Within the great tomb of Nazarick's 9th floor, a [Gate] Had suddenly manifested inside one of the supreme ones rooms. This would normally be impossible however, due to the extensive security measures in place around the tomb.
However, since Touch-Me and Ulbert were both within Nazarick while they were gone, they did not need to be as strict with the defensive barrier around the great tomb. While precautions were still made, it was much less then what was usually applied, which made coming here far faster then usual.
However, teleportation inside the tomb was still impossible without a ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, therefore there was only one answer to who could be entering the abode of the supreme beings.
As the trio exited the portal back into Nazarick, immediate discussion sprang up at the events that had just transpired.
"I honestly didn't expect us to return this fast!" Peroroncino was the first to voice his surprise, which was soon followed by his sisters agreement.
"Right? Though I already knew of the level difference between us and those outside, I didn't expect it to be over that fast!"
"And because it was over so quick, I barely got any chances to interact with the queen." he slumped his shoulders to make up for the lack of distinguishing facial features a bird lacked.
"Yeah yeah real shame, anyhow, do we think that the information we revived could be used to help Touch-san in anyway?"
Seeing his own plight be completely ignored, his mouth opened to seemingly make a retort, then closed halfway, as he most likely realized that now was not the time to do so. Thus, he simply responded to her question. "I wouldn't know to be honest with you. Momonga-san was the one asking the questions since he knows the most, but from what I heard, I didn't think anything was really of use, as we never learned the cause of the previous players coming here."
"That's true. All I really understood was the fact that other players existed besides us. What do you think Momonga-san? Was their anything that stood out to you?"
Instead of responding to the question, Ainz simply sat in a corner of the room while muttering to himself. In fact, he had been doing so since they first arrived. Phrases such as "Was it him?" or "An advanced version of [Dominate]?" and so on occasionally slipped through, but both other members of the room had no clue as to what they meant.
"Momonga-san, you alright? You've been spacing out a bit?"
That line seemed to finally snap him out of his trace. "Ah! Sorry Chagama-san, I was merely analyzing the information we had received."
"Well then what do you think? Did you learn anything that could be related to us being summoned?"
"Unfortunately no, as we only really confirmed what we already knew, as well as gaining some new information on previous players. But what I was just thinking about wasn't to do with that, but another event that had transpired shortly after I had arrived."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"I mentioned it to you previously Peroroncino-san, but I never elaborated like I intended to. A few days after being summoned here, Shalltear was brainwashed by a unknown entity. I have been searching for them ever since, as the only way for me to free her was to kill her. I will never forgive them for what they have done, and when I find them, I will be sure to repay their debt a thousand-fold." The anger coming from him was obvious for all to see.
Though they had known their friend for a long time, they had never truly seen him get angry, as he was always the neutral party to not take anyone's side and calm everyone down. Therefore, he never got angered, since everyone in the guild liked him, and even when he was upset, it was due to minor things and he would get over it quickly.
However, this was true, raw, anger in its purest form. The fact that this incident had taken place over a year ago, yet he had still held on to this anger was a testament to how deep his wrath went.
Still, the the outsiders(Peroroncino and BukuBuku) who had not experienced what he had, could not understand this.
"Isn't that a little extreme Momonga-san? I mean, NPCs could just be revived if they die, and not only that It was years ago. Shouldn't they be let go by now?"
"A little extreme?"
Though he had reined in his annoyance at BukuBukuChagama's remark on not wanting to see the children, he had held his tongue, as he understood that they had not come to see them outside of their intended purpose. As a canvas for their fantasies. However, this time he could not hold back his ire. To him, the NPCs were the last remnants he had to his friends back then, and he saw them all as their children. So seeing them blatantly ignore that was quite upsetting.
Though he didn't like to cause Discord among the guild, somethings could not be ignored.
"Listen, they NPCs are to me, an extension of you all. They have developed personality traits of their respective creators, as well as look up to us all. I see them as nothing less then our children, and when I had to kill Shalltear, it was to me the same as killing your daughter. On top of that, I didn't know if they could be revived in this world, which made it even harder. The very fact that someone would do such a thing to me cannot, and will not, be forgiven!"
