A/N) Ho-boy. Real chatty chapter this time. I kinda wanted to skip a lot of this, but didn't want to snub a character introduction nor skip past too much with just a "and he told them all in great detail" explanation.
It was still real fun to write, but I wonder if it'll be fun to read.
I feel as if I'm pretty okay at writing interactions between two (maybe three) characters, but this whole "addressing an entire crowd" thing is real difficult (sorry each individual NPC, you'll get your time in the limelight).
This chapter turned out waaaay longer than it had any right to be. Had I kept going it probably would have been 2 times longer, since there is a lot to do before Ainz inevitably takes on the guise of Momon. ...Maybe an Intermission chapter to tackle the less vital (but still fun) things I wanted to write?
Chapter 6 - Yggdrasil 102
Somewhere, deep inside a vast plain filled with undead, a great structure lies buried beneath the surface. Miles of labyrinthine tunnels and dead-end rooms eventually gave way to great vistas one would rarely see on the surface world, let alone in a tomb deep underground.
And behind it all, behind terrible monsters and demons, behind devious traps and hostile environments, lies a throne.
Despite not looking gaudy and beyond luxurious it would still look overly well-crafted even in the finest of throne rooms, but within the ludicrously expensive walls of Nazarick it fit in perfectly.
Beautiful servants dressed in extravagant clothing were lined up by the entrance of the great hall, all manners of beings now filled the room, awaiting the next words of their beloved master. In spite of the crowd, each and every inch of the room seemed immaculate, as if it were the homestead of deities having taken shape in a mortal plane.
And depending on who you asked, the owner of this place may very well be a god.
And indeed the very same owner sat upon the aforementioned throne. Wearing a flowing onyx robe of unknown material, each string that it was made of was worth more than the combined lifetime earnings of countless peasants. This king was no meagre human. With wings and radiant halo of full display, one could make no mistake regarding his race.
The Supreme One's visage blended with the divine room he was situated in as well as the golden staff he held. All his divine light standing in contrast to the clothes of obsidian brilliance. Before the Fallen Angel, numerous beings of various shapes and sizes stood kneeling before their (un)holy king.
From a sizeable humanoid bug to a small, frail-looking elf in a skirt, they were all lined up before their purpose. Their Supreme Being. Eyes glimmering, their faces shone with a look that put their reverence for the angelic king on full display.
Beyond the Guardians the room was filled to the point of bursting with other denizens and servants, all having attended at the behest of their venerable master. Soaking up every word of his announcement.
"... I trust there should be no further questions?" Ainz's elegant voice echoed through the room, powerful to say the least. There was not a hint of doubt or forced authority in the tone. 'Regal' was the only word to describe it.
Those who had never sworn allegiance to the being that spoke would still be compelled to follow directives given by it. As for the Guardians of the tomb, the voice alone was proof enough that their perfect king was in full control of every situation.
Almost immediately his question was and was met with an resounding confirmation. It was done. He had declared his intentions of spreading the name of the guild far and wide. This goal had been burnt into the minds of all loyal servants, who will endeavour to see his will through to the end.
It was the will of Momonga, leader of the 41 Supreme Beings, now to be known as "Ainz Ooal Gown" to the outside world. The Guardians stood looking at the leader, admiration evident on their faces. As bombastic and sudden as the announcement had been, there were no doubts or worries among them.
Though never explicitly stated, his goal was obvious; to bring this world under the banner of Ainz Ooal Gown.
He knew all and had hidden countless stratagems and plans behind every move he made. Whatever the choice was, there would always be wind in their sail should they follow the decree of the Supreme One. Demiurge, one of the greatest minds in the Tomb repressed a shudder of excitement when trying to see through his master's potential plans to conquer this world.
What inhuman thoughts and inconceivably complex ideas drifted through the Supreme Being's head at this moment?
Oh my God what is this about?!
Ainz could see them looking at him with wide eyes. Though some servants were easier to understand, getting a good read on Sebas or Albedo was a lost cause. This alone set the Supreme One on edge. If he had the ability to perspire he would be sweating icy bullets in spite of his outwardly collected appearance.
Ugh... I'm so lame...! They all saw how I went hard on the "legendary guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown" roleplay with the scripture and my announcement, didn't they? Gotta admit, it didn't feel like roleplay in the moment... Let's hope they don't think less of me because of it.
Of course, the servant's impression of their leader crossed the line of fanaticism, viewing him in only the most positive light. Though Momonga's paranoia didn't allow him that perspective. At least he was confident in that none of them would try to kill him, but there would still be opportunities where he could be proven wrong.
Silently clearing his throat, the fallen angel steeled himself to continue with the best possible poker face he could muster.
"Now. All but the Floor Guardians and the Pleiades are dismissed." The Supreme Being spoke calmly, making it easy for the duller creatures to catch on. For the announcement he had the Guardians gather a wide variety of inhabitants to ensure that the news spread quickly. For this next part, only the most important NPCs were needed.
"ALL HAIL AINZ OOAL GOWN!" A cacophany of roars, grumbles, gurgles and cheers met his orders as the myrriad of servants gave their best salutations. Slowly but surely, the varied creatures left the throne room until the flow slowed to a trickle. All manners of beings were now returning to their stations, from dainty maids to hulking amalgamations.
