Chapter 59

Diterjemahkan kembali oleh Nigel
Diedit / Proofread oleh Deus Ex Machina

Bagian 3

10:30 Waktu Nazarick

“Kamu terlalu berisik. Harap tenang."

Ainz bergerak dengan tangan kirinya, dan memegang pose itu.

Dia mundur selangkah dan kembali ke posisi semula.

“Kamu terlalu berisik. Harap tenang."

Sekali lagi, dia bergerak dengan tangan kiri dan membeku di tengah pose. Dia memeriksa bayangan dirinya di cermin dan sedikit menyesuaikan posisi tangan kirinya.

"…Baik? … Apakah ini tempatnya? Tidak … Apakah akan lebih keren jika aku mengulurkan tanganku sedikit ke kiri? "

Dia kembali ke posisi awalnya.

“Kamu terlalu berisik. Harap tenang."

Akhirnya puas dengan pose itu, Ainz meraih memo di atas meja di sampingnya.

"Karena aku sudah selesai berpose … aku harus berlatih dialog sementara aku punya waktu ekstra."

Dia melingkari kalimat yang dia praktekkan sebelumnya dengan pena, lalu membalik halaman.

Mayoritas kalimat yang ditulis di sana adalah variasi pada frasa "Saya akan mempertimbangkannya." Frasa yang terlalu membosankan atau terlalu berlebihan dan dengan demikian terlalu timpang semuanya dicoret.

Bagi Ainz, yang dulunya orang biasa, bertindak seperti seorang pemimpin itu sulit. Jadi, dia berulang kali berlatih memainkan peran itu kalau-kalau ada situasi yang mengharuskannya. Tentu saja, seluruh buku catatan itu dipenuhi dengan ungkapan-ungkapan yang dibuat Ainz.

Meskipun satu jam telah berlalu sejak Ainz mulai berlatih, dia tidak memerlukan istirahat.

Ainz adalah penguasa tertinggi, tetapi dalam kenyataannya, dia nyaris tidak melakukan apa-apa. Kecuali ada keputusan penting atau situasi darurat yang membutuhkan kepemimpinannya, tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan. Albedo membereskan semua detail dan yang harus dilakukan Ainz adalah membaca sekilas laporan.

Karena tidak pernah ada apa pun dalam laporan yang membutuhkan perhatiannya, dia benar-benar hanya membaca sekilas semuanya. Itu sedikit berbahaya bagi penguasa, tetapi selama Albedo ada, dan tidak ada keadaan darurat, tidak akan ada masalah.

Semua organisasi yang tepat harus seperti ini. Tidak baik bagi seseorang yang berdiri di atas orang lain untuk bekerja di garis depan.

Itu adalah langkah bodoh bagi komandan tertinggi pasukan untuk berpartisipasi dalam pertempuran di garis depan kecuali dia ada di sana untuk meningkatkan moral. Jika dia melakukannya, itu akan sangat berbahaya.

Saya harus meninggalkan bisnis petualang ini dan mengumpulkan pengetahuan untuk menghadapi situasi darurat— Saya tahu saya harus melatih pikiran saya juga, tetapi apa yang harus saya lakukan? Siapa yang akan mengajari saya …? Bagaimana bisa saya tidak merusak citra Ainz Ooal Gown yang dipercayai semua orang …

Semua orang di dalam Nazarick menghormati Ainz sebagai penguasa absolut dan berlutut di depannya. Itu benar. Ainz mendapat rasa hormat dari bawahannya yang diciptakan oleh mantan rekannya, yang, dalam beberapa hal, adalah anak-anak mereka. Sama seperti bagaimana seorang ayah tidak bisa menghargai anak-anaknya yang ditempatkan di dalam dirinya, dia tidak bisa mengkhianati mereka juga. Itulah sebabnya dia berlatih akting, dengan harapan dia setidaknya bisa tampil untuk memainkan peran.

Dari ciue0rse, Ainz sepenuhnya menyadari bahwa itu memalukan.

Kalau tidak, mengapa dia mengunci pintu dan melarang pelayan dan Eight Assassins yang menjaganya masuk? Kadang-kadang, dia bahkan akan meletakkan wajahnya di bantal dan berteriak "Arrrgghhh—!" Ketika dia tidak tahan lagi.

"Sesuatu yang cocok dengan penguasa tertinggi Nazarick … Suatu bentuk yang bisa dihormati …"

Ainz merasa seperti dia akan batuk darah saat dia membalik-balik halaman. Masih ada banyak lagi garis yang dia buat di waktu luangnya, dan garis akhirnya tampak tidak terlihat.

Ainz Ooal Gown tidak hidup dan emosi di atas ambang tertentu ditekan. Tapi-

"Aku butuh istirahat…"

Sisa-sisa Suzuki Satoru lelah karena kelelahan mental, dan dia meratap. "Aku muak dengan ini," serunya.

Namun ─ Ainz membungkam tangisan itu dengan giginya yang menggigil,

"Apa yang saya lakukan? Saya perlu bekerja lebih keras. "

Setelah menegur dirinya karena mencoba melarikan diri, mata AInz dipenuhi dengan kekuatan, dan dia melihat dirinya di cermin lagi.

Tiba-tiba, suara “pipipipipi” digital terdengar.

Suara yang datang dari gelang di lengan kirinya seperti musik di telinga Ainz. Dia mematikan bunyi bip tiba-tiba dan menghela nafas dalam-dalam.

"Jika waktu habis, maka itu tidak dapat membantu. Ya, waktunya habis. "

Ainz mengembalikan memo itu ke sebuah kotak. Ketika dia menutup tutupnya, dia bisa mendengar suara beberapa kunci terlibat. Jika seseorang mencoba membuka kotak itu dengan paksa, itu akan memicu serangkaian mantra serangan yang luas, yang semuanya akan dipusatkan pada kotak untuk menghancurkannya. Pertahanan pada kotak itu cukup tangguh sehingga tidak ada seorang pun selain karakter tipe nakal level 90 atau karakter nakal khusus level 80 yang bisa menembusnya.

Setelah mengunci barang itu dengan aman, dia mengembalikannya ke dimensi sakunya. Ada banyak barang langka lainnya di sana juga. Tetap saja, pencuri tingkat tinggi bisa mencuri barang dari tempat seperti itu juga. Konon, seorang pencuri tidak bisa hanya melumpuhkan lawan-lawannya dan merampok mereka secara buta. Mereka terbatas pada satu atau dua item paling banyak. Namun, prospek dirampok sekali atau dua kali membuat Ainz — yang seharusnya tidak mengenal rasa takut sebagai salah satu mayat hidup — gemetar ketakutan.

Selain itu, kekuatan yang tidak diketahui seperti Talenta ada juga .. Itulah sebabnya dia menempatkan kotak di antara barang langka lainnya, sehingga pencuri akan mencuri mereka alih-alih kotak.

Setelah menyimpannya, dia memeriksanya lagi untuk memastikan.

Seolah-olah dia adalah seorang ibu rumah tangga yang memeriksa apakah pintu utama dikunci sebelum melakukan perjalanan. Setelah melakukannya, dia akhirnya menghela nafas lega.

Hanya setelah melakukan semua itu, Ainz akhirnya meninggalkan kamarnya. Tempat yang dia tuju adalah ruangan yang biasa dia gunakan sebagai ruang belajar. Orang-orang yang membungkuk dalam-dalam padanya adalah pelayan reguler, Albedo, dan Mare.

Dua yang pertama bukanlah pemandangan yang langka, tetapi bocah itu tidak sering datang ke sini, dan itu mengejutkan Ainz. Dia memotong ruangan, melingkari meja kayu hitamnya dan duduk, dengan cara yang telah dia praktekkan lebih dari 30 kali sebelumnya.

Duduk dengan cara ini berarti tidak menginjak jubahnya atau mengeluarkan suara ketika mendorong kursinya keluar.

Setelah itu, dia harus berhati-hati tentang bagaimana dia bersandar di kursi. Itu tidak akan terlihat bagus jika gerakannya terlalu tergesa-gesa atau jika dia menaruh terlalu banyak beban di bagian belakang kursinya. Raja memiliki cara raja – mungkin – duduk.

Tapi saya tidak tahu bagaimana raja mengambil tempat duduk … Saya harus mengamati bagaimana seorang raja duduk …

Dianjurkan bagi orang-orang perusahaan untuk duduk ringan di tengah kursi tanpa bersandar pada sandaran. Tapi Ainz Ooal Gown bukan lagi pria pendamping.

Karena itu, yang bisa dilakukan Ainz hanyalah menyadari citra raja yang ideal di dalam benaknya.

"Angkat kepalamu."

Hanya dari itu mereka bertiga mendongak. Ainz kesal dengan kenyataan bahwa mereka tidak akan mengangkat kepala mereka tanpa perintah eksplisit, dan dia merasa itu hanya buang-buang waktu. Tetap saja, dia tidak bisa mengabaikan kesetiaan yang mereka tunjukkan kepada tuan mereka. Karena itu, Ainz menanggungnya setiap waktu dan menjawab dengan cara yang sama.

"Lalu aku akan mulai dengan sebuah pertanyaan. Kuda betina. Bisnis apa yang Anda miliki? "

"Ah iya!"

Mungkin Mare gugup, tapi suaranya sedikit pecah. Ainz tersenyum. Tentu saja, tidak mungkin wajah tak berdagingnya bisa berputar sendiri, tapi dia masih melakukan yang terbaik untuk memancarkan aura kebaikan. Mungkin Mare merasakannya, tapi dia menghela napas lega. Dia tampak kurang kaku sekarang.

"Ah … itu, ini, eh, aku membawanya."

Ainz bukanlah atasan yang kejam yang akan pergi, "apa yang kamu bawa". Karena Mare yang membawanya, Ainz harus menerimanya. Yang dia tahu, itu mungkin perintah yang dia berikan dan lupakan.

"Sungguh sekarang ─ tidak, tidak apa-apa."

Ainz mengulurkan tangan untuk menghentikan pelayan tugas hari itu ketika dia berusaha untuk mengambil item dari Mare.

"Mare, berikan padaku secara langsung."

"Iya!"

Mare mengangkat dadanya tinggi ketika dia berjalan ke Ainz dan memberinya folder yang dia pegang.

AInz dengan murah hati menerima folder itu dan membukanya.

Ini adalah … surat edaran yang saya kirimkan.

Ketiga Wali telah mengitari "Pergi" ke undangan Ainz.

“Baiklah, Cocytus seharusnya mengirim antek untuk mengirimkan ini padaku. Terima kasih telah mengatasi semua masalah ini, Mare. ”

"T-tidak sama sekali, itu bukan apa-apa, tidak ada yang semacam itu! Cocytus-san sibuk, jadi aku bersikeras membantunya. Dan selain itu— ”

Mare dengan penuh kasih membelai cincin di jari manis kirinya.

… Itu Cincin Ainz Ooal Gown. Tidak, saya senang dia sangat menghargainya, tetapi meletakkannya di jari itu berarti … Lebih tepatnya, mengapa anak itu menatap saya dengan mata berembun …

Ainz menggigil, dan kemudian dia melirik Albedo. Dia tersenyum ramah, seperti biasa.

Garis pandang Ainz bergeser ke jari manis Albedo.

Seperti yang diharapkan, dia memakai Cincinnya di sana, seperti Mare. Sepertinya itu adalah tempat yang tepat untuk memakai cincin itu.

Dari mana latihan itu berasal? Itu dari Yunani kuno, kan?

Dia ingat apa yang Yamaiko pernah katakan kepadanya tentang arti memakai cincin di jari yang berbeda.

Rupanya, orang-orang Yunani kuno percaya ada pembuluh darah yang mengalir dari jari manis kiri ke jantung, dan jadi jika jari manis kiri menyentuh sesuatu yang berbahaya bagi tubuh, itu akan mengirim sinyal ke jantung, itulah sebabnya mereka mengeluarkan obat-obatan dengan jari manis kiri mereka … Apakah Sous-Chef melakukan hal yang sama juga? Ah, ini buruk … dia menatapku lagi.

Ainz menyentuhkan jarinya di atas meja.

“Ada apa, Mare? Apakah kamu melihat sesuatu? Apakah ada sesuatu yang menutupi wajah saya? "

Dia memilih kata-katanya dengan hati-hati, memastikan jawabannya tidak terdengar seperti ejekan.

"Tidak, tidak sama sekali. Aku hanya berpikir kamu terlihat sangat tampan, Ainz-sama. ”

"Saya ganteng?"

Ainz tanpa sadar membelai wajah kurusnya.

"Fuhaha … Kamu benar-benar penyanjung, Mare."

"Itu bukan sanjungan!"

Kerasnya suara itu tidak terdengar seperti itu bisa berasal dari Mare.

"Ma-maafkan aku, Ainz-sama. Tapi, aku benar-benar berpikir kamu terlihat tampan. Bahkan sekarang, cara Anda duduk tampak seperti bagaimana penguasa tertinggi Nazarick seharusnya … "

Ainz menatap penuh tanya pada pelayan yang bertugas. Homunculus merasakan niat tuannya dan mengangguk dengan tenang dan penuh semangat, seolah mengatakan, "tepat". Ainz tidak melihat Albedo, namun dia juga mengangguk dengan penuh semangat, dan ada suara patapata ketika sayapnya mengepak.

"Benar-benar sekarang. Senang mendengarnya."

Setelah jawaban singkat itu, Ainz bangkit dari tempat duduknya dan berjalan di depan Mare, lalu dengan lembut menepuk kepala bocah yang tegang untuk mengantisipasi omelan.

Itu adalah tindakan biasa, namun penuh dengan kebaikan.

"Ai-Ainz-sama …"

"Terima kasih, Mare. Kata-kata Anda selalu menyenangkan saya. "

Sangat memalukan untuk mengatakan itu, tetapi dia tidak menampilkan emosi seperti Suzuki Satoru ini.

“Saya selalu memikirkan ini; Saya harus berterima kasih kepada teman-teman saya. "

"Maksudmu Makhluk Tertinggi?"

