Lords of Ooal Gown

by Duke Cheburek

Yggdrasil was coming to an end. Momonga organizes one last get-together. Most of the old guild members didn't bother to respond but some did show up in the last days. One of them Tabula Smaragdina acted weirder than usual, wanting to change his creations and acting like something big was coming.

8. Chapter 8 - Bloody Disaster

AN:I now use software to assist with my grammar so I hope difference will be noticeable. Additionally, I have help from an editor so edited chapters will be re-uploaded.

Chapter 8 - Bloody disaster.

Being left in charge of Nazarick wasn't as taxing as Ulbert, though. Not that he ran things, anyway. Albedo was one doing all the administrative work and Demiurge oversaw spy network. Still, there were many projects and duties to attend.

One of such tasks was the influx of prisoners Shalltear has provided. Most were bandits and lowlifes, but there also was a group of sex slaves bandits kept for entertainment.

Ulbert had an experiment in mind before anyone else got their hands on the prisoners. This was a perfect opportunity to summon a special class of demons called inquisitors. A level sixty demon, a slim grey form covered in an elaborately decorated dark robe with face disappearing in darkness under its hood. Their specialty was information gathering, interrogation, and mind probing. Their fighting ability lacked compared to a level sixty battle-oriented demons, as they were comparable to only about level forty in their pure fighting power.

Ulbert could summon only about eight of them with a single cast of 'mass demon summon'. For now, it would be enough. Once summoned, Ulbert tasked them with sorting out all prisoners by the severity of their crimes. Anyone considered innocent is to be put aside for Ulbert to decide what to with them.

It was no surprise that every single bandit was guilty of at last some serious crime. About two-thirds of the slaves were no better. Backstabbing for preferential treatment and even intentional cruelty towards their fellow slaves were much more common than even Ulbert expected. He ended up with seven slaves considered innocent, even by inquisitor demon standards.

Now it was time to decide what to do with them. Ulbert could just kill them and store bodies for later use, but it just felt like a waste. Employing them in Nazarick was out of the question as most of its inhabitants either hated or ate humans. Realization came that there will come a time when communication with humans will be a necessity for many of Nazarick's residents so a controlled environment with some humans would provide a proper training.

A village of humans and even demihumans would be constructed on sixth floor of Nazarick. Not only he could train his agents there but a long-term experiment to see if humans can be trained to accept heteromorphs without fearing them.

With a clear plan in mind, Ulbert went to visit innocent prisoners. While walking, he came to realize that he needed an assistant. Ainz as leader got Albedo to organize things for him. Demiurge was far too busy with his own duties. For now he puts that plan aside to deal with prisoners first.

Each one of his three personal succubi had distinct personalities and one of them was orderly and liked to organize things in Ulbert's personal quarters. With a bit of training and proper suit, she could become an excellent assistant. He reached the cell where the innocent prisoners were held, lost in his own plans. Guard's formal greeting snapped him out of it.

All seven innocent slaves, gathered in one cell, away from the rest of the prisoners and with demon guarding the entrance awaited their fate, shaking in absolute terror. After all the abuse they went through, they just ended up in the same hell with their abusers, naked in a cold cell awaiting whatever torture was planed by these monsters.

Monsters interrogated them, forcing to confess anything they knew. Some over the years of abuse had forgotten their names and even that came beck instantly in presence of dark-robed horrors. They huddled together trying to ignore demon guarding them inside the cell. Some had previously heavily beaten and all of them starved as even in this hell nobody bothered to give them any food.

Then the door opened and a goat-like demon came in. Guard stationed inside kneeled right away in his presence. All seven slaves mimicked the guard and keeled as well, shivering in fear. Demon smiled a terrifying smile and spoke.

"My inquisitors found all of you innocent of any crimes! With that, you will not share fate with the rest of the humans."

Ulbert inspected slaves while he spoke. All decently attractive women from late teens to mid-twenties, some clearly beaten by the thugs that kept them as slaves. They feared him, yet he knew they would do anything he told them to do without hesitation. It tempted Ulbert to see how truly innocent they are. An experiment in corruption, so to speak.

"I will grant one of you a decent room and a warm meal. Choose among yourselves. You have one minute."

Women just blinked and sat unmoving for a while and then two of the eldest ones pushed the youngest forward, quietly telling her to accept the gift. She looks up at him, shivering, and says with a barely audible voice,

"Please lord, give them at least some food, I will do anything."

That was an unexpected turn of events. No arguing, no throat cutting, just trying to think about the others in the group, even at their own expense. His inquisitors truly did a magnificent job picking out the innocent ones.

Ulbert leans in, gently grabbing her face with two fingers and asks,

"Why would you sacrifice yourself for them? Why any of you would do that?"

She tries to speak while having a panic attack.

"Because… because no one else cares for us, we… we try to…"

"Interesting choice." Ulbert says, stands up and then turns to guard and gives an order. "Bring all of them to sixth floor. Inform Aura and Mare that these women are to be housed in a clearing by the lake. For now, provide them with clothing, food and tents."

