Half a day earlier.
Inside a luxurious inn in E-Rantel.
"Sebas, I'll be returning to my room to rest. We must depart tonight."
The speaker was a noble young lady with dazzling golden hair. Her beauty drew the attention of everyone present, and every gesture she made was steeped in elegance.
"Miss, isn't this a bit too rushed?"
The gray-haired Head Butler hesitated before voicing his concern.
"I don't care. We're leaving tonight."
Ignoring his advice, the noble lady insisted on departing that very evening. She turned and walked up to the second floor on her own, slamming the door shut behind her with a loud bang.
"…As you wish, Miss."
On the first floor, the Head Butler sighed at the sight and bowed respectfully toward the second floor.
"Zach-san, as per the young lady's orders, we will depart tonight."
Turning to the figure beside him, Sebas, playing the role of a butler, spoke in a deep voice, perfectly conveying a sense of helplessness.
"It's fine, it's fine. It's not easy for you either, Sebas-san."
"To make sure nothing goes wrong with tonight's departure, I'll take my leave first. There's still quite a bit I need to prepare."
The human named Zach had been staring blankly at the departing Solution with a lewd gaze. Only when Sebas spoke did he snap back to his senses, hurriedly waving his hands as he replied.
Looking at the man before him—short, with a bulbous nose and messy hair—Sebas felt a flicker of pity in his eyes. Tonight would most likely be the man's last.
Putting aside his petty schemes, even if Zach had done nothing at all, that single look he had given Solution had already sealed his fate. After all, that Supreme Being had been watching everything.
In Sebas's view, although the Three Supreme Beings were all exalted and beyond compare, their personalities were entirely different.
Compared to Naohara-sama's kindness and easygoing nature, and Momonga-sama's rationality and wisdom, Herohero-sama embodied pure self-interest and cold detachment.
With Herohero-sama's temperament, there was no way he would tolerate Zach's continued existence. In fact, if it weren't for the risk of disrupting their plan, everyone in this inn who had cast vulgar eyes upon Solution would already be dead.
"Very well, Mr. Zach. Stay safe. I must return to the young lady's side."
Sebas gave Zach a small nod before heading up to the second floor.
Behind him, Zach's smile slowly faded as he watched Sebas leave. His eyes shifted slightly, and he quickly exited the inn.
"Knock. Knock. Knock."
Paying no attention to Zach's hurried departure, Sebas respectfully knocked on the door to the second-floor room.
"Enter."
Only after hearing the commanding voice from inside did Sebas open the door. Seeing the three figures within, he bowed deeply.
"Herohero-sama."
Inside the room, Herohero lounged against the sofa. Behind him, Solution, still dressed as a noble lady, was massaging his shoulders, while Shalltear stood at his side feeding him.
One crimson heart after another disappeared into the slime-formed face, not the slightest ripple appearing on its surface.
As he enjoyed Solution's massage and savored the high-grade ingredient "Dragon Heart" produced by the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Herohero looked utterly at ease.
"Looks like the lowly rat took the bait."
Herohero glanced at Sebas and spoke lazily.
"Herohero-sama, may I deal with that human?"
"I want to torment him until his very last breath. I want him to die in despair and terror."
Solution, who had been massaging Herohero from behind, paused. A chilling smile spread across her face as she made her request.
She felt nothing but disgust toward the human named Zach. If not for the plan, that filthy look he gave her would have been enough to kill him a hundred times over.
"I, too, find this rather interesting."
Shalltear smiled faintly as she spoke. A crimson glow shimmered in her eyes, both beautiful and dangerous.
"No. I will handle it myself."
Herohero shook his head, his voice cold. He had already decided to personally send the man to his death.
The moment he recalled the way Zach had looked at Solution, he had passed judgment. Someone like that did not deserve to exist.
"Yes. I obey."
Solution showed no disappointment. Instead, she smiled sweetly. She could feel that Herohero-sama was doing this for her sake.
Sebas, standing to the side, felt somewhat troubled. Herohero-sama's temperament made him uneasy. At this rate, if one day he decided to massacre an entire city, it would not be surprising.
"Fortunately, Naohara-sama and Momonga-sama are here."
Sebas sighed inwardly. Thankfully, there were three Supreme Beings. With Naohara-sama's personality, if it ever came to that, he should be able to restrain Herohero-sama.
As an NPC created by Touch Me, Sebas did not reject killing, but he disliked slaughtering the innocent without cause.
...
Elsewhere, in the slums, a figure moved furtively deeper inside.
Low, crumbling houses lined the area. Trash was scattered everywhere, and the air reeked with a nauseating stench. Zach scanned his surroundings with a wary, furtive expression.
Though it was daytime, the slums were full of people willing to kill for money. Those ready to risk everything were far from rare.
Zach turned through winding alleys, avoiding others as much as possible, until he reached a rundown shack. After confirming no one was tailing him, he knocked on the door using their agreed signal.
A peephole slid open. Once his identity was confirmed, the door slowly opened and he was pulled inside.
"Zach, coming at this hour? Something wrong?"
The man who opened the door was a burly brute. He sounded impatient and let out a yawn, clearly having just woken up.
"It's about that fat sheep. He changed his mind. They're leaving tonight."
Seeing the man's irritation, Zach rubbed his hands together and forced a smile.
"Why the sudden change? And at night of all times? Don't they know it's dangerous?"
"Zach, tell me the truth. Did you expose us?"
The burly man's expression shifted immediately. Even if they were leaving early, it should not be at night. Suspicion flashed across his face as he glared at Zach.
"No, no! I didn't expose anything. It's the young lady's decision."
"You know how those pampered nobles are. And she's a noble young lady at that. Being willful is perfectly normal."
Zach hurried to explain.
The burly man fell silent, thinking it over, then slowly nodded. The explanation made sense.
"Fine. Just in case, I'll bring a few more men. We'll kill that senile old butler first."
(Shalltear had remained invisible the entire time, so they were completely unaware.)
"Um… boss, can I have some fun with that noble young lady?"
Now that there seemed to be no problem, Zach grinned lecherously.
Thinking of Solution's snow-white chest and her arrogant, willful demeanor, he imagined her struggling beneath him. His body reacted instinctively.
Little Zach twitched in crude excitement.
"Fine. But I go first. And don't go too far. Our goal is still the ransom."
The two exchanged glances, both wearing vulgar, greedy smiles.
All of this was clearly seen by Herohero through surveillance magic.
"I'm getting a little angry."