Though he had started out stern, he began to delve deeper and deeper into his anger as he remembered more and more of the events that had transpired. So intense was his fury that Peroroncino stepped back slightly after hearing it.
"Ah... Your right, I'm sorry Momonga-san."
Upon hearing his friends slightly tremulous voice, he sighed to calm himself down, as he got too caught up in his rancor.
"No, I'm sorry to Peroroncino-san, I got to caught up in my feelings and went a little overboard. Still, I feel like you both haven't registered the fact that the NPCs are now, living, breathing beings. All of them are now are responsibility, and we must live up to that. It's not as if I don't understand where your both coming from, as I also made a rather embarrassing NPC, but I have learned to accept it now. You can't change the past, and we have to learn to accept them for how they are. Ah, I've really dampened the mood now haven't I? I may have laid it on a bit to thick there..."
After realizing what he was saying, it kind of came off like he was lecturing them, which was not what he was aiming for, but it would seem that he had been just a tad arrogant.
Though he was about to apologize, a voice stopped him before he was able to.
"No, your right Momonga-san. I guess we both kind of have been a bit harsh with how we've been acting towards them. In the end we made them, so we have to learn to accept them. Its just like you said."
"Thank you for understanding Chagama-san. Though I feel like I was being a bit arrogant near the end there."
"Well you kind of have the right to be, seeing as your right."
"Well I don't... sigh, lets stop with this dreary topic and get back on track about Shalltear's mind control why don't we?" Ainz was beginning to feel as if he was taking the high road to much for his liking, so he wanted to stray away from the conversation and get back to their original topic.
"Right right. Actually Momonga-san, how was Shalltear mind controlled in the first place? Aren't the undead immune to that status?"
"Well you see... actually, I feel like we should discuss this with the rest of the guild, since it is rather important. Why don't you [Message] Touch-san and Ulbert-san and ask them to meet us in the meeting room?"
"Sure thing! Since we all have rings of Ainz Ooal Gown, we can just teleport there, so just go on ahead, we'll meet you in like 5 minutes."
"Alright then, I will see you then."
With that, Ainz form seemed to converge in on itself as it became smaller and smaller until it was a black sphere that vanished to the wind, signifying that he had left.
.
.
.
"Alright, lets start this guild meeting by saying that we have successfully saved the Dragon kingdom."
Ainz felt it was only appropriate to start off this meeting by giving some good news first, as it would be quite awkward to start immediately going into the nitty gritty of the details, so he gave a broad topic to celebrate over.
"While expected, it is still quite unfortunate that we did not learn anything on how we came to this world. Though we have learned some other information however. The beastmen we no threat to us, so we could easily gain their trust be wiping them out.
"Was their ever any doubt? I feel like we can stop any force on the planet with the power we possess."
"Don't get careless Ulbert-san, the enemy could surprise us in ways we aren't expecting, so carelessness is folly. Punnito Moe-san would scold you if he were here!" Touch-Me had given that advice since he was known to be cautious. Even in YGGDRASIL, his dungeon raids often were quite boring since they focused on scouting and primarily slowly traversing before doing anything. Not that anyone complained however, as in the end, it was effective.
"That's right Touch-san. In fact that very reason is why I called all of you here. Though I only told Peroroncino-san and Chagama-san, when I first arrived here in the new world, I had sent some of the guardians out for information gathering. However, Shalltear had encountered a unknown enemy and wound up mind controlled. When I first found her, I attempted to use the super tier spell, [Wish Upon A Shooting Star], but the wish was rejected. The only reason for that to happen is if a world item was at play."
The room immediately took a serious tone. World class items were the ultimate in power. All of Nazarick could fall to just one if it was a sufficiently powerful one. So if the enemy possessed one, it was extremely troublesome for them. No, that would be understating it. It had the potential of being completely disastrous for all of Nazarick.
"What world item could it possibly be? I don't remember any that could do such a thing except for some of the twenty, but wasting them on a mere mind control is completely foolish."
"Remember Peroroncino-san, only 50 of YGGDRASIL's 200 world items were found by the end of the game. Its entirely possible a guild or group of players found one and never said anything. I can certainly see the appeal of such a maneuver. After all, we never revealed the [Throne Of Kings] did we? It brings to much attention on oneself, especially if they were low in numbers."