Leaving details to his subordinates, he moved on to the next step. Demiurge got the first picking for his farm, with ten males and five females as most of the prisoners were male but some of more conniving female slaves fit right in among them. After that, he informed Albedo that the rest of the prisoners are for free picking whoever needs them.

Remembering that Tabula had already requested more live test subjects, he contacted him.

{ Hey Tabula, we got live prisoners. You can come to take some. But if you take all of them again, I swear to Ainz I will blow up your laboratory. }

{ Thank you for informing me. I promise to restrain myself and not take them all. }

{ Good to hear. }

After dealing with prisoners next step was to get an assistant, someone capable. Ulbert teleports to summoning area and looked through his available summon list. Until now he had used his mass demon summon only on about tow percent range of its full potential, mainly because without a body to house summons they costed about 20 times more.

Unfortunately, a regular human body simply wouldn't do for a top level summons, namely archdemons. Then again, he wanted to use more of his mana pool to see how it would affect him.

Ulbert takes a deep breath and starts the tenth tier summoning ritual. Ritual drains about half of his impressive mana pool and a figure appears in front of him. An average build man dressed in butler's suit, shoulder-length blonde hair, black eyes with red irises and a pleasant smile on his face.

He bows and speaks.

"Lord Ulbert, Melibourius at your service, it's an honor to be chosen by you."

"I hope you don't mind me calling you Mel. You will be my personal assistant."

"Not at all, my Lord."

"Excellent, let's go I will show you around and explain how things work in Nazarick."

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Shalltear was seeking prey for few hours already. Not counting few hermit camps, there were no more prey in these woods. She was ready to give up and return to Nazarick when she sensed an approaching group. This one was different, more powerful than cattle she had provided for her masters.

With her three followers behind her, she walked in direction of newcomers. She met them after twenty minutes of walking.

Thirteen figures emerged, Shalltear saw them in gear she recognized. Humans clad in players gear. Just like the ones trying to invade her home so many times. Unwittingly, she let out a quiet snarl.

"Players!"

Captain of the Black Scripture heard a name associated with his gods. This vampire called him and his unit by the race of higher beings, that of their gods. Her angry expression made captain cautious, making him address vampire in polite tone.

"Greetings! We represent Slane Theocracy, but we are not of player race. Some of us are a direct descendant of our gods who were players."

Shalltear's blood boiled, but kept her 'Blood Frenzy' in check. She was alone against thirteen humans of unknown power. These aren't the cattle her vampire brides tore apart. A vague sense of danger from them unnerved her. With desperation to not disappoint her masters once again by dying, she played it safe and responded with a polite curtsy.

"Shalltear Bloodfallen, servant of supreme beings. Why have you approached me?"

Captain had to stop his hands from shaking. This vampire, this petite girl radiated power beyond that of Zesshi, the extra seat of black scripture, most powerful servant of Slane Theocracy. He gave a hand sign to Kaire behind his back to be fully prepared to use artifact at any moment.

"We seek Lords of Ooal Gown, do you know them?"

With no idea how to respond or what to do, Shalltear looked for a way out of this situation, revealing no information. Lord Ainz trusted she would not compromise Nazarick while on her mission. With no other options, she responded with a question.

"Why do you want to find them?"

"Leader of them is a human and we seek diplomatic relations on behalf of of our country."

Bastard called her beloved Lord Ainz a human. All her polite demeanor dropped as she couldn't stand such insult.

"You lower life forms dare to compare a supreme being to yourselves. Lord Ainz is not a pathetic human. He is much more than your worthless minds can understand!"

Her response served as the spark in a powder keg they all sat on. Twelfth seat of Black Scripture leaped at Shalltear with a scream,

"You blasphemous monster!"

The moment he reached the attack range of Shalltear, Heaven and Earth got torn in half at the midsection with a powerful strike from Shalltear's lance that had materialized in her arm with a blink of an eye.

Kaire in panic activated the Downfall of Castle and Country to stop the monster. Shalltear, sensing the imminent danger, charged her. Captain and eighth seat get in monster's path on instinct. Shalltear hit captain sending him flying and feeling her mind clouding rapidly, blasted the old woman through the man with shield in front of her.

Captain hit a nearby tree and collapsed on ground. Moments later, he gets up feeling intense pain from the hit and observes the aftermath of the brief battle.

Lady Kaire was twitching on ground with Divine Chant trying to heal her. Remains of the eighth seat scattered around the area and the monster stood unmoving. Other two vampires killed by his team and blue-haired man, clearly enthralled by the vampire now just looks around confused. Seen the bloody scene around him, the man just fled screaming.

Captain coughed up blood as he took slow steps towards Lady Kaire. His broken ribs poke at his lungs with each step. Divine Chant cast heal again and again, on the old woman with no effect. Shalltear's curse spread through her, and Kaire died moments later.

