13

The next morning a notice was put out to the staff of Nazarick. There was to be a small ceremony in the throne room for Mare's graduation. Ninya was outside my room waiting to travel to start boot camp. I opened a gate in my room and had her go through. To the swords of darkness I say. "Ask the guild master to come over around 4, I would like to do another hunt tomorrow. If he could get a list together we could discuss priority targets."

"I'll be back in a few hours make sure none of the staff come in." I say as Bella and I move through.

On the other side is a shy Nabe waiting with Sebas and Taure. "Sebas get Ninya prepared for training."

"Yes my lord, come along young Ninya." Sebas replies then putting a hand on each of their shoulders they disappear.

I look around at the rapidly growing forest while putting on my ring. "I am pleased with the progress we have made. Until 'next time' Nabe..." I say moving to the 9th floor. At the desk outside my door is Katy Perry. "Katy let Shalltear know she should come here. Is there anything urgent?"

"No Mr Quake." She says quickly.

"Great send her through when she gets here."

After an hour of playing with the vampire, I go back to my office. Calling my aid in I ask for a report. "Miss Romanov's Avengers have started training and 3 have given up their humanity directly when offered. Preparation for Mare's graduation are complete in the throne room. There is a question about a banquet afterwards."

"It should be fried chicken, pizza and side dishes. Have Sous-Chef work with Monica on it." I say thinking about my grad party.

"Yes sir. Also Lupusregina is hoping for a private meeting with you. She would not say what she wanted to discuss." Katy says looking at me for answers.

"Send her in and in the future meetings like that should be categorized as urgent." I say.

She has a oh shit moment. "Yes Mr Quake. I'm sorry sir, I'll send her in."

A moment later the tanned werewolf skips in my door. She does a bow and stands up showing her assets. "Hi yah my lord!"

"Good morning Lupu what can I do for you." I say my mind searching through her thoughts takes a relaxing breath. 'She just wants some booty.' "To call for a meeting with me it must be urgent."

She catches at that. "Uh. Urgent." Watching her mind spinning for an excuse is fun. "I uh."

"Tell me Lupu so I can take care of this threat to Nazarick that has caught your attention." She is flustered now.

I see her mind decide to abandon all pretense as she dives to kowtow. "My lord I'm sorry! Your servant just wanted to see you."

"So there is no looming threat? Could you not have told my maid the reason for your meeting? I am happy to spend some time with you Lupu. Is something bothering you?" I ask as her red hair matches her face quite well.

"I am sorry Lord Quake I was jealous of my sisters. I came to seduce you and didn't want to tell the maid so I wouldn't be embarrassed if I failed." She all but shouts at first tapering off at the end.

"How would you have seduced me Lupu?" I ask the girl who raises her head at the question seeing the hungry smile on my face.

"Like me!" She gasps.

"Explain that comment Lupu." I command.

"My lord is taking pleasure in bullying me. He is a sadist like me." I laugh.

"Well teasing and bullying my cock hungry servants is a pastime I enjoy." I say with a grin.

"Oh! I am hungry my lord. My sisters have been bragging to me about how you ravage them. I am hungry for your cock Lord Quake." The manic eyes of the tongue out panting dog infront of me led us to a few hours of degradation. The cleric would heal herself then have me take her virginity over and over again.

After finishing with the born again virgin, I hit he bath and make my way to the throne room. The room was decorated with banners that I had made for Luci☆fer's graduation from college. Right before he quit the game and started working at a black company. "Congratulations Graduate" was written in gold on the purple silk banner taken from a spider world enemy. IRL Luci only had his mom so he really did see me like a father figure. I wanted to show him how proud I was of his achievement.

Gremory was in the center of the throne room looking about at all the banners. The construct Gothic Lolita was holding her camel plush doll. "Gremory, are you doing okay?" I ask the Golem.

"Yes Lord Quake. I was just remembering my creator." She says breaking my heart a bit with how matter of fact she said it.

