Prologue

Tired.

She is very tired. Which is impossible for a being like her, Evileye, a vampire with almost 300 years of existence. Emotions and feelings shouldn't be a thing her kind possess. Lately, though, she rarely could go through a day without feeling some sort of negative feelings.

Usually, it was frustration, she was frustrated that she was driven out of the place she was calling home, driven away from her first-ever love, her knight in shining raven-colored armor. Forced to run and hide like rats.

Sometimes, it was hate. She hates it whenever she heard news of that damnable Sorcerer King and his damnable Sorcerer Kingdom and his damnable conquest. How many more needs to die to satiate his… whatever it is that he wants.

Other times were despair. As her closest friends, whom she considered to be the sisters she never had, passed away one by one, all hope she has ever held inside her died out.

The first and luckiest was Gagaran, who died of old age.

It was after a particularly hard-fought battle, which they'd won, somehow, and Gagaran said she was going to bed early. No one paid attention to it, as everyone else was also exhausted, so she was left to her own devices.

She passed away in her sleep that night.

As Gagaran died of old age, coupled with the fact that she has been downing healing potions like they were water for years, her body just gave out, so no resurrection spells could be used.

It's not like anyone wants to bring her back, either. She has fought long enough; it was simply her time to rest. So The Boss Lady did what make the most sense, ensuring that her body was cleansed, burned and her ashes scattered so the enemy couldn't bring her back against her will.

Next were the twins, they leave the world together.

It was the battle of Black Field. The place wasn't called by that name originally. It was called Great Green Field by the locals who used to live there until Jaldabaoth came that is.

Everyone thought he was slain by the Sorcerer King. Apparently, it was not so.

After singlehandedly bathing everything in a two-mile radius in a sea of flame, he gloated that after his defeat, he swore loyalty to Ainz Ooal Gown to save his own life. From then on, he has been working for the Sorcerer King to help realize the undead's dream of a "paradise for both the living and the dead".

Bull. Shit.

She suspected they have been working together since the very beginning, how could it be anything else? There are too many coincidences, too many random happenstances leading toward one another. It could only have been planned.

But it was already too late to dwell on, Tia and Tina lay dead before her.

She thought had seen the depth of cruelty over the centuries of her life. Jaldabaoth's actions told her she was unimaginative. Seeing what he was doing to what's left the twins, she sees only red.

But anger made one stupid, and her mistake has been costly. The army she was leading was as charred as the grass that surrounded them.

Had it not been for Lakyus, she would have shared the same fate.

After that, they ran for a while, they ran their life, she and Lakyus, too bad they have got nowhere left to go.

She could tell that Lakyus hadn't been the same since she lost her country and her childhood friend. She also knows Lakyus had never truly forgiven them for running away like cowards, but not for literally stabbing her in the back, surprisingly enough.

She also suspected that Lakyus have been thinking of suicide for a while now, to be reunited with her friend and her countrymen in the afterlife. Though it came as a surprise that Lakyus would throw herself in Ainz Ooal Gown's spell to buy time for Evileye to escape.

But when it comes to the Sorcerer King, no sacrifice was enough.

And now, here is where Evileye lay, beneath the hateful gaze of that monstrous being. She lay there battered, beaten, tired, and ready to embrace the sweet release of death. Though she doubts she would be given a quick one.

There's too much animosity between Blue Rose and the Sorcerer King, they had tried to thwart his conquest one too many times, after all. Even with the fact that they've failed more times than they've succeeded, she doubts that it would help her plead her case.

There's still the option of killing herself. She still has enough mana left for a [Shard Buck Shot]. All she needed to do was to aim it so that it would blow everything above her neck clean off.

It is tempting, but the fact that He still stands before her puts quite the dampener on things.

She doesn't think he would just let her end it all that easily. Maybe he wants to torture her for eternity, or maybe he wants to be the one who does the killing himself, she prefers the latter over the former.

