Chapter 14
Written by: The Reluctant Overlord
Proofread by: PervySageChuck
Author Note: I'm back!
It had already been several hours since the noblewoman and her butler left the restaurant. They had mentioned that they were heading out to E-Rantel. Apparently, the noblewoman wanted to see if there would be any 'real men' in the tournament.
She had even threatened that she would personally join as a contestant if it looked to be a boring event.
Esmeralda remained conflicted.
She absentmindedly began flipping and playing with the copper coin in her hand.
After debating internally for several minutes, she finally decided on her next course of action.
She left the copper coin on the table as a tip, and began to pack her belongings. She would need to hurry if she was to catch up with the pair.
It would be a waste to let such a good man die, after all.
However, Esmeralda personally felt that death would have been preferable compared to a lifetime of servitude under that pompous noblewoman.
…
…
…
Esmeralda was panting with exhaustion as the carriage came into view. A look of relief washed over her as she noticed that the carriage was completely unharmed.
This is a good sign.
As she got closer, she was struck by the luxury and prestige that emanated from the carriage. It was mostly white, which was a symbol of wealth as white colors meant that it would require frequent cleaning and maintenance. There were also gold plated engravings with an insignia that was unfamiliar to her. It was pulled by two majestic and powerful looking horses. The only downside was that it was very eye-catching and gave the impression of vulnerability.
As Esmeralda reached the carriage, the door opened and a well dressed butler came out.
Her heart once again began throbbing, and the fatigue and exhaustion faded from her body.
…
Another one?
No, this feels different.
Sebas did not sense any hostility or ill intent from the approaching figure. The shadow demons reported a young woman riding on horse back who was marching towards the carriage. To satisfy his curiosity, Sebas allowed the figure to approach and he went outside to meet her.
She had dark hair that was cut short and blue eyes that shone with concern. Her attire suggested that she was either an adventurer or in an occupation that required combat preparation. She had two small stilettos strapped to her belt, and a small traveller's backpack slung around her torso.
"May I help you, Miss?"
Esmeralda was still panting, but it was merely a ruse to buy her time to prepare a reply. She had not planned this far ahead.
"Huff…Huff… I understand that…"
"Would you like to join us in heading to the city?"
Esmeralda was taken aback by the sudden offer. It was not something she had expected. Her mind was abuzz with questions and surprise.
In truth, she had intended to go to E-Rantel for quite some time. The prize money was extremely lucrative, and there was a strong shroud of mystery surrounding the city due to the isolationist policies that the Sorcerer King enacted during the first two months of the occupation of the city. There was also another reason for her desire to visit the city, but that was a tale for another time.
"Why would you ask me that?"
"Well, you seem strong. My master has high expectations, and would be sorely disappointed if there were no strong contestants in the tournament."
The gentleman butler gestured towards the carriage.
A flash of annoyance and jealousy crossed Esmeralda's face.
Why is he acting so nice and polite to that spoiled brat!
"Is there a problem?"
Sebas had noticed the look on her face, and asked in a gentle and caring manner.
"No! Nothing is wrong! I was just surprised, that's all!"
Esmeralda flushed with embarrassment. She silently cursed herself.
"You seem strong. You carry yourself like a warrior, and you have a good heart. I believe that all these are very favourable traits, and I think it would be a waste if you did not showcase your talents."
Esmeralda could feel her face turning red.
Solution was sitting quietly inside the luxurious carriage. She was able to listen in on the conversation between Sebas and the stranger. Despite Sebas being her direct superior as the leader of the Pleiades combat maids, she often disagreed with his actions. He was soft and inappropriately merciful to the lower life forms. She could not understand the logic or rationale behind it.
Solution Epsilon was a battle maid and a predator slime. Her heteromorphic racial skill allowed her to change her appearance at will, and hence made her a suitable agent for infiltrative and espionage missions. She also had a rather sadistic personality, and frequently enjoyed tormenting her prey as they were consumed and dissolved alive within her slime body.