Ainz berlutut, jadi matanya sejajar dengan Mare.

"Tepat. Saya ingin berterima kasih kepada mereka karena telah membuat Makam Besar Bawah Tanah Nazarick, dan untuk membuat Anda dan semua orang. Kamu ─ dan maksudku Albedo dan Keenam ini juga ─ ”

Sayap Albedo berdiri tegak sepenuhnya.

Pembantu yang baru saja tiba-tiba dipanggil sedang panik. Dia biasanya tenang, jadi setelah melihat sisi langka dirinya ini, Ainz tertawa riang.

"Kamu semua adalah hartaku."

Ainz meraup Mare.

"Aku tidak tahan membiarkan Bukubukuchagama-san memilikimu."

"Terima kasih, Ainz-sama."

Air mata kegembiraan mengalir di pipi Keenam saat dia menjawab atas nama Mare.

"Ketika semua Makhluk Tertinggi meninggalkan tempat ini, hanya Anda yang tetap di sini sampai akhir, dan semua orang di Nazarick bersyukur untuk itu. Mungkin kami gagal memenuhi harapan Anda dan mungkin kami sering mengecewakan Anda. Saya mengerti bahwa berbicara dengan cara ini kepada pencipta kita sangat tidak sopan, tetapi saya berdoa Anda akan mengizinkan ─ bahwa Anda akan mengizinkan kami untuk menjanjikan kesetiaan kita yang abadi kepada Anda. ”

"Aku mengizinkan ini. Aku ingat bahwa di masa lalu, Albedo dan Demiurge mengatakan sesuatu yang mirip denganku, jadi dengarkan ini ─ Aku adalah penguasa Nazarick; Aku tuanmu, Ainz Ooal Gown. "

Ainz belum pernah berlatih kalimat ini sebelumnya, jadi dia cukup terkejut dengan betapa lancar dia bisa melafalkannya. Namun, ketika dia memikirkannya, itu hanya yang diharapkan. Karena dia berbicara dari hati, masuk akal bahwa dia bisa melakukannya dengan cara yang alami.

Mare memeluk Ainz dan membenamkan wajahnya di bahu Ainz.

Untung aku tidak memakai perlengkapan yang biasa, bagian tenang dari pikiran Ainz berkata.

Dia merasakan sensasi basah menyebar melalui bahu jubahnya, tetapi Ainz meninggalkan Mare di mana dia berada. Saat suara isak Mare berangsur-angsur mereda. Ainz dengan lembut membelai kepalanya.

Ainz mengeluarkan saputangan dari sakunya.

Dia belum pernah menyeka wajah orang lain sebelumnya, jadi mungkin gerakannya agak kasar, tetapi Mare membiarkan Ainz menyekanya.

“Ayo, Mare. Cuci muka Anda. "

"Ah … bagaimana denganmu, Ainz-sama?"

"Ah, aku akan menuju ke E-Rantel sesudahnya. Saya perlu bertemu dengan Guildmaster. Saya telah menundanya karena itu menyebalkan, tetapi saya tidak bisa menunda lagi. Sekarang ─ "

Ainz melirik Albedo, yang selama ini diam saja. Rambut panjangnya menutupi wajahnya, dan dia tidak bisa melihat ekspresinya. Namun, getaran tubuhnya yang tak henti-hentinya sudah cukup untuk menyerang teror ke dalam hati Ainz. Gambar gunung berapi yang mendidih dengan amarah, di ambang letusan, melintas di benaknya.

"Ada apa, Albedo?"

Dan pada saat itu—

"─Gu-guwaargh!"

─Ainz bidang penglihatan bergeser tepat ketika dia merasakan dampak di punggungnya.

Secara alami, itu tidak sakit. Tubuh Ainz hanya bisa dirugikan dengan cara magis. Dia tidak merasakan sakit akibat benturan ringan yang diakibatkan menabrak benda-benda. Namun, sisa-sisa kemanusiaannya membuatnya menutup matanya secara refleks.

Perkembangan yang tiba-tiba ini membuatnya tidak bisa berpikir. Susunan mental dari mayat hidup berarti bahwa mereka tidak panik atau sejenisnya, jadi kebingungan ini pasti karena Suzuki Satoru.

"Nh, ngghhh …"

Dia membuka matanya, dan melihat Assassins Delapan Tepi di langit-langit. Dengan kata lain, dia ada di punggungnya. Ketika dia menyadari hal ini, Ainz segera mencoba untuk berdiri, tetapi benda aneh yang lembut menjepit seluruh tubuhnya, dan berkat itu, sulit untuk bergerak.

Mustahil. Item saya memberi saya kekebalan terhadap hambatan mobilitas seperti menyematkan. Saya seharusnya dibebaskan saat saya sepenuhnya tidak bisa bergerak … dengan kata lain, seseorang menggunakan teknik pengikatan yang sangat kuat pada saya!

Ainz memeriksa untuk melihat apa bentuk kehidupan lembut yang membuatnya terjepit, dan seperti yang diduga ─ itu adalah Albedo.

"Ainz-samaaa!"

Albedo mengangkangi Ainz dalam tunggangan penuh dan mendorongnya kembali ke bawah ketika dia mencoba untuk bangkit.

"Apa … apa ini? Apa yang terjadi?"

"Aku— aku tidak bisa menerimanya lagi!"

Albedo tiba-tiba membuka matanya. Murid keemasannya yang berkobar mengirim rasa dingin ke tulang punggung Ainz.

"Kamu … apa yang kamu katakan ?!"

Albedo mengabaikan pertanyaan panik Ainz dan malah membawa tangannya ke depan gaunnya. Dengan "hng" usaha, dia mencoba melakukannya, tetapi dia tidak bisa mengalah.

“Pakaian ajaib sangat menyebalkan. Anda membutuhkan keterampilan untuk menghancurkannya atau melepasnya secara normal. ”

"Tenangkan dirimu, Albedo! Lepaskan aku! ”

Ainz berpikir untuk mendorongnya dengan kekuatan kasar, tapi Albedo adalah prajurit level 100. Juga, setiap kali Ainz mencoba mendorongnya menjauh, tangannya melakukan kontak dengan sesuatu yang lembut dan licin, jadi dia tidak bisa menggunakan kekuatan penuhnya. Tangan Albedo bergerak, berusaha melepaskan jubah Ainz.

“Jangan melepas pakaianku! Berhentilah menggoyangkan pinggulmu! Hai— ”

"Ah, awawawawa …"

"Ini salahmu, Ainz-sama! Saya sudah lama menahannya, tapi kemudian Anda mengatakan itu dan saya tidak tahan lagi! Itu semua salahmu, Ainz-sama! Saya hanya perlu sedikit! Hanya sedikit! Sedikit saja! Sedikit cintamu! Hitung saja Eight Eight Assassins di langit-langit dan itu akan berakhir sebelum Anda selesai! "

Jika Albedo memilih saat ini untuk memarahi Ainz karena mengubah kisahnya, mungkin dia akan kehilangan keinginan untuk menolak. Namun, Albedo tampak seperti dia akan menelannya utuh, jadi dia tidak merasa bersalah, tetapi teror dari seseorang yang akan dilahap. Itu malah menyebabkan dia berjuang lebih keras lagi.

Baru pada saat itu bawahannya, yang terpana oleh perkembangan yang tiba-tiba, akhirnya beraksi.

"Albedo-sama sudah gila!"

"Albedo-sama sudah gila!"

The Eight Edge Assassins turun sebagai satu dari langit-langit.

"Tarik dia dari Ainz-sama! Tidak, jangan mencoba melumpuhkannya, dia akan langsung lolos! Tarik saja dia dengan kekuatan kasar! ”

"Tidak baik! Ada apa dengan kekuatan ini! Saya tidak akan mengharapkan Penjaga Pelindung! Mare-sama, kami meminta bantuan Anda! "

“─Awawa! B-baiklah! ”

***

Pada akhirnya, Ainz akhirnya dibebaskan, dan setelah merapikan jubahnya yang kusut, dia melihat ke Albedo, yang ditangkap tangan dan kaki oleh Eight Edge Assassins, dan berkata:

"Albedo akan dikurung selama tiga hari."

The Eight Edge Assassins menyeret Albedo dari kamar.

"Ah … Ainz-sama … kamu baik-baik saja?"

"Aku baik-baik saja … apakah Albedo selalu seaneh itu? Apakah dia makan sesuatu yang lucu? … Memang, setan tidak perlu makan atau minum, tetapi tidak seperti mereka tidak bisa. "

Saat Ainz mengajukan pertanyaan itu, Mare mengalihkan pandangannya.

"Aku mengerti … tidak, yah, hm. Dia pasti punya banyak hal yang terjadi. Yang saya tahu, itu bisa jadi stres akibat kerja. ”

Ainz bangkit dan memanggil pelayan itu. Dia mendapatkan kembali martabatnya ─ yang sebelumnya telah tersebar ke angin ─ dan berbicara dengan nada memerintah.

"… Panggil Narberal dan Hamsuke. Sudah waktunya bagi saya untuk pergi ke E-Rantel. "

***

13:35 Waktu Nazarick

Ainz menarik kendali dari tempat ia dipasang di punggung Hamsuke, membuat Hamsuke berhenti. Dia diam-diam memandang gerbang kota E-Rantel.

Ainz sangat menyukai gerbang tebal dan kokoh ini, yang terlihat seperti mereka bisa mengusir pasukan. Meskipun ada banyak gerbang di YGGDRASIL yang lebih besar dan tampak lebih dingin dari yang ini, gerbang ini bukan kumpulan data, tetapi dibuat oleh tangan umat manusia ─ meskipun mereka mungkin memiliki bantuan ajaib.

Ketika dia berdiri di depan gerbang baja raksasa ini, perasaan yang tak terlukiskan menggenang di dalam dirinya.

Ada guild di YGGDRASIL yang menaklukkan kota juga. Di masa lalu, saya pikir itu merepotkan untuk menggunakan lokasi yang sangat sulit untuk dipertahankan sebagai basis guild, tapi … Saya pikir saya bisa memahami guild-guild itu sekarang. Menguasai kota besar mungkin merupakan ambisi pria.

Di YGGDRASIL, sering terjadi pertempuran kota antara guild. Banyak anggota Ainz Ooal Gown hanya menonton dengan dingin dari samping, tidak dapat memahaminya, tetapi ada beberapa yang mengatakan mereka ingin mengambil bagian.

Apakah mereka memerangi maniak …

Di masa lalu, Ainz tidak terlalu menyukai kata-kata itu, tapi ketika dia memikirkannya sekarang, itu adalah kenangan indah.

"Apakah ada masalah, Tuanku?"

"Tidak sama sekali, jangan khawatir tentang itu."

Hamsuke penasaran dan menanyakan pertanyaannya karena tuannya telah memintanya berhenti, tetapi belum melakukan apa-apa. Balasan datar Ainz telah menutup topik itu. Dia merasa malu membiarkan Hamsuke tahu bahwa dia mengenang masa lalu.

"Nah, ke Adventurer's Guild, di mana kita akan menunjukkan wajah kita untuk pertemuan dan kemudian segera melakukan pencarian pemusnahan monster."

Dia bisa saja tinggal di penginapan E-Rantel, tetapi dia tidak memiliki kemewahan untuk melakukan pengeluaran sia-sia seperti itu. Alasan mengapa Ainz ─ yang tidak makan atau minum ─ harus memesan kamar di penginapan kelas atas adalah murni untuk menyoroti statusnya sebagai petualang yang paling berposisi tinggi. Setelah itu, itu adalah masalah membuat koneksi. Namun, dia sudah bertemu dengan semua orang berpengaruh di kota ini, dan dia yakin bahwa mereka akan menerimanya dengan hangat jika dia mencari mereka. Karena itu, Ainz tidak perlu memesan kamar di penginapan.

Selain itu, setiap kali AInz masuk ke sebuah penginapan, ia akan segera teleport kembali ke Nazarick, di mana ia akan menghasilkan mayat hidup dan mengerjakan hal-hal lain. Karena itu, akan lebih bijaksana untuk mengambil misi pemusnahan monster dan meninggalkan kota sesegera mungkin.

Terus terang, dia tidak merasa ada manfaat lebih lanjut dengan tetap tinggal di sekitar E-Rantel.

"Apakah begitu? Sesungguhnya, tuan memang menikmati pertempuran. "

"Bukannya aku menikmatinya atau apa pun. Selain itu, ketika aku menghabisi monster, aku segera mengeluarkan mereka dan menghabiskan sebagian besar waktu di Nazarick. ”

Ainz dengan ringan mengetuk kepala besar Hamsuke.

"Aku bermaksud memberi kamu semua jenis pelatihan sehingga kamu bisa menggunakan senjata dan baju besi."

“Yang ini selalu bekerja keras! Yang ini telah meminta Lizardmen untuk mengajarkan yang satu ini segala macam trik, dan segera yang ini pasti akan bisa belajar gerakan super! ”

"Ho. Nah sekarang, akan sempurna jika Anda bisa belajar seni bela diri. Juga, bagaimana dengan sesama muridmu? Apakah Anda pikir dia akan dapat menggunakan seni bela diri? "

"Maksudmu dia? Dia tidak pernah berbicara sehingga yang ini tidak tahu. Namun, yang ini merasa dia belum bisa menggunakannya. ”

Memang, Ainz berpikir. Tidak mungkin orang akan senang berbicara, dan Ainz merasa bahwa kesempatannya untuk bisa belajar seni bela diri sangat kecil. Itu sedikit lebih dari sebuah eksperimen. Yang mengatakan, jika ─ Death Knight yang diciptakan oleh Ainz ─ sebenarnya bisa mempelajari teknik prajurit, rencana masa depan mereka harus sangat diubah. Itu karena jika dia bisa memperkuat monster dengan melatih mereka, maka itu kemungkinan besar akan menjadi prioritas utama.

