Overlord’s Harem Guide

All twelve of them immediately dropped to one knee, bracing themselves for the weight of the words THEY would soon deliver.

For THEM to call upon all twelve monarchs was nearly unprecedented, a rare instance that had not arrived in the last few decades. It was well understood among the realm masters that, unless summoned by THEIR decree, meeting with the overlord came with severe consequences.

Each monarch was a ruler of their own world, and their responsibilities were colossal; even a single unnecessary move could send ripples of imbalance across their realms.

The pressure of their duties was immense, and each monarch understood that completely.

Yet, simply setting foot in this realm, the very heart of the fifteen higher planes, the domain of only one supreme being, was, in itself, an honour beyond any conceivable blessing. This was a world that possessed all riches, beauty, and majesty with nothing else to compare it with.

THEY had crafted this entire realm with THEIR own hands; every inch of it belonged solely to THEM. Just by being here, especially within this throne room of eternal prosperity, each monarch could feel their strength revitalising, the exhaustion of interplanar travel swiftly dissipating within them.

Travelling between these planes was so gruelling that only beings as powerful as they could withstand the journey to this palace. Yet this place, especially, was fortified with complex barriers and restrictions that syphoned half their strength upon entry. These barriers treated every monarch equally, stripping even the first monarch's strength as thoroughly as the twelfth.

But the privilege of coming here and seeing THEM, to them, was worth any sacrifice.

In truth, each of them suspected the reason they were gathered here.

"It seems you all have an idea," THEY inferred from their auras, descending the steps from THEIR magnificent throne.

THEIR voice was steady, their tone carrying a detachment that bordered on boredom. And yet, behind that stoic gaze, a shadow of tedium lingered.

They could not feel it, not with the tremendous gulf in power between THEM, but whatever the case, the overlord was, indeed, bored.

THEY had everything THEY could ever want, and for someone like THEM, achievement had left a void in their conceptual heart.

THEY had been born with nothing, lacking any significant power. Only through sheer determination, relentless effort, and unmatched talent had THEY attained the pinnacle of existence, fulfilling a vision that, at one time, seemed foolishly out of reach. Every experience, every form of power, every material wonder of this world—THEY now possessed it all.

And yet, without anything new to strive for, it felt hollow.

Even so, for someone who had risen to become the [Sovereign Of Existence], death was merely an impossibility, a forgotten concept. THEY had transcended mortality itself a long time ago.

"You are considering reincarnation in the future, aren't you, my lord?" Sir Axiom could tell, hesitance present on his despite his ultimate intellect.

"Hmmm. As expected of the elder's mind," THEY responded, a faint gleam of interest brightening THEIR expression. With that confirmation though, astonishment flooded every face in the room.

"Lord?!" the knight in blue armour gasped, unable to conceal his shock.

"L-lord is leaving us?" The cat-girl's voice trembled as tears welled up in her innocent-looking eyes.

"Lord? Isn't that…?" the martial emperor's voice cracked with tension.

The two sparrows were struck speechless, their eyes wide with disbelief, while the snake woman and harpy exchanged uncertain glances.

The turtle monarch, ever calm and wise, sighed, his gaze sorrowful as it rested on THEM.

"Lorrrrrrrd~? You won't leave me for long, right~?" The first monarch's voice was tinged with both sadness and hopeful pleading.

On the other hand…

"Whatever your will may be, we will obey it without question," unlike the others, the shadowed figure among them, bowing deeply.

The multi-eyed cloud pulsed in agreement, and the radiant angel clasped her hands in silent prayer, tears of ichor tracing down her cheeks in gold streams.

Each one of these reactions, as expected, was one THEY had foreseen.

THEY were above something as trivial as death, and the monarchs knew this. THEIR sorrow, therefore, was not for the loss of THEM but for the emptiness THEIR absence would leave.

They only saw THEM once every decade or on rare, significant occasions. Now, even that would be gone, and THEY would remain away for an indeterminate time.

-Swiiiiiiiiiiiish…

Some of them accepted this with quiet understanding, while others struggled to come to terms with it…

Reincarnation was a concept familiar to beings of their calibre: relinquishing the energy of one's original body to enter a deep, ethereal sleep. After an age, when enough strength was restored, they could reconstruct themselves anew and begin again.

Though reincarnation meant a temporary loss of power, for someone like THEM, even this diminished strength would still surpass most others by unfathomable degrees.

"Don't worry. I won't be gone for too long. Only nine hundred years will be sufficient for what I intend."

Shock swept over them again. The youngest in the room, the cat-girl, was barely two hundred years old in cosmic time.

Nine hundred years would be four lifetimes to her, Yet THEY spoke as if it were a mere interlude.

However their lord's will was absolute, and they knew they had no say in this matter. So, they accepted it, albeit with heavy hearts…

"Hrmmm…"

After a moment's silence, THEY looked at each one of them with a calm, affectionate gaze that softened the gravity of the decree.

"I understand this will be difficult," THEY continued, THEIR divine smile offering them a sense of peace. "But I will return safely. And while I am away, I have a task for all of you."

This news sparked a faint glimmer of hope among them.

THEY were giving them purpose, something that would anchor them through the centuries of THEIR absence.

They prepared themselves instantly, knowing this task would likely require the fullness of their strength and wisdom.

"Listen carefully," THEY began, a playful gleam lighting THEIR eyes—a look the rest knew well. The last time THEY had that look, the monarchs had faced trials beyond imagination.

"Your task," THEY announced with a rare smile of anticipation, "is simple: transform this entire castle city into the finest academy in the entire worldline."

Silence fell over them as the magnitude of the command was realised.

The overlord's castle city was an intricate, sprawling domain of countless wonders, mysteries, and hidden powers.

Now, THEY wanted them to shape it into an academy, one that would become the beacon of wisdom and power for all those who would follow.

"…"

Their shock slowly gave way to resolve. THEY had given them a challenge worthy of THEIR blessing, a mission that would bind them and guide them, anchoring them through the centuries until THEY returned.

"Yes."

THEY looked at each of them, the spark of a vision glimpsing in THEIR determined eyes…