster, her voice sharp yet edged with doubt as her gaze fell upon the blonde swordswoman leading the group.
Lakyus answered without hesitation, her tone steady though her eyes betrayed a sliver of concern.
"The Adventurer's Guild reported that the scouting party they dispatched never returned. Even the Raven Black Hero failed to respond to their summons. As the only Adamantite-ranked team currently available, the guild entrusted us with investigating the matter."
She placed a hand on her sword, her expression hardening.
"Whatever happened out there… it's serious enough that they called for us."
"Tch. Doesn't feel right," Evileye muttered, crossing her arms. "If even the Raven Black Hero didn't respond, then maybe this isn't just some random vampire."
Before the air could grow heavy, Gagaran let out a booming laugh, clapping her armored gauntlet against her hip.
"Oi, oi, don't go spooking yourself already, short-stuff. A vampire or two's nothing Blue Rose can't handle. We'll smash it to pieces like everything else."
Evileye turned her masked face toward her, clearly bristling. "Don't call me short-stuff—"
"Then stop acting like one," Gagaran retorted with a smirk, her easy confidence cutting through the tension.
Suddenly, two blonde twins in front of them raised their hands, halting the group. It was Tina and Tia, the assassins of Blue Rose—scouts well-versed in sensing danger before anyone else.
Their sudden stop made Lakyus tense. She tightened her grip on her sword, eyes narrowing.
"What is it? Did you sense something?" she asked.
Before either twin could answer, a thundering crash erupted just ahead, shaking the ground beneath their feet. The sound carried the weight of battle—steel and magic colliding.
"—A fight!" Gagaran shouted, already moving.
Without another word, the party broke into a sprint, rushing toward the source of the disturbance.
The party burst through the last of the trees—only to freeze at the edge of the treeline.
Before them loomed a horrifying sight: a skeletal titan, its towering frame crowned with three spectral wings sprouting from its back. In its hands, it held a colossal crimson blade that pulsed with a sinister glow.
They rushed through the forest, the sound of a thunderous crash still echoing in their ears. Just before the treeline broke, a sharp voice stopped them.
"Wait." Evileye's tone was cold, clipped, her crimson mask tilting slightly. "Don't move another step."
Lakyus turned, puzzled. "Evileye? What is it?"
"I can feel it…" Evileye's voice lowered, heavy with caution. "A pressure—thick killing intent. If we charge in carelessly, we'll all die before we even understand what struck us."
The group instinctively stilled, their breathing shallow.
Evileye continued, "Something up ahead… it's not human, not even close. Be ready."
With her warning, they crept forward carefully, and as the shadows thinned at the forest's edge, the sight before them made their blood run cold.
A skeletal titan towered in the clearing, its form radiating oppressive dread. Gripped in its bony hands was a crimson blade nearly a meter and a half long, its edge glinting like congealed blood.
The clash shook the air again—a white figure rushed towards the skeletal titan, lance poised to strike its towering form. But before the blow could land, the pale warrior froze mid-motion, suspended as if the strings of an unseen puppeteer held her aloft.
The figure was hurled skyward with brutal force. Blue Rose stood in stunned silence, confusion rippling through them. Only Evileye's sharp gaze caught the truth: the titan's hand was wreathed in an eerie, burning blue flame, raised as though it alone dictated the other's fate.
Compelled, Evileye instinctively extended her own arm, mimicking the motion. A flicker of azure fire sparked at her palm—only to sputter out at once. Gagaran's voice broke her focus.
"…Oi, what are you doing?" the warrior muttered, baffled.
Evileye didn't answer. Her attention snapped back to the titan—because it was looking at her.
A hollow gaze of burning sockets locked onto her masked form.
There was an old saying whispered from the days of her youth: stare into the abyss, and the abyss stares back.
And now the abyss had found her.
Cold dread seized her chest. Panic sharpened her voice. "Run. Run—now!"
