"We have to wait?" Aura's energy dispersed. The aroma from the pot leaked a little, making her hungry. She hoped the wait wasn't long.
"Yes, we'll have to wait Twenty-four hours." But, her hopes got crushed in an instant.
"Twenty-four hours…" Aura fell to the ground. She had to wait an entire day? She shouldn't mind this since the dish made by the Supreme Being would be worth the wait, but...
'Exactly because it is a dish made by the lord that the wait would be excruciating,' Narberal could understand Aura's problems as she too had a similar conundrum. However, she would wait for as long as it takes without a word.
Thankfully for them, the wait wouldn't be long.
"Yes, you have to wait for good food. But, I don't feel like waiting today so I'll cheat a little." Adam winked as the pots flew towards his hands.
The closer they came the smaller they became. Finally, they vanished into a small portal that appeared between his palms.
It puzzled them when the pots came out 6 seconds later. They landed on the counter and returned to their original size. But this time an overpowering aroma came out of the silent pots.
"We can start grilling them now." Adam smiled as the fire lit up under the grill.
"Yeah!" Aura didn't question anything and went to grill the meat with Adam as Mare followed to watch.
The only one behind was Narberal, her mind tried to understand what she witnessed.
'Could it be that the Lord placed it in another space and sped up the time in that location?' It was the only possible explanation that she could come up with at that moment. And she did not doubt his ability to do so.
'The Lord has transcended the concept of Classes. Nothing is impossible for him.' Unmatched in sword and magic, the common concepts of the world did not bind his existence any longer.
"You are correct." Her eyes widened as Adam stood before her. Which of her sentences did he agree to she had no idea, but it became a secondary thought.
"M-My Lord!" Before she knew it her hands held a plate with grilled meat.
'I shouldn't have spaced out.' Narberal dreaded her carelessness.
Cooking and serving were her tasks as the maid, but here he was bringing the food to her. This was her Lord, and this happened because of her mistake.
"Think of it as a reward from me." However, all negative and worrisome thoughts melted when he smiled.
"Y-Yes…" Her gaze lowered as Adam nodded satisfied.
'She hadn't complained once even if I became the new leader, and neither did those two.' Adam saw Aura and Mare enjoying their meal with glee. Even Narberal got entranced by the flavourful and juicy meat and forgot her woes. But this gave him time to consider the information he had.
Given that Mare still wore a skirt despite being a boy because of his creator's wish. Adam felt like these people must be very close to their previous leader. But they accepted him in an instant. He didn't even have to introduce himself so far.
'Maybe Albedo filled them in already? Regardless, I'll try to be a good leader if they take my presence this way.' He felt their respect, and he wouldn't let them down as per the contract.
"My Lord I apologize for leaving you alone." Narberal came near him as soon as she exited the dream realm created by the tasty food. Shameful, but she couldn't help it. His food was as magical as him.
"It's fine, the stars kept me company." Adam's eyes were still on the artificial night sky.
Bright stars sparkled across it like jewels, many constellations were there and it reminded him of the other world. The river of stars that flowed across the endless expanse of dark. Like an unknown realm right before his eyes, yet so far away.
"I suppose, I do miss something about that world." The starry nights of the other world were exceptional. It was one of the few sources of peace that he found there.
Slowly over time he started to use the beautiful view as a way to cope with his situation. He even made jokes about how others were busy with their activities. Alone only he appreciated the beautiful sky. But, now he could enjoy the beauty for what it is instead of using it as a distraction.
Narberal watched him in silence, she didn't know what he spoke of. She couldn't ask either. If she was worthy enough to know he'd have told her more. But, even if she wasn't, she would like to know more about him.
'I should stop before that insolence consumes me.' She cleared her mind and focused on him.
"My Lord, would you like some tea?" Narberal had to do the duty that she had been failing at for a while.
"Tea is always welcome. But there is another thing I'd like to ask of you Narberal." His words made her stand straight.
"Anything you wish for My Lord." He had to say the word.
"Call me by name rather than My Lord." However, it turned out to be a tall order.
She had heard his great name, but to call him by it was too much. Narberal couldn't possibly be that disrespectful. As a maid, she had to know her limits, but this was a direct order from him. And as she was his maid, she had to follow it.
"L-Lord… A-Adam…" Her face turned red when he smiled. This was the greatest honor she could receive, and it was the best she could do.
"You two as well," Adam turned to the twins who peeked over the kitchen counter.
They had long finished all the meat and happened to overhear them. Adam already drew their curiosity with the mystery around him. But his abilities also captured them. But, this conversation took their interest in many ways. And now that it got thrown their way.
"Thanks for the honor, Lord Adam." Aura didn't even have to think twice about this.
"S-Shank you, Lord Adam. I am sorry…" Mare bit his tongue.
"Well, that is a start." Adam laughed.
Maybe with time they'll start calling him by his name. Because of their unusually high and misplaced respect for him, it didn't seem possible for now. But time changes everything.
'It isn't unnatural either. After all, a hierarchy exists for a reason.' But, Adam wasn't fond of the fussy titles. So, he would try to ease them into it.
However, only time will tell how his efforts failed. The denizens of Nazarick begin to revere him more with each passing second no matter what he did. From the start, he had no way to win.
"Lord Adam, all your subjects have assembled." Albedo came into Coliseum with a smile and behind her was a group that consisted of intriguing individuals.
Rather than calling it a group, it was more akin to an army. A step behind her were the other Floor guardians, Area Guardians, The Pleiades, Regular Maids, Man servants, Golems, chefs, librarians, and beings he can only describe as monsters crawling forward in tow.
A little while ago Narberal, Aura, and Mare joined the ranks according to their positions. They all stopped their march a few steps in front of him, the eyes gathered on his form.
"Every being in the tomb has arrived to pay respect to you Lord Adam." Albedo knelt.
"We are in your grace Lord!!" The floor shook after the loud chant and screeches as they bowed their heads.
In a second it became the loudest place on the planet, yet in the next instance, it was deathly silent. The hearts in their hearts thumped even for the ones that didn't have one, the one in front of them commanded such a presence.
"Albedo, why is everyone here?" Adam felt many of the hasty arrivals and gatherings as he sat down on this floor.
They came back after hearing of the new Boss. Abandoning their current tasks and posts they stood before him when he told her not to do this. He never ran an organization before, but he destroyed many. So, he knew that pulling personnel out of their jobs was the worst move even if the organization fell apart. Unless they were doing nothing, and he knew that these people weren't just twiddling their thumbs.
"Lord Adam there is nothing more important for us than you."