"…Naohara-sama?"
The figure holding the scissors froze the moment she saw the doll in front of her.
The madness in her eyes quickly faded.
"You're still the same as ever, Nigredo."
Naohara smiled as he looked at the black-haired woman.
[Nigredo]
The eldest of the three sisters created by Tabula Smaragdina.
She wore black mourning clothes. Beneath her long black hair, her face had no skin at all, only exposed muscles.
Her sparkling eyes and pearl-like teeth looked beautiful on their own.
But because she lacked skin, lips, and eyelids, the overall impression she gave was terrifying and grotesque.
She was a character created to reflect her creator's love for horror movies.
Nigredo was mentally very unstable.
However, if she was given a doll to serve as a substitute baby, she would calm down and become composed enough to communicate normally.
"I'm sorry… Naohara-sama. I couldn't control myself just now."
Nigredo bowed apologetically toward Naohara.
Attacking a Supreme Being was absolutely unforgivable.
If the other Guardians had witnessed this, even knowing it was part of Tabula Smaragdina-sama's character settings, they would probably attack her immediately.
To be honest, this situation troubled Nigredo as well.
Especially because the one she attacked was Naohara-sama.
Aside from Tabula Smaragdina-sama, he was the one she respected most.
"Don't worry about it."
"It's part of your original settings after all."
[Throw away the doll in her hand.]
[She begins attacking the person in front of her, claiming they stole her child.]
[Then comes the ironic scene where the baby is handed back.]
Only after going through these strange steps could one hold a normal conversation with Nigredo.
There was no doubt this was Tabula Smaragdina's strange sense of humor.
One particular scene from the past was still deeply engraved in Naohara's memory.
It happened during the game era.
Back then, several guild members were tricked by Tabula Smaragdina into seeing Nigredo right after she was created, without any warning.
Momonga screamed the moment he saw her.
The other guild members screamed as well, and in pure panic they all launched their attacks at full power.
The result was an unprecedented chaos.
Of course, Naohara was not among them.
Because of memories from his previous life, he still had a vague recollection of Nigredo's character settings.
With that mental preparation, he did not react violently.
At the time, aside from Tabula Smaragdina, he was the only guild member in Nazarick who did not attack Nigredo.
"How has the observation target been recently?"
Naohara asked softly.
That was the main reason he had come here.
Nigredo's combat ability was not particularly impressive.
However, when it came to reconnaissance, she possessed the ability to completely monitor specific individuals.
She was a magic caster specialized entirely in intelligence gathering.
Almost all of her class build was focused on surveillance. She could locate a target extremely quickly and continue monitoring them indefinitely.
Simply put, it was like having divine sight and a god's-eye view.
Incidentally, since Nigredo was an NPC created by the alchemist Tabula Smaragdina, aside from some playful design choices, the birth of Nigredo and her two sisters was also closely related to alchemy.
Naohara had once seriously asked about this.
Nigredo was the English name but the term itself comes from alchemy.
The word alchemy (Alchemie) originates from a combination of the Arabic article "al" and the word "chemie."
So what does "chemie" mean?
One theory says it comes from the ancient Egyptian word "cham," which means "black earth."
Because of that, alchemy has sometimes been referred to as the "black art" or "black science."
Nigredo represents the first stage of alchemy, the stage known as blackening.
Black symbolizes the initial chaotic state, also called the primal substance. Many alchemists believed that the product of the Nigredo stage was the "prima materia," a fundamental substance capable of transforming into any other material.
The Latin term Nigredo reflects the transformation of metals through death and rebirth, expressed through shifts in color.
The emergence of black primordial matter means the first goal of the alchemical process has been achieved.
As the first creation and the eldest sister, Nigredo represents the very first stage.
Her terrifying black appearance symbolizes the primal matter of Nigredo.
Her role as an intelligence officer also reflects the idea that information can bring limitless possibilities. The amount of intelligence gathered can determine how the future develops.
Just as the Nigredo stage in alchemy holds endless potential for transformation, the same meaning is embedded in her design.
In summary, the meaning behind the name Nigredo is this:
She is the first work created by an alchemist, symbolizing a death-like terror while being expected to bring forth a future filled with infinite possibilities.
"As for the situation… I suppose you could say it's normal?"
Nigredo tilted her head slightly when answering, her tone somewhat hesitant.
Once the strange ritual-like sequence ended, her personality was actually quite normal.
A terrifying appearance with a gentle heart.
The contrast fit her character setting perfectly.
"What do you mean by normal?"
Naohara asked.
"I have been carefully monitoring the target this whole time, but…"
As she spoke, Nigredo raised her hand and activated a spell.
[Crystal Monitor]
A crystal screen appeared in midair.
As magical power flowed into it, the surface of the crystal began to change.
Mist-like images flickered across the surface before gradually forming a clear picture.
