How NOT to Save the New World

by True Demon Lord Diablo

A battle weary Diablo finds himself experiencing Deja vu when he suddenly wakes up in a mysterious grassy plains. Has he been sent to yet ANOTHER world? How will this world's inhabitants react to the Demon Lord's presence? Could his unexpected appearance change the fate of this New World, or will he be its demise? Luckily for Diablo, he might not be the only one in his predicament.

10. An Inevitable Decision

Chapter 10: An Inevitable Decision

Dashing through the forest as fast as the obstacles around him would allow, Diablo was on a direct course for his dungeon.

I ran off before they could reply, but it seems like they didn't take much issue with my excuse… more importantly though… Why is Rose following behind me?

There wasn't a good moment where he could've told Rose his plan beforehand, so he was banking on her staying behind to keep an eye on Momon and Nabe, but it appeared he once again underestimated her dedication. While both of them continued to bound forward, dodging branches and roots along the way, Diablo finally questioned his companion.

"Uh, Rose- You do realize I don't actually have to relieve myself, right? That was just a way to get away from those two without drawing suspicion!"

He couldn't see her expression as he was in front of her, but Diablo knew it had to be one of either embarrassment or pleasure, arguably both.

"While it is true that this Rose would accompany you on any endeavor, I recognized the ulterior motive behind your excuse immediately. Yes, of course I realized it."

Rose was certainly smart enough to pick up on the nuance in the moment, but she was also obsessed with serving Diablo, so whether or not she was lying could only be known to her.

"That's… good to hear. If you haven't put it together yet, I'm returning to the dungeon in order to tell Hamusuke to go back to her usual routine. Based on what Sasara had to do, that hamster's role as the 'Wise King of the Forest' actually kept weaker monsters away from the village. Of course, I knew such a thing from the beginning, but I don't want Sasara to be tied down with defending the village for the foreseeable future."

Yeah, I totally knew…

It was somewhat difficult to keep up a conversation as they rapidly moved through the forest, but thanks to both of their keen senses, it was manageable enough.

"As expected of the Demon Lord, no, as expected of my master. However, how will Sasara explain her early departure to the villagers without revealing that Hamusuke was moved in the first place? Not that I care for the fate of those people, but anything that could besmirch your reputation must be considered."

Crap. I hadn't even considered something like that… Of course the villagers would demand some kind of explanation, and if they were to find out I moved the Wise King from her territory, I'd be looked down on as a moron who didn't understand the balance of power of the region… I'll have to discuss it with Sasara later, although if she has to remain in Carne for a few more days, that's a worthwhile trade for safeguarding my reputation…

"Your input is always appreciated, Rose, but don't fret over these small details. It's all part of my master plan for finding the rest of our allies, and then triumphantly returning home."

While Rose was incredibly perceptive, not to mention capable of processing data and calculations at a speed beyond that of Diablo, she also looked up to him too much to question such a resolute declaration for the future. Diablo on the other hand, didn't really have a plan. At least not one as comprehensive as he was claiming.

"Please make sure to use me in any way you see fit in order to carry out this grand plan, Diablo. Although I have little sentiment for the people of Lyferia, I know you have a fondness for some of those who we've encountered in our travels. While I may not share the same feelings, I could never put my own personal complacency above your wishes."

Diablo knew that whether or not she wanted to admit it, there were at least some people that Rose cared for other than her master. Even if that care stemmed from said person's strength and ability to protect him from harm, it showed she wasn't entirely an unfeeling machine.

Before being summoned, Rose was nothing more than a glorified roomba for the dungeon… But now she has sentience, a personality… even the skills of a level 150 warrior! I never would have imagined her being one of my strongest companions back when I first became Diablo…

Now that he thought about it, he had never expected to have any companions at all, let alone ones that are so capable. Sakamoto Takuma had always been a solo player, both in Cross Reverie and in real life. His interaction with others was limited to the many challengers he faced during his reign as the True Demon Lord of Cross Reverie, and the few failed attempts at friendship from his early childhood. Even though the relationships he began to build in his new world were cultivated mainly by chance, the result of his socially tumultuous demon lord persona, they had grown into genuine feelings.

Forget just talking to others, I'm technically married to two women!

Despite both of his marriages stemming from extenuating circumstances, he couldn't deny his feelings towards the first two people he had ever met after becoming Diablo.

I married Shera to fulfill her homeland's covenant and save it from magical decay, and proposing to Rem was in order to free her mind from the clutches of Modinalam… In reality, those merely served as convenient excuses for expressing my true feelings… There's no chance I would've ever been able to propose in some organic, heartfelt way!

As he learned to better acknowledge and act upon his own feelings, Diablo's heart continued to ache as the days without information on Rem and Shera dragged by. He had one source of hope, however.

Those two still have the《Enslavement Collars》from when they first summoned me… I don't know how to describe it, but I can feel that the link in our magic power still exists! So either the enslavement magic is able to persist across worlds, or they were brought here too! I only hope that they haven't run into any serious trouble… Both of them are very capable, but if they had to fight someone like Momon, or the minions of that asshole who came after me and Rose, it could end in disaster…

Diablo had resolved himself. As soon as he was done with this job, he and Rose would head to Re-Estize, the Kingdom's capital city. The Head Warrior Gazef Stronoff had already promised that he would look into any information regarding his companions, but going to the source of the investigation itself could only help his prospects. There was still the matter of the job request from Count Iselk, but he had just over a week until the actual job. With teleportation magic, returning to E-Rantel would be a non-issue.

Alright, enough worrying about the future. I should be coming up to the dungeon any minute now…

"Rose, I want you to watch the perimeter. We won't be here for very long, but I can't take the chance of us being spotted."

"As you wish!"

After her confirmation, both of them slowed to a halt as they reached the sparse area at the forest's center, where Diablo's dungeon lay straight ahead.

The magimatic maid nodded to her master as she vanished from sight, assuming a position where she could see the entire treeline.

Not having to search very long, Diablo quickly happened upon the sleeping form of Hamusuke next to the chimera statue.

"Sleeping on the job now, aren't we, oh great Wise King of the Forest?"

Diablo's sarcastic greeting immediately roused the slumbering hamster, as she instantly gave her best attempt at a dogeza, planting her head into the ground.

"M-Master Demon Lord sir! This one assures you she was not sleeping! More like… resting this one's eyes!"

The magical beast's peculiar speech patterns made her usage of an age-old excuse nearly cause Diablo to let out a laugh.

"Forget the matter, I have an important request. It hadn't occurred to me what kind of effect moving you from your territory would cause, but with new information in mind, I need you to return to your previous dwelling."

Sitting up from her prostrate position, Hamusuke tilted her head in confusion as she questioned her master's order.

"You want this one to leave already? I promise I haven't been slacking! T-This one would prefer not to be punished by Lady Rose…"

So much for being 'Wise' if you can't figure out why I'm asking you to go back…

"It seems you're misunderstood, Hamusuke. You will still be serving under me, I simply require that Carne Village remain safe from those who dwell in the forest. Whether or not you intended to, you kept monsters away from the part of the forest that Carne borders."

"Oh! This one understands now! On the honor of my title as the Wise King, this one will protect Carne Village at all costs!"

Diablo wanted to reply that there wasn't much honor behind the title of a giant hamster, but he didn't want to crush the poor creature's already wavering confidence.

"Excellent. Make sure you don't get too close though, the last thing I need is the villagers thinking you're antagonizing them."

"Understood Demon Lord sir! But how will you find this one if you ever require my skills for something else?"

"First off, stop calling me that. Just say Diablo, that's an order. As for finding you, I'll cast a flashy spell above the dungeon if I ever need to summon you. I would give an example, but I don't want to attract the attention of the others in the forest. Just use those keen senses of yours and you'll be fine."

It wasn't a lie that Diablo could cast something like 《Stardust》, a level 30 water type spell that produces sparkling hexagonal ice crystals, but he didn't think he'd have much use for Hamusuke going forward in the first place. He didn't have the heart to say such a thing out loud, but the end result was the same either way.

"Y-Yes, Diablo, this one will be on constant alert! Is there anything else you require of your loyal servant?"

"For now, no. Just make sure you stay out of range of the adventurers near Carne, especially the one in black full plate armor.

Giving a quick salute, Hamusuke then proceeded to scamper off in the opposite direction, being mindful to take a less direct route to his old territory.

A moment later, Rose appeared behind Diablo. The fact that someone as heavy as a fully armored knight on horseback could move so fast so silently sent a shiver down the demon's spine.

