[Short intermission]
It still surprises him how luxuriously decorated the 9th and 10th floor is, every time he comes here, he finds himself repeating how gloriously beautiful it is. Those details on the statues, it almost seemed like they are alive. Some statues seemed fit in an old museum, made of white marble and carved to mimic old roman gods. The design of Nazarick's 9th and 10th floors were so opulent, that they could rival the best of the classical era castles and palaces.
Maybe some members of the guild saw themselves that way, as gods of this little dungeon, as the masters of their little corner in Yggdrasil. So they crafted a realm befitting that imagined greatness.
"Wololo-sama, welcome back to Nazarick." The devil bowed at one of his many masters, now in the form of a Leonin, or a humanoid-lion. As a shapeshift, Wololo's many forms has often confused all the other NPCs, but the players are able to see his name hovering above him, so would often laugh at his choice of animals for the day.
Some days, he wanted some courage in himself, and so he picks an animal that represented that spirit.
"Ah, Demiurge. How's the construction going?"
"We've finished removing what we didn't need from the place, and started with the building the foundations. The guardians are still sourcing for various materials and services, though." Demiurge explained, walking together with him.
"We knew letting you take charge of the construction was a good idea. Momonga-san said you are really smart and capable!"
Demiurge seemed to blush, almost. He then gave a very very deep bow.
"I really do not deserve such high praise, Wololo-sama."
Wololo grinned, "Oh you're too modest, Demiurge. I'm headed to my room now."
"Ah… I shall not disturb you further, Wololo-sama."
"Have fun with the construction."
"Yes."
It does still feel unusual and strange, especially when looking at them so close. For Wololo, these were the NPCs that they spent so much time crafting and arguing over their details. He recalled how some of them were flat out obsessed with the design and characterisation, and the arguments would get really, really heated. Demiurge's suit and characterisation too was up to a whole lot of arguments.
And Momonga-san as guildmaster would always have to step in to calm the heads. Occasionally that involved a lot of listening to both sides, and that took up alot of their guild leader's time. Many of them believed the guild would crumble without someone with Momonga's qualities to smoothen out the edges to everyone's personality.
To see the NPCs come to life, like really come to life. What the other players would've given to see this.
Perhaps some of them will probably do lewd things to the maids. Maybe he would too. Wait. He could!
"Oh what am I thinking." Wololo muttered to himself.
One of the forty two maids appeared, and bowed at Wololo. She had blonde hair, and a beautiful face. Her maid costume is beautifully crafted, with laces everywhere. The skirt is short, but lacy, and reveals their gorgeously slim legs and beautiful lacy stockings. Have the maids always been this cute?
"Oh what am I thinking again." Wololo smacked himself a little, telling him to snap out of it.
The maid the greeted with a sweet youthful voice. "Good afternoon, Wololo-sama. How may I serve you today?"
Oh so cute. Damn.
What is this!
Wololo glanced at the cutely dressed maid, and wondered what to do next.
"Oh." Wololo paused, struggling to think something proper. "Maybe a drink would be nice."
"Yes, Wololo-sama. A cocktail perhaps?" The maid made a cute gesture, as if thinking of a drink to offer her master. Was the maids all configured to behave this cute? Must've been the work of that guy…
"Ah yes. A cocktail… maybe a simple gin and tonic will do." She nodded in concurrence.
"Yosh!" The maid then quickly sped off towards the bar.
Wololo then went towards the main throne room. There, one of the battle maids, was standing guard.
"Yuri."
"Wololo-sama, welcome back to Nazarick." The battle maid bowed slightly.
"Is Ainz-san around?"
"Ah, yes. Ainz-sama and Albedo is in the meeting room having a discussion."
"Why are you here, anyway?"
"This is my station, Wololo-sama."
"Ah yes…"
It was then the maid from earlier burst through the door, and walked over swiftly, with a glass of gin and tonic on a tray.
"Wololo-sama, sorry for the wait. Here's your gin and tonic."
"Ah, don't worry about it." Wololo picked up the cocktail with one hand, and with the other hand, tapped the maid on the hand. "Well done." And he took a sip from his drink.
Wololo smiled.
"Now, I'm going to go find Ainz-san..." He then returned his glass to the tray and tapped the maid on her head.
The maid looked really happy to serve their master.
"Do you think we should train our own adventurers?" Ainz suggested.
"Why do we need these adventurers, Ainz-sama? These human adventurers are weak when compared to the forces of Nazarick. Surely the guardians are more than enough? Even the lizardmen would prove more useful."
