And then, the regular maid Decrement poked her head out. She was probably on duty today.
She was a lively, short-haired maid.
Her pure and innocent eyes were always sparkling, and her movements were as cute as a small animal, bringing the usual smile to Yuri’s face. In particular, the regular maid Increment — who was made by the same Supreme Being as Yuri’s own creator — had a way of tensing up her back while she was reading which made Yuri feel very warm.
However, Decrement’s air of vitality was gone. It would not be quite right to say that she was nervous about her shift today. The slightly green tint to her face conveyed a sense of fear.
Something cold flowed down Yuri’s back. Her heart which should not be beating lurched.
What kind of tragedy had happened before Yuri had arrived?
However, once she recognized who Yuri was, a hint of relief came to Decrement’s eyes, and she regained a bit of her composure. Why was it that a maid who should have kept these emotions hidden could not help but reveal them?
The look on Decrement’s face implied that the situation was the opposite of what Yuri had imagined.
Whatever the situation within the room was, Yuri’s arrival had put Decrement at ease. In other words, Yuri’s presence had saved Decrement.
“I am Yuri Alpha. I present myself in response to Ainz-sama’s summons.”
“I understand. Please wait a moment.”
As expected, her voice carried a hint of relief within it.
The door before Yuri closed. Naturally, Decrement was awaiting the instructions of her Master within the room.
Yuri gulped audibly, preparing herself for whatever awaited her within the room.
Decrement opened the door once more.
“Ainz-sama has granted his permission. Please enter.”
As though she was urged forward by Decrement’s uncharacteristically tense voice, Yuri entered.
Yuri’s gaze rested on her Master, while she took in the interior of the room without moving her eyes — the situation was grave, and when Yuri sensed what had happened, her face twisted for a moment.
It was no wonder that Decrement had that look on her face. Being made by the same Supreme Being, it was only natural that they would have the same expression when they were worried.
However, Yuri worked to ignore that, and so she passed through the door, arriving before her master.
“—Your servant, Yuri Alpha, has come in response to your summons, Ainz-sama.”
Yuri bowed her head, and Ainz responded immediately, as though he wanted her to raise it immediately.
“Mm. I'm glad you came, Yuri.”
Her master slowly steepled his fingers in front of his mouth.
“Do you know what I wish to say?”
“If you will permit your servant to guess…”
Yuri wanted to look at a certain corner of the room, but she resisted.
“…Is that so. Then, I shall make this quick.”
Yuri knew her Master’s eyes had left her, going in the direction she was strenuously trying to ignore.
Yuri gathered up her resolve, and spoke.
“Does it concern that matter?”
“Indeed. That is precisely the matter.”
In that place was Yuri’s sister, Solution Epsilon.
For some reason, she was in a seiza position.
The fact that she would be sitting in that posture within the room of the Supreme One suggested that she had done something worthy of rebuke.
Yuri was undead, but her gut suddenly cramped up.
“…W-what has my sister done?”
“Umu…”
The Supreme One slowly rose from his seat. Then, he turned his back on Yuri. After looking to the sky for several seconds, he turned his head around and spoke.
“Solution took my Miyoshi-kun, no, Miyoshi — I don’t know if you know, so I shall quickly explain; he is a Sapphire Slime which I use for certain purposes, and Solution has hidden him away somewhere. Even when I asked her, she refused to speak. Therefore, I called you over.”
“Aieee!”
A strangled shriek escaped Yuri’s lips.
That was a truly monstrous sin. It would not be surprising if one were to be executed for it. No, it was a sin which demanded the complete annihilation of the party in question. Since Solution had committed such a grave offense, she could not even begin to beg for leniency on her behalf.
Yuri mustered up all her strength to speak.
“…If she must be questioned, your servant submits that Neuronist-sama might be more suitable.”
Yuri desperately struggled to keep the tears which the undead should not possess from escaping her eyes.
She had to kill off their sisterly ties. This was the appropriate attitude to take with one who had disrespected the Supreme Beings.
“…I will not do that. Firstly, if I seriously intended to investigate this matter, I would only need to read her memories.”
“Yes!”
Indeed, that was correct. That would mean the reason why she had been called up was to shoulder her responsibility as elder sister, to make Solution confess even if she had to use harsh methods.
“—Understood!”
Yuri hardened her heart.
Solution was a Slime. Thus, she was adept at dealing with physical attacks, and she possessed an especially strong resistance to piercing or slashing attacks. However, bludgeoning attacks could hurt her.
Yuri activated her gauntlets, having them envelop her fists. Then, she stepped towards Solution.
“..Wait.”
This time, her supreme master had given an order.
“May I know what is the matter, Ainz-sama?”
“Yuri, what did you intend to do?”
“…Your servant was planning to interrogate Solution.”
“…Umu. Then, then why, are you using your gauntlets to cover your fists?”
Yuri realised her Master’s intent, and then she was stunned. The implication was that he wanted Yuri to carry out the procedure with her bare hands. She would directly feel the sensations of striking her little sister, thus tormenting Yuri, the person carrying it out.
“U-understood. If that is what you command, Ainz-sama.”
Yuri returned her gauntlets to their standby state. Her supreme Master grunted and nodded, then tilted his head.
“Hm?…It feels like my question was not answered, but if you understand, then that will make things simple. Well, forget it. Let’s go with this. In that case, get the answer from Solution, Yuri.”
“Yes!”
Yuri stood before Solution. Perhaps she knew what would happen to her after this, but her little sister merely looked downwards. Yuri raised her fist high, prepared to strike.
“—Stop!”
Yuri sensed worriedness in her Master’s voice as her body went stiff, and then she looked back.
“You… what were you planning to do?”
Yuri did not understand what her Master’s words meant, and she was confused.
“No, ah, in accordance with your orders, your servant was planning to obtain the answer from Solution…”
“…Uh…hm?…Was I mistaken? Let me ask again, how did you intend to make Solution answer me?”
“Yes! Your servant intended to beat her until she was near death, and get the answer from her while her mind was clouded.”
After hearing this, her Master suddenly froze. Then, he stared closely at Yuri.
Had she said something wrong? After nervousness swept over Yuri, her Master turned his back to her once more.
After a few eternal seconds, her master slowly began to speak.
“Yuri. That was not what I ordered. Perhaps Solution hid my Miyoshi because she was obeying some wish of Herohero-san’s. It is something which she cannot tell me. That was why I was thinking that perhaps you could help me ask her for the answer.”
“M-my sincerest apologies!”
Yuri hurriedly put her hands on the floor and bowed deeply.
Indeed, if it was for that reason, then she would not be blamed. The assistant butler could be excused because the Supreme Beings had decided that he should be that way. However, it was one thing to permit it and and another to like it.