269 The Next Target

"I see… I understand now!" Demiurge's eyes shined. His body shook in delight as the answer revealed itself after eluding him for so long.

"What did you understand?" Shalltear decided to revisit her grievances with Albedo later as this answer held more importance.

Cocytus too, had his attention focused on this. Aside from Albedo—their captain—Demiurge was known for his intelligence. And he didn't disappoint.

"We are but playthings that move according to his will, he knows our every move, the moment our next breath will be or when we blink. To think we had the preposterous idea that he would need to test us to know what we'd do." His words rang in the coliseum but not minding the surroundings he continued with unusual fervor, "The only thing that he expected of us since our birth was obedience. And that was the only thing we needed."

"Are you saying that we failed to obey the Supreme Beings?" Cocytus asked. His voice was low as the water in the air crystallized, the aim of his anger turned to himself.

"Yes, we thought too highly of ourselves. We aren't worth the test set by the Supreme Being. The only thing we needed to show was our piety, and we squandered that chance." Unpleased, Demiurge showed a rare frown.

"I told you guys before right? That we just need to believe in Lord Adam and we'll meet him again." They have heard this cheerful remark from Aura before too, and once again someone didn't take very nicely to this.

"Didn't you use that as an excuse to horse around?" Shalltear sneered, "Also don't get ahead of yourself and utter his excellent name so casually."

Aura never participated in the brainstorming sessions they held to figure things out, by extension Mare also didn't participate as he got dragged by his older sister. Like Shalltear they too thought that it was an excuse. However, now things have become different.

"Lord Adam allowed us and Narberal to speak of his name when addressing him. He also gave Mare a new set of clothes, and not only that he cooked some food for us too." Aura smiled all giddy as Mare nodded shyly. The clothes on his had become his most prized possession.

This experience truly wasn't one they'd forget.

"It would seem that you got rewarded amply for your faith, even if you were half correct." Demiurge's eyes glanced at the clothes that Mare wore. He had his eyes on them since he walked in, they gave off the same aura as the clothes Adam wore and looked completely identical.

"What do you mean?" Shalltear could feel that there was more to it.

Even Aura and Mare looked over in plain confusion, what did he mean half correct? He talked about it being a Test of faith and they had that faith, right? But, that raised the question as to why didn't he appear before them.

"When you thought that you'd meet the Supreme Being who did you think of?" Demiurge's question answered their question.

Every single one of them thought of the Supreme Beings that created them. They thought of the original 41 Supreme Beings that slowly left. Not a single one of them thought of Adam, the reason was simple. They never knew he existed, and therein was the problem.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you Demiurge." Pleased Albedo acknowledged his intelligence. He merely went in the wrong direction at the start which caused the delay, but now he understood.

"You don't mean that?" Shalltear's eyes widened slightly. If he had spoken so much even she understood what was going on.

"Yes, from the start only one Supreme Being exits. The ones we saw were different personifications of his original self." Albedo nodded.

She wouldn't keep the information from the people who understood. After all, they deserved to know it and understand the fault in their thinking. The first step to atoning for your sins is to understand them.

"The way they left one after another till only Lord Momonga is another clue given to us, but we were too blinded by the idols in front of us and made the real Supreme Being wait." Demiurge added and the mood dropped further.

"Don't bring the atmosphere down now. Lord Adam already knew that we would go in the wrong direction, but he is forgiving and gave us a second chance." Albedo was as guilty as them.

But, the moment she realized that this wasn't a test. The thought of not being able to serve the Supreme Being again broke her. The meaning of her existence stripped from her, Albedo began to doubt if continuing her life had any reason and fell into despair. At that moment, the door appeared.

That was the answer. That dependence and devotion were the answer. And she stumbled upon it, nay she was supposed to arrive at that conclusion at the end. The will of the Supreme Being was to let her know the position. The truth was that they were nothing without him, and now that she understood that.

"Make sure that you don't disappoint him again." Albedo wouldn't condone it if any resident of Nazarick thought otherwise.

"Do you think you have a special bond with him after this or something? You're in the same position as us." Shalltear frowned, and it deepened with Albedo didn't jeer back.

"Who knows? I might have a special connection with Lord Adam." The smile on her lips was one of confidence in her victory.

Adam rewarded Aura, Mare, and Narberal in various ways for their loyalty. Sllowed to utter his name, they ate the food he cooked, and Mare received clothes similar to his. So, Albedo surely received something to be the first one who reached him. Demiurge became curious about what it was, since it came from Adam it had to be something he could never think of. Something invaluable. 

"From this day forward I will work to form a bond similar to that with the Lord." The Floor guardian that stayed quiet till now spoke up. Sixth floor's Guardian, Victim.

(A/N: Whenever he speaks the text appears backward '.siht ekil', but I don't want to go through that so imagine that in your head if you want to be accurate to the character quirks.)

"Me too naturally," Shalltear harrumphed at the words. She may have been a step late but she vowed to overtake everyone.

"I want to eat more dishes made by Lord Adam so I'll work hard too." Aura laughed. Her goal was a lot innocent compared to the other two females, and Mare agreed too.

No one else spoke but they had the same thought. They would do everything to not waste this chance. Their original Lord has appeared, so they'd go all out.

.

.

.

'Hopefully, they don't go too far…' Adam sighed.

Now that he linked them with himself, he had an idea of their general feelings. He didn't go so far as to read their minds, but he knew what mood they were in if he wished to know. But their admiration was so strong that he could feel it even if he didn't try.

The same stood true for the two maids that stood next to the walls in his bedroom. Narberal watched his every movement and stayed ready to complete any task he may have for her. While the second maid was a little unique.

Unlike Narberal's snow-white skin, hers was brown. And the smile on her lips and the gaze held more than just admiration towards him. Even her fellow Maid's slight glare did nothing to faze her.

However, he ignored it and went about reading his books as he lay on the bed alone. He passed time that way till night arrived. The official work will start tomorrow morning. He closed his eyes under their gaze as the room went dark.

'I hope there isn't too much work because of the stunt they pulled today,' Adam smiled and went to sleep.

But, the next day his eyebrows twitched.

'I said that I hope there isn't much work but I didn't expect this!' He waited in his office since morning and not a single document or file made it to his table.