“Mayat mati tidak perlu tidur, dan mereka juga tidak lelah. Mereka dapat melakukan latihan tempur selamanya. Jadi secara teori, dia seharusnya belajar seni bela diri sebelum Hamsuke. Fakta bahwa dia tidak mungkin menunjukkan bahwa itu tidak mungkin. "

"Tolong sebentar! Dia berusaha keras dengan caranya sendiri! Bahkan setelah yang satu ini kembali ke tempat tinggal yang satu ini, ia melanjutkan pelatihan tanpa sepatah kata pun keluhan … Saya berdoa agar Anda mengampuni hidupnya! "

"… Tidak, aku tidak bermaksud membunuhnya, kau tahu? Apa tepatnya yang Anda terima dari saya? ”

"Memang, tidak ada yang lebih berbelaskasih di dunia ini selain Ainz-sama. Ainz-sama bahkan mengasihani makhluk kecil yang menyedihkan sepertimu dan menyelamatkan hidupmu. ”

Kata-kata dingin itu datang dari Narberal, yang mengendarai di belakang mereka, dan mereka membuat Hamsuke bergidik.

"─Nabe, kita datang ke E-Rantel. Panggil aku Momon mulai sekarang. ”

"Dimengerti."

"Juga, Hamsuke adalah makhluk dengan bagian penting untuk dimainkan dalam rencana memperkuat Nazarick … kamu harus mengambil sikap yang sesuai dengan mereka yang bekerja demi Nazarick. Saya tidak hanya mengacu pada Hamsuke, jadi ingatlah itu. ”

"Iya! Permintaan maaf terdalam saya. ”

Juga, berhenti menyebut manusia kutu atau kutu atau apa pun, Ainz ingin mengatakan, tetapi tidak peduli bagaimana dia memerintahkannya, Narberal tidak mau mendengarkan, jadi baru-baru ini dia memutuskan untuk tidak repot-repot. Itu karena jika Narberal Gamma dirancang untuk secara tidak sadar merujuk pada manusia sedemikian rupa, memaksanya untuk mengoreksi dirinya sendiri pada dasarnya akan menginjak-injak keinginan temannya yang telah mendesainnya seperti itu.

"Baiklah, ayo pergi."

"Ya, tuan."

Ainz berkuda di Hamsuke.

Dia bisa melihat beberapa orang berbaris di depan gerbang. Hanya diharapkan bahwa imigrasi akan diperiksa lebih ketat daripada emigrasi, dan semua barang yang mereka bawa akan diperiksa dengan cermat. Karena itu, jika pedagang keliling atau pedagang keliling ingin memasuki E-Rantel, mereka mungkin harus menghabiskan waktu lama untuk mengantri untuk inspeksi.

"Aku harap itu tidak akan terlalu lama …"

"Haruskah kamu tidak memiliki prioritas untuk masuk, Momon sa─n?" Narberal bertanya ketika mereka berbaris di belakang beberapa pengembara ─ termasuk kelompok dalam pakaian petualang.

Dia benar. Ketika Ainz pertama kali datang ke sini, dia juga menjadi sasaran pemeriksaan yang sangat merepotkan, tetapi ketika catatan petualangannya bertambah, proses pemeriksaan menjadi lebih sederhana, dan sekarang dia secara praktis memiliki izin bebas untuk berjalan melewati mereka. Selain itu, kadang-kadang ia menerima izin untuk masuk istimewa ke kota.

Hak istimewa ini tidak unik untuk Kegelapan; hampir semua petualang peringkat mithril dan di atas menerima perlakuan khusus seperti itu. Mungkin itu karena kota tidak ingin membuat kartu truf mereka tidak menyenangkan.

Dalam hal itu, mengapa tidak menghapus begitu saja dengan masuknya tol …

Imbalannya tidak mahal dibandingkan dengan pembayaran yang diterima petualang, tetapi Ainz adalah pencari nafkah teratas bagi Nazarick dan harus membayarnya tidak menyenangkan. Konon, dia juga tidak bisa melewati tembok dengan sihir terbang.

Momon adalah seorang pahlawan. Karena itu—

"Kita tidak bisa memotong antrean … kecuali ada keadaan darurat, atau kita harus memasuki kota dengan tergesa-gesa.

Dia melihat busur Narberal dari sudut matanya, dan Ainz memandang ke depannya dari tempat dia dipasang di punggung Hamsuke.

"Tetap saja, mereka tidak bergerak sama sekali …"

Antriannya seperti jalan raya yang macet; tidak ada yang bergerak.

"Apa ini…? Sepertinya mereka sedang memeriksa gerbong barang … dan melakukan pekerjaan yang cukup bagus juga. Tidak, mereka hanya mengelilinginya. Apakah mereka menemukan barang selundupan? Permisi."

Ainz memanggil seorang pria yang tampak tidak canggih di depannya.

"Ah iya. Apa itu?"

"Jangan khawatir, aku hanya memperhatikan bahwa salurannya tidak bergerak, jadi aku bertanya-tanya apakah kamu tahu apa yang sedang terjadi."

"Aku tidak terlalu jelas tentang apa yang sedang terjadi, hanya saja mereka membawa seorang gadis desa ke stasiun tugas. Dan kemudian— ”

Setelah mendengarkan pria itu, Ainz masih tidak tahu apa yang sedang terjadi. Dia menjulurkan leher ke arah stasiun tugas. Dia memiringkan kepalanya untuk mendengarkan, dan mendengar suara pertengkaran.

Tiba-tiba, sesuatu menggelitik keingintahuan Ainz.

Ketika dia pertama kali datang ke kota ini, mereka telah mengajukan banyak pertanyaan di gerbang utama, tetapi dia tidak mengira akan dilewatinya dengan mudah. Dia terkejut pada saat itu, dan berpikir bahwa dunia ini secara mengejutkan baik kepada orang-orang yang tak menentu seperti tentara bayaran, petualang atau pelancong, tetapi kebenaran tidak seperti yang dia harapkan. Kalau begitu, apa yang mereka tanyakan pada gadis desa ini?

Saat ini, status Ainz sebagai petualang peringkat adamantite berarti sangat sedikit kota yang menolaknya masuk.

Itulah sebabnya Ainz ingin tahu persis pertanyaan apa yang diajukan. Di masa depan, dia mungkin harus menyusup ke sebuah kota di masa depan di luar kedok Momon, petualang berpangkat adamantite. Dia harus belajar lebih banyak sehingga tidak ada kesulitan ketika saatnya tiba.

"Kalian berdua menunggu di sini sebentar. Saya akan pergi melihat apa yang terjadi. "

"Tolong izinkan saya untuk menemani Anda."

"Tidak perlu untuk itu. Saya hanya melihat-lihat. "

Dia turun dari punggung Hamsuke, dan berjalan menuju stasiun tugas.

Semua prajurit berseru kaget ketika mereka melihat Ainz. Tidak ada seorang pun di sini yang tidak mengenal petualang Momon di E-Rantel.

Ainz berusaha untuk terlihat sedingin mungkin ketika dia mendekati stasiun tugas. Dia melihat seorang magic caster yang terlihat bersemangat, seorang prajurit, dan seorang gadis desa duduk.

"Kami ingin memasuki kota, tapi … apa yang terjadi?"

"Uooooh!"

Kedua pria itu berseru dengan kejutan yang sama dengan para prajurit di luar. Gadis desa tercengang ketika dia melihatnya.

"Jika … jika itu bukan Momon-sama sendiri! Maafkan kami!"

"Sekarang, apa yang terjadi di sini … hm? Gadis ini adalah … "

Dia tampak akrab. Ainz merasa bahwa dia mengenalnya, dan dia mencari hippocampus-nya ─ meskipun dia tidak memiliki organ seperti itu ─ untuk informasi yang mengkonfirmasi dia.

"Iya! Kami sedang menyelidiki seorang gadis yang mencurigakan, yang membutuhkan waktu. Kami dengan tulus meminta maaf karena membuat Anda tidak nyaman, Momon-sama─ ”

Ainz mulai menemukan obrolan pria itu tak tertahankan. Kemudian, inspirasi muncul, dan dia mengingat nama gadis desa itu.

"─Enri, benar. Anda pasti Enri Emmot, apakah saya benar? "

"Eh, ah, siapa kamu … eh, tidak, aku. Ah, kaulah yang datang dengan Nfirea saat itu, kan? Saya tidak ingat berbicara kepada Anda … Apakah Nfirea memberi tahu Anda nama saya? "

Pada saat itu, Ainz secara naluriah menekankan tangannya ke mulut.

Dia telah bertemu Enri ketika dia adalah seorang magic caster Ainz Ooal Gown. Sekarang, dia adalah petualang berpangkat adamantit di baju besi hitam, Momon.

Sampah! Saya berbicara dengan suara normal saya! Ini mengerikan. Saya harus segera pergi dari sini. Tapi tetap saja, apa yang gadis desa itu lakukan di sini? Tidak akan merepotkan jika dia menemukanku ─ tidak, menemukan Ainz Ooal Gown di sini? Saya perlu mengklarifikasi detail dengannya.

Dia sepertinya tidak mengungkapkan identitas aslinya dari percakapan barusan, tapi dia tidak bisa mengesampingkan kemungkinan bahwa dia telah terungkap. Memang, dia tidak berpikir dia akan mencocokkan suaranya dari beberapa bulan yang lalu dengan beberapa kata yang diucapkan melalui lapisan baju besi, tetapi yang terbaik adalah bersikap bijaksana.

Ainz memberi isyarat pada magic caster untuk mengakhiri. Dia merasa bahwa pria itu harus tahu lebih banyak daripada para prajurit.

Dia memimpin magic caster keluar dari stasiun tugas, dan mereka pergi agak jauh untuk menghindari didengar oleh para penjaga.

"Ini seperti ini … gadis itu adalah teman dari seorang teman. Bisakah Anda ceritakan apa yang terjadi dengannya? ”

Dia tidak berbohong, karena Nfirea memang teman Ainz dan Momon.

Mata magic caster melebar. Dia nampak kaget, tapi bukan itu masalahnya. Itu lebih seperti menghubungkan titik data untuk membentuk garis yang indah. Seolah-olah sebuah misteri di hatinya telah terpecahkan.

"Aku mengerti … seperti yang kupikirkan …"

Bisakah Anda mempercepat proses penerimaan fakta? Ainz sangat ingin mengatakan itu, tetapi dia menanggungnya dan menunggu pria itu berbicara.

“Dia bilang dia hanya gadis desa, tapi dia membawa benda sihir berbentuk tanduk yang kuat. Saya tidak yakin mengapa dia memiliki barang yang begitu kuat, dan saya punya pertanyaan lain, jadi saya ingin menjelaskan beberapa hal. "

“Klakson macam apa itu? Efek apa yang dimilikinya? ”

"Efeknya adalah—"

Setelah mendengarkan seluruh penjelasan, Ainz mau tak mau menatap ke langit.

Itu karena dia mencoba melarikan diri dari pengetahuan bahwa itu adalah barang yang dia berikan padanya.

Pada saat itu, Ainz tidak tahu bahwa benda seperti itu berada di luar jangkauan dunia ini. Dia telah memberinya tanduk hanya untuknya untuk melindungi dirinya sendiri. Siapa yang dapat membayangkan bahwa itu akan menciptakan begitu banyak masalah baginya? Ainz mungkin bisa mengemukakan alasan di sepanjang kalimat "Aku tidak melakukan kesalahan", tetapi mengabaikan kesedihannya juga tidak baik.

Saya akan membantunya sedikit. Saya tidak melakukan kesalahan apa pun, tetapi saya memang memberikan barang itu kepadanya, jadi tanggung jawab ada pada saya … jika saya meninggalkannya dan jatuh ke tangan orang lain, itu akan berakhir menjadi lebih menyusahkan bagi saya. Selain itu, jika dia dikunci—

Nfirea tahu bahwa Momon dan Ainz Ooal Gown adalah satu dan sama. Mengingat keadaan ini, jika Enri memberitahunya tentang hal ini, dia pasti akan berpikir bahwa Ainz telah meninggalkannya untuk nasibnya.

Pasti akan meninggalkan aftertaste yang buruk di antara kita … Saya tidak peduli menyebabkan kesulitan dengan manusia yang tidak berharga, tetapi dia adalah makhluk yang sangat berharga. Seperti kata pepatah, saya harus mengubah bahaya ini menjadi peluang. Jika aku membantunya, Nfirea harus berterima kasih kepadaku. Jika saya melakukan ini, saya dapat merantai hatinya lebih dekat dengan saya dengan lebih banyak kewajiban.

Ainz berbicara, dengan nada yang menurutnya menggabungkan ketenangan dan martabat:

“Kamu tidak perlu khawatir. Saya sangat akrab dengan karakternya. Dia tidak akan berkeliling menyebabkan masalah, jadi bisakah saya memaksakan pada Anda untuk membiarkannya lewat? ─Could you?”

“But of course. If she is a friend of Momon from ‘Darkness’, and you are vouching for her, then we would allow her in, no matter how vicious a criminal she was.”

“Really now, my apologies, then. In that case, I’ll leave that to you. Also, I apologize for this, but could you allow us ─ Darkness ─ to enter the city first?”

After receiving permission, Ainz returned to Narberal and Hamsuke.

“We’ve been allowed in. Let’s enter the city.”

He mounted up on Hamsuke’s back and bypassed the line of people. The queuing people all looked at him, but once they saw his black armor, his greatswords, Hamsuke and Narberal, they all averted their eyes. They understood that Ainz’s status was far greater than theirs.

The gate sentries bowed deeply to them as they passed by, and then they entered E-Rantel.

“Now then, Nabe. I have something to ask of you.”

"Dimengerti. Please command me as you see fit.”

SInce they were both adventurers, it did not seem good for her to display such loyalty on the streets. However, Ainz had gradually realized that it was pointless to lecture her, and so he continued speaking:

“The girl driving the wagon from just now ─ Enri ─ will be entering the city soon. Go ask her why she came to E-Rantel.”

After that, Ainz found a place to hide himself. This was because he wanted to avoid speaking with Enri too much.

