A/N) why is this chapter over 15 000 words and how does this keep happening? If I hadn't split the intermission chapter we would have ended up with a 22 000 word chapter.

Beyond that, there's another reason this chapter took a little while. It's one of the chapters I'm the least confident in. For 4 main reasons:

1) I have to use my smooth brain to come up with ideas/schemes/future plans.

2) The relationships are starting to shift and change from what they are in canon, and how good I am at paying that off remains to be seen. (The Enri-Ainz relationship doesn't count since they barely interact in the original work)

3) Albedo is the character I have the most trouble writing, despite loving her. (Probably made her too calm/non-horny)

4) Ho-ho-holy crap, I had a lot more to say before the Dark Warrior arc than I thought. This might... Drag a bit. Volume 2 and 3 are a bit muddled, so I can't for the life of me remember how or why the NPCs allowed their master to run off and become an adventurer. These last 3 chapters have been all about setting this up, explaining the preparation and why everyone would just go along with it. But dang this is a lot.

...That being said, enjoy the chapter.


Chapter 8 - Doubt and Departure

If Ainz had gotten anything the past couple of days it was a renewed respect for psychologists. Though he had never gone to meet one himself, a couple of his guild mates had shared some negative experiences. Whether it was Ulbert complaining about anger management (probably should have seen that one coming) or Ancient One telling all sorts of horror-stories about bad shrinks.

So too did Touch-Me go on tirades after every mandatory psychological evaluation that came with his job.

Sure enough, their mentality had rubbed off on the guild master, making him doubt the competence of professional therapists. Although whatever doubts he did have has since been put to rest by multiple nerve-racking interactions with all sorts of colorful people. Whether they were Shalltear or Enri.

Either way the angel knew one thing for certain: he wasn't getting paid enough for this. Though it proved a nice distraction from the usual routine. Another skimmed document, another stamp with a satisfying "kadunk".

'Wow that interaction with Shalltear was awkward... Hope I didn't ruin the lofty image I occupied in her mind. Really I just spoke in circles for about a minute...

I'll need some better strategies than throwing items at a problem when it presents itself. Between the goblin horn and the ring I'll end up dirt-poor in less than a month despite my hoarder tendencies.

...Guess I should be thankful all of the chatting with and listening to guild members prepared me for this. When I led Ainz Ooal Gown I was chosen due to my ability to compromise... To get along with the others. This is really not all that different, though I suppose the NPCs have actual expectations.

...

Wait.

Did the other Supreme Beings use me for free therapy?

...

... Oh dear lord, they totally did.'

Ainz groaned internally at the realization and reached over to grab another document. Nothing. There was nothing there. He had gotten through the entire stack. The Supreme Being breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back in the chair.

Angelic eyes swept across the relatively plain office. Sure, it was luxurious to the point of absurdity, though the finest furniture in all of the lands would eventually wear out its welcome after enough time has passed. He glanced at what used to be a purely decorative clock on the wall, and found that the day had reached afternoon already.

How concerning.

Not because the fallen angel had worked a long time, but rather because Albedo had been diligently standing by his side, nearly unmoving the entire time. Always soaking in the majestic sight of her master at work. Ainz leaned forward, resting his head against a balled up fist. What appeared to be a frown started to manifest on his previously relaxed face when thinking about the Guardian Overseer.

'Don't you need to sit down or something? Should I offer you a chair?' He looked at the perfect beauty, wrapped in that signature formfitting white dress. Her bright yellow eyes met his blue ones as the succubus broke into a beaming expression of love and joy. Just as quickly as they made eye contact the fallen angel looked away, unwittingly causing the demoness a fair bit of distress at how quickly he had averted his eyes.

She nervously fidgeted with her wings and hands, thinking of possible ways to break the silence and get closer to her beloved. All while the Supreme Being was lost in thought again, internally sorting a few things out.

It wasn't nearly as bad as the Guardian Overseer had thought- that the man she loved had something against her. Instead, it was something more closely resembling a bizarre mix of shame and pride that prevented Ainz from interacting with her more normally.

Shame- for fundamentally changing the core of her being from what her creator had intended, and effectively brainwashing her into liking him...

...And pride. He was supposed to be this perfect leader- sitting there staring at Albedo would not help with that image. Sure, she was beautiful- and that was putting it lightly- but he didn't really have faith in his ability to resist in the event of the succubus actually trying to seduce him. Instead he picked the easiest path to follow: to simply look away.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Even then, Ainz felt a great deal of guilt just ignoring her like that. Especially after all the work she had done in his stead.

A few days ago, when Albedo and Demiurge had come knocking with their plea of working together with him on his 'mighty plans'. An opportunity the fallen angel had taken the very second it presented itself. It wasn't that he didn't want their help before that, it would just be a little strange if he had asked.

He had sent away Albedo for constantly staring at him with the intensity of a thousand suns without considering the vast amount of work she put in. Going back to fetch her less than a DAY since he had asked her to leave didn't exactly paint the picture of an intelligent overlord that has everything planned out.

The very same thing applied to Demiurge, who had gotten it into his head that Ainz was the ultimate schemer thinking up inhumanly convoluted plans that even his devilish intellect couldn't comprehend. That- of course- was false, since the angel was way out of his depth dreaming up the downfall of multiple monarchies. Prior to the Arch-Devil personally showing up with the Guardian Overseer, the only way to get his help would be to personally ask.

...Which was something Ainz had planned to do later considering he had the hope of an ice cube in hell of thinking up a kingdom-toppling plan. Then again, waiting had proved fruitful, as the two pivotal NPCs had personally appeared at his doorstep asking to help. Simply passing off responsibility from then on was an easy task, not to mention far more natural as they had approached him first.

Though the possibility of an NPC uprising hadn't quite disappeared just yet, the Supreme Being had a far greater understanding of the citizens of Nazarick now. Enough to draw one conclusion:

'They are loyal to the 41 Supreme Beings, and therefore Momonga. ...But I don't know if they would take kindly to Suzuki Satoru. Average Joe. Weakling human. Salary man. Far cry from the tactical genius they respect.'

Therefore and thusly Ainz had dedicated himself to maintaining their image of him- as it would be the best way to guarantee their loyalty. ...Really, from that point onwards it was as simple as pointing the two brilliant subordinates thr right way while giving a few inputs and suggestions here and there.

Even if it didn't come without 'complications', as the fallen angel remembered it.


"... Momonga-sama, I understand that your word is absolute law, but as you yourself have claimed, it is dangerous to leave the Tomb without proper knowledge...!" Demiurge pleaded. He had entered his master's office expecting to beg in order to take part in the Supreme One's great plans, and to the Arch-Devil's pleasant surprise he had been allowed to join in the scheming immediately. But the conversation had taken a turn.

The devilish Floor Guardian looked towards Albedo, who had retaken her spot to the right of Ainz the moment he allowed it. She met the demon's crystal eyes, and appeared worried about the well-being of their lord as well.

"My love, I implore you to reconsider. Even if equipped with a World-Class Item of your own, the thought of you being brought harm is..." The succubus clasped her hands together, fearfully averting her glistening eyes in a way that made the Supreme Being's heart clench in shame- unfortunately for the duo, he had long since made up his mind.

"Demiurge. Albedo. What I am proposing is hardly a suicide mission- nor is it a risky operation that pits me against the full might of a country. No. It serves a purpose- a pivotal one- while placing myself at no risk."

The two demons shared another nervous look before returning their attention to the angel. The Guardian of the 7th Floor was the first to speak.

"... If I may, my lord...?" He piped up. Ainz gave the still kneeling demon a hand gesture to continue. "... What grand purpose does your excursion serve that it may not be handled by other, more expendable servants? Our information network is in the process of being built and Nazaricks forces are eager and willing. I don't believe there's a cause so crucial that we are to jeopardise your exalted self."

The orange-suited devil's mind was racing, trying to think of plausible reasons for his lord to put himself in potential danger. One important detail to note was that Demiurge was asking the lord, not questioning him. With a mind as brilliant as that of Ainz Ooal Gown there surely existed a reason that called for the Supreme Being's direct involvement.

...As an adventurer no less! A grunt. His perfect master. Taking orders from a lowly human employer. It was enough to make his demonic blood boil. And judging by Albedo's perturbed disposition, the disturbing idea of their master answering to scum had gotten to her as well. Humble or kind- it didn't matter. This was too much.

'My lord... What are you planning? Please allow your arcane brilliance shed some light upon the idea that evades this feeble mind.'

"... Hm. It is no fault of yours that you have yet to figure this out." Ainz explained. The two NPCs relaxed upon hearing this, with Albedo absentmindedly dusting herself off with a black wing- as she usually did when a source of stress had been removed. "You were not privy to the same information as Sebas and I. ...Demiurge, could I trouble you to compile all the relevant information and share it with the Floor Guardians and the Pleiades?"

"Of course, my lord. I will ensure that this task is completed posthaste." The devil replied, lowering his head again as he spoke. The fallen angel hummed.

"... Very well. Make sure to ask Sebas for the details." The Guardian's smile faltered for the faintest moment before returning, though it didn't slip past the Supreme Being.

"Yes, Momonga-sama."

'Please don't start a fight. As your babysitter I'd rather not have something so troublesome on my hands so soon.' Ainz complained internally before clearing his throat to get back on track.

"Ahem. ...As for my reasoning?" He adopted the pose 'Regal Contemplation No.2', as Albedo's cat-like eyes looked on in awe of the fallen angel's effortless class. ...Even if told by the Supreme One himself, neither of the two demons would have believed that their master practised that pose in front of a mirror the last few nights.

