CHAPTER 23:

A CALM BETWEEN STORMS

Operation Gehenna turned out to be a success. Harry and Momonga consulted with Demiurge about his prisoners, as well as the valuables they had taken from the Eight Fingers and their various facilities. Of course, there were added wrinkles. Renner had apparently requested that Climb and a few others be given an opportunity to shine, which meant Demiurge, in his guise as Jaldaboath, had captured civilians that Climb and Stronoff, in coordination with 'Momon' and the Blue Roses, saved. Thankfully, Demiurge, mindful of his instructions to avoid harming innocents, had even put the civilians to sleep before kidnapping them to save any unnecessary trauma. Harry didn't like this little diversion, but Demiurge was using Renner as their mole within Re-Estize. He needed to keep her happy.

It was not fun explaining that to the Blue Roses. But at the end of the day, the Eight Fingers had been uprooted. All that was left were disparate criminal gangs. What's more, King Ramposa scored massive points by riding out to face Jaldabaoth, as did Zanac and his allies. Barbro, meanwhile, stayed at the castle, which damaged his reputation.

With Hilma on their side, they now had a use for Brain Unglaus aside from picking his…well, brain about Martial Arts abilities. Namely, he would become her bodyguard on occasions that they weren't around anyone from Nazarick. He was glad of the change, as it meant he didn't have to be around Shalltear any longer, or at least not as often.

The night after Operation Gehenna finished, Harry, Albedo, Antilene and Leinas were having a celebratory dinner of sorts in the restaurant of Nazarick, with Foresight, Celicia, Tuare, Aura and Mare joining them. Arche's younger sisters had gone off to play with Shizu and Yuri, while Pestonya catered for them. "Not gonna lie," Hekkeran said with a grin as he swigged a drink, "but the thought of the Eight Fingers being gone puts a hell of a smile on my face."

"Hear, hear!" Imina said. "And to think Ramposa rode out against Jaldabaoth, if only to raise morale. That still takes balls."

"And the Six Arms are gone," Roberdyck said. "That alone is a cause for celebration."

Harry nodded, only to notice Arche picking at her food a little listlessly. "…Hey, are you okay, Arche?"

She looked up at him, and for a moment, he thought she was going to deny that anything was wrong, before she returned to her meal. "Sorry, it's…it's the Workers coming here soon," she admitted morosely.

"Don't tell me you're worried about them actually kidnapping you, Arche?" Celicia asked.

"It's not that," Arche said, shaking her head. "We know many of these people. True, Tenmu, or at least its leader, can go die in a hole, but…Dragon Hunt…they're nice, especially their leader. What's more, why do my parents want me back again? I asked Demiurge…and he learned the answer. The Slane Theocracy's ambassador intends to buy me off them, and train me up as a caster in their employ. Even though I hate them, and what they stand for. The ambassador even said he knows of ways to ensure my loyalty…does he mean using Ureirika and Kuderika as leverage? Or something like that World Item that was with the Black Scripture? You know, brainwashing me? Or…maybe drugs, like what they did to Tuare? Or…or…"

As the blonde teenager panicked, Tuare herself reached across the table and gently touched Arche's hand. As Arche looked up, Tuare said, "It's a cruel irony of life that, while most humans outside of my family treated me with contempt, I was saved by those who would otherwise be dubbed monsters, Arche. The same goes for my sister, as Celi was resurrected by Lord Momonga after Clementine murdered her. Arche…even if they did manage to kidnap you…do you think Lord Enzo or Lord Momonga would let it stand?"

"That's right!" Aura said. "Our Dad and Lord Momonga wouldn't let you go without a fight! And neither should you! Arche, you're nowhere near as strong as us, but you've been getting stronger under our tuition. You leave a lot of those idiots for dead. Hell, all of Foresight's been getting stronger thanks to Lord Momonga's generosity! But even if they manage to snatch you, we'll be bringing you back. You forget, Imina's probably one of the best trackers outside of Nazarick, and not counting divination magic, I'm probably the best tracker inside Nazarick. Plus, Demiurge is keeping an eye on them. Once they get close enough, we'll bring you into Nazarick for safety."

"You're family, Arche," Mare said, lacking his usual stammer. "Family looks out for each other."

