Momonga made his way to the bathroom, thankfully even with his rotten luck, he didn't encounter anyone on his way. One might think that he had become too paranoid, but those who thought that way didn't just have the experience he had, even just one week in this crazy Earth.
Serafall didn't jump out from under the desk in his office. Katase didn't fall off the ceiling. And Cocytus didn't suddenly rise from the sink drain. They might be a farfetched occurrence, but Momonga wouldn't discount his luck finding a way.
Closing the door of the bathroom behind him, Momonga instantly disrobed, removing his standard outfit, sending it into his inventory, before turning the shower on the tub to the coldest setting he could find, then climbing into it. Enjoying the cold spray of water, like a Buddhist monk, Momonga stared silently at the ceiling.
After a few minutes, the cold water completely hid his body, submerging everything, including his head, under the water, allowing Momonga, who didn't need air, to express his emotions. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
After a moment's suppression of emotion, his scream halted, leaving Momonga a moment's peace to enjoy the chilly water. Actually, the water was close to freezing cold, and perhaps even slightly uncomfortable, though with Momonga's immunity, the cold wouldn't bother him.
Momonga, without lifting his head from under the spray of water, and after judging that the tub is sufficiently filled, closed the faucet and lowered himself into the tub. Even as he enjoyed the cooling wash, even when the suppression of emotion cut off all his emotional response, he found himself completely powerless before the objective reality of the facts presented before him.
"So…" After a few minutes of lying silently on his back, Momonga was finally able to formulate his first thought through the cacophony of his own panic.
"A brief revision of the situation is in order. Albedo and Shalltear have arrived at Miki's house – let's call that 'problem number one'. I probably should have guessed something like that would happen – just sitting in Nazarick is boring, Demiurge had said something like that, and I let him get out of Nazarick. Though with an order not to appear before common people and to stay in Raynare's Church for the moment, to find ways to strengthen Nazarick and help her with managing her business. And with an order to protect Raynare and her wards, I could let that situation settle for the moment, even with how weird the Fallen Angel's religion is. Or should I call it a cult?"
Remembering the macabre display he saw inside the church, Momonga involuntarily shivered – and not from the cold water.
"I should have known that if even Demiurge got bored, then so would the other inhabitants of Nazarick, especially since I hadn't directly forbidden them to leave the confines of Nazarick, nor had I given them any instructions. So it makes sense that Albedo and Shalltear would have wanted to get out of Nazarick, and it makes sense that they would have come to me. But what to do? Albedo and Shalltear are level one-hundred creatures, though I'm not particularly worried about danger to them in this world, at least, so far, I haven't met anyone who could pose any danger to them personally in this world. And besides if, no, when I do – having the support of one-hundredth level creatures is better than not having any… But what do I do about their eye-catching appearance?"
Feeling another headache coming, Momonga splashed cold water on his face before continuing on.
"Shalltear's white hair, pallor, and red eyes… They can be concealed, especially if she were to wear something like black glasses? But Albedo has horns and wings, it's impossible to hide them, maybe a giant cape…? No, that's more eye-catching, so how?"
The thought of wings and horns caused an idea to pop in Momonga's head.
"I just need to find out exactly why paranormal beings hide their existence from the human world! Right, that should work but… Until then, I can only instruct Albedo to stay in the house, or maybe I can send her to the Demiurge, so she can assist him in his duties? Shalltear would probably have an easier time fitting in, she's more human-looking – at least in her normal form. What's left to perfect the disguise is for her to adopt the norms of this world – wasn't there a book?"
Racking his head, and then some delving to his Inventory, answered that question.
"Ah, Right! Demiurge has it… Did he already make copies of it, I wonder? I should ask him later. Well, without the book, it would be too dangerous for the both of them to be wandering about, especially with the Demons around… Umu, they should both stay home for now, at least until I can explain the norms of this world to them."
Feeling the water begin to warm up, he turned the nozzle again for a bit, some of the water pouring out of the tub.
"Okay! That's one done… just a few couple of dozens more to go." Momonga shifted his body slightly, out of an instinct to relax, though whether his new body could develop muscle strain is still in question. The act at least acted as a placebo before he had to face a very stressing train of thought.
"My romantic relationship with Albedo isn't even a problem, it's a fact. Yes, I'm officially… Umu, I guess, dating Albedo? If you can call it that. It's not a bad thing… per se. The concern seemed to be that I don't have a romantic relationship only with Albedo… I'll be totally fine with that! No, instead I'm actually being pushed to create a harem, I'm expected to do that sort of thing!"
A bout of Emotion Suppression freed Momonga's mind of the hysteria, allowing him to lie in the blissful cold that cooled his overheated brain. "The very concept of a harem is nothing new. In the history lessons from my friends tell me that it was the norm in many countries in the past, and even in my past world for the rich and powerful people, for example, heads of mega-corporations. Those people often kept several official lovers and mistresses in addition to their wives or husbands – it was not officially encouraged, of course, but in fact they were too rich and powerful for anyone to oppose their decisions. So it wasn't news to me, the very fact and possibility of such a thing – but I admittedly never imagined myself in the shoes of these rich and powerful people… Though I probably should, given that I was now unexpectedly rich, powerful, and influential enough – at least within Nazarick. But having a relationship with two girls at once? Sure, Albedo and Shalltear had shown interest in me before, but… I just thought they were vying for being my wife, a position that only one could occupy – not that the both of them would be okay with a second… Or even more, for… I suppose any number of girls. Such a discovery was unexpected to me."
