The Weeping King's pledge of loyalty pleased his sovereign, for he chuckled in response. "But of course. One does not reach this stage without many years of practice and accumulation of power. In due time, you too shall experience the full might of what I have to offer."
"And I will gladly accept your gift, if it's anything like what you were able to give me two hundred years ago!" The undead spellsword said, practically salivating at that old power.
However, his excitement quickly died away when Lord Ainz sighed disappointedly. "To which I hope that it is not a complete repeat of last time. I elevated you from a mere godling to a full fledged divine being. You should have held those pesky mortals in the palm of your hand, and crushed them into dust."
"It was a mistake! A last vestige of my humanity, which I've spent the last one hundred and fifty years purging from my systems! My help in the Silent City! My luring of that poor fool to the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord! Unleashing the Rakatarsh Empire upon the Dwarves! The great betrayal of the Nine Goddesses to the Godhead! I assure you, everything I do, I do so that I might once again show you I am worthy!"
"Is that why you have chosen to appear once more before your Knights? Do you hope to somehow conquer your way back into my favor, old friend?"
The question sounded innocent enough, but nothing was so simple with an intellect like Ainz, honed over centuries of subtle manipulation and unrivaled genius. It was minute moments like these that reminded the Weeping King how he came to be in Lord Ainz's service, and his ultimate goal when convergence came about.
"I wasted your power, my twin King of Ruin," he said, hanging his head in shame. "I allowed my previous human connections with my peers among the heroes to cloud my vision, and to taint the divinity you gave me. When you took away my draconic form, it was well deserved."
"And yet you come to me seeking redemption. You have called upon your own pawns in an act to grab my attention, so that I might take you to Nazarick and give unto you a throne. Some from my kingdom may be less inclined to forgive your failure, or to even allow you in."
"And yet, you have all their love just the same! Cocytus serves as a grand general for your armies, which the Godhead lead as lieutenants! The twins manage every manner of monster and animal under your command, while Demiurge provides you the raw manpower you need! And I cannot forget your… queen, Albedo, rules from your side, as your beloved."
He grit his teeth when he mentioned the fair-skinned NPC of his Lord Ainz, a ball of hate hardening within his chest. Nonetheless, he raised his arms in supplication to get his next point across.
"I know there is more to the Sorcerer Kingdom I have to learn about! To traverse from your time is no easy feat, I know, but I assure you, I will use every last resource at my disposal to conquer a swath of land around where you say Nazarick shall land. I will make the blood flow and the bodies stack in a way that the massacre of Re-Estize looks like child's play!"
Were he still capable of doing so, he would've been panting, winded from his declaration of loyalty and not-too-unsubtle begging. Under normal circumstances, his pride would've never allowed for him to practically grovel as he did, but when it came to his only equal-no, his superior, he could not afford such petty notions like pride.
Lord Ainz watched him silently for a while, stroking his chin in contemplation. The emerald green fire of his eyes narrowed, as if he saw something distasteful. Finally, he seemed to reach a decision, and let his hand fall back to his side.
"There is no need for such decrees. I already have such things decided upon, so says I. You have taken care of Godenth's son from what the others of Corpus have told me, and begun to move your forces against my lesser servants in Zuranon."
"I know that they recently have found success with the death spiral in E-Rantel, but Corpus of the Abyss have mentioned time and time again their… flaws in their understanding of the world, especially in regards to how true death works, the very foundation of their beliefs."
"You believe this justifies your acts in saving the girl to crusade against them and spread your name in place of theirs? Your recent victories do bring me glory and reassure me somewhat, but I fear that this girl you have promoted might bring about a repeat of your first failure."
"It is always as you have said, Lord Ainz: failure is the mother of all success. When the time comes, Tsuareninya and the rest of my brood will execute their part in all of this flawlessly. If they can take down Zuranon at the same time, those who could be considered a loose thread in your magnificent plan, then you are all the better for it."
Lord Ainz made a noise of amusement, the overlord taking sadistic glee at the thought. "The Elder Coffin Dragon Lord's death propels our plans along splendidly, and that Godenth was so zealous in it means only that her bloodlust surges. You will continue along this path of yours, conquering and converting in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown."
After he said that, the Sorcerer King reached down to where his green orb was. His sharpened fingers scratched along the surface and dug the item out, the object shrinking considerably until it could fit comfortably into the palm of one's own hand.
The Weeping King recognized it as the Orb of Death, the very same relic which his master had granted him and his accomplices in the Silent City of the Beastmen, a grand citadel that once served as the capital of the Beastmen country.
Converting members of the Beastmen over to the side of Zuranon and Corpus of the Abyss proved to be a somewhat difficult task, due to their more "enlightened" view of life and death that left little room for self destruction. However, that didn't mean that aberrations among their populace didn't exist, especially those in poverty stricken or rural areas of the country.
From there, the plan had been to help elevate the head executive of Zuranon up to his lich status, and to simultaneously destabilize the country and force them into a panic worthy of a war. It had been the first death spiral that the Weeping King ever took part of, and it was so successful as to naturally spawn three Soul Eaters into the world to wreak havoc.