He surveyed his surroundings and saw a stack of tall wooden crates he could probably hide behind, and so he commanded Hamsuke to make haste towards it. The soldiers working there panicked when they saw Ainz and Hamsuke approaching them.

“Gentlemen, are you free? I’d like to ask about these crates.”

Once he was certain that he would not be spotted from the city gates, Ainz addressed one of the soldiers. Of course, he was not interested in the crates at all. He had simply made up a pretext to be there because he was worried others might chase him away for interfering with their work.

“Ah…alright. We’re very glad that you’d take an interest in our work, Momon-sama. The crates are filled with vegetables from the Grandel Province, known as Kinshu. These vegetables─”

As Ainz listened to the soldier’s earnest explanation, he mumbled replies like “I see” and “So that’s how it is”. The soldier did not seem to mind the half-hearted responses and continued his lecture. After learning how to cook the vegetables called Kinshu in exacting detail, he sensed Narberal approaching from behind him.

“─Forgive me for interrupting your explanation. I learned a lot, thank you. However, my companion has returned, and so I must leave.”

After his one-sided farewell to the soldier, Ainz ordered Hamsuke forward.

“How did it go?”

“Firstly, she wanted me to thank you, Momon-san. After that, she said that she had three aims, namely selling off the herbs she had collected, checking the temples for people who might want to move to the village, and finally, travelling to the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“The Adventurer’s Guild? What kind of request is she putting in?”

“Forgive me, but I did not ask about that. Shall I capture her and force her to talk?”

"Tidak perlu untuk itu. Besides, we’ll be heading to the Adventurer’s Guild too, so we can just ask the Guild when we get there.”

Surely she did not intend to directly thank Ainz Ooal Gown. If it was for that objective, she could simply leave a message with Lupusregina, whom he occasionally sent to the village.

“Oh yes, Nabe. Have you received any special reports from Lupusregina?”

Narberal shook her head, and Ainz furrowed his ─ naturally, they were nonexistent ─ brows.

He had originally planned to station a Shadow Demon in the village, but he had instead sent Lupusregina over in order to forge friendly relations. He had ordered Lupusregina to report anything that happened in the village to him immediately. However, no information had made its way to Ainz up till this point.

Therefore, he had believed that Carne VIllage was fine. Was that not the case?

While there was no need to tell him about trivia such as “Enri went to E-Rantel by herself”, uneasiness still shrouded Ainz’s heart like a cloud.

“I’ve always thought Lupusregina was a hard worker. Nabe, what do you think?”

“It is as you say, Ainz-sama. While her tone makes her seem very casual, that is only an act. She is cruel and cunning; an excellent maid.”

There was no way cruelty and slyness could be taken as compliments. Ainz glanced at Narberal’s face, wondering if she thought ill of Lupusregina, but her cool expression only contained her respect for a colleague.

“Then milord, shall we proceed presently to the Adventurer’s Guild as you said earlier?”

“Yes, do you know its location? Narberal, you sit behind me. Since you’ve already put away the Statue of Animal: Warhorse, there’s no need to go to the trouble of taking it out again.”

Ainz grabbed Narberal’s hand and sat her behind him. Hamsuke seemed eager to move off and picked up the pace. He was no longer embarrassed to ride Hamsuke through the streets. In addition, Hamsuke could understand language and take orders, which pleased him. It felt just like riding a cab.

Soon, the Adventurer’s Guild appeared before his eyes. At the same time, he saw the wagon from earlier, and Enri’s back as she entered the Guild.

“…There’s nothing else to be done. Hamsuke, we’ll go in through the back door. Circle round the back.”

“Understood, milord!”

Usually, adventurers were not allowed to enter the Guild through the back door. However, anything was possible for adamantite-ranked adventurers. Incidentally, it was also Ainz’s first time doing this. He might be of a privileged class, but abusing his privileges would damage his reputation.

After entering the Guild through the back door, he asked the first Guild employee he saw to take him to the Guildmaster’s room. Fortunately, the Guildmaster was in.

“Oh, if it isn’t Momon-kun! Welcome!”

The Guildmaster ─ Ainzach ─ opened his arms wide to welcome Ainz, and then he warmly embraced Ainz. While he thought nothing of it because he was wearing his armor and a helmet, there were many reasons which would have chosen made him avoid that ardent embrace if he were in a thin layer of clothing. He patted Ainz intimately on the back before slowly releasing him.

“I’ve been so lonely because you haven’t come around lately. Come, come, have a seat. Let’s chat a bit before the others show up.”

The Guildmaster looked like he was welcoming a friend he had not seen for a long time as he happily indicated the sofa.

"Terima kasih."

After Ainz took a seat, the Guildmaster sat down beside him.

The two of them were very close. Their knees were touching, and it was stifling.

“Momon-kun, we’ve known each other for so long; surely we can speak more freely around each other, hm?”

“No, there must be politeness even as there’s familiarity. This is very important; it’s what my seniors taught me.”

Granted, if he were a salaryman, he would have spoken with more closeness ─ sometimes, he even spoke to customers in a normal tone. However, he did not wish to get so close to the Guildmaster. He felt that maintaining a business-like attitude was the right answer.

Getting too close to the group will only become a burden. I don’t want to be too closely tied to the Adventurer’s Guild of a single city. Should I leave for greener pastures soon? Besides─

Ainz glanced at the Guildmaster through the eyeslits of his helmet.

Besides, why the heck is he sitting so close to me? Normally, you’d let Narberal sit beside me, and you’d sit opposite me, right?

Their proximity made him feel uncomfortable; it was no wonder Ainz began to suspect if the Guildmaster was gay.

I heard the Magician’s Guildmaster say he had a wife… or is his wife just a beard? I thought he was just trying to get me on his side… but it’s having the opposite effect. Or does he think I’m gay?

That final mental image made Ainz shudder.

Ainz was heterosexual. No, to be precise, he used to be. Incidentally, Suzuki Satoru preferred larger breasts. That point had (probably) not changed, even after gaining this body. That was because he preferred Albedo slightly more to, say, Cocytus.

Ainz adjusted his sitting position, moving slightly away from the Guildmaster, and then he turned to face him.

“Forgive my rudeness, but I came here with a question. It’s like this ─ one of my friends should have come to the Adventurer’s Guild by now, and I’d like to know what sort of request she put in.”

“Well, the rules make it somewhat difficult to tell you about this.”

“Thus, I seek your understanding in the matter. I do understand I’m imposing, and I understand the need to obey the Guild’s rules. However, I hope you will lend me your help in this.”

Ainz bowed his head, to which the Guildmaster responded by folding his arms and staring at the ceiling, a stern look on his face. However, he only held that pose for a short while.

“I understand,” he smiled to Ainz. “Since it’s you asking, Momon-kun, I can’t exactly reject it either. Then, could you tell me that person’s name?”

“She is Enri of Carne VIllage, no, Enri Emmot.”

“Enri, is it? Then, could you give me a little time?”

***

Before long, the Guildmaster returned. He was followed by one of the receptionists which Ainz had seen before. She moved stiffly as she entered the room.

“Momon-sama! My apologies!”

This was the first time Ainz had ever seen someone walk while moving both the arms and legs on the same sides of their body at the same time. He thought, that’s quite something and there’s no need to be so tense, but in the end, he still nodded haughtily. Part of the challenge of being an adamantite-ranked adventurer that he could not appear too relaxed.

“This receptionist attended to Enri Emmot of Carne Village. It would be better for you to ask her directly. Ask her anything you wish to know.”

"Apakah begitu? Then ─ no, before that, perhaps she should have a seat, Guildmaster. But this is your room, and it is not up to me to─”

"Tidak! There’s no need to bother you! I’m fine with standing!”

Perhaps Suzuki Satoru might have felt that it was very wrong to be seated while his opposite number was standing. However, in the process of being Ainz Ooal Gown ─ of being the leader of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick ─ he had gradually lost such feelings. He was slowly becoming used to the difference between a leader and a follower. Perhaps this was an indication that his actions as a master (roleplaying) were not a waste of effort, but he had indeed accumulated experience points.

…How much more until I level up… Oops.

"Saya melihat. Then, let’ get down to business. I would like you to tell me about her request, in as much detail and possible. This is a very important matter, so can you tell me everything about it?”

“Y-yes!”

The receptionist’s forehead was beaded in cold sweat.

"Apa itu? Is there a problem?”

“No, I mean…:”

The receptionist’s eyes were flickering from side to side.

“Am I asking the wrong questions? …Perhaps, so let’s try this. Was she looking for someone in particular to help with her request?”

“No… it’s not, it’s not like that.”

“Ah, I see… then, what sort of request was it? Or was it not even a request?”

“…Actually, she did not make a request right away, just said that she might make one in future. And then she mentioned something about monsters called the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West, who were comparable to the Wise King of the Forest which you tamed, Momon-sama. That, er, that’s all.”

Ainz was quite surprised by how tongue-tied she sounded, but he continued asking:

“So it’s a future request, then?”

“No… it’s not! I… I didn’t know she was a friend of yours, Momon-sama! If I’d known, I would have asked more carefully! Really!”

AInz was quite perturbed by the receptionist, who was wailing while on the verge of tears. Could someone as emotional as this really man a counter?

“─Guildmaster.”

“…My apologies. We did not oversee this adequately.”

“Why’s it like that? Isn’t that how the guild’s rules work?!”

After listening to their conversation, Ainz realized how they had misinterpreted his intentions.

The receptionist and Guildmaster believed that Ainz and Enri were friends, and while he had intended to take her job for free, he had decided to give the Adventurer’s Guild their due deference and thus they hand arranged for him to accept her request through the Guild.

However, the receptionist had coldly chased away Enri by bringing up the manner of fees. Therefore, the two of them were arguing about who should be taking the responsibility for chasing away the friend of an adamantite-ranked adventurer.

No, if this was a rule of the organization, then wouldn’t she be right to have obeyed it?

Ainz stared at the Guildmaster as he rebuked the receptionist, and his opinion of the man took a sharp dive in his eyes.

If a subordinate makes a mistake, her superior ought to cover for her. Or is this some sort of high-level technique where he savagely scolds her in front of a customer to earn the customer’s sympathy and thus his forgiveness? I mean, look at how he’s laying into her.

Ainz felt that that the receptionist had handled this correctly, and the Guildmaster should have known that as well. However, just like how he had come in through the back door and leaned on the Guildmaster for a favor, adamantite-ranked adventurers could easily bend the rules. That was because they were valuable enough that the Guild wanted to keep them around, even if they flouted the rules. That was probably why the two of them were arguing now.

“I didn’t know!”

Ainz gently spoke to comfort the weeping receptionist.

“The fault is not yours.”

The receptionist’s eyes went wide, and her tears flowed out from them and rolled down her cheeks.

“Obeying the organization’s rules is very important, even if they must be overlooked from time to time. I will not hold this incident against you.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Then, I hope I can trouble you to go get the details from her. Please don’t say I’ll be taking it, only that I want to be ready to make a move at any time.”

“I understand! I! I’ll go ask now! I’m very sorry!”

The receptionist turned and ran off like the passing of a typhoon.

“…While I know you wanted to gain my sympathy, I would prefer if you did not falsely blame someone who was innocent. It displeases me.”

“As I thought… I can’t pull the wool over your eyes, Momon-kun.”

Those words sounded like they had been squeezed out of the depths of his soul, and Ainz knew that his guess had been correct.

So the techniques of the Japanese salaryman are universally applicable. However, the problem is─

The form of Lupusregina came to Ainz’s mind.

Why didn’t Lupusregina have any information about monsters that even a village girl like Enri was aware of? Was it a failure in the construction of the intelligence network? I need to make sure.

As Ainz waited for the receptionist to report to him, he mused that he would need to return to Nazarick and sort this out.

♦ ♦ ♦

16:41 Nazarick Time

A nervous-looking Lupusregina entered Ainz’s office. The panic and unease of being suddenly summoned was written all over her face. Inside the office were Lupusregina, the regular maid Sixth, the battle maid Narberal, Aura, who was the one most familiar with the forest, the Eight Edge Assassins on the ceiling, and the owner of the room, Ainz. Incidentally, Albedo was still in confinement.

Lupusregina was about to prostrate before Ainz when he interrupted her.

“Lupusregina, is there something you’ve kept from me?”

After seeing the confused look on her face, he wondered if she did not know about it after all. Ainz decided to repeat what he had heard about the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West from the Adventurer’s Guild.

However, as he saw that Lupusregina seemed to have known about this long before, Ainz’s mood rapidly deteriorated. He exhaled long and loud.

“So you were aware of this, then?”

"Iya. About that—”

“You fool!”

Ruled by anger, Ainz’s wrath-filled shout echoed through the room.

As the others recoiled like they had been struck by lightning, Ainz felt something suppress his emotions, but even after the peak of rage was cut off, his anger surged up again, and there was no way he could fully rein in his ire.

“Why did you not report this to me? Were you trying to keep this from me?”

“N-no! Nothing like that!”

“Then why? Why did none of this reach me at all! What was the reason for that?”

“B-because I th-thought it wasn’t a big deal, s-so I didn’t report…”

For some reason, the sight of the frightened battle maid peeking up at him only incensed him further.

“Lupusregina Beta! I am thoroughly disappointed in you!!”

Lupusregina was not the only one who flinched at this. Nabe and Sixth were trembling too, and the Eight Edge Assassins on the ceiling seemed to have frozen up as well.

“I gave you discretion over handling the village, but that does not mean you can do as you please! You were told to report anything that happened in the village, anything at all, so what is the meaning of this!”

"Itu …"

Ainz’s face twisted as he looked down on Lupusregina, who was unable to answer him.

This was an unforgivable sin for a worker; no, for anyone.

These rules were obvious for anyone who did business, or rather, for anyone who worked in society at all: “Report, Communicate, Discuss”. It was an abbreviation of reporting what you had learned, communicating clearly with others and discussing issues as they came up. They were very important; the lifeblood of the giant that was working society.

