The Red Rose and The Black Rose

{Indefinite Future Time}

"I doth trust that thou comprehend, my esteemed comrades, for I have summoned thee hither." Lord Bachelory, the Prime Minister of the Palace of the Titania Pact, said with total seriousness, resting his hands on the round table where the Commanders and he gathered.

Although the presence of Gandolfo, Juliana Miss Perfect, Fanrir Fon Fenrir, and Princess Mishirifus Almamba also being here indicated the seriousness of the meeting.

Din Mandalore, Lord Magister, Eyesight, Caren, and Cecilion had very important duties to carry out and could not be present, but they would have been summoned if they were available.

"If it be thee, Bachelor, it must be for a matter of significance," Superbia remarked with haughty disdain. "To compel me to assemble with this rabble... Hmp~"

A growl came from one of her companions.

"Superbia... Have you really forgotten...?" The one next to her, the Dragonoid, Achernar, asked with a serious and intimidating tone.

"Mm~? Forget what~? Thy lizard hisses do confound me somewhat, Achernar."

A couple of robotic sounds, like 'pips' and 'pups,' came from the one hanging from the ceiling by wires.

"Fanrir is right, Superbia. You should be kinder." Miia commented, with Echidna nodding behind her.

"If you're going to fight, can I go? I'm tired..." Gandolfo's tired and exhausted voice came from the side, lying on the floor, as if he had fainted.

"Sir Gandolfo... You haven't done anything all day..." Juliana muttered with a sweat drop falling down her temple.

"Wah... That's already too much for a week..." The Nephilim lamented.

"Hmp! You should be ashamed. But it seems Achernar and I have already figured out what this is about... Something serious... Very serious!" Bulldoger growled almost like a tiger about to lose control.

"Please, could someone quieten that exuberant and vociferous feline?" Superbia said with a theatrical sigh.

Robotic sounds came from above.

"Operation: Ignore Superbia, underway." The monotonous Fairy exclaimed while covering her ears, with Echidna copying her but simply reducing her audio detector in the Insectoid's direction.

"How dare you, metal fly!?" Superbia growled at Miia, but then Miia simply interrupted her annoyingly.

"Lalalala." She said while looking away.

More robotic sounds came from above.

"Tch! I didn't mean you, Fanrir!" Superbia shouted, now annoyed.

"How annoying. Should we throw you out?" Achernar huffed with crossed arms and closed eyes.

"Can you stop shouting? My head hurts... I can't sleep..."

"S-Sir Gandolfo..." Juliana got a few more drops falling down her temples.

… Seeing all this, the Prime Minister sighed, raised a hand, and slammed it on the table, causing a clangor.

"Very well, very well. One and all, hush thy voices." The room fell silent with his incredible authority, grabbing everyone's attention, to the annoyance of some and the indifference of others.

Meanwhile, Alucard had remained silent, patiently waiting for Bachelory to speak from the beginning, while Mishirifus basically did the same, not wishing to incite more chaos by gathering so many Titania personalities in one room.

"Verily, an exposition of the rationale for summoning thee is of utmost importance." He inclined his hand heavenward, upholding a circumspect space from Fanrir. "Employing my erudition and meticulous examination of the Supreme Lords, we discover ourselves entangled in a perilous predicament. This day, as per the Supreme's accounting, is the 22nd of December, and the imminent arrival of the 25th of December draws near."

Several raised eyebrows appeared, except for the 'ooohs' from Juliana, Achernar, and Fanrir, although the latter emitted a robotic sound in equivalence.

"... So?" Gandolfo asked, almost snoring.

"Upon the 25th of December... An exceedingly momentous occasion unfolds, marked by the Supreme Lords themselves through the pursuit of formidable and potent adversaries, along with the gathering of resources and the observance of rituals of unparalleled magnitude."

At the mention that the Supreme Lords themselves celebrated something on that day, it instantly caught the attention and interest of everyone.

"A-Are you not talking about...?" Mishirifus murmured to the Prime Minister, awaiting a somewhat nervous confirmation.

"Christmas." His serious and elegant tone gave him an air of mystery and almost intimidation, earning more 'ooohs,' but from almost everyone present now.

"Wait... Isn't that the moment when the Supreme Lords go hunting for creatures like...?" Juliana swallowed and whispered. "The Grinch?"

"Don't you dare say that name ever again!" Superbia shouted, brandishing her silver scepter and pointing it at Juliana, who trembled and took a few steps back.

"Ahem. Verily, Juliana. The Supremes doth undertake the vanquishment of potent monsters and foes, akin to 'Santa Claus' and others who doth materialize solely on the 25th day of December. Or so, at the least, was their custom in our former realm."

A series of robotic sounds were heard.

"Indeed, Fanrir. It is plausible that, in light of the scarcity of most Supremes, formidable challenges may arise in the event of any such entities' occurrence. Hence, I have devoted myself to scrutinizing the past fifteen days in anticipation of this event. Christmas."

"We want to know what we should do to please the Supremes." Miia said with a bright look. Echidna seemed equally determined.

Bachelory's eyes seemed to shine powerfully under his mask at that moment, reaching into his inventory.

"Per my laborious three-day inquiry, I hath unearthed a revelation... Our Creators didst not solely pursue legendary creatures and Gods... But something more mysterious..." The present frowned and looked directly at the object that Bachelory pulled out.

"True..." Alucard murmured, looking directly at the red box with green ribbons and a red bow on top. "I saw my creator do it once... He gave one of those... 'Christmas Boxes' to all the other Supreme Lords, therefore..."