So far as he remembered, now it was manned by the lich ascended Beastmen members who took part in that ritual, as well as the Nine Heresies, Lord Ainz's personal pet project. They were all forgotten to the modern members of Zuranon, a product of a by-gone time to move a chess piece across the board.
It was unfathomable to imagine the nuance and skill one would need to perform one action centuries ago for a payoff that would only occur in the modern day, or even so soon as decades ago. It was one of the many reasons why the undead spellsword revered Ainz as he did, and understood the complexity of being able to traverse dimensions. He'd witness first hand some of the abilities of his twin, especially in the sea where the sea god ruled.
That, and I cannot let go of my devotion to Lord Ainz. It's only because of him that I truly felt wanted and appreciated, felt like I could have a place where I was not mocked or beaten down because of my choices. He made me feel… whole.
A familiar warmth settled within him, making him feel fuzzy inside. Through the Sorcerer King's diligence, he was preserved, and it was through his unimaginable power and genius that he came out all the more powerful for it.
Which is why his first and only failure stung so harshly. He'd been afforded the powers of a god to take down the one he called his brother once, to be given a chance to strike down Tsaindorcus Vaison, the last son of the previous dragon emperor.
All of those pitiful heroes that rose up to battle against the evil deities of their time were nothing before his might. The thirteen sung about in legend in particular left a scathing mark in his memory, due to them being the closest to the leader of their party. Their dismissal of him as a true hero had hurt the most, which was what made it so easy for him to turn against them.
No matter the cost, the Weeping King will earn a seat at Lord Ainz's table! He would amend his failure and unleash centuries of pent up frustration and undead fury on the surviving members of the Thirteen Heroes!
Rigrit! Landfall! Kelbalar! Tsaindorcus! Every last one of them would feel the bite of his sword, and he'd be sure to finish the job this time!
"You did well ensuring that your latest lieutenant was decently equipped for her own conquests. However, your numbers are weakened. Here, take this. Khajit will no longer be needing it."
The surface of the mirror shimmered as Lord Ainz tossed the orb towards him. It passed through effortlessly, the wild magic which enchanted it bringing it into the material plane. The Weeping King caught it with one hand, smirking to himself at the familiar heft of the powerful relic.
The undead king pointed at it. "Give this Orb of Death to the girl, teach her its power, and awaken some of her potential. Your knights' numbers will increase enough to buy your mortal minions time to train. The sacrifice they will grant me will be greater with more bodies."
"Yes, Lord Ainz. This will help greatly in preparing for your convergence. Though, with the death of Cure Elim, what comes next in your plan?"
"For now, you will travel briefly to Inveria, to check up on the armies being maintained by the Godhead. The sea god grows restless from the visions I send him, and the world serpent himself begins to sense my influence upon events. I would not have either try to exert their will upon my pawns when they are not yet ready to march.
Though he knew that he shouldn't, the sovereign spellsword hesitated. "But… why not send Zaral Bonehead to do as you request instead? Surely, he is a fool, but he is competent enough when you ask him directly. Would it not be better that I remain here for your arrival without deviance?"
"Zaral will be kept preoccupied with guarding the corpse of Cure Elim for the time being. It'll be a couple of months before our plans move forward. Besides… I believe Godenth grows restless."
As if on cue, a deep thrum shook the entire cavern, causing the mountains of gold to shift and collapse in on themselves. Tidal waves of obscene wealth crashed against the dias where Lord Ainz and the Weeping King stood, making the latter feel like he was on a lighthouse at sea.
Out of the deep darkness shifted an impossibly gargantuan shape, four limbs like castle watchtowers rising up and crashing back down. Obsidian claws flexed, slicing the earth to ribbons while the mighty beast readjusted herself in her slumber.
Stalactites rained down from the ceiling when her wings, which could blot out the sun, accidentally clipped them in her unconscious movements. One broke off deep enough to allow a beam of sunlight to shine through, highlighting a coat of iridescent scales.
Five serpentine heads also shifted closer to the beam of light, attracted to its warmth. Each head had a varying crown of horns and colored scales that blended with her main coat. Wisps of each head's elemental power seeped out of the corners of her mouth as a hint of what she was capable of.
Fire. Lighting. Ice. Venom. Noxious fumes. All of these were at the disposal of Godenth Itoderth, the Eternally Chosen. The Multi-Headed Dragon Lord of the first age. She would slumber away in her home a while longer, blind to the rest of the world save for her dreams. It was in those dreams that Lord Ainz had her searching for another, someone who might possibly throw a wrench into their plans.
The Weeping King bowed again. "Very well then. I will go and visit Inveria before I return to my Knights. Long live the Sorcerer King!"
His magic mirror flew out of his pocket again, unfolding into a portal that would deposit him directly into the headquarters of the Godhead. He didn't envision staying longer than a few days at most, just long enough to double check their forces and ensure their security.
Afterwards, all that really remained was just watching over Tsuare and ensuring that she played her part to the fullest. For some curious reason, he felt his mood drop somewhat when he thought about her fate.
He shrugged his shoulders. It didn't matter. Ultimately, whether she lived or died by the end of it all was not his concern. All that really did matter was ensuring that Lord Ainz's convergence went off without a hitch, and that Nazarick spawned where it was supposed to.