... I wonder if they tracked mud, gravel and slime all over the carpet. Not that I would mind all that much, but I feel as if I should personally apologize to the poor maid left with the duty of cleaning it up.
Eventually, all that remained were the level 100 NPCs, the Pleiades and Ainz himself. Part of the Supreme Being wanted to heave a sigh of relief now that the room wasn't so crowded. But the stares of the remaining subordinates made it difficult.
"Today marks the first contact with the locals of this world." The Supreme One declared, his blue eyes slowly sweeping over the servants, allowing them to giddily bask in his attention. Due to the importance of the matter at hand, however, none of them fully relaxed.
The reactions were varied. Shalltear and Cocytus appeared to shift, eager to get into a scuffle and prove their worth, as is the purpose of their creation. Demiurge awaited more information with a seemingly amicable smile, presumably determining what schemes could be applied depending on Ainz's observations.
Mare just seemed jittery. In other words not all that different from normal. Even then it seemed as if he had gained a bit of courage from the presence of his sister and his master. The fallen angel ceased his inspection there, deciding that it was enough dramatic buildup (especially since it lacked a drum roll). Timing was a vital aspect of performance, as he had learned from Bukubukuchagama and Ulbert. No point in drawing it out.
"... They were all pitifully weak." He spoke sombrely, almost as if he felt second hand embarrassment from the local populace's own shortcomings. The words ended up sounding harsher than intended, as all the positive traits of humanity he had listed in Carne still rang true. But in terms of levels as a power-scale, his cynical observation held water.
If the small sample size he had experienced was indicative of the entire world, then a single Floor Guardian would be enough to trounce a global superpower. Then again, there was the other factor to consider. But first, the briefing.
Upon hearing the estimate, Demiurge's smile seemed to grow a bit more malicious. So too did mocking and derisive smiles flit across Solution, Naberal and Lupusregina's features. That being said, nobody spoke up, as they were patiently waiting for their respected leader to finish.
"Do keep in mind that we cannot afford to take the residents of this world lightly." The Supreme Being's voice dropped a few octaves as he leaned forward in the throne, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
"Explicitly revealing ourselves as a major power would be a critical error. Until we have a deeper understanding of the nations and their combat potential, it is imperative that we do not publicly engage unknown factors without proper consideration." The angel leaned back once again, allowing the guild weapon to hover ominously beside him.
"A few of these variables have already been unearthed during the first excursion out of the Tomb, that you may or may not have participated in." Momonga acknowledged how he had set up an ambush to no avail, and hoped that nobody would call him out on that. Much to his delight, nobody did. "... Sebas, if you will."
"As you wish, my lord." The head butler stood up straight, walked forward and swivelled precisely 180 degrees to face his colleagues. It was done so swiftly and so fluidly that Ainz could swear that it had been practised a hundred times beforehand. The Floor Guardians raised their heads, curiously looking towards the iron butler who had brought out the map procured from the village.
"The Great Tomb of Nazarick is currently situated near the Katze Plains and the Great Forest of Tob, both of which lies within the confines of the Re-Estize Kingdom." Sebas explained crisply, pointing towards a crude red "X" that had been drawn on the map. Despite the map being quite small and the Guardians being a fair distance away, their enhanced senses made it easy to make out the finer details.
Sebas went on to explain the geography and surrounding nations in greater detail while Ainz metaphorically twiddled his thumbs, desperately thinking up what his next orders should be. None of the NPCs present seemed to notice that their master was off in his own little world.
Ahh... I won't be able to keep up at this rate. I feel as if I need to double my vocabulary just to talk to my subordinates! Wonder if they have thesauruses in the library of Ashurbanipal to help with that.
... Thesauruses...? Thesauri? Oh dear, it's like the "mooses" versus "meese" debate between Peroroncino and Punitto Moe all over again. The correct plural turned out to be simply "moose". Maybe that applies to this as well.
"... Finally, we encountered a few warriors of this world." This garnered the attention of everybody present. Sure, the mood wasn't as tense as it could be, as Ainz already revealed how weak the opposition was. Then again, knowing your enemy is the most vital aspect to the success of any plan.
"As my lord has debriefed already, the average combatant is exceptionally weak. By my estimate, the average soldier falls between level 10 and 18, with the more experienced possibly breaking past level 20."
This earned a few chuckles, sneers and laughs from the audience. Albedo wore a beautiful smile that belied her dark thoughts, whereas Shalltear made no attempt to hide her scorn with a mocking laugh and cruel grin.
"I suppose this is to be expected for lower lifeforms~ arinsu." Her chipper and bright voice rang out.
"... Indeed. It would appear that we must temper our expectations in regards to this world." The sharply dressed devil spoke with a sinister gleam in his crystal eyes. "Though being unable to oppose the absolute will of the Supreme One is more so a virtue than a sin."
"Regrettable. But. A. Warrior. Cannot. Be. Measured. By. Level. Alone. One. Must. Take. Into. Account. Their. Spirit. And. Willpower." With every guttural syllable uttered by the massive insectoid, the moisture in the air froze into light-refracting crystals. His breath was like the kiss of early winter, bringing ice and snow with it.
"Many. Times. I. Have. Faced. Opponents. Weaker. Than. Myself." Cocytus paused and shook his head. "Yet. Those. Who. Shone. Shone. Brighter. Than. Warriors. Mightier. Than. Themselves."