"The Adventurer's Guild is an autonomous organization that operates internationally while still holding a great deal of power in nearly any country it finds itself in. In other words- it remains influential and important in every single human nation all while remaining undaunted by politics and the inner workings of the nations it finds itself in."

He paused for let the information sink in, and to recall the two adamantine teams the village elder had told him of.

"One needs to look no further than the Draconic Kingdom to see an excellent example." Of all the nations Ainz had asked Carne's elder more about it was the Draconic Kingdom. Since it was the only nation currently at war. "If our source is to be believed... The monarchy is being ripped apart by Beastmen. One single adamantine team is responsible for keeping the country from falling apart."

"So too does Blue Rose, the local adamantine adventurer team here in Re-Estize, have a connection to the royal family*. All of this power is in turn something owned by the Adventurer's Guild, who is not tied down or owned by a single country. All while being easily influenced by its' adamantine adventurers, most of which I would assume to around the same strength as the Warrior-Captain."

Demiurge was thunderstruck. With this information it may have been obvious, but the Supreme Being had thought ahead, thinking of how to exploit it...

"I see." Albedo stated with a wide smile, regarding their master with an infatuated expression. "Brilliant, Momonga-sama! Is that why you wished to personally engage with the guild? Of course... If the Adventurer's Guild were to become another card in our deck, who better than the Supreme One to shape it in accordance to his wishes?"

Ainz gave a slightly twitchy smile at the succubus' fervent declarations and blushing face, which the well-dressed devil interpreted as displeasure.

'Did we miss something...? Does the Supreme Being's plans go further than even this? They must. Coming to conclusions such as this- impressive that they may be- is still within the realm of reason. With Momonga-sama's intellect, how could there not be something else?'

The Arch-Devil racked his brain, desperately searching for answers that didn't really exist. When he came to a conclusion, the demon froze, nearly toppling over in his kneeling position. Perhaps he was reading too much into things, but since his master was a Supreme Being- an entity beyond his comparatively petulant intellect- the possibility existed.

'It couldn't be... Could it?' The Floor Guardians eyes carefully examined the angel's calm features and found them utterly unreadable despite clearly conveying positive emotions. He thought back to the events of Carne Village, thinking back on what he had witnessed firsthand and what he had heard from the goodie-two-shoes butler.

'His august self interacted with the Re-Estize Kingdom's Warrior-Captain for far longer than what should be palpable, showing a great deal of humility to some fool that didn't deserve such respect.'

Demiurge looked over at Albedo, who was still singing their master praises. Brilliant as she was, the succubus was hopeless when it came to the Supreme One. Though it was likely that she also had an inkling about Ainz's true plans by Demiurge's account.

'... Then there was that brazen village girl. Who had the gall to impede our lord. ...Though the more I reflect on the events of that day, the more likely that their meeting too was part of the Supreme One's machinations.' The demonic Floor Guardian could feel his heart thudding against his ribs, a demonic smirk working its way onto his face.

'Then there are the words he shared in the throne room. ...About how we shouldn't underestimate the weak, and how they could cause trouble in other ways that directly hurting us... But was Momonga-sama referring to just Nazarick when he said that? Or did he mean that we shouldn't belittle the potential usefulness of this world's humans?' Demiurge swallowed thickly, feeling a fascinating blend of shock and awe mounting in his chest.

'Finally there are his plans regarding the Adventurer's Guild. Yet another chess piece to increase his control.' Everything was slowly but surely coming together to paint a deliciously horrific picture in the Arch-Devil's mind's eye.

Every fine aspect of the Supreme One's very existence radiated competence and authority. For he himself to act, a purpose must be served- and all of the possible outcomes of his actions were pointing towards...

'He did plan this.' The Floor Guardian remembered his master then, when the angel was beaming at him with an almost childlike innocence, further making his skin crawl. But in the end, the devil could feel nothing but admiration for his master.

'He seeks to exploit these lower beings, manipulate them to have them do our dirty work. Everything he has done thus far has enabled him to do so. The Adventurer's Guild is just the next step in the plan, not the beginning of it!

This was all ordained by him, and we have been part of his schemes the second we arrived in this world!

How? How did he plan this so far ahead? Did Momonga-sama improvise the moment he arrived in Carne? Did he exploit his limitless knowledge of human archetypes and behaviors to predict what would occur? How much does our lord know and how far ahead has he thought with so little information?'

"Kuh-ku ku~!" Demiurge could help but chortle. His metallic tail impatiently wagged back and forth, unable to contain his excitement. So too did he begin to tremble, as he failed to hold back his feelings of delight and reverence. Though his biology normally didn't allow for such faculties, Demiurge felt lightheaded in that moment.

'And that smile... How terrifying. Such earnest purity that belies a dark heart not unlike my own. I believed Albedo to be the dangerous one, carefully hiding behind a veil of false virtue. No.

Our lord is far, far beyond her.

One should judge the outcome and infer the motivation from there on. Seeing the potential outcomes now... There is no other option. This was all accounted for- all hiding behind such a kind facade.'

The Arch-Devil had a pretty good idea of what the plan might be now. Where all of this was headed. Despite not knowing all the factors or details. In order to understand the full scope of it, he may have to share his discoveries with Albedo.

Seeing Demiurge chuckling to himself, Ainz's smile nearly broke down.

'Why do I get the feeling that something stupid just happened?' The fallen angel wondered helplessly.

"Momonga-sama!" The Floor Guardian suddenly exclaimed, nearly making the Supreme Being leap out of his chair. "Truly your brilliance knows no bounds-! Kuh-ku ku!" Demiurge stood up, dusting himself off.

"It would be my greatest honor to aid your divine self in your efforts-!" The devil declared reverently with a bow.

'...What brought this on? Albedo was gushing a little, so why did you show up late to the party with ten times the excitement?' Ainz did his best to understand the Floor Guardian's reasoning, but found no success.

"I... I'm glad to hear it." Ainz repressed several screams of frustration. "... Of course, you will be handling most of the planning. Consider it a... Learning experience if you must."

The devil dolefully shook his head. "I'm afraid I cannot hope to match up with your otherworldly intellect, my lord. Should I shoulder such a responsibility, we may not reach the same level of success as what you would, if you were to take matters into your own capable hands."

'Oh yeah. If you shoulder the responsibility we will "only win". Think about what would happen if I took the wheel!' Ainz grit his teeth.

"... Have some faith, Demiurge. Whatever plans you may have will work out just fine."

"As you command, Momonga-sama." Another bow from the sharply dressed demon, though he didn't seem entirely convinced.

"Well." The fallen angel stroked his smooth chin. "... Speaking of your plans... Though most other things can wait, as they pertain to subjects of which we lack vital information, what was this about a... Farm, was it?" Upon hearing the Supreme One's question, the Arch-Devil's face lit up with a sadistic smile.

"Oh you see, Momonga-sama, as we have found ourselves in a new land where our resources cannot be freely replenished, I endeavoured myself to find another potential source of one-time use items such as scrolls." This time it was the Supreme Being's turn to get excited, as this could be an important step forward.

"And indeed, one could create lower tiered scrolls out of the skin of animals not unlike how one could make higher tiered scrolls out of more potent creatures- such as dragons."

"That is indeed a good idea, Demiurge." It was simple praise, but it brought the devil a great deal of satisfaction nonetheless.

"Thank you, my lord! With this, we can also conduct experiments, allowing us to push the boundaries of healing magic and resource harvesting."

"...What did you have in mind?" The fallen angel inquired, suddenly looking a bit more apprehensive upon hearing the devil's careful choice of words.

"If one were to skin an animal, could a healing spell allow it to be re-skinned?" The Arch-Devil proposed. Ainz's face immediately twisted into a grimace.

"That strikes me as excessively cruel, Demiurge. I propose you simply skin them and be done with it." The Supreme Being ordered, much to the surprise of his demonic henchman.

"As you command. Though that may reduce efficiency in the long run- requiring us to capture more... Specimens."

"... It is a farm. Surely it isn't impossible to initiate a breeding program?" It was such an obvious proposition to make, though Ainz started to regret it a little bit the very second after he spoke those words.

Demiurge's eyes widened again, as he adjusted his glasses. "That is true, Momonga-sama. A fine idea!" The devil laughed again, causing the fallen angel to hesitate.

"...And what exactly will be filling these farms?" He asked, suddenly fearing the possibility that he wouldn't like the answer.

"Oh, cute little animals that can be found everywhere." The devil said, earning a content smile from Albedo as well. Ainz looked on with narrowed eyes, suddenly wary of what these animals may be. He gave Demiurge the benefit of the doubt, instead taking the demon's words at face value.

'Common animals... Yeesh. What, like cats? No, it'll likely be livestock if anything. So what? Cows? ... I don't see leather being used for something other than low-tier blacksmithing, but maybe that would be possible. Pigs seem to have too sensitive skin judging by how they look, not that I've ever seen one in person...

What else? What other farm animals... Like chicken, like cows, like pigs... Like shepherding dogs...'

"-Like sheep?" The fallen angel blurted out before he managed to censor himself. Demiurge's was caught off-guard by the suggestion, but quickly regained composure and adjusted his suit mirthfully.

"Yes! Precisely, Momonga-sama. Sheep." He reaffirmed, nearly breaking down laughing. It seemed they both had a similar sense of humor. The angel's mouth went dry as he watched an amused Demiurge. He had narrowly avoided making a fool out of himself, speaking his mind without thinking first. Yet the demon's delight rubbed him the wrong way.

He simply couldn't shake the pervasive feeling of dread looming over his shoulder.