Once he had amassed his forces, he'd march them out to meet the Sunlight Scripture and dispose of them. Carne would be occupied by his warriors, and then a welcoming party worthy of the God of Death would commence.
Walking through the magic mirror, the Weeping King couldn't help but to grin with glee on the inside. Soon, everything he sacrificed and worked towards would be worth it. Lord Ainz was seeing it, and he had no doubt he was on the right path.
Afterall, the master of Nazarick knew everything. There was nothing that escaped his own understanding of the times ahead!
Meanwhile, in Nazarick
Momonga internally cringed when he heard the desperate sobbing of the prisoner that his friends had brought back. He didn't necessarily feel for this particular person, given they were a member of Zuranon, but he just didn't like to hear crying in general.
Currently, Peroroncino, Dynamite, Ulbert Alain Odle, Punitto Moe, Ancient One, Genjiro and him were out on the Sixth Floor, watching their latest addition to Nazarick frolic around and bask in the sunlight.
Well, I suppose this was bound to happen eventually. I just hope there isn't too much of a mess left afterwards.
"And you're certain that the bug queen is at that stage where it can start producing soldiers?" Punitto Moe asked, his arms crossed.
Genjiro nodded his head eagerly. "Well duh. I wouldn't have called you guys out here if she wasn't! Daiki is ready for production… that sounds weird when I put it like that, like she's a factory of some kind."
"Which is not entirely incorrect, might I add," Ancient One pointed out, "She will be quite busy churning out new soldiers for us, whatever they end up becoming or who they use as a host."
Genjiro grumbled in reply. He had forsaken the maid outfit he was usually seen wearing these days, on account of the pet he raised having finally grown up. Hard to think such a massive creature grew to full maturity in only a week.
THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!
Evidently, the bug queen sensed her owner's discontent, stomping over from her place in the meadows to gently nuzzle the Arachne player with her domed head. Genjiro couldn't help but to laugh at this, in his strange, sucking-air sort of way.
Momonga had to crane his neck to see the true height of Nazarick's latest permanent denizen, something he was not used to doing unless it was taller players of the guild like Nearata or Connaisdiam.
Her newest molt was a far cry from when she was just a hatchling. She had evolved from a more spider-like creature to something more closely resembling a theropod dinosaur, standing on digitigrade legs that ended in clawed, four-toed feet.
Her exo-skeleton was an ash-gray, with exposed bits of softer pink flesh in between the seams. Her head was an elaborate crest of chitin that spiraled up to resemble a crown, and the mouth split into two pairs of mandibles lined with teeth to draw prey in.
A long, segmented and whip-like tail ended in a strangely bulging barb, razor sharp at the tip and easily capable of mutilating livestock and lower level mobs in the tomb. Genjiro took great care in making sure the creature was well-fed.
It'll be well fed in another way in a moment. If I were still human, I feel like I'd be sick having to watch what'll come next.
"Well, if Genjiro assures us that his pet is capable of making its soldiers, I see no reason why we should delay," Momonga said, taking a step towards the blubbering Zuranon member.
The man brightened considerably when he saw him, and fell to his knees. "L-lord Janus! P-please! Spare me from w-whatever punishment you h-have in store for me! I'll be b-better I swear-"
Momonga covered the man's mouth with his left hand. "Now now, we won't have any of that. I don't know who this Janus is, but I am not him. I am Momonga of Ainz Ooal Gown, and your association has displeased my group and I greatly."
The man's eyes widened. He proceeded to cry harder, mumbling against his hands likely all sorts of promises of redemption. The overlord paid it no mind, thankful that his emotional inhibitor prevented him from feeling anything for the man.
"Any idea how this process will work, Genjiro?" Peroroncino asked.
"I'm… not really sure? Nearata checked again for me recently, but it said more or less the same thing. We deliver her a host for a DNA sample and it'll do its own thing apparently. Might be something about a preference? I guess we'll find out in a moment."
Dynamite hummed, bouncing on the heels of her feet. "What will we do with misty eyes here if it doesn't work? Maybe Nubo can take a crack at him and look in his head for more info."
"We could, but given the close call that he had when looking in Nigun and Clementine's memories, it's possible we may have a similar issue with this one, even if he's as inexperienced as he claims to be," Ulbert remarked.
Those present grumbled with agreement. Momonga recalled how Nigun, the former leader of the Sunlight Scripture, had nearly died while having his memories examined. Nubo theorized there was some sort of "lock" on his memories, preventing them from gleaning anything about the Slane Theocracy's inner workings.
Clementine was in much the same position as well, taking her out of the running. Speaking with the surviving Sunlight Scripture members did yield some results, but Momonga suspected they could be hiding something, but he wasn't sure what yet.
Ya know, that actually reminds me. If this guy somehow doesn't work out, maybe we could use them as hosts for the bug queen? I'll pitch the idea to Genjiro once we see the results of this match up.
"Alright, let's do this then. Daiki! Take a look at this young gentleman! See if he's to your liking!" Genjiro said, pointing at the sniveling man.
It was then that the mood shifted for the Yggdrasil pet, becoming more predatory and hostile. The massive creature bared its fangs at the man, flicking out a barbed tongue while it stalked closer.