The others stiffened. Lakyus turned, visibly unsettled. "What do you mean? Evileye, explain yourself!"
"We can't fight that thing!" Evileye snapped, her tone cracking. "If we stay here, we'll die!"
Gagaran scoffed, gripping her Warhammer tighter. "Tch, you're exaggerating. We've fought monsters that looked scarier than this."
"Don't compare it to a monster!" Evileye whirled on her. "That isn't some beast or undead—it's something else entirely! We are outmatched!"
"Then all the more reason to call for help!" Lakyus cut in, voice trembling but firm. "We retreat, regroup, and report. No rash charges!"
Tia and Tina exchanged a glance, daggers ready. "But if it notices us…" Tina muttered.
"It already has," Evileye whispered.
Silence fell. Their leader hesitated, eyes darting between her companions. At last, she gave a sharp nod. "Fine. We pull back"
They started to move—
The world blinked.
Reality warped around them.
Once again, they stood at the treeline as if nothing had changed. But Evileye's frantic trembling left no room for doubt.
With no hesitation, Lakyus barked her order. "Retreat! Back to the Guild—we report this immediately!"
But as they turned to move, reality blinked again.
And they were still there. At the same treeline. Staring at the titan.
/////
"Tch—what the hell is going on?! " Gagaran barked, panic sharpening her voice.
"Evileye, what's going on—" Lakyus demanded, gripping her sword tightly.
"I… I don't know," Evileye's voice wavered, her crimson eyes wide. "It's like… time and space itself are bending."
Before Lakyus could react, an invisible force gripped her body. Her muscles locked then she was flung forward, flying out of the treeline.
"LAKYUS!!" Blue Rose screamed in unison, their hands reaching out helplessly.
The air thickened with a strange, oppressive energy. The titan's left hand rose slowly, skeletal fingers curling as if gripping something unseen. From his hollow socket, a cold blue flame flared to life, casting ghostly light across the clearing. At once, Lakyus was wrenched from the ground, her body snapping upward as if caught by invisible chains. Her armor clattered under the sudden force, golden hair whipping wildly in the wind as she hung suspended in front of the titan.
"Heh… so you're the one in charge. bad news for you, lady—I don't do second chances. you're already caught… and I don't let go." the undead giant rumbled, its calm, echoing voice reverberating like rolling thunder.
Lakyus grit her teeth, her emerald eyes blazing with strain as she fought against the unseen power.
"Gh…! What… is this power—!?"
"Lakyus!!"
Gagaran roared. She charged forward, slamming her massive hammer into the Titan but it just dodges by sidestepping in to the side before kicking her.
Gagaran flew and hit the ground hard, she got up dust covered her crimson armor before shouting again toward the undead Titan
"Put her down, you bastard!"
The titan's head tilted, its lone blue flame flaring brighter in its socket. It made no move to release her.
"Wait!" a sharp, feminine voice cut through the tension. Evileye stepped into the open, her crimson cloak billowing, white pericline mask glinting faintly in the now morning sun. Her tone was sharp but lined with desperation. "Please—stop! We're not your enemies!"
The skeletal titan shifted its gaze toward her, eye blazing. "Funny," it muttered, voice low and heavy, "watching me from the shadows, waiting for me to slip… then pretending you're harmless? …you really think i'll buy that? … and now you wanna play innocent? sounds real suspicious to me."
From the treeline, two lithe figures emerged in perfect unison. The twins, Tia and Tina, moved like shadows, but the tension on their faces betrayed their unease.
"…If we were enemies," Tia said coldly, her green eyes narrowing, "we'd have struck with everything we had the moment we saw you. You know that."
Her sister followed, voice quieter but firm, her blonde hair brushing across her cheek as she stepped forward. "We're not spies. We're adventurers. Blue Rose. That's all."
"Damn it, she's telling the truth!" Gagaran growled, her muscles taut, sweat dripping down her brow. Her grip on her war hammer trembled—not with fear, but with frustration. "We came here on our own—we don't even know what the hell you are! Just let her go!"