"And Lady MichixMichi gave many to Lady Dont, just as she did to Lady MichixMichi." Mishirifus added, to the nod of Bulldoger, who had been present at several of those moments.

"Indeed." Bachelory interjected. "It marked a day wherein the Supremes conveyed their gratitude unto one another through the exchange of gifts, encased in such containers." Bachelory exclaimed, tapping the box with his finger.

"Hm… I remember there was a tradition with a type of legendary herb. Lord Rey69Jamón performed such a ritual with my creator once. A herb that I'm sure is among the treasures of Titania. The Mistletoe." Achernar added with brutal seriousness, earning a robotic sound in confirmation, and 'ooohs' from several.

"Snow also fell everywhere for some reason... And it was very cold, so I feared having to spend the whole day in bed..." Gandolfo mentioned, yawning in the middle, although he didn't seem regretful for having 'slept' those days.

"And the Supremes changed the outfits of all the Maids to ones with a mix of red and white, with hats... And some were given reindeer antlers, red noses, or green and red outfits, calling them 'Elf costumes.' " Juliana Miss Perfect, the housekeeper of Titania, remarked with her hand on her chin while remembering how Supremes like Lord Perorin, Lord RataVibradora, Lord Hanzel, and Lord Ghøst spent several moments laughing and enjoying dressing the maids in such outfits.

She also remembered how other Supremes like Queen Dont, Lord Exile-Hell, and Lord Belerick appeared later to 'hunt' them.

"This is more serious than I initially thought. With the... Absence... Of so many Supremes, we must take charge of ensuring that 'Christmas' takes place throughout Titania, for the remaining Supremes." Bulldoger said with conviction, clenching his fist, followed by a nod from Mishirifus, agreeing much with the idea, which seemed to resonate in the hearts of all present.

"Operation: Christmas initiated." Miia nodded to herself, nodding to Echidna, who seemed ready to destroy a mountain.

Robotic sounds came from the ceiling.

"Well and good. I am gratified to enlist thy assistance, Fanrir, in mustering the requisite materials for the execution of this event." Bachelory said kindly as he looked up.

"Bachelory. There's still something important we're not taking into account." Achernar said to the Prime Minister, receiving the looks of everyone present, expectantly. "Usually, our Supreme Lords gave each other unknown objects inside such boxes. But... There are only two Supreme left... Do you think...?"

"That we can give them gifts ourselves..." Superbia finished the sentence, to which everyone took serious and intimidating looks at Bachelory, who stood up straight, almost shining as an aura emanated from him, increasing the pressure in the entire room.

"Verily. Now that our Ladies hath granted us leave to proceed, desiring a measure of autonomy in our endeavors, I am confident that we may, with heartfelt intent, seize the liberty to bestow these gifts individually crafted upon each, unto the esteemed Supremes." He said with a theatrical and noble gesture.

Then, the Minister began to take out red Christmas gift boxes, placing them on the table, looking at each one of those present.

"Each among thee shall possess a box... These, in their originality, were bestowed within the very Treasury of Titania by the Supreme Lords. Hence, thou shalt discern their worth, surpassing even the value of our own lives..." He said seriously to them, to which Alucard stood up, taking one of the boxes delicately.

"I see. Much more than appropriate. Then let's not waste time, there is much work to be done, in 10 hours, everyone present must have a gift for the Supremes, or else..." He looked inquisitively at everyone, a very rare thing coming from Alucard himself, well demonstrating the seriousness of the matter... With the Supremes, no one was going to play around.

"I will take care of organizing the decorations throughout Titania, as well as the native foods of such an event." Juliana nodded as she gave a slight bow.

"... I'll be here..." Gandolfo raised a thumb, and then let his hand fall again as they continued on the floor.

"I have a question." Mishirifus said, raising a hand.

Most of those present looked at the Cat Woman. Except Gandolfo, of course.

"And if we make boxes for all of Titania to give gifts to their Goddesses~?" She asked brightly in general.

"Umu~! Brilliant idea, kitty girl!" Superbia said with a big smile. "After all, the Supreme Ladies need all the praises in the world and more~" She said proudly.

Miia looked at Echidna, who had given her message to her, making her shine, but clearly thoughtful.

"Echidna is right. Titania is the home of the Supremes, but in Deorum Regnum, there are still Fairies of Titania and civilians who praise the Supreme Goddesses. We should make gift boxes for them too and bring them from Deorum Regnum to Titania for the Supremes." Miia exclaimed to those present.

Superbia made a face, and Alucard sighed.

"I'll take care of it." The knight said, to the relief of the Duchess in White.

"On another note, Bulldoger, I entreat thee to secure a robust pine tree suitable for the centerpiece of the ritual. The Supreme Lords, it appears, possess several of these, and one of grander proportions, whereupon they place magical artifacts to augment the flow of magic or enact rituals."

"Yes... I was able to see one of them once... It was an unforgettable sight." Alucard exclaimed with a smile as he remembered that colorful tree where the Supreme Lords gathered, leaving gifts under it.

"I will mobilize all the forces under my command then, there will be nothing to obstruct this unique celebration. Neither in Titania nor in Deorum Regnum." Achernar said, standing up, taking one of the little boxes carefully and putting it in his inventory.

More robotic sounds were heard, somewhat scared.

"Don't say that name again!" Superbia shouted again, looking at the ceiling.

Bachelory, on the other hand, grabbed his chin.

