Continuing their way, soon, they arrived in a grand hall.

"Ah, we have arrived!" Granham was somewhat relieved.n

This Ainz figure was polite, but she didn't want to spend more time in his presence than it was necessary. She had goosebumps from him like something was always staring at her back. A cold hand was grabbing and squeezing her heart. If she made a wrong move, it'd simply burst!

Just now, the group entered a sizable hall, decorated with eleven symbols and flags.

In the middle, is a round table. The room was inhabited by priests and priestesses, prostrating themselves ceaselessly behind each seat.

Only one figure sitting, a plant-like little humanoid constructed from wood and different plants, glancing at Ainz and the group, waving nonchalantly. Ainz just nodded, returning the gesture.

"Most likely, Wareharun. According to the reports, she is a demi-goddess, but also many consider her a full-fledged goddess. Ruling over the trees and forests." he recalled the detailed reports his subordinates wrote about this world, its religion, and the gods inhabiting it, writing a considerable amount about this little sprite. He should have expected this.

"Please, wait a moment, our masters will descend." Ainz nodded, accepting Granham's explanation. Slowly, the apostles lined behind their respective deities' seats.

"Now, this is interesting."

Honestly, what came next was an exciting scene.

Ten ethereal beings appeared, descending from the walls — males and females, constructed from divine astral energy.

Looking around, they inspected the servants on the ground; a few had chosen right away, possessing the individual of their choice, then took a seat. Others pondered on the decision hard before making it.

In a few cases, the ones possessed started to hyperventilate and convolute, even scream, before their body began to bleed and break apart on a cellular level. From their eyes, skin — even butthole — blood sprouted before dying a gruesome death — some also exploded in a gory mess.

Some of the gathered "sacrifices" couldn't bear the transfer and simply died from the strain coming with getting possessed by a god.

In such cases, the astral entities left the dead body sighed, then tried another body — the servants around cleaning the remains rapidly.

Then Ainz extended his hand and said "Please stop!"

"I have some gifts for you"

Ainz gestured to the Supreme guards

Then the Supreme Guardians took out 11 coffins from their storage. They opened the lid of the coffin.

"These bodies are artificially made especially for you. These bodies can withstand your force. You will not have any problem with it."

"Wow!"

...

The gods began to enter the bodies. Some gods thought for a while then entered. The gods who were already sitting in the chair also left their bodies and entered those bodies.

"Ah! Are these bodies the same as ours?"

"Are these ours?"

"Yes, I'm giving you these as gifts."

"It feels like it's my real body!"

The gods began to examine the bodies.

"Great!"

"Thank you so much!"

"It's okay"

"Can you share with us the knowledge of making this body? Please!"Elange said

"Huh! Forgive me. These were made by my Servants. I don't know much about them. They may have used alchemy."

...

"There are so many wise men in your world!"

"Hmm"

"Then that's why you can easily go beyond your divine realm?"

"Does that mean we can go too?"

"I think so, yes."

The gods are very happy about it. Of course, it is new for them. These are not like those mortal bodies, in them, they feel like real bodies. They have lost many of their followers to get mortal bodies. But now they don't have to sacrifice anyone else.

"We should sit in our seats now."

"Yes"

The gods went to their seats and sat down.

"Hmm, I see."

...

"I am Flare, Lord of Sun. I am the head of this conclave of gods you see before you. You and your fellow deities honor us with your presence. Also thanks for giving us this body"

"It's nothing. I am Sorcerous Emperor Ainz Ooal Gown. Leader of Supreme Beings. She is the Prime Minister of Albedo, Sorcerous Empire, and my wife. And they are Aura and Mare, the 6th-floor guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Also, they are Governors"

"I see, please take a seat." Ainz took a seat, and Albedo, Aura, and Mare stood behind Ainz. Supreme guarders stood around them

"Aren't they gonna…?" one of the deities asked near Flare, looking around confused as Albedo and the rest didn't take a seat.

"Ainz-sama is our master. We can't sit in front of our master."

"Hmm! Master! ... I won't be surprised. Granham told me that you hide your Aura. And according to your Aura, you are a Supreme god!"

