A week had passed since the events at Carne Village, and Thoth slept soundly, his body sinking into the soft embrace of the mattress. It was, perhaps, the closest thing to lying on a cloud—peaceful, weightless, undisturbed.
Poke.
A small, warm finger pressed against his cheek.
Thoth mumbled in dissatisfaction, turning away from the intrusive sensation and curling deeper into his blanket.
Poke.
"Wakey wakey~" Aura whispered, her voice laced with mischievous amusement. She poked him again, then again. No response.
A sly grin crept across her lips—one that could only be described as dangerously sinister.
Carefully, she positioned herself behind Thoth on their bed and reached for the exit points of his wings.
And then, she tickled him.
"AH!"
Thoth shot up instantly, his entire body launching into the top corner of the room as if gravity itself had momentarily forgotten him. His wings flared wide, their crimson eyes glaring with a mix of offense and betrayal—while a few of them shook with silent laughter, cackling along with Aura.
Aura, wiping away a tear from her eye, sat back, utterly pleased with herself.
Thoth, on the other hand, groaned as he let himself fall to the wooden floor, shaking his head. Aura pouted.
"Oh, come on! That was funny!" she protested.
Thoth's lips curled into a wry smile. "Yeah… but some might disagree."
Aura followed his gaze, and sure enough, the eyes on his wings refused to look at her, some turning away dramatically, as if deeply offended.
Thoth could almost hear their collective "Hmph!"
"Awww, come on guys~" Aura cooed, inching closer to them.
The eyes glanced at Thoth, their silent plea for support obvious.
Thoth looked away.
Instantly, betrayal filled their metaphorical hearts.
Aura's expression brightened as she clasped her hands together, her large green-blue eyes shimmering with crocodile tears. "You won't forgive me…?"
The eyes wilted. If they could sweat, they probably would.
Then, like a specter, Aura appeared right beside them, her hand reaching to touch the wings.
"Come on guys~ I'll be gentle, I promise~"
Panic followed by immediate retreat.
Thoth sighed as his wings quickly folded back into his back, avoiding Aura's reach.
"Are you done teasing them?" he asked dryly.
Aura smirked. "You're lucky they're easier to tease than you. Or are you just jealous~?"
Thoth scoffed but said nothing, though his mind drifted to their journey so far.
At first, their relationship had been formal, stiff, and—honestly—kind of lame. Aura had been wary of him, and Thoth, still leaning into his carefully crafted persona, hadn't given her much to work with.
But Aura was a social detective, a natural-born tease who relentlessly chipped away at Thoth's act until she found what lay beneath.
He still maintained his persona, but around Aura, he didn't bother as much.
She was annoying with her antics sometimes. But… she was also one of the few people in Nazarick he actually liked.
That was why when Albedo had taken his newly created angels for some unknown assignment in the Roble Holy Kingdom, Ainz had gotten a brilliant idea.
Thoth and Aura would go there as well to have a fun field trip.
'Thank fucking God.' Thoth thought to himself as he remembered the relief he felt back then.
Had he been forced to stay in Nazarick one more day, forced to train and study, Thoth was certain he would have lost his mind.
"Hellooo~? Nazarick to Thoth~?"
Thoth blinked. "Huh?"
Aura gave him a deadpan stare before sighing dramatically. "Ugh. You're airheaded just like Shalltear," she grumbled, shaking her head in disappointment.
Thoth smirked. "…I regret sharing a room with you now."
Aura froze.
For just a second.
It was small. Almost imperceptible.
But Thoth saw it.
He grinned.
Aura cleared her throat and moved on as if nothing happened.
"Anyway!" She clapped her hands together, regaining her enthusiasm. "Since we're in the capital of the Holy Kingdom, we need to start getting down to business already!"
Right. The mission.
Thoth exhaled, pushing aside his amusement.
They were here for a reason—one that definitely wasn't just Ainz wanting to take a break from managing him.
Aura had spent the last few days strategizing, planning, and—most importantly—overthinking.
She was determined to figure out exactly what Lord Ainz expected of them.
Thoth, meanwhile, was determined to avoid unnecessary work, and that meant letting her handle it.
Aura paced the room, arms folded, her eyes burning with determination. "Alright, so I've been thinking," she declared, turning sharply to face Thoth.
