Route 14
-XXX-
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…
The speedy figure in a neo-nazi uniform came to a halt in front of a rocky wall.
"Oh! Is ma'am fate so cruel to lead me to a dead end? The twists and turns of Nazarick's mini-dungeons have surely set the downfall of mein kampf*!"
Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap…
Footsteps pursued from behind.
"I… We've… ha… ha… finally… ha… we cornered you… Ha… ha… ha…"
Albedo managed to squeeze out these words from her airless lungs, before collapsing to the ground on her hands and knees.
Pandora's Actor struck a pose, but before he could make a remark…
Thump.
Lupusregina tailed and fell behind Albedo.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Both Albedo and Lupusregina were panting from exhaustion, as they have been relentlessly hunting down Pandora's Actor through Nazarick's mini-dungeons for a few hours straight.
They were not only tired from a hour of cat and mice. No.
The No Cash Item Faction created the mini-dungeons in the guild's early days, as the primary defence against raiders. The terrain's design hindered many summoning and mobility advantages. Furthermore, bombs, pitfalls, gases, mines, tripwires, along with their other countless variations, combinations and counterparts littered the place. Although the traps were simple and cheap, strategical placement made them as deadly as every way possible. Those who were unfamiliar with the map and those who had poor mechanical skills fell as easy prey.
It differentiated truly skilled players from those who only paid to win.
On the other hand, most of the mini-dungeons were largely abandoned in the later stages of the game. Cash items grew in popularity, variety, and convenience. The mini-dungeons still got rid of low-skilled raiders with ease, but it was much less effective than using well-designed NPCs. Despite this, Ainz never brought himself to delete the place for more creation space.
Ainz felt like it would be erasing a part of himself.
Every single one of the No Cash Item Faction knew the way like the back of their hands, as they utilised the mini-dungeons many times in the past. In fact, Ainz knows it like the 27** bones on each of his hands these days, because Ainz has been using the place as secret training grounds. He has been secretly training to fine-tune his reflexes, parkour, and free-run moves. Ainz believes cool backflips, sidekicks, and other stylish movements would be highly beneficial in improving the image of the Dark Warrior Momon.
Ainz is very thankful that he had previously paid a heart-aching week's salary to keep the place, but the same could not be said for Albedo and Lupusregina.
Albedo ran in and face tanked everything with Lupusregina following. Logically, one would expect Lupusregina to be unscathed, if Albedo took all the hits. Nevertheless, Lupusregina suffered the aftershocks of many traps Albedo triggered.
Lupusregina was in a similar state to Albedo. However, when the two compared, Albedo was only a bit dirty from dust and soil, whereas Lupusregina's uniform was tattered and torn. This was due to the difference in their defensive capabilities.
"Huff… You… huff… you told… huff… you told me to sniff out and hunt down… huff… Pandora's Actor. You better give me what you promised, Albedo."
The two girls picked themselves up.
"I will… ha… Don't worry about that, Lupus. Additionally…"
Albedo smirked.
"… I'll give you 2 extra Ainz-sama plushies, and personally, make you an Ainz-sama squeaky bone chew toy. Of course, your original payment of a cuddly Ainz-sama canine bed is by no means cut off."
"Really!?"
Albedo's canines revealed themselves.
"Sure. If you help me dispose of Pandora's Actor right here, right now."
"Dis… dispose of? You… you mean like taking his body to bits? Speaking of which…"
Pandora's Actor was intact...
... relatively.
Apart from the bullets holes from being target practice earlier, Pandora's Actor remained untouched by most of the deadlier traps. He learned about the traps by secretly observing Ainz from the sideline.
How cool is my creator, my father!? Pandora thought. Unfortunately, these moves don't belong to me.
"Audacious… for you to state your heartfelt wish of a gentleman's body. Alas, all these passionate desires for a piece of Ainz-sama's body must strain him so!"
Albedo readied her stance.
"Don't worry, Lupus. For an inside job such as this, I figured we have a nine out of eleven chance in getting away with it.
"Shouldn't chances be in percentage? Ah... Whatever... About your offer Albedo…"
Select an option for Lupusregina and continue to route:
1. "… I accept." (Route 16)
2. "… I decline." (Route 17)
-XXX-
*Loosely translates into My Fight
** Google - assuming Ainz's skeleton hand is based off humans
Chapter intended to happen in the same timeline as route 21