"Undoubtedly Ainz-sama is the best!" Aura said cheerfully

"Ah Aura, calm down!"

"I'm sorry!".

...

"Oi! Can't we start? I am bored here!" not far from Flare, a rough voice came.

"Emroy, please, get a hold of yourself!"

"Tch! Who cares! Instead, tell us, bone face, tell me, Where is the black coat boy? If I remember, he might be your son and his name is Ragnarok. I want to fight him."

"How dare you talk to Ainz-sama like that!"

"Ah! Albedo calm down! You're talking about Ragnarok. He's busy conducting an important operation right now."

"Huh! I thought you'd bring your child ."

...

"In that case, we can finally start this discussion."

"Right."

"First thing first, we would like to apologize and state, that opening the gate to your world was not our doing. But our fellow god, Hardy."

"That, we already knew." Ainz nodded coldly.

"You knew?" Flare blinked, surprised.

"Indeed, Apostles Graham, Giselle, and Rory told us about it."

Flare sighed, remembering the report of his right hand. "Yes, we heard the report from Granham." Behind him, Granham stood, gulping nervously. "She told us quite incredible things about your empire. Such as a flying castle, god-like beings ordered around by you like mere toys. Incredible things. Too incredible for even gods to believe, almost like her memories had been manipulated."

"I assure you, such a thing did not happen."

"We also found no trace of mind modification." two people spoke at once, a male and a female, only raising their heads once from the received tomes, then once again returning to their new reading material.

"Hmm, I see. If Ra and Elangle state it, it must be true. Having such empire then…" Flare looked up at Ainz. "You truly are something, Lord Ainz."

"Well, thank you, we take pride in our nation, and what our people have accomplished — but returning to the topic. What do you intend to do with the goddess named Hardy? She belongs to your pantheon, no? I hope you intend to make an example of her, or I will be forced to do so. In truth, it would be best if you hand her over willingly, so we can make a judgment over her."

"We have already disowned her. Since the accident, we haven't even answered her calls or communication attempts. Even now, her priests and worshippers have been banned from this city."

"I see…"

"As for handing her over. I am sorry, but that's impossible. Even if we would be willing to do that. She is a goddess that belongs to our pantheon. One of our oldest core members. Even if we could force her to come along, it'd require a great sacrifice. She is the goddess of the underworld; not only her followers would start to rebel and act unpredictably once she disappears, but she also regulates the flow of souls in the realm of mortals. Unfortunately, her role is crucial in the workings of this world."

"Well, that's unfortunate."

"Without her, the restless souls will once again walk on the world. Calling back to life the deceased, and when that happens, creatures such as yourself will appear. Please forgive me for saying this. But in our world, the undead infestation is not well received."

"How dare you!" Albedo stepped forward, her heart filled with anger. "Ainz-sama is more than a mere undead! Know your place primitive astral being!"

"Ugh!" Flare and the rest felt Albedo's demonic presence lashing out, making them pressure.

"Albedo, that's enough."

"Please forgive her. Sometimes they tend to be emotional. It cannot be helped, they are the children of my friends."

...

"It's okay!"

"I am glad we can be of service. Well then, continuing the line we cut. I know well the undead are not well-liked amongst the living. But I can say the same about unliving. They also dislike living. It cannot be helped; this is in their nature. The two sides usually like not each other."

"In your nature too?" Deldort, the god of covenants, raised her brow, all gods glancing at her.

"What? From his appearance, he also seems to be an undead being."

"Deldort! You can't just call a god a simple undead being. Apologize in an instant!"

"It is not necessary." Ainz waved away, even the chance.

"But…"

"It is true; I am undead."

Everyone around paled, watching Ainz in horror. They only suspected this; now, it was confirmed.

"But... that godly presence!" Palapon gasped, watching Ainz strangely. It was like the endless abyss stood before them. Death and magic incarnate!

"I never stated I am a god, just an immensely strong undead magic caster. People think I am one despite clearly stating otherwise; it's up to their misconception."

"Then that religion of yours!?"

"Our people set it up."

"Then, if you are a simple undead, that means…" Lunaryur already pitied the people living under the "tyrannical" rule of Ainz, looking slightly sad.

