Almost the instant she arrived, another ID"Aqua"burst into the feed with noisy enthusiasm that clashed hilariously with Albedo's silence.
Aqua: "Hey, hey, hey! What is this place?"
Aqua: "Which idiot dared to disturb this goddess's nap with some weird trick?!"
Aqua: "Get out here and explain yourselves to this goddess! (bangs table angrily.jpg)"
Chapter 1,019: Aqua's Yapping and Alicia Deed Done...
Aqua: "Hmph! Whoever you are, if you can reach this goddess, you've got some skill!"
Aqua: "But playing spooky tricks in front of this goddess won't work!"
Aqua: "Show yourself, mastermind! (hands-on-hips, smug.jpg)"
Aqua: "Ahhh~ Don't tell me you're stunned by this goddess's unmatched beauty and wisdom?"
Aqua: "As expected, this goddess is just that perfect! (self-admiring.jpg)"
Albedo watched in silence, a barely noticeable trace of mockery flashing through her violet eyes.
A water goddess?
Something this noisy and shallow worthy of being called a god?
She kept quiet, like a spider lurking in shadow, patiently weaving a web of informationlistening to every speaker's tone and word choice, trying to infer their personalities, strength, and standing within the group.
At that moment, several long-time online members were drawn by the newcomers' commotion.
Erica: "Oh? New people again? Welcome, welcomeI'm Erica Blandelli."
Erica was, as always, cautiousnoble in manners, tinged with curiosity. She would never be as rude, impulsive, and reckless as Aqua.
Fubuki: "Welcome, both of you."
Shiba Miyuki: "Welcome to the chat, Aqua-san and Albedo-san. I'm Shiba Miyuki."
Frieren: "A water goddess? Sounds impressive. (curious-look.jpg)"
Having learned that "gods" differ in definition and power across worlds, Frieren was, unsurprisingly, curious what sort of water goddess Aqua might be.
Bibi Dong: "A goddess? I wonder how strong she really is."
Spurred on by the welcomes and questions, the water goddess grew even more animated.
Aqua: "Hahaha! That's right! I am the goddess who governs waterbeauty and wisdom in onewho guides the dead young souls to other worlds: the super beautiful and brilliant Goddess Aqua!"
Aqua: "To bask in this goddess's radiance is your good fortune! (nostrils-to-the-sky.jpg)"
"Heh."
Albedo's mask-perfect face remained unreadable, but her assessment of this "goddess" dropped another notch. So gaudy, so shallowworlds apart from the Supreme Beings.
By contrast with the lively fuss Aqua was kicking up in the chat, things were quiet on Rei Ao's side.
Dawn light filtered through the gauze curtains, edging the room in a hazy gold.
"Mm"
Alicia's lashes fluttered as she slowly woke. Before she even opened her eyes, the lingering ache in her body brought everything back.
She realized she was curled in a warm, solid embrace. Rei Ao's even breathing brushed the crown of her head. Everything from last nightthe shyness and fluster, and later that indescribable thrillsurged back like a tide.
"Mm"
A tiny whimper escaped her lips. Her cheeks, ears, even the pale line of her neck flushed a vivid red. Instinctively she tried to slip free of the arms that sent her heartbeat racing, but the arm around her waist tightened a little.
"Awake?"
His voice, lazy and a touch husky with morning, rumbled above her.
Alicia's body went rigid. She wanted to bury herself under the covers, but knew there was no escape. "Mm" she breathed, barely more than a mosquito's hum.
Rei Ao chuckled, a faint vibration running through his chest. He lowered his head, letting his chin brush her soft hair.
"Hiding? Now you're shy? You were very"
"Don't say it!"
Alicia jerked up and reached to cover his mouthonly for her courage to melt the instant she met his deep, smiling eyes. Her hand stalled in midair, her blush deepening.
Rei Ao caught her slender wrist and pressed a light kiss to her fingertips. Startled, Alicia tried to pull back like a frightened bunny, but he held her gently, firmly.
"My Aliciaadorable."
His gaze, full of open admiration and fondness, lingered on her flushed cheeks.
"How do you feel? Anywhere uncomfortable?"
The straightforward question made Alicia wish the floor would swallow her. She lowered her lashes; they trembled like butterfly wings. "II'm fine"
"Yeah?"
He leaned in, wickedly playful, warm breath brushing her sensitive ear.
"Sounds like I didn't try hard enough."
"Rei Ao-sama!"
Alicia was so mortified she was on the verge of tears. Her eyes glossed with moisture as she glared at him in a mix of shame and angermore pout than fury.
Seeing she was truly at her limit, Rei Ao relented. He let go of her hand and cradled her face instead, his thumbs gently stroking her burning cheeks as his eyes turned earnest.