"Hmm... Certainly. Should any of those potent entities manifest... And uncertainty shrouds whether the ritual serves to summon, debilitate, or any such purpose, or is entirely unrelated..."

"It will be fine anyway, right?" Juliana added. "Even if there are only 2 out of 34, Lady Dont and Lady Black Abyss are here."

"Still, we can't be careless. Not when the safety of the Supremes is at stake. I will raise the defenses of Titania to the maximum, Bachelory." Bulldoger said, hitting his chest with one hand.

"Aye. I concur. Miia, maintain readiness of the assault team, should the need arise."

"At your service." The Metal Valkyrie gave a military and straight salute, with Echidna copying her.

"Mishirifus, procure a seven-armed golden candelabrum. Lady Dont invariably possesses one on those designated days."

"Yes, Lord Bachelory!"

"Very well. The others have already received their assignments. Superbia, thou and I shall undertake the meticulous organization of this endeavor in the interim. Go forth, everyone!" The Prime Minister said with total seriousness and excitement.

"By Titania!" The present shouted excitedly.

"Huh...? What time is it?" Gandolfo murmured as he lifted his head a little, before letting it fall and starting to snore again.

…

"That's strange... I haven't seen any NPCs for a while." Black Abyss said something curious, looking at the last stack of papers on the table in front of Dont and her.

The Sniper raised an eyebrow. Now that she thought about it... Black Abyss was right... Not even Bachelory had shown up for a while, which was odd... Quite odd...

"Well... You're not wrong." Dont scratched her head. She wanted to use [Message] just in case, but decided against it, just sighing. "Well, who knows what mischief they're up to now..."

"Anyway, they're good kids~ They won't be planning anything weird~" Black Abyss said cheerfully with a ':3' face before moving on to the next paper. "Or at least I want to think so... Mm~"

"Well... In the worst case, we'll be brutally bukkake'd and annihilated by a rebellious Titania." Dont struck an exaggerated and theatrical pose. "What will become of me~? My poor existence~?"

"... Well, I doubt that... But still, it would be better than continuing to live on Earth~ I'd rather die from a betrayal on Titania than from some kind of cancer or chronic disease slowly killing me painfully and without remedies~" She said with a smile but a tone almost terrifying. "But that's not going to happen~ You worry too much~"

"Umu... True~ Anyways~ Now that I think about it, I noticed that we are... Well, we would be on December 22nd. Christmas is coming soon..." Dont murmured. "That brings back memories... When the whole guild was together... When we defeated the event bosses... Saint Nicholas... The Grinch... Ugh... The Grinch..." Dont shivered. Who would have thought that the 'villain' of a children's story from two centuries ago would be so darn difficult?

They had to wait 3 days to defeat him because half of the guild used all their ultimates the first time they seemed close to killing him... Only for the creature to 'steal' the spent ultimates and use them against the guild... They had to wait for all the skills to return to their optimal use and try again... And even then, it took them the whole week to just kill him once...

"True... Halloween passed, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, but we didn't celebrate any... What if we have a little party and dinner for Christmas~?" Black Abyss asked excitedly.

"Mm... I usually only celebrate Christmas in Yggdrasil and on Christmas Eve when my mother forced us all to go to her house... Or well, personal arcology..." She made a face at the memory. "Ahem. Well, it doesn't sound bad~ A little dinner~ You and me~ A bottle of wine~ Maybe Champagne~" Dont purred. "I doubt the NPCs understand what Christmas is beyond an event or something... I remember the guild got so into it..."

"Meh~ I doubt they care about Christmas~ They have very important jobs and literally don't have time to worry about something as trivial as a year-end celebration~ So with just a little tree, some hats, and food, it'll be fine~ For old times' sake~" The Paladin said raising a hand, making a 'cheers' gesture.

"Fufu~ Salud~ {Cheers~}" Dont did a little somersault and smacked Black Abyss's lower back. "Voy a conseguir del vino de Mariana~ {Imma get thy wine from Mariana~} Thanks to poison resistance, we won't get drunk~"

"... Stop doing that... And stop thinking about wine now, we still have to finish this paperwork..." Black Abyss exclaimed, looking at the remaining papers, to which both sighed at the same time.

Dont was about to shoot herself with her secondary black rifle, placing the barrel against her chin and making a fake 'pew' sound with her mouth. Black Abyss looked at her with a tiny drop falling from her forehead, sighing again.

"I wonder, what are the kids doing~?" The Paladin wondered.

…

"Hark~ I deem the magnitude most fitting." Bachelory assented while observing the 50-meter pine held by one hand by Bulldoger.

"Hm... What if we stack two together and make it 100 meters?" Bulldoger said, raising an eyebrow as he looked at the tree he was holding.

"Verily... Nay, I deem such an endeavor unfeasible." A bead of sweat appeared on Bachelory's forehead.

"Alright then, where do we plant this without the Supremes noticing the surprise?" He asked the Minister.

Mm... That's a goodly question..." The Doppelgänger did fondly stroke his chin. "Plant it upon the northern verge of the Mystic Lake, alongside Miku. Instruct her to nurture it in goodly condition until the time cometh for its relocation."

"Alright then. Eyesight, your turn." Bulldoger said with a smile, and shortly after, a large portal opened in front of him.

Bulldoger put the tree on his shoulder and began walking into the portal until, after a few tens of seconds, the entire tree had entered, closing the portal.

Bachelory then checked the list he had, what was left...