'...Yeah. Sheep.' The Supreme Being hesitated. Should he just ask? It was imperative that he maintained their lofty view of him, and making a fool out of himself by asking a simple question that both Guardians seemed to know the answer to seemed counter intuitive.

Deep down, Ainz probably knew the answer already.

"...Truly you can be considered the perfect leader of the Supreme Beings!" Demiurge commended his master. Ainz's heart twisted upon hearing more undeserved praise. The way the two NPCs were looking at him... Admiring him. Believing him to know everything. It took everything he had to push down the growing remorse.

The overlord's resolve cracked and shattered like glass- and the angel could no longer work up the nerve to ask them directly.

What prevented him to act?

Fear? Fear making a fool out of himself? Fear of being outed as a regular human pretending to be a Supreme Being? Fear that the creations of his friends would turn on him over something so utterly trivial?

'M-maybe I'm just being paranoid. I was being extremely neurotic when I first arrived here in this world... Maybe I should just go with the flow for a bit.' Perhaps it was outright denial and lack of self-confidence that prevented him from drawing a proper conclusion. He had a pretty good idea of Demiurge's character, after all.

Without knowing it himself, Ainz's paranoia had shifted the last few days. From fearing an NPC uprising to a Player invasion before settling on a fear of letting his subordinates down- especially since that was the one thing ensuring their loyalty in his mind.

Yet he couldn't just let it go- not just like that. So he would at least make sure to know eventually.

"... Demiurge."

"Yes, Momonga-sama?"

"You may go ahead and construct the farm- but I will be expecting frequent updates as well as a tour at some point." He ordered vaguely, not wanting to come off as too nervous or lacking in control.

"I couldn't possibly burden the Supreme One's already tight schedule with something so mundane-! My lord, wouldn't it be unbecoming of your august self to bother with such trivial and uncouth work?" The Arch-Devil wondered, confusion and disbelief evident in the way he spoke.

"...Very well. The tour alone shall be enough." The angel reluctantly agreed after some doubt, allowing himself to put his faith into Demiurge.

"For the Supreme One to lower himself to such a dirty place such as the farm- is that truly alright?"

Ainz shot his Guardian a glare, and the latter quickly crumpled.

"Forgive me, my lord!" He bowed. "Of course, I shall ensure that the farm is in perfect condition to showcase all that it has to offer when your honored self decides to visit."

"Then that shall be the end of that." The fallen angel exclaimed exasperatedly. "...Anything else?"


It still didn't sit well with the Supreme Being. He turned a white-haired head to look at the time-piece. Roughly five minutes or so since he was done with all the paperwork. Though there was still other things to do.

...For the sake of his sanity, he had decided to let go- at least a little. To allow the Guardians to govern themselves. Otherwise he would be stuck worrying about a million little things when he was going on his little trip. Ainz silently groaned, wondering why he couldn't just speak up about it. The "high" might have helped, had it triggered.

Sometimes when interacting with others- he gets that strange feeling he didn't quite understand. A form of giddy rush that he just couldn't repress. He felt louder- more energetic and boisterous... Almost as if he was drunk. Which of course came with its ups and downs.

On the downside, acting like a clown was no way of commanding respect.

On the upside, he spoke his mind then. He was authoritative. Overbearing. Capable of steering a conversation with minimal effort. Something the socially awkward Suzuki Satoru could never do. The interactions he got outside of Yggdrasil were limited at best.

That quality has since turned into something to worry about.

'...Blood Frenzy. It affects Shalltear in a way it didn't in the game.' The Supreme Being reflected on the interaction with a grimace. 'I was so focused on outside threats and betrayals I didn't consider potential motives. ..."Backstabber" exists, and is a passive that increased damage dealt from behind. Will that also have another, less desireable effect?'

Ainz hoped that it wouldn't be the case. If so, he would have to screen the Tomb's inhabitants for wielders of this passive and keep a close eye on them. ...But what was even more dangerous than that was the possibility that he too was being affected by what used to be a harmless game-mechanic.

'I feel... A bit more confident and cocky at times. A bit calmer other times. Beyond the excitability, there's nothing too concerning.

I have been fine, I am fine now and I will keep being fine.'

With a mental shrug, Ainz decided to set aside his concerns- at least for a little while. It has been agreed upon that he may leave the Tomb to (albeit temporarily) pursue the life of an adventurer. Simply putting aside potential issues was bad practice- but one that he couldn't help with his already waning patience.

Then again... It wouldn't be until tomorrow. ...And there would always be more stuff to do today. With a low grunt, the fallen angel reached for yet another pile of folders that had been arranged by his breathtaking demonic secretary. These all contain relevant information gathered by their spies and compiled by Demiurge into separate binders.

Ainz really didn't like reading these, though he would begrudgingly admit that it was by no fault of his servants. Even if all of these reports read like ridiculously complicated theses on subjects the Supreme Being didn't much care for. He had pitied Shalltear when he heard that the true vampire had to read through such a detailed mission plan.

These past few days he had only gone through a few folders- those that focused on The Eight Fingers, King Ramposa III, Jircniv Rune Farlord El-Nix and whatever else. All in all it had merely served to reinforce whatever notions he held.

As pretty as this New World was, it wasn't faring too well. Maybe not due to pollution or the systematic destruction of nature, but rather because of the backbone of a corrupt and imbalanced society that had already begun to take shape.

His opinion on The Re-Estize Kingdom kept dropping after every single paragraph he got through, especially when reading about the crime syndicate that was the Eight Fingers. Whereas his opinion on Baharuth's Bloody Emperor remained mixed.

A true pragmatist that ascended the throne on a bloody path paved with the corpses of his family, his continued reign ensured by the culling of many noble families- which earned Jircniv his nickname. Sure, Ainz knew that the game of thrones wasn't won by kindness and faith in the virtues of your fellow man, but the sheer ruthlessness of the emperor left a bad taste in the angel's mouth.

Seeing how glum this world really was behind its fresh coat of paint didn't exactly leave the Supreme Being wanting more information- even if it would be helpful.

Ainz sighed and looked at the folder in his hands. "E-Rantel", it read. He briefly glanced towards what remained of the pile of binders, which seemed to range from "Abelion Hills" to "Zuranon". It didn't matter all that much- he would only have time for the one he was holding right now.

'Let's hope the others aren't all that important.'

The heap of information would only grow once their spies had fully infiltrated the other countries. Whether or not that was a good thing, Momonga had yet to decide.

'I'll have to convince Demiurge to briefen his briefings for the sake of my sanity if nothing else.' He thought as he idly flipped open the binder he was holding.

It was nice having some variety at the very least. For the first time since he started there was no paperwork whatsoever. Likely due to Albedo having dealt with the more troublesome reports. Ainz recalled when she had denied the homunculus maids' request to catch the feather thief without hesitation- it was probably for the best, since they couldn't spend time nor resources for something so trivial.

...Speaking of which.

Carefully placing the folder on his now neatly arranged desk, the Supreme Being looked towards his assistant. She sheepishly met his eyes, giving off a nervous smile in fear of him looking away again. Though the succubus felt that it was nice to have her master's attention despite having done nothing to warrant it.

Ainz winced internally, seeing Albedo in that same prim and proper pose next to him as she had been since she got here. Not to mention how she appeared visibly uncomfortable, something the fallen angel took to heart.

'I'm basically her boss, right? So I should be doing something about this.'

"...Albedo." He spoke, breaking the somewhat weighty silence that hung in the air. It seemed to catch the Guardian Overseer off guard.

"Y-yes! Momonga-sama!" She stammered, resulting in the Supreme One giving her a troubled if not wary look. Though she did not show it, Albedo was tense. She had been asked to leave by her master once before, and with the skittish way he was behaving the demoness feared that she had failed him in some way.

"D-do you not get tired?" He asked, sounding as uncertain as Albedo felt.

"Eh? Momonga-sama... Whatever do you mean?" It clearly wasn't the question she had expected. The demonic beauty tilted her head adorably, once again appearing as a fair maiden without equal. Regardless of what Ainz meant, she felt relieved that he had not initiated the conversation to scold her over something.

"Just... Standing there, I mean." Ainz clarified, idly pointing towards the section of floor on which the succubus stood. "Don't you get tired of that?" Albedo blinked a couple of times, parsing what the angel had asked.

"...Do I get... Tired?" Of course she didn't. Her very purpose was to serve the perfect masters. To remain diligent in her work was paramount. "...My lord. Something so trivial could never tire me. I shall stand ready at your every beck and call." The human-turned-angel grimaced.

"The fact remains that it is important that one rests in addition to work." He implored. The suggestion seemed slothful to the Guardian Overseer, but the one who said it was the master- who was always correct. Though the idea of slacking off still sounded like a borderline mortal sin to the succubus.

She shook her head. "Forgive me, my lord- but we are made to toil for you and the other Supreme Beings. There is no greater joy or honor than such. ...To rest too much would be to shirk one's duties."

"... I see." Ainz looked back at the desk, and the folder that lay on it. He didn't feel like picking it back up again.

'The CEOs back at Earth would have killed for employees like this... Not that it would be too out of the ordinary for them. They've killed for less. I won't exploit my servants like some others would back on Earth.'

"And what of entertainment- do you not get bored?" He asked, less worried and more curious. Albedo seemed almost taken aback by the question.

"How could I possibly be bored? To witness your majestic form hard at work could never be anything less than the perfect pass-time!" She flashed that heart-melting smile of hers. "...Everything you give to us- to me- is a gift. Whether the gifts may be physical objects or your mere presence. So... Thank you, Momonga-sama."