Ainz mentally sighed. Maybe it was his own personal dreams, to lead a team of adventurers into the unknown. Or maybe it's more of him missing the days when he went out on long adventures with the rest of his guildmates.
Ah those were the days. Maybe I should ask Wololo whether he is free for a little adventure. We could both go on a small quest, and leave this whole administration and city thing for a while.
That was partly why he became Momon in the first place… To satisfy some inner desire to go on an adventure.
What am I thinking! I'm the leader of the guild and this city, I should act like one.
"An adventurers' guild would be something every respectable city has, and surely Necropolis, if it aspires to be a great city, should have a great adventurers guild!"
"Yes, but Ainz-sama's city surely doesn't have to follow the ideas of the rest of these humans. After all the adventurers in this world are just monster hunters."
Eeek. That's a brutally true assessment.
"Then we must design a different kind of adventurers guild! One that actually does adventuring! That would bring glory to Necropolis and Nazarick!"
"Yes Ainz-sama. If it is what you truly desire."
"Wololo-san. "
"Ah Ainz-san. Want to have a drink?" Wololo handed Ainz a cup, filled with some kind of cocktail.
"This reminds me of my salaryman days. But I can't enjoy the drink. I'm undead."
Wololo looked a little disappointed. "Oh…"
"No worries, a bar is a nice place to chat." The 9th floor bar manned by the sous-chef is beautifully decorated and cozy. Something the supreme beings previously never got to enjoy as it wasn't actually functional in Yggdrasil. But here, its a lovely, rather lively spot for the NPCs to relax.
"Do you like leading, Ainz-san?" An unusually honest question, perhaps Wololo was a little bit intoxicated.
"Not much, but I think I can do it."
"Haha. I believe I'm the type that uses fear to lead. Not very inspiring, compared to someone like yourself."
"I'm hardly inspirational."
"The guardians surely don't think so. Our former guildmates surely don't think so. Everyone felt you were a great guild leader."
Ainz mentally blushed, feeling a little embarrassed and wanted to change the subject. "But do you need fear to command Aura? She's may be loud and noisy, but I think she would gladly follow your will."
Wololo rubbed and played with his mane.
"True… Aura's been a great help. Maybe I'm not that bad. How's your city coming along?"
"It's growing pretty well. About 3,000 elves now. But military might is still weak and depends on my skeletal dragons."
"Have you tried giving anyone the [Book of Learning]?"
"Hmmm… I totally forgot about that item. Those were from our beginner days…"
"I haven't either. I don't even have a city built yet."
Ainz laughed and tapped the wolf on his shoulder. "It's a friendly competition! You must have something up your sleeves."
"I do have a nice valley and tower though. Maybe I will convert it into a city later… I wonder whether I should have humans or some other race..."
"Oh? Humans can be a little difficult to handle given we are heteromorphic beings after all. They do seem easily intimidated by our presence! Even elves seem afraid!"
"Ainz-san! You are an undead overlord. Of course they are afraid of you!"
"Ah yes that's true. I forget that sometimes, especially when I'm around the guardians too much. Perhaps I should learn some of your shapeshifting magic. I'm sure squirrels are a lot more likeable."
Wololo chuckled.
"Haha, I'd think they still freak out at an undead squirrel though."
"You know, I rarely see undead animals."
"Now that you mention it..."
They both shared another laugh, and Wololo drank another sip.
There was a short, shared silence.
"Its surreal, huh." Wololo spoke, and twirled his cup around.
Both supreme beings smiled.
"Yeah. Both of us in this new world."
"Our comrades would have loved it here."
Their guildmates, after toiling for so many hours in designing Nazarick and also it's NPCs. To see them walk. To see them live. It would be like seeing their children grow up.
"Indeed." Ainz remembered the fun times they've been through together. "Though we probably end up fighting." Ainz recalled the plentiful conflicts and arguments they had in the past. Some got really heated.
"You always end up being able to resolve it though. Our great guildmaster!"
Ainz waved his hand, "I'm not the only one managing the conflict. The others helped too."
Wololo placed his head on the counter, slightly drowsy from the drinks. "Is that so?"
"It's really, really surreal. I still wonder whether this is a dream every day."
Ainz placed his hand on Wololo's shoulder. Perhaps it was a touch of empathy.
"It's surreal. But very real."
Author's note : The next chapter's really hard to finish urgh (I'm halfway through, and I hope to post it up over the next week or so). So here's a small intermission I wrote earlier. Thanks for the ideas btw. :) I think the reason I really liked overlord was the whole "power trip" thing. It's cool to see someone stomp through enemies. But it's really quite hard move from something you imagine is cool, into actual writing.