The man yelped when the bug queen wriggled her fingers and snatched him up, holding the man close to her face. With his mouth freed, the member of Zuranon began hurling all manner of obscenities and pleas for mercy, squirming in the iron grasp of the monster that held him.
An air of expectancy filled the sixth floor, everyone watching anxiously to see what the alien animal would do. She sniffed the man once. The barbed tongue licked his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. The man recoiled as if he'd been struck.
At first, the bug queen did nothing, cocking her head in an unmistakable show of curiosity and what Momonga thought was consideration. Then the pet shook her head, baring her fangs in another threat of hostilities.
Rather than devour him or just kill him, the bug Queen tossed the man over her shoulder towards the lake, the member of Zuranon screaming the whole while. Nobody said anything until there was an audible SPLASH, quietly astounded at the pet's behavior.
"Nubo's gonna have a field day when he finds out he gets to root through somebody's head again," Punitto Moe grunted, "Dynamite?"
"Give me a second." She said, flapping her wings and taking off to grab the man who floundered in the lake, apparently unable to swim. They shared a good chuckle at his expense.
Peroroncino crossed his arms. "If he's no longer an option, who else could we use? I don't think we'd exactly have a lot of volunteers for this sort of project."
"I had actually thought about it, but what about Clementine and Nigun?" Momonga suggested, "I know they hold some interesting info we could make use of once Nubo figured out what spells are on them, but it couldn't hurt to check their compatibility in the meantime."
He said this fully expecting Punitto Moe or Ancient One to object to his idea. Afterall, as prisoners of theirs with vital info on an unknown country, it would probably be wise to keep them as safe as possible. While the bug queen hadn't proven violent yet, and her flavor text indicated the host would remain alive, the strategists would likely want to play it safe.
Which is why it surprised him when they didn't immediately shoot down his suggestion. Ancient One tapped his chin. "Perhaps we could. However, they do possess information necessary to our own plans. We could also use our two guests as an alternative, but they have been displaying exemplary behavior for us hosts. It would be rude to sacrifice them to our admittedly horrifying pet."
"There is the possibility that we 'collect' individuals from Carne," Punitto Moe added, "But that should remain a last option, since we don't want to accidently alienate any of them for the future. As much as there might be a risk with using Clementine and Nigun, we have the option of resurrection if something happens."
"Indeed. They are valuable assets, nonetheless, and resurrection is not an assured pathway. Additionally, those of the Spriggan Settlement are also available to us. Alienation is less of an aversion, given their blatant adoration of Blue Planet and us by extension."
"Something to bear in mind though is that the bug queen will give us level thirty-five soldiers only if we give her an equivalent level host, right? Or at least something close to that. What levels are Nigun and Clementine?"
Momonga tried to recall his first fight with the Sunlight Scripture back in Carne. "From what Bellriver, Garnet and I saw, most of those mages were able to use tier three magic spells. Since Nigun was their leader, it is safe to assume he can use a higher tier, but to what extent, I'm not certain."
"He summoned a Dominion Authority, did he not?"
"That was through the sealing crystal he had on his person. For a lower level magic caster, it would be laughably easy for him to summon higher tier minions. If we just go off the 'he is their leader' angle, I'd just place him as being able to use a tier higher than his subordinates."
Ancient One hummed in thought. "And the woman, Clementine?"
"Demiurge and I personally think she could be of a higher level," Ulbert said, "She possesses strength and agility that a normal woman should not have. Based on what I've heard about Gazef Stronoff from Garnet, she could be stronger than him. I cannot be certain, of course, without seeing him in action directly, but I trust Garnet's own words about it."
"Would you say she is above level thirty then? Based on the report regarding Gazef Stronoff from both Garnet and Touch Me, he displays exceptional martial prowess. Why, he was even able to stand against a death knight. Those are level thirty-five."
"It is a possibility. I heard though that Gazef lost against the death knight, and that it was a special variant as well. If Clementine is stronger than Gazef, she might well fit within our desired outcome for this situation."
"Excellent! Go and fetch her then, will you?"
Ulbert's ring lit up as he was instantly transferred from the Sixth Floor to the dungeons where Clementine was held. They waited only a few minutes until he returned, hoisting a disheveled Clementine up by her arm.
She was no longer naked, thankfully, but wearing a raggedy shirt and shorts to preserve her modesty. No wounds were visible upon her body, but there was a glassy look to her eyes and her mouth murmured soundlessly. Demiurge was present too, adjusting his glasses with a smirk of pride.
"I hope you do not mind my presence, my lords. When I saw Father retrieving the prisoner, I couldn't help my curiosity. Might I stay and watch this experiment's conclusion?"
"Help yourself man," Peroroncino shrugged. Everyone else nodded their assent as well. Ancient One walked up to Clementine, crouching down as much as his obese demonic body would allow and snapping his fingers.
"Miss Clementine, can you hear me? Are you present in the conscious sense? Are you capable of comprehending the words coming out of my mouth?"
Clementine's head jerked up violently. Her murmuring stopped but the glassy look remained. She appeared only vaguely aware of her surrounding, dully focusing on Ancient One.
