13 Contrasts

Saigou was left speechless by the situation.

As a successful person who had climbed to the top and wielded power over resources, there were many who wanted to serve him like loyal dogs.

But even so, most people were a bit more subtle about it when they were around him.

To have someone like Shalltear boldly declare it in front of everyone, and even take pride in it, was something Saigou had never experienced before.

Saigou's gaze fell on Shalltear.

Shalltear Bloodfallen, created by Peroroncino.

As a character made by a total otaku, Shalltear embodied almost every anime trope imaginable.

She appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, standing at a petite height of just 1.4 meters, making her the perfect example of a classic loli character.

She wore a deep red and black ball gown, styled to have a vampire-like aesthetic, complete with a poofy, cake-like skirt.

Her entire outfit was gothic, decorated with lace and ribbons.

Her slender arms were covered in lace gloves, and not a single inch of her skin was exposed. She looked just like a noble girl raised in seclusion, exuding elegance and grace.

Shalltear's features were delicate and soft, her skin as pale as wax without a hint of any other color, and her long silver hair was tied to one side with cute bow decorations.

Normally, Shalltear's dark red eyes would be filled with a wicked joy.

But when facing Saigou, that joy transformed into a burning intensity.

The seductive aura she exuded was almost palpable, and under her gaze, even Saigou felt as if he were being licked all over.

In every way, she appeared to be a graceful, beautiful, and charming young girl.

However, Saigou was aware of Shalltear's true nature.

The vampires in Yggdrasil were completely different from the ones people usually imagined.

Here, vampires were true monstrosities. Shalltear's real form was actually a terrifying creature with a mouth full of sharp teeth, resembling a lamprey eel.

Such a creature would typically only appear in horror movies, and just a glance at it would make anyone's hair stand on end.

Recalling the appearance of those vampires he had encountered in the game, Saigou looked at the breathtaking girl in front of him, speaking in a coquettish tone, and suddenly thought—

This is actually pretty damn thrilling!!

Saigou couldn't help but admire Peroroncino's artistic skills.

The fact that Shalltear possessed such an appearance wasn't due to any shape-shifting abilities she had.

Rather, it was because Peroroncino had managed to use his incredible art skills to turn a leech into a stunning beauty.

What a profound love for anime it must take to accomplish such a feat.

Only those top-tier anime artists could look at a pig and, through their imagination, draw it as a beautiful girl.

As numerous details about Shalltear flashed through his mind, Saigou maintained a calm expression. He waved his hand and said, "...Everyone, Nazarick must act now!"

"...Take your positions and fulfill your duties!"

The floor guardians knelt on the ground, bowing their heads, and respectfully said in unison, "...We offer our loyalty to the Supreme Beings!"

Apart from Shalltear and Demiurge, the two guardians Saigou had named, the rest of them left.

Momonga also departed with them, ready to carry out his assigned tasks.

Only Albedo remained, with a graceful smile on her lips, her silk-gloved hands folded in front of her, standing quietly behind Saigou like a still maiden.

However, her iridescent eyes, glowing with a golden hue, were filled with fury as she looked at Shalltear.

Shalltear met her gaze with a provocative stance, and if Saigou hadn't been there, the two of them would probably have started bickering.

Demiurge looked at the scene with a hint of helplessness and shrugged elegantly.

But seeing Saigou deep in thought, he quickly lowered his head, waiting for the orders of the Supreme Being.

At this moment, Saigou was in a private chat with Momonga.

"Zarathustra, what's up with that Shalltear? Her behavior is way too off!"

Momonga couldn't help but complain.

As an ordinary person, suddenly hearing someone kneeling on the ground and boldly declaring they wanted to be your most loyal dog was shocking and bewildering.

"You'd have to ask Peroroncino about that, Momonga… Weren't you two the closest?"

Saigou casually tossed the question back.

Momonga seemed to pause for a moment before responding with a wry smile, "…Now that you mention Peroroncino, Zarathustra, I think I understand."

"...I almost forgot that Shalltear was created by Peroroncino. If it's him, I can probably understand why Shalltear is like this. As for Peroroncino's peculiar tastes, let's just leave that aside!"

Saigou chuckled, "...Yes, you anime fans can be quite disgusting!"

Momonga wanted to point out that this remark was a bit broad in its criticism, but he held back. Instead, he asked, "...Putting Shalltear aside, what's the deal with Albedo?"

"...She was created by Tabula, right? Since you have the best relationship with Tabula, you should be able to guess her character setting."

Momonga wasn't particularly interested in Shalltear or Albedo.

His 'forced restraint' ability, combined with his racial traits, meant he had no physical desire towards women, unlike most men.

As the leader of Ainz Ooal Gown, Momonga was actually unfamiliar with the character settings of all the guild's NPCs.

In this unknown new world, his greater concern was not the outside world but rather any internal issues within the guild.

The guild was built collectively by all the members of Ainz Ooal Gown, and being someone who valued relationships deeply, Momonga couldn't afford to have any mistakes occur under his watch.

Therefore, it was crucial to understand each NPC's personality, know their behavior patterns, and determine how to handle things going forward.

This cautious nature was part of Momonga's personality and his talent for intelligence gathering.

"I can roughly guess Albedo's personality and behavior."

"...Tabula liked setting details and rituals. What's not widely known is that he also enjoys contrasts."

To reassure Momonga, Saigou answered his questions in detail.

"Contrasts?"

Momonga was curious about the nature of this contrast.

"Yes, for instance, Albedo has a pure and gentle appearance, giving off the impression of a refined lady."

"...But Tabula would definitely set her up as something like a 'secretly lewd and promiscuous woman'!"

Saigou bluntly explained the nature of the contrast.

"Ugh... Is this what you call a contrast? This is more like a contrast in vulgarity!"

Momonga gasped in surprise, unable to contain his reaction.

"Oh? You know this term as well? It seems, Momonga, that you've picked up quite a bit of knowledge on the side."

Saigou's words were tinged with a hint of teasing.

"Cough, let's not delve into that topic. I'm just a bit shocked and having a hard time accepting it."

Momonga's face flushed with embarrassment.

"However, you don't need to worry. I've inferred some of Albedo's other settings through indirect clues from her words."

"...As I mentioned, Tabula enjoys contrasts."

"Within Albedo's character setting, he probably also established that Albedo is devoted to Tabula but secretly has an affair with the master's friend—me—indicating her debauched lifestyle."

"...Given Tabula's penchant for contrasts, Albedo might as well wish to kill her own master."

"I'm relieved Tabula isn't here. Albedo's setting doesn't bother me, but it would be a disaster for him."

"...If Tabula were here, he would eventually be killed by Albedo. Since NPC settings can no longer be modified, he's truly brought this upon himself."

Saigou spoke with a hint of schadenfreude, "This is what happens when you enjoy creating trouble and absurd settings!"

"Zarathustra, you and Tabula have really outdone yourselves..."

After a while, Momonga's voice came out softly.

Indeed, those who choose heteromorphic races and create bizarre, inhuman characters often have psychological quirks that set them apart from normal people.