Divine Chant stood up, shaking in anger, and prepared to cast holy lance to strike the vampire.

Captain let out another bloody cough and stopped her.

"Nr. 4 stop, you will just get killed."

"Why are you defending that fucking monster, she killed three of us?"

"Lady Kaire failed to give command to the monster if you attack, she may retaliate and just kill you."

"You want to just leave it here?"

"We have no choice. We have to go back home. I will take full responsibility for this… failure."

Captain didn't ask for Divine Chant to heal him for now. Pain felt like a justified punishment.

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Albedo sat in her office performing daily duties. Then notice came up, and she checked the message. A status change in Nazarick's personal list. She opened it right away, and her eyes widened in shock. Shalltear Bloodfallen now showed hostile status towards Nazarick. This was far too important of an issue, even for her station.

{ Lord Ainz, we have an emergency. Shalltear Bloodfallen have betrayed us! }

{ What! Are you sure? }

{ Her status shows she is hostile towards Nazarick. }

{ Send five doppelgangers immediately to our position. We are coming right away. Inform Ulbert and Tabula. }

Ten minutes later, all the Lords were gathered in the conference room. All stared at the personnel list silently. Ainz already ordered both Nigredo and Aureole Omega, youngest and most powerful of Pleiades to find Shalltear with remote viewing. Both specialized in reconnaissance and remote area scouting.

Peros couldn't bear silence anymore, breaking it with mumbling, "She couldn't have. She is loyal. Something is wrong."

Ainz responds to him, "Peros, maybe she was unsatisfied with something?"

"Besides losing you to Albedo, no and even then she just wanted to prove herself extra hard."

Situation felt weird to Ainz. He also didn't believe Shalltear would go rogue just like that. With the report from Aureole coming in, he didn't have time to speculate. Shalltear was found in a clearing standing still.

Ainz opened portal right away, and all five went through. Peros pushed through others and went closer to Shalltear asking.

"Shalltear, what happened?"

She didn't respond and just stood still. Peros walked closer, but stopped when Ainz shouted.

"Peros stop, she looks mind-controlled. There is no telling how she will react if you go too close."

Situation was bizarre to say the least. As a powerful undead Shalltear should be immune to all mind control effects.

Tabula cast few detection spells from a distance and confirmed. Shalltear was indeed mind controlled, but whoever has done it gave her no commands.

Ainz took out a special ring from his storage. He had only one, and it had only 3 charges of specific super tier spell - Wish upon the star. In Yggdrasil it cast randomly one of two hundred super tier spells, but now Ainz instinctively knew he could just pick one as a wish. Without hesitation, he cast the spell to break mind control.

Spell activated, Ainz felt it, but Shalltear still stood unmoving. In that moment, if he would still be in human form, his face would have turned white. With a shout,

"Everyone back to Nazarick, NOW!" He walked through the still open portal with others following quickly, with Ulbert releasing fifty shadow demons to patrol the area and Bukuma dragging her brother through the portal.

Once back in the conference room, Ainz slumped in his chair and stated,

"This is my fault I should have known."

"What is your fault?" Peros asked in anger.

"Peros you know the answer, a world item controls Shalltear." Ulbert responded, just as worked up.

"There is only one way to release her," Ainz said with a pained voice. Even in his undead form, anger and guilt ate him.

"NO! I will not let you kill my daughter!" Peros roared and slammed his fist in table cracking the table in its entire length.

"If you dare lay a finger on her, I will kill you!" Peros said a bit more quietly and stormed out of the conference room with a visibly broken hand.

Ainz just sat in his chair. Emotion suppression worked constantly, but even it could not force down the guilt he felt. He had failed his best friend; He had failed Shalltear, and he had failed Nazarick.

"I will go talk to him." Bukuma says and leaves room as well.

Bukuma found Peros siting by the lake and staring in the distance. Aura and Mare watched him from a distance, not daring to go closer. Bukuma sat down beside her brother silently. He didn't react to her presence.

After a while, Bukuma finally spoke.

"If it was Aura or Mare in her position, I couldn't do it either, hell I don't think I can go kill my niece even if you said it was ok."

"Is there any other way?"

"I don't know, brother, if anyone would know it is those three."

"I can't just let stand there for eternity imprisoned in her own mind... that would, dammit why did had to happen."

"Maybe Ainz has a plan. We have various methods of resurrection."

"And if it doesn't work?"

There was no answer from Bukuma. She just pulled her brother closer in a side hug.

Peros sat in silence for a while. As much as he wanted, he couldn't just blame Ainz. All of them knew about world items. He had to admit it was his own fault just as much. But to kill his own daughter in hopes they can resurrect her was a choice he didn't want to make.

Peros stood up, wiping his tears from his avian face and then said to his sister, "Let's go I need to see this through, there is no other way."

Both teleport back to the conference room. Ainz isn't there. Tabula sits in a meditative state, and Ulbert was holding his forehead with three fingers in deep thought.

"Where Ainz went?" Bukuma asks.