Evileye raise her hand to show no threat to the looming titan. Though her pericline mask concealed her face, her voice carried a rare hint of vulnerability. "…She's our leader. If you kill her, there's no reason for us to go on. Please… we mean no harm to you."
The titan remained unmoving, its expression unreadable. The blue flame in its socket flickered once, then twice, as though weighing the words.
"no harm, huh?" it murmured, tilting its skull. "then why were you hidin' in the trees, watchin' me?"
The blonde woman struggled in the air, her body trembling under the unseen force.
Her teeth clenched as she spat, her voice strained but defiant:
"We won't… tell you anything. Especially not to a Monster'
The titan's head tilted slightly, the pale blue fire in its left socket narrowing. His free hand lifted lazily, and with a low hum of energy, something monstrous began to manifest.
"…heh. I don't mind if you wanna keep quiet. but the real question is… will they keep their tongues sealed if you die?"
A deafening growl filled the clearing as a skeletal maw tore itself into existence beside her—one of his strange constructs, brimming with lethal energy. Its jaw creaked open, a beam of blinding light gathering inside, aimed directly at Lakyus' head.
"WAIT!!"
The shout tore through the air. Evileye's masked voice cracked with panic, the calm façade she always carried breaking apart. Desperation colored every word, as though she was coughing up her last breath.
"We—we were tasked to investigate the missing adventurers! The ones sent to scout the vampire! That's all! Please, let her go!"
The titan's gaze shifted, the glow in his socket dimming just slightly. A low, hollow chuckle escaped him.
"huh. so you're not the group boss was hoping for… just a bunch of adventurers stumbling into the wrong place."
Gagaran cursed under her breath, fists tightening, while Tia and Tina froze, unsure if moving even an inch would doom their leader. The Gaster-Blaster's maw still hummed, ready to fire at a single thought.
Tina shaking, forcing herself to speak
"We—we're not enemies of your master! We don't even know who he is!"
The titan lowered his head slightly, his voice dropping to a bone-deep rumble that clawed at their nerves.
Sans: "…then answer me one thing."
The blaster's light swelled. Then he spoke his voice carried a cold tone.
"Are you the ones who used soul power on me?"
The question stunned the adventurers into silence. Evileye's breath caught. Lakyus' eyes widened. None of them understood what he meant.
"Huh…?"
//////
What…? Soul power? Who could have used it? How? None of them display a visible soul, no medium to act through. If Sans truly detected soul power directed at him, then… there is only one possibility. Players. Only players possess the means to conceal—or reveal—their souls at will.
Should I mobilize the Guardians to assist Sans? …No. He still carries the Prismatic Mantle. The last function of that artifact is the ability to "save and load" mana points—an ability with a month-long cooldown. With that, even against Players, Sans won't fall so easily. Still… I must prepare contingency plans, in case the situation escalates.
A rescue operation… yes, I should outline one now. If Sans handles this correctly, Nazarick need only step in for the aftermath—whether to eliminate hostile forces, or to extend an invitation if they are not enemies. The latter may even serve our long-term objectives better.
But… adventurers? Nabe reported the Guild had been searching for Momon, and failing that, sent an adamantite party instead. …Wait. Could it be… these very adventurers?
Ainz's thoughts were suddenly broken by the soft sound of a voice. When he looked up, he found Albedo leaning forward across his desk, her face mere inches from his own. Her golden eyes shimmered with adoration, her hands resting against the polished surface as she used it for support.
"Ainz-sama… is something troubling you?" she asked, her tone sweet, yet probing. Her fragrance filled the air, clinging to his senses, threatening to unsettle his calm. For a brief moment, his mind scrambled—not with tactics, but with the simple fact of her closeness.
Then, as if sensing his unease, a soft green radiance washed over him. The magical glow dulled his rising agitation, steadying his thoughts. Only then did he speak, his hollow voice carrying authority.
