[Volume 2: Epilogue]
Rem and Ram may have looked nearly identical, but it really wasn't so.
Rem was an ok combatant but an excellent maid. She could cook, clean, always was polite, and was overall excellent at housekeeping of all sorts.
Ram, on the other hand, was an extremely powerful mage, even if she couldn't sustain such a state for a long time due to her missing horn. As a maid, however, her skills were… questionable.
Of course, she prided herself on her famous – or perhaps infamous – steamed potatoes, but her cooking could use some improvement. Frankly, all of her housekeeping skills could. If not for the fact that she was a capable physical combatant, she probably would have lost most of her fingers to the cutting shears while maintaining the garden.
And so, now that Rem was out and about with Ainz, most would expect the house to fall into disrepair. However, that was not the case. In fact, Ram still only did the usual 20% of the work.
She didn't exactly know how to feel about this, but she couldn't deny that the undead creatures Ainz had made were useful. Perhaps the ghastly, floating figures weren't the most aesthetically pleasing, particularly when one caught a glimpse of their pained expressions, but they tirelessly worked to keep the house in order.
Alas, this just meant there was less work for her, so she didn't really mind. The ones being inconvenienced the most were probably the ghostly creatures themselves, as Beatrice would not give them a moment of rest.
They seemed to adapt quickly enough, becoming invisible and slipping away, which was the start of an arms race between the great spirit and the wraiths, with Beatrice trying to create a spell to see through their invisibility.
Ram watched this go on while she went about her chores, quite amused by the situation. However, she couldn't be so carefree. This afternoon, for instance, she spotted a wraith needlessly messing about with some bushes.
"Hey! What are you doing?" she shouted, approaching the undead creature.
It, not being able to speak, gestured vaguely with the shears at the bush it was trimming. They were almost beginning to resemble a familiar figure…
She looked at it intensely before turning back to the wraith, "Are you making a statue of Ainz?"
The wraith nodded enthusiastically, pointing to the partially trimmed greenery, and making some over the top pose that the final product was most likely meant to have.
"I am not going to all-" Ram began, right before a better idea came to mind. There were quite a few wraiths prowling around the mansion nowadays, particularly since they apparently had been relieved of some of their duties by other undead. Maybe she could actually put them to good use, especially given that she was their senior in this line of work.
"Can you call over the rest of you?" she asked, to which the wraith tilted its head before offering her a slow nod.
After a few minutes, seven wraiths had gathered in front of her. It truly felt like there were more that worked around the mansion, but that may have just been a byproduct of how much work tireless and restless undead could get done.
"Alright, listen up all of you. You want to make a statue of Ainz, right?" Ram asked, with the wraiths of course nodding, "I will allow it. Under one condition."
The undead stared at her intensely, their crimson eyes burning into her, "You'll also make statues of everyone else. Besides Roswaal."
After a few seconds of looking at each other, apparently baffled by the condition, they flew away and got to work.
It took only a few hours for magnificent topiaries of Ainz, Emilia, Rem, Ram, and even Beatrice to appear outside of Roswaal's mansion. The pink-haired maid smiled, 'It's a small victory over that bastard, but it's still a victory.'
Roswaal may have been obsessed with resurrecting Echidna, but he still had his pride to protect. If she could so much as scratch it, that was enough for her. She dismissed the wraiths and made her way to her room before she would need to get her usual mana transfer from the court mage.
Not only did that bastard force her into a contract, but now she was entirely dependent on him, as she couldn't absorb mana without her horn. But maybe there was a ray of light in the dark.
After all, even Roswaal's magic had apparently met its match, that being in the form of Ainz.
When the Overlord returned with Rem, maybe he would help. He'd already saved her life once, so doing it once more shouldn't be such a big deal, right?
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
Echidna took a sip of the not-quite tea she always had on the table in front of her. Ainz, as was apparent by his last visit, had something planned, and when such a being has things planned, the very world is shaken.
She was sure that killing the whale and one of the archbishops was only the beginning. For an entity far more ancient than even she was it was impossible to be so short sighted. It was an exciting prospect, to get to hear of his plans in the future.
Sadly, she had no real means of observing the world outside of her castle of dreams. She could, however, speculate. But what fun was speculating when no one would hear her thoughts.
"Do any of you want to talk about what Ainz has planned?" Echidna asked the empty space around her, only for it to be quickly filled by several figures.
"Why not? Sigh." said Sekhmet, lazing around on the grass that covered the ground.
"Fine. Do you have anything to tell us to start the discussion?" asked Minerva, sitting down opposite of Echidna.
"Not in particular, though I am curious as to how you think his battle with the whale will go. It is after all one of the great demon beasts." Echidna said, taking a sip from her teacup.
