"Too noisy!"
"To be so disrespectful in front of the three Supreme Rulers."
"Shalltear, Aura, the three lords are watching us."
A massive blue insectoid creature, its entire body encased in carapace armor and bearing four arms, strode in from the edge of the arena.
"He's Cocytus, the guardian of the Fifth Floor."
Naohara's voice echoed in Momonga's and Herohero's minds as he explained.
As an NPC created by the Warrior Takemikazuchi, Cocytus had been imbued with an intense warrior spirit from the moment of his creation. Because of that, he found Shalltear and Aura's loud quarrel deeply distasteful.
"She's the one who provoked me first, that shorty!"
"I was only stating the facts."
"Um, everyone, please calm down."
Shalltear and Aura glared fiercely at each other, while Mare stood at the side, repeatedly trying to mediate.
"If neither of you is willing to stop, then allow me to be your opponent!"
Watching the two continue to argue, Cocytus swung his massive battle axe and smashed it into the ground. The tremendous force split the arena floor with deep cracks. From the tip of the axe, waves of cold spread outward, and in the blink of an eye, frost crept across the ground as ice began to form.
"That's enough!"
"Stop it!"
"Both of you, cease this immediately!"
Seeing the situation spiral out of control, the three who had been watching from their seats finally spoke up to put a stop to it.
"Yes, Supreme Rulers ×3."
The three immediately restrained themselves and apologized toward the seats.
"Aura, as the older sister, don't put your younger brother in a difficult position. Playfulness has its limits."
Naohara spoke to the dark elf siblings with a warning tone.
"I sincerely apologize, Father-sama."
Aura straightened up at once and bowed deeply in Naohara's direction.
Meanwhile, Momonga turned his gaze toward the insectoid warrior standing respectfully nearby.
"You handled it well, Cocytus. But next time, don't act so impulsively. If we don't object, it means we're allowing it."
Momonga praised him first, then reminded him to pay closer attention in the future. The argument between Shalltear and Aura had been tacitly permitted by the three of them, so he shouldn't rush in without thinking again.
A textbook case of a slap followed by a sweet date.
"Yes, Momonga-sama. I will be more mindful."
"Mm. You've done well."
Herohero, seated nearby, quietly watched his two friends lecture the NPC, with no intention of joining in. After all, with Naohara and Momonga, who had crossed over together with him, he could chat and joke freely.
But toward these NPCs, he didn't feel the same way. At most, he would go along with his friends for a brief reprimand before leaning back in his chair again to continue watching the show.
Seeing that the Supreme Ruler Herohero had nothing to say, Cocytus could only bow deeply to him in respect.
Herohero responded with a slight nod.
"My sincere apologies for keeping you waiting!"
After a brief moment, a demon in a crimson suit walked over. He wore glasses that concealed his diamond-like eyes, and his face carried a distinctly rebellious look.
"My deepest apologies, esteemed lords. I arrived late."
From the opposite entrance, another figure stepped forward. Clad in pale blue armor, he addressed everyone in the arena while his gaze fixed on the presence seated in the leftmost chair.
"My great father, Sephis sincerely thanks you for summoning me."
Sephis, still in his pale blue armor, performed a formal noble's bow toward Naohara, his voice tinged with unmistakable joy.
"Sephis, I'm glad to see you as well. Go stand to the side for now. We'll talk later."
Naohara looked at the figure before him with mixed emotions. This was an NPC he had created, his child in a sense. Seeing him stirred complex feelings deep in his heart.
(Note: Sephis is male. The protagonist created this NPC specifically after considering the possibility that he might fail to transmigrate. Compared to a daughter, he wanted a son more. In the original story, Momonga was destined to transmigrate, but if the protagonist failed, given his physical condition, he would not live much longer. By creating Sephis, he ensured that he would at least have a spiritual descendant in the other world, so his line would not end completely.)
"As you command."
Sephis answered promptly, then moved aside and took his place next to Aura.
At that moment, another figure appeared before everyone. It was Albedo.
"Then, everyone, let us offer our pledge of loyalty to the great Supreme Rulers."
Albedo stepped forward in front of the guardians and spoke, then knelt down first.
"Guardian of the First to Third Floors, Shalltear, pays her respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Guardian of the Fifth Floor, Cycotus, pays his respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Guardians of the Sixth Floor, Aura and Mare, pay our respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Guardian of the Seventh Floor, Demiurge, pays his respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Guardian of the Eighth Floor, Sephis, pays his respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Overseer of the Guardians, Albedo, pays her respects to the three Supreme Rulers."
"Other than the Fourth Floor Guardian, Gargantua, and Victim, who serves alongside Sephis as an Eighth Floor Guardian, all Floor Guardians have assembled on the Sixth Floor."
"Please issue your commands, Supreme Rulers. We guardians will give everything we have to meet your expectations and devote all that we are to you."
After all the guardians had finished reporting, Albedo, standing at the forefront, spoke respectfully.
"Very well. Raise your heads, guardians."
Momonga stood up from his seat as he spoke. At the same time, an overwhelming aura spread outward from his body. Without anyone noticing, he had already activated [Despair Aura].
Beside him, Naohara and Herohero exchanged a glance and stood up as well, activating their own skills.
[Dragon Aura]
[Corrosive Aura]
In an instant, three immense waves of pressure bore down on the kneeling guardians, leaving them unable to make the slightest movement.
"First, I want to thank all of you for gathering here," Momonga said.
He could not help glancing at the two beside him. Seeing their serious expressions, he nodded inwardly. As expected of his friends, they knew exactly how to support him and build the atmosphere.
"You are too kind, my lord. This is our honor."
Albedo gazed at Momonga with eyes full of affection, so intense it seemed ready to spill over. Momonga instinctively took a step back.
Terrifying. He felt that if he were ever alone with her, she might drain him to the marrow.
"As beings created by the Supreme Rulers, we are your most loyal servants. To receive your praise fills us with the greatest honor."
"To live up to your expectations, we will spare no effort and will never allow the great Supreme Rulers to be shamed."
Demiurge spoke respectfully to Momonga, expressing his unwavering loyalty as a Floor Guardian.
"We swear it."
The other guardians echoed his words in unison.
"Is that so? I have seen your loyalty. Then I have a question for you."
"In your eyes, what kind of people are the three of us?"
Momonga responded calmly to the guardians before finally asking this crucial question.
At the same time, Naohara and Herohero also turned their attention to them, equally curious about the answer.