A certain Undead's crystalline breath swarmed the shadows of a fallen nation, "..." Despair, guilt, overwhelming anxiety, these are all things one might experience after slaughtering a living, breathing person, yet here he stood: The King of Death, gazing at the rubble of the kingdom he ordered destroyed. Untold thousands perished underneath his skeletal foot, yet his nonexistent heart remained as still and tenacious as it usually did.

"It's just like the Katze Plains… I feel… Nothing!" Ainz lowered his head, the charred buildings beneath him stopped shedding tears of fiery flames a couple of hours ago, yet the smoke that enveloped them still clung to his mind, "...Hmm… Still, to wipe out an entire nation in under a day! HAHAHAHAHA! Punitto Moe, you sure would be proud of Ulbert's child! His intellect rivals your own!" never had his comrade created such an intricate plan, yet Moe's knowledge of both Yggdrasil and Earth justified his title of "Walking Encyclopedia."

'Over 7 million casualties, no?' with his vision pinned against the empty houses infesting Re-Estize's fallen capital, Ainz recounted the report Demiurge had presented him after the defeat of the deranged princess' puppy, 'Most corpses were obliterated as a result of Mare's marvelous spell… but… If we are to gather the remaining bodies, we could amass an unstoppable army. I should bring the idea up with Demiurge and Cocytus.'

Without much thought, Ainz canceled his flying spell. The flaps of his robe fluttered as if agitated by the sudden effort, 'Speaking of the Guardians, I should give them a vacation, they've earned it… They've been working diligently to satisfy my whims… I hear the beaches of the Holy Kingdom are pure… Somehow, the water does not contain salt,' Ainz thrust his hand forward, the ruins before him filled him with indifference, the only thing plaguing his mind was his children, 'I feel bad for having Aura and Mare involved… They may be level 100s, but they're still children! Next time, I'll let them be the kids they truly are…'

"..." Ainz inspected his surroundings, this had to be the tenth time in this hour alone, "I'm surprised Albedo let me come alone, but then again, I suppose this area is under my command now, after al-"

{Beep beep}

Having raised a hand to his temple, Ainz answered the incoming [Message], "Our guests are soon to arrive, Lord Ainz. I urge you to return, your lack of presence is driving me insane~" A silky, child-like voice beset Ainz's mind.

"Of course, Shalltear," Ainz said nothing more before ending the communication spell. 'I can't remember the last time we've held a feast… ' the Undead pat his robe to remove any speck of dust that may have latched onto it. His divine armor contained enchantments related to self-maintenance, and as a result, movements like these were unnecessary, yet the vague semblance of his humanity always nudged him to clean his outfit, It's true that my boss always took me out to business dinners, I guess old habits do indeed die hard…'

"[Gate]."

"Shzzzrck!"

Two ornate carriages came to a stop. Each descended from their own region, yet the synchronization they demonstrated would suggest otherwise. Their glamouring snow-like exterior shined like the north star amongst their terrain: a dark and murky graveyard. The golden wheels embedded into their undersides remained as crystal clean as when they were created. If an ordinary craftsman were to lay their eyes upon them, they'd be driven insane. Who wouldn't? After all, when faced with such unattainable perfection, it's only natural to halt one's efforts.

With delicate ease, the door of the furthermost carriage opened, "We have arrived, Lady Neia." five robed figures emerged from the vehicle.

"The home of the Supreme Being! To think someone as meager as myself would have the privilege of setting foot within Lord Ainz's domain!" A masked girl exited the chariot with both grace and artless joy, "I am truly undeserving!" The young woman began to rush toward the mausoleum's entrance but was stopped by the sudden ruckus emitted from the remaining carriage.

"My emperor, soothing your nerves would do you well!"

"How many times have I told you, Nimble? I am fine!" A regally-dressed blonde exited the transport, "Hurry up, the sooner we get this over with, the bett-"

"Oh?" the noble turned his head toward Neia and her escort. The panic in his eyes subsided, instead being replaced by a monotone yet embracing smile, "Ah? I never expected Lord Gown to invite the Holy Kingdom's clergy! Truly, my vision is incomparable when faced with his grand notions." the man regained control of his flickering voice. He stared at Neia's outfit, its design was unique: a white robe ingrained with countless violet arrangements, 'To think the Hero of Kalinsha has ties with Gown… I heard of his involvement during the Beastmen invasion, but still… Just how far does his grasp reach!?'

