Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here, and I am back with another chapter!
But before you all begin, I want to share you all something. As I thought about the story's plot and the mention of Hope's Parents, it made me think about a particular idea for a possible Overlord story.
A Story where Hope and her parents are sent to the New World with the Great Tomb of Nazarick. But! Momonga will not be included since it'll be their story, not his.
Of course, everything will be different compared to Momonga's ruling and policy. That I can promise.
That is all I have to say, and enjoy the chapter!
9th Floor
A few days had come to pass and much has changed in Nazarick since then. Momonga had saved a village from total annihilation, had a brief encounter with a respectable man, abducted a band of mages belonging to a third-party faction, and openly declared to the denizens his goal and a change.
He had discarded his player name and claimed the guild's name for his own.
But even with all these occurrences, he still had one certain problem to tend to...
As he walked down the hallway alone, he stops at a set of doors, let out a long sigh, and lowered his head before grabbing both doorknobs.
He was anxious at first, but his mind was regularly suppressed due to the Racial Class as an [Undead]. However, this was one of the few moments that he felt somehow glad to have his emotions suppressed.
His emotions get the best of him, it would have affected his visits to this certain room...
Once he had opened the doors, he walks inside the room and closes the door behind him.
Before him was a large and luxurious bed, and the one lying on it was the Guild's Mascot, Hope. Confined with what
From what he has gotten from the healers and supposed doctors of Nazarick. Their diagnosis states that there were no problems with Hope's physical condition and the same was said for her mental condition since they haven't found even the slightest trace of an enemy spell affecting her.
In the end, they declared that she was in a comatose state and there was nothing that they can do to wake her up.
Thus, Ainz had established a schedule for the Pleiades to watch over her condition whenever he wasn't around or was too busy to visit her. He also provided a different plan for the Homuculous Maids to follow.
In each passing day, the Homuculous Maid would enter the room, tirelessly sanitize the entire room of dust that collected, refurbish the pillows and blankets, and carefully clean Hope's body from head to toe.
Even though it was extensive, he somehow feels grateful for the Maids' duty.
Ainz then walked his way to the right side of the bed, grab a large seat, and sit down before staring at Hope for a short duration. Even after a few days have passed, Ainz still recalls those very moments in his mind.
Flashback...
After Midnight had come to pass, Momonga still finds himself in Nazarick instead of being logged out to the real world.
In addition to that, he hears Hope's gasp and witnesses her fall from the throne to the hard floor.
Concerned, he rose from his throne and rushed to Hope's aid. Even when his emotions were suppressed on the spot, his concern for Hope was still present.
That's when he noticed significant changes in his surroundings. Such as feeling Hope's bare skin and hair from his skeletal fingers, the sudden sentience of NPCs by Albedo's voice of concern and the Pleiades' gazes, and the disappearance of Yggdrasil's game functions.
All of these things had him baffled to the core, but his priority remains fixated on Hope's well-being.
Hence, he swiftly ordered Albedo to gather the Floor Guardians to the 6th Floor, excluding the 4th and 8th Floor Guardians, ordered Sebas to take Yuri Alpha and investigate their surroundings of Nazarick, and the rest of the Pleiades Maids were instructed to prepare a vacant room for Hope to recuperate in.
As for Momonga himself, he slid his arm underneath Hope's legs and lifted her limp body from the floor. This very sight briefly stunned everyone since they were witnessing the Leader of the Supreme Beings carrying someone they didn't know.
Normally, they would question who she was and why he was going through all the trouble in carrying her himself. But their orders stand and any question in mind is irrelevant for the time being...
End of Flashback
After recalling all this, Ainz still feels somewhat bitter and his assumptions about her condition often lead to her condition back in the real world. The rest points to a threat of unknown power, and it was something that cannot be ignored.
The very thoughts of these assumptions had him clenching the arms of the chair hard and his mind somehow boiled in anger. Even with his emotions being suppressed, he still vented his anger on the chair until his hands cracked the very arms of the chair.
Though the noise alone had snapped him out of his thoughts, leans against the chair, and mindlessly stares at the ceiling. Wondering when Hope will recover...
At the end of his visit, he would stand from his seat, walk towards the door, and give one last glance at her before resuming his administration of Nazarick in his own personal office.
Though as the doors were shut, Hope still lies on the bed...
...
...
...
That it's until a finger on her right hand twitched its own...
The Following Day
Ainz is now seen at his office thoroughly reading through the enormous amount of paperwork regarding the maintenance and administration of Nazarick, and worked his way through the hours while Albedo remains by his side as his personal assistant.
However, the Overseer of Floor Guardian has earned a knack for staring at the Overlord whenever she hears certain reports of him going to the chamber where the young Arachnid Girl lies comatose.
