Silence hung in the air. An aura of disbelief and confusion abounded, creating a feast of undesirable emotions in the retired council member. Arthur thought this was a sick joke that Umbarth was playing on him, but the dead serious look on the dragon's face said otherwise.
"What?" Arthur blanked. Umbarth nodded grimly.
"I said E-Rantel no longer exists. It's gone. Not conquered, not under threat of destruction, but completely gone," the dragon replied.
Arthur struggled to find the proper words, to express his disbelief. The previous annoyance he felt nearly vanished. A fortress city like E-Rantel, meant to be a bastion for the country of Re-Estize, no longer existed? It was unthinkable.
"How? I thought the Empire wanted to capture E-Rantel, not burn it to the ground. Actually, for that matter, how could they have? It was too well fortified, not to mention valuable."
"The Empire did not destroy E-Rantel, but rather a third party did…" Umbarth ominously trailed off. He seemed almost afraid to give voice to what was the true culprit behind the city's destruction. That alone set off alarm bells in Arthur's head about what, or who had the power to annihilate a city like the dragon lord suggested.
"Explain yourself then, and be quick about it," Arthur said curtly. He saw a flash of hurt in the dragon's eyes, but he took a deep breath and stood straight as if he were a soldier reporting to his superior.
"A few months ago, a village called Carne came under attack by the Slane Theocracy's Sunlight Scripture. They were then saved by a group who called themselves the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown. Shortly afterward, the city of E-Rantel was consumed by a death spiral that Zuranonn created, stopped only by new adventurers that called themselves the Argonauts. Re-Estize tried to recover the survivors, and the Black Scripture became involved somehow. Someone fought them in the city and the result was the city itself turning into a sinkhole."
"Around the same time, the Forest of Tob was under attack by an entity named Zy'Tl Q'ae, and it was slain by similarly powerful beings. In both instances, the same necromantic aberrations were observed. Argland sent in some of their adventurers to recover specimens, and we've been studying them ever since."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "The Heavenly Dragon Lord has been busy scrying all of that for you. What did you end up finding?"
"That's the thing. These… creatures are all amalgamations of a bunch of other animals, stitched together into a hellscape of a body and held together by dark magics. Kennisdat Piarsi almost got smashed by anti-scrying measures when he did observe some of these places. That to us could only mean one thing."
"You believe another group of players has made it into the world, and these 'Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown' are the ones making moves."
Umbarth shot him a hopeful look. "Any idea who they might be? I know not all players knew each back in Yggdrasil, but it never hurts to ask anyways. Anything you could tell me now would be greatly appreciated."
The retired council member thought hard about that as he scratched his beard. The name did seem familiar, but it's been nearly a century since he first arrived in this world. He'd likely have to meet a member of the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown to be certain.
He ended up shaking his head. "I'm not sure, to be honest. Get me in front of one of them and maybe I could say, but if that happens, then we'll be well aware of where they stand."
Umbarth picked up a smooth, white rock from the sand, admiring it while he collected his thoughts. "The world is changing again. It's always changing. That's perhaps the only constant that we are assured of. Whether it be the people who were born here, or those who come from other realms, change comes for us all." He breathed in, allowing a small pause in the dialogue for his words to sink in.
"You know better than anyone else about this, Arthur. You try to be a net force for good, to make the world better. The World Spirit did well in choosing you to lean into that role. I'm ashamed to admit that I was indifferent to that struggle. I was different than my brothers or sisters, sure, but at least I didn't enjoy crushing mortals compared to drinking with them. However, my apathy to their suffering made me no better than the other dragon lords."
Arthur listened patiently, allowing Umbarth to monologue his feelings. The previous mask, that carefree, lingo-slinging dragon, was completely off now. That was something only done in the player's presence, a sign of the trust they once shared mutually.
Picking up a piece of volcanic rock, Arthur pressed his finger into the jagged edge. No blood was drawn because of his defenses. He couldn't expect a bit of obsidian from a nearby underwater volcano.
"I've… made mistakes too," he said in solidarity, "I only cared for myself and what I could gain that I was once denied. No matter who was in my way, I'd trample them to get it. Life took its pound of flesh, so I took some back. I wanted to be a hero, to earn their praise and admiration. The people weren't people to me, just sources of validation."
Umbarth smiled ruefully. "I guess dragons and gods aren't so different after all, huh? We demanded temples and shrines be built in our name, forgetting about the other lord species who ruled beside us. I think we feared our mortality, for if even the Titan and Leviathan Emperors could be betrayed, as immortal and powerful as they were, who's to say the same couldn't be done to us? Whether arrogance or fear, we just wanted to be remembered."
"But who can say for certain?" the councilmember finished. They crushed their respective rocks, allowing the tide to take the dust back out to sea. They shared a quiet moment, the animosity Arthur had for his old friend, while not exactly going away, did settle.
They ended up sitting down in the sand. The cool water tempered their moods. "What changed it for you, Arthur?"
