I'm gratified by the response this fic got, but I should reiterate that there's no guarantee of this becoming a full fic. Sorry. Still, I hope you enjoy this...

200 YEARS, A LONG WAIT FOR FRIENDS (ORIGINAL)

CHAPTER 2:

EXPOSITION

Hearing about the Tomb of Nazarick from her stepfather's stories was one thing. Seeing it in person was another matter entirely. And to think, this came from a computer game. Antilene still had trouble wrapping her head around the concept of such a thing, that the Six Gods, the Greed Kings, and at least three of the inaccurately-numbered Thirteen Heroes had once been ordinary humans playing some game in another world.

They'd convened in a magnificent office that was easily the rival of any in the Slane Theocracy. None of the NPCs were present for now. And Antilene could see the relief in the Overlord's posture as Momonga relaxed. It was weird seeing an overly-evolved Lich act like some exhausted scribe.

"…I'm not sure how I'm going to keep that up," he said quietly, only to flinch, and look pointedly at Imina and Antilene.

Harry shook his head. "They know all about you, Satoru. You can relax a little."

"Relax? How the hell am I going to relax?!" Momonga yelped, before a pale green glow briefly suffused him, and he did relax a little. "…Sorry, every time I panic or get too angry or have any emotional extreme, something forcibly suppresses it, probably this new body of mine. But seriously, the NPCs now look to be as if I'm pretty much a god. They'd probably view you the same way."

"I'm hardly surprised," Antilene said. "The first Players to come to this world were hailed as the Six Gods, the founders of my homeland, the Slane Theocracy. True, they saved the human race from being wiped out, but…well, non-humans aren't liked there, to say the least. And as I am only half-human…honestly, the only reason I stayed at times was because I would eventually be sent against my sperm donor."

"…Sperm donor?" Momonga asked.

Imina shot Antilene a look, asking non-verbally if she could elaborate. Antilene nodded in assent. Imina then said, "Both 'Lene and I are half-Elves, Momonga. I assume you are fine with me addressing you as such without honorifics or title."

"In private, only away from the NPCs," Momonga said. "Otherwise, I get the feeling they would not take kindly to you not showing enough respect."

Imina nodded. "I was fortunate in that both my parents loved me, even when my Elf father, a refugee from the Elf Country, outlived my mother. However, 'Lene's father was King Decem Hougan of my father's homeland, who is notorious for raping any woman he desires, in order to produce strong offspring. He even broke a treaty to violate 'Lene's mother, a God-kin or descendent of one of the Players who founded the Slane Theocracy. 'Lene was born into a world of prejudice, and raised as a living weapon, the trump card of the Slane Theocracy. Zesshi Zetsumei, the Extra Seat of their Black Scripture."

Antilene had allowed Imina to discuss her past, but it didn't stop it from being painful. At least she didn't go into detail of her birth mother's abuse that masqueraded as training. For all that Antilene still loved her birth mother, after a fashion, thanks to Harry, she had a far better relationship with her step-parents.

"…I'm sorry to hear that," Momonga said, looking to Antilene.

"You're not the one who needs to apologise, Momonga," Antilene said. "Harry and I have four main targets for revenge, including the Theocracy, and my sperm-donor. We've been patient because Harry doesn't want to draw too much attention from the wrong corners, especially the biggest target of his revenge…"

Momonga listened to Harry's tale, of how Players and NPCs from Yggdrasil came to this world once every century since 600 years ago. Of how Harry ended up here, two centuries ago, and joined the Thirteen Heroes to save the world from rogue NPCs known as the Demon Kings. Of how he was betrayed by two of his comrades.

The anger he felt towards the Platinum Dragon Lord and this Rigrit bitch caused the suppression system to kick in multiple times. However, Harry then revealed how he escaped, and that actually had him laughing. After all, it amounted to chance and a tantrum.

"So, are you telling me that Antilene, after getting frustrated over being unable to solve a Rubik's Cube, damaged it by throwing it against the wall? And it somehow damaged the seal?" Momonga asked, trying not to laugh again.

"It's a bit more involved than that," Antilene said with a pout. "I actually used one of my skills. Harry said I can use a couple of your death-aligned skills like The Goal of All Life is Death. I think I 'killed' part of the seal on it. I was, admittedly, startled to hear a voice talking to me. It took a long time for Harry to win me over. I mean, a strange voice telling me that what I knew was a lie or only half-truths? Keep in mind, I may have been discontented a little with my position in the Black Scripture, but I was still loyal. I even hid my ears out of shame."