"Oh, you must be Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix!" Neia's eyes floated in the direction of the man's chariot. Two towering lions harboring a shield were imprinted onto the carriage's door, a staple of the Baharuth Empire, 'He looks thinner than I expected…' Jircniv's imperial robes still clung onto him with dignity, yet the ashen color of his skin and sunken clavicles betrayed the man's proud aura, "To be graced by the presence of someone as mighty as yourself, I am honored, your grace."

"P-Please, stand up. It'd be a lie if I said I wasn't over the moon to meet the Faceless Preacher, stories about your feats have reached my desk countless times!"

Neia had previous encounters with monarchs, yet none had the ambiance the emperor exuded, 'Lord Ainz and Lord Jircniv are both kings, yet the power they emit is different… I wonder what sort of feeling Lady Calca would've instilled upon me…'

"Clap."

Neia, Jircniv, and their respective escorts oriented themselves toward the mausoleum's entrance, "Welcome, Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El nix, it's a pleasure to have you here. Lord Ainz has been eager to chat with you, he's missed your company." A tall, pristine beauty addressed the Human Emperor.

"Hi, Neia." A petite maid waved her gloved hand at the newly arrived guests. Her face remained motionless and unmoving, yet the girl's sister could spot the small curvature on her lips.

"Gyah! Shizuu!" Neia abandoned both the emperor and her entourage in pursuit of her dear friend. She swathed the emotionless maid before drowning her in praise, "You're as cute as the day you left! Is that a new perfume? You don't know how happy I am to see you!" Neia's iron-tight grip would crush any normal human, but Cz's nature allowed her to savor the preacher's hug for as long as she wished. 'Ahhh. Ms. Shizu's so warm! I missed this! The last time we hugged was during Lord Ainz's departure. He can be a cruel god sometimes, taking her away from me so soon… No, Ms. Shizu is a member of the Sorcerer Kingdom, her presence must've been needed back here, don't be so selfish, Neia!'

"Erm erm…"

"Ah- Uh, forgive me, Ms. Yuri."

"To think a renowned preacher such as yourself would have such deep ties to the servants of Sir Gown," With his three knights trailing him, Jircniv arrived at the tomb's opening.

"P-Please excuse my disgraceful behavior, Lord El Nix, leaving you in the courtyard was inexcusable," her dealings with Ainz made Neia impervious to the threatening aura of kings. If it weren't for him, Neia doubted she'd be able to stand before people such as Jircniv. She lowered her masked gaze onto the ground.

"W-We're here to celebrate, please, there's no need for formalities."

"Lord El Nix is right, Lord Ainz has prepared a grand feast to celebrate the full obliteration of the Re-Estize Kingdom," The dimples on Yuri's face puckered with excitement. The moonlight's glint hid the woman's eyes behind her glasses, yet El Nix was sure that even her eyes shifted in satisfaction, "Tonight is a night of fine dining, so please allow me to escort you to one of the tomb's innermost floors."

Neia's attendants reached for their weapons when a void of pure darkness appeared behind the Pleiades.

"Worry not, I've seen this sort of magic before, it's merely a portal to Lord Gown's home," Jircniv eased the clerics' worries. He dared not imagine what would happen if they raised their weapons against the maids, 'If they are to mimic the actions of the fools who dared attack Ainz's minions, I fear I might get caught in the crossfire…' During Ainz's takeover of E-Rantel, countless reports of adventurers' deaths infested his desk, 'The moment one unsheathes their sword against a Death Knight or Lich is the moment their heads fall to the ground. Would these maids be as impulsive? I dare not find out…' the adventurers' response to seeing the Undead in their home was natural, but even he understood that defying a creature of pure death was foolish.

"It's only natural to fear the unknown, but once we enter, I humbly request that you leave your weapons with us," Alpha gestured Neia and Jricniv inside.

Both the emperor and preacher disappeared upon contact with the portal. Neia's advisors were quick to follow, Jircniv's guards, however, were less than ecstatic.

"The empire's subjugation was a result of our last visit… Let's see if we can manage to leave alive…"

The only female member of the Four Imperial Knights slapped the man's nape, "Oh shut it, Nimble, now, get moving."

"What an excellent choice, Foire," Ainz adjusted the tie hanging by his neck.

"I am unworthy of your praise, Lord Ainz. It is expected of a servant to remember her master's tastes."