"Hm... Mishirifus already hath the embellishments, and she coordinateth with the Mikos for their swift mobilization... Juliana attended to the Maids, adorning them in Christmas garb, and provisions are wrought in abundance by Manjar de Pan and Mariana... Achernar hath prepared countermeasures in the event that aught may disrupt or mar the revelry..." The Prime Minister nodded and nodded again.

Superbia was overseeing everything in another part of the palace. Everything was going well. According to the pla-

"Oh, greetings, Bachelory." The angelic voice of his lady, Lady Black Abyss, made him tense and freeze, like a servant seeing headlights in the middle of the night. "It seemed a bit strange not to see you in the throne room, did something happen?" The Supreme asked curiously, looking with a raised eyebrow at the immobile Bachelory, almost like a deer when frightened.

"... Nary a thing, my lady. Merely... orchestrating sundry matters of paramount import on this front."

"Oh, I see~ I'll continue my tour then~ I'll visit Miku now~" The Prime Minister almost fell backward upon hearing that.

"Gah- Pardon me. M-My sincerest apologies, Mylady, if my words cause disquiet. Pray, may I inquire why thou dost wish to visit Miku at this precise juncture?"

"Hm? Well, she hasn't had visitors in a long time, so I'll go play with her a bit." She said with a curious look at Bachelory.

W-Well... I am assured, my lady, that Miku would find great delight in thy visit... Albeit, Miku presently attends to a task of import, and I would counsel against causing her diversion... However, if thou dost persist, I shall refrain from impeding thy course." The Doppelgänger gave a deep bow in submission, trembling slightly as he felt the paladin's gaze on his neck.

"Uh... So, they put her to work... Alright then, I'll go... I'll pay a visit to the maids~" Bachelory almost fell again; after all, the Maids were changing into their red Christmas clothes.

"I-I am certain the domestics too find themselves in a state of great occupation, M-Mylady~ Verily, they have been resolute in maintaining the entirety of Titania unsullied since the 'New Goetia Project.' Should thou persist... I shall refrain from troubling thee further." He gave an even deeper bow. He could already feel the Supreme Lady's murderous gaze for the sacrilege...

"Uh... I see... Then I guess... Yes, I'll pay a visit to Superbia then." After all, she used to give her coffee and food when she went, but... The Doppelganger threw himself to the ground in front of her.

"S-Superbia and I have of late been engrossed in a matter of great moment, M-Mylady... I-I venture to state, personally, that thy presence might... Without invoking the least inconvenience or affront to thy splendid personage, interrupt a... Small portion of this vital duty of ours, Lady Black Abyss. A-After all, thy mere presence wouldst stay the servants of the Supreme Ladies from their duties, compelling them to proffer adulations..." He tried to twist the truth as much as he could, although he felt daggers stabbing his heart at the mere idea of trying to deceive one of the Supremes.

But with an understanding, he realized it was useless to do it in the first place. Lady Black Abyss was extremely wise and intelligent... In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise if she already knew about each of the present and future actions of each NPC...

So, if Lady Black Abyss insisted again, he understood that there was no point in trying to hide it...

"Alright then..." Bachelory lifted his head, surprised to hear that. "I'll go grab something to eat then, let me know if anything happens with those important tasks." She said with a sigh at the end.

"U-Umu. Of course, thy magnificence.." The Prime Minister agreed with some resignation, giving a respectful and adoring bow.

"Eyesight, open a portal in the Throne Room. I guess I should invite her too..." She muttered that last part; did she mean...? Maybe she would bring her Creator, Dont-Say-My-Name, to eat? That would be very effective...

They would know where both Supremes would be, and they could move all the gifts, which at the moment were already more than 388,000 just in Titania, with a low chance of being discovered... It was perfect...

A portal opened, and Black Abyss passed through it, the portal closing behind her. Bachelory could then sigh in relief because... It seemed that the Supremes were going to play along... How wonderful they were~

He sent [Message] and informed Superbia of the developments.

Although the Supremes knew, they still seemed to enjoy his efforts to please them. He wouldn't stop for anything now!

…

"Uh? Bachelory told you that? That's weird... Usually, no one in Titania would really be busy enough to require complete concentration..."

"Well, it seems even Miku is busy... Are you up to something weird again?" Black Abyss asked Dont, then ate an oyster while looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Qua? No no no! I really have no idea what's going on..." The Demon Queen sighed while quickly shaking her hands and head, grabbing a lobster afterward and taking a bite that was too large, ignoring the shell as if it were butter.

"Hm... I told you to choose the food, but why seafood? And there are so many oysters..." She said, grabbing another oyster and eating it.

"My sister used to say they're good to eat in pairs... Although, well, she told me that a month before they went officially extinct..." Dont shrugged.

"Wow... Why is that?"

"No idea. I don't know about oysters. I just felt like it~" She said with a smile, grabbing an oyster and devouring it in one bite.

"I see... Myam~" Both women ate with a wide smile, and Black Abyss looked to the right at the same time as Dont, both giving a thumbs up to Mariana, Titania's head chef, who was the only one qualified to cook for them. According to the NPCs, of course.

She smiled brightly as she bowed and left Black Abyss's chambers, probably heading back to the kitchen.

For some reason, Mariana came personally instead of having a maid bring them the food... Actually, there were no maids today.

Not that Dont noticed due to the delicious seafood she was savoring.

Black Abyss ate a plate of clams, also defeating a giant prawn. Dont polished off a plate of oysters, as well as crushed a king crab between her teeth.

And, in no time, the entire table had been emptied by both women.