"Between we of Nazarick and Foresight, you are safe," Albedo said. "Any who attempt to prove otherwise will regret their folly. In any case, we are hoping to negotiate with at least Dragon Hunt. As for the other Worker groups, that entirely depends on them. However, aside from Heavy Masher and Tenmu, at least two other Worker groups have been retained who are noted for being involved in activity that is criminal even for them."

"Would you know their names?" Hekkeran asked.

"Wild Dog and Keen Edge."

Hekkeran scowled. "Those guys, huh? Yeah, you're right. For all that Tenmu, or rather, Erya is a nasty piece of work, those guys are even worse. We've gotten involved in a lot of shady shit, true, but those guys have been particularly nasty. Both of them have been rumoured to get involved in killings. Wild Dog's worked for nobles looking to cow their peasants into submission, usually by brutalising them. Keen Edge were retained by Emperor Jircniv's mother during her coup attempt, and specialise in abductions as well as assassinations. Both have worked for the Eight Fingers freelance, so they say."

"Yeah, I think I fought one of Wild Dog's thugs in the arena once," Leinas mused. "Though I haven't heard of them as much."

"Jircniv doesn't usually like them in the country, especially Keen Edge," Hekkeran said. "He's probably worried about Keen Edge coming after him."

"They certainly entered the Empire covertly, aided and abetted by the Theocracy," Albedo said. "He was understandably upset when we notified him."

"We?" Harry asked.

"Lord Momonga, Demiurge and I," Albedo clarified. "We went to see him earlier today while you were organising this."

"Try not to give him any stomach ulcers from stress, Albedo," Harry said gently.

"He is an emperor, Lord Enzo," Albedo said with a smile. "That would be a stressful job by default."

Laughter swept the table at that statement, apt and true. Harry, however, resolved to get Jircniv something nice as an apology for the stress. Maybe copies of books from the Nazarick library? He'd expressed an interest in them before, after all, the books from Earth.

"How's your training going, Tuare?" Harry asked, deciding to change the subject.

The blonde young woman smiled. "Lady Pestonya and Lady Yuri are both quite patient with me, but my training is going well, so they say. I'm also getting along well with the Homunculi Maids. And Eclair Eklair Eklare is…funny."

Funny…well, that was one way of putting it. The penguin butler made no secret of his ambition to one day rule Nazarick, but he was designed that way by his creator, and he was ineffectual. Thankfully, the other denizens not only tolerated that, but were amused by his antics, though Harry actually found Shizu's tendencies to hug the stuffing out of him funnier.

"…Are you sure you want to do this, Tuare?" Celicia asked quietly. "I mean, be a servant to them? These people are being kind to us, true, but…I just worry."

Tuare turned to her sister, and gave a sad smile. "Celi…compared to what I went through over the past few years…this is Heaven. And…I want to repay Lord Sebas' kindness, and Lord Momonga and Lord Enzo's mercy. It's my choice. It's the first one I have been allowed to make for myself for years."

"…Yeah, I know that feeling," Antilene said, toying with her drink. "Don't get me wrong, I didn't go through anything like what you went through, Tuare. I got put through a brutal training regimen and treated like crap by my own birth mother, but…nothing like what you went through. Honestly, I'm glad that you survived with your sanity intact. But…I know what it's like to have my decisions taken away from me. The old man gave me some freedom at least."

Albedo, meanwhile, frowned as she considered her own plate. Eventually, she said, "Freedom is relative. There are many kinds of freedom, and degrees of it. Take the Workers, for example. They are, debatably, freer than the Adventurers, and yet, they are also more at risk of falling prey to the dangers of their job. Those who rule would seem to be freer than most, but both King Ramposa and Emperor Jircniv have to deal with the ambitious and the corrupt. Every freedom comes with caveats. Every right comes with a responsibility."

"Shit, that's deep," Hekkeran said. "Since when did you become a philosopher, Albedo?"

Albedo scoffed. "…When I learned some disturbing truths, I read a number of books in the library here, hoping to find answers, or at least get more information to find my own. Fiction, philosophy, science, religion…I sampled what I could from those areas. Humans are yet to determine such a thing for themselves, and I have not found an answer myself. But…in the end, it doesn't matter. Unlike many in this world, I was created, with a purpose, and I choose to continue that purpose, not because I was created that way, but because, despite knowing what I do, despite changing, I still desire to do it." A rueful smile touched her lips. "It helps that the Supreme Beings are benevolent and understanding."