"In treasury, getting all the world items to give them to us and floor guardians. He is stepping down from the leader's position, you know." Ulbert answers.

Both siblings just respond with a shout,

"What?"

"Ainz thinks he failed us all and Ulbert would be a better leader." Tabula says in a calm voice.

With situation getting worse by the minute, Peros' frustration grew even more with a mutter,

"He is not getting off this easy, we need him," Peros teleports to Treasury to confront Ainz by himself.

Moment he appears in The Treasury Pandora's actor politely greets him with the usual theatrical bow. Peros, not wanting to deal with him, takes off his ring of Ainz Ooal Goal and tosses it to Pandora while saying,

"Here, keep this for me."

Peros took off ring for one simple reason. They set Treasury up in a way that one can get to entrance are only with of ring of Ainz Ooal Gown but once you go deeper golems attack anyone with the ring equipped.

Peros found Ainz in deepest part of treasury carefully taking world items one by one and putting them in his inventory.

"Giving up just like that, huh?" Peros asks. His voice low and dangerous.

Ainz just remains silent and takes another world item and puts it in his inventory.

"Ainz fucking say something!"

Ainz turns to him with the dark flames in his eye sockets more intense than ever.

"What you want me to say? That I messed up, that I believed my own bullshit and thought I was a great leader. Or maybe I should just lie to you and say we can definitively bring Shalltear back after we slaughter her!"

"Yes, something. You are our leader, dammit. If not, you, who will keep all this together?"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

Ainz's answer stunned Peros. He sat against the vaults wall, lost in what to even say back. Ainz took the last world item and sat next to him. They sat silently, not as Ainz and Peros, but as Satoru and Itsuki. Two humans in situation far over their heads. This wasn't a game anymore. Actions had real consequences.

"Look, Peros, I will do everything I can to bring her back."

"You think we can resurrect her afterwards?"

"Nazarick's revival system should work, every other system works just fine."

They sat silently again until Peros spoke.

"We really need to get out shit together…"

"Yeah, that we really need to…"

"So Ainz, you seriously will give leader's spot to Ulbert?"

"I don't know, in any case, I shouldn't be leader anymore."

"With Ulbert, as leader will go in some kind of fucked up shit in no time, like organ harvesting or concentration camps. We need you on top like it or not."

"I hate when you make sense."

"Sometimes even I have to. We can't treat this like a game anymore, can't we?"

"No, we can't, especially me. I need to step up and not fail any of you again."

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Ainz now had a task to give world item to each of his friends and and floor guardians. and bound each item to their souls. While giving out items, he notices a strange thing he had not realized before. Each world item is almost specially tailored for each receiver, as if some force planned it beforehand. Even the one he plans to give Shalltear, the 'Mantle of Crimson Queen,' gave an impression of being specially made for her. An artifact with an one charge of mass charm per day.

Preparation for killing Shalltear wasn't easy. Four against one was not even a fight, but to find a will to do it, a different matter entirely. This time they had to kill one of their own.

Peros, Aura and Mare watches from a distant hilltop as Ainz, Ulbert, Tabula and Bukuma approaches Shalltear's unmoving statue.

Shalltear stood no chance of winning. Her clouded and confused mind didn't understand why they attack her. She just knew she had to fight back and kill them. Shalltear makes vicious attacks while screaming in anger and confusion. Bukuma holds her off while Ainz, Ulbert and Tabula blasts her with spells.

Shalltear desperately tried to get past Bukuma to land strike on 3 casters but her defense was impenetrable. Her life force chipped away be each strike she felt her death approaching. Driven close to death she shouts with tears in her eyes, "Why are you doing this, what I have done wrong?"

All of them froze. Seeing one of their children in such a state was too much. Bukuma gets sloppy and now barely fends off her panicked attacks. But before it any of them could strike the last blow, an arrow pierces her heart from behind and disintegrates her body in an explosion. Peros couldn't watch her suffering anymore and needed to finish it.

Peros puts his bow away and lets his hands fall. He just dealt the final blow to his daughter. Both Aura and Mare stand by his sides. Bukuma had ordered them to be with his brother during the fight to give him emotional support. Peros feels each of them taking his hand int their hands and Aura says,

"Lord Peros lets go home, Lord Ainz will revive Shalltear soon."

There is an unshaken belief in Aura's voice that Lord Ainz can fix all this. Peros found a strange solace in her conviction.

Three of them are last to arrive in the throne room. Ainz and Albedo operate necessary control panels already. Pandora's actor had prepared the gold needed for resurrection. When using guild NPC resurrection function a gold was a price to pay and in Shalltear's case it was five hundred million Yggdrasil coins. such an amount could crush the world's economy, but Ainz paid it without hesitation.

Everyone in the room looked at process while holding their breaths. Pile of gold slowly turned into liquid and assumed shape of a petite girl. Golden form wraps itself in pale skin as silver colored hair rapidly grows out of her head. A naked Shalltear now lies on ground, opens her red eyes and takes a first breath.

