{A/N: This is Monday chapter, so read this knowing there is no chapter on Monday unless we hit 100 powerstones.}
The words hit Calca like a blow. Her breath caught in her throat, her body frozen as the sheer cruelty of the statement sank in.
The demon reached out toward her. Knights and summoned creatures rushed to intercept, blades drawn and spells cast. But their efforts were useless. Their weapons bounced off its armored hide, and their spells fizzled into nothing. To the demon, they were insects—annoying, insignificant. Its strength dwarfed them utterly.
But the demon's forceful grasp closed on empty air. Its clawed hand clenched with purpose, only to find nothing. The monarch had vanished.
It wasn't the only one confused. All eyes, demihuman and human alike, swept the battlefield in disbelief, trying to find where their queen had gone.
Then, cutting through the silence, a panicked voice rang out. "Y-you can put me down now."
Everyone turned toward the sound and froze. There, standing effortlessly with the queen in his arms, was the most handsome man any of them had ever seen. He wore loose, flowing pants and an unbuttoned shirt that revealed a sculpted, flawless physique. His hair was pure white, falling around his face like strands of moonlight, and his eyes, glowing, vibrant blue, held the calm intensity of a storm just waiting to break.
"Sorry, it's not every day I get the chance to hold an angel," Rex said with a charming, enchanting smile.
Calca's face turned bright red as she quickly pushed herself out of his arms, flustered by the sudden intimacy.
"Rex… impossible! How did you know I was here?" the demon roared, its voice a guttural snarl of fury that burned hotter than the sun.
At the sound of its wrath, all eyes turned toward Rex. Whispers rippled through the crowd—after all, everyone knew he was part of the Sorcerer Kingdom.
"Because I can sense every powerful aura on the continent," Rex said with a light smile, his voice calm and effortless. "The moment I sensed an ant I used to play with, I decided to drop by… and, as expected, you're as disgusting as ever."
His smile faded, replaced by a sharp, cold look of utter contempt.
"Go to hell!" the demon roared, opening its maw and unleashing a massive beam of fire toward Rex.
Without flinching, Rex raised his hand. In an instant, he manipulated the vector of the air, redirecting the heat and pressure. The ground cracked, and the wind howled violently, but the flames never touched the bystanders—he had twisted the energy away, shielding everyone from annihilation with unmatched ease.
"Hey, beautiful, mind getting everyone as far away from here as you can?" Rex called out, his tone smooth yet urgent. "Also, to you demi-humans—you're free. Flee to the Sorcerer Kingdom. You'll be safe there."
The demon's voice thundered through the battlefield. "If any of you move, I'll kill you!"
But before the threat could settle in their minds, it froze—Rex was suddenly in front of it. The demon reacted just in time, barely managing to block Rex's fist. Even so, the impact struck with such force that it was sent flying backward, skidding across the battlefield like a ragdoll caught in a storm.
"Go on. You're all free now," Rex said with a charming smile, his eyes locking briefly with a female snake demi-human. Her cheeks flushed pink, but she quickly nodded and turned to flee. With her taking the lead, the rest followed, and in moments, the demihumans were running, many with tears of relief in their eyes.
"Everyone, fall back!" Calca commanded, her voice firm. At her order, the loyal knights began their retreat, forming up and moving with practiced discipline. But she herself did not move.
Instead, she stayed rooted in place, unable to look away from the man who had just saved her. As Rex engaged the demon in a battle so fast her eyes could barely keep up, she noticed something else—many of the fleeing demihumans had also turned, watching the fight from a distance.
They weren't just watching. They were praying for Rex to win.
It wasn't the first time she had ever seen demihumans as something more than beasts. She was among a rare few humans who cared for the demi-humans, even though they were her enemies. She was considered too nice and soft by many. But Rex… he wasn't like anyone she had known. He treated both humans and demihumans the same, without even a hint of prejudice in his voice or actions.
Boom!
Suddenly, something crashed down from the sky with a deafening force. Dust shot up like a wave, and the ground cracked beneath the impact. Calca's eyes widened as she looked toward the source.
There, pulling himself out of a smoking crater, was Rex. He rose slowly, brushing debris off his shoulder with an irritated sigh, as if being slammed from the sky was just a minor inconvenience.
"Okay, I guess I did sneak attack you that first time…" Rex said with a sigh, his eyes lifting toward the sky where seven demons floated ominously in a circle above. "But seven on one? Really?"
"You're Rex," one of the demons sneered, the tone dripping with mockery. "We're only showing you the respect you deserve—by going all out."
As it spoke, its gaze drifted downward, locking onto Calca. In a blur of motion, the demon vanished from its place in the sky and reappeared in front of her, scythe already swinging with deadly speed.
But before the blade could reach her, Rex was there—his body moving faster than thought, placing himself between the scythe and Calca. The weapon struck his back with a thunderous impact, yet he stood firm, shielding her with nothing but his own flesh.
"Rex!" Calca cried out in panic, her voice cracking with fear as Rex pushed her away—just in time. The blade, already drenched in his blood, had slashed through his chest, missing her by mere inches.
Boom
Before the attacking demon could follow up with another strike, it was suddenly blasted backward, sent rocketing through the sky like a broken comet. A second figure had appeared without warning.
Demiurge. He floated in front of Rex, his form radiating fury. His usually composed expression was twisted by uncontrollable rage as he glared at the seven demons.
"Looks like I also had backup," Rex said with a tired smirk, slumping down against the nearest wall as blood slowly soaked through his torn shirt. His chest rose and fell heavily, each breath laced with pain, but his eyes remained sharp.
At that moment, figures began to emerge from the shadows. Doppelgängers—each one bearing the likeness of Shalltear, Albedo, and the other floor guardians—stepped onto the battlefield. Their sudden appearance sent a shockwave of fear through the demon. The demons didn't hesitate; they turned and fled, their pride cast aside as panic overtook them.