The fallen angel couldn't help but notice the succubus rub the [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown] as she spoke. It was now situated on her left ring-finger, suspiciously enough. As zealous (and obsessive) her statement had been, Ainz couldn't quite help but smile at the Guardian Overseer's earnest proclamation. Even if her choice of pass-time was a cause for concern.

"The one that should be thanking someone here is me." He admitted, much to the shock of the succubus. "You've helped tremendously in the short time you have been here." Albedo smiled even wider. This time, however, her expression seemed more genuine- likely due to the praise given by her love.

"Momonga-sama..." She whispered breathlessly. Whereas Ainz felt somewhat dissatisfied with how she was still standing there. Being a workaholic was one thing- just standing there all day for the sake of devotion was just ridiculous. Hell, his legs were starting to ache out of sheer empathy at this point.

He heaved a sigh. "[Greater Create Item]." A wooden chair, exactly as he had envisioned it, sprung into existence. Only after having made the attempt the Supreme Being realized how much of a buffoon he could have looked like if the spell had failed to make a chair. Albedo looked on, surprise evident on her face.

"Please. Have a seat." The fallen angel gestured towards the newly created piece of furniture.

"M-Momonga-sama! I- you- For you to create..." Albedo hesitated. "I couldn't possibly impose myself in such a manner." Ainz nearly chuckled at how flustered Albedo became over something so simple. The NPCs worshipped the ground he walked on- so it was natural that they held any effort he exerted for them in high regard.

"At ease. I've already created the chair- to not use it would be a waste, no?" The salary man leaned back in his swivelling office chair.

'To connect with your subordinates... Ensure that- when you speak to them- that you do not assume a position that is too reflective of your difference in status. In other words, offer them a seat. If they refuse... Stand up.'

"...Yes. You are indeed correct, my lord." The very second she had gotten over her apprehension the succubus got into the chair with surprising speed. She seemed to wiggle a bit, to make the most out of the seat, as simple as it was. With a contented smile, she looked back at her master.

He could be nearly impossible to read sometimes- as was right for such a bright mind. Though she had garnered a deeper understanding then. The way Momonga was looking at her... It wasn't with trepidation or dislike. He was concerned, looking out for her well-being. How deeply caring... The succubus' chest tightened as that familiar warm tingle spread through her body.

Yes. To be unified with him would be nothing short of perfect. There would be pests like Shalltear who may get in the way- but she could have his love in the end.

"That's better already!" The Supreme Being said with a beautiful laugh that seemed to tickle Albedo's spine. "Truth be told, I was getting tired just looking at you standing there."

"Oh? Is that so... I'm deeply sorry for the distress I have caused you." Her voice took on a more regretful and apologetic tone.

The fallen angel grimaced again. "...Now now. Lighten up a little. You have not caused me any distress... I merely found it somewhat distasteful that I was so comfortably seated while you were standing there for so long." Ainz said reassuringly.

"...To stand by your august side is-"

"- Your duty. Yes. Though it is by my request that you sit by my side rather than stand." He interrupted with a weary voice- no longer wanting to argue about something so simple. "...Or are you passing up the opportunity to sit close to me?" The fallen angel teased, gesturing towards the minuscule distance between their chairs.

Albedo's fair skin turned several shades pinker, as a less-than-decent smile broke out across her lovely features. Ainz's mind started backpedalling upon noticing this change, wanting to avoid being pounced by the succubus. ...Something he may relish were it not for the guilt.

The Guardian Overseer was now far more at ease, having fully accepted the seat the Supreme One had created for her. And there they were. Not unlike the night in which they had first arrived in this world, Albedo finally had his fullest attention. Immediately she began scheming what to do with it- how she could use it to win him over.

'Momonga-sama is still far too closed off... He has revealed aspects of his perfect self to us, and not once did it appear that he loathed the idea of taking me as his wife. Ha~! Which means the possibility is indeed very real. Perhaps garnering a greater understanding of Momonga-sama would grant me the means to open him up and undo his inhibitions.

Indeed. I was too forward that night in the throne room**. Watch me, Shalltear! In the end, you shall be little more than my footstool.

...Speaking of which.'

"Momonga-sama?" She asked in a gentle, almost playful tone.

"Y-yes?" Ainz replied with a bit of a stammer, with the Guardian Overseer's lustful countenance still fresh in his mind. If not for the increased bodily control granted by his angelic nature he may have started blushing- or gone further than that.

"I was wondering why you granted Shalltear Aureole Omega's World-Class Item rather than simply fetch one from the vault. Is there something remarkable about that one in particular, my lord?" The succubus queried with a delicate finger placed against her chin. The fallen angel visibly relaxed, and Albedo could clearly see his shoulders droop a little.

She fought back a lecherous smile at the fact that he had let his guard down- at least a little. Ainz revealed a thoughtful expression- showing the demoness that he was very carefully choosing his words. For all of his unpredictability, all of his depthless wisdom- there were times Albedo was able to read him like an open book. She cherished those moments.

' Understanding the Supreme One on a fundamental level... That shall be my ultimate goal - as a loyal servant, and as a wife. Ah...! Being able to decipher every hidden intricacy of you, my love... There is nothing greater to aspire towards. To serve your gracious self without you needing to tell me how.'

"...It was simply a perfect fit." The Supreme Being answered her question. As simple as the statement was, he sounded very certain as he spoke. "Granting Shalltear one of the twenty struck me as... Excessive. Besides, it's almost a little unnerving how good of a synergy [Silent Lament of Vermilion Kin] has with Shalltear."

Ainz appeared to be in deep contemplation- doing his best to remember Shalltear's build, beyond knowing that it was a good one and that it had a lot to do with blood. Albedo simply listened intently as always.

"...That most defenders of the Cherry Blossom Sanctuary are proficient in blood-related magics is not a coincidence. Nor is it by sheer happenstance that Auerole Omega's primary strength lies in strengthening allies." He explained. The succubus' eyebrows knitted together before she spoke up.

"If I may, Momonga-sama..." The fallen angel nodded. "Why not simply grant Shalltear the World Item to begin with?"

'Because we didn't think of it before. Also it is considered bad taste to hand over one of the rarest forms of item to an NPC. And then...'

"...There's usually a cost that comes with activating World Items. It can often be quite pricey, so- with expenses in mind, it seemed fair that someone deep within Nazarick hold a World Item rather than a guard near the surface. Aureole Omega defends what may be the single most important item in the Tomb- as such, she was granted such an item to aid in her endeavours." Ainz did his best to bring his thoughts across while the succubus soaked up every word.

"...Shalltear on the other hand, is our first proper line of defence. She is the vanguard- the front-liner. An aegis. A bulwark against potential invaders..." The look on the Supreme Being's face suddenly changed into something more remorseful, much to the surprise and worry of Albedo.

'... And she's a sacrificial lamb. Foreordained to give up her own life to break a hostile force in twain. We couldn't entrust a World Item to that.' He mused. The Guardian Overseer noted the pained look in her beloved's eyes, and so too felt an empathetic twinge of pain in her heart.

Ainz didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Albedo already knew what he meant. What the silence meant.

Shalltear had died before- allowing intruders past her. Something the vampiric Guardian considers a great failing. Now the Guardian Overseer knows that to be intentional- even if she had been nearly completely certain prior to Momonga confirming it.

There wasn't anything wrong with being expected to die. Albedo would happily give her life to her beloved if asked. Yet the way Ainz spoke- how he averted his eyes. The hesitation... It was evident he didn't feel the same about the lives of Nazarick's denizens.

The succubus folded her hands on top of each other, feeling the thrumming of her heart against her chest. There was something amazing knowing that the Supreme One valued her existence. Ainz wouldn't have wanted Shalltear to be disposable, and probably made the choice due to practicality. Either that... Or he didn't make the choice.

In spite of her giddy feelings of being indirectly accepted by the fallen angel, the Guardian Overseer couldn't help but frown.

'Peroroncino... Was it Shalltear's creator who deemed it necessary for her to be made expendable?'

The scales has long since dropped in the eyes of Albedo. She had valued her beloved more than any other "Supreme Beings" for what felt like ages. Yet the more she saw... The more she heard... The more the gap between Ainz and the other widened.

Her master had been the last one left for the longest time. How (as foggy as those memories were) he had temporarily left the Tomb on his own in order to fill Nazarick with the lifeblood needed to keep it going. She had wanted plead- get on her knees and beg to come along with him.

But simply standing there because she was ordered to? It was torture. It bothered her more than anything that she lacked the agency needed to simply ask- to do everything in her power to aid her master. In the end, the one to snap her out of her dark thoughts was the subject in question.

Ainz grunted. "...Regretful. That's the only word I have to describe it. Her purpose was to blunt the teeth and claws of a metaphorical dragon so that a lethal blow may be dealt." He claimed. "But the lives of Nazarick's NP- ...Inhabitants shouldn't be so thoughtlessly thrown away." The fallen angel cracked a weak smile that matched his somewhat shaky declaration.

Albedo simply nodded, her catlike eyes having returned to admiring her beloved. She loved all aspects of this man- she knew it in the core of her being. But witnessing all now, whether they be Supreme confidence and intellect, the informal mirth or this more hesitant side... It was all perfect, filling the succubus with a warmth that didn't exist anywhere else.

The fallen angel let out another laugh- clear as crystal and soothing like wind chimes in a gentle summer breeze.

"Truth be told, I was even a bit hesitant to send Shalltear to the 8th Floor even for a short time. ...The wasteland can be quite dangerous, even if the duration of her visit is negligible." Albedo's happiness faltered a bit, hearing that the Supreme One was thinking of the vampire again. Though that might be her fault this time.

