Chapter 18 - 『Smoldering Silence』

Like a pimple, the walls of the Cathedral burst as a powerful composite blast of flames and a bludgeoning force tore through the Capital City of the Slane Theocracy. A blinding white light, stealing the sight and lives of all those within its range.

Buildings were swept away, human bodies left shadows behind were they once stood. The screams couldn't be heard over the rumbling and soon silence rained over the empty walls which now seemed cracked and lifeless from the following shockwave. Everyone inside the city was dead, like in the legends of the Silent City that had been felled by the undead so many years ago in the Beastman Nation to the West.

Jack stood there, in the sky, with Demiurge floating right beside him with several items in his arms. Zesshi's head could be seen resting cradled along Jack's arm, before he dropped it into his item box.

If he wanted her at some point, if he had no choice but to accept someone like her, he'd just use true resurrection on her. Though he was pretty much doubting ever wanting someone who wanted him for his power and hated her own heritage.

To hate one's heritage, would be to hate part of one's self.

The flames and death which reflected in his glasses, caused the Devil to grin widely at what the Supreme Being had done. He saw this as a righteous act against those who had fought against the Great Tomb of Nazarick and failed not only once, but twice.

"The magnificent destructive power behind your extensive prowess over magic will never cease to amaze us all, Cipher-sama. I can only fathom the meaning behind your actions."

"They may have had more than just one world item, they had to be destroyed." Jack uttered before looking over towards the Floor Guardian through his visor. He then turned his head towards the direction of the Elven Kingdom. "Their culture is also based on extreme prejudice towards nonhumans."

According to the one man he had devoured from that fight in the Six Cardinal's Cathedral, it was clear that the Slane Theocracy was at War with the Elves and the Elves were on the losing side.

However now the Theocracy was likely without any of its leadership, as it had been all in one place. Or at least the highest political authority was now lost, along with the chain of command.

He was beginning to wonder how the Elves would fair now against the remaining scriptures which were now very few and far between.

From what he could tell, the Elf King could've wiped the floor with the Theocracy troops, and yet declines to do so, claiming his own people to be weaklings.

It reminded him of how his daughter only wanted to mate with the Strong. In which had actually gotten her killed since he had no interest in doing so. On top of that, Demiurge had practically killed her after he partially crippled her.

Jack looked towards the items which Demiurge and he had taken from the Sanctuary which held the Six Great Gods' items prior to the destruction he had planted.

"If we don't take credit, I wonder who will..." Jack chuckled quietly to himself as he scratched the side of his helmet. A sickening sound like that of nails on a chalkboard could be subtly heard for a few seconds before he stopped.

"Lets return to the Great Tomb," He'd suggest before looking at Demiurge who had already put all the items in his own item box for safe keeping. It was easier than just holding onto them physically.

Just for killing so many people, Jack had mentally exhausted himself. He could use magic, that was for sure, and he could use his physical prowess. The motivation was just no longer there.

"As you say Cipher-sama. It would be best," the only thing that annoyed Jack about Demiurge and most of the other NPCs was that they were all Yes men. Except for his little sister who was practically programmed not to be. His sister wasn't a yes man, she was far from one. Though she did obey him despite her somewhat rowdy tomboyish bratty personality.

So as the two of them turned their backs on the smoldering ruins of, Kami Miyako, the Capital City to the Slane Theocracy. It was likely that even the Pontifex would have perished in this attack. The Government would be crippled and the Exclave would be able to invade steadily should they choose to do so.

So as their portal appeared and they slithered on in. They appeared in the Throne Hall of the Ninth Floor, it was empty. Momonga wasn't seated on the King's Throne.

"You may leave the items near the Throne," Jack said as he gestured forward. His helmet would disperse into black smoke, revealing his face.

His emotional features seemed to have been muted. Like an angel, he was heavily stoic.

Demiurge's brows furrowed seeing the change in the man's facial expressions. While he probably wasn't the most empathetic person there. He could tell that Jack wasn't pleased with his own actions. Even though he had crippled a nation which despised nonhumans and even went out of their way to wipe them out. It was something that Demiurge didn't understand.

The Arch-Devil would continue to watch as the man walked towards the double doors to the exit of the Throne Hall. He just remained there until Jack vanished as the door closed behind him automatically.

…

Momonga was standing in the corridor where all the bedrooms were belonging to the members of his Guild. His eyes traveled over each one of the doors. Imagining the words each one could possibly say to him. The conversations that he has already come to believe he would never have.

So many of his friends had quit before the end. Even if there was just the slightest chance of there being more of his friends out there in the world… His eyes rested on Jack who was floating down the corridor. He just watched his friend for a moment until he came close.

Momonga reached out and lightly grasped at his arm, causing Jack to stop and glance over at him.

Even though Momonga lacked distinguishable facial features because all he had was a skull, Jack could see his sympathy in those red eyes of his. He really was starting to miss Momonga's real face.

He let out a quiet sigh let out a plain chuckle that sounded forced, a sound a depressed person would make in order to somehow make themselves feel better.

"Jack?"

Jack smiled genuinely as he heard the man say his name. The Guardians called him Cipher-sama because he told them to. Yet what he liked was his real name, which he had Solution, Eve and Sebas Tian now call him whenever he was in their house in E-Rantel.