If she can’t even do that, I don’t think I can forgive her from the perspective of a leader… no…

As he looked on the terrified Lupusregina, Ainz could not help but think that he was at least partially to blame. These mistakes would only result if a superior was unreliable and could not properly direct his subordinates.

A failure in the group’s communications is my fault. I couldn’t take proper control of this… maybe I should step back and let Demiurge or Albedo handle this sort of thing.

“…Lupusregina, are you aware of Carne Village’s value to Nazarick?”

“Hah? No… yes. Er, I heard you say that village is very valuable, Ainz-sama…”

“No, no, I mean, what do you, personally, feel is valuable about the village?”

“W-well, there’s a lot of toys there, and…”

“Ah, that’s how it is. Well then… I’m sorry. It was my mistake. I did not realize you thought like that…” Ainz laughed tiredly. He realized it had been his fault after all. “I take back what I said about you being a disappointment. I went too far. Tolong maafkan saya."

“W-what are you saying? It was my foolish mistake!”

“In that case, just be more careful next time. Now then, I’ll explain again, so pay close attention. That village is very valuable to us. Especially that boy, Nfirea, and his grandmother Lizzie. They are of great importance to Nazarick.”

“Eeh? Is-is that so?”

"Memang. I have handed the task of creating new potions to those two.”

“Ah, that-that’s right! I have something to show you, Ainz-sama!”

Lupusregina suddenly shouted that last part as her face turned pale. She took out a vial of purple potion and Narberal, who was closest to her, took it and handed it to Ainz.

"Ini adalah…"

Ainz looked at the potion through the light.

“Y-yes! This is Nfirea’s new healing potion!”

Ainz’s anger flared again, and he tried his best to quash it.

“With this potion, the Bareare family’s importance has risen again.”

Ainz laughed quietly as he saw Lupusregina’s clueless face.

This purple potion Nfirea made had been concocted using various items provided by Nazarick. The most important thing was that without possessing Yggdrasil’s potion creation skills, they had managed to use ingredients from Yggdrasil to create something other than this world’s “blue” potions or Yggdrasil’s “red” potions.

“For starters, the healing potions of this world are blue. But the healing potions I know of are red. Curious, don’t you think?” Ainz rambled.

The knowledge and powers of YGGDRASIL could be used in this world. From the angels he had first encountered, to the apparent existence of World-Class Items, there was a very high chance that players had been here in the past. In that case, why was it that the potions were not red like in YGGDRASIL?

There were three possibilities.

First, the downfall of a country might have resulted in the loss of those potion-making techniques. These techniques should have been quite widespread, and nothing short of an entire country’s destruction would be able to wipe them out.

The second reason might have been that Nfirea simply did not know these techniques since they had not spread to the nearby countries. Perhaps distant countries might be using red potions. After all, in Japan, the same noodle soup looked completely different when prepared on different sides of the country.

The third reason was optimization: making YGGDRASIL potions would require YGGDRASIL materials. Maybe those materials were difficult to find here, or they were not available at all, and that was why only blue potions were the best that could be made with this world’s materials.

“That is to say, except for the second possibility, this potion that Nfirea made—” Ainz swirled the purple potion in its vial. “This might be a once-in-a-century technological revolution, for all I know. Well, if it’s the third possibility, this might turn out to be a failed product after all. His hard work in the future will give me the answer.”

Wat Ainz wanted from Nfirea was for him to make YGGDRASIL potions without using YGGDRASIL materials. Or he might come up with something else and end up making a third, completely different potion.

“In that case, would it not be more effective to let more people research the subject?”

Narberal’s question made Ainz frown.

“That is a foolish question. Narberal. Indeed, the work would proceed more quickly, but it would be very dangerous. Knowledge is power, and freely distributing it is a foolish action.”

YGGDRASIL was also like that, so Ainz could confidently say that.

“For example, there is a possibility that his potion could be refined to the point where it could kill me with a single attack. Then, it would be safer to monopolize this knowledge than to spread it… It’s better for slaves to be a little ignorant, but one must always keep abreast of technological advancements. This is the same for Nfirea and his potions. Though I would like to lock him up in Nazarick and make him focus solely on research and development…”

This would both prevent the spread of the technique and the usage of the potion.

“Then, then why have you not done so?”

Narberal’s eyes seemed to say that she would do it immediately if ordered, and so AInz hurriedly squeezed out a reply.

“Rather than imprison him and force him to work, I will build his trust in us, as a long-term scheme that will bring better benefits to Nazarick. Demiurge analyzed the situation and concluded that it was better to shackle him to us with a debt of obligation— Hm? What’s wrong, Lupusregina?”

“There’s one thing I don’t understand, could you explain it to a fool like me? Why did you give the potion to someone like Brita, Ainz-sama?”

Ainz had no idea who Brita was, going by her name alone. While trying to maintain a look which said “all is within the palm of my hand” —which was to say, a carefully blank expression— he struggled frantically to think of a solution.

Could it be that potion?

Ainz recalled the first night he spent in E-Rantel.

As he remembered what he had said then, Ainz was grateful that his body could no longer sweat.

—What should I do? Apa yang harus saya katakan?

He could not keep silent forever.

Demiurge! Albedo! Why aren’t you here! No, Demiurge is currently abroad performing his tasks, and Albedo is in confinement! It’s too late to call her over!

“—Is that so? You really don’t understand?”

"Iya. I apologize for my lack of knowledge. Please enlighten me.”

Just don’t ask! Ainz wanted to shout. However, he had no other options, so all he could do was roll the dice and hope for the best. Courage filled him as he decided on his course.

“Fufu… hahahaha. Indeed, it was a dangerous move that you, Lupusregina, have the right to be curious about. It could have resulted in a development that we would not be able to control. However, there was a motive for taking such risks.”

“A-a motive? Wasn’t it just meant to compensate her for the loss of her potion?”

Narberal’s interruption made Ainz swallow the words he was about to say. His brain spun into high gear, and he struggled to recall that encounter in E-Rantel.

Tepat sekali! At that time, I just did it so I wouldn’t get a bad rep! Sial!

Ainz maintained his calm demeanour. He would have to lie to cover up another lie. He struggled to muster up the vestiges of his rapidly-vanishing courage.

“…Is that all you thought I was doing, Narberal?”

“I am very sorry!”

“…No, this isn’t something you should apologize for. At the time, I wasn’t confident my plan would work out, so I chose a simpler explanation.”

“Then… what was your real aim?”

In the face of Narberal’s questions, Ainz’s jaw hung open for a moment at a loss for words. But in that moment, inspiration struck. With that as the basis for his confidence, Ainz prepared to speak.

“…It was Nfirea…”

As Ainz slowly opened his mouth, he took in the subordinates around him. If Demiurge or Albedo were present, they would probably interrupt and say, “Ah, so that’s how it is. As expected of Ainz-sama.”

Narberal, on the other hand, could only furiously furrow her brows.

“…Nfirea…?”

Ainz cupped his chin with a silent “Umu”. Fear began creeping over the faces of Narberal and the others, because they thought Ainz’s pose meant, “do you still not understand, even after I’ve said this much?” In truth, Ainz had made that gesture unconsciously, not knowing what to do with his hands.

In a short period of time, Ainz had been subjected to extreme tension and the emotion suppression that blanked it out. Between these two clashing forces, an epiphany came upon Ainz. Without knowing where he would end up, Ainz clung to that last straw and took a step into the darkness.

“…Mm. I managed to get the attention of the pharmacist known as Nfirea; was that enough of an answer…? That’s right… Normally, what would you do if you got your hands on a potion that was completely different from any other potion that you had ever encountered?”

“…Discuss it with someone?”

"Persis! Lupusregina, it is exactly as you said. As I predicted, Brita brought the potion to the pharmacist she trusted the most. That was how I came into contact with Nfirea.”

He remembered that Nfirea had apparently said something similar when they met at Carne Village.

"Ah! So that’s how it is! That was your objective all along!”

“You seem to get it. That was the bait for my hook to catch a master alchemist. Although there was a chance it could have ended up in a strange place and caused problems, it was still worth a try.”

A sense of understanding filled the air, and there were looks of admiration on their faces.

I managed to join the stories together…

Just as Ainz was about to mentally sigh in relief, a sudden, unexpected question came.

“Then… I understand I’m being very rude, but could I ask one more question…”

No. Stop. Please don’t ask any more questions. Ainz was crying inside, but his face remained impassive.

“What’s the matter, Lupusregina? If you have something you need to discuss, feel free to look me up.”

“Yes,” Lupusregina swallowed, and with a serious expression on her face, she asked, “Do you always think two or three steps ahead when making plans, Ainz-sama?”

Most of the time, Ainz made things up on the spot. Of course, sometimes he tried to plan his next move, but more often than not, the results were completely different from what he intended. Of course, he could not say any of that.

Ainz laughed quietly. It was a practiced laugh.

"Tentu saja. I am the ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown, am I not?”

Quiet exclamations of “Ohhhh!” rose up from all around him, and Lupusregina’s eyes went wide.

“What’s wrong, Lupusregina?”

“A wise king…”

Lupusregina’s gasped words made Aura frown, and she took a step forward. However, Ainz stopped her.

“Pay it no heed. Is that all you have to ask?”

“Then, er, then, I’ve got another one. Wouldn’t it be better if we let the monsters attack the village, and then Ainz-sama would swoop in to save them, wouldn’t that be better? I mean, wouldn’t Nfirea and his grandmother feel extra grateful to Ainz-sama for plucking them out of the fire? That would make them more useful… right?”

“Well, that is a very good plan, and worth considering, However, if that happened, Nfirea might end up hating the monsters too much and then he would no longer be willing to cooperate with us… now, it would be a different matter if it was humans who did it. In that case, perhaps it would be more effective if we saved Enri Emmot as well, the better to chain his heart up further.”

However, Carne Village was a village that had been saved by the magic caster Ainz Ooal Gown. It had its uses, so burning it down was of questionable value.

“By the way, the most important people in that village are —in descending order— Nfirea, his crush Enri Emmot and finally his grandmother Lizzie. You must protect these three people no matter the cost. Everyone else is expendable. If need be, sacrifice your life to protect Nfirea. Itu dia. Is that all, Lupusregina?”

"Iya! Thank you very much!”

“Now then, Lupusregina, I will forgive you for this lapse. Now that you know my objectives, you will not be forgiven next time. Apakah kamu mengerti?"

"Tentu saja!"

"Baik sekali. Then go. Complete your assigned tasks.”

Lupusregina bowed and exited the room, followed closely by Narberal, who seemed more like a policeman escorting a criminal. After the two of them vanished out the door, Ainz turned to the Guardian beside him.

“Now then, Aura. Do you know anything about the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West—”

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the room.

“Seriously, Ainz-sama is amazing ~su! I can’t believe he thought so far ahead, and in such detail! He must be some kind of monster ~su!”

The voice that came through the thick door was not very loud, but it was enough to interrupt their conversation. Given that they could hear her words so clearly, how loudly was she yelling in the corridor, just outside?

“…Should we tell her how thin the doors are?”

“I think she’s just too excited, let me go pound some sense—”

There was a smashing sound from outside the door, and then the sound of something heavy being dragged into the distance.

“…Aura, I don’t think you need to go any more. Back to the previous topic; let me know what you’ve found.”

"Iya. Er, I’m very sorry, but I haven’t heard anything about the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West. After we fought that tree monster called Zy’tl Q’ae, I did a quick sweep of the forest, aside from the underground caverns, which I didn’t investigate. I didn’t find any strong enemies…”

“Well, if they’re only as strong as Hamsuke, I understand why you wouldn’t have paid any attention to them.”

Even a gardener could not be expected to know how many ants were crawling in his domain. Missing out on things due to the difference in strength was a problem.

“I am truly sorry. Then, Ainz-sama, will we be doing house-cleaning?”

“That sounds like a good idea. We’ll swat those pesky flies and put the forest under Nazarick’s complete control.”

“Got it! Then, I’ll send some of my pets along!”

"Umu. It seems a little boring that way. I’d like to see what sort of monsters this Giant of the East and Serpent of the West are, who can rival Hamsuke.”

“Then, shall I drag them here in chains?”

“No, I think I shall go visit them in person. Thanks to Hamsuke, I’ve found another way of appreciating the value of antiques as well.”

Ainz laughed at the puzzled expression on Aura’s face.

“Well, of course that’s not all. I also want to see if I can arrange a test for Lupusregina…”

***

Nazarick Time 19:16

Fenrir crept leisurely through the night-time forest. Neither the branches which stuck out or the coiling vines hampered Fenrir’s movements or the two people on its back. In fact, they seemed to move like incorporeal wraiths, without even disturbing a twig.

This was the effect of one of Fenrir’s skills, (Landwalker).

“According to my vassals’ reports, the Giant of the East’s lair seems to be just ahead.”

There was no tension in Aura’s voice, even in this world of darkness, cut off from the starlight by the densely-packed trees. Ainz and the others were not like humans, who lacked special visual modes. They took in the darkened forest around them like it was broad daylight.

"Apakah begitu. We would be very lucky if the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West were to gather in the same place. However, that’s probably being greedy. If the Serpent of the West is not here, then I’ll leave its disposal to you, Aura.”

"Iya! I’ll do my best! But how shall I deal with these fools who dare make hostile moves on you, Ainz-sama?”

“Let’s try communication first.”

Aura looked behind herself ─ at Ainz ─ with a puzzled look on her face.

"Eh? Weren’t we going to make them swear themselves to us?”

“That’s because the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West are unknown monsters. Starting with an attempt at rational communication ought to be better from just about every angle. If they’re monsters which don’t exist in YGGDRASIL, then I would like to keep them.

“You’re so kind, Ainz-sama.”

There was no mockery within Aura’s tone.

“Is… is that so? I feel that only the worthy deserve my kindness ─ followed by those who belong to Nazarick… I’m doing this because they might have some value if they’re on Hamsuke’s level. I suppose you could call this seizing an opportunity?”

“You mentioned Hamsuke just now, but is it really that valuable?”