Given she wasn't screaming out in sheer terror at Ancient One's monstrous form, Momonga deduced she must've really been out of it. He could still remember her shrill wails from the times that Demiurge and Ulbert Alain Odle revealed their true forms to her. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have been able to get those screams out of his head for weeks.
Now it was just background noise among his daily duties.
"Miss Clementine, I have a proposition to offer you. My friends and I wish to conduct a necessary experiment for the future of Nazarick. You, as it so turns out, may be the key to its success. Cooperate with us to the fullest, and we shall see about a possible parole for yourself, given some heavy observation. Does this sound agreeable with you?"
The murderous woman's head bobbed weakly, as if she was having trouble holding it up. Once, she tried feebly to wrench her arm from Ulbert's grasp. Momonga took that as a good sign that despite current appearances, she still retained some of her inner fire.
Ancient One sighed. "This is not a productive conversation. Punitto Moe, please lend me your assistance.
"With pleasure," the death vine player came up, his hands lighting up with runes from a spell he charged up. "[Greater Restoration]"
The glassy looks on Clementine's face vanished, and she sucked in a deep breath like if she were winded from a great hike. Instantly, her head was on a swivel. Her signature sneer came about when she noticed all the guildmates watching her with amused smiles.
"Oh, it's you people," her voice dripped with venom, "What, you assholes couldn't get enough of torturing me in a dark dungeon? Had to bring me out into the light so you could hear me blabber like a moron better?"
"Actually, I felt that you could use the fresh air to orient yourself properly," Ancient One remarked sarcastically, smiling sadistically enough that Momonga shivered. "No, rather, I wished to speak to you, as one individual to another, about a particular program we are working on."
"Look pal, I'm not interested in pleasuring ugly beasts like yourself. If you're looking to get your rocks off, you might want to try one of your demon hussies instead."
"Ha! Good to know that when you are of sound mind, you possess a remarkable wit about yourself, albeit vulgar. No, did you hear anything of the offer I just gave in your… less than stellar state?"
Clementine frowned. "Something… Something about parole? If you're looking to bribe me, you can take your offer and shove it up your collective asses! I'm not looking for any pity. It's like what I told the paladin: I do what I do because I enjoy it, and for no better reason than that."
"Tsk, you do present rather bold assertions about our ideas. Miss Clementine, tell me, are you enjoying any of your time spent here? Have you enjoyed your little 'sessions' with Demiurge and Ulbert? They may have been instructed not to physically harm and kill you, but I can imagine that they take creative liberties when it comes to their mental tortures."
Though she tried to hide it, Momonga and the others noticed how she flinched when Ancient One mentioned "mental". That sickening grin of his grew wider. He leaned in a little closer, evidently taking pleasure when the smaller woman recoiled in Ulbert's grasp.
"Allow myself to present you a way out. Help us with this experiment, and I promise you as much high-quality food as you can gorge yourself on, as well as no longer being subjected to your torture. You can peacefully contemplate your existence staring at a wall without experiencing the agony you have on a daily basis. What say you?"
Momonga had a feeling about what Clementine would say. He didn't exactly know her well, but he understood that she was a prideful woman. Ulbert and Demiurge took their sweet time in breaking her, her spirit thoroughly defeated by their ministrations.
The overlord never made it a point to visit Nazarick's dungeons, since he never really had a reason to be there. Some guildmates, like Ulbert, Wish III, and Temperance made a habit of going down there, but for what purpose the other two did, Momonga didn't care to guess.
That wasn't his business anyways. What was his business was ensuring the sanctity of the guild and its overall happiness. If anything were to happen and his guildmates became dissatisfied with the guild again, he couldn't bear it if they-
Happy thoughts, Satoru, happy thoughts. Focus on the now and holding them all together, just as you did before. You're not alone like you once were, especially not with the staff acting as a guide, as strange as that thought is.
Clementine couldn't meet the gaze of Ancient One anymore, glancing away with a huff. "Alright, you bastard. As pathetic as it may sound, free food and freedom from the pain sounds pretty damn good. What do I have to do?"
Rather than reply to her directly, Ancient One stood up and called to the bug queen. "Daiki, my dear, how does this one suit your tastes? Shall she make a suitable father to your children?"
"Wait, what the hell-" Clementine was cut off by the thundering footsteps of the towering insectoid. It loomed over everyone menacingly, the barbed tongue lashing out in anticipation.
The human woman didn't get the chance to scream as she snatched Clementine out of Ulbert's grip, bringing her up to the beast's face so that she could see her quarry better.
"Oh no! Oh hell no! I did not agree to be eaten by this freak show! I take back what I said! Take me down to the dungeon, I'll gladly suffer whatever those assholes have for me, just get me out of here!"
Unlike before, the hostile air the bug queen exuded wasn't present. The guildmates and NPC watched with interest as the bug queen scanned Clementine from head to toe. She did sniff slightly when Clementine landed a kick on her nose, but even then she never got angry.
This is a remarkable improvement in mood from the last guy. Could it be…
As Clementine shouted swears at the insectoid, the long tail of the bug queen slowly slithered up until the bulging tip at the end of it was face to face with her. The chitin plates that made up its razor-sharp point shifted, as if something inside was straining to get out.