Thoth, who had just sat down on the bed, gave her a lazy glance. "Oh no."
Aura ignored him. "Lord Ainz sent us here with a purpose. He didn't give us the details because he trusts us to figure it out."
"...Or because he didn't actually have a plan," Thoth offered.
Aura gasped. "How dare you question Lord Ainz's supreme wisdom!?"
Thoth rolled his eyes. "I question nothing. I simply acknowledge that half of... All of Nazarick, minus one, tends to overcomplicate things when it comes to him."
Thoth laid down on the bed, staring at the ceiling above with his hands behind his head.
Aura huffed, putting her hands on her hips. "Well, unlike some people, I'm going to take this mission seriously."
Thoth smirked. "By all means. Enlighten me."
Aura grinned. "It's obvious. Lord Ainz wants us to spread Nazarick's influence here."
Thoth raised an eyebrow. "Does he?"
"Yes! Think about it," Aura continued, pacing again. "The Holy Kingdom has so much potential! It's divided between the North and South, meaning it's politically unstable." She spun around, gesturing wildly. "It's got a strong religious foundation, which means people are eager to follow something divine."
Thoth's eyes narrowed. "Something divine?"
Aura nodded, grinning like a fox. "Exactly! That's where you come in."
"No."
Aura pressed on. "Come on, Thoth!"
"Nuh-uh."
"Oh please! You're practically a God in appearance alone! You've got the wings, the eyes, the voice—"
"The what?"
"You know, that whole 'I am an ancient being, kneel before me' thing you do when you're being all high and mighty," Aura said, mimicking his deep, authoritative tone.
Thoth scowled. "I do not sound like that."
Aura smirked. "You totally do."
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So let me get this straight… You want me to pretend to be some kind of divine figure so the people of the Holy Kingdom will start following Nazarick?"
Aura grinned. "Exactly!"
Thoth sighed while staring at the ceiling. "...You are insane."
"Only a little." Aura plopped down beside him, crossing her legs. "Think about it. If we gather enough influence here, it'll make everything easier for Lord Ainz when Nazarick eventually makes a move on this kingdom. No war, no messy battles—just loyalty!"
Thoth considered it. On one hand, this sounded like an absurd amount of effort. On the other…
"…I do like being worshipped."
'That's a fucking lie' Thoth cursed, but his persona did like such a thing, so he had to pretend.
But... if he was entirely honest... The thought did appeal to him. Somehow.
Aura's eyes sparkled. "I knew you would!"
Thoth let out a low chuckle. "Alright, fine. I'll humor this ridiculous idea. But how exactly do you plan on getting me worshipped?"
Aura beamed, leaning in conspiratorially. "We find the right people. The ones who matter. And we make them believe."
Thoth nodded, but internally, he couldn't help but sigh to himself.
'The shit this girl will get me into...'
The duo left their room behind, stepping into the dimly lit hallway of the inn. The scent of freshly baked bread and warm stew drifted up from the common room, mingling with the lingering scent of ale from the previous night's patrons.
They were not wearing their clothing anymore, Aura, who changed in the washroom, was wearing a dark green, button-up vest with black buttons and dark green pants. She has a dark blue shirt underneath. In her vest, there was a small white pocket at her chest.
Meanwhile, Thoth was wearing a black vest with a white button-up shirt underneath. He also wore black pants along with a black cap on his head while his familiar white gloves still covered his hands. On his right hand, at the wrist, there was a fancy watch made out of black marble, lapis lazuli, and amethyst.
Despite its humble nature, the establishment was cozy, a welcome contrast to the cold grandeur of Nazarick.
But Thoth was not at ease. Not even his dapper outfit could protect him from what he knew would come for him soon.
His wings twitched in his back.
He could sense it.
A looming presence.
A lurking force of nature that he had failed to account for in their planning.
Aura, oblivious to his inner turmoil, stretched her arms behind her head as they descended the stairs. "Alright, so, first thing we gotta do is get a feel for the capital. I was thinking we start at the marketplace—maybe eavesdrop on some merchants, check for any rumors, that sort of thing. We've only been here for a day or two-"
Thoth nodded absently, his mind elsewhere.
They were nearly at the bottom now.
Five steps.