But before she dies, she wanted to know the truth. As undead to undead, she wants to know why he was doing this. It wasn't out of hate for humanity, that she knows for sure as some undeads can temper their instinct to focus on a personal goal or an aspiration of some sort. And now, she wants to know his.

He has been merciful, too merciful, even by human standards. He conquers, sure, but no slaughter, no mass sacrifices, no enslavement? He even frees the slave of whatever nation that fell beneath his feet. So why did he do all this? To bring war, chaos, and destruction everywhere, and then turn around to act as if he was some merciful king, killing only when needed to bring peace to the land.

Had he been truly merciful, he wouldn't have crawled out of his tomb.

With whatever bravado she has left in her, she spats, "Why? Why did you do all of this? Why can't you just leave us alone? Why do you keep taking everything I have away from me? They were my family dammit, and you take them from me."

She fully expects there would be consequences to her outburst, whatever it may be. She wasn't expecting him to respond to her though, "That was a noble thing your friend did. A comrade of mine once said 'Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends', I commend her for her bravery. It reminds me of so many I have encountered over the years." It surprises her at how human he sounded.

While her mind was still reeling from the unexpected response, he continues, "It was never my intention to take your family from you. But just like you, I have a family of my own, children I need to protect. And I would gladly sacrifice everybody else's family for mine's safety and comfort. Especially the family of those who have wronged me and hurt my children. And you, Evileye, have evaded my wrath long enough." She could almost feel anger coming from him.

Ah, so it wasn't because of mercy that she gets her answer. He just needed her to know why she is about to suffer.

What a farce.

Weakly, she croaks, "So then, what's my fate going to be?"

She isn't thrilled about what he's going to do to her, but she has to ask to mentally prepare for it.

The flames in his eye sockets aimed at her, a pinprick in a lake of darkness. It seems he doesn't like her attitude; it's shown as clear as day on his fleshless face. He answers her, "It won't be me that will decide your fate. It will be the child of mine that you have hurt long ago."

This does make her a little bit curious. She has done a lot of harm to a lot of beings, and one of them was a "child" of his. What luck, to have the full ire of one the most monstrous being in existence aimed at her.

Fate has never been as kind.

An oval, dark shape then appears beside the Sorcerer King, she waits with bated breath at what will come through it. Who knows, maybe it will let her gloat to it before it drags her away to who knows where and do who knows what to her.

A child in a maid outfit walks through the portal.

Huh?

No, wait, at another glance, it only looks like a child. Four arachnid legs came out from its back. The tips look like they could pierce through steel like needles through fabrics. More insect-looking appendages jutting out from its head, mimicking what a little girl's hair looks like.

The maid outfit it wears is unique, to say the least. The materials are foreign to her as much as the design itself. Though thanks to such unique details, it jogged her memory quite quickly. After all, she has only seen such a design once before.

It is one of the Demonic Maids that appears during the Re-Estize capital invasion, more than half a century ago. Demonic Maids that fight for Jaldabaoth.

And here Ainz Ooal Gown is, calling it one of his "children".

So she was right, they were in league with each other. That gave her quite the chuckles. She was about to die, sure, but at least it was good dying knowing she was right.

Still, this is her last chance to ask the mastermind behind it all, she needs to get him to talk for a little bit more, "O, Sorcerer King," trying to hide the cringe in her voice to sound as reverent as possible, "Seeing as this is my absolute defeat, my last moment in the light, might I ask a few questions?" She will get him to monologue, just for a couple of minutes. Enough time for her mana to regenerate enough for a single [Teleport] spell.

"Don't bother, this place is warded against teleportation." He sounded quite unamused.

This doesn't surprise her one bit. This is Ainz Ooal Gown, of course, he has countermeasures put in place, even for weaklings like her. Though she truly has questions that need answers.

"I wasn't planning to escape o Great One, this one knows that it can no longer fight, I only wish to know a few things before I face my punishment. I ask for three of my questions answered honestly, to make it so that my comrade's sacrifice was not in vain." By using that word that he seems to like and stroking his ego, she hopes to get at least one answer out of him.