Ever since that incident in the throne room, Ainz has gained the tendency of being agitated whenever the topic is brought up. The first it happened was during the meeting of the Floor Guardians.
Flashback
The Floor Guardians, Shalltear Bloodfallen, Cocytus, Aura, Mare, Demiurge, and Albedo gathered at the Amphitheater, introduced themselves, and bowed before the Overlord as a sign of fealty.
Though Momonga unintentionally showed aura, the Floor Guardians mistook it as a test of their faith and proceeded with the meeting after the 9th Floor Guardian, Sebas Tian, returns with a full report of the surrounding area.
After Sebas arrived with the report, Momonga gave certain instructions regarding the fortification of Nazarick's defenses and gave Mare the authority to use Earth Magic to conceal Nazarick from any potential threats.
Before the conclusion of the meeting, Momonga asked every Floor Guardian about their option for him. Apparently, they think highly of him and Ainz was a bit baffled by their answer, especially Albedo, who harbors a certain measure of feelings for him.
With that, Momonga concludes the meetings. But one guardian, in particular, had a certain question in mind.
"Momonga-sama, if you wouldn't mind this servant of yours. I would like to know something," Sebas requested with his head down,
"And what would that be?" Momonga inquired,
"May I ask who that Arachnoid that fell in the throne room was?" Sebas questioned,
Momonga stares down at the 9th Floor Guardian with his menacing aura still resonating from his body. even though it wasn't intentional, he did manage to frighten them to the point that they'd lower their heads and seal their mouths before their Supreme Leader lectures Sebas for asking.
Even Albedo, who had the same curiosity as Sebas, remained silent to avoid an upcoming lecture from the Overlord himself.
But such a thing didn't happen as Momonga sighs once, and the aura seemingly dies down on its own, "Though I am inclined to answer your question, I'm afraid now isn't the time to tell you. But know this, that girl is precious to me. Should anything happen to her, I wouldn't forgive myself nor anyone for such negligence,"
These words alone had carved a certain duty in both Floor Guardians, Albedo and Sebas Tian. If Momonga deems this Arachnid is someone precious to their lord, they swore that no harm will come before her.
As for the rest of the Guardians, they seemed confused since they are unaware of who he was referring to. But regardless, they will follow their lord's orders.
Once Momonga left the Amphitheater, The Floor Guardians were by themselves, they rose from the ground, and felt somewhat tense from the effect of Momonga's aura.
As they were about to converse with each other, Demiurge tipped his glasses and turns to his superior, "Albedo, I hope you wouldn't mind me asking. But who is this Arachnoid that Momonga-sama speaks of? Surely, it isn't Entoma,"
"The girl he speaks of is another Arachnoid called Hope," Albedo revealed, "Both of them were present in the throne room, and fell on the floor without warning,"
"From what I've heard, she is currently in a comatose state on the 9th Floor," Sebas followed as he straightens himself, and puts his hands behind his back, "Though she suffers no injuries, her condition is somewhat... unexplanatory..."
"Is that why he's so agitated when you asked him? If so, then this Arachnoid really must be important to him," Aura remarked,
"I-If that is what he says," Mare followed,
"We may not know much, but it is our duty to abide by Momonga-sama's orders," Cocytus stated, and cold air came out of its mouth,
"If the time is right, perhaps he'll tell us in time," Demiurge guessed,
With that, Sebas excused himself from the Amphitheater to either remain by Momonga's side or tend to Hope's condition, Albedo engaged in an argument with Shalltear when the latter had undergone a certain crisis in her underwear, and other matters were brought up before Albedo provided certain orders to the Guardians.
End of Flashback...
Even after a few days have come to pass, Albedo still wonders why this Arachnoid was so precious to him. Whenever Ainz has nothing to do, he would spend it visiting the comatose Arachnoid than anywhere else.
When she wanted to accompany him, he would decline her since he prefers to be there alone.
And there's also the matter with Demiurge. When she had heard that he and Ainz were together, she suspected that Arch-Devil may have learned something about Hope. But he refuses to share it due to Ainz's direct order to not speak what he had learned.
Though this alone raised Albedo's suspicion to an average level. Enough to swear to herself that she'll learn the truth behind this Arachnoid connection with her lord.
Ainz had taken notice of her behavior but pays little to no attention to it since he solely focused on Nazarick's defenses and administration.
But that changes when someone knocks on the door a few times.
"Come in," Ainz commanded, and the doors of his office opened,
Then, Yuri Alpha hurryingly walks in front of Ainz's desk and bends down on one knee.
"Ainz-sama, I bring urgent news to you," Yuri Alpha said,
"What is it?" Ainz inquired,
"The Arachnoid, Hope, had somehow recovered from her comatose state," Yuri Alpha reported,
This report alone had Ainz standing right up from his chair, and Albedo gasps to herself.