"No point in – phew – even asking." Sekhmet said, "He will crush it. Sigh."
"Yea, if he could take on all of us like that then the whale is a goner. I'm getting sad just thinking of the destruction he will unleash…" Minerva said, tears already appearing in her eyes.
"Oh stop being such a crybaby. He'll most likely minimise casualties or fight it away from people, both to maximise the glory from the battle and to not reveal his hand to possible opponents." Echidna said, leaning back and filling the atmosphere with overwhelming smugness.
"And how are you so sure of that?" Minerva asked, hoping to damage Echidna's ego at least a bit.
"It's quite simple. It's because it's what I would have done if I were in the selection."
"As if – phew – anyone would want you to rule. Sigh." Sekhmet said, lazily looking over at the Witch of Greed.
"I'd make an excellent ruler, and my hand would be sought by everyone, I'm sure, but that's besides the point. Anyway, I'm sure he will grant me at least a duchy once I am resurrected. Oh, would you want to be resurrected? I'm sure if you strike a deal with him then it'd be possible."
"No. Living is – phew – too tiring." Sekhmet immediately answered.
"At least your sin is fitting." Echidna said before turning to Minerva, "And you? Wouldn't you like to be back and stop all that war and conflict you hate so much?"
"I… I'd like to, but to work with such a monster? Never! Did you see the hatred that burnt in his eyes? He'd force me to torture people or something!" Minerva said.
"All the more reason to get resurrected and fight against him, right?" Echidna asked, chuckling afterwards, "Who am I kidding? Even you aren't stupid enough to try and fight him."
"I can't believe you made a deal with him though. Didn't you see how terrified Typhon was of him? She still refuses to speak about it… What in the world must he have done?" Minerva said.
"That is exactly why I made the deal. Besides, the better question is what has he done beyond the Great Waterfall? How did he get here? Can he get out? Ah, there are so many questions only he can answer!" Echidna said, her cheeks growing redder.
"Calm down. Sigh." Sekhmet interjected, stopping the Witch of Greed's upcoming rant.
"Fine, but you must understand what a store of knowledge he is. Anyway, I wonder how his confrontation with your archbishop will go."
"It will be – phew – quick." Sekhmet answered, distinctly remembering how powerless she was in front of the Overlord.
"Obviously, but the question is what will happen with the Witch Factor." Echidna said, prompting even Sekhmet's face to become a shade paler. "Don't tell me you didn't think about this? It may have to be ingested, but he is an unmatched mage. For all we know, he could soon outmatch us at our own game."
"T-That can't be possible, right?" Minerva asked, "I mean, he's already stronger than even Sekhmet." The Witch of Sloth simply looked away from Minerva, neither confirming nor denying her statement.
"For him it seems anything is possible. Although I am wondering if the Witch Cult will finally do something. As long as people have been coming here for consultations, it seems they have done absolutely nothing. If I were the Witch of Envy then I'd be quite disappointed."
Minerva clenched her fists and looked down, "They've done enough." she simply said.
"Yes, yes. They are decent at mindless killing, but will they actually do something intelligent this time around? Maybe even Pandora will step in! If any of that happens then you should celebrate, Minerva. I doubt they'll live long if they go after Ainz." Echidna said, trying to cheer up one of the witches she somewhat got along with.
"But will they really do that? I mean, if they haven't done it before, then why would they now? Right, Sekhmet?" Minerva asked, looking to the side, "Oh, she's gone. So what do you think, Echidna?"
"Call it a hunch of mine, but things are going to change. You don't just throw in a variable like Ainz into the mix and expect things to stagnate. The Witch Cult will react, though the knowledge of what will happen after that eludes even me. Chances are that most of them will end up dead."
"I guess it's at least them dying… Still, why can't people get along?"
"I'll get back to you if I ever find an answer to that, but it may take a couple more millenia. Either way, I do hope it at least makes for interesting stories once I'm resurrected, and don't worry, in the worst case I'll bring you around with me."
"To think you'd do something so nice."
Echidna frowned, "I am a very kind maiden, thank you very much. Maybe it's because you are so mean that you were labelled a witch alongside us?"
"Pff, as if. The only one that remembers you fondly is that apprentice of yours. Actually, do you have any idea how he is nowadays?" Minerva asked, remembering the young man Echidna sometimes spoke of.
"Since he's in touch with Ainz, I suppose Hector didn't get him in the end. He'll be fine; after all, he is my apprentice. Besides, if he's on Ainz's side then I only pity Hector when he attempts to pick a fight with him."
"Do you think he's still alive? It's been a long time since you last saw him, and he always had a tendency to get into trouble. Maybe one of Daphne's beasts ate him?"