"I don't dislike the living if you are referring to that."

"Still, that undead of yours. Undead are the bane of living beings, you can't suggest they can live with the living in peace." it was proven in Falmart.

When the gods neglected their work — referring mostly to Hardy — undead tended to appear, keeping the living in terror. In such cases, heroes of legendary tales usually appeared, taking care of the bane of life. Alternatively, the gods sent their heralds to get rid of the nuisance and restore order.

"Ohh! But that's the actual truth in my empire. Humanoids, demi-humans, and even heteromorph beings can live in peace. This also consists of the living and unliving citizens of mine. My undead is absolutely under my control, only attacking if threatened or receiving my order."

"This must be a joke, right?" Emroy asked skeptically.

"I assure you, Lord Emroy, this is the actual truth."

"Haaa!" All the gods offered different expressions. They didn't want to believe what Ainz said. But what they had seen in Granham's memories, and what the people had experienced in the territory attached to his protectorate, implied otherwise.

Their spies clearly stated those undead monstrosities didn't hurt simple people, only protecting them from bandits and harmful elements. Moreover, it helps with their everyday life.

For example, those monstrous, hulking undead carrying tower shields — death knights — were often seen on the fields helping with the heavy physical labour, serving as a tireless workforce.

The magic of those robed skeletons helps with everyday life. Monsters were walking around to help people. Dragons were serving as simple parcel service. Things their spies and their divine sight had seen all seemed too absurd to be true. Yet, they had all witnessed it first-hand; it could not be denied.

"Their world is just WEIRD!" Indeed, for the deities of this world, the concept of monsters, demi-humans, humanoids — moreover! — Living and undead working together were absurd. Even the idea of humans treating demi-humans as equals was unheard of in most nations.

"Tell us then, Lord Ainz. What did you plan with this world? What are your intentions?" Flare said

"But I want to solve Hardy's problem first. I have a solution for that. What if we seal her power? That way she can't use her power without our permission."

Everyone was amazed.

"That's a great idea!"

"We agree!"

"As a result, she will never be able to open gates again."

"Hahaha!"

"Can you do it?"

"Of course!"

"So Lord Ainz, answer my question now. Do you want to expand your boundaries within Falmart?"

"I won't lie to you when you've asked this question. Yes, I want to."

"What!" All the gods are angry with Ainz

"So you want to snatch our place from us?"

"Look, if I had been snatched, I could have taken over all Falmart long ago. But I didn't. I want to do everything peacefully. Let's make a deal."

"Why would we make a deal with you?"

"Look, it will be good for everyone. I don't want to fight you in vain."

"Are you threatening us?"

"Whatever you think"

"Lord Ainz, we need some time to think about this."

"Flare!"

"No problem!" That said Ainz and his team walked out of the room.

The apostles shut the door

What has that idiot Hardy brought on us!?" clearly angry and displeased, Zufmuut, the God of Light and Order, frowned.

"What should we do now?

"So, any proposal for a possible solution? Hmm?" Flare glanced around, waiting for any idea that his fellow deities could come up with.

"Negotiation? I mean, this Ainz fellow seems to be reasonable. He surely recognizes he can't control the whole continent — not to mention the planet — by himself. Controlling the flow of souls is not a small task; even he will need help to do so."

"Yes, even with the help of those other gods under his command, it will be a hard task if not impossible. We know these lands like no other, not to mention the astral flow. Without us, they can't possibly take control without damaging the world itself." Zufmuut and the rest of the gods hummed, agreeing.

"Even if he does agree and let us stay in power? What will happen then? Seeing his power and ever-growing influence in our world, it is not likely he will treat us as equal partners, we will become simple lackeys working under his hand. Tools to his will he can discard if he finds a better solution."

"We need something that would tip the scales in our direction. Something! Anything!"

"Hah! It is not like we have anything they need… The most powerful to us" Emroy scoffed, grumpy, maybe a little bit impatient.

"So you say… we should give up?" Palapon slowly turned to his fellow god; his expression could not be angrier. "Even you can't be this imbecilic! If we just give up our rights as gods, we will lose what we are! Our influence! Our power! Everything we achieved until now! What will happen to us then?! We will lose everything we worked so hard for! For literal hundreds! No! Thousands of years!"