However, similar to the other combat maids, she was fiercely loyal and would never let her personal interests and feelings interfere with the greater good of Nazarick. It was true that Lord Ainz had wished for strong fighters to compete in the tournament, and she could sense an element of strength from this individual. As a result, she did not protest Sebas's actions.
She was also in a very good mood. She was quite full.
Solution rested her hands on her belly and caressed it playfully.
...
The carriage was parked alongside the road. As Esmeralda approached, she was once again astounded by the sheer extravagance of the carriage. However, what surprised her even more was the fat, white silk gloved hand that emerged from the small carriage window.
Whose hand is this?
"My Lady, may I introduce…"
Sebas waited for Esmeralda to give her name, but no answer came.
Esmeralda was frozen in place. She was perplexed.
The well dressed butler picked up on this and gave a loud and noticeable cough.
The chubby, gloved hand withdrew as if it was bitten.
A loud retching sound could be heard from inside the carriage. It sounded like someone was vomiting.
Ten seconds later, a lithe and dainty arm emerged from the carriage window.
What is going on?
Esmeralda continued to stare.
The gentleman butler gave another exaggerated cough, and interjected.
"I'm sorry, but my Lady is not feeling well today. She feels bloated."
THAT'S BULLSHIT!
Esmeralda was a girl herself, and she knew how it felt like to feel fat and bloated. She used to call them 'fat days'.
Calling this 'feeling fat' would be the understatement of the year. Based on the arm, it looks like she ate a person or possibly several people, in fact!
Eventually, she calmed herself and introduced herself.
"Esmeralda, my Lady…"
She quickly chimed in, and gave a curt bow.
There was a period of uncomfortable silence.
Initially perplexed, she eventually understood the gesture.
Esmeralda bent over to kiss it the hand.
The noblewoman did not give her name and withdrew her hand.
Esmerelda stared at the window while trying hard to peek inside. A look of confusion spread across her face.
The gentleman butler noticed this, and gave a final loud and noticeable cough.
This brought Esmeralda to her senses. She realized her staring was rude. She bowed once again, and spoke with Sebas.
"I will be riding alongside you with my horse."
After several minutes of preparation, they set off.
Once their privacy was ensured, Sebas leaned over to Solution.
"It seems the timing was unfortunate."
Solution nodded, and quickly apologized to Sebas.. Her face began to glow red as she cursed herself. In the meanwhile, there were several large, slimy, half dissolved bodies inside the carriage.
Solution hurriedly consumed them. As the carriage continued on its course, her triple chin was jiggling with each bump on the road. She then remained silent for the remainder of the journey.
It would have been very inappropriate if she had accidentally revealed their disguise and cover because of her careless mistakes.
Sebas interjected. "Also, I believe hand kissing is a human tradition in which a woman would offer her hand to a man, not another woman."
Solution sighed. It seems that she still had a lot to learn about human nobility and their mannerisms.
After a while, she started to look out the window and fell into deep thought as she considered her new role once they arrived in the city.
It would be good to be able to wear my battle uniform again. If everything goes according to plan, I would no longer need to keep up this irritating human facade.
In the meantime, another carriage was riding behind them. It was a simple and unassuming carriage with a single occupant. The figure was large and clad in an impressive shining metallic armor from head to toe. He was wearing a helm despite being inside the cabin. The shining warrior looked outside the window while admiring the view.
Beautiful farmland stretched out around the landscape. Crops, green and fresh, stretched out on both sides of the dirt road. The scene was littered with farmhands and workers who were hauling water, picking weeds, harvesting crops, and otherwise going about their day like any other. Farm land stretched as far as the naked eye could see. The grassy meadow was filled with the bloom of late summer wildflowers. The gentle slope of hills rising up and down did little to hide the majesty that lay before them. They were approaching E-Rantel.