Ainz placed a delicate rose on his hit welt, its magenta hue melted into the abyss-colored suit, "How far along are our guests?" he asked. Foire handed him a small vile. He sprayed its contents onto his skeletal body, 'One cannot overlook cologne when encountering company.'

The man's maid retracted a finger from her temple, "They've arrived at the banquet hall. Lady Albedo and Lord Demiurge are entertaining them," the maid checked her master's body for imperfections. It'd be an insult to even infer dust upon his body, yet Foire's diligent duties included making sure her lord was immaculate, "Your arrival is the only missing component, after you present your divine self, tonight's festivities can commence."

"Then I won't keep them waiting," Ainz headed towards the entrance of his office, "Take the night off, Foire. You've earned it. After you're done having dinner, I allow you entrance to the Spa Resort, you may invite your sisters," Ainz waved goodbye before closing the door and teleporting away.

"Ah, you're too kind, master, truly!"

"P-Princess Renner, to think his majesty would invite you…" Jircniv sat on the chair provided to him, yet he felt as if he was miles below the sea. The sweatiness of his palms nearly caused the dropping of his crystal cup. It'd be bad if he were to spill the wine supplied to him by the Sourcerer Kingdom's Prime Minister, 'WHY THE FUCK IS SHE HERE?' he lowered his gaze onto his gourmet-filled plate, he would never dare eat without the man of the hour present, so he simply stared at inexistent space behind his food, 'Don't tell me…' the emperor bit his trembling tongue. He wished to pull at the golden hair atop his head, yet he knew such actions -at least in this setting, would be inexcusable.

"Oh my, you seem disappointed, Sir El Nix," a horned beauty addressed the man. The woman's dead tone sent a cold shiver of panic down Jircniv's spine.

"N-Not at all, Lady Albedo!" Jircniv nearly jumped out of his seat, "I-I'm merely surprised! Forgive me for being blunt, but having the princess attend seems a bit… grievous." his quivering hands clawed at his legs. His mere opinion was sure to have consequences, but he knew that lying to the prime minister would be a certain death.

"Oh, Lady Albedo, stop teasing Master El Nix," The Witch of the Fallen Kingdom's cursed giggles threatened to consume Jircniv's soul.

"Renner was of great assistance when it came to Re-Estize's downfall. She foresaw her nation's corruption years before our arrival and wished to cleanse the world of its accursed existence. Having her excluded from tonight's dinner would be an even greater insult," a well-dressed Demon declared. There was no point in hiding the truth from the Emperor. Countless summons oversaw the man's every move, 'He'll die before he even begins to sing,' Furthermore, Jircniv knew what would happen if he were to leak information, he had a first-row seat to the grand play that was the Katze Plain's slaughter.

"I see Lord Demiurge, I understand now," Jircniv lifted his goblet above his head, taking a long, drawn-out sip, 'I wonder, would suicide free me from this neverending nightmare? Hahahaha, foolish Jircniv, of course not! Gown would just revive me and put me through an ever worse hell!' He drank until his cup could not let go of more liquid, "What divine wine, Lord Demiruge, Lady Albedo. I must thank Lord Gown for such exquisite treatment."

"No thanks necessary, friend Jircniv!" Ainz pat the man's shoulder before heading to his own seat, "Please excuse my late arrival, I hope my subordinates have been treating you well."

"It's a pleasure to see you, Your Highness!" The Holy Kingdom's cardinal fell to the floor. Kneeling, her head was one inch away from touching the red carpet, "I thank you for your invitation. When compared to Lord El Nix or Lady Theiere, I have no right being here."

"Stand up, Ms. Baraja, there's no need for formalities," Ainz pushed his chair close against the table. His Undead nature prevented him from enjoying succulent meals, yet his plate was filled with both Dragon steak and Lamia ribs, "Friend Jircniv-" Ainz's skull shifted to his fellow ruler, "-how has the empire been faring?" he asked. The last thing he heard, Demiurge was finalizing the document that certified the Baharuth Empire as a vassal state of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Ulbert's son had presented him with a draft, but its mere size caused Ainz to hand it over to Albedo.