"Oi! I was just stating the obvious! Don't need to be so offended! My Rory reported what was needed! "

"Yes… let's not forget the stronger beings, individuals, and even gods under his command. Granham made her report as well. It is already strange he wants to deal with us personally, and not just wade through us like a child through an ant nest, getting rid of us immediately."

"From the records and sightings…"

"… that's indeed possible." Ral and Elangle spoke one after, confirming the sightings. Indeed, what they experienced and investigated; this Ainz fellow indeed can do so. They may look indifferent, but the situation concerned them as well.

"Not to mention their magic. "

"Indeed…"

"… Strange."

"Not working according to the principles…"

"… Of our world. Coming from a different…"

"… System. Completely foreign…"

"… for us. We wish…"

"…To investigate it."

"Our followers brought…"

"…interesting results."

"Anyway to exploit this magic system of theirs? Any weakness?" Deldort, the god of covenants, asked, his hands folded before his face.

The twins looked at each other, raising their brows thinking before turning back to their fellow god.

"The sages sent there…"

"… still confused about this magic of…"

"…theirs. Unable to get really…"

"…Any grasp on it."

"Only one…"

"… of our worshippers."

"Have some…"

"… idea."

"But she as well…"

"…Is far from understanding it…"

"… truly."

"We would be interested…"

"… In visiting that place, and…"

"…learning about this new thing." For the first time in a long while, both Elangle and Ral smiled, their previous blank eyes filled with light once again.

"Even if it means leaving your post, and giving up your godly authority? If you bend your knee to this thing. That would mean…!" Zufmuut bit his lip, and the blood started to pour from his host's mouth.

"If necessary…"

"Yes…"

"It has been a long time since…"

"… we witnessed something…"

"… interesting that piqued our…"

"…Interest, and proved…"

"…to be an unknown challenge."

"We want to know…"

"… their secret."

"Wish to explore…"

"…their world."

"Want to learn…"

"… Something new…"

"…once more." The decision of the twin gods was obvious; they already decided their next step.

"Tch! Typical!" Zufmuut needed no further explanation from the twin gods of magic and knowledge. It was evident and apparent why they had come to this decision, and concluded things as such.

Just like in life, they were weirdos in the eyes of mortals; even their fellow gods watched them worried after ascending. They only cared about hoarding knowledge and learning new things—nothing more, nothing less.

"Tch! How annoying!" Deldort scoffed, annoyed. "Isn't there anything we could do? What if we produce more apostles? Converting our closest…"

"That's a good idea!"

"But ...Not to mention arming all of them with appropriate artifacts and weapons is close to impossible. My apostle and I can't possibly work that fast and hope for a high quality of work…" Duncan said.

"Are you serious? Do you think only about this now?!

"What? If it comes to apostles, you can't expect me to watch them run around without proper weapons! That would be a disgrace for the heralds! What will people think of my work if I let the apostles roam without any qualitative work of mine?" like always, Duncan cared more about proper equipment and blacksmithing than their grave situation.

"Tch! That's also not a solution! You all know what's needed to create an apostle!"

"It needs our essence, to sacrifice a small part… plant it in the ground that is a mortal soul and shell, to grow and nurture it into a proper god." Wareharun hummed. Although she has no proper apostle — being she serves as the incarnation and the will of the flora of the world — she still knows well how other gods do it.

Indeed, if they divide their power into that many parts, they will cease to be gods — even if not, their power will diminish to a point where they possibly fall, and become mortals again, or weakened enough to be preyed on by these newcomers — which eventually would happen anyway.

"Wareharun is right! I don't know if you are too disillusioned with our chances, or hopelessly desperate to find a solution. Still, even if we start to produce apostles now, right away, making every follower like that, it will take time even to have enough of them to compete with these newcomers. Not to mention, they need to learn and grow to be proper apostles. Even if we manage to push this Ainz fellow and his servants back now, they will still have the advantage…"

"Okay, have you all made your decision?"

"Yes, we will prepare an army of apostles."

"Hmm .. so we need time to prepare?"

