—the Unexpected Visit of the Sorcerer King—
Ainz stood on the grounds of the sixth floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. All over the phenomenal green forest, he saw thick climbing plants hanging down as if a brownish curtain from almost every tree, overcasting the entire jungle as the large varieties of fragrant flowers and colorful plants were desperately trying to claim the last remnants of light from the morning sun. He heard various sounds of waking beasts and animals which added vigor to the rich forest, forming the cacophony of sounds of a chaotic orchestra.
Surrounded by this magical forest, Ainz firmly tasted what was called nature and life.
'Blue Planet-san, I will always be thankful for your priceless work. I think your wish of being transported into a pristine world was fulfilled by me.'
Ainz chuckled as he thought of his nature-loving friend who was the reason why the Overlord had realized how beautiful the Earth of the old world was supposed to be. He made his friend as an inspiration in strongly preserving nature in the New World, going out of his way for minimizing the use of somewhat unnecessary magic skills and spells that could affect the environment greatly.
In the wake of marveling at the scenery, Ainz trod directly towards the gigantic tree that had consumed a noticeable part of the forest given its encompassing width.
As Ainz reached the grounds of the giant tree, he heard a somewhat familiar energetic voice of a child.
"Ainz-sama?!"
Hearing his name being called by a surprised yet joyful voice, Ainz looked up and saw Aura, jumping off from one branch to another.
"Woops!"
The young dark elf immediately jumped down with her acrobatic skills, landing a few steps away from her master, and immediately knelt, taking no more than a second of hesitation.
"Good morning, Ainz-sama! Welcome to the sixth floor!"
Aura exclaimed with joy, greeting her master with great vitality.
Ainz simply wished that the dark elf's sparkling attitude would never fade as he was sure Aura would eventually grow physically and mentally. Not now, not tomorrow or next year, but someday she would over the expected fleeting of time.
'I hope the twins will stay this way. But I will not be selfish and hinder their growth.'
He let out a contained sigh. He was not someone who would worry about his children growing old and building their own lives, leaving him alone like what his friends did but he was still a bit upset about the gloomy thought.
Ainz made up his mind and toughened his heart, he would take the twins for an adventure together with him in the elven country soon. He wanted them to make friends and find new hobbies or goals to develop themselves, although it was merely a part of the whole reason for his upcoming adventure.
'For now, I need to conquer a kingdom first.'
"Rise. Good morning Aura. Where is your brother? I need Mare to do something for me."
Ainz, without beating around the bush, asked the dark elf girl for his surprise visit.
Aura stood swiftly like a popped up spring and bowed towards her master.
"Thank you, Ainz-sama!"
After Aura said the words with deep gratitude, she thought of her twin and right away scratched the back of her head, realizing that her brother was still sound asleep.
"M-Mare? Ah, I-I will call him this instant, Ainz-sama!"
Aura stuttered with her words, she was unsure of what was her master's assignment for her brother although she was very happy being in his noble presence.
The dark elf quickly jumped up towards a lower branch of the giant tree and grabbed it tightly then somersaulted upwards, moving hastily across numerous branches of the tree.
The dark elf disappeared in Ainz's view, entering the giant tree, but not even a twinkling had passed, he overheard a soft crying voice from a complaining child.
"It... It hurts so much, nee-san…"
Moments after, a window had swung open and Ainz could hear a roar from an enraged Aura and a soft protesting voice from the poor Mare.
"See! The sun is already high up! Wake up already!
"Bu-But…"
"Ainz-sama is waiting for you outside!"
"Wha... Wha..? A-Ainz-sama? Why… Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Then how will you grow if you will only wake up willingly if it is Ainz-sama? You knew very well that we can't afford to fail him or…..."
"I… I know… So-Sorry nee-san…"
As Ainz heard the grim voices of the dark elf twins, the human heart of Suzuki Satoru started to ache. His guardians were so pressured and apprehensive and after the promise of staying with them and ensuring that mistakes were made to learn or to develop oneself, all the denizens of Nazarick would still insist on being unworthy or inadequate once committing the tiniest of faults or even failing in simple or inconsequential jobs.