The Vermin Lord's musings had attracted the attention of everybody present, weighing his words. Though the Guardian Overseer normally would have cut him off and told the frigid insect to save his sappy speech until after the briefing, Ainz's words from earlier seemed to align with Cocytus' current train of thought.
That even the weak were not to be underestimated.
Though the succubus didn't quite understand thea meaning of it yet. As she listened, so too did Ainz tune in, paying close attention albeit for a different reason. The Guardian of The Glacier had mentioned fighting others (presumably to the death). Nobody had invaded the Tomb since they got here, meaning he was reminiscing over time spent in the game.
... I wonder... How do they remember Yggdrasil? The NPCs don't seem to act like they've only recently gained sentience. Maybe I should ask them what it was like for them back then.
Cocytus made strange clicking sounds with his mandibles before pressing on. "Many. Warriors. Bent. But. Did. Not. Break. Even. In. The. Face. Of. An. Opponent. They. Could. Not. Hope. To. Defeat." The insectoid lowered his head a little. "As. Momonga-sama. Said. We. Should. Not. Underestimate. The. Warriors. Of. This. World."
"Excellent." The overlord himself spoke in a voice clear as crystal, causing the heads of everybody present to snap to him. "Pride comes before the fall. Whether they are able to hurt us or not, we should take into account every possibility. The inhabitants of this world could cause trouble without explicitly being able to bring us immediate physical harm."
"Yes!"/"Understood, my lord."/"As you command, Momonga-sama." Affirmations came from every NPC present. Clearing his throat, the fallen angel focused on bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"Sebas. Please tell them of Gazef Stronoff and the Sunlight Scripture."
Albedo's ears perked up.
'To have committed this individual to name... He must be very important to Momonga-sama. Which would mean that my love already has included him in his plans. Is it about conquering this "Re-Estize kingdom"?' She thought.
If Ainz knew of Albedo's presumption he would be very worried about the prospects of coming up with a nation-toppling plot just because he mentioned somebody by name. As they say, ignorance is bliss.
"Of course, my lord." The draconic butler gave a quick bow before turning to face his comrades. "Upon eliminating the weaker infantry and acquiring information from the elder of Carne Village, a band of warriors entered the village perimeter."
"This band was led by the titular Gazef Stronoff, a- by my estimate- level 30 to 40 sword-wielding warrior. Sent by the king of Re-Estize, Ramposa The Third, he was in Carne Village to dispatch of the scoundrels we had neutralized. Master Momonga made the decision to leave the live prisoners to the Warrior-Captain in hope of forging positive relations."
"The attack on Carne revealed itself to be a trap created to assassinate sir Stronoff. I believe the remainder of the story is widely known already, as you personally witnessed the situation from a distance. I'm also certain that lord Demiurge personally visited our new arrivals, who are now being tended to by Neuronist Painkill." Sebas subtly shot the devil in the striped suit a glare, who in turn simply smiled innocently.
"In broad strokes, that should be all." The butler declared, idly straightening out his uniform.
"Quite." Ainz affirmed. "Most details won't be important right now as you will be briefed with the most vital points when necessary, and if you're in need of more information... I suppose waiting for the Sunlight Scripture to offer up some trivia wouldn't be an entirely ineffectual strategy." A dark chuckle escaped the fallen one's lips as he imagined the self-righteous captain waking up in his less than pleasant new home.
This too seemed to rouse some amusement in the more vicious listeners.
Well. Onto the main course. Other than the declaration that I would wanted to be called Ainz Ooal Gown outside the Tomb, this is the reason I wanted to speak to the Guardians and Pleiades.
"Please stand up." The Supreme Being himself also fixed his posture, appearing more serious and focused. "This will require your fullest attention, more so than anything else tonight." With those words, the Guardians rose from their kneeling position. Ainz wondered if it had been cruel or unpleasant of him to not offer them this luxury earlier.
Maybe taking something like that into consideration was overly cautious or even downright paranoid (like every other thing Ainz had done since he got here).
But with the worst case scenarios in mind, it would be more than justified to pull out all the stops.
"How many of you are familiar with World-Class Items?" Silence ensued.
'This is my little beginners guide on how to dominate the Yggdrasil PvP experience. I hope you're taking notes, 'cause information doesn't come cheap in normal circumstances.' The Supreme Being grinned internally, finally feeling as if he was in his element again.
I'd say that Yggdrasil 101 would be how equipment, spells, abilities and racial traits synergize, along with basic common sense. Like; "don't pick a fight with someone ten levels above you".
This, however, is Yggdrasil 102. Aptly titled "how to avoid being stomped by an inferior Player wielding a World Item".
Really the answer is simple. One just has to ensure you don't get caught by it in the first place, preventing the effects by either wielding an item of your own, or just not bothering fighting them at all. There are more steps in case the first two don't work out.
Things aren't always so easy. Some preventative measures only work if you know beforehand that the enemy is carrying a World-Class Item, or if you are aware of the exact effect.
But one fascinating aspect of World-Class Items are their design. Some wield real bulky, obvious items as deterrence- to ensure that nobody picks a fight. Others, myself included, prefer the more discrete approach.
... Like a single inconspicuous ring hidden beneath a gloved hand.
After all, a dagger stings more when the victim doesn't know that they're about to receive a kidney piercing.
The first to speak up was the Guardian Overseer, who appeared a little bit shaken up by the question.