"I detected no movement around the perimeter besides small animals. Thankfully, it appears we weren't followed."

Responding with a satisfied "Umu", Diablo motioned forward as he took off back towards the other adventurers, with Rose following suit behind him.

…

His gambit had played off, and now he would reap the rewards.

Floating hundreds of feet above the clearing that housed Diablo's dungeon, was none other than Ainz Ooal Gown. However, in the eyes of anyone else, he was nowhere to be seen, heard, or sensed altogether.

It was a gamble on whether or not「Perfect Unknowable」would work on Rose, but it looks like my suspicions were right!

Based on how the mysterious female warrior had dealt with his「Hanzos」, Ainz theorized that she had some ability that allowed her to sense the presence of others nearby. He had gone over the whole report of the incident from Albedo, and while at first he believed Rose to have some kind of high tier ranger job class, the fact that she couldn't pinpoint the exact location of the「Hanzos」while they were hidden made him think otherwise.

There was a chance she would be able to sense me in the area, but I simply could have teleported away in that scenario… Yet the best case seems to have played out, she can neither sense or locate me while I have「Perfect Unknowable」active…

Of course, he couldn't neglect the chance that she was bluffing, all in an attempt to draw him out and reveal himself. Yet with his understanding of Rose's personality, he believed that had she detected his presence, she would immediately alert Diablo or simply engage with him directly.

"Lord Ainz. Both targets have left the area, and are en route to the rest of the group."

Hearing the voice of Narberal in his head from a「Message」scroll he had given her, Ainz moved on to the next step in his plan.

"Very good, Narberal. When they arrive, make sure to tell them that I'm investigating a strange magical presence further into the forest. Even if they immediately turn around to pursue, I should have enough time to finish and teleport away."

"Understood, Lord Ainz."

With that, the mental link was severed. Ainz was confident with his relatively impromptu plan, but the hardest part was what would come next.

Let's see, it couldn't have gotten far in this amount of time…

Flying over the endless canopy of trees, Ainz quickly zeroed in on the presence of a particular magical beast, one that while not incredibly powerful by his standards, stood out from the rest of the forest.

There's no mistake, this must be the so-called 'Wise King of the Forest'... The「Hanzos」never had a chance to mention Diablo's encounter with this beast, if they even saw it in the first place…

As he dipped beneath the treetops, Ainz saw the beast momentarily stop, sniffing around at the air.

Interesting… There's no way this overgrown hamster is anywhere near a high enough level to see through「Perfect Unknowable」... It still doesn't seem to be aware of me, maybe it was a coincidence? Or some kind of bestial sixth sense?

Regardless, the Wise King's momentary pause was the perfect opportunity for Ainz to swoop in and act.

"「Dominate」."

Having registered an attack,「Perfect Unknowable」was dispelled, yet Ainz' sudden appearance made little difference now that the beast was under his control. Hamusuke was frozen in place as her eyes seemed to gloss over, blankly staring ahead at her temporary new master.

"Now then, just to confirm things, what is your name?"

"This one has been named Hamusuke by their master, but is also known as the Wise King of the Forest."

Hamusuke? That's the name Diablo chose? If this isn't some wonky auto-translation, it sounds like an uninspired name a Japanese person would give… someone like me, probably…

Diablo's choice of name would have to be thought about later, he had limited time before his spell would wear out, not to mention the threat of discovery.

"Tell me about your master. Did he ever say where he was from, or why he's come to E-Rantel?"

Hamusuke's face seemed to light up upon hearing his question, as the Wise King began to divulge damning information.

"My master is Diablo, the True Demon Lord from another world! He told me that this wasn't his first time being pulled into a different world, and how his dungeon seemed to follow him to this other world as well. He can be very scary, but sometimes also nice!"

So he really is from another world… I knew it! Somehow this isn't even his first time being transported to a different world, which begs the question… If the world that his companions are from isn't his original one, then what world is he originally from? Piecing together everything I know so far, there exists a fair chance of him being in the same position as me. All the instances of Japanese influence that I've seen from him or his allies, it can't just be a coincidence. Even his name being 'Diablo' could be directly tied to the spanish word for 'devil', a word that existed in Japanese culture too! Yet, he wasn't a Yggdrasil player… Anyone with something like magic reflection would be all over the forums! Just looking at my own situation though, if I'm to believe that the guild and myself were transported here from Yggdrasil, would it be so outlandish to say he came from a different game? Possibly from an alternate Japan altogether? Then he gets brought to this world around the same time as myself… Whatever the forces at play are that caused this, they somehow struck Diablo twice…

The only way to confirm any of this was to ask Diablo directly. Ainz still had no idea how to approach such a discussion, but thankfully, revealing 'Momon the adventurer' as someone originally from Japan didn't mean he had to reveal that Ainz Ooal Gown was too.

Even if we do have the same homeland, nothing can change the fact that we simply operate differently… Ever since becoming an undead, I could feel my empathy for humanity dwindling. At this point, the only thing I care to protect is Nazarick and all the NPC creations of my dear friends… I can't see inside Diablo's head, but based on the people he associates with, he would inevitably side with humanity if Nazarick were to ever enter conflict…

That was why this situation pained him greatly, at least as much as his undead psyche would allow. There was a chance he could have someone to confide in, a person that he didn't have to act as a supreme overlord in front of. Yet that individual could become an enemy in the future, an enemy with an undefined but dangerous level of strength. Ainz knew he still had time to come to terms on a decision, but it wasn't something he could push off indefinitely. No matter which path he chose, the least he could do was gather more information while he could.

"I see. Do you know anything about this 'dungeon' you referred to? Perhaps its layout or defenses?"

"This one did not see much of the dungeon, as Diablo used something called《Teleportation》to bring us all the way to the bottom. He called it the 'Demon Lord's Labyrinth', and we arrived at the 13th floor. It was a scary throne room, with a whole bunch of creepy skeleton candles… and the walls looked kind of like guts, bleh!"

This dungeon sounds exactly like a guild base from Yggdrasil! It has to be from a different game though, as thirteen floors is more than I remember being possible with the data limits… Maybe I can get a little more context…

"Did you see or learn of anything else while you were in the dungeon? Perhaps something important that Diablo said?"

"Hmm… Oh! Behind the throne was a room that looked like it went on forever! He called it his《Warehouse》, but whatever it was, there were things on pedestals through the whole thing! Some of them were weapons and armor, but most of it was unknown to this one. All of it had scary levels of magic power though, that is what this one knows for sure!"

This《Warehouse》sounded like an equivalent to the「Treasury」of Nazarick, and the mention of magic items as far as the eye could see elicited great excitement from Ainz.

Could I be so brazen as to invade Diablo's base? Given the lack of information on all of the defensive floors, the risk is simply too high… I could send my summons and some mercenary mobs as a sort of experiment, though… Depending on the results that yields, we could launch a proper raid team made up of the guardians and myself…

First, there was something he had to confirm. Reaching his arm into the extradimensional space that was his inventory, Ainz pulled out the book he had been reading earlier. It happened to be a guide for better management skills, a genre that he had started to frequent ever since winding up in his new executive role. He held it in front of Hamusuke, slowly flipping through the pages.

"When you were in the dungeon, did you see any symbols that resemble the ones I'm showing you?"

Even in her brainwashed state, Hamusuke scratched her head as she thought hard about her brief time in the dungeon.

"Hmm… This one was never taught how to read and write, but the Wise King boasts an impressive memory! Some of the pedestals in the《Warehouse》were inscribed with symbols that looked very similar!"

There it was. Near one hundred percent confirmation of his theory. Ainz couldn't begin to fathom the mechanisms that allowed all of this to happen, but it had forced him to broaden his perspective. Perhaps Diablo was from the same Japan as himself, or maybe from the past or future. His homeland could be an alternate Japan altogether, and with the possibility of infinite dimensions, it was a credible theory. Despite this revelation of their similar origins, he felt a burning jealousy towards Diablo slowly rising.

How come he gets a body that's nearly identical to a human? He gets to enjoy food, alcohol, intimacy… But despite all of that, he acts like he's actually a demon lord… Wait, perhaps his psyche was changed when he first became Diablo, just like my own upon becoming undead… If he actually has some kind of 'Demon Lord' racial class, it's possible it could be influencing his personality…

There was also the possibility that he was putting on an act, much like himself. Perhaps he was roleplaying because of Rose, seeing as Ainz believed she was originally an NPC and viewed Diablo as an actual Demon Lord. Regardless of the reason behind his enigmatic persona, Ainz now knew that he wasn't truly alone in his current predicament.