"Oh ya. It’s quite useful as a guinea pig.”

Hamsuke was currently studying to be a warrior under Zaryusu of the Lizardmen. Incidentally, one of the Death Knights made by Ainz was also studying under him.

Training the two of them ─ a hamster and a monster ─ was intended to see if they could acquire warrior class levels. This was particularly true for the Death Knight. If he could gain warrior levels, that would greatly increase Nazarick’s combat power.

While he felt it was probably impossible, he still had to conduct the experiment to be sure.

“Are you having the blacksmith make armor for Hamsuke because it’s that important?”

“You’re quite well-informed. That’s also one of the reasons. If I have to ride it onto the battlefield in future, so enhancing its defense might be critical.”

Hamsuke should have no problem wearing full plate armor once he had warrior class levels. Currently, putting it in armor greatly decreased its evasion and mobility rates due to its weight. Ainz felt that it needed training for that reason. However─

Armor hampers its movements since it doesn’t have warrior levels, that much is the same as the game… no, I can’t even wear metal armor at all due to the game’s restrictions. From that point of view, its restrictions are a lot more lax… if only there were a second Hamsuke, then I could study the differences between the two…”

These restrictions which resembled those of the game were still a mystery even now. If he let Demiurge and the others perform in-depth investigations, they might be able to find the right answer, but for some reason, Ainz did not want to do that.

This is a magical world, and it might run on physics that are vastly different from ours. Perhaps all I can do is force myself to accept that this is just one of the principles of such a world. Just assume that anything could happen…

“Ainz-sama, what’s wrong?”

"Hm? No, it’s nothing, what is it?”

“No, it just seemed like you were thinking, and I wanted to ask if something was the matter.”

“Oh, indeed. I was just thinking about some things, it’s nothing much.”

"Saya melihat."

Aura seemed relieved and faced forward once more. Ainz looked at the back of her head ─ which was covered in silky golden hair ─ and his eyes roved down. His eyes passed over her slender back, and then they focused on his hands ─ which were wrapped around her slender waist.

She’s so slim; are children’s waists all so thin?

Having never had children of his own, AInz was curious, and he could not resist the urge to pat her waist, like he was inspecting her. Then, Ainz raised his hand to lightly pat her back. However, he did not use much force because he was mounted on Fenrir.

However, Aura jumped up and suddenly jerked around.

“Uwaaaah! What… what is it, Ainz-sama?!”

Her face was very red.

In fact, it was so red that even someone without darkvision might be able to see how red it was.

“Ah, it’s nothing, I just thought your waist was very thin. Have you been eating well? You’re equipped with items that negate the need for eating and drinking but you can still eat, right?”

“I… I can. I won’t gain any magical enhancements from doing so, but I can still eat.”

In games like YGGDRASIL, humanoids and demihumans had designated lifespans, and in turn they could grow; conversely, heteromorphs had no maximum lifespans and so they would stop aging after a certain period. If that character aspect had carried over to this world, then Aura and Mare would slowly grow older. Ainz did not want their growth to be affected because they had not received proper nutrition as children.

While his companions were not around, the growth of these kids was Ainz’s responsibility.

“You need to eat well, okay.”

"Iya! I’ll eat well and make Shalltear regret it!”

Ainz had no idea why Shalltear had suddenly come up, but he did not inquire into it.

“…Items that remove the need for eating and drinking might affect growth, so depending on the situation, perhaps you should swap them out for other items. Growing up… perhaps one day, you two will have lovers of your own…”

Aura and Mare were very cute children, and when they grew up, they would surely be very handsome and beautiful. Ainz imagined men and women of all sorts confessing their love to them ─ although, Ainz had never had experiences like those, so what he imagined had all come from TV shows.

Perhaps he had been influenced by the previous topic, but for some reason he imagined a huge pile of Hamsukes.

“─Hm?”

He visualized a young Aura and Mare being surrounded by vast amounts of Hamsukes. It seemed quite pleasing, but it was completely different from the plan which Ainz had in mind.

Hamsuke’s related to rodents, so Hamsuke ought to be capable of reproducing in vast quantities. Is it best to sterilize it? Although I’d like to let it breed a little more… I wonder if there are any males of its species?

"Eh? It’s still too early for that, Ainz-sama. I’m only 70.”

“I… I see, you’re right. You’re still young. Well, anyway, Aura, who do you like most in Nazarick? What’s your type?”

While Ainz had no experience in love, he still got a little jealous whenever he saw dashing lads and pretty girls being all lovey-dovey on the roadside. However, Ainz was sure that he could genuinely wish the NPCs well if it were them.

“I like you the most, Ainz-sama.”

“Haha, well, that’s good to hear.”

Ainz was quite happy to hear such flattery from a young child like Aura. He loved the children (NPCs) very much, and how could he not be pleased to hear that they liked him too?

“Then, who do you like the most, Ainz-sama? Who do you like the most between Albedo and Shalltear?”

"Ha ha. Well now, I have to say I like you very much, Aura.”

“─Eh?”

Ainz caressed Aura’s head from behind. The soft strands of her hand fell from between his fingers.

“─Eh?!”

Should I start considering the problem of sex education? If there are Dark Elf schools, should I send Aura and Mare there to study so they can grow into good adults? What would Bukubukuchagama-san think if she were here? But still, schools… school love comedies… Peroroncino-san once raved about it before, and he said he wanted to make a Nazarick Gakuen with Suuraatan-san. Where did the data for that go?

(TL Note: スーラータン refers to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_and_sour_soup)

“─Eh─!”

"Apa itu? You’re being too loud, Aura.”

"Ah! I… I’m sorry. The Giant of the East’s lair ought to be nearby, but…”

“It’s fine, there’s no need to apologize. Leaving that aside, about the future─”

“The… the future?”

"Y-ya. Is something the matter? You look flustered… did something happen?”

“No… not at all, it’s nothing. Iya. Um. You were talking about the future?”

"Oh ya. I was thinking that if there was a kingdom of Dark Elves, it might be worth paying them a visit, and at that time, you ought to come along too.”

"Eh? …Ah, yes… of course! So that was what you meant by the future. Saya mengerti! Please allow me to accompany you there. Also ─ we’re almost there, Ainz-sama.”

In the darkness ahead of them, they could see a decidedly unnatural light source through the gaps in the forest.

"Saya melihat. Aura, forgive me, but could you station all the magical beasts you brought along around this region? I’ll be making some preparations on my end as well.”

Ainz used one of his skills and summoned powerful undead creatures.

An sinister-looking knight appeared, mounted on a pale white horse. More appeared every time Ainz used his skill.

“All right, four ought to be plenty. Now then, Pale Riders. Stand by in the sky, and if anyone tries to flee, capture them.”

The Pale Riders indicated their understanding without saying a word, and with a tug on their reins, the pale horses leapt up and galloped into the sky. The Pale Riders discorporated, passed through the tree branches, and flew into the air.

“Alright, we’ve set up an encirclement. Now all we have to do is appraise them.”

"Iya! Ah, don’t we need to test their durability?”

“We’ll save that for a last resort. My aim is to settle this without any combat. I’ll try and discuss mutually beneficial topics first.”

Itu adalah kebenaran. Ainz was not looking for a fight. While he was perfectly willing to be ruthless if there were benefits to it, that did not mean that he was a cruel person. Ainz would not step on the ants crawling around in his path. A rational dialogue would be best.

Fenrir approached the gap in the forest. It was called a gap in the forest, but the truth was that it was simply a place within the forest where trees did not grow.

This area was covered with withered trees, just like the mountainous region around the Evil Tree. There were some areas which ended up as withered forests for special reasons. There were many of those reasons, and in this case it was probably because of monsters.

The trees had been felled and scattered everywhere. It would seem someone had tried to build a large structure and failed, and had then thrown the logs around in a fit of rage.

“How laughable. Aura, they were probably trying to build a structure like yours. The work of fools is truly unsightly. They live in caves and don’t know how far out of their depth they are, resulting in this sort of thing.”

"Memang. Ainz-sama, their lair is over there.”

There was a fissure in the scarred ground, which had been burnt barren.

“…Nobody’s standing watch. How careless. Alright, it can’t be helped. We’ll knock next time.”

With Aura by his side Ainz walked toward the entrance to the underground cave. He peered inside, and it looked like a gentle slope, and the interior seemed quite spacious. The ceiling was high, and it would seem even large creatures could live inside without problems.

…This reminds me of dungeon delves in YGGDRASIL. Back then, we used to get curious and excited every time we discovered mountain caves and the like.

If this were in the past, they would have let Tigris Euphrates and people like him lead the way, while Ainz ─ Momonga ─ would follow behind them. Then, they would summon monsters, and in Ainz’s case he would have the undead walk ahead of them, allowing them to trigger traps as they forged boldly ahead. This was known as a warrior’s disarm, or a summon disarm.

Those were the days…

The memories of the past lightened Ainz’s steps, but within a few seconds, his cheery mood vanished.

The stench from below made him wrinkle his nonexistent eyebrows. It was not poison gas, but rather, an odor of beast fat and decay which clouded up the air.

Is this a stinking gas cloud trap? I don’t think these cave dwellers could set such an elaborate trap… perhaps it formed naturally.

Ainz was undead and did not need to breathe. He was completely immune to gas-vector attacks. Aura was also protected by magic items, so if this stench was some sort of attack, it ought to be ineffective. That being the case, this was probably just an ordinary stink.

“It seems the Giant of the East is not a particularly clean person. I hope he’s at least a little intelligent and can speak with me.”

"Ya. Although, that might be a little difficult. Going by the footprints, this cave seems to house several lifeforms of the same kind, but they’re all barefooted. The footprints are large, and going by their size, they all seem to be over two meters tall.”

“I see… so he must be one of them.”

Ainz and Aura had not stopped walking, and as they descended the slope, they saw two monsters at the base of the slope.

“Ainz-sama, those are… Ogres.”

The two Ogres were tearing at something and shoving it into their mouths. A new reek wafted over to Ainz and Aura.

Ainz slowly extended his finger and smiled bitterly. If this were a simple dungeon hack, he would have killed the Ogres quietly, and then advanced forward without making a sound to wipe out all the other enemies; however, his objective this time was different.

“…I’m not here to massacre everyone, so I need to communicate in a friendly manner ─ oi, you Ogres over there, sorry to interrupt your meal.”

The two Ogres turned simultaneously to look at Ainz, and then they roared.

The echoes within the cave were intense, and there was no way to accurately judge position, but it would seem a similar howl had come from the depths of the cave.

“Well, this is quite a crude and noisy doorbell ─ stand back, Aura.”

He glared as the Ogres ran over. “What a pain,” Ainz sighed. That was because he realized that they did not wish to communicate with him.

“Skelton! Skelton! Enuh-my!”

The Ogre screamed hoarsely as it came up to Ainz, and then swung its club at Ainz without a moment’s pause.

“I have─”

The Ogre’s club whistled through the air as it swept at him.

“-To apologize for barging─”

It struck Ainz with a thump, but a mere nonmagical club could not possibly hurt him.

“─Into your home─”

The Ogre raised its club again and hammered at Ainz.

Ainz’s field of vision wobbled slightly as the club struck his head. While it did not hurt in the least, it was still quite annoying. That said, if anyone set foot into Nazarick, Ainz would certainly be angry enough to want to kill them. WIth that in mind, it was only natural for them to want to attack him, so Ainz should probably take the blows.

Once an envoy of peace drew a weapon, there would be nothing left to say.

The other Ogre approached slightly later. It did not swing its club, but reached a hand out at Ainz. It had probably seen how the attacks of the other Ogre had proven ineffective, and wanted to grab him instead.

Ainz quirked his eyebrows. Of course, there was nothing on a skeletal face which could move.

Ainz was originally willing to let the Ogre grab him. However, his darkvision-capable eyes saw the blood staining the Ogre’s hand.

“Disgusting.”

Ainz immediately produced a staff from thin air and swung it. While this staff did not possess any special magic powers, it was focused on inflicting bludgeoning damage, and with a single strike, the head of the Ogre who was reaching out for Ainz burst like a rotten grape. A mix of fresh blood and brain matter showered the Ogre beside it, which dropped its club and took a step back.

“You… you, no, skelly…”

“It is quite vexing for you to lump me in with other Skeletons. I’m here to see your boss, the Giant of the East. Could you go fetch him? Although, I’m fairly sure he’ll come even if you don’t shout.”

Ainz waved to bid the Ogre get lost, and it promptly turned and fled into the cave.

“…Good grief. If they had seen the discrepancy in our respective strengths from the start, we wouldn’t have to waste this time.”

Ainz felt the area where the club had struck him as he finished descending the slope.

There were several Goblins ─ more of masticated corpses, really ─ where the Ogres had been just now. While their remains were little more than chunks of meat and it was impossible to tell how many there had been, there must have been more than just one or two.

Ainz and Aura detoured around that area as they continued downwards.

“What a gaffe. I was annoyed and used too much force. I’d originally planned to avoid killing before negotiations broke down, to proceed in as friendly a way as possible…”

“It couldn’t be helped! It’s the fault of those filthy Ogres who tried to touch you, Ainz-sama!”

“Hearing you say that pleases me. Punitto Moe-san once said, ‘punching them in the face is a good way to make the other party behave’… or was it Warrior Takemikazuchi-san who said that?”

“Since the Supreme Beings said so, then it must be correct!

Ainz could not recall which of these two polar opposites had said that. Just then, a horde of monsters emerged from the depths of the cave. All of them were far taller than a human being.

“Well, if it isn’t a pack of Trolls. While calling them Giants smacks of false advertising to me, it’s not as though it’s a complete lie.”

Trolls were giants with long ears and noses. They had very ugly faces and their muscular bodies were as revolting as that of any heteromorph. They wore what seemed to be tiger-skin clothes their heads emerged from their shoulders.

They were nearly three meters tall, stronger than Ogres, and possessed of powerful regenerative abilities. It was said that unless they were killed with fire or acid, they could come back from the dead even after being reduced to scraps of meat. There were six Trolls here, and 10 Ogres on top of that.

