{The Great Lake…}
"I am the Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown. I come in peace to speak with you. Please nod if you understand me." said Ainz. A spell projected his voice, allowing the entire lake and beyond to hear him. He spoke to the great white Serpent, its body snaking through the water and up to the nearest mountain. The mighty beast turned at the sound, looking for what had spoken to it. It failed to find Ainz right away, who stood upon the water of the lake using one of his spells. "Hmm…" He tried again. "I am the Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown. I come in peace to speak with you. Please nod if you understand me."
The Serpent spoke but did not nod, in its deep, earth-shaking voice. If anything, it seemed just as puzzled as the Sorcerer King. Ainz did not understand any of its words.
It doesn't understand me… It didn't attack at all… it doesn't seem hostile to me since I'm undead though, so I guess that's some relief. There's usually an auto-translate effect in this world, but it doesn't seem to affect this thing at all, both in speaking and comprehension. Well, I don't think there's any point in trying to talk to it if it doesn't understand anything we're saying. If it is a World Enemy, it may just be waiting for the right moment… we need to be careful…
"I will return, when I find someone who can speak your language, Serpent. Until then." Ainz deactivated his voice amplification spell, and released the [Greater Magic Seal].
"Lord. Ainz. What. Has. Happened?" asked Cocytus once Ainz reappeared on the shore.
"Hmm. Whatever it is, it does not understand anything I said, and I cannot understand it. Actually… [Life Essence]. Hm… World Enemies are immune to such spells, and yet this one is not, unless it is using [False Data: Life]. It has a stupendous amount of HP."
"It. Does. Not. Seem. Belligerent. To. Us. Or. To. Anything. Around. It."
"Indeed not. That alone is promising. In YGGDRASIL, World Enemies are hostile to players and their mercenaries without fail, and I would assume that applies to guild NPCs as well. Assuming World Enemies function on similar lines in this New World, whatever this thing is may not be a World Enemy at all. That thought relieves me more than you can imagine, Cocytus, but I will take no chances. I want a 24-hour watch on the lake. It should not so much as twitch without you knowing, do you understand?"
"Yes. Lord. Ainz. I. Have. Deployed. My. Ice. Wraiths. For. That. Purpose. When. The. Serpent. First. Appeared. They. Will. Keep. Us. Informed. At. All. Times. Of. Its. Movements."
"I am pleased with your initiative. Well done. In the meantime, we will explore this… building, whatever it is."
"As. You. Command. Lord. Ainz."
{The strange building in the lake…}
Ainz, Cocytus, the Frost Virgins, and a company of Death Knights ascended a flight of obsidian stairs leading from the water's surface. Ainz opted for the low tier spell [Waterwalk] to conserve his MP should the Serpent prove troublesome. Seaweed, barnacles, and other flotsam and jetsam coated the dark, ornate building.
Half of the Death Knights moved ahead as a vanguard, and the other half, the rearguard. Having reached the top of the stairs, Ainz looked around. The bridge was strewn with corpses of more strange undead, struck down by arrows or hewn by a heavy chopping weapon, likely an axe. Ainz put forth one of his hands towards the corpses to perform a brief experiment.
"[Death Knight]." The corpse he chose melted into a black, inky goo, rapidly reforming as a Death Knight. Ainz put a thoughtful finger to his chin. I can create Death Knights from these undead. In YGGDRASIL, undead disintegrate forever when they're destroyed… Interesting. "Hm… half of the Death Knights will explore the outside of the building. The rest, come with me, to this central dome structure."
Ainz and his guard approached a set of great doors. Two Death Knights broke off to force the doors open. They stopped just before doing so, as Ainz gave out instructions. "The Frost Virgins will enter first. Do not kill or hurt anything inside without provocation, but secure any visible exits. Open the doors now."
The two undead soldiers obeyed, and the Frost Virgins moved inside. As the doors were opened, Ainz felt a wave of heat, heard the sound of a hammer clanging against metal, and smelled some smoke. A smithy? The hammering stopped, and a particularly rough voice from within spoke. "Well, hello, ladies… uh… could one of ya close the door there? There's a draft about. S'cold all of a sudden… Wait…"
One of the Frost Virgins replied. "Please remain where you are. Our master wishes to speak to you. Comply and you will not come to harm."