Having lost himself in his thoughts for a moment, Ainz nearly missed Hamusuke's next words as she recalled more information.

"This one also remembers hearing Lady Rose mention something about a《Large Black Dragon》having been restored during the dungeon's transfer into this world. Most of it went over this one's head, but I can tell you for sure that they have a powerful dragon guarding the 12th floor."

A《Large Black Dragon》, huh? It isn't the exact same as any Yggdrasil draconic racial class, but for it to be the final line of defense for someone like Diablo, it must be incredibly powerful…

Like in many fantasy settings, dragons in Yggdrasil were considered some of the most powerful enemies in the game. The developers were clearly biased based on how many world enemies were some type of dragon. Generally speaking, the older a dragon was, the more powerful it would be too. So even though the racial class《Large Black Dragon》didn't specify an age like in Yggdrasil, Ainz could infer its age based on the fact that it was 'large'. Since it was a black dragon, it was likely to have an elemental affinity of either darkness or possibly lightning. However, he couldn't expect the logic he was familiar with to apply universally, so it was merely a theory.

"I have another question for you. What do you know about Diablo's companion, Rose?"

The mention of Rose's name was enough to send a shiver down Hamusuke's spine, as she recalled her first time meeting the magimatic maid.

"L-Lady Rose is the overseer of Diablo's dungeon. After we first got there, we found her laying on a strange metal table, almost like she was asleep. She woke up when Diablo entered the room, though. Other than that, all this one knows is how terrifying she is when she gets angry!"

I suppose that's why Diablo is able to trust her so much, she's his equivalent of Albedo… Although at least Rose is able to control her… impulses… unlike my own second in command…

Thinking back to his first actions upon being transported to this new world, Ainz couldn't help but cringe internally. He continued to tell himself that there was no way he could've known that his changes to Albedo's data would have manifested in reality. Regardless, he couldn't help but see it as the consequence of defiling the creation of one of his friends.

I'm sorry, Tabula-san… But why did you have her backstory include 'Is a total bitch'?! Once I had removed that, I couldn't help but indulge in my own childish addition…

[Is deeply in love with Momonga.]

That change in her character had caused more than Ainz' fair share of embarrassing moments. He didn't even have the means to act in any of these instances. The little libido that remained after becoming undead had disappeared for good when he turned down Albedo for the first time.

At least I don't have to question her loyalty… Ugh. I need to get back on track here, there's no use in loathing the wisdom of hindsight…

Ainz blanked on any other questions that Hamusuke might be able to answer, and before he could decide on one, the magical beast slumped over, unconscious.

Sigh… The biggest drawback of the「Dominate」spell. Its active effect drains the vitality of the target, which only gives you enough time for a few questions…

He had thought of asking about Diablo's magic or spells, but he didn't see a reason why he would've divulged any of that to Hamusuke. It didn't matter either way, as his source of information was now incapacitated.

Alright, let's hope this works…

Using the 10th tier spell「Control Amnesia」, Ainz began to peer into the memories of the Wise King. The sensation wasn't anything like from the game, but it felt intuitive to him, as if he was rifling through a metaphorical filing cabinet.

I only need to erase the memories of the last few minutes, but even that is massively draining my MP… I'll definitely need to experiment with this spell if I'm to use it more effectively in the future…

Then, it was done. After canceling the spell, Ainz remarked at how his MP had managed to drop below half its previous value. He had spent too much time rifling through the wrong memories, and even a small mistake like that had cost him greatly. Despite this, the spell was still a success. As far as Hamusuke knew, she had fallen asleep on the way to her old territory. Even if brainwashing magic was used on her, his identity would remain unknown. The foolproof nature of「Control Amnesia」was an acceptable excuse for its high MP cost.

When I had first overshot the memory I was looking for, I saw images from inside the dungeon… It was brief, but what I glimpsed was more than enough…

The grand and eerie throne room, the《Warehouse》and its endless sea of precious items, even the peculiar room that Rose was found in.

Hamusuke probably didn't know the means to describe it, but that room looked like some sort of high tech machinist shop… It reminds me of one of the Pleiades, CZ-Delta the automaton…

The possibility of Rose being an artificial lifeform actually mattered greatly to Ainz. Unless buffed by「The Goal of All Life is Death」, his instant death magic wouldn't affect beings that weren't 'alive' in the traditional sense. This applied to undead, but also constructs like golems, and of course, automatons.

She was already dangerous, but to have all of those passive resistances as well, it would make her a threat to even some of the floor guardians… Getting her and Diablo in my good graces just got that much more important… If I could influence them as Momon in order to keep them out of the way for any potential operations, it would save me the trouble of a dangerous battle…

It all came back to that troubling question. Satoru Suzuki wanted to befriend someone who he might be able to empathize with, but Ainz Ooal Gown wanted to protect the interests of Nazarick, and guarantee the safety of his allies' creations. Ultimately, his decision would depend on how effectively he could manipulate their actions, and the best way to do that was to gain their trust.

It's unfortunate that I haven't had a chance to show my strength in front of those two, but I'll definitely have my opportunity on our upcoming mission from the Count… Maybe I could summon some powerful undead to show up during the job, and valiantly 'defeat' them, saving the surprised Diablo and Rose… Something like that…

Thankfully, despite being the Supreme Overlord of Nazarick, Ainz had a lot of downtime. Normally he would spend it idly trying to be productive, but now he had something proper to think on. With that in mind, he decided to take his exit.

"「Greater Teleportation」."

In a flash, Ainz vanished from Hamusuke's side, as he reappeared elsewhere in the forest, back near Carne's edge.

As if on cue, he saw Diablo and Rose rushing towards him through the greenery.

Looks like Narberal did her job well…

"Momon, your partner told us that you sensed a powerful magical beast somewhere in the forest! Did you find anything?"

Diablo had been able to hide his anxiety well, but with the truth only known to Ainz, he was able to sense the demon's urgency.

"Well I was either mistaken, or the beast turned tail and fled. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find anything, I had been hoping to locate the Wise King of the Forest that the Swords of Darkness mentioned."

His explanation seemed a bit too convenient for the skeptical Diablo, but he couldn't surmise a reason for Momon lying in this scenario.

"I see. Well, if any of us sense it again, we can move as a group. I understand going off on your own given the… circumstances at the time, so let's leave it at that."

The black knight nodded in understanding, as all three of them began making their way back to the others.

"I imagine Nfirea is ready to join us in the forest by now, so let's make haste in getting back."

As the three adventurers hustled to their employer, the Wise King of the Forest began to wake from its unnatural slumber.

"Wahhh… Maybe this one does deserve punishment! To fall asleep while carrying out my master's order, it can't happen again!"

Feeling strangely fatigued despite her recent nap, Hamusuke hurried along with her previous task, hoping her master would remain ignorant of the major slip-up.

…

It had been a few minutes since Nfirea gathered the group at the edge of the Forest, yet several key members were still missing.

"Seriously, where the hell are they? It's not like they ran into a monster that could overpower them, so what gives?"

Everyone else was curious as to the absence of their strongest teammates, but Lukrut stated his annoyance for all of them to hear. However, Nfirea swiftly moved in to defend some of the people he had come to idolize.

"Don't be so quick to demonize them, Lukrut. Although I guess it would apply to Diablo, hahaha!"

Amused at his unintentional play on words, Nfirea managed to restore the mood that the mouthy ranger had attempted to sour.

"What if they encountered the Wise King of the Forest? No one knows for sure how powerful it is, and there's barely anyone who's survived a run in with it…"

Ninya nervously clutched his staff to his chest as he worried about the safety of his new allies, but Dyne and Peter quickly quelled his anxiety.

"Ninya, you've seen what Diablo can do, and Momon is similar in strength as a warrior. Add on their capable partners, and I can't see a group like that being wiped out, even by the Wise King of the Forest."

"If anything, they're probably arguing over who gets to keep it as a pet, hahaha!"

Such a statement would be inane in regard to nearly anyone else, but with the people he had in mind, everyone laughed along at the very possible scenario. As the jovial mood began to die down, a rustling from the forest drew everyone's attention.

"Looks like we get to find out sooner rather than later."

Peter's assumption was correct, as Diablo, Rose, Momon, and Nabe came hurtling out of the forest's edge, slowing to a halt as they approached the group.