The shining figure was taken aback in awe by the wonderful sight.
It feels good to be out again!
At the same time, there was a large gasp that attracted the attention of the occupants in both carriages as Esmeralda remembered the reason she rode out to meet Sebas and Solution in the first place.
…
…
…
It was the night before the official unveiling of the tournament.
The air surrounding E-Rantel was heavy and saturated with suspicion, apprehension, excitement, worry, trepidation, and curiosity.
The unstoppable golems which had been working non-stop for the last 2 months had finally ceased their endless toil. The human workers were given a day of rest, while the rest of the city seemed to be exceptionally quiet and peaceful.
There were no loud parties or dinners. There were no celebrations or festivals. Everyone was speaking in hushed tones.
All the contestants had arrived in the city. It was a larger turnout than expected. There were roughly five thousand new people in the city. While the population of the Re-Estize Kingdom was well over nine million and the Baharuth Empire had around three million, it should be noted that travelling to E-Rantel was still considered an extremely risky venture.
Firstly, the genocide at Katze Plains was still fresh in everyone's minds, and many citizens had lost loved ones in the battlefield and harboured a grudge against the Sorcerer King.
Secondly, for citizens of the Baharuth Empire, the city of E-Rantel had previously been considered enemy territory until very recently, and hence most of the residents were still originally from the Re-Estize Kingdom, and harboured animosity towards citizens of the Empire from the years of constant wars. As such, most of them were unsure if they would be welcomed in the city of E-Rantel.
Finally, the presence of powerful undead was a significant deterrence to most people. In general, most undead monsters had preyed on the living for generations, and stories of undead who were friendly to humans were practically non-existent. Only the brave and foolish would venture to a city filled with creatures straight out of a horror story.
Furthermore, the Kingdom was suffering from a severe shortage of man-power to tend the crops and fields. By leaving to come to E-Rantel, the people would be taking a large gamble.
The influx of visitors could be divided into several distinct categories based on the purpose of their visit.
Firstly, there were the potential adventurers and potential contestants. They represented the majority of the visitors and made up at least 50% of the group. They were people who were adept at combat but had not been able to fully realize their dream due to financial, family, or personal reasons such as a lack of self confidence. The promise of support, the display of power by the Sorcerer King at the arena when he defeated the Martial Lord, and the lucrative rewards from winning the tournament were the reasons many of them decided to go to E-Rantel.
Secondly, there were the former inhabitants of E-Rantel and the relatives of current residents of the city. Before the subjugation of the city by the Sorcerer King, many people had fled from their homes in search of refuge in the Kingdom. Most of them were not able to successfully integrate themselves, and had run out of savings. Considering that most of their belongings were left behind, they were struggling to survive and hence made the long journey home. The relatives of the current residents were merely concerned about the welfare of the people that were left behind, and took the opportunity to visually confirm it.
Thirdly, there were the Nobility and their servants. They represented the third largest group. The majority of them were simply wealthy and bored and wanted to watch the tournament. These were also envoys sent by the Kingdom or Empire to observe the event in a formal capacity, and third sons and desperate noble families seeking to improve relationships with the Sorcerous Kingdom or make connections and improve their social standing.
Lastly, there were the adventurers. They came to E-Rantel seeking fame, glory, and the promise of true adventure. They represented the smallest group as adventurers were a rare commodity to begin with.
Finally, there were the merchants who came to E-Rantel who wanted to seek and establish trade agreements or promote themselves. After all, advertisement was a core part of any commercial establishment.
At the moment, everyone in E-Rantel was looking up at the moon and wondering what the next day would bring.
The night sky in E-Rantel was ashen grey from the brilliant white light of the full moon as it danced across the rooftops. It was so bright that even the brightest of stars could not be seen.
The moon seemed to have enveloped the entire sky itself. It was a powerful and mesmerizing sight, and it seemed appropriate that it would herald the arrival of the historical day tomorrow.