"Forgive me this narrowminded servant, Momonga-sama. I have not heard of these World-Class Items of which you speak." The breathtaking beauty spoke swiftly before bowing down. In her mind she had failed her love once before, when failing to understand what a "GM-call*" was. This was equivalent to making yet another misstep and coming up short.
Her worries ended up setting off the remaining servants.
"Um-! S-sorry my lord...! I, I don't know what that is!" Mare stuttered forth and bowed deeply while stuttering, tears threatening to overflow.
"My. Ignorance. Is. Inexcusable. Please. Bestow. Upon. This. Pitiable. Servant. A. Morsel. Of. Thine. Supreme. Knowledge."
Like a line of dominoes they all ended up either bowing or falling to their knees, more often than not apologizing profusely, having been given the impression that they were in the wrong. The only one not being swept away entirely was Demiurge, who was a cut above the rest in independence and free thought.
Of course, he too felt the pressure upon seeing his colleagues react so fearfully. This coupled with Ainz's mentioning of the subject's importance made the devil buckle a bit under the pressure. In the end, he too stood kneeling before the baffled angelic overlord.
What... What just happened? Was I too intimidating when asking the question...? Should I be a bit more gentle with them? I just asked a question that I kinda already knew the answer to. They shouldn't have to kneel and scrape just because of that...
... Children. They really are children. Afraid of disappointing their parents when they do something they think is wrong.
That realization was both disturbing and calming in some bizarre way. On one hand, he was trying to conquer the world with what- in his eyes- amounted to kids. The children of his friends, as he now came to understand. On the other hand, it gave him a sense of authority and security.
This alone was enough to put the fallen angel at ease for a bit, knowing that they were loyal and eager to please, and that he could still remain in control. That being said, he was the one that had to play the part of the responsible, dependable adult. Resisting the urge to groan, the Supreme Being made an effort to comfort his followers.
"At ease. I was not expecting any of you to know of these World-Class Items beforehand. Which is why it is imperative that I explain and you listen." With those words, the NPCs unwound, seeming less nervous than before. They quickly shifted back into position, eager to learn more.
Intense eyes of azurlite blue bore into their forms as the Supreme One's aura seemed to grow heavier. It felt as if the fallen angel was peering into the very essences of their beings, gauging their worth. A few shuddered, other froze under such scrutiny. With a soft sigh the Supreme Being looked away, allowing his divine light to dim slightly.
Ainz had no intentions of measuring anybody's value or scrutinize any of the NPCs. He was just thinking of the best method of carrying himself without seeming scary or overbearing, blissfully unaware that he had accomplished the exact opposite that he had set out to do.
Ah. Just talk. Keep a gentle, civilised tone and don't seem too judgemental. They'll catch on. I'll really have to go to Ashurbanipal and get one of those books about how to be a better boss... Assuming they have copies of anything relevant.
"I trust you are all familiar with the application of magic items, whether take the shape of weapons, armor or otherwise." His statement garnered a few confirmations from the servants. "The core principles remain unchanged. But to place World-Class Items in the same league as any regular piece of gear- divine or not- could prove fatal."
"... It is said that these 'World Items' are molded from leaves of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. As such, it would be safe to say that they each carry the power of a world." Ainz paused for dramatic effect, and to let the words sink in. "To face an enemy with a World Item without possessing one of your own would result in a severe disadvantage in the best case scenario."
"A World Item have a multitude of effects, whether they are greatly beneficial to the user or harmful to the enemy. Take for example the spear that slew gods; [Longinus]. An item that allows the wielder to instantly erase a target from reality, leaving them no chance of being resurrected. The victim and wielder's powers are irrelevant. And everybody is at risk, whether they are human, Floor Guardian or Supreme Being. There is no natural defence."
The last two sentences struck a chord, and the tremendous threat that the World-Class Items posed came to light. The idea that there existed magic items that could defeat Supreme Beings without a fight was an incomprehensible thought. Had this piece of information come from anybody else but the leader of the 41 Supreme Beings it may have been disregarded as hogwash, or landed the speaker a spot in the frozen prison for heresy.
For Momonga himself to reveal this with a straight face was downright terrifying to the listeners. And Aura was the first to voice those fears.
"D-did anybody ever use it on a Supreme Being...?" Her words hit hard, and it seemed as if a few of the Pleiades stiffened up or held their breath.
There used to be 41 Supreme Beings. Eventually, they slowly stopped showing up for reasons that went unexplained. Of course it would be preposterous to claim that all of them had died, but the idea that even one of them, most of all their own creator, had suffered such an end was... Heartbreaking. And beyond that, enraging.
For a Supreme Being killed by [Longinus] be unable to be brought back to life further fuelled worry and anger.
"... Our enemies did make an attempt on my life with [Longinus], yes." Time seemed to stop for a solid moment before the atmosphere turned. The first thing Ainz noticed was Albedo shaking.
Ah, I must have upset her. Does it really bother them that much talking about something that has happened already? Mayb-
"WHAT?!" Albedo snapped Ainz out of his internal musings with a shrill roar that nearly caused the fallen angel to jump out of his seat. "Howdaretheyhowdaretheyhowdaretheyhowdaretheyhowdarethey-! Those worthless, festering wastes of skin-!" In one swift motion one of her weapons- [Ginnungagap]- was pulled out of her inventory, ready to grind something- anything- into mulch.