The perspective looked down from the sky.
A vast barren desert could be seen, along with a floating city suspended above it.
It was the guild base of the Eight Greed Kings located in the desert.
"There has been no movement at all. They have never left the base even once. It is almost as if… they simply do not care about anything happening in the outside world."
Nigredo voiced her confusion.
They had been monitoring the Eight Greed Kings' guild base for quite some time.
But the entire process could be described in one way.
Too peaceful.
The NPCs living inside the base behaved as if nothing happening outside could possibly affect them.
"I see…"
Naohara looked at the crystal screen while thinking quietly.
He understood what Nigredo meant.
When everything seemed perfectly normal, that itself became the most suspicious thing.
Naohara had no idea what the other side might be planning.
However, he did not believe anyone could evade Nigredo's surveillance.
Even True Dragon Lords who possessed Wild Magic could not pass through Nigredo's monitoring barrier without being detected.
This had already been confirmed through various experiments involving several True Dragon Lords such as the Brightness Dragon Lord, the Heavenly Dragon Lord, and the Vampiric Dragon Lord.
The only exception would be a True Dragon Lord who also possessed tier magic like Nigredo.
And who specialized in a specific branch of magic casting.
Only someone like that might be able to slip past her surveillance.
"Do not lower your guard. Continue monitoring them."
Naohara thought for a moment before speaking.
In the end, it did not really matter what plans the other side had.
If they wanted to stall, then let them stall.
As long as they obtained the guild weapon, everything would come to an end.
At that point, the guild base of the Eight Greed Kings would become Nazarick's private property.
"I understand."
Nigredo bowed deeply.
Then she raised her head slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she carefully asked another question.
"Um… Naohara-sama. Because I cannot leave the Frozen Prison, I do not know what has been happening outside."
"So I would like to ask… are my two younger sisters doing well?"
To be honest, even though they were sisters, the relationship between the three of them was not particularly good.
To put it simply.
Albedo appeared elegant and noble on the surface, but in truth she was a demon.
Nigredo, on the other hand, had an appearance that completely contradicted her gentle personality.
They were sisters, but their relationship was neither especially bad nor particularly close.
Still, as the eldest sister, Nigredo cared about the well-being of her two younger sisters.
"Albedo is the Overseer of the Guardians, so she should still be busy handling Nazarick's paperwork."
"As for Rubedo… she is still the same as always."
Naohara paused slightly after saying that.
Because of Rubedo's unique nature, she would almost never awaken unless all three of them gave their silent approval.
"I see. That's good."
Nigredo nodded and said nothing more.
Knowing that her two sisters were safe was enough for her.
"By the way, Nigredo, staying here must be boring. Do you have any interest in leaving this place?"
"The Sorcerer Kingdom recently established an orphanage. I'll arrange for you and Pestonya to serve as its directors."
Naohara glanced at the well-behaved Nigredo, thought for a moment, and then suddenly said it.
The dog-headed maid captain, whose full name was Pestonya Shortcake Wanko, was usually called Pestonya.
Her position was head maid in charge of the forty-one regular maids.
Her design featured a dog's head with a seam running down the middle. Although she looked fierce, her personality was actually very gentle.
She was currently one of only two true good-natured people in the Great Tomb of Nazarick with exceptionally high karma values.
And like Nigredo, she loved children very much.
That said, there were still some differences between them.
For example, Nigredo only liked infants under the age of two.
She had boundless tolerance and love for them, believing they possessed infinite possibilities.
But anything over the age of two was just meat waiting to be processed.
Incidentally, that age limit was not restricted by race.
So in a certain sense, the offspring of the Platinum Dragon Lord, namely that young dragon Naohara had named, also fell within that category.
"N... no, that won't be necessary."
"Naohara-sama... I can stay here..."
Nigredo shook her head and refused.
Yet deep in her eyes, there was still a trace of longing.
"This is not a notice. It's an order. In any case, the matter is settled."
"Or are you planning to disobey, Nigredo?"
Seeing that, Naohara spoke with a slight smile at the corner of his lips.
There was no room for discussion at all. He simply declared the outcome on his own.
Why could he do that?
Because he was a Supreme Being.
"...This subordinate would not dare."
Nigredo trembled slightly at those words, then finally lowered her head and accepted the order.
Just like the first time they met.
Naohara-sama, you are still as kind as ever.
(PS: In case anyone does not get it, this refers to the protagonist not attacking Nigredo when they first met.)
"What do you plan to do next?"
Nigredo asked.
"As for what comes next..."
Naohara fell into thought.
What should he do now?
Go eat a big meal?
Take a walk around the Sorcerer Kingdom?
Or switch back to his adventurer identity and make a trip to E-Rantel?
But as he kept thinking, for some reason a certain figure rose in his mind.
"Next... I'll go find that brat."