…
…
Meanwhile, in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, there was a level 100 Elder Lich Overlord who was anxiously pacing back and forth in his room.
"Damn it!"
"The tournament is tomorrow! What should I do? We don't have a plan!"
He had attempted to clarify an itinerary with Albedo and Demiurge, but they had simply assumed that he already had plans in mind. It was a rather irritating encounter as all three of them deferred the issue back to him. Both Albedo and Demiurge were convinced that Ainz already had a plan in mind, and was simply testing them. As they were hesitant to look incompetent in front of their superior, they merely apologized repeatedly and stared at him.
'Damn it!"
The room that he was pacing around in was massive. It was his private quarters in the Great Tomb of Nazarick. There was a large, imperial court style four poster bed with a gorgeous rosewood veneered face. The bedroom furniture was similarly eye-catching with the hand-carved details, sweeping silhouettes, and solid construction that would leave a lasting impression on anyone who would visit his quarters. There was also a very faint but pleasant fragrance emanating from the bed, although Ainz had not yet discovered the source.
Ainz began to pace around. The extravagance and splendour of his personal room was lost on him as worry and tension filled his mind.
Think!
He walked to the door, and then walked back to his bed.
Think!
He repeated this several times subconsciously while mumbling.
Think!
The act of pacing while thinking has been proven in small case control studies to improve creativity. There were also a plethora of anecdotal evidence ranging from journal entries of famous poets and philosophers detailing their habit of pacing back and forth when pondering and searching for inspiration, to simple word of mouth stories.
Pacing may be a subconscious way of coping with anxiety as research suggests repetitive behavior can help us manage our stress levels when we feel lost or out of control. Repetition and patterns were comforting and therefore retracing one's steps may be a way of creating a pattern to please the brain. It was theorized that it gets blood pumping, facilitates the creation of new connections between brain cells, and encourages the growth of new neurons.
But I'm an undead lich! Do I even have any blood or brain cells?
Ainz began to ponder this conundrum.
Wait! Why am I even thinking about this!
Argh! This is so frustrating. Why are all these unrelated thoughts suddenly popping up?
Focus! Think!
Push away all distracting thoughts!
The repeated triggers of his passive skill that regulated excess emotion was proving extremely valuable as it allowed him to calmly assess the situation.
Alright! The first problem will be how to narrow down the combatants.
From the observational reports given to him by his subordinates in the city, it was estimated that there would be around one thousand potential contestants. This was a mind-boggling number, and Ainz did not know how to narrow down their numbers to a manageable 48 for the tournament.
To re-cap, the plan was to have 4 battle royales where the top 48 contestants would battle it out in groups of 12. The top 2 candidates in each battle royale would then proceed to the final 8 man single elimination tournament.
The other issues were how he would ensure the safety of the spectators, how long each combatant needs for rest before the next match, how he would deal with injuries and deaths, and how the victor would be decided.
Ainz also wondered if there was a reason why Albedo had suggested Sebas to participate in the tournament.
Was the tournament not meant to be random? Won't Sebas overwhelm the competition?
Wasn't the reason we enrolled the Martial Lord in the tournament as the Sorcerer Kingdom's representative to bring glory to the Sorcerous Kingdom when he won?
Why did Demiurge and Albedo say that the Princess Renner was happy with this plan?
What are they planning? And why didn't they share it with him?!
All the questions attacked Ainz simultaneously.
Focus! One issue at a time!
Ainz returned to the original question of how to narrow down the participants.
What about a gigantic brawl to decide on the top 48?
He immediately dismissed that idea. It would be extremely difficult and time consuming to organize, and there would be an unacceptable amount of injuries and casualties. He did not want his new Sorcerous Kingdom adventurers to be filled with the crippled and maimed.
What about feats of strength, agility, and endurance?