The normally composed and alluring demoness kept spewing profanities, her beauty spoilt by the state of berserker rage she had worked herself into. All while the Supreme Being looked on boggle eyed.
Is... Is anybody gonna stop her...? No? Are they just waiting for her temper to die down? Should I say something? Oh dear God, why the World Item? Is it because that was the last thing she was equipped with...?
A quick inspection revealed that the remaining NPCs weren't too far off the Guardian Overseer's mood, merely doing a better job hiding it. None of them wanted to stop their supervisor, who was doing an excellent job representing the thoughts of everybody present.
Momonga coughed, once again drawing their attention. "Albedo. Your anger is duly noted, now please compose yourself." The Supreme Being's calm and steady voice was like a bucket of icy water, immediately dousing the succubus' fury. She quickly prostrated herself, kneeling with her head hanging low.
"Forgive me, Momonga-sama!" The beauty spoke in a solemn tone, completely devoid of the hatred that had been so apparent moments prior. "I've revealed an unsightly side of myself." She was still tightly gripping [Ginnungagap], which the angel was eyeing warily.
*Sigh*. Tabula, was it really that difficult to just teleport to the treasury and store it there? Just handing your NPC a World Item is a bit... Reckless.
Or maybe you cared about Albedo enough to equip her extremely well.
The fallen angel sincerely hoped it wasn't his latter rationalization, as it would mean that the Guardian Overseer was genuinely important to the mind flayer Player. Something that made Ainz's tampering of her options all the more egregious.
I'm overthinking this. He just did it because it was the end of the game. He couldn't possibly predict that this would happen after the Yggdrasil servers shut down.
"My lord, if I may..." Demiurge made good use of his master's silence to cut in. "... You stated that there existed no 'natural' defence. Could you explain how you overcame this World-Class Item?"
"Demiurge-! Are you doubting Momonga-sama's word?" Aura said gaumlessly, having misinterpreted the devil's inquiry as him questioning the Supreme One. Her accusation also earned the sharply dressed demon a shockingly confident and angry glare from Mare.
He frowned with knitted brows, evidently displeased that his comrades would even dream up such a preposterous idea. "I wouldn't dare!" He stated with vexation evident in his tone.
"I was merely asking for a clarification, as our lord's careful usage of words implies the existence of an 'unnatural' form of defence against these World-Class Items. Supposedly also tying in to Momonga-sama's ability to triumph in a confrontation with a wielder of this so called '[Longinus]'."
With that explanation, Aura calmed down and sheepishly scratched her head. "Oh, sorry~!" She spoke in an innocently playful tone more befitting of her age, a goofy smile plastered on her childlike face.
"What Demiurge has surmised is indeed correct." Momonga confirmed with a nod, reminiscing his run-in with [Longinus]. The Guardians looked on, eagerly awaiting his explanation.
Upon using 'The Spear that Slew Gods', the target would be erased from existence. However, so too will the user be deleted. In short, the Player's avatar is rendered inert and unable to be brought back unless some other World Item was involved. The wielder in question was quite ill-equipped, which stands to reason that it was a dummy account of sorts.
Since one needed a citizen ID hooked up to your DVR-set to play the game, creating alternate accounts was a no go. Suzuki had theorized that the offender in question likely was a hired third party targeting the guildmaster of the 9th ranked guild in Yggdrasil.
Still, it was a bit naive and poorly thought out to attack such a person without considering the possibility of them being a World Item holder.
"-If an individual were to wield a World-Class Item, they would be exempt from the effects of World Items targeting that directly affect them." A triumphant smile stole Momonga's face as he stood up from the throne in a magnificent flourish. "As Ainz Ooal Gown, the Supreme Beings have fought and claimed 11 of 200 World Items for ourselves!" He spoke with not a little pride.
The NPCs started beaming, beyond elated hearing about the successes of their creators. Items that wielded the might of a world... For the 41 to acquire 11 of them was nothing short of amazing, if their leader's confidence was anything to go by.
"The reason I've told you all this was for the sake of precaution." The fallen angel declared. "[Longinus] is but one of hundreds of these items, some with far more dangerous effects than simply costing you a fight. ... Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes Momonga-sama!" Their voices reached his ears in perfect unison.
"Good. Though it is still far too early for larger expeditions out of the Tomb, when the time is right, all level 100 denizens are to be equipped with World-Class Items upon entering the outside world." Ainz avoided using the word 'NPCs' since he wasn't aware of their knowledge of game terminology. Evidently they knew a little, since they hadn't questioned his usage of levels prior.
"M-Momonga-sama, can we really hold something that the Supreme Beings had worked so hard to get?" The dark-elf girl asked, seeming a little more like her brother in that moment. To the fallen angel she sounded like a kid asking her parents if they really really weren't kidding about getting her a puppy. He simply returned a reassuring smile.
"Ara ara~. The brat claimed that Demiurge opposed our gentle and wise master, yet proceeds to do so herself." The alabaster beauty brought a hand to her mouth and giggled haughtily. "Surely even you realize that it is quite foolish to call into question Momonga-sama's decisions, arinsuka?" Shalltear's cerulean eyes bore into Aura's petite form as the latter began to shrink back a little.
Taking Ainz's comforting smile into consideration, the dark-elf regained composure and donned a more confident, stoic expression.