"Yeah. I mean, you'd look at Momonga and think, 'Oh no, that's an Elder Lich' or something like that," Imina said. "But he's a decent guy. I mean, it took Arche's sisters all of fifteen minutes to start calling him Unca Bones, didn't it?"

"That's right," Harry said with a wistful smile. "…But thanks for saying such a thing, Albedo. I didn't know you read that much."

"I think what you did instilled in me a desire to learn. When I had time off from my duties, I would read. I would learn."

"Wow, Albedo, you keep yourself busy, don't you?" Aura asked, the two Dark Elf children looking at her with awe.

"To strive to better one's self is a prerogative of every thinking being," Albedo said. "What is more, while we are still uncertain as to whether we can increase our physical strength as Floor Guardians, we can still hone our minds, learn new things, through reading or doing."

"Don't overdo it, Albedo," Harry said. "I get that you're working hard to improve yourself, and honestly, I feel like I should try harder…but…"

"I am careful with my time management, my love," Albedo said, showing him a smile. "Your friend Hermione provided a potent example of what happens when one gets too overeager to study."

Harry's face fell at the reminder of his old friend. Would she approve of what he was doing, or at least be less likely to condemn him? He knew many of his old friends wouldn't like what he was doing.

And of course, there was what had happened to her. The last he knew, she was aged, ancient, and scarred, but had the air of someone who had done a lot of ruthless things. She wouldn't be drawn on them either. Maybe what he did wasn't as bad by comparison. Was she still alive back on the polluted Earth?

"Who's Hermione, Dad?" Aura asked.

"…An old friend from a long time ago. Before I became a Supreme Being, before I joined Ainz Ooal Gown. Then again, without her, I wouldn't have become one, I wouldn't have met you guys. She loved studying and learning. A bit too much of a know-it-all and a bossy-boots…but in the end, she was a good friend."

"Did you have many friends, Lord Enzo? I mean, before Ainz Ooal Gown?" Celicia asked.

Harry shook his head. "…No, not many," he admitted. "Before I joined Ainz Ooal Gown, I was famous in a secretive group of wizards as the Boy Who Lived, all for surviving something my parents did not. Most didn't see me as anything but the Boy Who Lived. The amount of people I could consider friends…well, I could count on maybe two hands, and have at least a finger or two left over for rude gestures. Even in Ainz Ooal Gown…well, I had quite a few friends, but still not that many. Touch Me, BubblingTeapot, Peroroncino when he wasn't being a massive pervert, HeroHero…and of course, Momonga. But I lost them as well. True, with Momonga, it was only temporary, but…the others…"

After a moment, Arche spoke up. "…I know we can't replace those you have lost, Enzo. But…you have us in Foresight. You have the Blue Roses, and Emperor Jircniv. You have Antilene, and all these people in Nazarick. You have friends and family. Isn't that right?"

Everyone present nodded. Even Celicia and Tuare, whom Harry couldn't quite count as friend or family yet, nodded. And while that didn't rid Harry of the anxiety he held in his soul, he was still heartened by their show of support. Not that any such show should be needed, but it helped regardless. Yes, it helped…

It was the next day that Albedo requested a private audience with Harry and Momonga. As in, completely private. And when she spoke, it was to Harry and Satoru, but with an air of seriousness, rather than a casual nature.

"I know that the Workers are going to be coming soon, but I have considered this idea for some time. I did not wish to discuss this in front of the other Floor Guardians or indeed the denizens of Nazarick, as I fear they may misconstrue why I make this proposal."

"And what is this proposal, Albedo?"

Albedo gathered herself, before she said, "I wish to create a specialised unit, dedicated to tracking down any other Supreme Beings and their servants in this world, as well as Yggdrasil items of any note, like weapons, armour, or World Items. If they are members of Ainz Ooal Gown, or else willing to ally with us, then we will bring them into the fold. But, if they are a danger to us or to our allies, this unit will eliminate them."

"…Eliminate them?" Satoru asked, shocked.