He felt guilty of them for being created with those beliefs but it was as well the reason that held Nazarick together and he could not blame anyone for it. He could just let them grow and he would explain everything precisely to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding.
'They still have a lot to learn despite their unworldly intellect or strength. No matter, I have forever and it's plenty enough to teach them and let them grow.'
Pulled out from his thoughts, he heard a soft squeaking sound and noticed a door opening at the base of the tree.
Ainz saw the dark elves walking out of the giant tree and as the twins approached him hesitantly with gradual steps, Ainz sighted the timid dark elf's disheveled hair and sleepy heterochromatic eyes.
Mare had finally shown himself, being dragged out of his bed. He was still on his sleeping clothes but Ainz did not mind, it was not a big deal. He simply wanted to inform the dark elf about the mission and let him prepare himself afterward.
"W-We apologize for making you wait, Ainz-sama!"
"Go-Good morning, Ainz-sama… I… I…I'm so-sorry for making you wait…"
The twins genuflected and said simultaneously with dreadful voices, afraid of what would be the result and consequences of their failure in Ainz's presence.
Ainz sensed the uneasiness from the twins, seeing them in a gloomy state was somewhat heartbreaking. It was an unannounced visit and their delayed welcome meant no big deal for him.
Ainz felt responsible for causing them out of sorts.
'Hmm. I think I need to cheer them up, I'm not a bad boss after all.'
"I have been waiting here for an eternity that I have become a pile of bones, you know? I should have not come here in the first place."
Ainz said with a very disappointed tone in his voice, teasing the dark elves and trying to lift their dejected spirits.
But—
The result of his intended joke was not something he had expected.
Upon hearing their master's displeasure, the elves immediately kowtowed, lowering their heads no less than the grassy fields.
"I apologize Ainz-sama! For my irresponsibility and my brother's actions.
"A-Ainz-sama it is… is all my fault. Please…please punish me A-Ainz-sama… Ple-Please Ainz-sama, don't abandon us..."
'Oi, you're supposed to laugh at that, you know?'
As a swift response, Ainz instantly bent his back and extended his hands towards the groveling twins, waving his skeletal palms rapidly from side to side, as if trying to stop them from crawling on the ground.
"No! No... no! That's not what I meant."
'Aarrgghh!'
Ainz groaned within himself.
The twins did not understand the sarcasm and the joke behind his words. It was one of the things he could not understand after he had arrived in the new world, nobody had the slightest of humor even the denizens of Nazarick.
"Aura! Mare! I'm not disappointed at all. It was exceptionally my fault for coming this early in the morning without prior notice. I'm deeply sorry for that."
Ainz said in his most sincere tone of voice. He bowed slightly and even though the twins could not see him, they knew their master meant his words.
But upon hearing their masters' considerate and apologetic words, they felt guiltier of abusing his magnanimity and forgiving nature.
"But Ainz-sama! I can't… We can't just let this pass. As loyal guardians of the sixth floor, responding immediately is our responsibility and pleasure even without our arms and limbs especially when you come here personally to grace us with your presence."
"Yes… Yes, A-Ainz-sama… It is solely my fault, ple-please punish me… Nee-san is responsible all the time. P-Please… Please Ainz-sama, don't… punish her…"
"Mare! It's my responsibility as your older sister! Your failure is my failure! Our failure…"
"Ne… Nee-san…"
The dark elf twins were crying uncontrollably, trembling, and pressing their foreheads on the ground, washing it with their flooding tears.
'How did it come to this?!'
Ainz screamed and cursed internally. He was in a predicament, explaining would take a lot of his time. Maybe a debate of back and forth would not be unavoidable, at least he wanted it to be shortened. He equally needed to lift the guilt from the twins or else they would be depressed unnecessarily.
'I need to give them punishment huh? But I must not let them ask me to sit on their backs as their punishment.'
"Umu."
'Time to experiment.'
