Obsession: Albedo’s Desire

The campfire crackled softly as Yuri tossed in a twig. Above, a star-filled sky shimmered, the thin moon vanished. The flickering flames cast a gentle glow, surrounded by the forest's dark embrace, untouched by starlight. No wind stirred; the air was clear, filled with the fresh scent of night.

The undead horses or the fire kept forest creatures at bay. Silence and peace enveloped the scene—a beautiful night.

Yuri, warming by the fire, pondered how things had come to this.

An hour after leaving the hunting ground, the man requested a break. Despite his ease in the ogre fight, he seemed tired. He entered the carriage briefly, then walked into the woods alone. Yuri, expecting him to rest inside, grumbled but followed.

They soon reached a small stream, barely ankle-deep and crystal clear, likely fed by underground springs. When Yuri asked how he knew of it, he credited Momon.

Yuri was pleased to find water. Though unstained by goblin blood, her skirt had mud from the chase. Her enchanted maid dress shed dirt easily, but a damp handkerchief perfected the cleaning. Their drinking water was limited, insufficient for rinsing.

While Yuri cleaned, the man started a fire. She admired his skill: he carved grooves in dry branches, stuffed one with crumpled leaves, and rubbed a shaped stick against it. A few strokes brought smoke, then flame. He nurtured the fire with leaves, transferring it to a pile of twigs, layered with thicker branches.

He hung a pot of water over the fire, using old alchemy tools from Nfirea. Adding Nazerick tea leaves, he brewed a rough but drinkable tea, served in potion vials—hers included. Despite the fine leaves, the method was crude. Yuri, the only Pleiades who cooked, might've scolded the waste, but the tea wasn't bad.

For a snack, he shared Enri's gift: simple honey-wheat biscuits. Far from Nazerick's desserts, they were still tasty.

As daylight faded, Yuri suggested departing, but he proposed camping. She objected, arguing they'd reach E-Rantel after dark, when gates closed. Opening them was possible but troublesome. She countered that Nazerick's carriage faced no barriers, but he noted, "Momon camped here. That fire pit's his."

Reluctantly, Yuri agreed.

Blushing, Yuri regretted her hasty reply. How could a Nazerick servant resist tracing Ainz's path? She tossed a thick branch onto the fire, its flames strong enough to catch green wood.

Staring at the dancing flames, she glanced at the man's empty spot, feeling a mix of disappointment and relief. Nabe was to blame.

As dusk fell, Nabe sent a magical message, worried they hadn't reached E-Rantel. The man's evasive replies suggested she pressed hard. Then, Yuri received a message: "That man, Albedo's direct subordinate, is like a lustful beast. Stay cautious. If he tries anything, knock him out lightly—he'll survive, and Lupusregina can heal him."

Yuri studied the man across the fire, fiddling with a twig. She didn't speak; he kept waving the stick. Silence stretched until Yuri broke it, receiving only vague replies. Had Solution been there, she'd have teased him; Sixth would've yanked his ear.

Unaware he grew distant when deep in thought, Yuri was startled when he dropped the twig, declaring, "The Round Moon Killing Tech can be improved."

Yuri sighed, pressing her forehead. Reflecting on battle was admirable, but this? He critiqued swordplay's obsession with circles, arguing straight lines were better for reaching targets quickly. "The Round Moon Killing Tech is over. I propose the Square Horizon Killing Tech."

Yuri's head ached slightly. His reasoning seemed sound, but the conclusion was absurd. Was he foolish?

His thoughts concluded, he responded normally again. Yuri regretted her last question, feeling guilty for upsetting him despite her kindness as a Nazerick servant.

"You lit the fire skillfully. What did you do before?" she asked.

"You know I was imprisoned long," he replied. "Hard to say what I did."

Yuri had attended his first audience with Ainz, under Albedo. "Before that?" she pressed.

Imprisoned over a decade, he wasn't born captive. Before, he'd have been around ten. Standing, he stroked his chin. "I'm tall, above the kingdom's average for men."

Yuri, tall for a woman, noted he was taller. "My jaw's narrow," he added. Compared to Gazef's rugged jaw, it was. Nazerick's human-like servants all had fine jaws, so Yuri was puzzled.

"What's that mean?" she asked.

"Height depends on childhood nutrition, not birth. A narrow jaw means soft, rich food. I grew up well-off," he explained.

Women choose tall men as signs of wealth, though abundant food might erase such markers—a future the kingdom, without Nazerick, couldn't reach.

"But…" he trailed off.

"What?" Yuri asked.

"Nothing… I need a moment. Can't do it here, so I'll step away," he said.

"Be careful—it's dark. Stay within earshot, watch your step. Need a torch? A thick branch won't go out," she offered.

"I walked here earlier; I know the branches. Thanks for your care," he replied, deflecting.

Yuri felt guilty for touching a sensitive topic, not offended. As a Nazerick-born servant, she'd known only glory. This man, native to this land, likely had a complex past.

Returning from his errand, he said, "I'll sleep for tomorrow," and headed to the carriage. The door clicked shut.

Alone, Yuri felt regret, relief, and guilt. She'd asked something delicate, but it was done. If he lingered on it tomorrow, she'd apologize.

Nabe's words echoed: "A lustful beast in human skin." Yuri expected inappropriate advances, but none came. He'd glanced at her chest a few times—normal, given its size. Lupusregina once teased, "What's in there? Melons? Watermelons? Water-cups!" despite her own ample figure. Yuri's size drew eyes, and she sensed their intent. His glances weren't crude.

Created beautifully by Yamaiko, why didn't he show interest? Being untouched was a relief, but Nabe's warning implied she'd faced his advances. If Nabe was a target but Yuri wasn't, her pride stung.

"Sigh… what am I thinking?" Yuri muttered, reverting to her natural "boku" self, rare for the ladylike Pleiades member.

She tossed a thick, green branch onto the fire, watching it catch. As a dullahan, she needed no sleep or rest. Guarding the fire until dawn, dreaming of Ainz as Momon, sounded pleasant.

Then, a voice reached her ears.

A voice? The man should be asleep in the soundproof Nazerick carriage. Perhaps travelers saw the fire. The voice didn't near, suggesting they hadn't noticed it. Bandits were eradicated, and talking monsters lived deep in the forest. Goblins or ogres would be louder.

Yuri, with night vision and skills to assess threats, approached cautiously, avoiding snapping twigs. She realized the man wasn't in the carriage.

Peering from the shadows, she saw his silver hair gleaming. He wasn't alone.

"They're camping," Solution said.

"Camping!? Why!? Doesn't Onii-sama want to come back to me!?" Nabe cried.

"Why's it about you, So-chan?" Lupusregina teased.

"Sleeping on the ground's better than my fluffy bed!?" Nabe fumed.

"Nabe went adventuring with Momon-sama! Spending a night with Ainz-sama's unfair—switch with me!" Solution argued.

"That's unrelated!" Nabe snapped.

The sisters, usually close, bickered over the man and Ainz. Lupusregina sighed, "They're back tomorrow. I'm grabbing dinner."

She ate, bathed thoroughly, and locked her bedroom door. Stuffing blankets to fake her presence, she leapt out the window, vaulted E-Rantel's walls, and raced down the E-Rantel–Carne Village road. With a carriage, their camp would be obvious. At full speed, she'd cover the distance in under an hour.

Spotting the grand carriage and two figures by a campfire, Lupusregina grinned slyly.

"Why's Lupu here?" Yuri thought, seeing her sister with the man, not just close but pressed together. Her night vision revealed their faces touching—likely kissing.

Yuri had caught Lupusregina in the act.