The one which caught Ainz’s eye was the Troll standing at the head of these monsters.

It was more muscular than the other Trolls, and its ugly face exuded confidence.

It was better equipped than the other Trolls too.

It wore leather armor which looked like it had been sewn together from several animal hides. Its mighty arms bore a greatsword which was larger than the ones which Ainz used in his Momon guise. The greatsword seemed to be magical, and the central fuller oozed a slippery liquid towards its edge.

“Is he on Hamsuke’s level?”

“Feels that way.”

That being the case, this Troll ought to be the Giant of the East. That being the case, what sort of Troll was he? Ainz studied the Giant of the East carefully.

Trolls were highly adaptable monsters. They varied greatly according to their environment.

For instance, there were Volcano Trolls who lived in volcanoes and who were resistant to fire. There were Sea Trolls who were adept at swimming in the ocean and could breathe underwater. There were Mountain Trolls, who lived in the mountains and were especially strong. There were also Toll Trolls, rare trolls who lived under bridges. There was a never-ending variety of mutant species and subraces like those.

In that case, what was the Troll standing before Ainz specialized in?

Trolls adapted to cavern living were called Cave Trolls. But they looked different from this one.

This was a new species of Troll which he had encountered for the first time in this world ─ this unknown monster kindled Ainz’s collector spirit.

***

The Troll known as the Giant of the East had achieved a very rare form of evolution.

He was a Troll who had been born amidst countless battles, adapted to them, and specialized in fighting ability. If one had to name it, his species would be War Trolls, a particularly outstanding example among the many Troll subraces.

One could say that its combat prowess was unrivalled among others of the same age as him.

Granted, his body was smaller than that of a Mountain Troll. However, the muscles of his body ─ his physical abilities ─ far outstripped those of the latter species. In addition, he did not use a primitive club that could be easily swung with brute force, but instead used his inborn abilities to skillfully wield a sword ─ a weapon which was inferior even to a club if one did not know how to use one. One could say he was a Troll who had awakened his warrior abilities.

***

“You’re the Giant of the East, I take it?”

After hearing no denials, Ainz pointed slightly to the right of the Giant

“Then, I believe that chap over there is the Serpent of the West. Apakah saya benar?"

Someone with ordinary eyesight would surely think he was pointing at empty air. However, Ainz could clearly see the heteromorph hiding there, as though it were illuminated by the sun’s light.

“Perhaps you think you’ve hidden yourself with invisibility, but my eyes can see through it. Stop wasting your effort and answer me.”

A monster appeared out of what had originally been thin air. It had probably dispelled its invisibility.

Indeed, it was a snake. No, to be precise, it had a snake’s body. It had an old man’s torso from the chest up, but it had a serpentine form below that. It was a heteromorphic monster.

Unlike the Giant of the East, Ainz had seen monsters like this in YGGDRASIL before, and so he could immediately state the name of his race.

“A Naga, then. While it wouldn’t be wrong to call you a Serpent, don’t you have a better name for yourself? No, there’s already the case of the Wise King of the Forest, so this was only to be expected, no?

“If thou couldst see through my invisibility, then thou art surely no ordinary─”

“─What are you doing here, skeleton?!”

The Naga was only halfway through his words when a thunderous voice filled the cave and drowned him out. The Giant of the East took a step forward.

Ainz turned to face his counterpart.

“First of all, let me get this straight; I am not a Skeleton. I wish to correct that mistake of yours.”

“What are you, if not a Skeleton? The king of the eastern lands, Gu, permits you to state your name!”

“─Gu?”

Ainz had no idea what he was talking about for a moment. He thought that it was some kind of title, like a King or a Chief, and it was only after a while that he realized it was the Troll’s name.

“I see, so your name is Gu. Pardon my delayed introduction; my name is Ainz Ooal Gown.”

At that moment, laughter filled the cavern.

“Fuafuafuafua! A coward’s name! A soft and weak name, unlike my strong and mighty name!”

The other Trolls laughed distastefully in response to those words.

“A cow─”

Ainz stopped Aura before she could take a step forward.

"Tidak apa-apa. Don’t get upset over a trifling matter like this. Remain calm. We’re here to talk, we’re ambassadors of peace. Oh yes, just for reference, why do you think I’m a coward?”

“Ah, his ilk takes long names to be a sign of timidity, O mysterious undead,”

The old man’s face of the Naga creased with a mocking smile as he spoke from the side.

“So he’s not an antique, but trash. Then, do you feel my name is that of a coward’s as well?”

“This one certainly would not think so, because this one bears a long name as well. Indeed, this one is the Serpent of the West of which thou speak’st ─ Ryurarius Spenia Ai Indarun, O invader Ainz Ooal Gown. This one has often hoped that his mind would be as developed as his body, but if that were the case, he would have dominated this forest long ago; truly a dilemma.”

“…You have just saved your own life.”

A look of suspicion crossed Ryurarius’ face as Ainz let his innermost thoughts slip out. Unfortunately, just as he wanted to clarify, Gu and the Trolls stopped laughing.

“So what are you weaklings doing here?! Come to feed me? Bones are delicious and crunchy! I’ll eat you starting from your skull!”

“I am the one who ordered the undead and the Golems to build the fortress in the forest. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”

The mood changed in an instant. Gu and his band radiated vhostility, while Ryurarius was filled with caution.

"Aku tahu! You pest! If not for this damn snake making noise I’d have killed you long ago! This saves time! A coward and a black little runt!”

“Ah, so we can talk. In truth, I came to negotiate with you.”

Ainz gestured to Gu to kneel before him.

“Swear yourself to me if you want to live.”

“Are you retarded?! How could we serve a coward! I’ll eat you right here and now! Then I’ll eat that runt behind you!”

“Gu. He rules that fearsome structure. You underestimate him at your peril! And the Dark Elf behind him; this forest belonged to them before the Demon Tree chased them away. They might well be mighty foes ─ but he is not listening.”

Ainz could not help laughing merrily.

"Hahahaha! You’re better at barking than a dog, meatball. Bagaimana dengan ini. I, whom you call a coward, challenge you, who bears a mighty name, to a one on one fight. I trust you won’t run in fear? If you’re afraid, then get on your hands and knees and beg me for mercy, and I could find it in myself to rear you as a slave.”

“Very good! I can handle a mook like you by myself! I’ll chop you to bits and eat you all up!”

"Sangat baik. Since you have made your choice, negotiations have broken down. Aura, stand back. I want to play with him by myself.“

Just as he finished saying that, the upraised sword hacked down on Ainz. This was the blow Gu had struck with the greatsword he held, which was over three meters long.

Ainz did not move, simply took the hit square on his body.

“─Huh?”

"Apa yang salah? What’s so surprising?”

Ainz was untouched. Gu’s ugly face twisted in surprise, and this time he chose a sweeping slash. However, the result was the same as before; Ainz took the blow head-on.

“Muuu?”

Gu backed up several steps. He looked at his sword, and then at Ainz. He proudly turned his back on Ainz, then walked up to one of his minions.

In the next moment, the greatsword whirled and cut into one of this Troll minions. The sword cleaved into the troll’s neck and shoulder, effortlessly parting its flesh, and a geyser of fresh blood spewed forth.

The Troll screamed stupidly, at the top of its voice

Gu watched in satisfaction as his minion spun and fell to the ground, and he nodded. That was probably to verify that his weapon was working.

“I see, is that Trollish regeneration at work? Quite an impressive sight when you witness it with your own eyes.”

The wound surface healed over swiftly. It was not so much turning back time as a fast-forward of the recovery process.

Gu must have known that the Troll would regenerate before testing his blade on him; but the evil look on his face as he looked down on his fallen minion suggested that he would have cut the creature up anyway, even if it could not regenerate.

“It is the privilege of the strong to kill or spare the weak. However ─ it deeply displeases me.”

Ainz stepped forward. He was no longer in the mood to play around.

Gu gripped his greatsword tightly, waiting for Ainz to approach him, step by step.

“Gu! That Ainz Ooal Gown is no mundane individual! Let us band together to fight─”

"Diam! You sit there and watch, coward! ─Ugooooooh!”

An explosive series of slashes rained down on Ainz. The combination attack was made using physical strength that far surpassed the capability of the human body, and it was among the most destructive assaults Ainz had ever faced from the inhabitants of this world.

However, his strikes could not blow away a castle wall, and neither could it scar the land. How could it possibly harm Ainz?

The greatsword’s edge sliced through the wind, and Ainz took it full on his body.

“Good grief. Could you not crumple my clothes?”

Ainz seemed to find it all uninteresting, and he turned away after tugging on his robes and straightening them out. Then, a thought apparently came to mind.

“Ah, are you satisfied yet?”

“Goooooooh!”

Gu decided that slashing attacks were ineffective, and so he took one hand off his greatsword and threw a punch. This blow struck like a huge maul. If it hit a human being, they would surely have been pulped by its power and sent flying.

Yet, Ainz took this blow ─ which was assuredly fatal for a human being ─ straight in the face. After that, he calmly dusted off the place where Gu had struck him, like he had been touched by dirty hands.

Gu ceased his attack. His ugly face contorted into an even uglier shape, and he glared at the unmoved Ainz.

“So, is that end of the attack you’re so proud, he of the brave name?”

“It’s only your defense ─ guwaaaargh!”

Ainz stepped forward to close the distance between them and swung his staff, which destroyed half of one of Gu’s legs. Unable to stand, Gu collapsed heavily to the ground..

“Even with that acorn-sized brain of yours, you should be starting to realize that cowards aren’t necessarily weak, no?”

The Trolls and Ogres watching the fight shouted in shock as they saw their leader’s disgraceful state.

“Haaaah.” Ainz was beginning to tire of this, and sighed. The fact that they did not understand the situation even at this point proved that these monsters were worthless. Of course, it would be a different matter if they were smart enough to try and flee.

“Aura, seize him. He is the only one who cannot be allowed to flee.”

Aura immediately understood Ainz’s terse order, and sprang into action. In the blink of an eye, she had caught up to the Naga, who was trying to sneak away invisibly.

“Got him, Ainz-sama. What should I do with him?”

Ainz paid no heed to Gu and looked to Aura, who had the Naga by the neck. The way he treated Gu made one thing clear to everyone present.

─In other words: he could not be bothered to deal with the Gu fellow before him.

Gu growled from between his teeth at this utter humiliation, but Ainz did not care.

“Curse you, brat!” The Naga’s serpentine body started constricting, and it wrapped around Aura. “I’ll crush you to aiiiieeeee!”

A cold, calm voice came from the midst of the balled up Naga.

“You know, I can’t watch Ainz-sama like this. If you continue struggling, I’ll use more force and crush your throat. Don’t worry, you won’t die from it.”

Her small fists were enough to make the Naga realize the difference in their respective strengths, and the Naga slowly loosened its coils with a strangled wail.

“Aura, while time is money, wastefulness is also foolishness. Please move a little further away so he doesn’t end up getting killed by accident.”

"Dimengerti!"

Aura leisurely dragged away the Naga ─ who weighed several times more than herself ─ as she left. Ainz shifted his gaze back to Gu, who had barely managed to stand up again after his regeneration caused his shattered leg to bulge up mightily as it repaired his ruined flesh

Ainz might not be as tall as his opponent, yet he towered over Gu.

“Oh, so you’re healed. Then let us continue.”

Ainz rapped at his shoulders with his staff, then calmly took a fighting stance. His attitude said that he had no intention of defending himself.

“You… you, what… what did you do? Apa yang sedang kamu lakukan? Magic?”

Gu slowly backed away as he held his sword, while Ainz stepped forward like he was giving chase. Gu’s stride was shorter than Ainz’s. The distance between them was greater than when the battle had begun.

Ainz snorted.

“─Hm? Well, isn’t this strange? I, the one with the cowardly name, am advancing, while the bravely-named Gu-sama is backing off. I wonder why that is the case?”

Someone replied from behind in a deadpan voice:

“That’s because Ainz-sama’s name is the brave one, and that weird Gu name belongs to a coward! Isn’t that right, snake?”

“Y-yehh! Ainz Ooal Gown-shama ish the greatest!”

After hearing the sweet little girl’s voice and another voice which was on the verge of tears, Ainz nodded several times.

“I see, I understand now. Short names are the mark of a coward ─ the name of Ainz Ooal Gown belongs to a brave and wonderful person, am I correct?”

“─Why you!”

“Shut up, coward.”

Gu’s anger overcame his fear, and he swung his blade at Ainz as though to hack him in two. Ainz did not parry or dodge; simply swung back with his staff. Ainz’s blow did not permit Gu to block with his sword or evade.

The staff shattered part of Gu’s body.

“Abbbahhhhhhhhh!”

Gu’s piteous wailing sparked fear in the hearts of his underlings as they watched the battle.

“Well, that’s a Troll for you; with their regeneration, they can even come back to life after being reduced to mincemeat. Still, pain does seem to hurt. That was the weakest attack you made so far. All you were thinking of was protecting yourself. You feared being hit by me. It was a coward’s swordsmanship.”

Before Ainz was Gu, whose head was half its normal thickness. A normal creature would have died long ago, but his head was slowly returning to its normal shape.

Gu’s restored face was twisted into an especially disgusting shape. It was etched with terror. He was even more afraid than before; it was the reaction of one who had been broken by fear.

“You… what, what are you? Why couldn’t I do anything to you?”

Ainz tilted his head, and then slowly spread his arms.

“…I am Death. I am he who brings death to you.”

“You… you lot! Bunuh dia!"

“Good grief… I expected nothing less of a coward, to renege on the terms of our duel… still, it does suit your name. So I will forgive you.”

Ainz seemed very happy as he said this.

Gu’s minions were scared stiff by this mysterious monster, and so they remained still. That was because despite their stupidity, they could feel the sheer power of Ainz, and they had certainly witnessed enough of it. They were probably wrestling with themselves, unable to decide who was more fearsome. Nobody dared to move; they simply looked back and forth between Ainz and Gu.