"Very well, rise and compose yourselves, I will give both of you the fitting punishments for your mistakes but... no one must know that both of you have been punished and it will correspondingly serve as a part of your punishments. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Ainz-sama."
"Ye-Yes… Ainz-sama…"
Aura was the first one to jump up quickly followed by the timid Mare. Their heterochromatic eyes were still wet, remnants of tears and sadness were evident yet they were looking at Ainz with expectation and regret.
Ainz could not hurt them or let them be hurt. He would give punishments paired with convenient reasons. Something they would gladly accept and could not rightfully refuse.
"Mare, for your punishment, you will go to Demiurge in the Draconic Kingdom and collect something for me. You must assist him in executing a beastmen army and ensure that no one among them would escape with life. He might ask you to do some other things, please act accordingly based on your judgment. It would be a little hassle and you will be very, very, very busy for at least a day or two and you will not probably get afternoon naps to some extent but it will greatly benefit Nazarick in the future and I will be very proud of you."
"Un-Understood Ainz-sama… but what… what should I collect for you?"
"Umu. That would be..."
'I have not yet explained this huh?'
Ainz thought of revealing everything but dismissed the notion instantly. It would take too much time to explain and he would need to explain all that had transpired for everyone to understand the events of the past.
'Maybe in the near future when all of Nazarick will be together. In the meantime…'
"I need you to collect the experience points from the beastmen army with the World Class Item that I have entrusted to you."
"Ah… Ahh. Understood A-Ainz-sama…"
Ainz felt life coming back on the utterly depressed dark elf. He was grateful that Mare did not issue a considerable amount of resistance against the 'light' punishment he had given.
"Now go ahead, you can prepare for everything you need then proceed at the entrance hall outside the Mausoleum."
Ainz decided to meet with the party of the impending operation just outside of the great tomb, establishing the front of the entrance as the preparation area for the future invasion though he basically considered the operation as an early experiment. He was excited and his expectation for the experiment of one of the war strategies was at an all-time high.
"Ye… Yes, Ainz-sama… I...I will prepare now..."
As the shy dark elf bowed and walked away, Ainz shifted his body towards another dark elf with a downcast face. He was hoping that Aura would let it go easily, the dark elf girl was a polar opposite of her brother and Ainz knew he needed to be careful or else the small problem that he made big would become bigger.
"Aura. You are a responsible guardian and there is no other better older sister to Mare than you. I want you to know and always remember that you can take my word, I am not leaving anyone of you behind, no one will be abandoned and I swear it on my name."
"T-Thank you Ainz-sama."
Aura said with a weak smile and bowed deeply at Ainz, feeling a great deal of gratitude for her master's kindness and consideration despite the failure she had committed.
"Now for your punishment. You are not allowed to leave the sixth floor without any important reason although you can leave with my permission under certain conditions. You can freely receive visitors but you need to duly prepare your pets for the imminent invasion against the Re-Estize Kingdom. After the war, then and only then, you will be free to roam around Nazarick again."
"But Ainz-sama! That is not a punishment, it is always a pleasure to serve you. I can't possibly acce—"
Ainz raised his skeletal hand in a graceful wave, stumbling the words of the dark elf.
"Yes, Aura. I know you can't possibly accept it as a punishment and that is the reason why it is my punishment for you. If you can't accept it as a punishment then it is already punishment enough to do it. You must understand that sometimes punishment is not simply about receiving displeasure but would as well go the other way around for growth and learning. Your punishment would also be a great help for Nazarick and will truly make me happy and proud."
Ainz announced the verdict with finality and looked at Aura intently.
The dark elf noticed the crimson points in her master's eye sockets blazing with expectation for her. But all she saw there was kindness and she felt weak and unworthy for the thoughtfulness of her master especially for not leaving Nazarick behind.
But little did she know, Ainz was simply conjuring his ritual, hoping that the dark elf would not bother with the punishment anymore.
'Please accept! Please accept! Please accept!'
