Chapter 40: Loyalty

"Seems like, the damn Mosquito was first to arrive." The one who said that was none other than Tatsumaki, the Guardian of the third floor.

Flying towards where Arthur was with her esper ability—looking at her Arthur swallowed his non-existing saliva hard.

'I really want to squeeze in between those thighs at least one.' His thoughts were interpreted.

"Look who is here, The arrogant cockroach, who can't even walk properly." Shalltear turned towards Tatsumaki, who is flying them. Even Aura who was arguing with Shalltear a while ago seems to be quiet.

"Seems like some mosquito is buzzing around, don't you think so too, Ancient-sama." Tatsumaki wearing a hasty look asked Arthur.

Arthur, knowing full well if he agrees with Tatsumaki, is going to break to Shalltear—so he systematically changes the subject.

"Tatsumaki, It's been a while since we met each other, hasn't it."

"Yes, it indeed has, My lord." Tatsumaki said with a light bow and a small smile adoring her beautiful hasty face.

While Arthur can be considered her creator the emotional attachment between them can be said to be one-sided—but that doesn't mean Arthur didn't love her.

"Tatsumaki, Is that how you greet a supreme being? tone down your arrogance a little bit and stop being rude to your creator." The one who said this was none other than Shalltear—the same one who hugged Arthur without even giving a greeting first.

"Ancient-sama doesn't need overly stuffed and formal greetings and he is old enough to overlook such things."

Shalltear face twitched uncontrollably, "Even if Ancient-sama doesn't mind such a thing you should still can't do that."

Looking at Shalltear and Tatsumaki—

'I didn't seem to recall them having such a hostile relationship with each other. Maybe it has something to do with their flavour text.' Arthur thought.

'Hey Friday, Can you tell me why their relationship is like that.'

[That would be because you added Tatsumaki to often have arguments with Shalltear—in her description.]

"What. A. Ruckus."

The inhuman voice came just as Arthur was reminiscing in his thoughts. The strange, monotonous voice finally silenced the two of them.

As he turned to look at the voice's origin, he saw a heteromorphic being shrouded in the chilled air.

It stood two and a half meters tall and resembled a bipedal insect. It looked like some fiend had melded a praying mantis and an ant together. It had a tail that was twice as long as its body, and it was covered in sharp spikes which resembled icicles. Its powerful-looking mandibles looked like they could sever a man's arm in a single bite.

It grasped a platinum halberd in two of its hands, and in its other two hands were a masterfully-made mace wreathed in a black aura, and a gnarled-looking broadsword which did not look like it could be sheathed.

It was surrounded by a frightening aura of cold. Its exoskeleton was a dull blue colour and sparkled like diamond dust. Protrusions that looked like icebergs bulged up from its back and shoulders.

He was the Guardian of the Fifth Floor, the "Ruler of Glaciers", Cocytus.

Along with him are Angrboda and Esdeath, the Co-Guardian of the Fourth floor and Fifth floors.

Angrboda is a two-meter-tall muscular woman with bright yellow eyes and long, wavy vermilion-coloured hair. She has one sharp, pronounced canine tooth.

Angrboda's attire consists of a modern, which gives a bold view of her large chest and abdomen. The shirt is black fabric with not much embroidery on it, its edges and collar and along the sleeves, which she keeps rolled up to her elbows. In order to keep the shirt together, she wears a white sash around her waist. She wears black trousers. On top of her attire, she wears a long red cape.

[IMAGE HERE]

And she had a ferocious aura that seems to go wild at any moment.

And next to her was Esdeath. She was a tall, beautiful and slender woman with long, light blue hair and blue eyes. She wore General's apparel with long sleeves with buttons on the upper arms, a blue scarf on her neck and high-heeled boots. She also has a tattoo on her chest.

And just like Cocytus, she possesses an Icey aura.

Arriving at the Arena, Cocytus suddenly slammed halberd into the arena floor, and the ground around it began to freeze.

"You. Stand. Before. A. Supreme. Being. Contain. Yourself."

"This brat started it!"

"Actually"

"Awawawa..."

Shalltear and Tatsumaki locked gazes, while Mare and Aura panicked from the side. Arthur could not hold it in any longer and curtly addressed the two of them.

"Shalltear, Tatsumaki. Playtime is over."

The two of them shuddered in shock, then lowered their heads simultaneously.

"My sincerest apologies!" they said in unison.

Arthur magnanimously accepted their apologies with a nod. Then, he turned and said, "You three come."

"I. Came. Immediately. Upon. Receiving. Your. Summons. "

"Same here, My lord." Esdeath said with a light smile, which was memorable on its own.

Arthur felt a little weird when he heard Esdeath calling him 'My lord' as she didn't look like someone who likes to play submissive roles.