Clementine's breathing got harsher and her voice reached a new pitch. "Fuck you! Fuck all of you! I swear to whatever gods that exist out there, I will shove my stilettos so far down your throats that you'll-"
She never got the chance to finish her desperate threats. The bulging tip split open, revealing a fleshy, moist interior lined with thin barbs. Tentacles shot out from specialized sheaths in-between the barbs, resembling a squid's serrated suckers.
At the very center of that armored, meaty flower was a serpentine tube that shot out, connecting with Clementine's mouth and drawing her in. The petals of the bug queen's barb closed around her, the tentacles holding her limbs down so she didn't thrash around.
Momonga starred in distant horror at seeing the barb expand and contract around Clementine's body, pulsing with powerful movements. At first he thought she was getting swallowed alive, but her body never actually moved. Instead her legs, which were still visible, were taking on a grayish hue, the veins and arteries becoming increasingly apparent.
He realized that the former member of Zuranon was not getting eaten at all, not in the traditional sense at least. Rather all of her blood was getting sucked out of her body. Actually, it was possible that every fluid that flowed freely in her body was getting absorbed by the queen for this part.
"Do we-do we perhaps need to stop her?" Momonga asked, his voice carefully measured. "I know that Nearata confirmed this wouldn't kill the host, but I wouldn't put it past the devs to have implemented a hidden danger with this process."
Thankfully, his question was answered when the bug queen's barb opened up. Clementine's limp but still breathing body sliding out, caught by Dynamite before she could hit the ground. She was gently laid out.
The bug queen shook her head, running off towards the massive sequoia that the twins Mare and Aura called home. Genjiro made sure to chase after her, probably to keep an eye on her while she got started on constructing her own nest and laying eggs.
The remaining denizens of Nazarick, meanwhile, hovered over Clementine's prone form. Her skin was the same ashy gray as the bug queen's exoskeleton. It was slightly wrinkled from the lack of moisture, her veins serving as a map of her circulatory system through her paper skin.
"Good God man, I thought Genjiro said that his pet wouldn't kill anyone!" Peroroncino remarked, pointing at her. "I swear, I can see her damn heart bulging through her chest!"
"Actually, I believe that is just her ribcage. Her heart is slightly below that, if you look closely enough," Momonga said.
Punitto Moe crouched down to Clementine's weakened body, whispering the proper healing spell. In seconds, her skin regained her healthy sheen and filled out properly, mana replacing all the missing fluids that'd be stolen from her body.
Fortunately for her, Clementine did not awake immediately. A small mercy that she remained asleep so that she could properly recover in a way that magic could not replicate. The guildmates left her alone, content to leave her alone for the time being.
"I'll make sure to have the maids bring her a hot meal for when she wakes up. She could use one after what she went through," Momonga remarked.
Punitto Moe nodded. "We didn't exactly need her consent for all of this. We could have just as easily thrown her at the feet of the bug queen and be done with it. Why bother giving her the equivalent of a golden deal?"
"Call it insurance, if you will. My line of thinking is that we slowly but surely endear her to us enough that we are able to extract information out of her voluntarily. Nubo's skills exceed ours when it comes to divination and mind techniques, but the dangers of Clementine's mind lock are foolhardy to ignore."
"Oh. Since we are mentioning dangers. Peroroncino, I'll be having you pay a visit to Nubo soon as well. I wish to have him examine your memories of this 'Tsuareninya'. I'll have a shadow demon dispatched to tail her and keep track of her progress. We cannot afford to have any sort of weaknesses in our surveillance. You did well in letting her go, if only so that we may monitor her groups' movements."
As always, Ancient One was right. It was frustrating to think about the limits of their abilities. Granted, they as a guild and individually were still learning to what extent they could push player related powers, but progress was slow going since everyone was content to spend their time doing as they pleased.
If Momonga were by himself, he imagined he would be spending his days exploring just what sort of limitations game logic had in the New World. So far, he discovered that he could make permanent undead provided he had a corpse to work with, as well as that his current equipment limitations were still in effect.
But for the most part, he'd been spending time with his friends. A sense of contentment had washed over him and others of the guild, lulling them into a sense of security. Perhaps his acuteness as an Yggdrasil player was getting dull. Maybe he was starting to falter in his duties as the leader of Ainz Ooal Gown.
TO BE FAIR, MOMONGA, YOU ARE FINALLY HAPPY WITH YOUR LOT IN LIFE. THERE IS NOTHING INHERENTLY WRONG WITH NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING IN THE BEGINNING.
Momonga startled out of his inner thoughts, hearing the voice of the staff speak to him again. He decided that he was no longer needed here with the bug queen.
"Let me know of any further developments with the bug queen and Clementine. I'll see you all at dinner," he said. Waving goodbye to his friends, he used his guild ring to teleport back to his quarters on the Ninth Floor.
His friends could handle Clementine on their own. She was under Ulbert's and Demiurge's care afterall. It seems he needed to speak with his staff.
"I thought you said you'd stay out of my head unless I called for you," he said, slightly annoyed at the staff for interrupting his time with his friends and invading his head space.
