Chapter 19 - 『Sticker』

It had been four days since he last opened his eyes, eaten or even moved from the bed.

Jack's hues seemed to glow through the cracks of his eyelids as they slowly lifted from their long slumber. The weight from someone laying on or even clinging to his wings were gone for a while now.

When had they left him? He was curious. The moment he had let his unconsciousness take over, he had lost himself in lucid dreams. Ones which explored the past, his past and the possibilities that he computed in his mind. How life could have turned out should he have not been in game or if their friends remained. It set him at ease, the imagination that traveled through endless possibilities.

He closed his eyes again, but he didn't feel the need to slip into the darkness of his unconsciousness. So his eyes opened again, sticking slightly together as pulled them apart for a second time. "Hm..." He glossed his lips slightly with the tip of his tongue, his mouth was dry, that was for sure.

Resting with his head on the pillow, his eyes focused forward towards the ceiling above. A fake sky dotted with a simulated universe. Stars, super novas and nebulae filled with moving interstellar gases.

In a way he could lay there forever and just watch it. He had no problem in doing so. That was until he went to rub his face and felt something on his cheek.

Reaching up with his finger, he would poke a One Yen sticker which had been pasted to his cheek.

"..." The only place he had seen a one yen sticker was on one of the maids. CZ if he could be mistaken. Frowning slightly he would pull the sticker off the side of his face and tuck it into his item box. Sadly, he could still feel the residue on his cheek from the

Sitting up, he'd drape his legs over the side of the bed before springing to his feet. He felt empowered, but it could hardly make him forget what he had done. Even if he didn't want to forget.

He knew the Blade of Azrael would have negated the loss and gain of Karma from killing others with it directly or just by wielding it while he killed others. So that meant his power didn't lessen considering it hadn't dropped into the negative.

With a higher karma of an Angel, the higher the powered racial class and related spells could possess. That was common knowledge for a YGGDRASIL player as a Holy spell would likely have less effect being cast by a person with negative karma, vice versa.

So in the end, having to use a special ability to readjust his karma values was unnecessary, and no one had to sacrifice their own health to do it for him either. All he had to do now was live with what he had done, even though he had initially thought he was right to decimate an entire city. The only good thing that would come out of it would be the Elves no longer being on the losing side of the war.

The problem that could arise though is that the Slane Theocracy was wide open to be conquered by the Exclave, if they weren't so occupied in trying to invade the Holy Roble Kingdom. If the Slane Theocracy were to completely fall, that would then leave the Elves at the mercy of the Beastmen.

Jack didn't want Elves to suffer for his actions, even then, he didn't want the Elf King to live either.

He was refusing to help his people, people who he is sworn to protect as the King.

Looking over his armor which had been neatly placed in the corner of the room. He couldn't help but smile before standing up, his stomach growling at him for neglecting his dietary needs.

"I guess this is the only time I wish I was Undead?" Jack snickered to himself as a joke, considering Momonga didn't have to eat and probably didn't have to sleep. "Probably not..." As he thought about it, that was probably a bad thing to wish for.

Not being able to dream, not being able to eat and not being able to have children in a normal fashion.

Jack walked over to his armor and plucked the bodysuit from the ground and dragged it up over his body. Concealing his lower body and then his torso before slipping the armor pieces on one by one.

In a matter of an hour he was fully dressed in his armor, which as he cast a silent glamour, turned into a set of sturdy traveling clothes. He tucked the helmet into his item box however before walking to the door of his room and pausing.

His hand reached up and kneaded through his hair. "Eh.. Greasy..." He padded his hair down a bit before reaching into his item box and drawing a bottled syrupy dark crimson colored fluid.

Popping the top off of the bottle, he would then pour it down his gullet. Immediately a feeling of euphoria passed over him as his dopamine levels went skyrocketing for a moment.

He had just drank the potion made from the corpse of the Black Scripture's Third Seat. Magical knowledge flowed right through him, the person being able to cast the highest of human capacity.

Yet all he wanted was the small spells, ones which could be used for improving hygiene and the like.

『Bodily Cleanse』He recited the spell, a light blue glow engulfed his body for a split moment before fading out. His hair was no longer greasy and his skin was clean as a whistle.

Admiring his handy work in the mirror before stepping out of the room, he paused the moment he exited the bedroom. His eyes tagged each room. Not a single door had moved, at least the ones that belonged to the other members of Ainz Ooal Gown.

A light sigh left his lips, as he did have at least one dream of his friends, specifically Bukubukuchagama, the famous Voice Actress he was hoping would come on before the end of the game. Yet she never arrived. It wasn't really as if he believed she would show. So he let out a light chuckle to himself as he scratched the back of her head.

Turning his head, his gaze went far down the corridor until it met with Demiurge who was walking down the corridor with his hands folded behind his back. That arrogant smile on his lips, his glasses reflecting the light of the chandeliers overhead.

"Demiurge!" Jack shouted as he raised his hand slightly as the Arch-Devil approached.

The moment he was in range, the Devil bowed with his hand across his chest. "You have finally graced us with your presence, Cipher-sama!" He couldn't help but smile further as he spoke loud and proud, boasting of the things he believed he understood, "I am sure your meditation has centered your thoughts, my Supreme Being!"