"I don't like the-"
Ainz took the chance to enter, with Cocytus in tow. Inside this entrance chamber was a great forge, all set up with a fire burning in a furnace. Various weapons were displayed on tables and racks. Behind one of the tables, sidling up to the furnace for warmth, was a dwarf, unique in Ainz's experience with such people by the blue pigmentation of his skin.
"What the- Ladies, there's an undead and a… a…" he trailed off when he saw the Frost Virgins budge not an inch. "Hol' up… Somethin's off with you lot…" He sniffed the air loudly. "Foreign magic written all over ya…" Ainz decided to seize the opportunity.
"My servants spoke truly. Cooperate, and you will not come to harm."
The dwarf looked in suspicion at a pint of mead he had set out for himself nearby. "Am I drinkin' too much, or is there an undead here actually talking to me all civil-like?"
"I am not sure what you are seeing, but I am indeed undead. I apologize if my appearance frightens you. I will bow my head to you in apology for the sudden intrusion." Even as Cocytus shifted uneasily at the sight of his master doing such a humble thing as bowing to the dwarf, Ainz was beyond enheartened. The dwarf's words were automatically translated, as were his own words to the dwarf. The translation effect wasn't totally gone, just disabled for the Serpent, it seems.
"Well, thanks… say, you're smidge sociable for the revenant type, ain'tcha? And more fashionable, to boot! Snazzy robes and everything…" The dwarf walked back to the middle of his smithy, looking Ainz's regal ensemble over. The undead king felt understandably flattered by the compliment.
"I assume any usual conversation with a 'revenant' is much less pleasant than this?"
"You could say that again. There usually ain't much of one to begin with. They's the kill on sight type. Now then, you were talkin' 'bout co-operation or somethin'. D'ya want some work done or you lookin' to buy?"
"You're a blacksmith?"
"A blacksmith? Ha! Guess what, buster?! You're lookin' at the best damn weaponsmith in the realms. Take a gander at this thing, for instance!" The dwarf pulled out a large, circular targe shield from beneath the table. "Made from authentical dragonhide from one of the finest catches from the Grand Cullin' of the Wyrms. The metal boss is coated with purest skap slag. It'd take a sword o' dragonbone to even scratch this shield, but not even that'll go through the warding runes I put on this thing."
Ainz understood little of the weaponsmithing jargon and material types, besides the reference to dragonhide, which alone piqued his interesting. "I see. Master dwarf, do you object to my casting magic this item? I have a spell that can determine the quality of items for myself."
"Go right ahead, I got nothin' to hide. Just know that if ya breaks it, ya buys it. Business rule o' mine. Sordid story behind that one, but you didn't come here for story-tellin', I reckon." The dwarf handed the shield to Ainz.
"Hm… [All-Appraisal Magic Item]."
"Fancy robes, fancy magic, fancy everything! Your style's a real fresh breath o' air here, ya know that?"
"Hm…" Ainz looked over the shield as the spell showed him its features. It was not a preexisting YGGDRASIL item, but it had an item class and stats assigned to it. Legendary-class item… good elemental resistance stats… "You made this yourself?"
"Yessir! And I can upgrade weapons too! So why not let me put hand to your ice guy's halberd there? That thing's magnificent, like the rest of y'all's getup, but I says there's always room for improvement. I'll take a look at it, soup it up a bit, and if I breaks it, I'll fix it or whip up somethin' special for ya with a few extries installed as compensation, all for the low low price of free. How's that sound? We got a deal?"
"Cocytus. I will not make you or ask you to hand over your weapon, but if you think it through and decide to do so, I also will not object."
"I. Act. Upon. Your. Command."
Oh, come on, Cocytus! Think for yourself! sighed Ainz in his head. "Cocytus, one day, you may find yourself in a place where you must make a far more important decision than this without my help. Do what you believe is the most beneficial to Nazarick."