"E-Everything's going according to plan, my lord!" Jircniv's sweaty hands fiddled with the scarlet ring on his pinky finger, "We are prepared to announce the vassalization to the public, but… I'm worried about their reaction, my lord. I fear things may not go as smoothly as they did in E-Rantel." E-Rantel, capital city of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Annexed by Ainz from the late Re-Estize Kingdom, it serves as Ainz's home away from home. Ainz still remembers the days when the streets turned into the Katze Plains, an empty and desolate expanse. If the Undead's presence hadn't already shaken the very foundations of the world's politics, most would've correlated E-Rantel to the Silent City. It took a while for things to settle down: after Momon's interference, both men and women alike began to fill the barren roads, and through Pandora's efforts, trust in Ainz's regime eventually skyrocketed.

"If I were you, Lord El Nix, my worries would be placed elsewhere. His Majesty has already made quite a few public appearances within "your" domain and the support he received from the public after fighting the Martial Lord is astounding. If you ease the idea of coexistence into the minds of your little empire, things are bound to fall into his majesty's hands."

'You really don't know when to keep your mouth shut, you imp! A traitor such as yourself has no right to meddle with an emperor's dealings…' Jircniv nearly offended the young princess, but he knew his kingly persona hung in the balance, 'Whatever… I don't care anymore. I can't win against you, Ainz-' his eyes moved onto the Undead resting on the opposite of him, 'I might as well give in. Even his cannon fodder is capable of raising nations!'

"Lady Renner is right, Lord El Nix!" Neia placed her own cards on the table with sheepish tension, "I-In my personal opinion, the people of the Baharuth Empire will be easier to deal with than… for example, the Slane Theocracy's," the cardinal's eyes shifted towards her food when the emperor turned his gaze onto her, 'If Slane's citizens or government are in any way shape or form akin to Remedios then… No, better not think about it.'

"Let's discuss political matters on another day, tonight we celebrate the Sorcerer Kingdom's incomparable victory against the now fallen kingdom," Ainz stood up and raised his goblet high into the air, "I propose a toast-" The Overlord cleared his throat, "-to a prosperous future! Let us strive for a perfect world where both Human and Heteromporphic children alike can play together! Let us strive for a perfect world where even the furthest stretches of the planet are enveloped in our magnanimous grace! And let us strive for a world showered in eternal peace!" Ainz thrust his glass higher into the heavens. The sudden motion would've caused a nasty spill, yet the item's magical enchantments prevented any such disgrace.

An overjoyed Cixous rushed to fill Jircniv's cup, "A fine toast, Your Majesty!"

The crazed and maddened look in the emperor's eyes alarmed Neia, yet her hero's speech was far too sublime to ignore, "Well said, Your Majesty! Indeed, let us strive for such a world!" the preacher pressed her chalice against her parched lips, the wine's sweet taste nearly overshadowed the joy Ainz instilled in her heart.

Renner simply mimicked the Undead's actions, 'You brought me true happiness, Ainz Ooal Gown. I shall gift you the world. You'll help me achieve that, won't you Climb?' the princess' face reddened at the thought of her now-leashed puppy.

"With that settled, let us feast!" the dinner's host grabbed his cutlery, finally giving the others permission to eat, "Albedo-" Ainz looked at his standing Prime Minister, "-please have a seat, you too Demiurge. There's no need for you t-"

His words were cut short by an intruder, "Lord Ainz!" A pale girl burst into the room.

"Shalltear Bloodfallen-" Albedo was about to heed her master's orders, yet the primal urge to pummel her comrade was too great, "-how dare you interrupt your lord's dinner? Have you no respect for the Supreme Being?" the air turned heavy amidst the appearance of the woman's malignant murderous intent.

"You have ten seconds to explain yourself-" Demiurge's sly smile remained on his tan face, yet he couldn't hide the violent and erratic swaying of his tail, "-If I deem your reasons unworthy, you'll be spending the next millennia on the seventh floor with me."

"Oh shut it you two!"

"Shalltear, what's wrong? Why are you in your battle armor?" the Overlord inspected the woman from head to toe. Her entire body was coated in carmine metal save for her lengthy lilac hair.

"The fields of grass surrounding Nazarick have disappeared and all communication from outside agents has been completely cut off! I can't get ahold of the Undead in the Abelion Hills, Dwarven Kingdom, and the Lizardman Village!"

Albedo stood up, "Wha-" the words in her head never made it past her throat, as her mind became overcome with riveting ringing, "-Yes?" The succubus' attention shifted elsewhere.

An encroaching silence infested the hall.

"...I see… Ok, I understand."

"Bloodfallen's claims are backed up by both Aureole Omega and CZ2128. Master, it seems Nazarick has been teleported once more."