"First… Albedo. Why are you so close to me?"
At once, the Overseer drew herself back with graceful composure, moving to stand at his side with a slight bow, as though her earlier act had been nothing but natural devotion.
Only then did Ainz realize the others were present. All of Nazarick's Guardians stood silently in the chamber, their eyes fixed upon him, awaiting his command.
"We were merely awaiting your word, Ainz-sama," Albedo explained, her tone smooth but carrying a faint edge of anticipation. "What shall be done with the pests that dared spy upon the battle between Lord Sans and Shalltear?"
Ainz fell silent for a moment, the weight of their gazes pressing down upon him. He thought quickly, carefully balancing the possibilities before giving his decision.
"…Do nothing, for now," the Overlord declared at last, his voice steady, absolute. "However—be ready to depart at once. If the situation grows dangerous enough that even Sans cannot manage it, Nazarick shall intervene."
The chamber fell silent again, but this time it was the silence of absolute obedience.
//////
"Soul power?" Evileye whispered under her breath, the words slipping out before she could stop them. Her crimson eyes flicked toward the titan—toward Lakyus, who still hung helplessly in the air, bound by that alien force.
Then, like the snap of a chain, the realization struck her. That strange energy… that was what it was called—soul power. She had tried, just once, to pry into the titan's essence, to test her theory with her own magic. And he had noticed.
Her stomach dropped.
I… I caused this. Because of my curiosity, because I wanted to see what that power was… I've doomed us all.
The weight of her mistake pressed down harder than the dread in the air.
The battlefield was silent, save for the sound of armored plates rattling faintly against the tension that held Lakyus aloft. Then—without warning—the oppressive blue light dimmed. Sans lowered his hand, and Lakyus fell to the ground, released.
But there was no relief.
The towering undead began to walk forward, each step echoing like a funeral bell across the scarred earth. His gaze—empty sockets glowing faintly with that ghostly blue—was fixed entirely on Evileye.
She hadn't even noticed his approach until his shadow fell over her. Slowly, she raised her head, only to find the titan standing before her, looming, staring down.
The silence between them stretched, heavy, suffocating.
"…So you're the one I want to talk to, huh."
His voice was calm. Too calm. That tone sent more dread through her than if he had roared.
"so, tell me how did you use soul power without a soul"
Strangely enough Evileye was calm, too calm even with death just before her she could not control her curiosity,
"without a soul?... But everyone has one… right?
The titan's blazing eyes dimmed slightly, the oppressive weight in the air easing. For the first time, his towering frame seemed less like a monster of wrath and more like a judge, measuring the worth of the one before him.
"…Heh," the titan rumbled, his voice low, steady—no longer sharpened by anger. "Didn't think you'd even ask that. Most folks just run… or scream. But you? You're curious."
The ground trembled softly as he lowered his hand, the invisible pressure loosening its grip on the adventurers. His skull tilted, as if in thought, before the calm voice continued, almost conversational now.
"Heh… guess I gotta spell it out for ya, huh?"
Sans leaned back, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other lazily pointing a bony finger toward his chest. His grin didn't falter, but the air around him grew heavier, like he was about to peel back a truth most folks weren't meant to hear.
"First off, there's the soul—the thing everyone's got, no exceptions. It's the core of who you are. Call it your heart, your will, your determination—whatever floats your boat. It's the reason you move, laugh, cry, or fight. It's fragile, though. Break it, and that's it—game over. Doesn't matter how tough your body is, if the soul's gone, you're gone."
His glowing eye flickered to life for a second, bathing the ground in an eerie blue.
"Then… there's the other kind of Soul—capital 'S,' the one that doesn't just sit there. That's the power some folks can tap into. A force that twists what the soul is into something it can do. It ain't about swinging swords or chanting spells—it's deeper. It means grabbing onto the strings that make people tick, yanking at their instincts, their emotions, their very existence. And if you're real good—or real cruel—you can use it to bend someone without laying a finger on 'em."