AND I SHALL, BUT AS YOUR ADVISOR, I FELT IT PRUDENT THAT I REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST, ESPECIALLY HAVING TO JUGGLE SO MANY PROMINENT PERSONALITIES.
"Oh really? And tell me, what part do you play in all of this as my advisor? I wasn't aware that you decided to take on such a role, nor that you were willing to do so."
YOU MUST RECOGNIZE THAT AS GUILD LEADER, THAT COMES WITH MANY RESPONSIBILITIES TO BEAR. I CONCEDE, YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT IT NEVER HURTS TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE YOUR BODY IS HETEROMORPHIC, YOUR MIND IS STILL ADJUSTING.
Momonga crossed his arms. "I'm curious, but your own mind is newborn, yet you speak with wisdom already. Are you sure you were not someone else before you became the consciousness of the guild item?"
…TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I FEEL QUITE MYSELF. I DO NOT FEEL AS IF I BELONGED TO SOMETHING GREATER OTHER THAN YOUR GUILD. NO, THAT DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. RATHER, I AM UNSURE IF I COULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ANOTHER BEING, BUT AN EXTENSION OF YOU.
"An extension of me?"
YOU ARE ME JUST AS MUCH AS I AM YOU. YOU ARE THE LEADER OF AINZ OOAL GOWN, AND I AM THE INSTRUMENT THROUGH WHICH THIS IS SYMBOLIZED. PERHAPS MY OWN SOUL CAME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT I AS A CONSCIOUS ENTITY UNDERSTAND THE BOND WHICH YOU AND I SHARE. WE ARE UNITED, ONE AND FOR ALL.
"Does that not bother you? Wouldn't it feel better to be untethered from myself and the staff and be your own person? Surely, it can't be comfortable only floating around and attacking in defense of myself. Having to rely upon me just to go outside and see the sunlight?
DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT YOU RELY ON YOUR FRIENDS FOR YOUR OWN HAPPINESS, OR TO UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN PLACE IN THE WORLD?
It was phrased straightforwardly, but the underlying tone made Momonga metaphorically narrow his eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"
A HYPOTHETICAL, IF YOU WILL. IMAGINE A TIMELINE IN WHICH NONE OF YOUR FRIENDS ANSWERED YOUR CALL AND YOU WERE LEFT ALONE THAT DAY OR, HEAVENS FORBID, THEY DID ARRIVE AND THUS DECIDED TO LEAVE YOU. WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME? HOW WOULD YOU PROCEED IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU?
"Certainly, I'd scout ahead and make sure the world was safe to traverse. I'd collect as much information as I could on my own and make plans for who to interact with and how. I am not so defenseless on my own, you know."
OF COURSE NOT, BUT YOUR TECHNICAL ABILITY IS NOT TO WHICH I AM REFERENCING.
"Then what are you getting at here? Why do you dance around your meaning?
MOMONGA, SINCE WE HAVE ARRIVED, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ON YOUR OWN? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT WAS NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS OR EVEN THE NPCS? WHAT CLAIM DO YOU STAKE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS?
A sense of outrage began to bubble up in Momonga at the implication of the staff's questions. It was quickly trampled down by his inhibitor, clearing his head to think. With the clearness, he realized that he was drawing a significant blank on anything notable he'd done by himself, without guildmates or NPCs.
The staff picked up on this realization. He didn't sense any smugness coming from the guild item, but he could sense satisfaction at him beginning to understand what it was getting at.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I DO NOT INTEND TO UPSET YOU, BUT TO HELP YOU REALIZE THAT IT IS ALRIGHT TO BE LIMITED IN YOUR CAPABILITIES. EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE GUILD, BUT YOU MUST ALSO DO FOR THE GOOD OF YOURSELF. A LEADER SUCH AS YOURSELF CANNOT NEGLECT HIS OWN NEEDS MERELY BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE OTHERS HAPPY.
"Ainz Ooal Gown is everything to me. My happiness stems from their happiness, and so I will strive to achieve that, no matter the cost."
EVEN IF THAT MEANS YOU LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PROCESS? EVEN IF THAT MEANS YOU MERELY BECOME A FIGUREHEAD, PUSHED FORWARD BY THE WANTS AND NEEDS OF THOSE BEHIND YOU? ARE YOU WILLING TO BECOME SO REACTIONARY THAT THE MOMENT SOMEONE SUGGESTS SOMETHING, YOU JUMP TO FULFILL THAT NEED?
"It worked well enough in the past. Through my actions, I was able to hold all of us together, up until they had to go back to their regular lives. If that is what I must do, then I will gladly be the vessel through which all my friend's desires come true. I will do what I must for the people I love."
The staff said nothing for a little while. It was not angry or disappointed with him, that much was apparent. However, Momonga felt something else emanating from the staff, a sense of moroseness that he didn't understand. It was the sort of sadness that one could only feel coming deep from within their soul.
THEN I OFFER ONLY THIS AS A PIECE OF ADVICE. DO NOT BECOME A SLAVE TO THE WHIMS OF OTHERS, TEARING YOURSELF APART FOR THE SAKE OF PLEASING ANOTHER. YOU MAY WELL END UP A HUSK OF YOURSELF, BITTER AND DEFEATED BECAUSE WHAT YOU FELT YOU DID WAS NOT DESERVING OF ENOUGH LOVE.