"That's true. So were up against a world class item with completely unknown effects... Damn, we really drew the short straw huh?"
"Actually, with our recent adventure in the dragon kingdom, that may not be the case."
Looks of confusion were born on everyone in the room at this comment. "How could a world item not be in play? Haven't we already narrowed it down to that fact?"
"Unfortunately no. during the war with the kingdom, I was attacked by a warrior named Riku Aganeia, who I have recently confirmed his identity to be the Platinum Dragon Lord of the Council state. During that fight, he used a myriad of abilities that I had never seen, which could only be accomplished by a world item. However, with the information we have learned in the dragon kingdom, that may not actually be the case."
Everyone in the room was on the edge of their seat, waiting to here the revelation their guild master had made.
"From what queen Draudillon has told me, there exist a power unique to this world known as wild magic, that supposedly can do things that tier magic cannot. After analyzing everything she knew, it is now plainly obvious that the abilities he was using were wild magic spells."
"So were not up against a opponent wielding a world item, but a opponent who can use world items as his skills essentially? Isn't that even worse for us?"
This would naturally be the train of thought most people would take when hearing this. If it was a item granting them power, then all one needed to do was take it away. But if the opponent was using the abilities on his own, they would have to fight it one on one.
"Not necessarily. Though it is concerning, he is not that strong. Wild magic aside, he appears to be a magic tank that specializes in super close quarters combat, with floating weaponry that count as his body. We have estimated he is in the 80-90 range level."
"But if he can use that mind control spell, then the level difference won't matter will it?"
"Yes, which is why I want to observe him for now and see if he truly is the one who did it before moving in. if we truly cannot beat him 1 on 1, or even with all of us together, we may have to look into other methods. For example... this." he pointed to the dark red orb floating under his sternum, and the room gave a understanding nod. "There are some things that bug me though..."
"What would that be?"
"When I found Shalltear, she was simply in the middle of a field with no one near her. She was under no orders, and acted as if she were a boss fight, only going aggro when attacked. If she really was mind controlled by him, wouldn't he have taken her away?"
"That is true... do you think it could just be the effect of the spell?"
"That wouldn't make sense onii-chan, what use could a spell have that just turns whoever you face into a boss?"
"I could be a way to run away, but if you already possess such skills, why would you need to?"
The room became a swarm of arguments, each person throwing suggestions only for them to be shot down by someone else. It seemed like nothing made sense about it the more they argued.
"Ugh, no matter how many questions are solved, more and more just appear. What happened that day!"
"Maybe it wasn't him at all?"
The group turned to Touch-Me, who had given his thoughts on the matter. What he had said seemed completely strange with what they had heard so far. "How could that be though? It looks like all the evidence points to him?"
"Well, if every theory we come up with doesn't seem plausible, then maybe it just wasn't him at all, and just another 3rd party with a world item?"
That would be The worst case scenario. Not only would they be facing a opponent whose abilities could rival world class items, but another being who actually did have a world class item, and fighting two different beings on that level was very, very bad.
"That could be the case... but if it is, we are in some serious trouble. I would honestly prefer if it was wild magic at this point."
"I personally feel like we still have to little information. We should sent over a diplomat to the country in order to scout out the power of the Platinum Dragon lord, then make a move depending on what we find."
"I was thinking about doing that very thing as well Ulbert-san. Your right. Trying to guess at the enemies plans when we don't know who said enemy is will just end up being a futile endeavor. Let us stop here for today and pick back up on it when we know more."
"Works for me."
"Sounds good."
"Got it."
With the group seemingly coming to a understanding. Ainz stood up from his chair and announced the meetings end.
"Well, now that that's settled, what should we do while we wait?"
"Hm, well I was thinking of...
Suddenly, a knock at the large double doors interrupted their train of thought. Acting off of pure instinct, Peroroncino responded with a "Come in."
As the door opened, two dark elves entered the room with smiles on both of their faces. They appeared to be a boy and a girl, though which was which was quite hard to tell.
"BukuBukuChagama-sama!"
A/N Yep. There here. Hope you enjoy like always!