He had seen anime shows where the protagonist had to take a hero exam and had to undergo rigorous testing such as weight lifting, side jumps, timed sprints, and jumping contests…
However, Ainz had to dismiss that idea as well as many warriors relied on [Martial Arts] rather than brute strength or speed. He was also unsure if jumping height and sprint times would accurately assess their fighting capabilities in a world where enchanted weapons were predominant.
What about a machine that measured punching power?
Ainz did not know why he even thought about that.
Think! Think!
He considered the resources available to him and the contents in the Nazarick Treasury, and calmly assessed them. Finally, realization came to him.
It was not a perfect plan, but it was the best that a normal Japanese salary man with no apparent talents could come up with.
The next problem was the rules of the tournament.
How would we determine the victor? And what would he do with the dead or injured.
As each contestant was a possible Sorcerous Kingdom adventurer and the entire objective of the tournament was to draw in potential fighters, Ainz was hesitant to waste this precious resource to self inflicted injury.
Ainz ended up spending the entire night lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling with his lidless empty eye sockets while pondering the various issues.
Eventually, the morning sun rose, and the official starting day of the tournament had begun.
[Message] activate.
"Albedo"
There was silence and Ainz could only hear loud panting.
"Albedo"
Again, there was no reply.
"Albedo!"
"Oh! Momon—I mean, Ainz-sama! My apologies! I was distracted. How may I help you?"
Ainz could still hear Albedo's heavy breathing.
"Sorry for waking you up, Albedo."
"Oh! No! I was not asleep. I have been awake all night readin-I mean, there is no reason to apologize, Ainz-sama! All the guardians of Nazarick exist to serve you, regardless of when or where. We would gladly grind ourselves to the bone in your service!"
Her voice seemed unusually loud.
"Could you assemble the guardians and ask them to meet me in about an hour? I would like to speak to them before we go out to announce the tournament opening."
"Of course, Ainz-sama!"
…
…
…
There was nothing special about the rising sun that sent fingers of light through the pale white mist of dawn which covered the city, or the chilly breeze that was blowing through which carried the fresh aroma of late summer mingled with fear.
There was nothing remarkable about ten thousand people of various races and nationalities that had once been mortal enemies in a long war, now congregated together in a single location, or that everyone seemed to be equipped in their battle gear.
There was nothing impressive about the polished marble flooring, massive granite walls and foundation, veneered wooden benches, and decorative tapestries in the five story tall, massive arena that had been constructed in a mere two months, or the fact that it could seat ten thousand people easily.
There was nothing extraordinary about the intricate carvings or decorative engravings on the tiles, or the fact that the sky directly above the stadium seemed to be devoid of clouds and that the sunlight seemed to unnaturally illuminate just the arena.
There was nothing that stood out about the large war troll which smelled of blood and sweat, or the two lizardmen whose crocodile like scales gleamed in the sun, or the well dressed butler who radiated a dangerous aura and his arrogant, masked companion with beautiful blond hair, or the all female adamantite adventurer team Blue Rose, or the enigmatic warrior clad in a shiny metallic armor, or the stoic faces and the disciplined posture of the two of the Four Imperial knights of the Baharuth Empire, or the mysterious figure who was still shrouded in darkness.
There was nothing unusual about the 30 x 15 meter arena in the center of the stadium that was tiled with a dark grey ceramic that seemed to absorb light so it would not blind observers, nor the presence of several powerful and imposing figures at the center stage which included a succubus, a guard of angels, an insectoid monster, and two small dark elvish children.
To any independent observer, it would seem that none of these things were thrilling or notable.
This was because the attention of every single person there, be it human or demi-human or undead, was focused on one single figure.
It had twin points of crimson light that burned brightly within the empty orbits of a bleached skull.
It wore an intricately detailed black robe that seemed to swallow light.
It had a black and red aura swirling beneath its feet.
It was an incarnation of death, born from the darkness of another world.
It raised its fleshless hands, and a booming voice erupted, amplified by a magical ability.
