New Eridu, Hollow Special Operations Section 6.
Asaba Harumasa rubbed his eyes, staring intently at the Celestial Screen where Argenti was solemnly bowing to a potted plant. His brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a Hollow.
"Am I seeing things? This guy… is talking to a potted plant?" Harumasa turned to Tsukishiro Yanagi. "Yanagi, do you know what he's doing?"
"Uh…" Tsukishiro Yanagi adjusted her glasses. Honestly, she couldn't fathom this red-haired knight's logic either. She mentally reviewed every knight novel she'd read from childhood in seconds, ultimately reaching one conclusion: "This might be a knight's… pre-battle ritual."
"Hah?" Harumasa's eyes widened. "So he's gearing up to fight right from the start?"
"In classical chivalry, there's the tradition of 'salute'—bowing to the sword, swearing to the flag, even showing respect to the enemy. So roughly, maybe… something like that… probably?"
"But the guy's just showering the potted plant with compliments—it doesn't seem like any oath." Harumasa's mouth twitched. "And where did those spotlights come from? The moment he shows up, two beams appear over his head?"
"That… probably only the Erudition can explain."
——
[As March 7th drew closer, another spotlight suddenly hit her, startling her.]
["A lady?"]
[Argenti slowly turned, his tone carrying respect and surprise. He stepped forward gradually toward March 7th, then bowed to her the same way he had to the plant.]
[Argenti inclined slightly, fingertips lightly touching his chest. The silver armor flowed with a soft halo under the light.]
["Allow me to sincerely praise you."]
[His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, yet like sunlight piercing morning mist, carrying undeniable warmth. He gazed at March 7th with eyes free of frivolity or mere politeness—only pure admiration and appreciation, as if before him stood not a girl, but an artwork blessed by an Aeon.]
["You are like a flower on a winter snowfield—"]
[Before he could finish, his attention was drawn by the approaching Stelle. He began praising her as well: "Oh? Another beautiful being."]
[Perhaps realizing his behavior might seem abrupt, Argenti apologetically stepped back a few paces, left hand over his chest: "I have yet to introduce myself—I am Argenti, of the Knights of Beauty. May I have the honor of knowing your names?"]
[Seeing he appeared harmless, March 7th and Stelle politely returned their names.]
["Delighted to meet you both! Forgive my earlier rudeness—I was expounding the meaning of beauty to this potted plant." Argenti smiled faintly. "Pardon my forwardness, but out of habit, I must ask you both as well: as fellow beings in this cosmos, are you aware of the Goddess Idrila of [Beauty]?"]
["Idrila?" Stelle looked blank. This Aeon seemed pretty obscure.]
["The Knights of Beauty traverse the stars freely, spreading the name of pure Beauty across the universe so all beings may know of Her. We hold ourselves to the strict precepts of faith, tempering body and defending honor."]
——
Overlord.
(Another Aeon has appeared—the Goddess of [Beauty]… She doesn't sound particularly combat-oriented.)
(But we can't think that way. [Abundance] doesn't seem as destructive as [Destruction], yet it's the number-one enemy of [The Hunt].)
In the Throne Hall, Demiurge was magically recording every word and action of Argenti. Any description of [Beauty] would be crucial reference material for analyzing this Aeon later.
"The Goddess of Beauty"—this made Ainz recall legends of Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty, from before his transmigration. Though Aeons and mythological deities were vastly different, he still tried to find common threads.
"Cocytus, what kind of Aeon do you think Idrila is?"
"Hmm…"
Cocytus fell silent for a long time. Ainz realized tossing this question at a pure warrior like him might not have been appropriate. Aside from some battle maids and attendants, the only females here were Albedo and Aura.
(Maybe I should get their opinions on this?)
As Ainz pondered, Cocytus finally spoke slowly: "Lord Ainz, forgive this subordinate's dullness… If judging by appearance alone, she should be similar to Albedo? And the relationship between that Argenti and Idrila would be like Albedo and her subordinates."
"…Oh, so that's how you're thinking about it?"
Whether the answer held value or not, Ainz heard a pleased, satisfied hum from Albedo beside him.
Comparing to Albedo was probably because Cocytus had never seen a woman more beautiful than her. Honestly, Albedo did have goddess-like beauty—but only when her expression didn't break.
"Lord Ainz, this subordinate believes… there is no need to dwell too much on the [Beauty] Aeon." Demiurge suddenly spoke up.
"Oh? Share your view."
Demiurge bowed with a faint smile: "In this subordinate's opinion, Idrila differs from the other Aeons in at least one way—whether [Destruction], [Abundance], [Erudition], [Preservation]… none require an organization like the [Knights of Beauty] to deliberately spread their name across the galaxy."
"Naturally. Many forces in the galaxy follow Them; no need for special propagation."
"Precisely as Lord Ainz says. But why does [Beauty] in particular need it? This subordinate ventures to guess… the Idrila of [Beauty] may have long since perished, Her Path swallowed up. The Knights are spreading the name of a dead Aeon across the cosmos."
"As for why… probably out of pure devotion."
——
["Wait, aren't you here to help?" Stelle spotted the blind spot.]
["Indeed, but not limited to that. Just as I proclaim 'beauty' to this potted plant, what I seek is an encounter—a collision and exchange of hearts and ideals."]
[Stelle frowned: "So were you genuinely praising me just now?"]
["Why? Why ask such a thing? Please do not doubt yourself, Stelle."]
["You even praised a potted plant!"]
[Facing Stelle's question, Argenti's gaze remained frank—neither deliberate nor falsely restrained: "My words and actions hold no falsehood. I believe its heart is as clear as a mirror."]
[Argenti looked solemnly at Stelle, leaning slightly forward: "Lady, I have now briefly introduced [Beauty] to you. I am most curious—do you acknowledge this ideal, and do you have faith in Idrila?"]