"Alright, I'll stop teasing."
"Alicia. Look at me."
She obeyed, lifting her eyes to meet his. The warmth and gravity there steadied her racing heart.
"Since you chose meentrusted me with your most precious self," Rei Ao said, voice low and sure, "I promise you this: I'll treat you sincerely, protect you as I do Yukino and everyone I hold dear. I will not betray your trust or your feelings."
It wasn't a flowery oath, but each word landed in Alicia's heart with heavy, reassuring weight. In his eyes she saw a clear reflection of herself. Her unease and shyness ebbed, replaced by a great tide of warmth and peace. Her eyes pricked with heat.
She nodded hard and nestled into his arms of her own accord, cheek pressed to his warm chest. Listening to the steady drum of his heartbeat, she felt a security and happiness she'd never known.
"MmI trust you, Rei Ao-sama," she whispered, her voice soft with reliance and complete devotion. "My heart already belongs to you."
Otherwise she would never have yielded so completely.
The two of them held each other in quiet for a time, savoring the tenderness of the morning.
Nearby, Yukino and the otherspretending to be asleepwore the faintest smiles at the corners of their lips.
~~~
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Chapter 1,020: World-Class Item is in Used?
Alicia seemed to remember something. She shifted lightly in Rei Ao's arms, lifted her face, and her eyes held a trace of longing and hope.
"Rei Ao-sama"
"Hm?"
"II'm a little homesick."
She spoke softly, fingers unconsciously twisting the edge of the quilt.
Rei Ao's gaze gentled. He stroked her hair. "Want to go back for a visit?"
"Can we?"
Expectant light bloomed in Alicia's eyes.
"Of course," he agreed without hesitation. "I haven't seen that hard-headed girl Sui in ages either. Perfect chance to check if she's improved. Once I wrap things up here, I'll take you back."
"Wonderful! Thank you, Rei Ao-sama!"
Overjoyed, Alicia looped her arms around his neck and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, then blushed at her own boldness and buried her burning face against his shoulder.
Her pure yet daring gesture delighted him, and he laughed aloud. He was about to say more when a peculiar ripple echoed through his mindthe chat group's chime for new members joining.
With a thought, a translucent screen unfolded in his consciousness.
Sensing something too, Alicia blinked curiously but didn't interrupt.
Sure enough, the interface showed new arrivals.
"Aqua, Albedo"
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow. Those two? Now that's a curious pairing.
The group was already buzzing over the newcomers. Seeing Aqua's familiar crash-landing, self-own style of entrance, a playful smile tugged at Rei Ao's lips. He willed it, and the group owner badge lit up beside his name.
Rei Ao: "Welcome, both. @Aqua, @Albedo. I'm the owner of this groupRei Ao."
He continued, stating the chat's core premise outright.
Rei Ao: "To be clear: this Trading Chat Group links many different worlds. Every member hereAqua and Albedo includedcomes from an independent, distinct world."
Right after the message went out, Aqua's response was, surprisingly, lightning fast.
Aqua: "Different worlds? I see!"
Aqua: "No wonder even using my divine-realm permissions I couldn't dig up a thing on this busted group. I thought some shady evil god was behind it! This explains everything! Hmph~"
She said it as casually as remarking, "Nice weather today."
Erica Blandelli: "Huh? That's it? Just like that?"
Fubuki: "Unexpectedly calm."
Shiba Miyuki: "This goddess's ability to accept things is quite extraordinary."
Akame: "She seems to already know that other worlds exist."
Frieren: "It is rather odd."
Facing everyone's surprise, Aqua sent over a smug sticker practically (in her mind) radiating holy light.
Aqua: "Hmph hmph hmph~ What's so surprising?"
Aqua: "You mortals just don't get out much! (head-bob.gif)"
Aqua: "This goddess is the all-capable, super-excellent Water Goddess Aqua!"
Aqua: "Guiding souls to reincarnate in other worlds is part of my daily routine."
Aqua: "Linking different worlds? Child's play for this goddessperfectly natural."
Aqua: "As for you lotbeing able to join a cross-world chat group means your luck's pretty good!"
Aqua: "Clearly you're under the blessing of my radiance! (starts shamelessly talking herself up)"
Aqua: "Wahaha! This goddess really is everyone's favorite!"
Watching her act like she'd seen through everything and used it as an excuse to brag, the chat filled with ellipses and reaction stickers.
Leaning on Rei Ao's shoulder, Alicia read the feed on the screen and couldn't help a hand-covered chuckle. "This goddess is quite something."