"Hmmm…" Cocytus pondered things for a brief moment. "I. Will. Give. Him. The. Weapon. In. Spite. Of. My. Personal. Feelings. About. It. For. I. Believe. Nazarick. Will. Benefit. From. The. Sacrifice. Of. My. Weapon. Whether. It. Actually Is. Improved. Or. Not. However. Dwarven. Smith. Know. That. This. Weapon. Was. Made. For. Me. By. A. Supreme. Being. And. Should. Be. Handled. Accordingly." Cocytus, fighting against his own conscience and every instinct of his being, surrendered the halberd to the dwarven smith, who began examining it with glee.
"Oh, don't worry yourself about this thing, Last time I broke-d something I still had peach fuzz on my face. So how many centuries your 'supreme being' spend makin' this thing? Perfect construction…"
"It. Was. Made. For. Me. By-"
"-by a master weaponsmith and warrior we once knew. He is retired now and moved to other lands," said Ainz. Cocytus bowed his head slightly. "Tell me, do you know anything about this serpent outside? What is it? Is it dangerous?" Ainz changed the subject as the dwarf continued various examinations of the halberd.
"Oh, him? Jörmungandr? 'S'long as you don't start testin' my weapons on him, you'll be fine." The dwarf continued muttering to himself as he took a small hammer to the halberd's blade. "Hmm… the tri-rune… are just perfect… absolutely…"
"Jörmungandr? The World Serpent?"
"Yup."
Phew… ok… Not a World Enemy, despite the name. A high-level boss, I think. I'll need to check our YGGDRASIL information. "That is good to hear, actually. You know, I encountered a kingdom of your people to the north not too long ago. I have recruited many Dwarven runesmiths in my employ now, and I am always looking to take on more. I can arrange for you to join them if that interests you. I keep a sharp eye out for the talented, and you strike me as a person highly gifted in that department."
"Y'ain't wrong 'bout that last bit, but if'n you don't mind, I'm the type to work on things by my lonesome. Besides, that dwarf kingdom's been dead and empty for centuries, and they're to the south o'here."
Ainz furrowed his non-existent eyebrows with puzzlement. "It's quite full of life, and will be even more so since I subjugated the Quagoa, and I am fairly certain they are in the mountains to the north." What's wrong with this guy?
"The kwag-whatnow?"
"The Quagoa… the mole-like demihumans that the Dwarves have been fighting until recently? They used to occupy Feo Berkana, the ancient capital of the Dwarven Kingdom. I was just visiting there." said Ainz. Is this another type of dwarf I've never heard of? He is blue after all… Are all high-level dwarves in the New World blue? Or is there just a country of blue dwarves somewhere?
"Ain't never heard of it, nor of these kwag-whatsits. Startin' to wonder if we're even talkin' 'bout the same place. I knew of a Dwarf Kingdom ruled from Konunsgard down south. That bilious bastard Motsognir ran that shitshow."
"I see… interesting. Ah, you must forgive me, Master Dwarf, for not introducing myself earlier. I am the Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown, and this entire lake and much of the land around it is in my kingdom. This is my champion, Cocytus. I assume you have a name?"
"I do, and it's Brok. Just a piece of advice, Your Royalness, I'd be real careful going around in the open with a fancy title like 'Sorcerer King.'"
"Lord. Ainz. Is. Free. To. Take. Any. Title. That. Pleases. Him. And. You. Will. Not. Gainsay. Him."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, mister Cocytus, it ain't me who'll be complainin'. Spreadin' a title like that is just beggin' for the Aesir to start pokin' 'round in Midgard again, and the last thing any realm needs is more Aesir involvement."
"Aesir… Midgard? A world of YGGDRASIL…"
"O'course."
"You are from there?"
"From where? Midgard?"
"YGGDRASIL?"
"You tryna yank my chain or something, Your Kingly-ness? If I ain't from Yggdrasil, then you can call me Sif's Left Slosher."
"We… can discuss this later, Brok. Now, why would these Aesir object to my title?"