"A creature like him isn't killed so easily. However, the gears of this world are turning after what feels like centuries, and he may soon be dead. I just wonder, what is happening at the centre of all of this?"
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
Far beyond where most mortals could travel, in a desert protected by demon beasts and foul magics, in a place overlooked by a being many called divine, stood a tower.
Below that tower rested what many would call the source of all misery and curses in the world, bound in chains of ancient power.
A storm of madness and malice lashed about the empty chamber, desperately trying to break free of its constraints, to no avail. Dark waves born of jealousy spread from the centre of the room, but the walls of the prison didn't get cracked in the slightest.
What else would one expect? This same cycle had been going for centuries, and yet the Witch of Envy remained persistent.
During every single second when she had control of the body, she sought a way out. Eventually it would work, eventually she would get out and take what was hers.
"He is mine! Mine!" she shouted into the empty space, "Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"
The mere ramblings of the mad and the desperate, the abyss made manifest!
"Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!"
On and on the same word kept echoing out, as if the one she sought would finally hear it. The object of her affections, the one she loved above all, the one who was like her, surely he would hear her and come to her!
Such was his fate, his destiny! None could escape such a thing! From the moment he had taken his first breath up until the time when he no longer needed to do so, his journey was set in stone! To come to her, to love her! This was meant to be his happy ending.
Yes, what could make them both happier? He was hers! Only hers! If anyone dared to lay a hand on him… A thousand deaths! A thousand cuts! In fact, even a stray gaze should have guaranteed such a punishment!
But he would always come to her! Come hell or high water, he would always make it! Of that she had made sure! To wrap around his heart, a heart that belonged only to her, that is what she wished for!
Those fools who said her beloved had no heart were fools! Fools that deserved the cruellest of fates! He had a heart, but it was only hers! Only she was allowed to see it! If anyone else were to catch even a glimpse of it then they would have to suffer for all eternity to repent for even a fraction of their sin!
But why hadn't he come yet? Did he not hear her voice? Did she not beg for him loud enough? He simply kept doing other things, being around beings that shouldn't even be allowed to know about him!
He would come to her. He would, right? He would be hers… He must be…
Suddenly, however, the mad ramblings of the Witch of Envy stopped, pushed back from the brink and away from the outside world.
Instead, Satella emerged once more. It was a moment of clarity in the eye of the storm.
The frightening power of the Witch dissipated, leaving behind an empty, dark cavern, cut off from the world. It seemed to be almost a void, filled with envy and despair.
Satella took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. The constant battle for control against the Witch was something she was determined to win, but it was not easy. She had lost control once, but she would never let it happen again.
Once upon a time she would have thought that there could be no hope in this hell, no hope at all, but now a single ray shone through the dark. Her prison was firmly intact, as it should be, but beyond it now walked a man who perhaps could do what it took to break this cycle of misery.
Even those that once stood beside her, that she called friends, couldn't help her. To put her hopes in a stranger, a stranger from a different world at that, felt odd, but for some reason it also felt right.
She looked out through her faint connection to him, trying to see through his eyes for but a second. Something, of course, initially blocked her attempt, but after a few seconds, as if recognising her, the barrier moved away.
Out on that moonlit field, she could see figures flying, evidently preparing for a battle. But the focus of the vision was not on them, or even on the girl that looked like her. No, the Overlord simply looked out at the moon and the stars.
It was calming, like looking at a serene lake. How long had it been since she'd experienced such a thing? Centuries at least. The beauty of the outside world seemed like more of a fever dream than reality.
To think that a being like Ainz would allow her to see this sight for the first time in forever…
However, the connection was soon cut off. It made sense. If the Witch of Envy was to take over once again, Ainz wouldn't have wanted to be connected to her, but at least Satella got a glimpse at what was outside of her prison.
Maybe, just maybe, she and Ainz would one day actually find themselves outside on a moonlit night like that? Perhaps that was the Overlord's silent promise?
No, such a thing was impossible. In the best case, Ainz could put her out of her misery.
But then why did a flicker of hope that he could save her burn so bright in her darkened heart?
A small smile appeared on her tearstained face as she repeated a phrase the Overlord was so fond of, "I guess it's because Ainz Ooal Gown does not know defeat…"
(AN from Edgy: Bit quicker this time, since this is only a quick epilogue, but with this we end the second volume of this fic! We've had quite a ride so far, eh? Well, what can I say, it's been a pleasure so far, and I'm sure it will continue to be so. As always, more to come and I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!)
(AN from Aterro: Hope you've liked this Epilogue, look forward to what's to come, a project of mine is also soon to be finished, so I hope you'll head over and read it when it's done !)
Edited by Korak324
Pa tr e on DOT com / EdgyTheWriter