Four.
Three.
Two—
"Thoooth-kyuuuun~!"
Impact.
A blur of movement.
Warmth.
Softness.
Smothering.
Thoth let out a strangled huff as he was immediately pulled into an overwhelmingly tight embrace. A pair of strong, toned arms wrapped around him, pressing him firmly into something both terrifying and all-encompassing.
Standing before them, with a beaming smile and an unyielding grip on Thoth, was Mireille, the inn's owner and self-proclaimed protector of all cute young boys who dared step foot into her establishment.
Mireille was… an issue.
For Thoth.
A woman in her mid-forties, Mireille was strikingly well-maintained for her age. Her dark auburn hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, accentuating her sharp green eyes. Her ample curves and well-toned arms spoke of years spent managing rowdy travelers and lifting barrels of ale with ease.
Most importantly, she was a menace, and Thoth was her favorite victim.
"Ohhh, you're still so cute! How is that even possible?!" Mireille gushed, "You're like a little doll! A precious, little, marble-skinned angel!"
Thoth could only suffer in silence. His arms were pinned to his sides, rendering him utterly helpless. His wings, partially unfurled, twitched in horror.
Well, he could just force his way out, but doing that would no doubt harm Mireille, and finding free housing and decent food in one package was difficult, so...
The many eyes embedded in them turned to Aura, their silent screams for assistance completely ignored.
Aura, arms crossed, smirked. "You know, for someone who likes acting all high and mighty, you sure get caught easily."
"Shut up," Thoth hissed, his voice muffled against Mireille's chest.
Mireille pulled back slightly, hands still firmly on his shoulders. "You slept well, right? No bad dreams?"
Thoth suppressed a shudder.
'If only you knew…'
He was about to respond when Aura, still watching with amusement, decided to weaponize the situation.
"You know, Mireille, if you're gonna keep treating him like a son, you might as well just adopt him."
Thoth turned his glare on Aura.
Mireille lit up.
"Ohhh~ That's not a bad idea!" she cooed. "Wouldn't that be nice, Thoth-kun? You could stay here forever with me~"
Thoth's soul left his body.
Aura cackled like an evil witch.
"I am leaving!"
Thoth twisted free, swiftly retreating toward the door before Mireille could pounce again.
"Aww, don't be like that~!" Mireille pouted. "I even let you and your girlfriend stay here for free~"
Silence.
Both Thoth and Aura froze.
Aura's cheeks flashed the faintest pink.
"Pfft—what?" she scoffed, looking away. "T-That's ridiculous!"
Thoth, somehow, paled. "Nope."
Mireille's knowing grin grew. "I see how it is~"
Thoth turned on his heel and headed to the door.
"Don't run away from love, Thoth-kun~!" Mireille called after him.
Aura followed, muttering curses.
But as she stepped outside, she swore she could still feel Mireille's smug grin on her back.
"That's what you get for poking the hornet's nest, dumbass," Thoth muttered as they walked side by side, the large and busy streets stretching around them.
"Oh come on! That wasn't my fault!" Aura indignantly exclaimed, but immediately, Thoth stuck his foot in front of her, causing her to stumble and fall.
"Oh come on! That wasn't my fault!" Thoth sarcastically spoke, replicating Aura's voice as he did so.
He ignored her whining and looked around, their little escapade had garnered a bit of attention, but not too much.
The streets of the Holy Kingdom's capital stretched wide before them, bustling with morning activity. Merchants called out their wares, the scent of freshly baked bread and roasting meats mingling with the cries and shouts of children playing in the streets. Horses clopped against the cobbled roads, and the murmur of voices filled the air like a steady hum.
Aura, brushing off the last of the dust from Thoth's little prank, shot him a glare. "You're lucky I like you."
Thoth smirked, casually adjusting the lapis-lazuli and amethyst watch on his wrist. "I'd say I'm blessed."
Aura rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the corner of her mouth from quirking up. Their banter had become second nature at this point, though she wasn't about to let him win so easily. "If you're blessed, then I'm a saint."
Thoth let out a low chuckle, his wings—hidden from mortal eyes—shifting slightly as their eyes idly observed the crowd. "That's a terrifying thought."