"Well. With this done, we should get back to our duties outside of Titania. I have to negotiate some nonsense with the Council, and I remember you mentioned having to complete some adamantite missions with Alicia." Dont smiled as she wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin before throwing it at the paladin's face.

She caught it with a finger and left it on the table.

"Don't mess around... It's a day before Christmas... Shouldn't we take a break? Although... I guess we're always on vacation in a way... Wah... 'Being your own boss' is harder than I thought..." Black Abyss said, taking her napkin to clean up.

"Anyway, this world doesn't know Christmas~" Dont shrugged playfully. "Or well, a kind of weird equivalent that I suppose is Christmas but warped over time." She shrugged again, standing up from the white velvet and marble chair in her friend's celestial room.

"It's a shame... But I guess so..." Black Abyss got up from the chair of the same characteristics, quickly giving a twirling motion. "Think fast!" She said, giving Dont a playful slap on the rear.

"Hiiaa! You-!" Dont growled before jumping onto Black Abyss at a speed faster than she could move.

…

"Bravo, my comrades. The eve of Christmas draws nigh, and behold, all is prepared for the morrow." Bachelory practically celebrated in the meeting room, with the Commanders, Fanrir, Juliana, Mishirifus…

And Gandolfo, who hadn't moved from the floor since the last meeting.

"Nevertheless... There doth arise an issue... A significant one..." Bachelory said with a more serious tone, earning furrowed brows from those present. "The Supremes have apart from Titania."

"What!?" was the common reaction from everyone, who looked at each other, concerned.

"... If the ones receiving the gifts aren't here... Is it really worth it? We need to retrieve the Supremes..." Bulldoger said with a growl.

"Hmp~ You mean that I should go fetch the Supreme Ladies~ Silly cat~" Superbia laughed proudly.

"The Supremes might be dealing with important matters related to Deorum Regnum, so if anyone is suited for this task, it's Superbia." Achernar said, surprising even Superbia herself.

"Fu~ See~? Even the lizard agrees with me~ Oh~ Is this what they call a 'Christmas Miracle'? It seems to have the power of a World Item to cause this lizard to say that~" Moth Woman hummed.

"W-Wah? What day is it?" Gandolfo mumbled sleepily.

A collective meditation seemed to be taking place after Superbia's statement but was interrupted by a familiar, usually unheard voice.

"S-Sir Gandolfo... W-Were you here for the last 2 days...?" Juliana was torn between a sweat drop or a vein throbbing on her temple.

"Who?" The Nephilim asked before starting to snore again, much to the Succubus's dismay, who just sighed defeatedly.

"Now is not the hour for contemplation of 'Christmas Miracles.' Commence the 'Supreme Recovery Plan' forthwith!" Bachelory said, raising a hand. The attendees nodded, mainly Superbia, who stood up from the table, proudly walking towards the exit. She wouldn't waste a single second that could be spent with the Supremes.

"Christmas is truly a powerful thing... I never thought I'd see you agreeing with Superbia, Achernar. It brings us closer to being a united team of friends." Alucard said with a smile, earning a vein throbbing on the Dragonoid's forehead.

"It's the most effective approach right now... And although any of us could go looking for the Supremes, only she could do it while postponing her meetings since she's the Queen of Deorum Regnum... So I had to agree, as painful as it is..." He sighed almost like a growl, earning a laugh from Bulldoger on the side.

Juliana Miss Perfect stood up then.

"Mr. Bachelory, I suggest that, taking advantage of the absence of the Supremes, we proceed with... 'That' plan~"

"Mm." He nodded. "Juliana speaks with wisdom. I rely upon you to orchestrate the servants' efforts with expediency. Achernar, Fanrir, Miia, lend your aid to Juliana in this endeavor. Swiftness is paramount, yet let not celerity compromise precision. Should I discern but a solitary misaligned garland... A penalty shall be meted out… And 'The Coal' shall be bestowed…" The seriousness in his voice made the attendees tense, except for Gandolfo, who snored like a walrus on the cold floor.

"Are you referring to…?" Alucard looked seriously at Bachelory after the mention of 'The Coal.'

Robotic sounds came from above, and Miia hugged herself shivering, letting out a 'uwaah' though her expression didn't change. Echidna just trembled as she lowered her head.

"Yes, indeed. I refer to 'The Coal.' The artifact bestowed upon the gravest transgressors in lieu of gifts and affection as the fruits of their misdeeds... Once, Lady Dont presented Lord Rey69Jamon with 'Coal'... And I overheard Lady MichiXMichi and Lady Minyibai conversing about how Lord Jamon wept for a week in its wake..." He declared with solemnity. "Hence, labor diligently, and there shall be no cause to merit 'The Coal.'"

The Commanders stood up, an aura of terror and determination above them, as they headed towards Juliana, who trembled like a leaf in a storm.

"Good. So, to avoid getting 'Coal' instead of the praises of the Supremes, we will use all the power of Titania to DECORATE," Achernar said, opening his fiery bright eyes.

"U-Um... Please, try not to use too much force, or you'll break the decorations..." Juliana trembled with a sweat drop.

"Don't worry. These hands are more precise and delicate than they may seem." He said with a smile beneath the cloth covering his mouth, hiding his sharp teeth.

Alucard sighed but shone with the same determination.

"Let's not waste time then. Juliana, you're in charge of all the Commanders today. Give orders." He said to the housekeeper, who swallowed some saliva.

...