Albedo nods at Ainz that Shalltear's status is back to normal and Ainz quickly wraps her tiny frame in a cloak. Shalltear sits up and looks around, confused.

'Why are all the supreme ones and all floor guardians here, why was I naked moments before?' she then looks down and lets out a screech.

"My boobs are gone!"

"Oh, that Peros' daughter alright," says Bukuma with a relieved chuckle.

Albedo, however, was having none of it.

"You have caused supreme ones such pain, and this is all you can think about."

"Enough, it wasn't her fault," shouts Peros and picks Shalltear up. None of floor guardians dares to speak up while Peros carries her away.

Ainz then addresses everyone.

"Shalltear have done nothing wrong. It was me who sent her out on a hunt. And it was me who didn't consider a possibility of world items existing in this world." Before anyone can protest, Ainz rises hand adding,

"As a leader, my duty is to watch over you all, and I failed that duty. So I am asking you all, do you still want to trust me as leader or should I step down?"

Ainz hoped that someone would say something, tell him he needs to atone, but no. Floor guardians kneeled one by one and pledged to work even harder.

Ulbert, Tabula and Bukuma took their seats one by one, and Ulbert motioned for Ainz to take his the central throne. Even they didn't stand against him.

Ainz sits on his throne as dark flames explode out of his eye sockets. With a voice full of anger, Ainz speaks.

"Someone had attacked one of our own. We will find who did it and repay thousand times for this transgression. Each of you, including Sebas, are now are bound to world item so such attack can never be repeated."

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Captain of Black Scripture finished his report before the cardinals. Situation was grim, he hadn't failed a mission so badly before.

Yvon, the Cardinal of Light, asked Captain,

"This vampire, servant of Lords of Ooal gown, you say she alone may be more powerful than Zesshi?"

"Yes, your excellency, I believe so."

"Captain, it is critical that Zesshi does not find out about this. She must operate under the assumption that she is still the strongest. More conflict with these Lords may spell doom for our country and humanity."

"I understand. My unit and I fought a powerful vampire that was weaker than Zesshi."

Yvon then hands him a box and says "We will put holy artifact in vault for now, please bring it there and notify Zesshi about the events."

Captain bows deeply and leaves with box in hand.

Next they go through Thousand Leagues Astrologers report about the vampire. Report is short, same strange interference, no clear intel. She picked some details of fight and then both vampire and interference were gone, leaving behind a scorched battlefield.

The Cardinal of Earth, Raymond remarks, "They retrieved their servant. In my opinion, we are dealing with a very careful and calculating group."

Dominic, The Cardinal of Wind, speaks next. "Could it be that none of them are human, Captain mentioned vampire snapped the moment Captain called their leader Ainz Ooal Gown a human."

"That makes them even more dangerous. Unlike Greed kings who conquered world with brute force, they may choose to spread their power like like a poison from the shadows." Yvon just says with a grim expression.

Captain slowly walked to vault. Most guarded place in Slane Theocracy. Zesshi Zetsumei stood guard there. She as usual leaned against the vault's door, playing with Rubik's Cube. A pointy ear poked out of her hair as she turned to look and she immediately covered them with hair again. Captain avoided looking at her ears, last time he did it costed him a broken nose.

Zesshi, daughter of the former extra seat product of rape, hated her eleven heritage. A century ago Elven king kidnaped her mother and raped her until she got pregnant with his child. Theocracy retrieved her before she gave birth and it was the beginning of the century old war between the two nations. After the birth, Zesshi was taken away from her mentally broken mother who could not take care of her. Raised by cardinals as she grew up without knowing a familial love.

Ever since they first met captain found her rather attractive. She hadn't aged a day and still looked like a teenage girl. One side of her hair was white and other black, opposite mismatched eyes combined with pale skin gave her rather exotic look.

Zesshi looked at Captain for a moment, saw him carrying a box and then turned away asked sounding bored, "New artifact?"

"No Zesshi, Kaire is dead I need to put holy artifact back in vault."

"Old crone finally kicked the bucket?"

"She, Cerdan, and Heaven and Earth got killed by a powerful vampire in our last mission."

"Male, stronger than me?"

"No, female, I don't think she was stronger than you, but she came pretty close."

Zesshi had mentioned to Captain her two life goals before. First was to kill her father and second was to find male stronger than her and carry his child, not caring about looks, personality or even species. Hearing that vampire was weaker than her she loses all interest and just steps back from vault door so captain can unlock the door and put artifact inside.

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Clementine was in hell, or in a place she could imagine as hell. Dragged in this place by a man of incomprehensible power. She had angered that man and now was paying the price. First thing bloated monstrosity, left to torture her, did was violate her with sharp objects causing pain she didn't know existed, both vaginally and anally. Clementine screamed til she tore her vocal cords and could only let out muffled rasps.

Then they healed her, and it began anew. Before each healing she was skinned alive and her organs and meat taken out and fed back to her.