"Please excuse our tardiness, Nfirea. We thought we might have detected the presence of the Wise King, but it wound up being a bust. Is everyone else ready to head in?"

"The Wise King? I guess I can't blame it for running away when it sensed all of you guys chasing it down. And yes, we can head out at once. I'll lead the way, just be sure to give a heads up if you detect any monsters, especially if it's the Wise King of the Forest."

Voicing his surprise at the explanation for their absence, Nfirea called upon the group to begin the true task of this job request. Diablo made sure to stand next to the young Barreare, as he hoped to learn about possible substitute ingredients for his potion-making process.

"There's probably nowhere safer than being near this many powerful adventurers, I've never felt more assured on a job before!"

Ninya couldn't help but smile as he looked up at the paragons of strength that stood before him. One of them had even gifted him an invaluable magic item, he couldn't help but trust that everything would be fine as long as he was working with them.

Following the lead of Nfirea, the adventurer party made their way into the Forest of Tob, in pursuit of precious magical herbs.

…

Darkness.

That was all she could see, with the sound of her surroundings being the only context she could gather on the situation.

"You weren't lying, I can practically smell the holy stench coming off of this woman."

She had heard the approaching footsteps of two individuals, and this was a male voice she was unfamiliar with. It sounded almost decrepit, yet incredibly sinister.

"Why would I mislead such a valuable acquaintance of mine? You couldn't find a more potent source of such despicable goodness than the undefiled Head Priestess here."

That voice. She recognized it, without a shadow of a doubt.

"B-Battuta?"

"Ah, you've come back to your senses, haven't you? I don't think you can understand how delightful this current arrangement is for me. How ironic is it that the divine providence you worship would have brought me back from destruction?"

It didn't make any sense. Lumachina had seen Battuta die as a result of being overpowered by Diablo's magic. The fact that he stood before her now made this reality a waking nightmare.

"God would never show favor to someone as wicked as yourself! I don't know how you're alive, or why you've come to this place, but you'll never succeed in whatever sinister plot you're planning!"

"No explanation is needed, I'm here regardless. Also, such a poor choice of words. There is no 'planning', all of the pieces are already moving into place. Don't expect a rescue, either. Whatever meager forces the city and guild can manage will never reach this place. Even if your beloved Diablo somehow turns up, he stands little chance against me after all I've learned."

Lumachina could feel her composure beginning to crumble. She had managed to sustain her willpower ever since being brought to this strange new world, yet in the face of her current circumstances, maintaining the dignity of a head priestess became too much to bear.

I should've known it was him as soon as I saw the Death Knell… I just don't understand… Kami-sama, what is your plan in all of this? Why did you bring me here? Why is such an evil man in the land of the living despite his death? Please… I've always had faith in your plan, I know there has to be a reason for all of this!

"Don't look so depressed, woman. You will be a catalyst in a grand ritual! By perfecting Batutta's Death Knell curse, the Death Spiral will be accelerated beyond any of my original calculations! Rejoice in the fact that you will hasten my ascension to immortality!"

The creepy voice of the other man only served to frighten her further. If she allowed herself to be the cause of countless innocent deaths, she believed even God would be unable to forgive her.

"Why… Why would you do such things, Battuta? You were a Paladin Captain, a holy man… Yet, even staring death in the face wasn't enough to make you change your ways…"

The whimpers coming from Lumachina elicited a conniving laugh from her recurring captor.

"Do you not remember? There is no tragic backstory, no unfortunate circumstances! Some people simply relish in the defiance of sinful actions!"

Battuta had revealed his convictions to her during their previous confrontation, yet even now she still struggled to believe it.

It's true that God's creations are sinful in nature, and that it's only through his grace that we are able to overcome these temptations, but could such an implicitly evil person exist? I couldn't even hope to fully comprehend the Lord's actions, yet the existence of someone like Batutta baffles me anyways…

God had triumphed over the Demon Lord. Good would inevitably overcome evil. This was the paradigm that Lumachina had viewed the world through for most of her life. Evil still existed, yet it only served as a test of one's character and belief in God. However, in her current position, Lumachina struggled to find the answer to this trial.

"Well then, as much as it delights me to see you on the verge of tears, there are important matters at play. Don't fret, it won't be long before you'll be released from this suffering. Hahaha!"

The despondent Head Priestess pulled against her restraints in vain, hearing the receding footsteps of the two cackling men fade into the distance.

God performed his miracles for me even in this unfamiliar place… If his grace extends here, the embodiment of his divine justice has to as well!

There was only one person she knew that had power on the level of God's wrath.

Diablo… You can't let him get away with this!

…

A few hours later, Nfirea and the adventurer party accompanying him exited the forest. Several of the members carried baskets filled to the brim with a variety of herbs, roots, and other flora. With the Wise King of the Forest going out of her way to avoid the group, their job was relatively uneventful. The brief expedition had been a fortunate lull in the high stress series of events that both Ainz and Diablo had endured.

It was definitely educational, but I didn't recognize a single herb that Nfirea showed me… I'm sure they have similar properties to the Cross Reverie ingredients I'm familiar with, but at this rate, I'll have to brute force trying to find the right combination…

With his efforts to locate Rem and Shera looming over him, there probably wouldn't be an opportunity anytime soon to thoroughly conduct such an experiment.

At the very least, I have a big enough stockpile of potions to last quite a while… Assuming I don't get into frequent bouts of combat, putting the issue on the backburner shouldn't have any major consequences…

"Thanks for your help everyone. Normally I'd never be able to carry this much out in one trip, but all the extra hands made it possible. Not to mention Rose and Lukrut being able to point out some herbs that even I had missed."

Having keener senses than the rest of the group was to be expected for Lukrut, being a ranger class, and Rose simply excelled in locating and differentiating magical items. The herbs they were collecting couldn't exactly be called magic items, but it was similar enough for the warrior maid to quickly pick up the skill.

"Did you hear that, Rose? We both have such a keen intuition, we were practically made for each other!"

Lukrut's cringe worthy pickup line surprised the rest of his teammates. Considering the amount of times Rose had tastelessly turned him down, they couldn't help but acknowledge his determination.

Rose however, cared little for his tenacious attitude.

"Only a simpleton like you would expect praise for meeting expectations."

Any normal person would recoil at such a harsh rejection, but Lukrut merely relished in Rose's yandere response.

"Ah! One day I'll pick such a precious flower like yourself, Rose. Your look of disgust only fuels my passion!"

His fellow Swords of Darkness couldn't help but laugh at seeing the ranger's antics blow up in his face, and his continued delusional belief in winning over the harsh, yet alluring warrior.

"Lukrut, you'd have better chances romancing Momon than you would someone like Rose."

Despite not being able to see his face, the awkward body language of the dark warrior after being made the punchline of a joke showed his comical annoyance just as clearly.

"Don't get any funny ideas, Lukrut."

Everyone was hesitant to laugh, as they couldn't tell if Momon was being ironic or genuine with his reply. The source of the commotion, however, found the humor in it.

" Hahaha! Don't worry Momon, you're definitely out of my league!"

Even with all of their many differences, over the course of only a few days, the Swords of Darkness and otherworldly adventuring duos had formed a strong sense of camaraderie. Both Ainz and Diablo were able to recognize this, yet for their own reasons, the whole experience felt hollow, and a similar thought arose from them.

Traveling with this group has been a fun time, but they aren't the people I truly care about…

For Diablo, it was Rem and Shera. The two who had summoned him at the very start of his new life, and the ones who taught him the importance of relationships. Had he been greeted by anyone else, his journey so far would have been entirely different. He never would have met and befriended Klem, the Demon Lord of the Soul that had been sealed within Rem's bloodline. He never would have saved Greenwood from decay and the release of the Demon Lord Cardia, all of which happened thanks to his time with Shera. Even though he had only met them through chance, no one in this new world could share the level of understanding he had with them.

Ainz first thought of his guildmates. The people who had built and maintained the Great Tomb of Nazarick alongside him. All of them had lived in the same bleak world, and Yggdrasil was a place where they could truly express themselves despite that. Yet, they were no longer comrades he could rely upon. Now he had a duty to protect their legacy, the newly sentient NPCs of Nazarick.

Both of them were star-crossed gamers, men dedicated to their fantasy world of choice. In some ways, they were very much alike, even in their new roles as a person that many look up to. There was a chance that this commonality would allow fruitful cooperation between the two, but ultimately, their interests were not aligned.