All night, hypothetically speaking, on Christmas Eve, although neither the NPCs nor the Supremes really understood how Christmas Eve worked due to their own reasons, Titania went from a marvelous European and shiny palace to an equally magnificent Christmas castle.

Of course, the layers of supported rock that hid Titania in a false mountain concealed all the glow that could be seen by outsiders.

Titania went through a curious time, something that wouldn't be seen every day.

The maids tried to hold back their laughter as Juliana looked disappointed, watching Achernar break his 5th decoration in just 10 seconds. Bulldoger carefully, meaning with the force of a wrecking ball, planted the Christmas tree in a significant section of Le Nouveau Versalles, where the celebration would take place, with Wanda and Cosmo helping to create other trees for Bulldoger's subordinates to take to the Fairies in the Village.

Alucard and Miia placed decorations everywhere at great speed, though creating chaos in their wake, with Echidna fixing all the disasters the duo caused while looking desperate despite being a mecha armor.

Fanrir had already decorated half the palace in record time without a single mistake, and alongside Bachelory, they poked Gandolfo, still asleep, with a stick to make sure he wasn't dead.

Until finally, the moment of truth arrived with a [Message] from Superbia notifying that the Supremes would return at the point of the 'celebration.'

...

"Ahem. Superbia, dear. Why in Le Nouveau Versalles?" Dont scratched her head, somewhat confused.

"Fu~ Well~ As you may know~ The Commanders are somewhat busy~ Le Nouveau Versalles is an idyllic place for a break~ And personally, I think, the Supremes need a day off~" Superbia said with her usual grace.

"Umu..." The pair of Supremes looked somewhat skeptical, but Dont shrugged, and Black Abyss sighed.

"Well, whatever, I also think the same, although it's very... Opportune..." Black Abyss said, scratching her cheek, her adventurer Titania attire changing to her usual bright divine outfit.

"Certainly~ I adore my lovely France~"

Black Abyss sighed, shrugging. "I want to grab something first. Do you want to go for coffee?" She asked Dont.

"I would never say no to that offer~" The Demon Queen smiled widely, eager to drink the elixir of the Gods.

Was there a potion called the Elixir of the Gods? Who cares! Sacrilege against Coffee! The true divine elixir!

Dont frowned, being careful not to fall into schizophrenia again.

Deorum Regnum had large Coffee warehouses; it was a thriving Kingdom thanks to Superbia and imports from Titania, so both women spent quite some time there... Just drinking coffee and chatting...

Usually, Superbia was someone who, in the presence of an equal or two superiors in this case, could talk about many things.

But... Superbia was clearly nervous for the several hours that the Supremes were in Deorum Regnum, making insinuations that the Coffee in Titania tasted better or how nice it would be to drink it while looking at Titania from Versailles...

Both Supremes noticed the strangeness in almost everything that was happening... Maybe... Did this have to do with Christmas?

Oh, Black Abyss remembered.

"Do you still have that Christmas outfit~?" She asked Dont, to which Superbia seemed to concentrate on the conversation between the Supremes.

"Ah... Umu... Yes, I think so. The crap that Hanzel and RataVibradora wanted me to wear for Christmas, and the cute Mrs. Claus outfit that MichiXMichi and Minyibai gave me." She mentally reviewed her wardrobe a bit as she remembered it with a hand on her chin.

"Well, you know that I also have one~ Jamon gave it to me during those funny times when he liked me~ And... It's very cute in itself, only that, thanks to RataVibradora's help, well... The skirt is a bit short..." She said with a sigh, taking a sip of coffee.

"Umu~ You certainly enjoyed Jamon's gifts~ Are you sure you didn't have a thing for him too~? You never showed the dress to anyone either." Dont grinned mischievously, taking a sip of her coffee as she vividly recalled the moment.

It was so amusing to tease Jamon by showing him that outfit when Black Abyss's real gender was revealed...

"I'll be honest… I didn't know Jamon liked me until he confessed... I felt awkward at the time, but we ended up becoming good friends in the end~ And... well, I didn't wear the outfit much, mainly because when I put it on in front of Jamon the time he gave it to me, he swiped at it and disconnected his 'Chair' when he saw what RataVibradora had done with the skirt... It really was short..." Black Abyss chuckled, reminiscing about the moment.

"Fufu~ I heard rumors from Habano, Hanzel, and Sasagae about a bit of BL between you and Jamon after that~ Fufu~" Dont seemed brutally amused, almost choking on her coffee, though she didn't mind if she did. "They say you didn't really reject him and just kept your relationship a secret~ Wah~ Who would have thought that the damn Jamon would go in that direction~? Ohoho~"

"... Only a part of all that is true, and it's that I didn't actually reject him. That day, I simply revealed my gender to him, and... well, it wasn't a rejection, but it was a significant change. Still, he was disconnected for days..." She sighed, recalling the incident.

"Fufu~ BL it is then~" Dont declared with a mocking stance.

On the other hand, Superbia didn't know if her eyes had fallen out from how wide they had opened, or if she had already fainted.

However, due to the neutrality generated by the denial between both reactions, she decided to simply stay silent and listen attentively to the supreme gossip, even if her coffee was spilling on her dress while she paid no attention. Even if it's boiling, the temperature didn't bother her.

"N-No BL! I like women, I was just being friendly with him, with everyone... Nothing BL about it..."

"Of course, of course~ Just rest assured I won't judge you if you come out of the closet~ Don't think I didn't notice you giving lovey-dovey eyes to that Warrior Captain or something~ But let's wrap up that conversation~ What were we doing?" Dont went blank, staring into space.