"But she eventually came to trust me," Harry said. "I eventually managed to break the seal, albeit with a little help from her. She had to damage the Rubik's Cube with her skills at key points. We fled the Theocracy, though not before doing some damage. We decided to go to the Baharuth Empire, as while they had friendly ties with the Theocracy to some degree, I thought we could lay low there for some time. As it turned out, well, I've been living there for the last few years…"

Imina had all but tuned out the conversation. She had heard it before, and in greater detail, about Harry's life prior to Yggdrasil, prior to being sealed away by the Platinum Dragon Lord, and so on. The story had come to how they'd met, but she didn't quite care. This was more about two friends reuniting, even if said friends were an Elf and an Overlord, in appearance if not in character for the latter.

Harry, under his guise as Enzo, had met Foresight because he had been introduced to Arche by Fluder Paradyne. Even when Arche was forced to leave Fluder's tuition thanks to those damned parents of hers, Harry stayed in contact. Imina's relationship with Hekkeran was still fairly volatile at the time, and after a particularly nasty row, they'd gone to drown their sorrows at different bars. The irony was, they'd both woken up at the mansion Harry had bought, Harry having brought Imina back, while Leinas Rockbruise of all people, having only just left Jircniv's employ for Harry's, had brought back Hekkeran. Both had been brought back to the mansion at the request of Arche and Roberdyck to sleep off their drunken states.

Foresight became a frequent visitor to the mansion from then on, and indeed, Harry allowed them to sleep there. He said he had many rooms he wasn't using, so why not? Arche couldn't stay there as often as she would have liked, though Harry was trying to get her and her sisters adopted by him.

She'd be lying if she said she didn't find Harry attractive, even then. She did have something of a complex about her figure, but he had unhesitatingly called her beautiful. It did take her a while to accept his words were born of more than lust, given the many admirers she had had over the years, but he eventually won her over. Not so long ago, Imina had fallen for Harry, despite knowing the truth (or perhaps because of it), while Hekkeran ended up with Leinas Rockbruise. Then again, the former noblewoman had a harsh wake-up call as to how fickle the nobility were when her fiancée dumped her and her family disowned her, all because of a disfiguring curse she got upon killing a monster. A curse which Harry cured. Now, Leinas was Harry's guard (more to guard the house than Harry or 'Lene) and liaison with Jircniv.

After it was over, Momonga looked at them appraisingly, before speaking. "I presume that's the short version of your story. Still, I am glad that you are alive and well, and happy, it seems. Jircniv does not force you to do anything?"

"He knows that between Antilene and I, we could burn the Empire to the ground if he pissed us off. I'm not going to be fighting for him unless there's an invasion, but killing off his enemies within the Empire is fine," Harry said. "Once you get past the fact that he's called the Bloody Emperor for a reason, he's actually a decent guy. Smart, meritocratic, and generally works to benefit his subjects, particularly the commoners. I'm still trying to help him and Fluder find an alternative to slavery, they're looking into controlling undead with mixed success, and I'm not a necromancer like you are. Honestly, the Baharuth Empire is the best of a bad lot."

"I'll take your words into consideration. Still…" Momonga's eyes, little more than specks of burning light in the otherwise hollow eye sockets of the Overlord's skull, flicked over to Imina. "You are happy?" he asked gently, not of Imina, but of Harry.

"…As happy as I can be, under the circumstances, Momonga."

Imina nodded. "Harry is my friend and more, Momonga. Despite how powerful he is, he doesn't act like some arrogant would-be god or devil. And despite what he has been through, he still remains compassionate and altruistic. That is what drew me to his side."

"I see," Momonga said thoughtfully. "Please, don't misunderstand me, Imina. I am glad Harry has a friend in this world. He had few true friends even within Ainz Ooal Gown, possibly because of the betrayals he has suffered before, and his betrayal by this…Platinum Dragon Lord and this Rigrit woman has no doubt hardened his heart." But his gaze seemed to narrow. "But know this: should you or Antilene betray him, you will wish for a quick death that will never come."