"Well, a few reasons: let's see, uh, one! The Aesir object to anyone who so much as looks at 'em the wrong way, let alone rules anything larger than an anthill without their stamp of approval. And by 'object to you' I mean violently try to kill ya or maul ya and wipe out your people and the like. They'll probably give me the Works if I meet 'em again 'cause I wouldn't work on more shit for 'em. Anyway, two! 'Sorcerer King' is probably one of the many many titles their one-eyed control-freak king gave himself. And he won't stand for any rivals. Three! The Aesir are just a right bunch of assholes at the end of the day, so even if you done nothing to piss 'em off, they'll get drunk enough to get pissed off at you all the same."
Ainz jogged his understanding of YGGDRASIL lore to piece together what Brok told him. "One-eyed… Odin, the King of… Asgard, correct?"
"Sure thing, though Asgard's just the capital city of Asaheim, Odin's personal playground on the Yggdrasil. Not to mention he's got a death grip on other poor realms, like Vanaheim or Nidavellir. The bastard's got each of them locked up tighter than a miser's purse."
"So there are other realms, too?"
"'Course there is, though Tyr's Temple ain't had a bifrost in it for years, so you can forget about-."
"[Gate]." That spell could access all but one of the realms of YGGDRASIL…
"Sweet mother of- Holy shit!" Brok stared at Ainz in shock and admiration, as the arcane door of [Gate] swirled open. "I… I seen some wild Realm Travel magic before… but nothing like… like this… damn… you made magic this yerself?"
"Indeed. You said Tyr's Temple?"
"Yup, that's where we're standin' right now. Some of the realms bein' blocked makes sense: either Odin don't wantcha goin' there or it's Jotunheim tryna stop Thor from droppin' in."
"Thor… the God of Thunder?"
"No. Thor, the God of Stolen Sweet-Rolls. Yes, the fuckin' God of Thunder!"
"You. Will. Conduct. Yourself. With. Respect. In. The. Presence. Of. Lord. Ainz!"
"Okay, okay, big guy, relax. You're worse than that other beefer, sheesh."
"Cocytus, it's fine. What other person?" asked Ainz. Anyone in this rude-mouthed dwarf's clientele was of some interest to Ainz, especially if the dwarf lived up to his promises.
"If'n I'm being honest, nobody to worry yourself about."
"It is in your best interest and theirs to tell me."
"Ever heard of weaponsmith-client privilege?
"I have not. I am only trying to determine if they are something to be concerned about."
After some hesitation, the dwarf finally answered. "Right… It's just a guy and his son going up the mountain to bury the mom who literally just died. How's that for concernin'?"
"Ah… I see." Ainz had only one foggy memory of his mother, back on dystopian Earth of 2138 where he was just the mundane office-worker Suzuki Satoru and YGGDRASIL was just a popular video game. His mother had dropped dead in the kitchen one day while preparing his favorite meal as a child. She was utterly exhausted. After the cremation, the corporation-government forced Satoru to begin working full-time, despite being only 12 years old. Ainz thought to himself as the memory played out. In spite of his rudeness, the dwarf's cooperative at least, and he could be useful, if he can create Legendary-class items like that shield. He does seems to care about those two people, whoever they are, so I guess the least I can do as a reward for that cooperativeness is give him some peace of mind. That'd also show I'm a good employer because I care about even my potential employees…
"I will swear by my name, the name of Ainz Ooal Gown, that no harm will come to those two if we encounter them, except in self-defense. I will, however, need a description to be able to identify them in order to keep this promise."
Brok sighed. "The pa's a big grump, pale as a beech trunk with a bright red tattoo on his bald head. A big axe's his weapon of choice. Sticks out like a sore thumb. The boy's a sweet kid in spite of his pops, he's an archer type, scrawny and 'bout my height with reddish hair. He won't be far from his old man, and vice versa."
"We will keep an eye out for them. In the meantime, Cocytus, we should return home to let Brok do his work. When will the halberd be ready?"
"S'ready now, actually." Brok returned the weapon to Cocytus. Ainz nodded in approval. It looked more or less the same, except a gold lining with embossed runes had been firmly overlaid on its edge. "I threw in a basic Helheim rune, so it's got a chilly little surprise to use in a pinch."