"Understood, Ainz-sama. I'm undeserving of your benevolence and kindness but I will strive harder and be better myself to be of worth." Aura bowed deeply and said with gratitude in her voice.
'Ohh, thank…'
Relieved, Ainz almost screamed the words. He quickly cleared his non-existent throat and nodded his skull in approval of Aura's determination.
"Umu. Now, you can proceed with your duties and make me and the whole of Nazarick proud."
Ainz said with a grateful voice.
The scenario this early in the morning felt like eating a poisoned breakfast causing his stomach and brain to become a chaotic battlefield and the ache was taking all of his immortal life just by suppressing the pain.
"Yes, Ainz-sama! I will be off, please take care!
Aura said with a wide grin showing her blinding white teeth, realizing her punishment would be of purpose to her master and Nazarick. It was not a punishment she had expected and besides, it was something she could not decline. She was ultimately amazed at her master's unfathomable intellect and magnanimity for considering matters in such a manner.
"Umu. Thank you."
In response to her master's sincere gratitude, Aura bowed her head deeply and happily left. No more words were needed, her work would eventually prove her hard work and of that, Aura was certain.
Seeing the small back of the dark elf walking away from him, Ainz sighed in an abundance of relief.
'Thank you for understanding! Aarrgghh! I'm lucky I have already prepared for this for the last few weeks. I didn't expect it to be of use immediately. No matter, the early experiment is a success.'
Taking his free time or whenever he was just rolling left and right in his bed, Ainz was crafting various techniques and strategies, not for conquering the world but for minimizing the misunderstandings that would turn into mistakes that would turn into punishments. It was taxing and time-consuming but it was in the same way worth it, at least for the Overlord of Death.
'I will never, ever make funny jokes. Jokes don't exist in this world. Or? Am I the lone one who considers my jokes as jokes? Aarrgghh! I don't have even the slightest of luck for constructing a laughable joke!'
As he screeched internally, he remembered something bizarrely important to him.
Ainz raised his skeletal hands as if reaching for something in front of him. He was taking an item from his item space. A thick book with at least a thousand pages appeared in his hand.
Books of Jokes
"Such a waste of paper and ink!"
Ainz fumed with displeasure and disgust in his voice. The book was the culmination of jokes from thousands of years of human history on planet Earth yet he felt it was useless reading it. He already scanned the book and noted all of the best jokes he concluded to be funny and uplifting even phrasing his own humorous words.
The book had completely disappointed him.
"[Greater Break Item]"
Satisfied with seeing the useless bonds of paper, disappearing like sparklings of fairy dust, Ainz again reached his hands towards his item space. He took out two items— a book entitled New World Records and a black pen.
Ainz opened the book and flipped through a few pages until he reached a blank page. Staring at the blank sheet of white paper, he opened the cup of the pen and started to write on.
JOKES: EXTINCT
As he shook his head in dissatisfaction with writing the words, Ainz returned the items in his item space.
His worries started to rise upon thinking about his next move.
'Now, I will ask Albedo about the progress report from Demiurge. Then I will discuss the experiment and the invasion against the beastmen and heightened Nazarick's defenses.'
Ainz was eager to learn and know more about the neighboring countries particularly on the eastern side of the continent where the Great Minotaur Nation resides.
Based on the gathered information in his guise as Momon, he concluded that the possibility of the Minotaur Sage as a player might be true.
Ainz had already prepared his piece and the plan was already established with all the precautions he needed for his upcoming adventure.
'Umu. After that, I will escape immediately and I will reason that time is of utmost importance in this conquest.'
Ainz concluded and nodded internally. Assuming that an unplanned incident might happen, he already arranged everything regarding the conditions which the guardians had set for him to venture into the outside world, especially unknown hostile territories.
After rounding up his mind and bracing his non-existent heart, Ainz activated the [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown] in his skeletal fingers.
Ainz sat forth to his subsequent goal. Leaving the bustling forest that stood witness against the wake of his countless conundrums, the Overlord of Death disappeared with no lingering traces behind.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Overlord Universe.