Imina recoiled from the vehemence in his gaze, but met it evenly as she replied. "I would never betray him. I may belong to a Worker group, more mercenary than Adventurers usually are, but Foresight has more standards than most Worker groups. Harry paid us with kindness as well as coin, and even now works to help one of my comrades escape a bad situation. Besides which, we're not idiots. I may be powerful by the standards of this world, but I am nothing compared to the strongest Players, I already know this. But by the same token, I'm not going to help Ainz Ooal Gown wreak havoc on the world. Deal with some of the worst of it, certainly, but cause chaos?"

Momonga held her gaze for a time, before nodding. "Thank you. That's one of the reasons I didn't bring any of the NPCs in. If they heard you speak to me like that, then I would've been hardpressed to save your life, Imina. Your conviction seems genuine. And what of you, Antilene?"

"Harry has been better to me than my birth-parents," the former Slane Theocracy warrior said with a shrug. "Getting revenge on my sperm donor is a long-term goal, just as it is with the Platinum Dragon Lord. But if Ainz Ooal Gown isn't going to cause chaos and mayhem across the world, and if they help me put paid to Daddy Dearest, well…I'm game. Honestly, I just wanted to meet my step-siblings when I came here. Besides, Harry told me you're a big softy. I'm probably in the Top 10 strongest beings native to this world too. I'm probably a little below you and your Floor Guardians, but I'd love to spar against them, and the Pleiades. How can I pass up a chance to test myself?"

Momonga looked to Harry, who cleared his throat in amusement. "…Antilene wants to fight strong opponents. She also wants to have children with them, once she's old enough."

"Harry, I'm already over a century old, I'm ready!" Antilene complained.

"Antilene, you're not mature enough, both in body and in mind. You still act a bit childish."

"I do not!" Antilene said, pouting, Imina chuckling. Momonga, meanwhile, was watching on. If a skeleton could sweat, he would be doing so, out of sheer bemusement.

Harry looked to his old friend, before Satoru recovered his equilibrium. "…Regardless, it's good to see you again, Harry. Will you return to Ainz Ooal Gown, or do you intend to remain in the Baharuth Empire for now?"

"I'll commute back and forth, but I do need to stay there for now. I'm trying to adopt Arche and her sisters, get them away from those selfish morons she has to call her parents," Harry said. "But if you need help, I'm only a Message spell away, and I can spend the night filling in the details about this world now, with Antilene and Imina's help."

"Good. If you don't mind, I want Albedo and Demiurge here for that session," Momonga said. "Albedo and Demiurge are the most intelligent of the Floor Guardians."

"I'd also keep an eye on them. Demiurge is probably the most evil and sadistically so, no surprise given that Ulbert created him, that damned edgelord with a chip on his shoulder," Harry said with a grimace, thinking back to their former guildmate. "I'm also a little worried about Albedo, given Tabula's backstory for her. I'd also bring in Pandora's Actor and Sebas."

"…Do we have to? Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with bringing in Sebas, but Pandora's Actor?"

"I saw the stats you gave him. He's one of the smarter NPCs here, and he's also relative neutral in his karma settings. Just tell him to cut back on the ham and the German, and it shouldn't be too problematic. I should also try to figure out where you are." Harry frowned, before pulling out an invention of his. It was not unlike the Marauders' Map, but it was something he created for this new world during his time with the Thirteen Heroes. It updated with his current position. He activated it, and began zooming out until it showed the location of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. "Huh. Okay, that could be…tricky."

"Why? Do you know where we are?" Momonga asked.

Imina peered over Harry's shoulder at the map. "You're in the Great Forest of Tob, not far from Carne Village. That's within the Re-Estize Kingdom, though not that far from the borders of the Baharuth Empire and the Theocracy. You're also not that far from a key city in Re-Estize, E-Rantel. Every year, the Empire and the Kingdom have a bit of sabre-rattling in the Katze Plains to the east. Has quite a few undead there, too. There's a long story involved, from what I know."

"…Of course it wouldn't be easy," Momonga muttered. "If this was still Yggdrasil, you know what I'd be saying right now?"

"…Shitty devs?" Harry asked.

"Shitty devs," Momonga agreed.

CHAPTER 2 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Momonga has met Imina and Antilene properly, and under far better circumstances than in canon.

No numbered annotations this time.