Second day in her already unstable mind broke, she convinced herself that this was a justified punishment from gods. She listened to ramblings of her torturer and picked up names of gods she had offended.

Clementine prayed to the new gods, and to Neuronist's annoyance, sung self made hymns in their glory of-tune between the screams. How much of time had passed she didn't know or care. All they care about was whatever gods listened to her prayers. Clementine now welcomed torture as atonement for her past misdeeds.

She always listened to what her torturers spoke about as they always discussed the gods, and Clementine wanted to memorize even the smallest things to make a new gospel.

Gods were furious, heretics have harmed daughter of one god, mind controlled her forcing them to kill and revive her. Clementine knew the one artifact in the world that could do that. She spoke out between her screams.

"This… sinner… knows... heretics… who… harmed… daughter… of… god."

Neuronist told demon, who skinned Clementine at the moment, to stop and motioned for dog nurse to heal Clementine prematurely so she could articulate confession. Even smallest chance that it wasn't just a bluff was worth investigating. Once nurse healed Clementine, Neuronist ordered her to speak.

"Heretics, lapdogs of false religion, Slane Theocracy, holy artifact, the Downfall of Castle and Country used in the past to stop evil gods." Clementine spoke in a hectic and almost incoherent manner, but it was enough. Neuronist ordered to stop any torture of Clementine for now and reported to Albedo news right away.

Clementine prayed loudly for an hour. She squirmed in religious ecstasy. A sinner like her might help gods to punish heretics. A beautiful maid appeared in torture chambers and informed Neuronist that Lords want to question Clementine.

For the first time in days they released her from chains, and she fell on ground. Maid picks up Clementine's armor from a demon and says with a polite, dignified voice.

"Come, we need to make you presentable to appear before supreme beings. It would be rude for you to make them wait."

Clementine nods, gets up and walks right behind the pale-faced maid in metallic dress, despite her exhausted state. Maid leads her to a small preparation room and explains how shower works. What amazing things her gods could create. Clementine showers, puts on her armor that was cleaned to a shine, and follows the maid once again.

A throne room, grandiose beyond her belief, came into her view. She had little time to wonder, as mere moments later she was standing before five thrones. Five gods sat on them.

Yuri Alpha knelt and tried to push the woman in a kneeling position, but before she could blonde woman prostrated before supreme beings with a ragged breath.

A feint smile appears on Yuri's face. At least this human knew her place before the supreme ones.

Deep voice boomed through the throne room,

"Raise and tell us what you know."

Clementine slowly raises to even gaze at the gods, is more than a sinner like she deserved. One who spoke sat in central throne. The highest god. Dark flames burning in his eye sockets pierce her very soul. She felt like the personification of death itself look down at her. With shaky Clementine starts to speak,

"Yes, oh almighty one, this sinner knows."

An avian looking god interrupts her.

"Stop with the ass kissing and get to the fucking point."

That tone, realization came that was one who defeated her. A mortal man did not defeat her, a god did. God of death spoke again

"Patience Peros, let her speak," he then motions at Peros and adds, "you should speak quickly however, your fate is in his hands."

Clementine gulped and spoke rather rapidly, with a shaky voice.

"Yes, of course. While I was a member of black scripture, I found out about holy artifact that could even let its wearer control everyone, even the gods, called The Downfall of Castle and Country. Woman named Kaire was its keeper, but she used it only at the command of Cardinals, leaders of Slane Theocracy."

"Do you know where this artifact is kept?" asks a goat like god siting at the right hand of God of Death. Clementine reasoned he was the second highest in status.

"If not deployed, it is in the sacred vault."

"Come closer and think of that place," speaks the God of Death and Clementine walks closer with careful steps. She stopped within the touching distance and kneeled before him. He touched her forehead with his finger for a moment and muttered something.

"I know where the vault is now. What of the girl guarding it?"

"Zesshi Zetsumei, strongest godkin of Slane Theocracy."

"A godkin, how strong is she?" asks the God of Death.

"I don't know. Her power is so overwhelming compared to mine that I can't tell."

"Compared to me, is she stronger or weaker?" asks Peros.

"Both of you move faster than I can follow and can crush me, like a bug I am."

"Thank you, you have been very informative. Peros, what shall we do with her, she is your prisoner, after all?" speaks the God of Death.

"She helped us greatly, so I don't know. Keep her around, maybe reward her?"

"How do you want to be rewarded for information you provide willingly, a freedom perhaps?"

Clementine was still kneeling right before God of Death. They want to reward her, a worthless sinner for such an insignificant help. They are more merciful than she could have imagined. She shakes her hand and says.

"No, not freedom, me deepest wish is to serve the gods with all my being."

"You want to serve us?"

"More than anything." Clementine answers with ecstatic voice.

"Hmm, Yuri, could you please coordinate with Albedo to put this woman on Nazarick's personnel list and find her a place to stay?"

"Of course Lord Ainz."

