Elsewhere, after Momonga and the others had departed…
Aura: "Phew… as expected of Momonga-sama. I seriously felt like I was about to be killed."
Mare: "Yeah… Father-sama is much gentler. Momonga-sama is just too intimidating."
Cocytus: "Aura, you must not compare the Supreme Rulers to one another. That is a grave act of disrespect."
Aura: "Alright, alright, I get it. Don't be so stiff, Cocytus. I'm sure the great Supreme Rulers wouldn't mind such small things."
Sephis: "Aura, the 'Father-sama' you mentioned just now… who is that?"
With Momonga, Naohara, and Herohero gone, the overwhelming pressure that had weighed on the guardians vanished without a trace. They all let out quiet sighs of relief.
As Aura spoke first, the guardians gradually began to converse.
After all, as guardians of different floors, they rarely had the chance to meet like this. Now that such an opportunity had finally come, it was only natural to talk.
Demiurge and the others did not object either. He himself had something to say as well.
"Ah, Father-sama is Naohara-sama. Mare and I are now Father-sama's children too, just like you, Sephis."
Hearing Sephis's question, Aura answered excitedly, while Mare nodded happily beside her.
The other guardians were deeply shaken by this revelation, yet none of them doubted her words. As guardians, who would dare casually invoke the name or title of a Supreme Ruler?
"Was this Father-sama's decision? Congratulations, Aura and Mare. If you have time in the future, feel free to visit the Eighth Floor. I will make sure to host you properly."
After hearing the explanation, the icy expression on Sephis's face softened, replaced by a gentle smile as he looked at the two.
After all, they were children personally acknowledged by his own creator. That made them family. According to Father-sama's teachings, family was the most precious thing, and he needed to treat them with goodwill.
Recalling words his father had once spoken, Sephis's fondness toward the two rose sharply.
"Great! Great! If we get the chance, Mare and I will definitely come visit you."
Aura nodded happily. At the same time, she subtly hid her movements and winked at Sephis, secretly sending a message directly to his ear.
"Very well. I will be waiting at any time."
Hearing the message, Sephis paused for a moment. His blue eyes flicked toward her in surprise, but he quickly acted as if nothing had happened, responding calmly while quietly thinking over what she had sent him.
"Since the three of you are done speaking, allow me to say a few words next."
Seeing their conversation come to an end, Demiurge quickly stepped forward and addressed everyone in a clear voice.
"Please proceed," Sephis said with a nod, signaling him to begin.
"All guardians should be aware that among the forty-two Supreme Rulers who once belonged to Nazarick, thirty-nine chose to leave."
"Now, only the final three Supreme Rulers remain. And among them, Herohero-sama returned to Nazarick only at the very last moment, after being absent for a long time."
"What are you trying to say?"
Albedo, Sebas, and the others frowned slightly as they questioned Demiurge.
"I was thinking… should we consider this possibility? If one day even the last three Supreme Rulers choose to abandon us and leave, then as guardians, where would that leave us?"
Demiurge did not grow angry at Albedo and the others interrupting him. Instead, he calmly spoke those words.
The moment they left his mouth, the guardians erupted.
"You intend to replace the Supreme Rulers? Demiurge, that is blatant disrespect!"
Cocytus slammed his axe into the ground. Cracks spread instantly, and the temperature around them plunged as his fury surged.
It looked as though, if Demiurge failed to give a proper explanation, Cocytus would strike him down on the spot. Even if Demiurge was also a being created by the Supreme Rulers, Cocytus would not hesitate.
"I cannot pretend I didn't hear that. Demiurge, if you don't explain yourself clearly, don't blame my spear for piercing you."
Sephis stared at him coldly as a long spear appeared in his hand. It was the weapon given to him by Naohara, a divine-class artifact known as the Dragon Spine Spear. It had been forged from the entire spine of a level 95 lightning dragon and possessed terrifying power.
At the same time, the pale blue pupils of his eyes began to change, dragon-like pupils slowly emerging. From within his blue hair, a pair of blue dragon horns grew forth, while pale blue scales spread along both sides of his face. A tremendous dragon aura surged from his body.
Name: Sephis
Race: Dragonoid lv15
Lightning Dragonoid lv10
Guardian Dragon lv5
???
Class: Battlemage lv15
Lightning Elementalist lv10
Dragon Vein Priest lv10
???
Karma Value: 50
As an NPC carefully created by Naohara, Sephis possessed extremely formidable attributes. Unlike Sebas, who was also a Dragonoid, Sephis was a lightning-enhanced Dragonoid, capable of overwhelming strength in both ranged and close combat.
Sebas, as a being created by Touch Me, followed his creator's usual style. He abandoned most magical offensive abilities in exchange for greatly enhanced physical combat power. Though both were Dragonoid, they were fundamentally different.
"Calm down, Sephis. Cocytus as well. Let's first hear what Demiurge has to say."
Seeing Sephis on the verge of attacking, Aura and Mare quickly rushed over to him at Albedo's signal, trying to restrain him.
No guardian was willing to fight Sephis while he was in such a furious state. The only ones who might be able to stop him were Aura and Mare, who were also children of Naohara.
"Alright. I'll listen. Go on, Demiurge."
After hearing the siblings' persuasion, Sephis finally lowered his weapon. As children of the same father, he was willing to listen to them.
The dragon-like features on his body gradually faded. Sephis spoke briefly, then fell silent.
Cocytus also lowered his massive axe, giving Demiurge a chance to explain.
"Thank you for your understanding, Sephis. My purpose is actually very simple. That is, to leave behind descendants for the Supreme Rulers."
Demiurge wiped the cold sweat from his face and quickly stated his objective.
He had the distinct feeling that if he spoke any slower, he would truly be skewered. As a support-type guardian, Demiurge stood no chance against an enhanced offensive powerhouse like Sephis.
"Descendants? If the Supreme Rulers choose to leave, that would only prove our own incompetence as guardians. Such a thing would be meaningless."
Cocytus froze for a moment at those words, then shook his head.
If they could not even retain the Supreme Rulers, then their existence itself had no purpose.
"I'm only proposing a hypothetical. Besides, Cocytus, don't you wish that one day you could serve the child of a Supreme Ruler?"
Demiurge pushed up his glasses and spoke in a coaxing tone.
"Serve… the Supreme Ruler's child?"
Cocytus fell into thought. He imagined himself becoming the child's mentor, teaching them martial skills. He imagined watching them grow under his protection, imagined himself carrying out their commands…
"Well… that doesn't sound entirely impossible…"
Cocytus said dreamily, leaving Demiurge beside him nodding in satisfaction. It seemed Cocytus had already sunk deep into his own fantasies.
"And what about the rest of you?"
Seeing the other guardians also lost in contemplation, Demiurge asked them.