"Really? If so, I'm inclined that you to take me to her at once," Ainz said with hints of enthusiasm in his voice,
"Understood, but..." Yuri Alpha paused, and confuses Ainz as he immediately took notice,
"But, what, Yuri Alpha? Confess," Albedo demanded,
After a prolonged pause from Vice Captain of the Pleiades...
...
...
...
She confesses to the second part of her report...
"She has gone missing," Yuri Alpha finished while bowing her head in an apologetic manner,
This stunned both Ainz and Albedo, though the latter's expression soon turned to irritation as she steps forward and frowns at her, "What do you mean she's missing!?"
"When Entoma was assigned to watch over the girl, she ran straight towards me and reported that she had gone missing after she seemingly recovered from her condition," Yuri Alpha explained with her head down, "Sebas and the other Pleiades have searched the 9th Floor and 10th Floor. They reported that there were no signs of her on both floor,"
Albedo clicked her tongue as Hope's disappearance meant that she wouldn't be able to learn about her connection with Ainz.
As for the Overlord himself, the red pupils in his eyes had vanished, and he sits down on his chair once more before clasping his fingers together. Though he remained silent, he was concerned about where she could have gone too since this New World is vast and having her wander out there is a danger to itself.
Though his silence was mistaken as disappointment with the Pleiades' duties and Albedo was about to give her a lecture on his behalf.
But he spoke before she could get a word out of her mouth.
"Yuri, Who was the last person to have watched over her, and which of the Homuculous Maids were the last people to refurbish the room?" Ainz questioned,
"The last person in charge was Solution," Yuri Alpha told, "She may also recall the maids that tended to the refurbishment of the room,"
"Very well," Ainz said, "Bring her here at once,"
"Understood," Yuri Alpha complied, and immediately leaves the room,
"Albedo," Ainz called out,
"Yes?" Albedo inquired,
"Contact the other Floor Guardians, and inform them of her disappearance," Ainz ordered, "Should she be found on one of those floors, notify me and I shall handle the rest,"
"But wouldn't it be wise to assemble a search party? Surely, she would have left Nazarick and wandered outside," Albedo said,
"That isn't a possible scenario," Ainz stated, "As far as I can remember, Hope wouldn't wander outside of Nazarick without reason,"
"Do you really believe that?" Albedo questioned,
"I do," Ainz replied, "For she wouldn't leave the place she calls her home,"
His words seemingly stunned Albedo to the core. A Young Arachnid calling Nazarick her home is something unprecedented to her and to all of Nazarick.
The only thing she knew about Nazarick is that it was home to the 41 Supreme Beings of Nazarick and no one else. To a certain sense, Albedo believed it since Ainz said so himself. But her hour of admiration had to be put on hold since there was work to be done and informed the Floor Guardians about Hope's whereabouts in the Great Tomb of Nazarick...
Somewhere in Nazarick...
On a Floor surrounded by trees and vegetation lies a weakened Hope pressing through the area with a large broken tree branch as a makeshift cane, and she often leans against the trunks to maintain her balance.
After minutes of wandering, she reaches the end of the forest and finds herself in a certain area.
One that made a faint smile on her face...
...
...
...
'Finally...'
That's the end of the chapter! Before you all go, there is something that I have to tell you all.
At the end of every chapter, I will occasionally reply to comments since I enjoy giving answers and explanations. As well as conversations with people.
However, the difference is that I'll be replying to the comments on Wattpad directly while the comments that I receive in my Fanfiction Account will appear at the end of every chapter.
And in case, you all wonder where Hope went off to? Feel free to guess that one yourself.
Now it's time to reply to the reviews!
Rwbybomb21: I appreciate that you've pointed out my mistakes and I did some editing. As for the whole YGGDRASIL conversation problem, I honestly didn't know about that.
I just watched the anime and read the manga. Hence, I may have overlooked it.
As for the word shortage and pacing of the first chapter. The reason why it was like this is that I wanted to, and I don't plan on putting an entire episode into one chapter.
But occasionally, I will provide certain scenes which involve the perspective of other characters.
Questionable Watcher: I understand your request, but when I heard the part about my character being stronger than the NPCs?
That is impossible since the NPCs of Nazarick are built to be stronger and tougher than any players of Yggdrasil.
Ainz isn't an exception to this since he planned and struggled against his fight with Shalltear Bloodfallen.
As for the whole idolizing gig, I'll think of something that suits the story
EddEinfach: I appreciate it, and I promise to make things interesting as I go by with the story.
Le Phoque Blanc: If you haven't read the old version of this story. Then let me say that I may have done it again since Hope's location is currently unknown within The Great Tomb of Nazarick.
Pannenkoekenrage: I appreciate the follow!
That is all the reviews I've replied to thus far, stay safe from the virus, and I will see you all in the next chapter!