"Welcome, everyone, to my tournament!"
And a loud roaring applause followed.
Eventually, the clapping died down.
…
…
…
"Welcome, everyone, to my first annual tournament of champions"
"The beer and ale today will be half price!"
Ainz could see the looks of confusion amongst the crowd. They were not sure how to react.
He silently cursed himself, and proceeded to clear his throat in an exaggerated manner. It seems that his ploy at humor had failed. Frankly, this was unsurprising. The people gathered here today were filled with anxiety and tension, and neither the congregation of nightmarish undead guards nor the fact that Ainz appeared to be the personification of death that massacred one hundred thousand people in the Katze Plains aided this.
"Ahem!"
"Welcome, everyone! Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your bravery thus far. It takes courage to venture to this city considering the recent circumstances."
"I, the Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown, welcome you to this tournament which is held to celebrate the establishment of my Kingdom."
He could hear the soft mutterings of discontent from the crowd. However, this was expected. It was not a peaceful occupation, after all.
"I will speak plainly. I do not intend to apologize or make amends for the acts committed during a war. I have ruled this land in ages past before my deep slumber. When I awoke, I found that things had changed, and found my rule was challenged."
"Do not presume that I am but a simple lich. I do not harbour an unreasonable hatred for the living, nor do I seek conquest or slaves. I do not need humans for sustenance. I have no intention to cover the world in darkness and despair."
Suddenly, Ainz voiced softened. He thought about his days in the guild, and with his friends. To the crowd, it would seem that Ainz appeared almost…human.
His voice took on a sad and sombre tone.
"I have been here far longer than you would believe. With my companions, we forged the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick with our own hands. We participated in countless battles. We had our share of victories and defeat. We laughed, played, and fought together. And each day, we grew stronger…"
Ainz voice trailed off.
"We were strong. We had wealth. We had power. We had fame. We had fun."
The last word seemed to echo across the stadium. It was a strange word. Fun was a foreign concept to many people in this world where man eating monsters roamed freely and where everyday was a struggle for survival.
"We had only one dream, and that dream was to be great."
"…And we had achieved that goal.
Ainz looked fondly at the guardians around him.
"As you all know; all companionships eventually come to an end…"
Another uneasy silence filled the arena.
"I will not lie and hide my disappointment..."
Albedo, Cocytus, Mare, and Aura stared at Ainz. This was the first time he had opened up about the other supreme ones in public.
"When I emerged from my deep slumber, my despair was multiplied by the sights and atrocities I witnessed."
"I was there when Carne Village was attacked and its villagers were slaughtered indiscriminately. I was there when I saw villages razed to the ground, and people struggling even to feed themselves. I was there when I saw humans enslaving other humans. I was there when intruders desecrated my tomb and tried to rob me. I was there when I attempted to peacefully retake the land that was originally my own, and was met with an army of 250,000."
"All I saw were weaklings, and there was no hint of the strength of the great legacy that I and my companions had left behind."
There were whispers amongst the crowd. Was the Sorcerer King and his companions a part of the ancient unknown gods of Old?
"When I heard about Adventurers, I had assumed they were great explorers who would traverse the wilderness and chart the unknown. Sadly, this did not seem to be the case.
"However, in the midst of my despair, there have been two individuals who have earned my respect: The Warrior-Caption Gazel Stornoff, and the Black Hero Momon of Darkness."
"They were human. They were made of flesh, and mortal and fragile. Yet they possessed a noble spirit and were strong."
"This gave me hope. Perhaps there is a chance for me to pursue this lofty dream of mine."
Ainz had spent a long time searching his soul and thinking of the reason he played Yggdrasil in the first place. He thought about the reasons why he continued logging in everyday despite his friends slowly leaving the game. He thought about the reasons why he did not move on to another game, or find another hobby. He thought about the sad and lonely days when he would log into the conference room and find that he was the only player online.