As they made their way toward the marketplace, Thoth's gaze flicked over the various stalls. Rows of fresh produce, exotic spices, and shimmering jewelry lined the streets, drawing in curious customers. Even among the more mundane goods, he could see the faint traces of magic lingering on certain artifacts—enchanted trinkets, protective charms, even low-tier magical weapons. Nothing impressive, barely first-tier magics, but noteworthy enough.
Aura nudged him lightly with her elbow. "See anything interesting?"
Thoth hummed. "Not particularly. Unless you count the bootleg holy relics that old man over there is trying to sell."
Aura followed his gaze and stifled a laugh. A wrinkled merchant was enthusiastically promoting a "genuine" blessed chalice that still had a tavern engraving on its side.
"Divine craftsmanship at its finest," Thoth deadpanned.
Aura smirked. "Maybe we should buy it for Lord Ainz. I bet he'd love the authenticity."
Thoth beamed at that idea. "Oh hell fucking yeah, I'm doing that."
"Fine, fine." Aura stretched, then glanced around. "We should split up and cover more ground. If Lord Ainz really wants us to gather influence, we need to start by listening in on the people."
Thoth sighed. "You're actually taking this seriously, huh?"
Aura grinned. "Of course. Unlike someone, I don't slack off."
Thoth waved his hand dismissively. "I'll humor your plan. For now."
With that, they parted slightly, still within sight of each other as they moved through the market.
Thoth, of course, bought the blessed chalice and stuffed it into one of his earings, content with the purchase.
Thoth's feet carried him through the crowd, his mind half-focused on his surroundings, half-lost in thought.
It wasn't until he passed a particular stall, with a particular person, that he felt it.
A twinge of something in his chest—not pain, not recognition, but familiarity, nostalgia.
Like a word on the tip of his tongue. A memory just out of reach.
His eyes snapped back toward the source.
A young woman stood nearby, speaking with a vendor.
She was dressed in clothing befitting a squire, simple leather armor at best. A cloak draped over her shoulders, and a sword hidden in its sheath. Her blonde hair, pulled into a simple ponytail, framed a determined face, her golden eyes filled with unwavering focus.
The poor man who manned the stall seemed to shrink beneath her gaze, as if she was threatening to devour him with nothing but a look.
Something about her felt familiar.
Thoth furrowed his brow. 'Do I know her?'
No. That didn't make sense. He had never seen this girl before.
And yet—
His fingers twitched at his side, the sensation gnawing at him like an itch beneath his skin.
'Is this a character I forgot about?'
The girl—Neia Baraja—seemed completely unaware of his scrutiny. She was too focused on her conversation, speaking in a hushed and desperate tone with the vendor, her expression panicked.
Thoth didn't move. He simply watched, his mind racing through the void where recognition should have been.
Then, her golden eyes flicked to him for just a second.
Thoth nearly flinched, she looked as if she was about to attack him, with eyes that seemed locked in a state of vigilant hostility.
Her gaze was sharp, assessing—but empty of recognition.
She didn't know him.
Neia turned back to the vendor, continuing her conversation, unaware of the turmoil she had just stirred in his mind.
Thoth exhaled, rubbing his temple.
He clenched his fist, pushing the sensation aside. He needed to figure this out. If this was somebody important who could stir his memories, then he would have to get in touch with them.
And that meant getting closer.
With slow, deliberate steps, he approached the stall, feigning interest in the goods while keeping his attention on the blonde knight.
Today would be an interesting day no doubt.
-x-x-x-
Finally managed to get something out to you folks, took me fucking ages!
But, TL⁏DR: I LIVED BITCH!
I've been terribly sick lately, not to mention some mental health issues which happened last month, but hey, I am a survivor if nothing else, and I am gonna stay on this Earth just to fucking spite God!
Hope you've had a fabulous week gentlemen and ladies, also, I am so disappointed none of you picked up on the whole "May Jesus cover you in his blessing" I put in at the end of the notes in the last chapter.
This chapter is way shorter than most, ("Only" 3071 words, so 2894 without this end portion), and while I could easily make it a good 7k, I wanted to get something out to you quickly to make sure you don't wither away like a flower without rain, that would be such a terrible thing!
Have a good one gang, go support me on Patreon, I live in your walls（⊙ｏ⊙）(Link in story description).
See you next time!