"... If we don't finish that, you might end up checking if respawn exists here..." She sighed tiredly, finishing the last of her coffee.

"Fufu~ No need to be ashamed, sweetie~ I don't judge~ After all, I didn't even judge Mulin when she told me she liked a certain individual from the guild~" Dont chuckled.

"Huh? Mulin had a crush? Who was it?" She asked, more interested.

Superbia seemed on the verge of exploding as she trembled like a leaf, as if her ears were opening the size of her head.

"Sorry, sweetie~ My lips are sealed~" The Queen of Titania made a gesture of sealing her mouth with a smile as she laughed under her breath.

"Tch, witch... Now that I remember, and since we're among… Technically... Did you know that MVP was also into that?" Dont almost spat out her coffee, but she wouldn't do such a thing to her elixir, looking at Black Abyss.

"Eh!? You knew about that?" The Demon Queen asked after swallowing her coffee.

"Of course, after my gender was revealed, for some reason, she started telling me a lot of gossip, and she liked a certain girl from the guild too." She added the last part with a wink.

"Eh?" Dont blinked. A part of her didn't want to understand, but she inevitably did.

She wanted to throw herself out of a window and bury her head in the ground after finally understanding many, maaaaaaaany things now. She resisted the urge to scream in fury and frustration.

To think she missed such an opportunity countless times!

The Queen of Titania suffered a greater blow of depression at that moment as she began cursing to the high heavens.

Superbia wanted to take them to Titania, but… She didn't want to stop listening. She couldn't.

It was in her instinct! Sorry, guys!

…

"Hm... Is it just me, or is Superbia 6 hours behind...?" Alucard asked, looking at the clock inside the Le Nouveau Versailles palace, to which Bachelory checked the time.

"6 hours, 1 minute, and 12 seconds, to be exact." Well... The timings of the Supremes were perfect, so they must have done something wrong...

Perhaps they rushed too much? He didn't know... The exterior of Versailles was filled with Christmas gift boxes, and the palace was adorned with green, red, and white lights.

But the most impressive sight was that 40-meter-tall tree, with 10 meters below ground. Yet, what was visible was bright, beautiful, adorned with an abundance of lights, and Fairies happily flying around.

Beneath it were 97 pairs of gift boxes, perfectly arranged symmetrically, with meticulous attention to every inch of presentation.

And all the present NPCs felt their hearts, or the equivalent of it for some, beating strongly when a [Gate] opened in front of the mansion, revealing the Supremes, and they immediately knelt.

…

"What the..." Black Abyss looked in surprise at the giant Christmas tree that had suddenly appeared in Le Nouveau Versailles. She had literally turned around for 7 or 8 hours, and suddenly everything was in Christmas mode.

On the other side, Dont had a similar reaction.

"Wah!? It's like the Grinch threw everything he stole all over Titania!" She exclaimed, grabbing her head in amazement. Although mentioning that name made the NPCs shudder in fear.

"It's a relief he's not here... But this amount of gifts... These decorations..." Black Abyss walked under the tree towards the kneeling NPCs. "Did you all do this?" She asked, leaning down to Bachelory, still with her surprised tone.

"Indeed, Mylady! We have hearkened, witnessed, and delved into the knowledge of this ceremonial observance conducted by the Supreme Lords each December 25th, ere, amidst, and post gathering precious resources and vanquishing formidable adversaries. In light of the nonattendance of the other Supreme Lords, we harbored the notion that you, Myladies, might find it challenging to orchestrate the entirety of the affair single-handedly—Oh, my most heartfelt apologies for entertaining any skepticism regarding your abilities, Myladies." Bachelory struck his masked forehead to the ground, in a position of submission and apology.

Black Abyss smiled and chuckled, to which Dont appeared walking to her side.

"Ah, don't worry about it, Bachelory. Honestly, Black Abyss is kind of silly, and she would have forgotten what month it is, and I find the task of decorating quite tedious, to be honest... Actually, you've done a good job." The Demon Queen smiled reassuringly, proud of her creation, which lifted its head trembling... More as if it were about to cry.

"M-My Creator..." He stammered, moved.

Now Dont stepped back a bit nervously.

"My IQ, both in general and in battle, is higher than yours," Black Abyss whispered to Dont from her side, into her ear.

"See? It almost feels like the Christmas spirit is already here with us... even though it talks nonsense~" Dont declared majestically, almost appearing to glow like a Goddess.

"And you know it~" She whispered again, then turned to face the NPCs.

"Wah~ More Christmas spirit delusions~ That's why I'm Jewish~" Dont theatrically announced.

"Thank you~ I truly mean it~ It's a wonderful surprise~" Black Abyss addressed all the present NPCs.

Bachelory looked around, seeing the NPCs, and nodded.

"I am confident that I articulate the sentiments of all of Titania, Mylady. We are unworthy of such expressions of gratitude. Nevertheless, we shall receive them with utmost honor and gratitude."

""Thank you, Lady Black Abyss!"" The NPCs exclaimed in unison, making the grand decorated ballroom resound with their cheers.

Black Abyss gave Dont a gentle smack on her ass… Invisible to others due to their close proximity, grabbing her attention with a growl.

"Say something to them~ Or are you the Grinch, perhaps?" She whispered to the Demon Queen.

"Right..." The Shooter grumbled to the paladin. "Ejem. First and foremost, you beautiful beings created by us, the Supreme Lords... I want to reveal something to you." She said with complete seriousness and suspense, even causing Black Abyss to raise an eyebrow.

