A Wizards Misadventures

~~Level Twenty Four~~

"Could I get something sweet to go with this?"

"AND I-hm? Oh! Yes, of course. Will pineapple juice do? We've also got cranberry juice, lemonade, several kinds of milk, blood…"

"Pineapple juice sounds good." The penguin waddled off again just as a newcomer entered the bar.

"Oh, hello Lord Abyss." The succubus, Albedo, smiled at me. If it wasn't for my ability to read auras I would never have known that she didn't like me.

"Hello, Albedo. Not expecting me?"

"I was not. I'll leave you to your me-"

"No, no, I could use some company. If you were looking for a drink then sit down."

"I really-" I looked into her soul. She wanted a drink. She just didn't want to sit near me.

"Sit down." I flicked my wrist and she teleported into the seat next to me. Eclair waddled out of the kitchen again.

"Oh! Albedo! The usual?"

"… Yes please, Eclair." She said, sounding a little strained. He slid me my juice and I took a grateful sip. It did wonders for the spiciness of the dragon pizza.

"So why don't you like me?" I asked Albedo.

"I don't have any opinion on you, frankly, if that's what you mean." She lied.

"Liar. Is it just because I'm not a part of Nazerick? You seem like the only one that doesn't like me around here."

"My dislike for you won't impact my work. I'll obey the commands you've given Lord Ainz." Her aura twitched.

"Ahh, you're inclined to hate me because I've commanded Ainz to stay away from acting freely," she was silent but I was clearly correct here. "Hmm… is it a human thing? I've heard a fair bit about 'puny humans' since I've come here. I'm starting to think that you consider humans lesser than, what do you call yourselves? Heteromorphs?"

"I feel that our goals require methods you consider distasteful. I'm no friend to anyone who hinders my lord." She said, barely holding back from snapping at me. Eclair waddled out with what looked like a cross between a margarita and red wine. Whatever it was it smelled good. I could sense a little blood in it too. I kind of wanted one.

"Fair enough. I wasn't asking when I told him to avoid innocent deaths. To be fair, a lot of goals are made much easier when you've conquered the world. I haven't exactly barred him from that but it's much harder now than it was before I arrived." She nodded and sipped her drink.

"On the other hand, I'm probably Ainz's only friend and I've been helping more than harming by participating in the adventurer's party Ainz set up. That doesn't help balance the scales?"

"You are not loyal to Nazerick. I'm sorry, but I can't accept someone like that as anything more than an acquaintance." She clearly wasn't sorry.

"I see," I thought about that for a moment. Some might have thought that our silence was awkward but I thought that it was more understanding. "Well I'd like to get to know you. You're the foremost of Nazerick's guardians, aren't you? Tell me about that."

"I was made to lead the floor guardians," she said with quiet pride. "It is my duty to manage them and support Lord Ainz whenever possible."

"That's your duty? Administration?"

"And as the final means of defense should invasion come to Nazerick. Of course, I'm of little use against the likes of the supreme beings." She gave me a stink eye at that.

"I see. You must have a lot of free time, then."

"I do not," she sounded almost defensive. "I spend every waking hour looking after my lord and the guardians." I thought about that for a moment.