"I see. Cocytus, hold out your weapon." The Floor Guardian obeyed. "[All-Appraisal Magic Item]... huh…"
A small interface appeared in one corner of Ainz's field of view, containing information about the weapon. Several areas of text were marked in green.
Name: Decapitation Fang
Item type: Weapon, melee, polearm, halberd (thrown)
Item class: Legendary Plus+
Damage: 95 (75 slashing damage, 20 cold damage)
Speed: 64 (+20)
Range: 10 (20/60 thrown)
Sharpness: 100
Durability: 300 (+20)
Enchantments: Runic (instantaneous), frost (passive)
Data Crystal Capacity: 350/350 (Legendary)
Ainz's emotional suppression kicked in. Legendary Plus+?! What's that?! That's not an YGGDRASIL thing at all! Who the hell is this guy?! He's upgraded an YGGDRASIL-made item outside of its data crystal limit! +20 to its stats… just in work done during our conversation! That was how long? Five minutes?
"Lord. Ainz?" Is Cocytus… nervous about the results?
"I didn't breaks it, did I?"
"Quite the opposite. I am impressed. You have improved this weapon beyond what I believed possible."
Brok laughed. "Best damn weaponsmith in all the realms, I told ya! I wanna see you try it on somethin' dangerous, so you can see full-well what my touch brung!"
I need this guy to work for me. He's an incredible talent! "Perhaps another time. Your work has exceeded all expectations, Brok. I will ask you, nay, beg you even. Enter my employ. You will have greater freedom and a plethora of benefits provided than you would working by yourself. I will not even ask that you stay in one place. If there is anything you need, just ask me or my representative. All I want from you in return is your talent."
"Hmmm… ya know what?, I likes you, even though you're undead. You seem like the type to run a good outfit in spite of that, or, well, better than Odin anyway. I'll take your offer and work for ya, but I need you to leave me free to work on what I needs to and go where I needs to. Also, I don't need no guards or nothing super fancy, I can handle myself. Since you gave me your word, I'll give you mine. I ain't gonna go work for no one else behind your back without the A-okay. I ain't the mercenary-type. Fair?" The dwarf extended one of his soot-coated hands towards Ainz for a handshake.
The Sorcerer King hesitated for a moment before reciprocating the gesture. "Consider it done. Welcome to the Sorcerer Kingdom, Brok. I can call you Brok, yes?"
"Didnt get no other name, so you ain't got muchova choice, Your Majesticalness. Oh, and uh, can I ask one last thing from ya?"
"Indeed."
"It's about that guy and his son I talked about. His axe is one of the best works of all, so I wanna work on it for him to improve it, if'n that's alright. Also there's some personal reasons behind that I don't really wanna to get into now."
Having someone I don't know or have control over walking around with a possible Legendary-class weapon could be dangerous… but if I hunt them down and nip them in the bud, either by getting them to my side or killing them, it'd be fine. One person with a high-level magic weapon surely couldn't kill me, let alone all of Nazarick. I can have all the Guardians' Legendary kit get upgraded, and see if Brok can handle any upgrading or even manufacturing Divine-class items. Besides, I shouldn't go back on my word just after making it. I promised to give him anything he wanted. "That is fine. Unless there's anything else, I bid you farewell, Brok. I look forward to seeing more of your work."
"Good meetin' ya, Your Highness. 'Til next time."
{The Royal Suite of Nazarick, a half-hour later…}
Ainz assembled his Guardians to sit in council. Of course, only Ainz was doing any actual sitting. All the Guardians were kneeling before him on the floor, as usual.
"Guardians. We bring good news from the Lake. The Serpent has awoken, but it is not hostile to us, it seems. In fact, it likely is not even a World Enemy. We have a positive identification on it, as well. It is Jörmungandr, the World Serpent from YGGDRASIL."
In reaction to Ainz's news, the other Guardians relaxed, incredibly relieved at hearing that there was no World Enemy sitting on their doorstep.