Not that he had been staying there for long.

"You didn't check in, so I sent Demiurge, are you alright?"

Jack looked over his face as he was asked about his personal well-being. "Yes, no…" He flexed his jaw in confusion slightly at the way he was feeling. Depression, that may be it. Yet it was feeling as if he was floating on nothingness. As if his emotions were unidentifiable for the time being.

Could it be the anxiety from killing all those people? Or was he really not that effected?

He let out a slight groan, his eyes shifting to the boney hand which grasped his armor covered arm.

Jack rather feel some warmth than a cold fleshless hand. He remembered how his friend's hand felt on his shoulder whenever they were at work. The idea of not being able to get back to the real world was already sinking into the back of his mind. Not that he really wanted to go back, he just missed bits and pieces of life as it was.

Bits and pieces of life that he wouldn't be getting back.

"I'll be fine after a nap, that tends to work." Jack quietly spoke before looking towards the bedroom. He hadn't brought any furniture to the new place. That may be a start to keep his mind off of what he was feeling or wasn't feeling.

If he couldn't drink away a problem, he'd definitely sleep it away.

However as he was making his way towards his quarters after Momonga reluctantly let go of his arm, he kept a blank smile on his lips. When he finally reached his door, he turned his head to look at the twin elves who were running around.

Though in reality it was just Aura asserting her authority of being a big sister, over her little brother.

Just as she noticed him, she came to a stop and blinked several times. She could see the odd feeling behind that hollow smile on his face. Her head followed him as he walked into his room without a word.

"Mare," She lunged forward and grabbed her brother by the cloak to stop him from running away. She then dragged him close and tucked him under her arm, whispering inaudibly into his ear.

"Sis… T-that c-could just upset him."

"But his sister had been sleeping with him and he didn't seem to mind. Plus, he told me to take advantage!" She bounded her free hand, fist, against her chest. "Plus, he told me to call him Big Brother." She tilted her head at her brother curiously. "Wouldn't that make you his little brother too?" She had this cheeky and devious look on her face, as if this was a master plan.

"Sis… Eve could get jealous..." Mare warned as he was at least aware of the strange dynamic that the Homunculi and the Supreme Being had.

"Eh!? It's not like I'm replacing her," she released her brother and folded her arms behind her head, making a slight duck face with her lips protruding forward. "I'll just be her big sister too!"

Mare choked on the air for a split second before looking at his sister, gripping at the green cloak around his neck nervously. "Bu-but..."

"Stop butting! Mare! Just do it! 'Oniisama' might 'leave' if he's unhappy! Just like the others… And then Ainz-sama will be all alone."

Mare stared forward at the idea of Momonga being all alone with the other Guardians and residents of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. As he imagined there being one less person, it didn't feel right, but that was just probably because he was there. If he wasn't there since the beginning, then they probably would have never known the difference.

So the two finally came to an agreement.

Hesitantly Mare made his way over to the right side of the door, while his sister Aura crept to the left. She reached forward and pushed the door open slowly to peer inside.

The armor which Jack wore practically all the time and hid using glamour magic, was sprawled through the floor. Along with a body suit which had been worn beneath it.

As they rested their eyes on the angelic form laying on the bed, he was wearing flannel pajamas, silver and blue to be exact. They appeared to look extreme fluffy and soft, even from a distance, despite how thin it really was.

Jack's eyes were only partially open, but he didn't really react to the opening of the door.

He could see their little shapes tip toeing into the room. Which he found partly amusing even though his eyes didn't follow their movements or look directly at them. His eyes were mostly on the ceiling and upper wall in front of himself.

Directly in front of his bed, on the dresser was a World Item known as the Mirror of Change. It was essentially a mirror which allowed the user to change their appearance at any given time they used it.

It was something he used often in game in order to experiment with the looks he enjoyed the most.

So when he finally felt someone hugging onto his right wing as if it was some sort of plushie, his head slowly shifted to the side as he was resting it upon the pile of pillows.

"Eh?" Jack's lips parted slightly, seeing Aura clinging to his wing. Smiling up at him sympathetically, though not really knowing what had happened.

Feeling someone lay onto his left wing, he glanced away from her and rested his eyes on Mare. Jack could only blink now in confusion as to why these two were now clinging to him.

"Um.. What is this, exactly?" Jack immediately turned to look at Aura again with a brow raised in question. He was able to quickly figure that she was the mastermind behind this due to her little brother's unassertive personality. It was likely he was being forced into this too.

"We're here to cheer you up Oniisama," Aura said with a cheery tone, squeezing his wing lightly. "So don't leave."

Jack's blank smile widened slightly as his eyes softened while he faced forward once more, "Oh..." He didn't know whether or not to laugh or cry at this. Two seventy some year old children were hugging him, trying to cheer him up by snuggling up with his wings. Were they trying to emulate Eve?

"I don't see myself leaving any…" Jack predominately yawned, "Anytime soon."

Letting out a silent shallow slow exhale, Jack's eyes would close and be greeted by the dark. Sleep was quickly approaching, something he was pretty good at doing without trying in both realities it seemed.