Thankful for the cold water, Momonga dunked his head into the pool of almost freezing water to cool his head… and another extremity.
"Let's think about it logically – what does this mean for me?" Momonga twisted his body to and fro, as if to relax some phantom part of his body. Either that or his body was recognizing the uncomfortable cold surrounding him.
"Up until now I scarcely ever imagined myself being with even one girl, several at once? Maybe I should roll the gacha with that amount of wishful thinking. Now to have that, and even more, that all the girls know about each other and even nudge me toward new partners? It's… Well, not to lie to myself, it feels good. And I like the thought – my libido may have been dulled after my transition into my new skeletal body, but inside I'm still a normal man, thoughts like that make me happy and excited. Especially, when even by doing so, I'm not hurting my significant other by such actions… Um, can I use the term 'significant others' in this case?"
A moment passed when Momonga thought of asking, but he shook the thought away,
"Never mind. Going back to the question… A large harem of many diverse partners, especially in a case where I don't have to agree to share those partners with other men – is fine… More than fine, in fact, I could already hear Peroroncino complaining that I should explode already. Although I will have to take care to provide my partners with a decent life and enough attention, time and love given… And sex, too, probably."
Scrubbing himself one last time, Momonga finished with his cold bath. Reaching for the cork, Momonga pulled it, letting the cold water begin to drain, as he stood up, eager to find himself now under a warm shower and complete his wash. "Umu, so as long as this clause is enforced, and all parties agree to such terms, I see no particular problem… At least for the moment where's there's only two of them. Really, to be fair, Shalltear is very beautiful – Peroroncino created her primarily for his own fetishes and tastes, but I still find her extremely beautiful and attractive, and… Umu, that's the kind of thinking that starts problems."
Readying his bathing supply, Momonga turned on the hot water. Scalding hot, just as he preferred, and needed in his past life, in the rare chances that he could afford to shower, to clean any possible contaminants
"Shalltear clearly said she wants to have sex with me, and Albedo, judging by her appearance, is fine with it… So just don't try to play favorites now and line up a potential harem according to a 'like-dislike; list, if I do that I'm breaking the very first rule I learned as a boss, everyone needs to be given time, resources, and love. Plus, I have another problem."
"Miki." Momonga stood under the shower for a few seconds and began soaping his hair and body. "I don't know why I asked Miki her opinion on the current issue, because of the whole weird dinner situation? Or maybe I wanted to see if her answers would be similar to what the denizens of Nazarick would say. Or maybe I just wanted to ask random questions of random people around by that point, anything to help me escape answering anything. But I asked a question and got an answer, which made me feel lots of weird feelings."
After rinsing off his hair, Momonga lounged a few seconds under the shower, washing his body next. "Not that I mind Miki herself, really. She's a pretty woman, and she's actually close to my real age… But I have effectively destroyed her entire life, and that's not to mention the fact that she is my adoptive mother in this world, so having that kind of relationship with her is definitely a taboo. The very fact that Miki would agree to something like this is at least odd, and I'm not even sure how I should react to it. Should I be happy about potential sex with another partner, with everyone else's consent of course, or worry that Miki is clearly mentally damaged after everything that's happened?"
Cleaning the suds off, Momonga then just enjoyed the hot water running down his body..
"On the one hand – I see no way to get her old life back, and I've already done so many bad things and hurt everyone around me so badly… Surely one more action on my part won't be the last straw? Besides, I had already effectively made her my 'pet', even though I had not intended it to happen, I can't take back my words and turn things around… Should I then use my best tactic again – just shrug and act as if everything was fine with me? At least that tactic has never failed me before…"
Momonga turned off the shower, then ran a towel over his entire body and hair before using a spell, just in case, drying his body entirely. Stepping off the tub and shower, he walked to the mirror hanging off the wall to the side. Reequipping his gear, he took a look at himself in the mirror and found nothing out of place.
"Okay, I'll just go with the flow. Um, as it will be, so it will be."
Momonga made his way to the door, barely opening the door before he ran into Albedo just outside, who, from the look of her, had been carefully pressing her ear against the door a moment before.
"Albedo," Momonga paused, glaring at her, "Were you peeking?"
"How could I, Lord Momonga? You forbade me to do that, so of course not!" Albedo immediately smiled, like the cat that just caught the canary.
"I was eavesdropping."
"Umu," Momonga blinked, then sigh, feeling his rational mind instantly losing its battle against Albedo. "Umu, come downstairs please, I need to discuss proper behavior in this world with you."
"Absolutely." Albedo bowed, then rose from her spot on the floor before she headed further down the corridor, going to the first floor.
'Just go with the flow.' Momonga repeated the mantra to himself. 'Just go with the flow…'
Momonga made his way to his room, more in an attempt to get back into his personal territory for a moment and hide in it for a second than for any real purpose. 'Just go with the flow.'
'Just go with the flow…' Momonga turned the doorknob, opening the one before seeing the contents of his room – just as he left it in the morning.
***
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