He pulled his hand from his pocket, curling it into a fist before opening it again, as though gripping something invisible.
"Blue, red, green, orange… colors, rules, bindings. That's Soul power. It ain't just hitting your enemy—it's rewriting how they move. Imagine if every step, every breath you take, suddenly ain't yours anymore. That's the difference. Normal soul? It's who you are. Soul power? It's who controls you."
For a moment, his grin seemed to falter, his eye dimming before flaring again.
"And trust me… once you've seen enough of it, you start to realize—messing with a soul directly? That's one of the cruelest things anyone can do. Heh… but, hey, guess you already got a taste of that, huh?"
He tilted his head, grin widening, as though daring them to argue.
Evileye's eyes widened behind her crimson mask. That word—soul power.
It echoed in her mind like a curse from another age.
No… it can't be. That's… Wild Magic…
Her heart pounded, and for the first time in decades, genuine fear threatened to overwhelm her calm. She had read of it only in ancient tomes buried beneath ruins, scraps of knowledge pieced together from an era long before Tier Magic ruled the world. Magic that fed not on mana, but on the essence of life itself. Souls.
Impossible. No one uses Wild Magic anymore. It was said to have been lost… erased from the world. Only dragons, perhaps, or things even older, could still hold such knowledge.
Her gaze darted to the titan's glowing sockets. The power in them was unmistakable now that she had a name for it. She had tried to probe him earlier, to test with her own magic… and he felt it. That alone confirmed what she dreaded—he was no ordinary undead.
If that thing is truly wielding soul power… then every rule I know about magic, every defense, every countermeasure—it means nothing. We're insects before him…
Her body went cold. She realized with horrifying clarity that her own curiosity had damned them. By reaching out recklessly, she had revealed herself to him. It was her fault Lakyus had been caught, her fault their party was staring down death.
And yet… another part of her whispered.
This is knowledge no one else has seen in centuries. If I can survive this encounter, if I can learn even a fraction of what this being is… it could change everything.
"So how did you use it without a soul?"
The titan's heavy voice cut into the silence, dragging Evileye back from her spiraling thoughts. She clenched her fists, then answered, her voice low but steady:
"…It's because I have a talent. I can copy and learn any magic I see."
For a moment, the titan's glowing eyes narrowed, as though weighing her words. Then, to her surprise, his skull tilted slightly—amusement.
"Hm. That's one nasty trick you've got there…" he muttered, the tone strange, almost approving. His gaze lingered on her like a predator sizing up prey, then drifted off, thoughtful.
Boss might want this one… he mused. Someone who can steal magic just by seeing it? That's dangerous… but maybe useful.
Finally, he spoke aloud, his tone calm yet commanding:
"…Hmmm. I might need to take you to my boss. He'll know what to do with you."
The titan's casual tone only deepened the unease. Then, without warning, his glowing eyes turned skyward. Slowly, his head tilted up, as though sensing something no one else could see.
The adventurers followed his gaze nervously but saw nothing—only the morning sky looming above.
//////
If she saw my spells… would she gain them? Could she mimic the magic of a World Item? Impossible… no, perhaps not impossible. Such a power… far too dangerous to leave outside Nazarick's grasp. Should I recruit her? Contain her? Or erase her entirely…?
Ainz's empty sockets shifted, his inner thoughts racing. The implications of Evileye's ability were a storm in his mind—threat and opportunity intertwined. Then, from the corner of his vision, he noticed Sans. The skeletal Guardian was watching him, silent but deliberate, as if awaiting permission. The intent was clear: Sans sought approval to extend an invitation to Blue Rose.
Ainz straightened ever so slightly, his supreme air never faltering. Raising a hand to his head, he cast silently.
[Message]: "…Sans, handle it as you see fit. You have my full support, so long as your decision does not endanger Nazarick… or yourself."