Albedo looked to him, her expression solemn. "Satoru…while much of the blame could be laid at the door of the Platinum Dragon Lord for the deaths of the two Players aside from Harry in the Thirteen Heroes, upon analysing Harry's memories, the Platinum Dragon Lord took advantage of already existing conflict between the two. In addition, the Eight Greed Kings, if the stories are to be believed, fought amongst themselves as much as the rest of the world. The Six Gods that founded the Theocracy and your relationship with Harry show that conflict between Players is not inevitable, true, but we need to consider the facts outside of that. Ainz Ooal Gown as a guild created many enemies. Firstly, they were a guild composed of Players playing as monstrous creatures, and those were targeted by human Players during PVP. Then, once they rose to prominence, they aroused hatred and envy for their success in taking on many other guilds. We have to be prepared for the fact that any Player we encounter may be our enemy, or at least may not look on us favourably, no matter what our actions in this world. And if such a Player allied themselves with the Platinum Dragon Lord or the Theocracy, and they were as powerful as the Supreme Beings of Ainz Ooal Gown…"

She trailed off, letting them consider that little tidbit of information. "But if they are allies or willing to be allies?" Harry asked.

Albedo nodded. "Then we will bring them into the fold, or at least not make any aggressive moves against them. Do not misunderstand me…I…before the transition from Yggdrasil to this world, I will admit, I felt resentment, even anger at the other Supreme Beings…even my own creator. That they abandoned us, abandoned you two. And yet, seeing your memories of your time in Ainz Ooal Gown gave me perspective. They couldn't see us as anything other than toys, and before the transition, neither did you. But…they had their own commitments in what they considered reality. I still feel some resentment, but no anger now. Just sorrow. Sorrow that they couldn't be here with us, that many fell prey to infighting, or worse, given what you suspect about Lord Bellriver's death. Out of 41 Supreme Beings, only you two are left. That should not be, and I will not have that grow less either."

After a moment, Satoru nodded. "Thank you, Albedo, for your candour, your honesty. In truth, if Tabula could see you now, he'd be proud of your growth as a person. I know we both are."

"…I hope you are right, Satoru," Albedo said, her golden eyes glimmering with tears, which she wiped away with her gloves. "And I sincerely hope that we may find your friends, the other Supreme Beings of Ainz Ooal Gown, as slender as the odds may be. And I would prefer to find more allies than enemies."

"…Then, if that is your purpose for this unit, then you have our blessing," Satoru said. "Who do you intend to recruit into it?"

"My first recruit, at least tentatively, is your own creation, Pandora's Actor," Albedo said. "I will report directly to both of you. However, where needed, I will share intelligence with Demiurge. In any case, thank you, both of you."

"I just hope that we find allies, not enemies," Harry mused.

Satoru nodded. "I hope so too, Harry, but reality is not always so kind…"

CHAPTER 23 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Operation Gehenna has finished, and while Harry and Arche need some reassuring, Albedo has shown her character growth.

Now, as I've said before, I remain unconvinced that Albedo's secret unit is definitely intended for killing off any members of Ainz Ooal Gown who show up, according to TV Tropes. I will concede that it is possible, even extremely likely, but it is not canon (yet). And honestly, there's a huge hole in that theory: why the hell did Albedo recruit Pandora's Actor, Momonga's own creation, intensely loyal to him, and with perhaps the best insight into what Momonga would want?

However, here, at least, Albedo makes her intentions more plain. Because she has more perspective on what Harry and Momonga want, she is absolutely honest about what she intends for her unit. Albedo may still be an evil yandere Succubus, but she is considerably better than her canon counterpart. It helps that she is actively working to try and better her mind.

Incidentally, Wild Dog and Keen Edge are OC Worker groups, but Wild Dog will basically be the Black Dog Knights from Berserk, and its leader Wyald.

Review-answering time! I already answered Gabriel Herrol's review in correspondence, but Harry broke free about two to three years before Momonga arrived in the New World. He's spent that time mostly in the Baharuth Empire, though he did visit the Re-Estize Kingdom a few times to meet with Keno and the Blue Roses.

Nathair1: Within hours of Zero being punted into the Frozen Prison. Demiurge was busy preparing for and then undertaking Operation Gehenna.

Skull Flame: It's made more explicit in the book. Peshurian's reputation for being able to slash through space is a misdirection, and the weapon is explicitly named as an Urumi, which is an actual weapon IRL from India, though it uses multiple whip blades. The Kushans from Berserk are shown to use similar weapons. Peshurian is still stated to be extremely skilled to wield it (and that makes sense, considering you'd need a lot of skill to control what is basically a sharp, metal whip), and normal humans can't see it or evade it. But Sebas was able to catch the blade in his fingers in the novel, and Antilene, being Level 88, is more than likely capable of such a feat herself. The anime shows him flicking about what looks like a bendy sword, but the book Peshurian relies on the initial slash being the killing stroke.

No numbered annotations this time.