"Yes"

"Okay, then we'll make a deal with Lord Ainz so we have much time. He said he wanted to make a deal."

"Hmmm OK"

"Hmmm...We just have to wait for the right time now! hahaha!"

"Tell them to come in."

"Of course!"

The apostles opened the door. Ainz and his group came inside again

"So what do you think?"

"We are willing to make a deal. But we have some conditions."

"Okay tell me your terms?"

"... you can't preach your world religion in Falmart."

"... OK"

"I thought you wouldn't agree?"

"Keep stating your terms"

"... You cannot harm our Domains and followers."

"We will not attack your Domains. But if any of your followers create problems for us, we will take care of them."

"We'll make sure they don't do that, and you take care of your people."

"Okay. But if any of your followers commit a crime, I can't guarantee it. But if they do something fair, I won't stop them."

"OK"

"Any important decisions about special regions must be discussed with us first. Nothing can be done without our permission."

"OK"

"I agree with that."

"You can't spread knowledge in Falmart."

"Look, I can't believe it at all. Why don't we spread knowledge."

"If you make them wise, they will probably stop worshiping us."

"You are wrong. Knowledge is constantly increasing in our world. You can take the world as an example Earth or Japan which you call 'Man in Green'. Their world is also much better. But even then countless people worship the god."

"You are right. However, the worship of many gods has stopped. What will happen to it? What if it happens to us?"

"Also if they become wiser than us then why would they worship us?"

"Look, I agree with you. But there's a system for everything. For example, if the people at Falmart are currently in middle school, you're in high school. You'll go to University when They're in high school. "

"What do you mean?"

"It's easy. If they learn a new thing, you learn ten new things. That way the difference in knowledge between you and them will always remain."

"There is logic in the words of Lord Ainz."

Elange said.

"I agree with him there is no end to knowledge!"

"We should constantly acquire this knowledge!" Ral said

"I agree!"

"Shut up you two! We don't want to take any risks!"Palapon said

"If you spread knowledge so freely, they will try to destroy us one day."

"Even if we accept your argument, many of our worshipers will be reduced!"

"Yes, that's right! People worship me so that they can have healthy abortions and have a good crop on their land. Now if you give them advanced medicine and knowledge on how to fertilize the land, why would they worship me? Of course, they Stop worshiping me! "

"You may be Miritta, the god of fertility and birth. You protect your worshipers from prenatal death or harm. But in price, they have to work as prostitutes at least once before the marriage, don't they?"

"Yeah, to get something you have to lose something! That's the rule!"

"Then you accept it for the happiness of your worshipers. If we spread knowledge and improve them, then no one else has to be a prostitute before marriage."

This has made Miritta very angry. She hit the table with her hand and stood up.

"What do you think of yourself? If there were no worshipers we wouldn't be either!"

Albedo, Aura, and Mare looked at Miritta like wild beasts. At this, she panicked and sat down. The other gods wondered what they should do.

"You said you were a pacifist. Then why don't you understand that gods are meaningless without worshipers."

"Then we will spread the knowledge in those places that people from all places will be willing to be our Vassals."

"But the point is the same! Our worshipers will be reduced."

"Look, I don't have time to sit here anymore. I've left a lot of work! Tell me quickly whether you want peace or war!"

The gods realized that Ainz is now impatient. Because the discussion has been going on for a long time. They did not know what to do. Because they do not have enough strength to fight the Sorcerous Empire. They need time to prepare.

"... you can spread knowledge," Flare said. In a way, he said it with a stone in his heart

"Are you all right?"

"I am right! If they are our true worshipers, they will worship us, and if they are not, they will stop worshiping us. Yes, this will greatly reduce our number of worshipers. But in the end, those who remain will be our true worshipers!"

"We have nothing else to do?"

"... OK!"

"Ok, then Albedo!"

"I understand!"

Albedo pulled a paper out of her storage. She wrote all the terms on the paper and gave them to Ainz. Ainz gave the paper to Flare.

The gods read the agreement and then signed the paper one by one.

Flare also signed and returned the paper to Ainz. Ainz signed the paper and then gave a copy of the contract to Flare.

"Thank you very much"

"Then we're contracted from today."

Ainz shook hands with Flare.