The flame in his eye sockets dimmed. He appears to be suspicious and…incredulous? But somewhere, there is a little bit of curiosity too. And even a hint of amusement.

For someone without flesh on his face, it surprises her that he's this expressive.

"It is rather disgusting that you have used the death of your comrade, your family to level against me." She feels nonexistent blood draining from her face. "But in consideration of her sacrifice, and my curiosity, I allow you to ask your questions. But whether or not you have your answers depends on what it is that you ask."

He then turns to the Demon Maid, "I apologize, Entoma, can I ask you to wait for a little bit longer?". It responded immediately. "Yes, Lord Ainz, no need to apologize for one such as me, please take as long as you see fit."

Heaving a sigh that she doesn't know she had held, she begins to wonder what she wants to know most.

Honestly, she didn't expect to get this far.

But to keep Him of all people waiting is to invite troubles, so she asks what comes to her mind first, "Why, did you do all of this? You conquer and destroy, putting everyone and everything underneath your boot, you tore nations and families apart. Why?"

He answers, "As I said before, everything I did was for my family, for the children that were left in my care. If conquering the world means that any threat to them would be found and be dealt with immediately, I will conquer a thousand worlds just to keep them safe.".

That answer wasn't what she expected to come out of Ainz Ooal Gown. But it seems he has a habit of surprising people.

Did she fully believe him? She's not entirely sure herself, he has no reason to lie to her, least of all right now. An undead as powerful as he is, having a purpose as base as that? He did everything, not for power, not for wealth, but to protect someone. She struggles to believe him.

So on to her second question, "How long have you been working with Jaldabaoth?"

It was a simple question, to test whether or not he has been truly honest with her.

"Since the beginning." He said.

Good, she can ask her last question now, "Where is Momon? Is he safe? Is he all right?"

He doesn't answer right away; it looks like he is deliberating whether or not to answer. Just right as she was resigned to not getting it, he speaks up, "He is right here, and he is perfectly safe."

That was a relief. She would like to see him one last time, but she couldn't ask for more, she has already asked three questions and he has answered three questions. To ask for more would be quite disastrous for her.

She is glad nonetheless. Since Momon was safe, there was still a chance that someday, he would destroy this monster and save the world. Too bad she couldn't see it with her own eyes. But she was content to lay down her life right here, knowing that fact.

She was resigned to her fate now, "Thank you, Sorcerer King, for your answers." She was genuinely thankful for it.

"Good, I commend you for keeping true to your words." Ainz Ooal Gown said to her, then he turns to the maid who was waiting patiently the whole time, "Entoma, I thank you for your patience, and as promised, I shall leave her to you to do as you see fit. When you are done, report back to me, there will be further rewards for your effort thus far."

The maid bows to him, "Your kind words are rewarding enough, Lord Ainz, and once again, I thank you for remembering the promise that you made so long ago."

"Don't mention it." He said and then leave them through another portal.

The maid then turns to her, "Now, as for you," she walks closer, "I have been waiting for this moment for too long now. Do you have any idea how long I have waited for this moment? Do you have any idea how much I want to torture you until you can no longer speak to then destroy you and take your voice?"

Just get it over with already.

But to her disappointment, the maid keeps on talking, "I had hoped to send you to Neuronist, but seeing as you are undead, torturing you wouldn't have done much. So be glad, as this will be over shortly."

The next few moments flew by and she doesn't feel much, to be completely honest. She just lay there and hear the sound of crunching and munching while her mind conjured up scenes of a battle that she knows will someday happen in the future.

The battle between Momon the Dark Hero and Ainz Ooal Gown, the Sorcerer King.

A legendary battle it will be. She imagines her hero, facing and defeating the evil god destroying his empire and saving the world.

She imagines what kind of act the Sorcerer King would make as his final moment comes to him. Despite everything, she knows Momon would win against this monstrous being, he has to.

For Momon does not know defeat.

She lay there, lost in her daydream, until finally, darkness takes her.