Rei Ao's mouth twitched. Even through the chat he could picture the "wisdom goddess's" gloriously foolish face. And, well, the group really did seem taken in by her bluster.
An odd hush fell over the chat.
Through it all, Albedo kept a flawless silence. Yet in the Throne Room of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, gazing at the strange interface in her mind, her luscious red lips pressed together
Different worlds beyond Nazarick, beyond even the existence defined by the Supreme Beings?
An unprecedented urge to investigateand a secret, nameless longingquietly sprouted in her newborn heart.
Being a subordinate was a game setting. But now, she had a self. Albedo was beginning to drift from her parameters.
The Tomb lay deathly still. Albedo withdrew from the chat in curiosity. She walked the Ninth Floor's Throne Room; the click of her heels echoed through the empty hall, making the silence feel even lonelier.
She'd lost count of how many times she'd patrolled the Tomb. From the graveyard above to the deepest underground palace, every inch remained in perfect orderyet shrouded in a bizarre stasis.
Every servant, guard, even the floor guardians were frozen as if time had been stopped.
Demiurge stood in the library, finger forever poised on the edge of turning the next page. Cocytus held a sword form in the training grounds, muscles taut yet lifeless. Even Shalltear, usually the noisiest, was fixed like a fine statue in a momentary backward glance and smile.
"What is going on?"
Albedo's whisper was swallowed by the quiet almost at once.
She had tried everything to wake themmagic, physical contact, even invoking the overseer's authority to issue compulsory commandsall to no effect.
The entire Nazarick was like an insect sealed in amber: perfect, yet devoid of life.
Worse, she discovered she could not leave the Tomb. Every portal and passage to the outside was sealed by some invisible force.
"Did something happen to Nazarick after the Supreme Beings left? An attack?"
She considered it, then dismissed the idea. There were no signs of battle; the defenses were intact. How could an intruder freeze the entire Tomb without triggering a single alarm?
It seemed only a World-Class Item could do such a thing!
Chapter 1,021: Albedo Gains Consciousness?
Just as Albedo stood before Sebas's statue, lost in thought, she noticed someone @-mention her in the chat.
Misaka Mikoto: "@Albedo Newbie, you there? Haven't seen you say anything."
Albedo hesitated, then decided to reply. Maybe this mysterious chat group had something to do with Nazarick's current state?
Albedo: "I'm here. In truth, I'm facing a troublesome situation."
She briefly described the abnormal stillness around her, but carefully left out specifics like the Great Tomb of Nazarick. She had no intention of revealing too much about the Tomb; sharing the current state was only to test the waters.
Misaka Mikoto: "Everyone's frozen? Sounds like a time-stop ability. Do you have that kind of magic in your world?"
Albedo: "There are time-related spells, but their range is usually limited, and they don't last this long."
A stasis covering the whole of Nazarick was beyond anything she knew.
Just as she was about to ask further, Rei Ao @-mentioned her.
Rei Ao: "@Albedo, pardon the bluntnessare you a chaste succubus?"
The question stunned Albedo, and the chat blew up at once.
Misaka Mikoto: "??? Succubus? Chaste? Do those even go together?"
Ai Hayasaka: "What kind of weird setting is that? Aren't succubi you know?"
Frieren: "Succubi might have different traits in different worlds, probably."
Marcille: "Uh succubus, as in what I'm thinking?"
Albedo frowned slightly. How did this "Rei Ao" know her raceand that she was kept pure? After a brief silence, she decided to probe.
Albedo: "Yes. When I was created, my creatorthe Supreme Beingkept me pure. But how do you know this?"
Rei Ao: "Because I know your origin, Albedo."
Stella: "Spill it!"
Shinoa Hiiragi: "Heh, time for another info drop."
Rei Ao: "You come from a game called YGGDRASIL. You're one of its NPCsmore precisely, the Overseer of the Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick."
Game?
NPC?
The words were both alien and strangely familiar, striking a chord in Albedo.
Misaka Mikoto: "Wait, wait! An NPC from a game?"
Misaka Mikoto: "You mean something made of code and data? How can that have self-awareness and join a chat group?"
Ai Hayasaka: "Creepy thoughtif Albedo's a game character, what does that make us? Are we game characters too?"
Tohru: "Don't overthink it."
Frieren: "Forms of existence may differ across worlds."
Frieren: "In my experience, special constructs gaining consciousness isn't impossible."
Albedo: "Please explainwhat is a game? What is an NPC?"
For a while, the members all chimed in, explaining those concepts from every angle.
As understanding sank in, Albedo's face grew paler and paler. If their explanations were true, then everything she knewthe Great Tomb of Nazarick, the Supreme Beings, even the meaning of her own existencewas nothing but a virtual construct?