"Vulgar lamprey-!" The Guardian Overseer's face took on a derisive sneer. "I pity the beast to consume her putrid carcass- as it'll likely be plagued with bad breath and stomach ache for the rest of its natural life." She scoffed.

Ainz's eyes widened, and Albedo realized that she had spoken her mind to the person she was supposed to reveal only her best qualities. She looked aghast as panic began to swell until-

"Pfff~! Hahahahah-!" Momonga burst out laughing. He had crossed his arms, and his shoulders were now heaving up and down rhythmically as he chortled to himself. The demoness stared in stunned silence as the Supreme Being's laughter slowly died down.

Unlike the other times where he had expressed amusement, this seemed more genuine. As if the other times had been for the sake of formalities or showmanship rather than actual joy.

'Sounds like something Tabula-san would say to Peroroncino-san, were they here.' He mused.

"Low blow." He commented, a grin still plastered on his face. Albedo allowed herself to relax upon realizing her master's genuine mirth. "...I can't expect you all to get along all the time, though I'd loathe the idea of you two bickering when there are more pressing issues."

"Right you are, my lord." Understanding the Supreme One's more jovial mood and remembering what he had said about apologies, the succubus allowed herself to simply agree without groveling. So too did she let out an honest giggle, devoid of both devious intent and unbridled lust.

'What wonderful laughter, Momonga-sama... Could I trouble you to do it again?' She pleaded to herself, feeling elation at the fact that she had managed to break through the fallen angel's somewhat insincere exterior.

"Let's not make it a habit to share a laugh at Shalltear's expense. She is an important member of the Tomb, after all. ...Though I'd prefer to call her 'colorful' as opposed to vulgar." Ainz stated, having gathered himself again.

"That may very well be, my love. But such is the nature of our relationship, to remain fully amicable would be to allow the wretched vampire to walk over me and steal you." The time for acting coy had passed. Ainz was visibly relaxed, and she could press the situation somewhat. Unfortunately, she didn't grasp the full scope of the situation.

The words 'my love' were like a knife being twisted in Ainz's chest.

Once again, the Supreme Being bristled, feeling a resounding shame build up from deep within. Albedo noticed the change- dampening her eagerness to push their relationship farther. She shuddered as his eyes- now steely- swept over her.

There was something indecipherable in his gaze that made the succubus hesitate. Another unreadable quality, it may seem. But it wasn't hatred. It wasn't disgust, reprehension or aversion. Yet for whatever reason, it still got between the two of them.

'What is there to say...? That I've fundamentally changed her being to love me? Effectively brainwashing her? What I've done should be illegal, and it probably would be had it been possible before.

I should tell her. I've waited long enough- put it off for long enough. Albedo has the right to know. To hear it from the one who committed the deed.'

"...Albedo." Sensing the hesitation in his tone, the demoness' stomach dropped. Despite suddenly feeling very anxious she hid it behind the same pleasant smile she used as a mask.

The Guardian Overseer leaned forward to get closer to her beloved- a feat made easy due to the placement of their chairs. Ainz cursed his decision to have them sitting so close to each other now.

"Yes, Momonga-sama?"

"I... I changed you." It was the first time she had seen her master this hesitant- and it was the first time she heard him being so nonspecific as well. But the vagueness of the statement... "...You aren't the same as Tabula-san had made you."

'Cocytus seemed to remember a time before the New World- when the world was still a game... Will she remember her own past self?'

Albedo blinked. Not the same? What did that mean? Of course, the Guardian Overseer was far from a Supreme Being, and knew little of how the denizens of Nazarick were made. But it didn't take a Supreme Being to know that Ainz was referring to her creation or state of being.

"What you feel for me right now- your love for me. It is a direct result of my tampering. Not your original feelings." He finally admitted, feeling a huge weight lift off his chest. Now, he awaited judgement.

A million questions and emotions flew through Albedo's head at that moment- even if she maintained her perfect facade the entire time. But not a single thought or feeling cast her beloved in a negative light.

For him to change her... Why would he do that? Could it be that he too harbored some form of love for her? A pleasant idea that further accentuated the deeply rooted feelings of love in her core.

How did this 'change' affect her? For as long as she could remember (even if the memories were quite blurry) she has held these feelings for her master- yet she hadn't acted on them before. Maybe because she respected the lord's request that she stand guard in the throne room?

...And above all:

"What was I like before you changed me, Momonga-sama?" She asked innocently, still wearing the mask portraying a pleasant smile.

'A slut. That's what it said in your description.' Ainz murmured in his own head.

It wasn't difficult to deduce that it wasn't anything good, based on the Supreme Being's silence and by how he averted his eyes.

"...Then I'm happy with the way that I am now. Please do not feel upset, Momonga-sama." Albedo stated confidently, feeling a complex (and probably negative) emotion towards her creator.

'Tell her. She deserves to know.

But why?

Oooooh~! Suzuki you sly dog-! Getting her to hate her own creator so that she'll be pushed into our loving arms! How clever.

No.

This...

It's just that she deserves to know. She asked. And I'll tell her the truth. All I've been doing since I've got here is lie. Enough of that. Here's an opportunity to come clean- at least about one thing.'

"...A slut." He mumbled. Albedo cocked her head, either not having clearly heard what he said or simply disbelieving it.

"I'm sorry, lord Momonga...? Could you repeat that?" She asked apologetically. Ainz felt doubtful, but pushed back his hesitation and squared his shoulders.

"A slut. That's was what you were like originally." Ainz spoke. His voice had regained its calm certainty and authority.

Albedo's eyes widened and her face reflected shock for the briefest of moments before reverting back to neutral. The beauty's face was calm- but her heart was storming. 'Hate' is such a strong word. Even if she had despised the other Supreme Being's for leaving, never did it tip over to actual hatred for them.

No. The closest she ever got to that was watching her beloved bend over backwards for the sake of other Supreme Beings. He had gotten close to casting aside his own name of "Momonga", and had he fully discarded it maybe Albedo would have grown past simple disdain.

But this was the first time Albedo could claim that she well and truly hated a Supreme Being- her own creator, no less. For her love to go as far as to describe her as "a slut" after describing Shalltear as merely "colorful", spoke volumes about how she used to be.

Of course, Albedo had no idea Ainz was quoting the fluff in her character settings. That didn't change the fact that right now, Momonga may as well be a near messianic figure in her eyes, having purged her soul of filth.

Yet Ainz was still feeling guilty, revealing his loyalty towards the Supreme Beings. All while showing genuine care for her. Everything he did- everything he revealed seemed to fuel her love for him.

'Momonga-sama...' Only one matter remained.

Maybe she wouldn't have pushed her luck a few days ago. But now? Albedo felt as if she had a perfect understanding of her lord's kindness. And mimicking what her master had done with Shalltear- she grabbed his hands.

Ainz froze, looking between their joined hands and a gently smiling succubus before beginning to splutter indignantly.

"...Does it trouble you?" She asked with a softer voice than Ainz had ever heard coming from her mouth. "The way that I am now?"

He stared dumbly at her.

"...No. It does not. How could it?" Ainz finally replied, his voice sounding eerily steady (or defeated) to his own ears.

'But it probably should bother me. And I hate that it doesn't.'

"Do... Do you not want to return to the way that you were before? The way Tabula-san intended?" One last attempt to change her mind came from the fallen angel. For a moment- however brief- Ainz could have sworn that Albedo's lip curled in disgust. But her face was back to the same alluring smile before he could comment on it.

"No." A curt answer that left no room for arguing. Noticing Ainz's incredulity, the Guardian Overseer quickly went on to explain. "I believe that Tabula-sama would be happy to give his daughter's hand in marriage."

'That doesn't sound like Tabu-

...

Whatever.'

"As stated... Shalltear truly loves you without any 'tampering', as you called it, Momonga-sama." Albedo's face scrunched up a little, having indirectly admitted that the vampire's love may be more organic than her own. "Then why wouldn't I?"

The fallen angel stared at Albedo, not quite finding the right words. ...But the beautiful maiden managed another earnest smile of bliss as Ainz grabbed her hand back- carefully tightening his grip.

'The line has long since been crossed. Her settings have been changed, and I probably won't be able to alter anything anymore. There is no indication that she even remembers a past when she was the way her old settings described her.

She loves me. She is hardwired to love me. It's cruel that she was stripped of choice... Of free will. But this...?

I can't undo this.'

Ainz looked into her cat-like eyes, seeing his own uncertain face reflected in the succubus' golden depths. Albedo beamed back at him, seeming happy just to be here and share this moment.

Nearly all his life, Suzuki Satoru had been alone- with no real life interactions with other people except cashiers and coworkers.

All impersonal. All cold. Only during Ainz Ooal Gown's offline meetings did he get that vital interpersonal warmth that he had lost with the passing of his mother.

The last one was over three years ago.

... And yet...

Albedo had made the first move. Taking his hands. And right now he really didn't want to let go, even if he felt that it was pathetic to feel that way. The fallen angel wasn't sure if his words had done her any good, but knew deep down that her view of Tabula Smaragdina had been soured.

How unnerving it was- that a small, wicked aspect of his soul derived a sick sense of pleasure from seeing the Guardian Overseer pick him over her creator. An envious and yearning part of his mind that he locked away- but not quickly enough.

One thing was certain: It was difficult for Suzuki Satoru to feel nothing for the beauty in front of him right now.

'She seems happy. And... I've messed up. But to force her to love me and then turn her down...? That's just me being cruel, right? Adding to her hardships.

This... There are no strictly speaking "good" choices here. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. But...

Maybe.

Just maybe.

This doesn't have to be a bad thing?'

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. This would need some serious emotional control- more so than any previous interaction.