The tension level rose to a point where one could hear a pin drop.

"It's true, Black Abyss and Rey69Jamon were boyfriend and girlfriend." She declared with finality, earning countless gasps of surprise from the NPCs. Superbia even fainted, along with several maids.

Achernar seemed on the verge of an aneurysm from the shock, while Alucard maintained a stoic expression and stared into space.

"But aside from that, I truly appreciate all this effort you put into allowing us, the two... The only Supreme Ladies here, to celebrate this, um, wonderful day. Especially with all of you. My heart couldn't be happier." The gentle and joyful smile of the Demon Queen brought warmth to the hearts of everyone who saw her, except for Black Abyss and those who fainted and were still shocked by the previous revelation.

"You damn bitch..." Black Abyss muttered almost inaudibly as she grabbed her face with her hand, clearly annoyed.

The Paladin looked at the NPCs, ready to deny what she knew was a blatant lie but... She smiled upon seeing the happy faces of those present... She would be the Grinch if she told them that was a lie...

She sighed then, grabbing her face one last time before grabbing Dont's huge ass very hard, making her squirm for a moment, but she let go with a mischievous smile.

"Well~ Are those gifts decorations or...?" Black Abyss asked, pointing to the tree and... All around the mansion.

"They were crafted by every denizen of Titania, as well as those residing in Deorum Regnum, Myladies. All are dedicated to you, for you merit the highest reverence, and beyond." Bachelory said with praise.

Dont hummed with a slight blush due to Black Abyss's inappropriate action, which fortunately went unnoticed as she wasn't facing anyone except Superbia, but she doubted she saw anything due to her unconscious state...

"A-Anyways~ If that's the case, let's open them~" The Demon Queen smiled excitedly. She didn't celebrate Christmas, but she liked events, food, and gifts.

Nothing could ruin this happiness of the moment. Of spending it with her beloved subjects and her dear but perverted friend.

... Except...

"KYAHAHAHA! I'M BACK, CHRISTMAS!"

"The Grinch!?" Dont shouted in surprise.

"What the hell is a World Boss doing here!?" Black Abyss trembled like a leaf, immediately pulling out her weapons.

"There he is! Seize him!" Bachelory, however, seemed to have it all planned.

"DO YOU THINK I, THE GRINCH, WILL GO BACK TO PRISON!? I'VE ALREADY BEEN IN THERE FOR TAX EVASION! I WON'T GO BACK IN!" Dont and Black Abyss said 'eh...' while trying to remember the Grinch's lore in case they had skipped something about tax evasion somewhere.

*Bonk*

The Grinch, the legendary World-Class Event Boss of the Christmas event, and surely one of the most difficult bosses that G.O.D.S. had ever faced, fell face down to the ground after the NPC that counters all Grinch's existence made it's presence known.

With the legendary weapon that was used to defeat the Grinch for the first time in hand, the small penguin, ironically named Penguin, stood on the defeated Grinch's back, raising the baseball bat as if he were a hero celebrating the defeat of a Demon God.

... Black Abyss looked perplexed while Dont just blinked in silence, at the same time they looked at each other, turning to look at Penguin, to which Dont approached him slowly, trembling as she reached her hands towards the penguin.

"Penguin." She spoke with a deep, almost demonic voice.

"Yes, gorgeous?" The Penguin spoke with an accent almost like a commander, like a certain penguin who once traveled to a remote island off the coast of Africa to find a lion, a hippopotamus, a giraffe, and a zebra. Along with other great achievements such as digging a hole to Antarctica with plastic sticks.

"Well done." The Queen of Titania patted him on the head, nodding at him.

The penguin just stood firm and proud, with the joke weapon from his creator, Puli Puli, held high.

"Control yourself, don't squeeze him." Black Abyss said to Dont from behind.

"... I-I'm trying..." She said as if making a great effort. "E-Ejem. Anyways. Grinch! For this interruption and invasion of the sacred Palace of the Pact of Titania! You are condemned to prison again! Where your skin will be removed and many other resources from your body exploited over and over again!" At least they have a World Boss in their power?

"Guilty..." The Grinch said with birds flying in circles over his head.

"But you will be granted the right to have coffee once a week, and a gingerbread cookie once a day. I am generous~" The Demon, who would normally tremble in fear at a World Boss like the Grinch due to the power difference, said with a smile, still cautious of all the crap that could happen if the Grinch, somehow, freed himself from his state of unconsciousness, which, again, made no sense why it happened in the first place.

"Make it two..." The Boss said as he was dragged by his legs and pulled towards a [Gate].

"Deal~"

With the defeat of the Grinch, the revelation of the 'relationship' between the former guild leader and Black Abyss, and the celebration and congratulations to Penguin for fulfilling the role that Bachelory assigned him...

The duo of Players lived happily ever after while opening the extravagant gifts from the NPCs.

A night that turned into day thanks to a growing dawn sun, full of surprises, teamwork, and the discovery of the true meaning of Christmas.

Something that Dont and the Grinch agreed on. GIFTS~! After all, everyone knows that the Grinch was Jewish after all, and sheep of the same flock always get along.

Morale? Always have a penguin during Christmas in case a Yggdrasil Event Boss tries to ruin your Christmas and one-shot your guild~

Although anyway, the Grinch would manage to escape from his prison and go back to who knows where, far from Titania and the G.O.D.S. guild, at least until next year.

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Creators: Puli~Puli, Carreador3000, Most Valuated Player

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