The Doppelgänger of Demiurge, along with the others mimicking the floor guardians, gave silent chase, vanishing in pursuit.
"Rex?!" Calca cried, rushing to his side. Her hands trembled as she began casting a healing spell, golden light pouring from her fingertips and wrapping around his wounds.
"It's not every day a queen personally sees to it that I'm in good condition. Must be my lucky day," Rex said with a faint smile, trying to lighten the mood despite the pain.
"Stop talking! You're badly injured—you're losing too much blood!" Calca snapped, her voice trembling. Guilt swelled in her chest, heavier than any wound. This was all her fault. If she hadn't stayed, if she hadn't drawn his attention… maybe he wouldn't be like this.
"Don't worry about me. I'll heal," Rex said softly, forcing a grin despite the pain. "I've got a skill that makes me pretty much immortal… So, are you single? I know it's sudden and all, but I'd regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't try to get to know the woman who just so cruelly stole my heart."
"Steal…?" Calca froze for a moment, her heart sinking as guilt stabbed through her—was he blaming her for his wounds? But as the weight of his words sank in, her eyes widened in realization. Her face flushed bright red, and with a startled yelp, she blinked a few meters away from him in embarrassment, her hands covering her burning cheeks.
"W-what are you saying?! This isn't the time for something like that!" Calca yelled, her voice cracking as she tried to mask her embarrassment. But her cheeks were already bright red, and her words came out in a flustered mess. She tripped over her own sentence, clearly panicking.
Her eyes widened even more when she saw Rex trying to stand, and she rushed to his side, instinctively reaching out to steady him.
"I'm saying I've fallen in love with you," Rex said gently, his voice soft but certain as he gently took her hand. "I've never felt like this before… so please forgive me if I'm stepping out of line. It's just—these emotions are new to me. I'm overwhelmed, and the only thing I can think to do… is be honest with you about how I feel."
"B-but we just met…" she said shyly, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked away, unable to meet Rex's eyes. Her cheeks burned with heat, and yet… she couldn't bring herself to pull her hand away.
"But I saw all I needed to see," Rex said gently. "These eyes of mine—they see more than just appearances. They see the soul… and yours is the most beautiful I've ever seen."
He smiled softly, brushing his thumb across the back of her hand. "That alone tells me everything about you. Inside and out, you're beautiful."
His words struck her speechless. Calca stood there, speechless, her heart racing from something far more dangerous than fear.
"…Oh, I just realized—I never introduced myself," Rex said with a light laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm Rex Tempus. Alongside Ainz Ooal Gown, I serve as one of the kings of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Though truth be told, Ainz handles most of the ruling. I'm not exactly the best at leadership."
He offered her a charming smile, his tone warm and easy.
"I'm… Calca Bessarez," she replied, her voice soft and slightly nervous. "The Holy Queen of the Roble Holy Kingdom. It's… a pleasure to meet you, Sir Rex Tempus."
Her cheeks were still tinged with pink as she lowered her gaze, unable to keep the fluttering in her chest at bay.
"Oh… I also forgot—kings can't just enter another person's land without permission, can they?" Rex said with a sheepish smile, glancing around awkwardly. "There's so much political stuff to keep track of… Do I, uh, pay a fine or something?"
His confusion was genuine, and the sight made Calca laugh softly. For all his overwhelming strength and power, she hadn't expected him to be so clueless about something so basic. It was… adorable. Even more so when she caught the faint blush rising to his cheeks as he realized she was laughing at his flustered state.
Meanwhile, back in Nazarick, Albedo, Demiurge, and all the floor guardians stood gathered beside Ainz, watching the scene unfold through magical projection. What were they watching? Rex, winning the heart of a queen.
"…Lord Rex's skills are truly unmatched," Demiurge said slowly, his tone filled with reverent astonishment. "I had believed we would need several months—perhaps more—to win their loyalty. Yet it seems a single day in his hands was more than enough."
His gaze remained fixed on the magical projection, where the scene continued to unfold: Rex, effortlessly charming and powerful, had just swayed the heart of the Holy Queen. It was a feat few could have even imagined, let alone executed with such ease.
Demiurge threw a look at Ainz, who seemed to be lost in thought. Ainz sat silently, his fingers steepled before his mouth. He had been watching everything, not just through magic, but through foresight and careful calculation.
Why had he ordered no invasion of the Roble Holy Kingdom? Why had he been so focused on gathering intel on the demi-humans? Because from the beginning, it had all been part of his design.
Rex might have been overwhelming in raw power—a walking calamity, unstoppable in battle—but Ainz… Ainz was something else entirely. He was foresight incarnate, the silent architect of fate. He didn't move mountains with his fists. He simply waited, watched, and placed a single stone… that started an avalanche.
Demiurge shuddered slightly in awe. Every time he thought he had finally understood even a fragment of Ainz's grand strategy, he was immediately humbled, forced to admit that what he'd seen was only the edge of something far greater.
'Since when did Rex's eyes see souls?' Ainz thought, deadpan as he watched the display unfold before him. 'How does he make up such things on the spot… and make them sound convincing?'
Though baffled, Ainz couldn't help but be impressed. Rex had a frightening talent for manipulation.. His manipulation was off the charts. Ainz was sure he could gaslight a blind woman into thinking she wasn't blind.
Honestly, with someone like Rex on their side, would they really face any resistance in taking over the world? Nations would fall, hearts would crumble, and empires would kneel—all under that maddening smile and effortless charisma.
But then came the real issue. The difficult part wasn't world domination. It was what came after. Because if there was one thing Rex was consistently terrible at… it was being a good boyfriend.