Clementine feels beyond thrilled. Gods permitted her to serve and now she even knew who three of gods were. She still needed to figure out who between goat like god and eldritch looking god was Tabula and who was Ulbert.

Clementine asked questions to the maid called Yuri while following her, but she wasn't very talkative.

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Peros just left Shalltear's sanctuary and walks towards the conference room. He had explained to her all that happened yesterday and Shalltear didn't take it well. Seeing her a crying mess, begging to be punished for something she wasn't even guilty of, was harder than shooting an arrow through her heart, delivering the killing blow.

Second day in a row she begged to be punished and Peros tried to convince her that neither he nor Ainz blamed her for anything. while Peros walks to his next destination, he came to realize he had to come up with some bullshit punishment to put her mind at ease.

A short while later he walks in conference only to see that everybody else is waiting for him. To his surprise, even Tabula was on time. Peros quickly sits down and Ainz starts to speak.

"Let's start with a key topic right away. We know our enemy and only need to decide to how to retaliate."

"What to decide we burn that country to the ground," Peros interrupts him.

"Destroying that country will only make them look like martyrs, we need to do much more." Ulbert stands up starting a speech.

"We will destroy their name, their culture, their religion. We will turn entire world against them slowly and methodically. When everyone hates them with passion we will come in and rid world of them as a favor. First thing we should do is to take away their artifacts and make them doubt their own religion. I have sent scouts inside Theocracy and will make a proposition on how to do it in the next few days."

"I'm in favor of Ulbert's plan. If we just plain destroyed a country without a visible cause world would see us in the same light as so called Greed Kings from few hundred years ago and I, for one, prefer to avoid such reputation." Ainz says, getting nods of approval.

"Ulbert, we will wait for our plan, then. Taking world items away from them is our number one priority so include that in your planing. Next thing, bodies of Swords of Darkness are now in fifth floor for safekeeping until we found a way to resurrect them. Tabula I want to work with you on ways to perform resurrection no matter the conditions of body."

"I have some ideas, and we can start testing them when you have time, Ainz."

"Excellent, oh one more thing Tabula, we got you a helper. Doppelgangers posing as our adventurer team is escorting him to Carne Village."

"You have my thanks, Ainz. I will start preparations right away."

Ainz prepares to finish the meeting when Peros speaks up.

"Hey Ainz, we need to punish Shalltear or at least come up with something that sounds like punishment."

Ainz looks at him, confused. Why would Peros out of all people want to punish Shalltear?

"What, why do you want to punish her?"

"I don't want to punish her, but I can't convince her she has done nothing wrong. So I want to make up some kind of punishment to make her feel she has atoned for what, she thinks, is her failure."

"Makes sense, but I will leave that to you. Knowing what you wrote in her backstory she will like most things normally considered a punishment."

Peros sighs and says, "Yeah, that's on me."

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Five doppelgangers posing as adventurers escorted Nfirea to Carne. After his grandmother's funeral, Nfirea inherited all her property. It mattered little to him; he felt lost with no relatives and almost no friends. One of teams he befriended was dead, so he clung to other one.

Satoru had promised him to work for his masters and Nfirea jumped at opportunity now, being alone and afraid for future. Doppelgangers with instructions to pose as heroic and emphatic tried to console Nfirea with some success. Satoru's team, now called 'Darkness' in memory of their lost friends, was his saviors and being called the younger brother by them made him feel safe when they were around.

Road to Carne was safe this time, and they reached the village in the evening. Enri was very surprised to see Nfirea so soon again and greeted him with the enthusiastic shout,

"Enfi you are back already?"

"Hey Enri, yes, I'm moving to Carne."

"Moving, but where is granny…" smile disappears from her face.

"Granny is gone," Nfirea says with a shaky voice.

Without hesitation, Enri jumps on the cart and hugs Nfirea. With her parents killed not that long ago, she knows how it feels to lose someone close.

While Enri distracted Nfirea, Satoru orders his team to start unload Nfirea's belongings and bring it all in one of empty houses.

Both walk to Enri's house to talk. Nfirea feels comfort in Enri's company, but both of them in private feel awkward. He wanted to confess, to tell her how he feels, but as always, words just don't come out.

A loud shout quickly interrupts the scene.

"Sneaking off to make babies?" as Lupus appears right next to them.

Enri lets out a yelp, loses balance on the small chair she is sitting and falls. She grabs Nfirea's arm mid fall and hits the floor with him on top.

"You want me to watch, oh how lewd!" Lupus continues to tease them while cupping her cheeks.

"Lupus, what are you doing here?" screeches Enri, while Nfirea rolls off her red faced.

Lupus takes out a blue orb and waits for Nfirea and Enri to stand up and then says,

"Lord Tabula wishes to speak with you, Nfirea," and hands the blue orb to him.

Nfirea takes the orb, it shines a bit, and a deep guttural voice speaks to him.