Despite his claims of being a Demon Lord, Diablo was still very much a human internally. He would protect innocent lives wherever he could, even going so far as to spare some of his enemies if they were also a human being. Though the personalities of Sakamoto Takuma and Diablo were different, they both operated under the same modern moral framework of his original world.

Ainz on the other hand, while retaining his personality and sense of self, had lost his connection to humanity. There was no deliberate act that changed his outlook, it was merely the manifestation of his Yggdrasil racial class. He had already come to terms with the possibility of meeting another player that had a positive karma alignment, it was the very reason he had been toying with the idea of building a nation with Nazarick at its core. A utopia that allowed any cooperative race total sovereignty, as well as the boons that came with pledging loyalty to the supreme ruler of Nazarick. Regardless of his good intentions, Ainz knew that many people would die in the process of carrying out such an elaborate plan. The human nations wouldn't stand idly by if a country led by the undead suddenly appeared on the map and began claiming territory. No matter how well he manipulated Diablo as his Momon persona, there would come a time where the demon lord would have no choice but to stand against Nazarick. Even with the confidence afforded to him by his guild and its vast resources, when Diablo's unknown arsenal of magic items was taken into consideration, not to mention any of his other potential allies, Ainz had no choice but to consider him a threat.

Will I really be able to kill someone in the same position as me? I may have lost my allegiance to humanity, but there's still a part of me that empathizes as a fellow gamer…

He had resigned himself to the fact that he would humor the potential relationship with Diablo, but was certain it would never get in the way of Nazarick's interests.

The guardians will accept the idea of using him as a pawn for the time being, but if he were to oppose us directly, I'd have no choice but to order his elimination… Albedo, Shalltear, Demiurge, Cocytus, Aura, Mare, Sebas, the Pleiades… None of them would respect me if I turned my back on Nazarick in order to accommodate Diablo's actions…

Thus, the relationship between the two otherworlders had become that of a pseudo cold war. Neither side would directly antagonize the other, but instead make use of proxies to carry out their interests. Unfortunately for Diablo, such a dynamic would currently remain unknown to him. As long as the connection between the adventurer Momon and the Overlord Ainz Ooal Gown continued to elude him, the prideful demon lord would never know his true enemy.

"Hey Momon, think you've still got enough time for that sparring match with Master Graham? I imagine everyone else here wanted to see that go down."

As the group began to enter town, Peter reminded the dark warrior of his earlier request to the master swordsman.

"I believe we're still ahead of schedule, so we'll be able to make it back to E-Rantel by nightfall if we leave within the next hour. Plenty of time for your match with Master Graham, Momon!"

Even if Ainz wanted to back out, he no longer had any kind of excuse.

"Eh… That's most fortunate, I'll be sure to head to the Master's home right after I get some water."

Of course, he had no use for nor the ability to drink water, but he needed to buy at least a little time to collect himself,

"Alright! After we load up the wagon, let's go with Momon to cheer him on!"

Everyone enthusiastically agreed, with cheers proclaiming the dark warrior's might ringing out from some of the pary's members.

"I'm putting my money on the guy who was willing to tangle with the Wise King on his own!"

"If his prowess as a warrior is on par with Diablo's as a magic caster, I don't see how he could lose!"

I hope this supposedly dwarven woman isn't as strong as her HP makes me think she is… It would be counterproductive to make Momon look like a schmuck when he has to fight someone with prestige…

…

Ainz had walked off towards the well on the other side of the village, but as soon as he was out of eyeshot, quietly let himself into an empty home that was unlocked.

I saw the attack that befell Carne, and with the amount of villagers that died, there was bound to be a few empty homes…

It was already obvious that he would have to use「Perfect Warrior」for his upcoming match, and while he couldn't use magic while it was activated, he could still cast a few preparatory spells beforehand.

Having these active while I'm using「Perfect Warrior」is going to drain my MP down to zero, but it's a sacrifice I'll have to make… I'll have plenty of time to regenerate the loss now that the job is almost over…

"「Infinity Wall」,「Life Essence」,「Greater Full Potential」,「Greater Resistance」, 「Indomitability」,「Sensory Boost」,「Greater Luck」,「Draconic Power」,「Greater Hardening」,「Penetrate Up」,「Greater Magic Shield」,「Body of Effulgent Beryl」."

Most of these were buffs to his physical stats, whether it was strength, speed, durability, or even something more metaphysical like luck.「Life Essence」would allow him to track his opponent's HP, which meant he'd be able to tell when an attack was effective or not.「Body of Effulgent Beryl」increased his resistance to bludgeoning attacks, which was the source of physical damage that he was most vulnerable to as a skeleton-type undead, with the additional effect of negating the first instance of bludgeoning damage entirely. While attacks from a warrior's blade wouldn't be classified as a bludgeoning attack, it was not uncommon for them to use blunt force techniques like with the hilt or sheathe of their weapon. If Sasara tried something like that on him, Ainz feared his armor giving out under the pressure.

Actually, I should prepare for a scenario like that… It won't be foolproof, but it should buy me at least the benefit of the doubt…

Thus, he casted an additional illusion spell so that it appeared he had a full human body under his armor. The fatal flaw in this, was how he couldn't replicate the appearance of battle damage or blood on this illusory skin. It would have to suffice though, as he wasn't specialized in illusion magic enough to pull off such a feat.

Ainz had done all the prep that he could, within reason. He had considered using a few cash shop items to provide even more buffs or get out of jail free cards, but his stingy nature kept him from indulging.

If my life was actually on the line, I'd have no choice but to use them… But this is merely a friendly sparring match, even if my reputation is at stake…

Clearing his mind of the self-doubt that had begun to form, the dark warrior exited the vacant home, and made his way to the Master Swordsman Graham. The other adventurers were still loading up their haul from the forest, so he had a brief moment to consult Sasara alone.

He politely knocked on the worn wooden door, and after a few seconds of waiting, he heard the pleasing voice of the home's sole occupant.

"Is that the armored tough guy from earlier? You can let yourself in!"

Ainz had to give her credit for being able to tell that it was him on the other side of the door. One of the many rings he wore had the effect of making the presence of his magic power undetectable, so Sasara had managed to locate him in some other way. Perhaps she was like Sebas, who with his monk job classes, was able to sense the presence of others from their ki. Someone with the title of Master Swordsman likely didn't have a barehanded fighting job class, but given her anomalous existence in this world, he couldn't dismiss the possibility.

"I don't believe we were properly introduced. Please, call me Momon."

The disguised Overlord tried to nip an annoying nickname like that in the bud as soon as he could. He already had to deal with the theatrics of his unyielding subordinates, being made light of by this woman was simply too much for him.

"I guess we weren't. You can just call me Sasara if you want, I get enough respectful decorum from the villagers as is."

I guess our feelings on the matter aren't that different… Does every person in a position of respect get tired of all the honorifics after long enough? I imagine there are some despots who enjoy that kind of attention, but for an under-qualified salaryman like myself, it feels undeserved…

"This sparring match I proposed, I was curious if you had a framework in mind, or if you were expecting me to come up with the details."

Ainz was hoping to grant himself any reprieve he could to mitigate the potential for failure, and the first step he thought of was setting favorable rules.

"Hm? Oh right, you did mention that. Well, you can just come at me with all your strength, I'll match my ability level accordingly. It's not like I wanna hurt you or anything."

This explanation caused a wave of relief to wash over Ainz. He had been worried that his provocative challenge would cause her to make an example of him, but it seemed she was an educator through and through. However, he couldn't help but probe at the exact level of her power.

"What if I proved to be too much to handle? You wouldn't use some crazy secret technique to keep your perfect record, right?"

His boisterous statement elicited a smirk from the Master Swordsman, most likely because she knew he was bluffing.

"Oh please, I'd never use one of my more potent martial arts during some friendly sparring. Of course, I don't think I would have to anyway. It's as I said before, you look like a pretty strong warrior, but you don't have the presence of someone that I'd consider a threat.

Her explanation was vague, but it fell in line with Ainz' assumption of how she could sense the presence of others, and gauge their level of strength.

"Well, I have no qualms with admitting the superiority of another warrior. But I expect those claims to manifest on the battlefield, or in this case, our little exhibition match."

Ainz wasn't currently in「Perfect Warrior」, so she would no doubt be surprised by the shift in his power as soon as their match started. He had already rehearsed a reason for this though, something along the lines of lowering his power level when not in combat.