“Hurry!”

But they still did not move. They could not move.

The same applied to Ainz. There was a delicate balance here, one which rooted everyone in place. If Ainz made a move, this balance would collapse, and they would all flee for their lives.

It would be troublesome if they escaped ─ just the thought of hunting down and killing each and every one of them felt tiresome.

“In that case, let’s do it this way. Playtime is over.”

Ainz activated one of his abilities, which he had not had the chance to use, and was too powerful for this world.

(Despair Aura V (Instant Death).)

The surging aura billowed out from Ainz.

The Trolls, Ogres and Gu went limp and collapsed like puppets whose strings had been cut, slumping to the ground.

The fallen monsters did not move. It was clear that although their bodies were still warm, the flames of their life had been utterly extinguished.

An old man’s voice rang through the silent cave.

“What… what didst…thou do?”

The Naga was curled up into a ball, doing his best to stay away from Ainz. Ainz turned around and replied:

“I simply used a skill. Trolls can regenerate, but that does not immunize them to instant death attacks… honestly, you lot are worthless. I was simply thinking that rather than slaughtering you all outright, I should see what uses you might have, but since they refused to bend the knee, I decided to kill them all.”

“This one gladly consents to be your subordinate! It is only natural for the weak to obey the strong! From now on, this one shall commit his entire strength to thee!”

Ainz calmly looked down upon the prostrated Naga, and then shrugged weakly.

“…Eh, whatever, it’s fine. Besides, I came here to talk anyway.”

“How… how fearsome. Thou think’st nothing of this one. Thou regard’st this one, who has long ruled the western forest, as little more than an animal-shaped pebble by the roadside.”

“No, I am somewhat more interested in you than that. Didn’t you mention something about the Dark Elves. Tell me everything.”

“But of course… of course I shall. This one shall gladly tell thee everything this one knows! Although, ah…” Ainz waved to bid the Naga continued, and he said: “Wilt thou spare this one’s life after this one tells his tale?”

“That I promise you. If you are loyal to me, if you serve me sincerely, I will reward you appropriately… but first, a question. Where are your minions? Or are you like Hamsuke… the beast who ruled the southern forest by herself?”

“No, this one has underlings. However, this one came for the sake of negotiations, so this one did not bring them along. That was because this one’s minions cannot make themselves invisible, so once negotiations broke down, they would have no way to flee.”

"Saya melihat. Now, for my next question: do you have any Troll minions?”

“Only one.”

“Bagus sekali. In that case, can I have him take the place of the Giant of the East? No, that’s too… that might be a little troublesome. Sangat baik. In a few days, I will bring my subordinates to ─ no, you will go to the structure that she built. Aura, release him.”

“Is that really alright?”

"Tidak apa-apa. He’s already sworn his loyalty to me. If he betrays me, I’ll simply think of some other way to use him.”

Aura’s slender hands released the Naga’s neck, leaving hand-shaped bruises on his flesh.

The Naga was still nervous, but he was much more relieved now. Ainz paid him no heed, but walked up to Gu’s corpse.

“I wonder what sort of data a Troll Zombie contains.”

Ainz could create undead beings from corpses with a skill. While they were little more than Zombies or Skeletons, he could make stronger Zombies if the corpse of the base creature was powerful enough. A more famous example of those would be Dragon Zombies.

Ainz picked up the greatsword which had fallen to the ground. It was far longer than Ainz was tall, but thanks to the basic principle of magic arms and armor, it shrank down to a size which best fit Ainz.

If Ainz tried to swing a sword which he could not equip, he would be forcibly disarmed, but just picking it up did not pose any problems to him.

“Should I strengthen that village’s fighting power? In that case, perhaps this magic weapon might be the best choice. Besides, there’s no value in bringing it back to Nazarick.”

“Ainz Ooal Gown-sama!”

Isn’t he done yet? Ainz tiredly turned to look at the Naga.

“This… this one will never betray thee. Only the fools who have never seen thy icy gaze that regards all before him as mere ants would dare betray thee.”

“I did not think my eyes were as expressive as that… or is this a skill of yours too? Even Demiurge, that master of scrutiny, could not tell what I was truly thinking.”

“It hardly qualifies as a skill, but this one can still sense whether someone is interested in this one.”

Ainz thought, perhaps that’s a Naga racial ability.

“Really now… very well, I understand. Stop wasting time and gather your minions. This is my first order.”

"Iya!"

Part 4

Nazarick Time 21:07

Demiurge’s elegant form appeared within Ainz’s office. First, he bowed deeply to the seated Ainz, and then nodded in deference to Mare and Cocytus, who were waiting within. He spared the maid assigned to this room a glance of acknowledgement.

Ainz answered with a look, and then spoke to Entoma via (Message).

“Alright, Entoma, tell Lupusregina she has permission to set off. Those three must be protected no matter the cost.”

『Understood. I will relay your orders to Lupusregina.』

Demiurge walked to the center of the room, free of worries. His stylish stride made Ainz envious.

How shall I describe it, every move he makes overflows with confidence. Is it because his back is very straight?

Demiurge halted crisply, bringing Ainz back to his senses.

“It is good that you’ve come, Demiurge.”

"Iya! I thank you for summoning me before you, Ainz-sama. Have you finished speaking with Entoma?”

“Everything is fine. She reported back to me, and discussed the matter with me. She has passed this test.”

“Wonderful. In addition, I thank you for making time for me, Ainz-sama.”

“Pay it no heed, Demiurge. It is only fitting that I should match myself to the man who has done the most for Nazarick. In addition, you are not late, so do not worry… now then, tell me what you think.”

Ainz handed the piece of paper he was holding to Demiurge. Demiurge received it, and Ainz saw him quickly scan it from top to bottom before asking:

“As you can see, this is a menu, but what do you think of it? The meal is for a human male and female, and possibly a child.”

“…I think that any human being must consume whatever you deign to provide for them without complaint, Ainz-sama. However, I feel that is not the answer you seek, therefore ─ if there is a child, they might not enjoy foie gras. In addition… hm, lighter dishes might be more ideal.”

"Saya melihat. That certainly bears consideration. I thank you.”

“You honor me with your praise… Ainz-sama, do you intend to invite people to the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick ─ into the sanctuary of the Supreme Beings ─ as your guests?”

"Memang. I intend to be hospitable.”

Or rather, it was not so much hospitality as entertaining them. This was a form of coercion backed by wealth, intended to keep them on good terms with him.

“Is that wise?”

“Apakah itu penting? Is there a problem?”

“No, none at all. After all, whatever you speak is correct, Ainz-sama.”

In the past, when this had all been in the game world, the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick had played host to very few people other than the guild members. At the very most, they had invited the little sister of the guild member Yamaiko ─ whose player name was Akemi-chan ─ a few times. However, the guild did not forbid inviting anyone. It was simply that nobody had thought to do so.

Which is why my friends ought to have no issue with me inviting Nfirea and the others. Invaders are different from guests.

Ainz then turned to Demiurge ─ who was pondering something ─ and the other two Guardians who had been waiting in the room before he asked:

“Guardians; are you ready to enter the baths?”

“Forgive me; Mare and I were planning to borrow bathing equipment along the way.”

"Saya melihat. Then, Cocytus ─ oh, you brought yours along. Then we shall meet in the baths. Increment, if anyone comes, have them wait for me here.”

"Dimengerti."

After hearing the maid’s reply, Ainz stood up and left his room. After ordering the vassals who usually trailed him around to remain where they were, he led the way to the baths, which were also on the 9th Floor.

Ainz very much wanted to chat with Cocytus as they walked side by side, but Cocytus was a very serious person and would never do such a thing. This made Ainz feel a little lonely. Cocytus probably had not read his heart, but he approached Ainz and asked:

“Ainz-sama. There. Seemed. Untuk. Be. Fewer. Eight. Edge. Assassins. In. Itu. Room. Hanya. Sekarang. Did. Kamu. Send. Them. Somewhere?”

Ainz felt a little disappointed when he discovered that it was work-related, but he also comforted himself by thinking that this was what Cocytus considered casual conversation, and so he replied to Cocytus. He very nearly let the excitement creep into his voice, but in the end he decided that it would be better to keep it a secret.

“They are at the E-Rantel inn. Narberal is waiting there in case we have an unexpected visitor. They ought to be observing the situation from afar.”

“Is. It. Tidak. Dangerous. Untuk. Meninggalkan. Narberal. Sendirian. By. Herself?”

“Quite. If anyone plans to attack, they ought to do so now.”

“I. Lihat. Begitu. She. Aku s. Live. Bait. Then?”

"Memang. If the person who brainwashed Shalltear is observing our every movement, this bait will surely have them drooling. After Momon defeated the mighty Vampire Shalltear ─ granted, she was known by a different name ─ nobody attempted to approach him. That being the case, if Momon is not around, leaving the magic caster all by herself…”

“They. Will. Take. Itu. Bait?”

"Aku tidak tahu. But if they do, I will be a master baiter.”

Ainz mimed the action of pulling up a fishing pole.

“Will. We. Mobilize. All. Our. Forces. Then?”

“As if. I won’t do that. First, we’ll feel out our opponent. If they’re as strong as us, or stronger, then we’ll have to be more humble.”

Cocytus groaned. He understood the reasoning behind that decision, so he had no choice but to bear with it.

“The. Logical. Part. Of. Me. Knows. It. Aku s. Only. A. Temporary. Thing. Tapi. Emotionally. I. Find. It. Keras. Untuk. Keep. My. Cool.”

“Bear with it until we’ve checked them out thoroughly and found our opposition’s weaknesses. Once that happens, I will have them taste the purest of pain. I will not forgive them for daring to brainwash Shalltear and forcing me to put her down.”

Even if they were players, Ainz did not feel the slightest bit of empathy for them. The only people Ainz cared for were the NPCs or his old friends. If anyone aroused his ire, he would subject them to a fate worse than death in order to show them the foolishness of their ways.

“Repay good unto good and evil unto evil. Is that not to be expected?”

Ainz smiled coldly, as a surge of excitement welled up inside him. If the opposition really were players, then he could conduct far better experiments. The first of them would probably be the one he dared not perform with himself ─ that of death.

“An. Eye. For. An. Eye. And. A. Tooth. For. A. Tooth. Kemudian?

“Correct. However, did you know? That phrase was originally meant to warn against excessive retribution, so I did not use it. That’s because I intend to pay them back with interest.”

Punitto-san said that, Ainz added in his heart.

"Oh! I. Expected. No. Less. Of. Kamu. Ainz-sama. Tidak. Only. Are. Kamu. A. Supremely. Skilled. Warrior. Tapi. Anda. Intellect. Aku s. Beyond. Compare. Truly. I. Am. In. Awe.”

Ainz did not need to look back to feel the wave of respect pressing down on him from behind.

“Then. Do. Kamu. Plan. Untuk. Spend. Itu. Entire. Hari. In. Nazarick. Ainz-sama?”

“No, after I bathe with everyone, I’ll take care of some work here before going over there in the middle of the night, because there’s a lot of things which need to be settled over there as well. How about yourself?”

“I. Plan. Untuk. Temporarily. Kembali. Untuk. My. Position. Guarding. Nazarick. Since. Itu. Matters. Which. Require. My. Personal. Presence. At. Itu. Lakeside. Have. All. Been. Concluded.”

“Once you return, the only ones working outside will be Demiurge, who has many tasks to complete, Sebas and Solution, who are gathering information in the Royal Capital, Aura, who is building a base in the forest, and then Narberal and myself.”

“I. Find. It. Keras. Untuk. Accept. Itu. Fact. That. A. Supreme. Being. Must. Personally. Handle. Work. We. Should Have. Taken. On─”

“Haha, forgive me, Cocytus.”

"Sana. Aku s. No. Need. Ainz-sama. Kamu. Rule. Ini. Place. And. Begitu. Anda. Setiap. Kata. Is Law. Apa. I. Just. Said. Was. Mere. Foolishness. In. Addition─”

The mood in the air seemed to have changed, and Ainz found it odd. Looking back, he saw Cocytus looking somewhat gloomy ─ although he could not tell from his face.

“If. We. Were. As. Capable. As. Demiurge. Kamu. Would. Tidak. Need. Untuk. Exert. Yourself. In. Itu. End. It. Boils. Down. Untuk. Our. Lack. Of. Ability─”

"Itu tidak benar. When everyone made you, they sought to create the right person for the job. That being the case, the most important thing for you is to finish your assigned tasks. Frankly speaking, it doesn’t matter if you can’t do anything else. Although, the fact that Demiurge is somewhat more intelligent and more knowledgeable means he can tackle a wider range of problems.”

Cocytus did not seem to be able to accept that, so Ainz continued:

“In that case, you should focus on slowly learning how to handle more things. For instance ─ you are now in charge of the Lizardman village, so you should have learned a lot from it. Ruling that village will surely aid you in the future. As long as you slowly proceed, step by step, someday you will come to be on par with Demiurge.”

“Can. I. Really. Do. Bahwa?"

“I feel that you can’t say it’s impossible,” Ainz replied in a roundabout manner.

“Nobody can surpass Demiurge’s intellect. In order to equal him, you must walk an arduous road. But I believe your efforts will not be wasted.”

The two of them continued silently along the corridor. Soon, Cocytus quietly said:

"Terima kasih, Ainz-sama."

“I don’t think I’ve said anything which deserves your thanks. Alright, Cocytus, we’re almost at the bath. Cheer up before Demiurge and Mare come.”

"Iya!"

***

Spa Resort Nazarick was located on the 9th Floor of Nazarick. It was a comfortable place of leisure which boasted nine separate outdoor-themed baths and 17 indoor-themed baths for both men and women. The most impressive of them was the Cherenkov Bath. Its warm water radiated an actinic blue light, allowing bathers to enjoy a decadent atmosphere.

(TL Note: Cherenkov radiation is the blue glow typically associated with underwater nuclear reactors)

Ainz, who had reached the baths in Cocytus’ company, was utterly shocked when he saw an unexpected someone.

“Ainz-sama