His words carried calm authority, yet in his heart he was already preparing contingencies.
//////
The titan tilted his skull slightly, sockets dim, then brighter, as though weighing something. A beat of silence stretched, the air heavy enough to crush words in their throats. Finally, he spoke—calm, almost casual, but with a weight that made every syllable hit like a hammer.
"Boss heard what you can do." His hollow gaze settled on Evileye, then swept across the whole group. "copyin' magic… learnin' just by watchin'... that's not somethin' you see every day. not somethin' you just let walk away, either."
The Gaster-Blaster at his side faded into motes of blue light, the tension easing but not vanishing.
"So, here's the deal." His tone hardened, no trace of a joke. "You come meet him. my boss. he decides if you walk out free… or if you don't walk out at all."
He let the words hang, then shrugged, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
"ain't a threat. call it… an invitation with teeth."
Hearing what the titan said they had no choice to follow, they can plead to the master of this titan and can walk away alive or be killed for not complying
♦ ♦ ♦
Within the grand Throne Room, the air was thick with reverence and unease. The Guardians stood in perfect formation, their gazes fixed upon the obsidian throne that loomed like a monument of authority. Upon that dark seat rested the Overlord himself, his empty sockets gleaming with a cold, commanding light.
Before him, the smiling skeleton knelt upon one knee—calm, unshaken, as if the presence of absolute power weighed nothing upon him. He was the one entrusted with the subjugation of Shalltear, and he had returned in triumph.
"...Sans," the Overlord's voice resounded, deep and absolute, filling the chamber like the toll of a great bell. "You have served me well in the task I entrusted to you. As a reward... I shall grant you one thing you desire."
The skeleton remained silent for a moment, head tilted down as if in thought. Then he raised his skull slightly, his grin never faltering.
"heh... y'know, boss, i don't really need anything." His tone was casual, yet steady. Then, softer: "...but the kids might need somethin'."
The Overlord leaned back slightly, his crimson light flaring within his sockets as he analyzed those words. His mind drifted briefly, recalling the experiment Sans had once spoken of—the strange matter of souls and vessels, of a request for bodies without spirits to house them. The implications stirred quietly within the great ruler's thoughts;
In the office, silence hung heavy, broken only by the faint clink of porcelain as the Overlord lifted his teacup. Though he no longer required sustenance, he had begun experimenting with food and drink—breaking them down, tracing their conversion into mana. For now, only tea passed the trial. Other foods still contained unknown variables, dangerous to consume until fully studied.
Across from him, Sans shifted into his NO MERCY form. The change in appearance did not stir Ainz as much as one detail that was missing. The dragon skull crown that usually loomed above the skeleton was gone.
Without lowering his cup, Ainz's crimson orbs fixed upon the empty space. His voice came calm, deliberate:
"...Sans. What happened to your crown?"
The skeleton tilted his head, followed the gaze upward, then scratched idly at his hood.
"Hmm? Oh, that. Right. Boss, remember what I told you? About the souls—how they're not just energy, but sentient. How me and them… share memories, like we've known each other for years, even if back then we were nothing but code?"
Ainz lowered the cup slightly. "Yes. You told me once… they were the souls of children."
Sans' grin thinned, though his tone stayed casual. "And remember how I asked for a body without a soul? Like the maids that clean?"
The Overlord's bony fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. "Indeed. You requested a homunculus. I informed you that, without the NPC creation system, I could only fashion a shell—an artificial body inferior even to Nazarick's average combat maid."
Sans nodded. "Right. And then I asked Dr. Alphys to handle the next step. To put the soul inside the body."
Ainz froze, then leaned forward slightly. "...Wait."
"It worked, Boss." The skeleton's sockets narrowed, his voice carrying the faintest edge. "The transfer was a success. But the kids… they don't remember me. Still, our souls are connected."
The Overlord's glowing eyes narrowed. "What of the Red Soul?"