I think there was an old anime that had a concept similar to that… Not like I ever had enough free time to watch a whole series, between my overly demanding job and playing Yggdrasil…

He knew that the boost of「Perfect Warrior」wouldn't be enough to close the gap entirely, especially in conjunction with his lack of martial arts or warrior skills.

"I get it, seeing is believing after all. Just make sure you stick to your own advice. If you have flashy trump cards yourself, don't do anything rash, alright?"

As a magic caster, Ainz had a plethora of trump cards he could use, but when under the effects of「Perfect Warrior」, he had to rely on his strength alone.

"Of course, it's common courtesy after all."

Despite his helmet obstructing direct eye contact, the two found themselves locked in a momentary gaze. If Ainz was able to sweat, there'd be a bead rolling down his forehead as he worried over what she was thinking.

"Great! I'm glad we were able to clear all that up. As for the spar, we can use the empty field next to the village. I've just gotta grab my weapon and then we can head over."

Lined against her bed were a series of different katanas, the same ones Ainz had laid eyes on earlier that day. One stood out from the others though, as it was slightly larger, and had a crescent moon shaped pommel. He could tell it was on a whole different level of quality compared to her other swords, yet she grabbed one of her far more ordinary looking blades.

"Ah, wondering why I'm not using《Dark Moon》? I don't wanna offend you, but there's a fair chance it'd cleave right through those twin greatswords of yours."

It was a believable statement, as the quality of his armor and weapons was limited to what he could make with「Create Greater Item」, which made them comparable to adamantite equipment native to this world.

"No offense taken. It'd be strange for someone of your title not to have a legendary weapon. After all, what I hope to get out of this exchange is simply insight on being a better warrior. One never truly retires their status as a student of the blade, we must always keep learning."

That sounded like something Touch Me-san would say… I don't see the logic of one of Yggdrasil's greatest warriors not resonating with someone like Sasara…

"That's a thoughtful philosophy you've got there, Momon. I can't tell you the number of warriors who sought me out to help them break the limits of the races, only for them to have been overconfident in their insufficient ability to improve."

"Only those who have suffered bitter defeats know the true importance of continued growth. That applies to almost any facet of life, but especially with being a warrior."

Seemingly impressed, Sasara led Ainz out the front door as she finished fastening her katana to her waist.

"Hmm, you and Diablo are actually kind of similar. He may act the part of someone with unflinching confidence in their abilities, but he saw improving his fighting capabilities as being important enough to even ask to learn under me. That isn't the action of a person drunk on their current level of power."

Of course he would do something like that, any gamer in their right mind would level up another class if given the chance…

"He is an enigmatic figure, I'll say that much. Sometimes he'll say something surprisingly thoughtful, while at other times he'll make a self aggrandizing statement regarding his might or intellect. Regardless of his true character, I can see why you took him on as a student."

By now, the other adventurers had spotted Ainz and Sasara on their way through town, and quickly hurried to catch up.

"Looks like the spectators have found their way to us. How does twenty paces apart sound for the start, by the way?"

"Uh- That should suffice…"

Ainz could only pretend that he knew some kind of standard distance for warrior sparring, but thankfully it hadn't been a test on Sasara's end.

"Perfect. Well, we're almost at the field, so if you want any pre-fight encouragement, I'd suggest you get it now."

She motioned behind them at the cluster of adventurers that were jogging up the road in pursuit.

"I don't rely on the words of others, but maybe they have some useful advice against an opponent like yourself."

Giving a sarcastic laugh in reply, Sasara turned and walked towards her starting position in the field, her hand already resting on the base of her katana.

"Momon! Good luck out there!"

"Give her all you've got! Show everyone the might of E-Rantel's finest!"

"Her puny sword's got nothing on those massive twin blades of yours!"

Several of the Swords of Darkness gave him spirited cheers for his success in the fight. However, even if he had said it offhandedly, Ainz was hoping for a shred of info out of Diablo.

"Your encouragement is much appreciated, everyone. Before I step out to meet Sasara, I was wondering if you had any advice in terms of my opponent, Diablo. As a student of hers, you must have sparred plenty of times."

He wasn't expecting any fruitful info from Diablo at this time, but he was still able to glean at least something before stepping up to the chopping block.

"I'll say this, Momon. If at any point you think you've got a handle on her, just know she's holding back. The only way to prove that wrong would be to decisively defeat her, so don't get complacent mid-fight."

Nodding in reply, the domineering figure of the dark warrior began to walk towards what would soon become a battlefield.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Starting from roughly where Sasara had, Ainz counted out twenty paces in the opposite direction. This distance meant that one of them would have to take the offensive and enter the other's range. Depending on the combat philosophy, some would say this allows oneself to take the initiative, but others argue that it can leave you vulnerable to a well-timed counterattack. As a warrior with little actual experience fighting with a sword, Ainz decided he was better off being proactive rather than reactive. The last thing he needed was being immediately forced on the backfoot.

Drawing his massive twin greatswords from his back, Ainz assumed a combat stance he had seen Touch Me-san use in the past. That was the extent of his warrior knowledge.

"Diablo, do you mind announcing the start of the duel with a spell? Don't use anything too exciting, the last thing this village needs is another scare."

Diablo felt miffed that she would even assume he'd be so foolhardy as to use a dangerous spell in this circumstance, but he obliged.

"Very well. I'll cast《Stardust》to signal the start of the match. The effects will be immediate, so no need for any hesitation."

Standing off to the side, equidistance between the two combatants, Diablo raised his《Tonnerre Empereur》into the air.

I can't lie, I'm curious to see how this will turn out… I don't see a way Momon manages to win here, but who knows what kind of skills or tactics he'll make use of…

Seeing that both Sasara and Ainz were ready to start, he channeled his magic power and said the incantation.

"《Stardust》!"

A flurry of sparkling hexagonal ice crystals burst forth from Diablo's wand, making the spectators turn their attention for the moment in order to admire the relatively cosmetic spell. The two warriors on the other hand, paid little attention to the distracting sparkle of lights. Just as he had planned, Ainz activated「Perfect Warrior」, which elicited a brief look of surprise from his opponent. What had previously been the stats of a level 33 warrior had transformed into that of the max level. It wouldn't take a Master Swordsman to acknowledge the obvious difference, but she was able to discern it immediately.

It's now or never, I've got this!

Launching himself towards the gifted swordsman, Ainz delivered a blinding horizontal side swipe with one of his blades. Using the other to swing down from over his head as he shifted his momentum. Unfortunately, Sasara was able to casually jump back, just outside the range of his attack. She had intended to reply with a counter while he was still committed to the momentum of his last strike, but the strength of a level 100 warrior allowed Ainz to stop his movement on the spot, as he crossed his swords to block her swipe at his chest.

A dissonant chorus from the metal on metal collision rang out across the field. Ainz was now inclined to believe his opponent's earlier statement about her main weapon cleaving his in half.

I was able to handle the recoil from that, but if Diablo is right, she's merely matching my abilities to make me complacent… Maybe if I dial it back a little, I can catch her off guard by going all out on a single attack…

The metallic shrieking of their swords ceased as Ainz pushed off Sasara's weapon, launching himself several meters back. Meanwhile on the sidelines, the Swords of Darkness quizzically watched as Momon's tactics changed.

"He started off with the initiative, but now he's backing away intentionally? Peter, you're the most knowledgeable on this subject, what do you make of it?

Lukrut was adept with a bow, but sword combat was something he lacked a deep understanding of.

"I'm not entirely sure. My guess is he used that first charge to gauge her power, and now he's going to try to counter an attack of her own. I could be wrong, Momon eclipses me as a warrior by a longshot, so if he has a different strategy, I would defer to it on the spot."

Everyone else was too transfixed on the transcendental speed of their movements. They had never seen adamantite adventurers in combat before, but any preconception they had was smashed by what they were currently witnessing.

Diablo on the other hand was watching with calculative interest.

It seems like my level estimation for Momon was fairly accurate… He definitely outclasses me in raw warrior ability, but if I factor in my martial arts, I might be able to pull out a victory… Not to mention I could use magic at the same time, but I also haven't had a chance to see any of his own martial arts… If he has an ability like Batutta that can't be reflected by my ring, it would be incredibly troublesome…

After a brief standstill between them, Sasara took the initiative this time and dashed towards Ainz. Her movement was on such a level that she left after-images as she darted around in an attempt to disorient her opponent.

Even as a level 100 warrior, I can barely keep my eyes trained on her! There's a high chance of her being above level 100 at this point, unless she's using some kind of skill, but I haven't detected anything like that…

He would have to take a gamble. Utilizing a move he had seen from some of his warrior guildmates, Ainz launched one of his swords towards the rapidly approaching Sasara.