"You look beautiful as ever, My love." Angrboda said, Arthur suddenly felt a chill down his spine as she didn't even hide her affection in public—but none of the Guardian or Co-Guardian present here didn't say anything about her as though it was a normal interaction.

But suddenly a voice chorused Arthur's attention.

"Forgive me for keeping everyone waiting."

Arthur turned in the direction of voice, at the entrance of the Colosseum, where he saw five figures enter. The one in front was Albedo followed by Aurora, while two men followed behind them like a lackey and lastly a woman with reaper. Once they got close enough, Albedo smiled at Arthur and bowed deeply.

The one who apologized was none other than Demiurge.

He was about one hundred eighty centimetres tall, and his skin was darkened from the sun. His facial features looked to be Oriental, and his jet-black hair was neatly combed back. The eyes under his pince-nez glasses could not even be said to be narrowed. It was doubtful whether they were actually open at all.

He was dressed in a Western suit, with a matching tie. He gave the impression of being a professional businessman, or a skilled lawyer.

However, his gentlemanly appearance was hard-pressed to hide the evil air about him. A tail sheathed in silvery metal extended behind him, tipped by six sharp spikes. He was limned by flickering black flames.

He was the Guardian of the Seventh Floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. And he was designed to be the defence commander of the NPCs along with Esdeath.

Next to him was Antares, the Co-Guardian of the seventh floor along with Rory Mercury, The Co-Guardian of the Eighth floor.

"It seems everyone is here."

"Then, everyone, let us pledge our loyalty to the Supreme One."

All the Guardians nodded as one as they had lined up before him. Albedo and Aurora stood at their head, while the other Guardians and Co-Guardians formed a line behind her. All of them had solemn, respectful expressions. They showed no sign of playing around.

Shalltear, who stood on one end of the line, stepped forward:

"Shalltear Bloodfallen, Guardian of the First and Second floor, presents herself to the Master."

She went to one knee, one hand pressed against her chest and bowed deeply. After that, Tatsumaki stepped forward and said:

"Tatsumaki, Guardian of the Third floor, presents herself to the Master." She said with utmost seriousness.

"Angrboda, Co-Guardian of the Fourth floor, presents herself to the Supreme One." After Angrboda, it was Cocytus.

"Cocytus. Guardian. Of. The. Fifth. Floor. Presents. Himself. To. The. Master."

Much like others, he knelt before Arthur like a vassal before a lord.

"Esdeath, Co-Guardian of the Fifth floor, presents herself to the Master." Then, it was the twin dark elves' turn:

"The Guardian of the Sixth Floor, Aura Bella Fiora, presents herself to the Master."

"Al-Also a Guardian of the Sixth Floor, Mare Bello Fiore, presents himself to the Master."

They knelt respectfully and lowered their heads to Arthur. Shalltear, Tatsumaki, Angrboda, Cocytus, Esdeath, Aura, and Mare all had different bodies and thus they should have each taken their steps forward differently. Yet, the way with which they knelt was identical, and they lined up neatly.

After that, Demiurge and Antares advanced in a dignified manner.

"The Guardian of the Seventh Floor, Demiurge, presents himself to the Master."

"Antares, Co-Guardian of the Seventh floor, presents himself to the Destroyer."

Following his crisp words, they went to one knee in a graceful descent, as though expressing their heart through their actions.

"Rory Mercury, Co-Guardian of the Eighth floor, presents herself to Supreme One." After Rory, it was Aurora's turn. She gratefully moved forward and went to one knee.

"Aurora Borealis, Overseer of Co-Guardians and the Guardian of the Eleventh floor Present herself to the 'Old One'."

Finally, Albedo stepped forward as well.

"The Guardian Overseer Albedo presents herself to the Master."

She smiled at Arthur and knelt like the other Guardians. However, Albedo continued speaking in a high and clear voice as she delivered her report to Arthur.

"With the exception of the Fourth Floor Guardian Gargantua and the Eighth Floor Guardian Victim, all the Floor Guardians are gathered before you. Thus do we offer up our utmost loyalty to the Master."

Arthur could not speak as he looked at the twelve lowered heads before him, it was not because he was scared nor it was because he didn't have anything to say.

He was silent because he couldn't express his happiness through mere words.

'For 32 years... For fucking 32 years, this is what I have been waiting for, No, this is all I have been dreaming for. Thank you, Friday, Thank you very..very much for being there with me all this time, Friday.' Arthur sincerely thanked Friday as he knew if it wasn't for her then he would have messed up on lots of occasions.

[I am here to support you, Sir. So you don't need to be grateful to me. But on that note, Maybe I should also pledge my loyalty.]

'You don't need to Friday. If I don't trust you, who has been watching over me for 32 years, then who am I going to trust.'

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