To Albedo it was remarkable- to be able to witness the physical thought process of her beloved. As difficult as he was to read at times, this was not one such occasion. One could see how Ainz's back straightened out, how his posture seemed to improve. How his expression grew sharper and more confident.

With his supreme poise fully restored, and with the faintest hint of a grin dancing across his lips Albedo was filled with unbridled joy. Her master had accepted her. She was barely able to prevent herself from squirming or twitching.

"I see. You're right, I think." The fallen angel spoke slowly, almost dragging out every syllable. But he wasn't hesitating. "... I'm willing to give this an attempt." The Supreme Being dropped all attempts at a regal speech pattern, focusing instead on not looking like a schoolgirl confessing to a crush. It was quite embarrassing to him, as he lacked the proper knowledge and experience that would help in this situation.

"Momonga-sama...! Does that mean that we'll get married? -Have children?!" Albedo blurted out, unable to suppress her eagerness. Though initially taken aback by her suddenly leaning forward with an unhinged expression Ainz soon took on a self-assured smile of his own.

'...Children?'

He gave the succubus' hands a reassuring squeeze before leaning forwards to meet her. Their faces now inches apart, causing both parties to flush a little, much to Ainz's embarrassment. "Well... I thought taking it slowly may be the best move. Get to know each other first." He replied in a low voice. Close enough to the demoness' to feel her warmth.

"Ah-!" She shivered involuntarily and her breath hitched as the Supreme Being unknowingly interlocked his lower pair of white wings with her black ones. So too did the fragrant floral bouquet of his scent tickle Albedo's nose, sending electric thrills down her spine.

'Ooh... My lord smells like his bed when I get in it in the morning-!'

"...But children?" He questioned, now looking the Guardian Overseer directly in the eyes, which only served to further fan her flames of passion.

"W-well yes, Momonga-sama. Your handling of Aura and Mare wa-was superb, and I have no doubts that you would be the perfect father...!" Albedo replied, only barely able to keep herself together. Whether the Supreme Being was actively teasing her or remained oblivious was anybody's guess. Ainz stared at her for a few more moments.

'Huh. She smells like my bed whenever I get in it in the evening.'

This unrelated epiphany sobered him up a little, allowing him to realize that the two of them had ended up in a rather compromising situation. And judging by Albedo's flushed face, ravenous expression and constant wiggling he was a few seconds away from being pounced by a starved succubus. Ainz quickly- albeit reluctantly- let go, separating himself from the demoness.

To say that Albedo was disappointed would be the understatement of the century- but she shelved that feeling, focusing instead on feeling thankful for having gotten this far. That being said there was no staving off the nerve-biting cold that seeped in as the Supreme Being's warmth was ripped away. The phantom sensation lingered especially in her dark wings, where the succubus still felt the faint sensation of his feathers against hers.

She pulled herself together, using her expertise in hiding emotion to build up the facade once more. And despite once again appearing calm, she was boiling just beneath the surface.

Things got quiet then. But it wasn't the same awkward silence that had consumed the office earlier. Ainz did not avert his eyes, choosing instead to appreciate the appearance of the demonic beauty.

...The first to break this comfortable respite was Albedo.

"Momonga-sama."

"Mhm." The fallen angel skipped the formalities, feeling at ease enough to act a bit more casual.

"... When you leave the Tomb, to be an adventurer... Can you not bring me along with you? I wish to shield you from all harm, and I don't believe I'd be able to forgive myself should you return to Nazarick wounded." Her voice quivered a bit, but otherwise remained steady.

"Would you feel guilty even if you weren't there?"

"Especially if I weren't there, my love." She stated with absolute confidence. "If I were there, I'd sooner die than allow any worthless cretin so much as graze one of your perfect hairs."

"Do try to value yourself a bit more, Albedo. What matters is victory, and it would be nothing short of foolish to lose that victory by stubbornly shielding me when it isn't necessary." Ainz said with a frown, allowing himself to shoot his companion a worried look.

"...Understood, my lord." She nodded, appearing visibly uncomfortable at the idea of her loved one being brought to harm.

'As to whether or not she should tag along... We may be pitted against foes far more dangerous than the ones we have faced thus far. A vanguard would be invaluable. But...

Why does it feel as if I'm collaring myself by bringing her along...?'

"... Aren't you needed here, Albedo?" He asked inquisitively.

"Momonga-sama!" The succubus replied with greater gusto than he had expected, nearly making the angel flinch. "If it meant protecting you, all other duties would become secondary in objective." She spouted, nearly sounding a bit annoyed with her lord. "And-!"

The Supreme Being lifted one exquisitely adorned hand, silencing the demonic beauty before she could continue her diatribe. "Based on everything we have seen of this world thus far, nothing has stood out to me as potentially threatening. Your skills will be vital here in the Tomb, Albedo. Demiurge and nearly all of the other Guardians will have tasks of their own- so I will need you to hold down the fort, so to speak."

"I... Understand, my love." She replied after a short pause, sounding downtrodden enough for Ainz to doubt his choice a little.

"Hm." Cerulean eyes quickly glanced at the demoness' horns and wings. "Besides, we shall be heading into human-controlled territory." He pointed towards her pair of ivory horns. "As enticing as they are, inhuman traits may receive unwanted attention."

The Guardian Overseer swooned so hard she nearly fell out of the chair upon hearing Ainz describe a part of her as 'enticing'. Once again drinking in her master with that hungry look, she replied. "Y-yes, Momonga-sama-!" Earning a nod from the fallen angel.

Unable to keep still for any longer, Albedo fidgeted, combing through the black feathers on her wings in search of the Supreme Being's white ones. She'd rather leave them there- a reminder of his intimate non-embrace, but they served a greater purpose now.

Ainz noticed her cradling his feathers and winced internally.

'Why must I shed like an Alaskan Malamute...? Is it because the cosmetic "feather particle effect" has come to life with a grudge against me?'

"...They'd make for an excellent pillow, I think." Ainz chuckled exasperatedly, feeling far more comfortable making small talk with the succubus. Albedo simply nodded.

"Yes, my lord. They did make for an excellent pillow." She whispered in a breathy voice. The fallen angel lifted an eyebrow.

'She tried it. Which means she also collected a few, then. J-just like the mai...

... The maids.

-Hold on a minute.'

He glanced over, seeing the beauty clutching them to her bosom with a content smile.

'Forget it. She looks happy enough.' It was strange, to feel such a bizarre sense of fulfilment and joy in tandem with awkwardness. ...To have someone love every part of you, even the little things.

Ainz gave a hearty laugh, drawing the alabaster seductress' attention. "Just make sure you make that pillow behind closed doors." He joked, referring to the homunculus maids' thirst for blood. Albedo returned a playful smile and a gentle shake of her horned head.

"I'm afraid that's not possible, my lord." She answered, sounding a little regretful.

"Oh? Why is that?" The angel inquired, twirling his pencil like he usually did when he was alone.

"My corner of the throne room does come with doors, my love."

"Huh?"


.

.

.


-An indeterminate amount of time later -

Ainz Ooal Gown- angelic leader of the 41 Supreme Beings- floated down a corridor within the depths of the Tomb, recent events still fresh in his mind. Strange as it was for him to be hovering above all others while being slumped over in defeat and exhaustion.

'That was... Interesting.'

Upon realizing that Tabula Smaragdina hadn't given Albedo proper quarters of her own the pair had been caught in a cycle of him apologizing and her pleading that he stop apologizing. In the end, he managed to convince her to move into an unreserved suite on the 9th Floor, where he found himself now.

The succubus seemed reluctant at first- insisting that she either remain where she was or move into his room. Only after some insisting (nagging) followed by tempting her with the possibility of moving in with him eventually, did she agree to take the suite he had offered.

It was quite cute, seeing Albedo's ardor upon hearing him mention them possibly moving in together in the future. ... Even if the idea seems quite foreign and scary to the Supreme Being who had little experience with intimacy.

'That pillow though. Before she stuffed it into her inventory... That shape... It couldn't be, could it?' Ainz shuddered, remembering the succubus' body pillow.

He shook his mighty head, the golden halo giving off a gentle jingle. And then he simply... Stopped.

It was late now.

There was no more paperwork.

No meetings... No obligations... Just smooth sailing until he can go on that little adventure of his.

He had already decided on a location- the Draconic Kingdom, making the decision the only logical way he knew how: by flipping a coin. Of course, logically E-Rantel in Re-Estize would be the better choice. It was closer and safer, yet Ainz couldn't help but feel that it was no better than lounging around his backyard.

No point in going on an adventure if one were to remain within spitting distance of home, he decided. Then again one still had to think about the benefits. As such, he had left it up to fate. Heads for Re-Estize and tails for the Draconic Kingdom.

After the coin toss landed on 'Tree', Ainz realized that he had to define what heads and tails was for the Yggdrasil gold coins. And considering the other side depicted the head of a woman... The answer was obvious.

The fallen angel sighed and crossed his arms. They had a 'where'. But since he was masquerading as a warrior, he needed somebody else to balance it out. Either a spellcaster or ranged combatant.

Really, he is plenty powerful already. Proper team setup is just to keep up appearances or in case they run into something more troublesome, in which case the angel can revert back to fill the role of a caster. ... Which leaves only ranged combatant candidates. ...Unless he brought a vanguard and made it a all-warrior party.

Ainz was submerged in deep thought as he floated along complex (yet intricately designed) passages that would surely be impossible to navigate, were it not for his ten years of history with Nazarick.

"-so cool! Do the Pleiades have like a... Special pose for each member too?" A bright and bubbly voice came from around a corner, bringing the Supreme Being back to reality.