It was clear she hadn't been expecting him to make such a decision, as she was forced to dodge the incoming projectile. The dark warrior had never intended to hit her with that attack, though. By making her commit to dodging, it had forced her trajectory to be far more predictable, allowing him to counter with his remaining weapon.

Ainz planted his backfoot, and lunged forward towards his attacker. Sasara was able to raise her katana in defense, but given that she was still airborne, the force of his concentrated blow sent her flying backwards.

This gave him ample time to retrieve his other sword while the Master Swordsman stuck her landing several meters away. Despite being successfully blocked, Ainz' attack had managed to strip the top layer of the surrounding earth from the shockwave alone. His opponent, however, stood unphased, smiling at seeing his usage of an unorthodox technique.

"That was a pretty risky maneuver, you know? What if I had countered before you could retrieve your weapon?"

Ainz let out a confident laugh as he gave his answer.

"I would still have one good sword left, right?"

Even though her challenger's form was strangely sloppy given his level of strength, Sasara had to admit that the man was not without effective tactics.

"There's that unshakeable resolve I'm so very familiar with. Alright then, why don't we turn things up a notch. We said no trump cards, but that doesn't mean we can't use martial arts altogether!"

If she had wanted to, Sasara believed she could defeat Momon without having to use any of her attack skills, but she wanted to see what kind of abilities her formidable opponent had to offer.

I hate to disappoint, but I have none!

"Who's to say I haven't used some already? Don't tell me you can't activate an ability without chanting it out loud."

"Hmph, adventurers usually have an inclination for theatrics. Sorry for making assumptions based on that."

Regardless of his claims, Sasara was about to unleash a skill of her own.

"《Flash Thrust》!"

Using the martial art that propelled the user forward towards their opponent, her application of it made it seem like she had teleported right in front of Momon.

What the-

Before he could even finish a thought, his opponent's blade came hurtling into contact with the side of his armor. By the time he had even attempted to dodge, the explosive collision from Sasara's attack rang out.

*BOOM*

With a hit that managed to catastrophically dent his Adamantite armor, Ainz was set hurtling backwards. Without being able to use the「Fly」spell, he had no way to correct his current trajectory through the terrain.

"Woah, did she go too far? Momon still hasn't got up!"

Ninya watched with anxiety as her powerful colleague came to a halt, a trail of disrupted soil leading up to his current position.

"Look, Ninya! He's almost back on his feet! Did you really think he'd stay down that easily?"

It may have been a quick bout so far, but the attack he had just received was one that would eviscerate most other warriors. The fact he could even stand was a testament to his fortitude.

"I'll admit it, you got me with that one…"

Ainz looked down in dismay to see the state of his armor. Thankfully, she hadn't fully penetrated it, so his shoddy illusion would remain hidden. Still, if not for his undead physiology, a dent like the one he sustained would have surely pierced his internal organs. He could even feel the armor poking in between his ribs.

Right as he was about to launch another attack, the Master Swordsman held up her hand.

"I think that should be enough."

Everyone looked towards her in confusion, even Momon, who had begun to grow enthralled with their mock battle.

"Don't get this twisted with me conceding. I'm glad to see you're ok, but that last attack could've seriously injured you. The last thing I want is another training accident on my record…"

While the onlookers were slightly disappointed to see the clash of titans end without a proper conclusion, they had to acknowledge the point Sasara was making.

"Believe me, I couldn't call this a win for myself in any way besides that I withstood that last attack. The damage to my armor won't be an issue, I have ample funds to get it repaired once I return to the city."

As the two combatants returned from the field, they were greeted by the very impressed spectators.

"You were awesome out there Momon! I couldn't even tell what was happening most of the time, you and Sasara are just on a whole different level!"

Nfirea had been intently watching the matchup from start to finish, as he knew there wouldn't be many other opportunities to watch such masters of their craft go all out. Of course, he didn't realize that Ainz was at his limit, and how Sasara had only begun to actually show her hand. In the eyes of the weak, it was hard to perceive power differences in people that were in a different league altogether.

"With talent like that, subduing the Wise King of the Forest would've been child's play! If I ever hear about it being captured, there won't be a doubt in mind of who managed it!"

Sharing his opinion that resonated with his whole team, Peter gave praise where he believed it was due.

"Please everyone, the person you should be complimenting is Sasara, not me. Even if I fought with my life on the line, I don't think I'd be able to best her."

Ainz was pleased to see that he had succeeded in boosting his reputation, but he always wanted to be seen as humble. Making his Momon character more personable was a secondary objective of his.

As everyone was about to give their praise of the Master Swordsman, Sasara spoke up as she approached the group.

"You can save the commentary, there isn't much you could say that I haven't heard before, hahaha…"

After spending her lifetime training for the role she was blessed to inherit, Sasara preferred being treated like a peer in casual conversation. She would always be proud of her skill, but stating the obvious in times like this felt like wasted breath to her.

"Hey, fair enough. Although personally, I wouldn't mind a little admiration here or there."

Lukrut said this as he eyed up Rose and Nabe, both of whom replied with a face of disgust.

"Ahem! This has been quite an eventful job request for everyone, hasn't it? I'd say it's time we say our farewells and head out while we still have daylight."

Ainz had been able to sense the irritation radiating off of Narberal, and quickly interjected before anything dangerous was said. He also genuinely wanted to get moving. The continuous acting, not to mention fighting outside his comfort zone, made him desire a break from it all.

Also relieved at being able to exit the conversation, Sasara sighed in relief as she started walking back towards her temporary home.

While everyone else started to follow suit, Diablo jogged ahead in order to talk to his former teacher.

"Sasara, while we still have time, I need to know what your plan is from here on out. As things stand, I'm trying to locate Rem and Shera, or any other allies who may have wound up here. Rose and I also registered as adventurers so we could build some wealth for our time spent in this place, but that's a less important matter."

Sasara had mentioned talking with Diablo earlier that day, yet her mental fatigue made the conversation difficult for her.

"You know I'd do anything to help you find those two, and I'd definitely like to go home as well. I can't lie though, this village has started to grow on me. Even before their loss from the Theocracy attack, this place was so defenseless. If I hadn't been nearby, everyone could have been wiped out by a goblin attack. I may seem like a stoic swordmaster who can ignore things in favor of studying the blade, but I just can't."

Quite honestly, Diablo never really viewed her that way. Even her departure from his party after Modinalam's defeat could be chocked up to embarrassment from falling asleep mid way through.

"I see… Well, I would never coerce you over a matter like this. As long as I know I can find you here, that will suffice for now. I imagine Rem and Shera will want to see another familiar face after I reunite with them."

It was disappointing to hear that someone as capable as Sasara wouldn't be joining his group, but Diablo couldn't fault the young master. He had never foreseen it, but there were people he had grown to protect as well.

"Of course. Also, once I'm confident in the ability of the village to defend itself, I wouldn't mind traveling with you to find other allies of ours."

For now, that would be enough support from Sasara. He currently didn't even have any leads on Rem and Shera, or anyone else for that matter. Towing Sasara along in the meantime would be overkill. However, he did know that a time might come where he'd need to rely on her power.

If things ever come to blows with that Ainz Ooal Gown guy, having her by my side would be incredibly assuring…

It still bothered him that there hadn't been any other signs of the mysterious figure who had sent assassins to eliminate him and Rose. Perhaps they were biding their time as they assessed both of their power and abilities. Whatever the reason, Diablo couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be looking over his shoulder.

"I wish you the best with your time in Carne, I'm expecting a legion of proper warriors here by the time I come back!"

"You better believe it!"

Returning to the rest of his group, Sasara waved Diablo off as she closed her door and immediately jumped in bed, falling asleep as soon as she hit the sheets.

…

The low hanging sun had finally dropped fully below the horizon, as the brilliance of the innumerable stars lit up the night sky. The adventurer party contracted by Nfirea had made it back to E-Rantel with time to spare. While it's common knowledge not to traverse the roadways at night, the stretches close to the city itself were still relatively safe. After they had entered through the gate in the city's wall, a series of farewells began to start.

"Momon, Diablo, we're gonna go bring all this stuff to Nfirea's place, alright?"

Peter spoke up as the leader of his team, which left the remaining tasks to the two groups of outsiders.

"Very well. I'll report to the guild with our proof of the monsters we slayed, and I assume Diablo will join me, seeing as he did most of the heavy lifting."