"Yeah. Whatever you say, washboard." She fired back, garnering a blush and indignant sputtering from the true vampire. "I was being polite and grateful. It seems like you don't appreaciate the honor that has been bestowed on us." The strongest out the Floor Guardians seemed ready to continue bickering, but was interrupted by Cocytus.
"SILENCE." His voice boomed. "This. Is. The. Second. Time. Our. Master. Has. Had. To. Witness. A. Shameful. Display. Caused. By. You. Two." Upon hearing his words, the two offenders knelt down once more, apologizing to the overlord.
Demiurge idly scratched his temple, seemingly embarrassed by the way his comrades acted. Albedo would have personally stepped in and given the two a severe admonishing for such petty behavior before the Supreme One. Though she was a bit busy staring at the glorious smile on Ainz's face to really care.
A genuine smile indeed, originally meant to comfort Aura, though it eventually turned into one borne of amusement and curiosity derived from witnessing his servants' behavior.
Huh. I wonder if they turned out like their creators wanted them to. They're so... Real. I can't believe they all started off as nothing more than a bit of fluff text. Insignificant lore with no impact on the game. Especially Shalltear, who just started off as Peroroncino's excuse to create a list of exotic fetishes.
How far could it go? If one were to write something extremely outlandish that doesn't at all pertain to personality traits, what would happen then? If I wrote 'invincible', 'omnipotent' or ' avatar of a dark god' in an NPC's description...? Would an actual evil god be created to ensure what I wrote came true?
His smile had turned into a more thoughtful expression partway through that internal monologue, something the prostrating Guardians interpreted as displeasure. Ainz quickly quashed those worries.
"Rest easy, Shalltear, Aura. Your squabble was of no concern to me." The fallen angel leaned back in his throne, feeling the cold, stony exterior pushing towards him. He made a mental note of fetching a pillow the next time he had to do this. "... Now, where was I... Oh yes. To answer your question, Aura, all the Guardians- including Sebas- are welcome to equip themselves with these World-Class Items."
Ainz nervously ran a delicate hand through his platinum hair, still adjusting to the silkiness and color.
"... I would also want to equip the Pleiades with World Items, though their lower level is a cause for concern. The Guardians are better suited to protect such valuable gear." He turned towards Yuri Alpha, oldest of the Pleiades Six Stars. "I hope you can forgive me for that." The angel said earnestly.
The combat maid almost immediately grew panicky, seeing the leader of the Tomb apologizing.
"M-Momonga-sama..." Lupusregina Beta all but yelped. Naberal, Entoma, Shizu and Solution looked anxiously between the Supreme Being and their eldest sister, clearly waiting for the latter to say something.
"P-please, Momonga-sama! There is no need to ask forgiveness for something so utterly trivial! To carry such items are an honor delegated to Supreme Beings and their most trusted subordinates, let alone ourselves."
Yuri downplayed the importance of the Pleiades. She and her sisters had never truly been in a proper fight, since no intruder had made it so far. In truth the lack of work had frayed her nerves and curbed her self confidence.
"How are you so certain that you and your sisters aren't among my most trusted servants?" The Supreme Being asked softly. Yuri immediately started to blush. This also elicited a response from all combat maids, save for Entoma and Shizu. The eldest sister stuttered, attempting to think of a proper way answering his question.
I trust all of you about equally. As for whether that is a compliment or not... That remains to be seen.
"... No matter." Ainz pressed on. "As items from Yggdrasil have found themselves into this world, we must also ascertain whether or not World Items also exist here. Unfortunately we cannot provide unlimited protection for all servants, so I ask of you; please remain safe." The fallen angel paused, considering the creations of his friends who had achieved sentience. In spite of his slight distrust and wariness, he came to a conclusion.
"... You are all important to me." He spoke sombrely. "Should you be sent on a mission outside of the Tomb, then returning home safely should be a top priority." Sure enough, NPCs could be revived infinitely assuming one had enough funds. Whether or not this function still existed in the New World was something Ainz was in no hurry to find out.
All servants present seemed moved by their leader's empathy, with the impressionable elven children looking up at him with glittering eyes and wide smiles. The look on their face could only be described as admiration, something the angel's increased vigilance quickly picked up on. He cringed internally, feeling the usual nervous tingle in his gut.
They say "keep your expectations low and you will never be disappointed", which seems correct. Therefore the opposite will also be true. So what on Earth will these people be in for when I mess up?
The overlord clapped his hands together with a forced smile. "Then this will be all. I shall see to it that World-Class Items are delivered to you when the need arises. The one exception would be Albedo, who has been gifted a World Item- [Ginnungagap]- by her creator."
The succubus' eyes widened as she looked down at the staff in her hands. She clutched it close, muttering her creator's name to herself. So too did her colleagues stare at the legendary item in wonder, deep down feeling somewhat miffed that they hadn't been gifted such an item by their most important person.
Right. How does one dismiss a court? Do I just make an excuse and leave...? No. Just go with the flow, hopefully they won't mind it.
"If there are no further questions, I will be excusing myself." Ainz looked towards a certain devil in a suit. "We shall discuss future moves in greater detail tomorrow, Demiurge, Albedo."
"Yes, my lord."/"Of course, Momonga-sama!" With a jovial expression adorning his face and a swaying tail, the demon lord's excitement couldn't be more apparent.