Jack just stood there staring at him with this stoic look on his face now after hearing him speak. Tempted to just turn around and go back to bed, he simply shrugged. "I'll keep you guessing," a simple expressionless look remained on his face as he folded his hands behind his back tactfully.

"Where is our leader?" Jack was obviously referring to Momonga of all people.

"He is currently residing in E-Rantel. Infiltrating their society to learn more about their inner-workings to make way for their subjugation. Cipher-sama, will you be resuming with the mission you put forward?"

Jack bit the back of his lower lip hearing the being speak to him. Subjugation? Were they conquering the entire Continent or something through force? War was an ugly matter. Then again, it wouldn't be much different than what he had done to the Slane Theocracy, destroying the command structure of their centralized government.

"Has any new furniture been installed within the manor?" Jack asked, answering his question with another question, outwardly becoming less outward with his emotions.

"Only the Finest for the Supreme Ones, I have furnished your temporary home!" The demon was proud of his work, and only made the best of the best thanks to his skilled artistic side.

"Hm..." Jack tilted his head to the side slightly. "I see… In that case I'll visit E-Rantel to view your work and converse with Momonga-san," he let out a light yawn before looking towards the ceiling. Staring at the chandeliers before he turned his head to see no one playing in the halls.

"How long have I been asleep?" Jack asked before turning his attention right back to the Devil.

"Four days, three hours and twelve minutes."

"huh… That's a new record," Jack scratched the side of his head and made his way down the hall. His armor clacking along the polished floors. His eyes grazing passed a penguin which was being carried by a Homunculi.

Then he would pause, turn his head and glance over his shoulder. The Devil, was walking in the opposite direction. Yet there was now someone standing directly behind him, looking up at him with one green eye.

Jack stared down at Shizu, also known as CZ, both of them appeared to be emotionless on the outside for the time being. At least until he tool out a sheet of stickers from his item box and held them out to her.

Almost mechanically, the automaton maid glanced down towards the stickers which held several bright blue illustrated wings with "#1" printed on it. In addition to that, they were glow in the dark, so as long as they were charged by mana or light.

Shizu casually took them from his hand, and if she could smile, she would've. Yet she just tucked them into her own item box.

"...Thank you, Cipher-sama, your kindness is very much liked..."

"As is yours Shizu, I thank you for the handkerchief again, from when we first arrived here," he placed his hand on top of her head and ruffled her hair a bit. Her hair was soft, squeaky almost. Slowly he began to comb out her hair a bit, tucking some of her hair behind her ear as he finished after a few minutes of fooling around.

Shizu was just standing there the entire time, staring up at him.

"...Does Cipher-sama like my hair?"

"It suits you," Jack acknowledged as he lightly pinched her cheek slightly, still not getting much of a rise out of her since she was designed that way.

The moment he had said this, she had her arms around him and hugging him tightly.

Jack gazed down at the top of her orange head, taking in the camouflage accessories. "Perhaps I can bring you with me on an excursion..." A small smirk formed over his lips. "We'll need to change your clothes though..." He didn't necessarily enjoy the camouflage mixed with the maid outfit. While he didn't mind the head piece of the scarf, the leggings and everything else clashed. "Perhaps level you."

He could only imagine how many people or monsters she would have to kill for her to level up in this world. She was only level forty six. That's when he quickly thought about it. He had all the other potions from the Black Scripture on him.

That's when he took out the second seat, fourth seat and fifth seat potions. While none of them would have the same jobs as her, it would definitely quickly make her more versatile against enemy foes.

This would ultimately give her access to the skills, special powers, and abilities of the three. She as he offered the four of them to the girl, he smiled at her. "Would you indulge in my curiosity for a moment?"

Blinking up at him, Shizu nodded without hesitation. "At your Whim, Cipher-sama, I will contribute to your greatness." When she turned her sight onto the first potion he handed out to her, she examined the contents. Dark crimson syrup, a strange mint and parsley scent, with heavy amounts of liquified data present in the bottle. "So this is Cipher-sama's Assimilation magic..." She stared at it before looking to his face once more. "Twenty six days left until you can use it again."

Jack simply smiled as he popped the top off of the potion before she took it into her hands and downed it in one go. The first one he had handed her was the fourth seat, known as Divine Chant.

Using 『Greater Identification』he was able to see her information changing live. Levels going up in the magic caster and priestess related jobs were very evident. Her level even went up several times until it was in the fifties.

He gave her the second seat potion after that. He was starting to see a faint blush on her face from the dopamine rush which was charging through her mind. Though any real form of emotion was still lost on her face.

Once Shizu finished off the second potion, her capacity to stand was beginning to falter.

Jack had noticed that she had already jumped into the low-sixties now as she was being granted every drip of experience and information the Scripture members once had.

"Shizu, will you be able to take one more?" He asked as he held onto her shoulder with his free hand, to keep her standing straight up and not trip over herself.

"If it contributes to your greatness and your curiosity is --"

Jack simply smiled sheepishly as he lightly put a finger over her lips. "Go get some rest until the rush wears off. You can use my quarters," the Seraphim would wrap his arm around her shoulders and lead her back to his room.

Once he opened the door, he guided her over to the bed and tucked Shizu in on the right side of the bed prior to disappearing from her side. Teleporting to the manor he briefly resided in during his leave to E-Rantel.