RESOLUTION IS ONE THING, BUT FANATICISM IS ANOTHER. THESE FRIENDS OF YOURS LOVE YOU, BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME AS BEFORE. THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN THAT WILL REVEAL ITSELF. JUST DO NOT ALLOW PETTY GRIEVANCES TO OVERSHADOW THAT PURE LOVE YOU FEEL FOR THEM.
The mental presence of the staff faded away with a sigh. For now, it was just Momonga and the sleeping guild item alone in his room. He sat on his bed, his hands in his lap while he mulled over what the staff told him.
Was it really so bad that he relied on others for happiness? Sure, maybe someone could say that it was unhealthy and not the greatest method of dealing with life, but it was the method that worked the greatest for him.
His life back in 2138 wasn't exactly a walk in the ballpark. The ruinous pollution of his home world may have slowly been receding through the efforts of the global elite and other world governments working together to stem the tide, but it was not immediate enough to spare people the suffering they endured, people like him.
He was no idiot. He understood that, as with any reasonable, intelligent person, there would come a time when one's curiosity overtook everything else. This was especially true if that individual didn't necessarily have the free time beforehand to satisfy that curiosity.
Already, some of his friends had taken to exploring the New World. Blue Planet, Ankoro Mocchi Mochi, and Coup De Grace took it upon themselves to explore the Forest of Tob. Tabula Smaragdina, Tempest Aizawa, and Small Cuttlefish made a specialized academy just to indebt Nfirea Barreare to them and learn more about his talents and abilities.
Wish III, Touch Me, Ancient One, Peroroncino, Dynamite, Ulbert Alain Odle. Every single one of them was branching out in one way or another, leaving their mark on the world. Given how powerful they were as players, those marks were impactful and noticeable.
So where does that leave me in all of this? If I didn't have anyone to lead or even just to spend time with, who would I become?
His first thought was that he'd have the NPCs to keep him company. With their sentience came new personalities, albeit heavily influenced by their flavor text. They were the creations of his friends, so he'd always have that piece of them with him.
On the other hand, he recognized that there was a zealousness to their behavior. They were quick to anger if they felt their masters were slighted. He internally shuddered to think of what they might be capable of if they didn't have their creators to keep them reeled in.
Although I could just as easily do it, right? I could project the authority I needed to show them I mean business and they need to obey me.
That thought alone made him cringe. Who was he kidding? Every one of his friends listened to him primarily because they loved him. He served more as a mediator during their arguments than he did a proper leader. He was a salaryman in his previous life! What did he know about proper leadership?!
Okay, maybe he was just a figurehead. What about doing things on his own? He had decided to go and explore E-Rantel on his own, and fully planned to go with only Narberal Gamma until Ra Ra Rasputin and Ariel appeared. Truthfully, he had just wanted to go as a pair, but he realized the importance of guildmates with him, so he chose them over Narberal.
Before then, when he first ventured outside was to go and save Carne Village alongside Bellriver and Garnet. He'd been more along for the ride, propelled by Bellriver's own self-righteous anger at seeing innocents harmed. He'd been a fly on the wall, watching and interacting only when it was needed of him.
Both times he adventured or did something, he always had his friends with him. Never was he alone, and never did he do anything that wasn't outside what his friends would be expecting of him. Had he… had he really bothered to make any decisions that were his own those times?
"Perhaps the staff has a point," he muttered, "From what I can think about the situation, I believe I may have been purely reactionary rather than proactive, at least most of the time."
So what was the answer to his staff's questions? Did he just say "no" to his friends the next time they wanted to do something and tried to drag him along? Would that assert his dominance as his own man, or Overlord rather? That didn't seem like the right way to go about it.
Should he try to start making more proactive decisions without input? That sounded closer but not quite the right answer. Maybe being part of a leader was projecting a tangible presence that commanded respect and fear.
No… To be a leader requires qualities that I do not have necessarily, or ones that have languished under my care. If I want to be a better leader, I need to start practicing it. I need to learn how to be more confident.
His mind decided, he got up from the bed. "Staff, it is decided. I will make my mark upon the world in such a manner that it is undoubtedly mine. I will teach myself to be the leader that Ainz Ooal Gown deserves. I will not allow anyone to suffer from my mistakes or inactions."
HM? AND HOW MIGHT YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK OF YOURS?
"It's obvious, isn't it? I'll need to draw deep from my elementary education and do what the teachers always made me do when I was learning something new: I need to complete some homework."
HOMEWORK? YOU MEAN YOU WISH TO START READING ABOUT THE VIRTUES OF BETTER LEADERSHIP?
"That is precisely what I mean. I'll make my way to the library and pick up the required books. Grievous Sin can recommend some proper titles to get started."
He briefly debated whether he should ask the staff to come with him, but he figured he'd leave it alone in his room since he'd be coming back anyways. It could read alongside him once he had his stack of books.
Plus, he felt like he'd like to take these first few steps by himself, both literally and metaphorically.