Glancing towards Momon, Diablo wondered why he actually wanted him to come along. There wasn't really a reason he had to be at the guild himself for this process.

"I can't speak for Momon or Nabe, but feel free to keep our share of the profits on those. The gift you gave Ninya, and by extension our whole team, is worth more than any money the guild will offer."

Peter thanked Diablo as he reached his hand towards him, at which Diablo hesitantly clasped it and shook.

"I don't expect anything in return, it was a gift after all. But seeing your determination, even I couldn't turn such an offer down."

Diablo hated having to participate in social conventions like these, but by now, he had had plenty of practice. It didn't assuage his dislike of the matter, though. After releasing their handshake, the two groups started to diverge.

"After our business at the guild, we'll meet you guys at Nfirea's place of business."

The warrior with dented armor offered a final word pertaining to everyone reconvening, as he began making his way towards the guild office.

"Alright, we'll see you guys there!"

Nfirea waved his newfound idols off as he began the short trek towards his family's workshop. As most of them had expected, Lukrut was about to say something absurd towards the objects of his affection, yet he was shut down by the suffocating killing intent that began to emanate from Rose and Nabe.

In response, Diablo and Ainz quickly hurried their companions along, both surprised at how Lukrut still remained so confident.

Once the duos were finally alone, it took several minutes of silence before someone would break the feeling of unease.

"Diablo, I have to be honest with you. I've been waiting for a good moment where we could talk alone."

As he said this, Nabe began to slow her pace to give her master the privacy he was implying. After a hesitant nod from Diablo, Rose did the same, yet made sure she wasn't walking next to her counterpart.

"That explains why you had the Swords of Darkness go their separate ways from us, but what could you need to ask that requires all of this secrecy?"

The face created by Ainz' illusion magic couldn't display his emotions, but had it been real, a look of trepidation would be all over it.

"Tell me then, Diablo… you're actually from a different world, aren't you?"

The demon lord's movements froze for a moment, yet he continued his stride to keep pace with his interrogator.

"Haven't I always claimed that? I wouldn't call myself the 'Demon Lord from another world' if it wasn't the truth."

Even though he had always made this declaration upon meeting most people, rarely did anyone ever question it in such a way. Ainz knew the whole truth, however, and Diablo's answer wouldn't suffice.

"Come now, we both know there's a difference between what I'm implying and what you lead others to believe. You don't travel between worlds, you were brought here against your will."

This time, Diablo completely stopped walking. His head was spinning with all the implications that stood behind Momon's question.

How could he possibly know about something like that? Was I right all along? Is this guy actually a Cross Reverie player?!

"So that's how it is. I have to thank you for confirming my suspicions, I never could have expected you to reveal any of this out loud…"

"Your suspicions? Fine, if I'm expecting the truth from you, it's only fair that I follow suit. Yes, I am also from another world. I believe that you and Rose are in a similar position as myself and Nabe, correct?"

This conversation defied anything Diablo could have seen coming. The person he had been wary of ever since meeting them was laying all their cards on the table. Yet, he still couldn't understand his reasoning for doing all of this.

"Well, anyone with a middling level of intelligence could have pieced it together. You showed up here at the same time as myself, logic would dictate that the appearance of two powerful unknown adventurer duos are connected in some way. Sasara all but confirmed this when she talked about how she wound up in Carne."

Even though it was late, there were still people wandering the streets of E-Rantel, and several of them had begun to stare at Diablo and Ainz who were planted in the middle of the road.

"I never doubted your intelligence, this is just a matter of setting the record straight. If we are to work together in the future for Count Iselk, I don't want any externalities affecting our ability to cooperate."

At a surface level, Momon's reasoning made sense. But with all the implications that Diablo was still trying to comprehend, it just didn't sit right with him. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure of an effective way to confirm his theory, even after this massive reveal of information.

"How very proactive of you… But I'm curious, exactly what kind of world did you come from? Even though I'm certain it's different from my own, there are still some intriguing similarities that I've picked up from you since we first met."

Ainz now knew that the million dollar question was fast approaching. He had decided that revealing his somewhat true origins would be acceptable, yet now that the moment had come, he was having trouble finding the right words.

"Let me make it easier for you. Remember this morning? When I saw you reading? I caught a glimpse of that book you were so quick to hide. How is someone like yourself able to fluently read Japanese kanji?"

It was like a conversational bomb had been dropped. As if time had briefly stopped, neither knew how to act next, as both of their reactions confirmed the truth to each other.

Before a response could be given however, a shriek from one of the people who had stopped to observe them drew their attention. Stumbling from around the corner, was the small frame of someone who had been wounded within an inch of their life. If not for having just traveled with them, they never would've been able to recognize their recent ally.

"N-Ninya?!"

The young adventurer looked as if he could barely stand, as he desperately forced himself towards Ainz and Diablo.

"My- my team… They're- they're all dead…"

He crumpled to his knees as the two he had begun to look up to ran to his side.

"What are you talking about?! What happened at Nfirea's?!"

The sheer brutality of Ninya's state dispelled the shock Diablo had been grappling with a moment before. Whatever had caused this, they would have the demon lord's wrath to reckon with.

"There was a woman… a-and two men… They slaughtered everyone, my team, they- they tried to help me escape! I wanted to bring them with me… but… there was no time! Th-They told me to use the feather and save myself… "

Breaking down into a fit of painful tears, Ninya collapsed into Diablo, who stood by as the tragedy stricken adventurer sobbed into his mantle. Yet, something immediately stuck out to Diablo. With Ninya pressed against him, he could make no mistake in identifying the feeling from his chest that had momentarily baffled him.

Ninya is a girl… I can't question her reasoning for hiding her true gender, but I imagine it was similar to Horn's justification… But good god, why am I finding this out under these circumstances?!

Both Ainz and Diablo knew they had to head straight to Nfirea's workshop, but they couldn't just leave Ninya alone in critical condition. Thankfully, there was a saving grace who happened to be walking back from the adventurer's guild.

"Diablo? Momon? What happened here?"

Running up to them was none other than the golden herculean warrior himself, Emile Bichel Berger.

"There's no time to explain, Emile! Just get Ninya somewhere safe!"

Chiding himself for not doing so earlier, Diablo pulled out a high tier healing potion from his《Item Pouch》, and quickly poured it over Ninya. Following a brief glow of light, she quickly returned to a completely uninjured state. Yet while her body may have been healed, the trauma that came with witnessing the horrors she had would not be so easily abated.

"Momon, we'll finish this talk later! Grab a hold of me, we're going straight there! Rose and Nabe, you too!"

Diablo then produced an《Angel's Feather》from his store of items, and as soon as Ainz and the others had put their hands over his shoulder, activated the item's effect.

If even one of them is still alive, using this will have been worth the cost! And if the perpetrators are still there, we can get the jump on them!

As their vision was occluded by a flash of light, they reappeared just outside the Barreare workshop. Whatever expectations Diablo had of saving those who were still clinging to life were immediately snuffed out as he stormed through the front door. It was as if a typhoon of blood and gore had raged through the building's interior, with the lifeless corpses of his former comrades strewn across the room.

How… How could this happen?

Even after contending with beings that could be defined by their evil nature, at no point in Diablo's life had he ever witnessed such a horrific scene. In that instant, there was only one thought overpowering his mind.

With a rare visage of unbridled hatred, Diablo made a declaration.

"When I find who did this… there won't be an ending for them besides destruction… I'll reduce them to atoms!"

In the face of such an abominably evil act, the Demon Lord's righteous fury had been awakened.

…

Hey everyone. Quite a beefy chapter here, it arguably could've been split into two. Yet, I couldn't find a good place to cut it in half, so instead it's just an extra long chapter, in record time as well. Anyways, the fate of the swords of darkness has been revealed, with Ninya as the sole survivor. While Ainz had felt a mild disappointment upon discovering the swords of darkness' bodies in canon overlord, Diablo is outraged! Imagine how he'll feel when he sees his old nemesis at the center of it all, not to mention lumachina's life hanging in the balance. The truth behind the MC's identities has also been brought out into the open, and the fallout from that will have to wait until the current crisis is resolved. All will be revealed in the next few updates. I'm not sure if this arc will wrap up in the next chapter, but bear minimum it will be done within the next two. I only wish FFN wasn't still glitched as I'm releasing all these chapters. I haven't gotten any traffic graph data for like a week! I see your follows favorites and reviews coming in though, so it's not all bad. See you in the next chapter!