Sans glanced down at his hand, clenched once, then let it fall slack. "It merged with mine. Half of it, anyway. The other half stayed with them."
Ainz's thoughts whirled like a storm.
A child… carrying the power of the Red Soul, yet stripped of memory. If this is true, the implications… I must see this myself.
His voice cut clean through the air. "Where are they?"
"They're still asleep. Dr. Alphys is keeping watch. She figures they'll wake up soon—maybe after all this mess with Shalltear is settled."
Ainz rested his teacup back onto its saucer, his tone grave but steady.
"Report to me immediately once they awaken. No delays, Sans."
Sans gave a single, quiet nod.
\\\
"Are they awake now?"
Sans' grin tilted slightly as his single glowing eye flickered.
"yeah… somehow, i can feel it. they're awake."
Ainz leaned forward upon his throne, the crimson glow within his sockets sharpening.
"Summon them here. I would like to meet them."
"got it." With that, Sans vanished in an instant, his form dissolving into the ether as he teleported back to the Underground.
Silence lingered in the Throne Room, the echo of his departure fading into the vaulted chamber. The Guardians exchanged glances—puzzled, wary, yet disciplined enough to hold their tongues. The air itself seemed to tighten with the weight of unspoken questions.
Finally, Demiurge stepped forward. He bowed low, his tail curling behind him, his sharp smile hidden beneath a mask of respect.
"Ainz-sama, if I may…" His golden eyes gleamed with curiosity. "…whom do you wish to greet?"
/////
Snowdin was filled with laughter as the children played in the snow.
"Catch me if you can!" one of the children shouted.
"We'll see about that!" Tina and Tia cried in unison, chasing after them, letting the kids' sticks and snowballs "defeat" them with dramatic falls.
"Haha! You think you can topple the mighty Gagaran?!" she roared, stomping through the snow with two children riding her shoulders. More kids rushed her, piling on until she finally fell back into the snow. "Argh! I'm defeated!" she laughed as the children cheered.
Lakyus smiled gently, kneeling beside a girl shaping snow into a crystal. "Like this—press the edges smooth. That's it… beautiful work."
Evileye folded her arms, pretending to scoff as a snowball hit her mask. "Tch. Bold of you." She flicked her hand, sending a spray of snowflakes back, making the children squeal with laughter.
For a while, Blue Rose were not adventurers, but just people—playing alongside children.
Then the sound of soft, heavy steps crunched through the snow. The laughter quieted as the children turned. At the edge of the clearing stood Sans, hands in his pockets, his faint grin visible under the glow of his eye flame.
"…heh. looks like you guys are havin' fun," the skeleton said, his grin as lazy as ever.
All the children turned at once, eyes lighting up before they sprinted toward him.
"""SANS!!!"""
He bent slightly as the kids crowded around him.
"heya, kiddos. havin' fun? they're not messin' with you, right?"
One of the children shook his head quickly.
"No! They're fun to play with!"
Another pumped his fist proudly.
"Yeah! We defeated the monsters!"
Sans chuckled, his gaze drifting past the kids to the adventurers.
"heh. looks like you guys found yourselves some new sparring partners."
He reached down, ruffling the nearest child's head before straightening up.
"it's gettin' late, kiddos. better head home before your folks start worryin'."
"Aww, bye, dudes!"
"Byyyeee!!!"
"See ya!"
The little monsters waved enthusiastically before scampering off through the snow, their laughter fading into the distance. Soon, the clearing was quiet again—leaving only Sans and Blue Rose standing in the heart of Snowdin.
His gaze lingered on them—unreadable, heavy despite the lazy tone of his voice.
"...didn't know you liked monsters. usually, humans kill the first monster they see."
Lakyus stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.
"Children should never bear the stigma of racism—monster or not."
Sans let out a low chuckle, though his eye-flame flickered faintly.
"listen, lady. monsters down here ain't like the mindless beasts you fight outside. sure, we're labeled 'monsters,' but... we're no different from humans."