They had explored most of what the game had to offer. They accomplished numerous noteworthy feats in their prime, but as the guild member numbers dwindled, it became harder and harder for them to participate in raids and difficult quests.
There were veteran players in Yggdrasil who simply logged in everyday for interacting with friends and for social contact. The bonds of friendship forged in playing together for thousands of hours was tenacious and not easily forgotten.
There were veteran players in Yggdrasil who simply logged in everyday to manage the guild for the new players, or for administrative tasks.
There were veteran players who logged in for the timed bonus quests, the monotonous recurrent crafting writs, or to collect their daily login bonus so their characters would not be disadvantaged should they decide to get back in to the game in a more serious capacity.
Ainz contemplated this extensively while searching for the reason he continued to play the game and stayed behind, even on the last day.
The answer was simple: Ainz had invested a lot of time and effort in this game, and he could not simply let it go. He developed close and unbreakable bonds of friendship with his fellow guild members, and logging in everyday to see the Great Tomb of Nazarick gave him both comfort and pain as the nostalgic memories flooded his being.
He treasured both the good time and the bad times. The echoes of laughter, crying, anger, happiness, sadness, and other emotions seemed to reverberate through the halls of Nazarick when he strolled past in the days when he would log in and find nobody else there.
Was Ainz lonely? Absolutely.
But was the desire for friendship and relationships the reason Satoru Sazuki started playing the DMMORPG Yggdrasil? No.
Satoru Sazuki was primarily a solo player, but when he found players with a similar goal and dream, he learnt the joys of being in a guild. Very few of the members of Ainz Ooal Gown knew each other before the game. They got together because they shared a similar goal and a similar dream. They wanted to be successful.
They wanted to be great.
And that was why they built the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick and worked so hard to spread and reinforce the reputation of the guild.
"I want to be great…"
"No, I want us to be great…"
Although Ainz was addressing the crowd and the guardians of Nazarick, it seemed like he was also speaking to the 40 faintly flickering silhouettes in front of him. He would honor their memories and achievements by spreading the name of Ainz Ooal Gown, but he also refused to be weighed down by his past.
His voice suddenly took on a strong and commanding aura. Whether it was an innate skill of his level 100 Overlord body, or simply his heightened resolve, it was apparent to all listeners that Ainz had changed. This was the voice of a powerful, confident and mighty ruler.
"I will make this Kingdom great…"
"Humans have already shown they have potential based on the actions of the Warrior Captain and Momon the Dark Hero."
"I see no reason why the rest of you cannot eventually reach that pinnacle."
"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."
"To become great, you will need strength. And that is precisely why I decided to hold this tournament. This will be a showcase of the strength of our three nations. Test your skills! Observe! Learn! Take this opportunity to demonstrate and build your strength!"
"Together, we can be great…"
"And with this, I officially declare the start of the first ever Sorcerous Kingdom's Martial Arts Tournament!"
A roaring applause even louder than the first reverberated throughout the arena.
Ainz was taking a gamble. He would likely never find friends and companions like his former guild mates ever again. To actively do so would be an insult to their memory.
Furthermore, he had the NPCs of Nazarick, the personal creations of his guild mates and the embodiment of their personalities and characteristics, to accompany him.
In addition to that, he was now the ruler of an entire nation.
Before the guild Ainz Ooal Gown, there was the role player, Momonga the Overlord.
Before the guild Ainz Ooal Gown, there were 41 individual solo players.
Similar dreams and aspirations brought these 41 kindred spirits together.
Ainz's plan was to strive to cultivate the same dreams and desires into them which had been present in his former guild mates. He wanted to instill the same eagerness and devotion that drove him and his guild mates to achieve all that the guild Ainz Ooal Gown had in Yggdrasil.
He reached out a bony hand while grasping at the air.
Perhaps, if he did that, he could recapture and replicate the same glorious memories of the old days, and even make new ones with the people of the New World.