"Lord Ainz, can I check my encyclopedia?" asked Shalltear. "We might have more information in there that we can easily refer to."
"Go ahead."
The vampire pulled out an ornate book, flipping to the letter J, and read out the pertinent entry.
"'Jörmungandr Lokisson, the World Serpent, is the monstrous son of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboda, and is fated to fight Thor Odinson, the God of Lightning, to the death during Ragnarök.
Karma: -300.
HP: 1500+.
Total levels: 135. 100 Job and Racial class levels, 35 Monster levels.
Low-karma players will encounter the World Serpent as friendly NPC during their quest to defeat the Devourer of Nine Worlds and save YGGDRASIL. High-karma players will encounter it as an optional boss in the same quest.' Ooh, there's also a note written by Lord Pereroncino Himself! It says: 'Touch-Me said this boss sucks for melee characters due to its high-level poison called Eitr. He only was able to beat it solo once he won the World Championship for Alfheim, since the classes and armor let him deal enough damage and survive long enough to defeat the World Serpent.' That's all the entry says, Lord Ainz."
"Thank you, Shalltear. When we are finished here, go to the Library. I want copies of the encyclopedia made and distributed to all of Nazarick. We need any and all information about YGGDRASIL entities since it seems they have returned. Now then, onto the next piece of news. The strange building in the lake is called Tyr's Temple." Ainz paused at the rustling of pages in Shalltear's encyclopedia.
"Lord Ainz, there's no temple of that name in here, but I found an entry for Tyr. 'Tyr is an-'"
"I think you can just give us a quick summary, Shalltear, in the interests of time."
"Oh, of course, Lord Ainz. I'll need just a moment to read the entry. Let's see… an Aesir, revered as a war god. His hand was bitten off by a massive wolf, Fenrir Lokisson… High karma, and he's mainly a boss in Ragnarök, an YGGDRASIL PVE scenario available to low-karma Players."
"Excellent…"
"There isn't any reference to any specific temple he's built, though."
"That's fine. We also met a dwarf in the Temple, who somehow got there moments after it surfaced to set up shop. His name is Brok, a talented blacksmith."
"Hmmm…" Shalltear flipped to the letter B. "There's no Brok entry, but there is an entry called Brokkr in this encyclopedia. Oh! It's just an alternative spelling. Famous dwarven blacksmith… neutral karma… made weapons for the Aesir with his brother, Eitri… including Mjolnir, the divine hammer of Thor… Level 80+ merchant who appears throughout the realms but mainly in Nidavellir…"
"Mjolnir... While extremely ill-mannered, our new dwarf friend can provide us with services that not even we are capable of on our own. Albedo, observe Cocytus' halberd."
Albedo approached Cocytus, who presented the weapon to her. She looked it over.
"It has been altered…" she said with disdain. "Cocytus, you permitted a lower life form to impose its will over that of your own creator?"
Ainz stepped in in Cocytus' defense. "Yes, Brok worked on it. My appraisal spell shows that its stats have been improved by 20 points, without using data crystals at all."
The Guardians, except for Cocytus, gasped gently from wonder. Cocytus filled in the silence.
"Lord. Ainz. Is. Exceedingly. Wise. He. Has. Brought. The. Dwarf. Brok. Into. Our. Service. In. A. Single. Conversation."
"As expected of Lord Ainz," said Demiurge proudly. "He can fold kingdoms and empires like paper and pocket them in day! What can He not do?"
"Ahem… yes. Indeed, Demiurge. Now, we have garnered some interesting information from him as well. This puts a good deal of recent events into context. The 'player' from the Holy Kingdom is none other than Thor Odinson himself."
"The return of YGGDRASIL entities puts a great deal of recent events into context," said Demiurge thoughtfully.
Shalltear turned the page back to the letter T. "Hmm… this is a long one… it makes sense though that'd he'd interfere for some pathetic humans. Seems like he has a soft spot for them, according to this. He's got positive karma, but less than Tyr. He hates the Jötnar and is supposed to fight Jörmungandr to the death at Ragnarök. He's the strongest of the Aesir but his father Odin is the King of Asgard… let's see… S… letter R… Q… letter O… Odin!"