Another feminine- albeit significantly colder- voice scoffed. "...Pose? Do you and your colleagues pose?" The question was clearly rhetorical, but a reply came nonetheless.

"Y-yes! The co~oolest poses only! So awesome and memorable~!" The woman's voice was still excited, though her hesitation and tone betrayed the lie. It was so innocently obvious that the Supreme Being couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Hm." The other lady seemed similarly amused. "Well. Let's see it, then."

"Ah! I, uh, was just kidding~, haha!" The first woman backpedalled the very second she was put on the spot.

'Yeah. If only I could do that whenever Demiurge or Albedo asks a question I couldn't hope to answer.'

The fallen angel hovered around the corner to get a proper look at the people he was accidentally eavesdropping on. The cheerful one- with blond hair and a bob-cut- looked to go into shock as she saw the all-powerful form of her angelic master turn the corner without warning.

"G-g-greetings, Momonga-sama-!" She managed to recover quickly enough to deliver a choked salutation, sounding significantly more tightly wound than when she was speaking to her conversational partner- Solution. So too did the slime-Pleiade appear surprised upon turning around to see her master looking down from up high.

"Good evening, my lord." Solution Epsilon bowed elegantly and greeted the overlord in a calm manner, though her tone was noticeably warmer than when she was speaking to the homunculus maid. Seeing how the pair were craning their necks to look him in the eye, Ainz landed on the ground once more.

"Momonga-sama... It is unnecessary for you to lower yourself like this-!" The Pleiade noted in a worried tone as the normal maid, Foire, looked on in wide-eyed silence.

"Nonsense." Ainz smirked. "You are plenty polite already, there's no need for me to impose myself further." He explained in a flippant manner, further surprising the two maids.

'Could be worth doing towards an enemy, though.'

"B-but it is your right as a Supreme Being to impose yourself!" Foire protested, only to quickly cover her mouth as Solution sent a glare her way.

As predictable and tiresome as these conversations could be- with the servants curtsying and apologizing- the silver haired angel always garnered some form of enjoyment from them. At least in the interactions in which the other party didn't burden him with any expectations.

"No matter." He dismissed their protests. "Continue with the good work." The homunculus maid appeared flabbergasted by this sudden praise, but collected herself enough to eagerly nod. Ainz gave a reassuring smile as he clasped his hands behind his back.

He didn't know Foire would be sharing this story in the canteen eventually- further bolstering morale among the cleaning staff.

"...Solution."

"My lord!" The scantily clad slime-maid bowed respectfully again, secretly happy to have his attention.

"Would you happen to know where CZ2I28 Delta is? I have a job that she would be an excellent fit for." The overlord inquired. Solution remained mostly expressionless, but a faint questioning look passed her otherwise neutral face.

"Vaguely, Momonga-sama. I followed Yuri-nee who was also looking for her. Shizu has not appeared on the 6th Floor where she usually resides." Solution explained, a hint of dissatisfaction in her voice. "I am uncertain as to why our eldest sister wanted to find Shizu- as I only briefly conversed with Yuri-nee before she left."

"...Something about her potentially harassing the staff...?" The slime Pleiade added, making Ainz's relaxed smile grow tense and twitchy.

'POTENTIALLY HARASSING THE STAFF?!'

Solution, who seemed unaware of her master's plight, continued on the drip-feed of information in that same even voice. "If you are looking for her, lord Momonga, then the last I saw of Yuri was her heading past this hall and to the corridor on the left. ...An oft forgotten corner of this floor."

"I see. Thank you for your help, Solution." He gave the placid combat-maid a quick nod, intent on leaving as soon as possible.

"No need to thank me, my lord. I aim to please." She curtseyed, barely finishing her response before the angel took off, turning the corner she had pointed towards.

'Alright. I don't think this place has an HR, like 90% of workplaces nowadays. So it falls on me to fix this mess.' The Supreme Being grumbled to himself, levitating down the hallway at breakneck pace. '...[Message] it is.'

Ainz didn't get to cast that spell, being interrupted by muffled voices behind a stalwart wooden door. Something was always happening in the Tomb, it seems.

"AAAAGH! GET OFF, GET OFF, GET OFF, GE-HRHG-!" Terror-stricken demands rang out before petering out into a stifled squeals.

"SHIZU! You're being really rude! let go of mister Ecl-AIR!" A testy feminine voice came from behind the door, putting extra emphasis on the 'air' in Eclair as the speaker seemed to physically exert herself while saying it.

"Don' wanna." A girl protested in a perfectly flat tone.

"Oh dear, ladies-! Please... This is a respected establishment, I'd rather you deal with this spat elsewhere!" Another rather peeved voice- this one masculine- scolded the others.

"Precisely... Listen to Sous-Chef! And. Let. GO-!" The female voice, presumably Yuri, pushed herself once more.

Crack.

"AAAAAH!" ...Which earned another howl. "Piki... Traitor..." The pained voice wheezed.

The Supreme Being's face had lost its neutral look, as he instead wore an emotion more closely resembling a mix of confusion and anxiety. Swallowing the fear of what he might find, he pushed the door, which swung open without so much as a sound.

What met his eyes was a perfectly cozy bar, moodily lit by dim chandeliers and candles. A soft purple glow illuminated all of the fine intricacies, from the expertly crafted furniture to the mesmerizing row of colorful bottles. Everything came together to paint the picture of the perfect high-class bar, and yet...

The absolute hubbub in the middle of the room disrupted the mellow atmosphere.

A myconid, Sous-Chef, stood behind the bar as Yuri tried (and failed) to pry Eclair Ecleir Egglayer out of Shizu's death-grip. But they weren't focused on that.

Instead all NPCs had the appearance of a thoroughly spooked deer in the headlights, as they looked towards the Supreme Being standing by the entrance. For what may as well have been hours, the stunned NPCs locked eyes with a stupefied fallen angel who was weighing the pros and cons of bolting and allowing Yuri to handle this mess. He sincerely hoped the pros would outweigh the cons.

...No such luck.

"I... What?" Words failed him at that moment. Ainz had mostly been interacting with the Guardians- with most other NPCs falling by the wayside. Witnessing a few disagreements (often involving Shalltear) wasn't uncommon, but they more often than not had understandable motives. This wasn't it.

Seeing a diminutive robot maid choking a rockhopper penguin may have fried the angel's logic-drives a little. Though it was more likely how this situation contrasted against his view of "workplace harassment" that resulted in such bewilderment.

"MY LORD!" Yuri Alpha let go of the younger Pleiade's arm in favor of bowing. Shizu's grip promptly snapped back in full force, earning a weak 'grkh' from the flattened avian. "I'm terribly sorry for this unsightly display!"

The shorter combat-maid also lowered her head, which only further crushed the penguin into paste.

"W-welcome to my humble bar, my lord!" Sous-Chef greeted. "I can't believe the bar gets a visiting Supreme Being during... This-!" He mumbled under his breath.

"Y-yes. It's fine. At ease, Yuri. This is hardly a troubling matter." That last part was a lie, and everyone knew it. At least judging by the frantic way the Supreme One's eyes darted between a steamrolled Eclair and the oldest of the Pleiades. He slowly meandered towards the quibbling group, regaining his domineering aura.

"Again, forgive me, my lord. I-"

"That's enough, Yuri." The overlord waved a hand dismissively. "No need to apologize." He claimed, sounding much too weary to the surrounding NPCs.

'If I ever hear another apology it'll be too soon.'

"Could I offer you anything to drink, my lord?" The myconid bartender asked, placing a strangely shaped appendage against his chest in a courteous manner.

"No thank you, Sous-Chef. It is quite alright. I'm not sure my biology allows me to get inebriated." Ainz shook his head before turning his attention to the elephant in the room. "... CZ... What are you doing with Eclair...?"

"Snuggling. He's fluffy." She commented in that same unfazed tone, a single green eye staring up at the master.

"Shizu-chan." Yuri said almost pleadingly. "You can't go around harassing other servants because they're cute."

The fallen angel wrinkled his brain trying to remember the short maid's character settings, wondering if this obsession with cute and fluffy things was part of her design.

"At the very least, you could cuddle Eclair a little lighter." Sous-Chef commented idly while polishing an already clean glass. "I'd rather not lose a regular patron- or have this locale be the first place in Nazarick where two servants kill each other."

Ainz murmured in agreement, side-eyeing the deathly still birdman butler. "Indeed. CZ... Hm. Shizu, could you loosen up your choke-hold a little?" The automaton immediately complied, allowing the previously floppy penguin to regain some rigidity with a gasp.

"Mm." She hummed in a familiar monotone.

The oldest Pleiade visibly relaxed before looking towards the contemplative angel. "She isn't usually like this, Momonga-sama. Normally she... Plays with Spear Needles on the 6th Floor, but they seem to have all run off. ...And with lady Aura and lord Mare gone, Shizu-chan hasn't been able to find them."

'Run off? Gee, I wonder why.'

"-Not usually like this?!" The still confined assistant butler complained, waving his flippers about to no avail. "She always does this!"

"I meant disobeying my orders, mister Eclair." Yuri huffed, getting defensive over her sister. "Normally she would have let you go with a single word from myself-"

The Supreme Being turned to the bartender, who was still cleaning out the same glass. "Actually, Sous-Chef. Give me something strong. I'd rather test out my theory."

'May as well better understand my biology when in a safe environment. And by the looks of things, I'm not going anywhere for a while.'

"Of course, milord." The myconid set aside the glass and bowed. "The strongest we have available, then?"