With a nod, the fallen angel retreated with the [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown].
A mere moment later, Ainz groaned loudly, allowing the pent up tension leave his body. He wanted nothing more that to collapse in his warm bed despite wearing a [Ring of Sustenance]. But he couldn't do it. Not yet. There was one more thing to do.
Right here. In the vault, where only those equipped with a [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown] could tread. He had slipped on a few poison-immunity items while still in the throne room, and they were coming in handy with the air down here. With a heavy sigh the Supreme Being steeled himself for what was to come.
His creation was waiting just up ahead.
x=x=X=x=x
Pandora's Actor was in a fantastic mood. Not to insinuate that he was downcast or otherwise unhappy before, but rather that his joy had shot through the roof. Spending time in the treasury surrounded by amazing magic items was the perfect job, and there would be no greater honor than taking care of the amassed wealth of the 41 Supreme Beings.
One could even call it a purpose.
Then again, there always existed a slight discontentment with what he did. Being able to indirectly serve his creator and the other 40 Gods were more than enough motivation for him, though the doppelganger shared one pivotal trait with his compatriots. And that was the yearning to directly aid his master. For his skills as a combatant, schemer and actor to play a role in whatever job (beyond guarding the vault) Momonga would assign him.
As for whether or not he would receive such an honor was debatable, but one thing was for sure; his esteemed creator was here. Just now, a presence had entered the area one room over. The only ones capable of such a feat would be the 41 Supreme Beings, of which only his master was present.
The doppelganger's heart filled with joy as he straightened out his uniform, wanting to look only the very best before his creator. So too should Momonga be received with the most enthusiastic of salutes.
Pandora's Actor's suspicions were proven true, as the unmistakable form of his master walked into the room. Just as graceful and just as elegant as the doppelganger had imagined. He clicked his heels together and immediately gave his most vigorous military salute. Upon seeing this, Ainz's face scrunched up.
"MEEEIN FÜHRER~~!" The bowling ball-headed creature shrieked in a dramatic fashion. The fallen angel froze upon hearing his creation's heartfelt outcry, as his glassy gaze suddenly focused on a point 1000 yards away while desperately trying (and failing) to direct his dark thoughts elsewhere.
F-führer...?
Ainz felt a headache come on for what felt like the fifth time that day, as his brain desperately tried to claw its way out of his Supreme skull and flee the scene in embarrassment. With a barely repressed scream of frustration (aimed at the doppelganger's awkwardness and his past self for creating this monstrosity), the fallen angel managed to speak up through gritted teeth.
"... Please. Do. Not. Call. Me. That." He rasped in an accidental imitation of a certain blue Vermin Lord.
The uniform is enough, don't you think?! I like the fashion, but we don't have to go further than that...!
"M-mein F- *ahem*- Mein schöpfer...?" Pandora's Actor stuttered.
I'm not even going to bother asking what that means. Either way it's a step up. Now I'll just ask him about delivering World Items and be done with it already.
He took a deep breath, calming down slightly. His manic energy faded a little, and the angel swore that he would try to keep it formal and civilised.
"Toooo whAAAA~~AAAT DO I OWE the vergnügen, mein schöpfer-?" Pandora's Actor asked upon striking a theatrical pose. Had he been holding a human skull the uniformed doppelganger wouldn't look out of place in a ridiculously overdramatized recreation of Hamlet.
Once again Ainz's calm melted away as his blood-pressure shot into the stratosphere. He stepped in close to the doppelganger, nearly lunging at him.
"Please stop posing-! And no military salutes...!" The fallen angel snarled before raising a hand, stopping the treasurer from protesting. "Just please act normal, like the other Guardians." Ainz didn't bother keeping up the facade of being the ultimate leader. Which in a twist of cosmic irony stemmed from him feeling more at ease with his creation.
"No German either! As your creator, I ask of you to act less like an eccentric, and be more normal. Just Japanese** is enough!" The Supreme Being gesticulated in an overblown fashion, seeming more worked up than ever before.
Pandora's Actor was taken aback, having started to subconsciously lean away from the disgruntled Supreme Being. His logical mind kicked into high gear, considered the preposition before drawing a conclusion. Ainz-sama may have asked him to stop acting the way he did, but didn't really mean it.
His master's request of course had a double meaning. It was like a dance of sorts. The superior (in their humbleness) asks their subordinate to stop being polite and pleasant. It is then the subordinate's turn to put their loyalty on display by being courteous and eager to serve despite the superior's insistence otherwise.
'Yes, that was it! How lucky I am to have a creator so understanding of underlying social norms!' The doppelganger surmised.
"Hoooow could I possibly do that, Momonga-samaaaa~?" Pandora's Actor practically howled, clutching at his chest in an overdone fashion. Ainz's face twisted into a thoroughly unamused grimace. "It is in my very nature~! In mein Blut!" With those words, the overlord stopped. Whatever retort he had planned fell through without being spoken.
All annoyance appeared to drain from the fallen angel, as his face reflected contemplation, then remorse.
"... Yeah. I, I suppose it is in your nature, isn't it? The way you were made?" He stammered forth with less gusto than any previously delivered line. The Supreme Being straightened out his back, no longer hunched over like he was about to pounce his creation.