"What does that one say?" asked Ainz.
"He's called the 'Allfather.' Almost neutral karma. Really strong with magic. It says Odin was able to use runes and create Metamagic after sacrificing one of his eyes at a magic well near the roots of the World Tree. He is the creator of the 100 spells in the Allfather's Wisdom DLC. He also has some incredible equipment, made by dwarves again… mainly Gungnir, a spear that is said will never miss its target and defies even the sturdiest defenses, and Draupnir, a ring that spawns eight more of itself every nine days."
"That spear sounds troublesome… This might not go anywhere, but is there information of anything Odin could have that can achieve irresistible mind-control? World Items or equivalent?"
"Nothing in this entry, Lord Ainz."
"Hmm… well, no matter. Go to the library and get copies of the information in here made. We can have the librarians sift through the encyclopedia for more information."
"Of course, Lord Ainz. I'll have them even copy the sacred notes of Lord Pereroncino!"
"Ah, uh, n-no need for that," interrupted Ainz hastily. Knowing Pereroncino, most of those notes are probably super horny or perverted… can't have Aura and Mare seeing that before they're ready for the… er… Talk. Oh god, the Talk! Relax, Ainz, that won't be for a couple decades at least.
"Huh?!"
"Your original copy would lose its unique qualities if everyone had one. Just have the librarians copy the official encyclopedia information and distribute it, keeping the personalized one for yourself."
"Oh, such a considerate thing to suggest! I shall do as You command!" Such a thing might have sounded passive-aggressive coming from anyone outside of Nazarick, but with Shalltear it was quite genuine. In a magic flash, the vampire was gone.
"Now then, five of the Nine Realms of YGGDRASIL have opened to us. Asgard, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, and of course, Jotunheim are barred to us. We could try Helheim since it is friendly to heteromorphs. We can see what's there. [Gate]." The portal shimmered as it appeared. "I will be right back." Ainz passed through. The rest of the Guardians, with bated breath, waited for him to return. After a few moments, Ainz came back and closed the [Gate]. "Curious…"
"Lord Ainz?" asked Albedo.
"It seems more like Niflheim than anything else. It isn't exactly dark there like in YGGDRASIL, but it is incredibly cold, even for me."
"That is odd," mused Demiurge. "Lord Ainz, may I present a theory to the others? I would not address it to You, per se, since I presume it has already crossed Your mind."
"Of course." What's he thinking? I don't get what's going on right now! Why is Helheim so different and cold?!
"Thank You, Lord Ainz. Let the rest of us examine the established facts. The non-aggression of the World Serpent to neutral and high karma individuals could be excused as lucky chance. A difference in the apparent reputation of the Aesir from the dwarf Brok and the Aesirs' recorded karma is another difference of interest, although it requires further confirmation. And now, the radical difference between this Helheim from the one in YGGDRASIL demands the conclusion that this is not the YGGDRASIL we know of at all, but one quite similar to it, like in a distorted mirror. That being said, it would be dangerous for us to rely on our information from the previous world verbatim, especially concerning entities from YGGDRASIL we encounter that are powerful and hostile. We may even discover utterly different magic systems than the ones we are familiar with. Am I in error, Lord Ainz?"
"No, Demiurge. Well done."
"You are too kind, my Lord."
Ainz thought for a moment. This is dangerous but also a great opportunity. I might be able to advance some of the other things I want to do for the Guardians' personal development, thanks to what's going on. I could get the twins to Alfheim or something to find their own people. If memory serves, both light and dark elves lived in Alfheim while the dwarves lived in Nidavellir… I kept hearing all this stuff about Svartalfheim, however, but it's clearly not a realm, since it's not available via [Gate].
"Hmm… Aura, Mare. Take the rest of the day off. Tomorrow, I want you to gear up. Ensure you have your World Items. Prepare some of your pets as well. Tomorrow, you are going to Alfheim."
Author's Note: I swear each chapter is getting longer and longer. The actual crossover stuff begins! Huzzah!