"Come here." I say picking up her and putting her on my hip. "I know its hard for you to feel things, but I want you to know he loved you like a daughter. So that makes you my granddaughter. Now your father had to go away but as long as you hold his memory he will never be truly gone. Not from in here." I say taping my heart and her head.

"Yes Master Quake." She says in her stoic unfeeling voice.

'I guess that was more for me than her.' "Well I think my granddaughter should be calling me grampa Quake don't you?" I ask the tiny girl.

"Yes grandpa Quake." She says in the same tone.

I set her down and let her continue to do what she wants.

I walk up to and sit on my throne. Looking out at the 42 flags I think of each one of the ones who made them. In the lead on the front left is the Quake symbol. Made to look like weathered black Iron a nod to my age. The crescent shape of the Q not quite making a whole circle because I will never be finished. The spike through the bottom like an anchor saying I shall not be moved. I found it fitting symbolism, just like how my name on the human worlds was Richter, like the scale that measures earthquakes.

I looked out at my gathering staff all kneeling before my throne. When the doors close and the room is full I stand and speak. "I look out at all of you and am filled with pride. Today we celebrate one of our own who sought knowledge and changed himself to be a better vessel for it. He showed discipline and dedication in his pursuit of self betterment. Today we recognize his achievement in positive change, we name him graduate. Step forth graduate Mare." Mare comes out incredibly red faced holding the hem of his skirt. His head with a black square cap on it staring down at the floor. "Mare, do you believe you have learned all there is to know?"

"N-no Lord Quake I couldn't hold a candle to your vast knowledge." He shakes his head making the tassle flail.

"That is wise! No matter my age or accumulated knowledge I will never believe I will have achieved that." I turn the tassle to the other side of his hat. "Now go forth with the wisdom there is always more to learn. Today you have been recognized by your family, friends, peers, even your enemies will not be able to deny. This is the first step on your path to knowledge know the path is long and arduous. Know you have our support, and know the journey is worth every step."

He steps away from me and up to Chiron. She hands him a beautiful silver scroll which is his diploma. I start clapping and the small boy is blasted with clapps and cheers from the gathered crowds. The tears of happiness on his face, would be reflected on mine, if I didn't have the full body control of a Master Doppelgänger.

"Now we feast and celebrate Mare. Let this inspire you to your own accomplishments. I can't wait to celebrate with you all. Mater of fact this seems like a good time to announce the first annual Change Day. This will be happening on July 4th. That is upper fire month for those not familiar with my empires calendar. It will be a holiday to celebrate the change we make in ourselves and the wider world. Notifications of the changes you make can be submitted to Albedo. The biggest impacts and improvements will be given prizes and gifts. Now go eat and dream of big things."

The banquet was a lot of fun. It was cool to see how everyone interacted with each other. It was like a big corporate party for someone's promotion.

Demiurge had approached me and we were talking about his progress in the kingdom. "She has a cunning mind my lord. When I told her you wanted to be handed an improved kingdom she immediately started plans to see her father and brothers deposed. She asked if you would like her body but I wasn't sure how to answer."

"She has that pet knight correct?" I ask the demon.

"Yes my lord he is the only thing in that kingdom she cares about." He explains.

"Well let her have him make him become king while she rules. He is a commoner so that will bring a lot of positive reputation. Let me be the one to perform the ceremony. These "gods" are nothing of the sort. Just players who have been able to sneak into this world after your father and the others opened it for us. They are a stain on the sacrifice my friends made for us." The sheer bloodlust radiating of of him could kill the weak willed. "Peace my son. Their time will come. They won't even be a memory when my plan is through."

"Yes All Father." He says bringing himself under control.

"When we tricked the greedy dragons into helping open this path. We knew that others may slip in. 41 Supreme souls were needed to widen the path for Nazarick itself. You all, their greatest creations, are their will in this world. Have heart to them and to me you are already worth it." I give the demon a hug. He was my favorite character from before this was all real. I just want him to feel the love I have for the kid who lost his father.

"Talk to your siblings I am sure many of them are feeling the same pain. You are the older brother, you understand right? If they want to talk about it with me tell them the All Father will be their strongest support." I say to the swishing tailed demon.