"Greetings Nfirea, my name is Tabula Ooal Gown and I will take you as my helper and maybe in the future, even as an apprentice, if you show potential. My deepest condolences for your loss. For now, take a rest and mourn. I will send equipment and materials soon."

"Thank you, Lord Tabula."

"One more thing, if you want to contact me, just hold the orb and speak."

With that orb stops glowing. Lupus slaps Nfirea's shoulder hard and says.

"Welcome to the team, kid, lets see how long you will last."

Side Story 1 - Lost.

Brain runs through the forest. Just a few hours ago, he was a mercenary. Strongest there was. Now memory was hazy, a battle with a vampire, humiliating loss, those beautiful red eyes.

His mind came back to him only to awaken in a midst of bloody carnage. Realization that monsters beyond his comprehension exist shattered his world view. He always wanted to be the strongest. This was his only goal in life. Now knowing he will never get even close, there is no purpose in life anymore.

Brain leans against the tree and sits down. He is afraid, hungry and exhausted. 'So this is how a victim would feel. Those women in cave, slaves, I used them, I am no better than that beautiful monster. Why she is still in my head, shit, why I long for her.'

A restless sleep overtakes him and nightmare filled rest begins.

He was small, running. A tall figure clad in crimson towered over him, laughing. Brain had to escape, he had to run away from the towering monster. Forest covered in dark mist, with tall trees emerging as he ran. Laughter resonated around him as he ran. When he looked up, he saw two red eyes in sky following him.

"There is no escape, you are weak, you are nothing." Voices boomed around him, laughing, taunting.

Nowhere to run, none to ask for help. Alone, small in a deep, dark forest.

Brain awoke with a scream. After a moment, memories came back, and he realizes he is still in the forest.

It was a nighttime now. Seeing no other option, he follows stars to get outside of forest. After a few hours of walking, he finally reached the road. A faint light in distance promised an Inn a place to rest and eat. Brain had enough money on him to live for a while, but it mattered little.

A warm food and drink gave little solace and the few prostitutes, inn owner employed, didn't look like objects of desire to him anymore just another victims of this world.

Next week was not better. Going from inn to inn, nightmare filled sleep and ever dwindling money. His goal was capital. Maybe amongst the crowds he can disappear and maybe those red eyes will not see him anymore. That was all that he had left of his resolve to just hide away.

Side Story 2 - Living in the house of Gods.

Clementine woke up under the tree she was sleeping on a simple blanket. There was no difference in temperature between night and day on the sixth floor of Nazarick. Highest god had let her stay and serve in his house - The Gret Tomb of Nazarick. His lover, however, the overseer Albedo, was one of scariest beings she had ever encountered.

Other two were Demiurge and Shalltear. All three direct children of gods, if one could call them that. More chatty denizens of Nazarick had explained to her that everyone in Nazarick was created by the supreme beings, forty-one in total. Only five remained behind to take care of Nazarick.

Clementine now was aware of how weak she was when compared to real creations of gods. It mattered little to her as long as she could serve.

What she didn't like, however, was being put in same level as some worthless whores. Some slaves rescued from bandits. She, together with them, lived by the lake and was given the task to cultivate edible plants.

Clementine quickly distanced herself from them and lived under a tree and not in tents provided. She gets up and rolls up blanket. Next is a short swim in the lake to wash up and then work on a field near the tents. A test of humility perhaps. After all, she attacked gods out of arrogance and ignorance.

With her superior strength and stamina, she does her daily share of fieldwork in a few hours and then leaves to visit colosseum in the middle of the sixth floor.

It was always busy, and some days she got glimpses of gods in training. As long as she didn't bother anyone, she could just sit and watch.

In one of days she found a sparing partner, a giant silver furred beast called Wisey. She was stronger than Clementine, but not by much, and Clementine's martial arts skills helped her to fight to a standstill. Clementine knew she could not harm the beast, as Wisey was a pet of floor guardian Aura.

Their daily sparing matches had an unexpected consequence, Aura had taken interest and sometimes watched them fight. And then god noticed her once again.

One day, Lord Peros sat next to Aura and watched her and Wisey spar. Seeing him with the corner of an eye made her lose concentration, and she got hit in the chest by Wisey's tail, making her tumbling backwards.

When she opened eyes, Peros was looming over her, she rolled to side and prostrated before the god.

"Stop with the worship bullshit and get up." Peros says in annoyed voice.

Clementine gets up and remains in half bowed position not daring to gaze at god's face.

"What kind of skills are you using while fighting?"

"Skills? Those are martial arts abilities I know, Lord Peros."

"So you know, martial arts. You will teach them to me."

Clementines brain short-circuited. A god just asked her a mere mortal to teach him something. Her legs wobble as she stutters.

"T-t-teach y-you?"

"Yes, teach me. Is there a problem with that?"

"N-no, I will try my best."

"Good. We will start tomorrow morning."

Once Peros left leaves, Clementine drops on her knees and recites prayers of thankfulness. God has given her a noblest task possible, to teach him.