Before Blue Rose could reply, a scream tore through the quiet. Sans froze, then bolted, his steps crunching hard into the snow. He slammed his own door open, his left eye blazing with a violent blue flame.
BAM!
"PAP!? KIDS!? YOU OK?!"
Inside, a tall skeleton lay sprawled on the ground—headless. Rage bubbled in Sans' chest as he dropped to his knees.
"W-WHO—?!"
"BROTHER!" a voice shouted. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING BREAKING OUR DOOR OPEN LIKE THAT!? NOW THE SNOW'S GETTIN' IN!"
Sans looked up sharply. Papyrus's head was being held casually in the hands of a child in a blue sweater.
"Pap...? PAP!!" Sans staggered toward him, then froze, his look at the child.
"...kid, why are you holdin' pap's head?"
The child didn't answer—only turned their gaze toward the kitchen. Sans followed it, hearing muffled voices.
"n-no, p-please. y-you need to go down—it's dangerous—" Dr. Alphys pleaded, her voice cracking.
"NO! I am a Guardian!" another child's voice barked back, shrill with defiance. "I'll protect this floor with my life! You won't take me anywhere!"
Sans stepped into the kitchen with.
"...alph? what game are we playin' here?"
Alphys whipped around, nearly dropping her clipboard.
"s-sans! help! th-they won't go down!"
A child in a green sweater, standing atop the counter, gripped a kitchen knife tightly. When they spotted Sans, they leapt down, approaching him with eyes that burned too sharply for their age.
Sans raised a hand slightly.
"sup, kiddo. mind droppin' that knife? wouldn't want you cuttin' yourself."
But the child leveled the blade at him.
"...you."
"w-wait!" Alphys cried, panicked. "d-don't! you'll g-get hurt!"
The green-sweatered child ignored her, their glare fixed solely on Sans.
"I don't know you... but I can feel it. You know me. You know us."
Sans stiffened. He followed their gaze and saw the other child—the one in the blue sweater—standing quietly at the doorway, with Blue Rose now behind them, equally stunned.
The green-sweatered one spoke again, sharper.
"Speak."
Lakyus stepped forward, her hand out.
"Little one, put the knife down—it's dangerous."
But Sans raised his arm, stopping her. His tone shifted—quiet, heavy.
"...yeah. I know the two of you."
The blue-sweatered child straightened at his words, while the green one's eyes widened. Papyrus, still being carried like a trophy, asked in confusion:
"BROTHER, YOU KNOW THEM?!"
Sans nodded slowly. His gaze drifted first to the quiet one.
"yeah. your name's frisk."
Then to the other, his voice dropping low.
"...and yours is chara."
Chara's grip on the knife loosened, lowering it to their side.
"...then what are we to you?"
Sans tilted his head, thrown by the question.
"huh?"
Chara's voice trembled, but their stare didn't waver.
"I can feel something from you... like we're connected. All three of us. Me, them..." they glanced at Frisk, "...and you."
Sans' grin faltered. He exhaled slowly.
"...i'll tell you later. for now—boss wants to see the two of you."
Blue Rose tensed instantly. Lakyus stepped in front of the children, her hand in the hilt of her sword.
"Why would you take these children to your master?!"
Sans' tone grew sharper, more commanding.
"listen, lady. they may look human... but they ain't the same as you. and i don't got time to explain."
He snapped his bony fingers. In an instant, Frisk and Chara vanished, their forms whisked away by teleportation.
"...we'll leave it at that."
And just as quickly, Sans was gone.
Papyrus' voice rang out as he fixed his head back onto his body.
"SO! HUMANS! SEEING AS YOU KNOW MY BROTHER, AND HAVE SUCH FASHION SENCE…. THAT MAKES YOU OUR GUESTS! WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY SOME OF MY LEGENDARY, HOME-COOKED SPAGHETTI?!"