"I will thank you my lord." The demon says putting himself together heartened by the responsibility.

"Of course my son. The locals don't need to hear about this truth. Let them think we came across the sea." He nods at this.

A few minutes later Sebas and Tuare approached. Taure was holding a silver platter with drinks on it. "Good afternoon lord Quake would you like a drink?" Asks Sebas.

"Sure thank you. How have you been getting on in Nazarick Taure?" I ask the blonde.

"I love it here Lord Quake. I see new and fantastic sights every day and lord Sebas is kind and gentle." She says happily.

"Sebas my son, I thought you were the type to wait until after marriage! Either way I approve this good match. You rascal of a dragon." The white haired butler was floored and flustered.

"My lord nothing of the sort is going on! Miss Taure simply ment my words I haven't put a hand on her!" Sebas tries to clear up the situation as Tuare just blushes at the implications.

After teasing them both for a bit they carry on when Entoma comes up to me with a bow. "Good afternoon Lord Quake." Says the alternate human form bug girl.

"To you as well Toma, how have you been? I feel like the other Pleiades have seen me far more then you have. You aren't avoiding me are you?" I ask the shy bug.

"N-no! Lord Quake I have just been busy with my duties." She says hurriedly.

"Thats reassuring. I know your sisters have been talking but you are not under any pressure from me to do bedroom things. Each of them has expressed an interest which I share. We can have a wholesome professional relationship or my more Fatherly role without that if it is what you want." I say to the blushing girl.

"I don't want to rule it out but I'm not ready yet my lord. I still want to but I-I'm shy." The cute bug squeaks.

"Thats fine my dear you can come to me anytime you want. And if you need something from me just say alright?" I inform her.

"Yes my lord." She whispers.

"Oh have you been to see Neuronist?" She shakes her head confused. "Oh, well I figure you and Solution have the biggest appetites. So why not let you go there and have a limb or two. They can grow them back and you will be helping them with their work."

"Really? Thank you my lord!" She says chittering.

"This means you are not to eat out in the field though. It is unsafe and impractical. Inform that to Shalltear as well I don't want an issue with her blood drinking affecting her sanity out there." She nods and runs off. I watch her tell Shalltear the rule and the implications hit her. She looks over to me and I nod at her. Then Entoma runs over to Solution and starts dragging her off.

Solution stops her then asks whats going on. After she knows, she runs to Albedo who waves her off. The two prance out of the room after that, happy to torture and eat their fill.

Aura comes up to me after that. "Good afternoon Lord Quake."

"Aura you don't need to be upset you know we will celebrate you as well."I tell the clearly sad girl.

"Its not that my lord, I just feel that I let down Bukubukuchagama." She says.

I pull the little elf into my lap and ask. "What do you mean Aura?"

"She had said its a big sister's job to show her little brother things. Now Mare is so far ahead I'm not sure how to teach him like a big sister should." She explains.

"Oh Aura, you haven't let down Buku. Let me explain. Mare is good at school work, but you have skills he has a harder time with. You an teach him but that doesn't mean he can't do things for himself. You can teach him confidence, and this is your opportunity. He just had a huge win, now if you encourage him he will believe he can do more. A sister's job is to support her siblings. Is this making sense?"

"Yes Lord Quake, I can't show him school work because that's his good thing. But I can show him I'm proud of him and teach him things I'm good with." She says with a smile wiping her eyes. I think right then she realized she has been sitting in my lap.

"Aura you are all red is everything alright?" I ask feigning concern.

"Lord Quake is this alright? I haven't graduated yet." She says quietly.

"Oh as long as you don't do anything naughty its okay. Why were you having some thoughts?" Her stammering made me laugh. "I am really curious what you will ask for your graduation gift." She was a tomato when she popped up and bowed then ran away.

It was getting to be near time for my meeting with the guild master. It also helped I was just informed Clementine made it to the graveyard. "EVERYONE," I say standing from my place of honor. "Please carry-on for another hour. I have meetings to attend to, Shalltear be on stand by. That is all everyone good evening and congratulations again to Mare." I say before teleporting away.