"Yes. That'll do." Ainz affirmed, paying partial attention to the bickering-match that had started between the two servants. It didn't take long before a glass of colorful beverage found itself on the bar in front of the angel. A quick sip affirmed that his taste buds hadn't decayed at all.

"That bad, lord Momonga?" The bartender asked upon seeing the slightly wrinkled forehead of the Supreme Being.

"...Not terrible as far as high percentage alcohol goes."

'Never really drank any outside of business meetings and whatnot.'

He looked around a little. This was a lovely bar, and it would undoubtedly have a relaxing atmosphere were it not for the squabbling.

"-Well!" Eclair grumbled from Shizu's grip. "When I rule Nazarick I'll ensure that none of the Pleiades get the luxury of cuddling me!"

It was as if all the air was sucked out of the room.

The other NPCs stared at the rockhopper penguin in mute horror. Joking like that was fine on its own, but it wasn't a wise thing to say in front of the Supreme One himself. Ainz also stopped, having raised the glass halfway to his face. The maids and bartender slowly looked over to the angel in a manner that was almost comical in an absurd way.

"Oh." Sous-Chef whispered so quietly that it could have been missed by even the Supreme Being's sensitive ears.

The overlord set aside his drink for a moment, and only after several tense seconds of Eclair continuing to rant about ruling the Tomb did he speak.

"Eclair. You were created by Ankoro Mocchi Mocchi, correct?" He interrupted the butler's ramblings.

"Indeed I was, my lord! It is quite the source of pride for me." The penguin affirmed, resulting in Ainz giving an appreciative nod before returning to his grog.

'Her brand of humor. Truly.'

With that, heat seemed to rush back into the bar as everybody present (save for Ainz and Eclair) breathed a sigh of relief. Obnoxious or not, Yuri didn't want a colleague to lose their head due to them abiding by their nature. Luckily, the kindhearted lord seems to have recognized the servant's plight.

'Guardian Overseer Albedo would not be so kind.' The Pleiade correctly surmised.

"Stupid." Shizu stated bluntly, gripping the penguin tighter. "Don't say that in front of Momonga-sama."

"Geh-! Please don't do that-!" He wheezed as the maid's mechanical arms wrapped tighter around him.

"...Shizu." Ainz chided. "That was u-" He was cut off by Eclar giving off a high-pitched squawk, as if someone had stomped on a dog toy. The Supreme Being stared owlishly at the crushed bird before erupting into spirited laughter. The second truly earnest laugh that day.

"HAHA-!"

Yuri failed to hold back a smile while the bartender just shook his head. Only when Ainz snorted did he stop laughing, instead covering his mouth.

"Ah. Apologies." He mumbled bashfully, silently cursing himself for letting go of his regal behavior (something that happened far too easily when he relaxed even a little).

"Oh, not at all, my lord." Yuri said with a giggle. "Honestly I found that to be quite-"

"...Cute." Shizu mumbled, staring at the angel with wider eyes than he was used to. So too did Ainz look back at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Is that so? Are you going to cuddle me like you did Eclair?" He chuckled.

"Mmm. No. That's rude. Right? Yuri-nee?" The automaton asked in a flat voice, having loosened her grip on the penguin who was now groaning and coughing.

"Correct. To do so unless having been explicitly allowed the honor by the Supreme One himself would be a grave violation of etiquette." The eldest Pleiade confirmed as she adjusted her glasses. "Such a violation could be met with severe puni-"

Yuri and Ainz both blinked at the 1-yen sticker Shizu securely attached to the his immaculate robes. Sous-Chef took a very sudden interest in the liqour bottles in the back-room and ran off.

"Momonga-sama's nice." The young battle-maid said to nobody in particular.

"Heh~. That's-"

"SHIZU!" Yuri all but shrieked at her younger sister, looking simultaneously incredulous and horrified. Despite not revealing any emotions, the sharp shooter slowly shrank back. "APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW! YOU-"

"Hey." Ainz placed a hand on the bespectacled Pleiade's shoulder, causing her outrage to slowly evaporate.

"I assure you, this is fine. If anything, I'd consider the sticker to be a compliment. It... It... I-it...? Good grief what is this thing made out of?" The fallen angel was about to go on a rant about how Shizu's sticker didn't cause any trouble, but tapered off half way through upon failing to remove it several times.

"Shizu...!" Yuri hissed.

"Mm. Understood." Letting go of Eclair (who dropped onto the floor and waddled off), the automaton brought out a bottle of clear liquid, which managed to remove the sticker without any trouble. "Sorry." She bowed.

"It's fine. I'm flattered that you think me cute, though." The angel grinned while diffidently scratching his head of silver hair.

"Mhm. Very." She reaffirmed. Yuri just lethargically shook her head before collapsing in a booth further away from the bar.

Ainz figured that now would be a good time to check up on an issue that the older Pleiade had mentioned.

"Yuri mentioned that you would normally 'stop cuddling' Eclair upon hearing her order. But you caused her some trouble this time." He grinned remembering their little altercation. "Why was that?"

"Mad." Was all the automaton said. Ainz's grin twitched a little.

'She disobeys orders from a superior for that reason...? That's concerning. Is that also part of her character-settings?'

As if sensing the Supreme Being's displeasure, Shizu turned towards him. "Will always listen to Momonga-sama." She comforted in that same dry voice. "Yuri is unfair."

'Did I get into a disagreement between siblings?'

"...Why is that?" The one to ask wasn't the Supreme Being, but rather the oldest of the Pleiade sisters. Ainz peered over his shoulders, to get a look at the exhausted battle-maid.

"You got a job." Shizu replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"A job." The angel parroted back, to which the mechanical maid nodded. "You... You're mad because she got a job?"

"Affirmative."

"...So you're... Envious? Of Yuri?"

"Mhm."

"...For being allowed to work."

"Yes."

"That does make sense." The other battle-maid interjected, cupping her chin. "Sorry, Shizu-chan. I didn't take into consideration your feelings on the matter."

'DON'T JUST AGREE WITH THAT DRIVEL AS IF IT MAKES SENSE!'

"It's fine. Sorry for the trouble."

"I assume you've heard all the details about said job from Sebas?" Ainz cut in.

"Of course, milord."

Ainz groaned quietly and rubbed his eyes. "Okay. Then would you like a job, Shizu?"

"Remarkable, an opportunity so soon!" Yuri sighed, clapping her hands together. "Quick! Thank our generous lord for granting you a mission upon hearing your of hardships!"

CZ hopped off her bar stool, giving the angel a proper bow. "Thank you, Momonga-sama." Ainz merely shook his head and waved away any further attempts at expressing gratitude.

"This is an important one, you ready?" The Supreme Being asked airily.

"I am."

"You are to accompany me on an adventure outside the Tomb." He explained, not giving any details. But the overlord did get some satisfaction in seeing the automaton's singular eye widen.

"Accompany... Momonga-sama...? Adventure?" Shizu wore the same dull expression and spoke with the same tone of voice, yet the angel could practically feel the excitement radiate off her. He nearly broke out laughing again as he glanced over to Yuri, only to see how the envy between them had been turned on its head.

"My lord...! To accompany you, is that not a job fit only for the best Guardians Nazarick has to offer?" She inquired.

"That won't be necessary for this, Yuri." Ainz shook his head, silencing the protesting maid.

'It'll grant Eclair some literal breathing room. ...And I'll have a ranged combatant that doesn't seem overbearing.'

"What do you say, Shizu?" The angel asked once more, receiving no reply. After another moment of silence, Ainz hesitantly waved a hand in front of the catatonic Shizu's eyes. That seemed to reboot her.

"Ah. Yes. It would be an honor, my lord." For less than a split second the Supreme Being could have sworn that the faintest of smiles made its way onto Shizu's face- if it were possible. With an amused scoff he took another sip of his drink.

This was bound to get interesting.


*Technically due to Lakyus being a noble, but with limited information Ainz assumes that it's due to their status as adamantine adventurers that they are able to visit royalty.

**Once again- all of the stuff I skipped over in favor of Carne played out almost exactly the same. Which included Ainz and Albedo's first interaction.


I've also decided to bite the bullet on this one. Either I could have Ainz be Momon in E-Rantel, as was the case in canon- or I could do something else. Whether the choice I made was good or bad I do not know, so only time will tell. Whatever the case may be, we will now have to deal with the dreaded OC New Worlders, though I'll try my best to ensure that they fit into the world and don't play roles that are too pivotal.

One thing is certain: You'll get Dark Hero Momon in the next chapter.


On a completely unrelated note that I thought would be fun:

Let's discuss music.

Good God, a good track can birth some pretty cool ideas if you ask me. For example "Kars 1" by Tigran Hamasyan inspiring the name (and eventual effect) of [Silent Lament of Vermilion Kin].

...So I figured I'd share some of the songs I was listening to when I got an idea. Both because it's fun to discuss these topics, and because I like these songs and want others to appreciate them as well. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share.

I won't be giving away too much- nothing that will foreshadow future events and character development. I'll share those later, once everything is said and done, and when it can't be considered a spoiler. This time it's all about Ainz and the songs that gave me a general idea of his character (as well as where he's going).

[Fever the Ghost - Source], is a charming song that kinda gave the idea of this Ainz. Really groovy and playful in a way. ...No comment on the meaning of the lyrics.

[Tool - Lateralus]. Likely my favorite one among these two. Lyrically relevant while also having the general "vibe" I wanted for the character. This is prog-rock/prog-metal. So it might not be your cup of tea.

That's all for now, whether you listen to them or not is up to you. But know that I recommend them both, especially "Lateralus". There are more, though they aren't too subtle and may reveal what I had planned for our main character. But let's be honest here, this was just an excuse to share my playlist.