Pandora's Actor was a bit confused by the sudden shift in atmosphere, but was grateful of the opportunity to straighten out his cap. Momonga frowned as his mind was brought back to Albedo, and how he had adjusted her settings, being the one ultimately responsible for her actions.
Isn't that kinda what's happening here with Pandora's Actor?
Something so insignificant as fluff-text having such an impact on what is now a real, sentient being. If I'm feeling guilty over Albedo for altering but a single line, can I really in good conscience berate a creature entirely of my own making...?
...
No. I can't, Can I? It's a shame that he annoys me as much as he does.
The Supreme Being cleared his throat, making a mental note to go easier on his personal creation in the future.
Since it's my fault, and since I can't change it... I shouldn't be so hard on him, right? I've already compared all the other NPCs to the children of my friends, then wouldn't that make this clown my kid? Maybe not fully so, but for the sake of the comparison...
A terrible father would scream at their child for being different. A good father would scold their child if they were being an upstart. Ugh... This is difficult already.
"M-momonga-sama...?"
"Hm." Ainz just decided on the softer option. "You are right, Pandora's Actor. As you are." The fallen angel thoughtfully scratched his chin as he looked at his creation with a new complex glint in his eyes. Something that the doppelganger completely missed, as he was too busy mentally high-fiving himself for correctly assessing his master's intentions.
'Alright! Now to serve mein führer with renewed enthusiasm!' The treasurer thought to himself.
Ainz cautiously eyed his creation. All NPCs seemed to have nothing but the utmost respect for their creators. Though all words directed towards him were favorable thus far, he hadn't heard anything from his own NPC. The one who is supposedly more devoted than any other. Ignoring his better judgement, he decided to ask.
"Pandora's Actor."
The Area Guardian performed another exaggerated salute. "YEEE~EES-! Mein schöpfer!" He spoke with newfound fervor. The fallen angel's eyebrow twitched.
"What do you think of me?" The Supreme One asked as he drove the guild weapon into the floor with a solid metallic 'thunk'.
"... What I think of your exalted self...?" The doppelganger muttered, raising an abnormal white digit to his face in the facsimile of a contemplative gesture.
"Yes. I wanted to lay a couple of doubts to rest." The angel felt a bit agitated. He was about to hear Pandora's Actor's declaration of loyalty, for better or for worse. A metaphorical look of understanding seemed bloom on the doppelganger's featureless face.
"Hoh~, yes! Have no fear, you look absolutely smashing, Momonga-sama!" The Supreme One's mouth turned into a thin line at the statement.
"That's not..." Noticing the guardian's genuine glee and mirth, Ainz did not press on. "... That's comforting to hear." He said with a sigh. The treasurer inhaled deeply.
"You're fragrant too." The doppelganger commented.
"What."
"Noo~othing."
The Supreme Being's death-stare grew exponentially more intense as the two maintained eye contact. Pandora's Actor quickly crumpled under the pressure, averting his eyes with a nervous cough and a quick apology.
Good lord, these are the types of people I have to work with. Couldn't past me have been a little less terrible? Then I may not have a problem-child on my hands.
The same could probably be said about all other guardians. AAAAAAAH! Why must I be friends with such nutcases?! Except Albedo. That one is my fault again.
Momonga tiredly massaged his eyes. "You know what? Forget it."
"Done!" His creation replied in a carefree tone, earning him another glare from his master.
No need to be so quick to sweep your awkwardness under the rug...! Whatever. I probably didn't want to hear your declaration of loyalty anyways. Time to get on to the meat and potatoes of the matter.
"Unfortunately, this has not been a pleasure trip on my end. I am here on rather important business." Upon hearing this, Pandora's Actor's posture became more serious, indicating that he was listening more intently.
"... I suppose you have not been briefed, and though I won't be going into any detail, but do know that the Great Tomb of Nazarick has found itself in a new location outside of any known world." Pandora's Actor nodded along, his blank face being unable to reveal any surprise.
"I... We have reasons to believe that there may exist World-Class Items. As such, I have authorized all level 100 servants to carry World Items of their own upon leaving the Tomb. As they have no knowledge of the treasury..."
... And 'cause I can't be bothered to give them a tour...
"... It becomes your duty to fetch the World Items from the inner sanctum and deliver them to an assigned Guardian at my behest. In short, you have been granted access to the inner sanctum of the vault, where the Avatara lay."
"My lord...! Am I really worth-"
"Hush. Not another word of 'being worthy' of carrying World Items. I specifically requested it." Ainz snapped.
"Of course, mein schöpfer." Pandora's Actor gave a deep bow with one hand over his heart and the other arm outstretched.
"Do know that you may be called on to perform some duty outside of the Tomb."
Pandora's Actor saluted again, seeming even more fired up. "Jawohl! I shall not let you down, mein schöpfer!"
"If that's the case... Then I shall take my leave. I'll contact you via [Message] next time."
"Yes, mein führer!"
Ainz grimaced at the title, but made no attempt at correcting it. Instead, he simply teleported away, far too exhausted to deal with any more of his servants.
I really, really need a long, hot bath.
And so, the day of the Carne Village incident came to an end.
*When the game becomes real in canon, the first thing Ainz says to Albedo is that "the GM-call feature isn't working" which causes her some distress.
Since I skipped Ainz meeting the Guardians for being too similar to the original, this hasn't changed. Any changes that did end up occurring will be explained with greater detail in the story.
**Technically english right now, but whatever.