The player looked up at the morning sky, spotting a seagull soaring high. "I remember getting an assignment to go and handle a rogue, giant monkey that terrorized a town called Selenta to the South. I had nothing better to do, so I investigated. It was this massive gorilla, red-eyed and blue-furred. It carried a cleaver if I recall correctly. King Maikos, as it was called by the locals, was burning down farms, knocking over towers, killing adventurers, and demanding tribute."
"It wanted to rule the city as a god. It took me a few hours to find the damn thing, and only a few seconds to kill it. I remember thinking about what a joke the whole thing seemed to be, since the entire time we interacted, the damn monkey tried provoking me and got mad when I said I wouldn't share words with it," he snorted with disdain.
"And…?" Umbarth prodded, making Arthur exhale.
"I got invited to a party by the count of the city in his estate, lots of nobles, merchants, artists, and socialites. A massive affair to honor me for what was essentially cheap labor. Festivals, music, feasts, alcohol, the whole nine yards. I had to drink several gallons just to get hammered and blackout. When I next woke, everyone was naked and sleeping off their hangovers."
"One girl, a prostitute perhaps, was drugged on the floor. One of the noblemen was trying to drag her to one of the empty bedrooms. I… I do not know what came over me, but I ended up popping that man's skull like a cherry. Threw his fat corpse against the wall and it splattered. I stumbled into a nearby bathroom and looked into a mirror."
"And what did you end up seeing?" Umbarth asked.
Arthur took a few seconds to respond, really drawing upon the memory of that night to convey his emotions. "It wasn't me. The man that stared back was someone else, someone who walked the earth as a divine being and couldn't care less about the mortals. I was… disgusted at myself, disgusted at the indifference, disgusted at how I allowed the days and nights to just blur together."
"I wasn't a human anymore. I wasn't Arthur at that moment. I wanted my face back, I wanted to go back to the way things were when I was a young man in the Old World. Arthur the man was smothered by Arthur the god, and I hated myself."
The youthful dragon lord contemplated his words for a while and then shared his piece.
"As Dragon Lords, we would often make bets. It was an easy way to solve issues among each other without resorting to mountain-destroying battles. And we chose champions. I can't remember what it was, but I won a bet, and I had a favor that I could use for one of my brethren. Want to know how I used it?" Umbarth asked.
Arthur didn't say anything. His silence was taken as confirmation to continue.
"After Terminus, we were down on numbers. So I decided to repopulate our numbers, by any means necessary," the human player noticed that Umbarth was getting fidgety. He frowned, a sinking feeling in his gut.
"So I traveled here and there, doing what I could. I researched and did work. I ended up in beastmen country during the time of the Demon Gods. I came into contact with one of the eight warlord clans, Clan Ragemanes. I met a she-lion there, a druid who could use upwards of the sixth tier. She was an incredible talent, and I decided I… needed to have her."
A shot of fury began to race through Arthur's veins, but he quickly subdued it to hear the rest of his old friend's story. It was not a great start but he couldn't jump to conclusions quite yet. Better to let Umbarth explain than pronounce judgment.
"Wild Magic allows us to not just change shape, but our biology for short amounts of time. I decided to become a lion-man to, uh, woo her. I was larger than normal lion-men, save for Khan Ragemanes, but I managed to persuade them I was a refugee from a smaller village under their care. It took some time, and a lot of brown-nosing via hunts and gift-giving, but I was eventually accepted into the clan."
Still, Arthur did not say anything. He couldn't help but grab another rock, which he was steadily crushing into dust under his adamantine grip. He was to listen, not say anything… yet.
"After a few months, I ended up getting to speak with Khan Ragemanes. I showed I was better as a cleric than as I was a warrior. Managed to become a staple of the clan in such a short time, enough so that they decided he wanted to marry me to one of their own so that I couldn't leave. Of course I, ah, had other plans." Arthur's stare intensified as a frown had long since formed on his face.
"I called in a favor from a friend and had them start attacking the stronghold of the Ragemanes once it was sunset. So… so many of them were killed. Not just men, but women and children too. But that didn't matter to me then, because I was a dragon lord, and could play with mortals as I pleased. I didn't see them as sapients, just playthings… My friend was drenched in blood and acid by the time he was finished."
Arthur exhaled slowly, controlling his breathing. "Is this friend of yours still alive?"
A tinge of red was starting to cloud his vision, his rage becoming harder to contain. He could not kill the Brightness Dragon Lord, for he was still an Argland Council Member. His death would draw unwanted attention and he couldn't do that to his family.
Umbarth brushed the hair away from his eyes, shaking his head. "A minion of the Black Dragon took him down shortly afterward. Good riddance, whatever happened to his corpse. During the attack, they were looking for me, you know. They wanted me to heal their dying, but I was long gone by then. I had snuck into the lion-women's tent and stolen her away, passed out from mana exhaustion."
"By the next morning, it was nearly destroyed from what I heard. They managed to drive away my friend- my acquaintance through the help of the Khan's son. I could've avoided the whole situation by just taking her by force, but I think I couldn't bear to hold that hatred over my head at the time. Better to be hated by one than be hated by all, so I thought then," Umbarth said, visibly deflating.
The dragon lord said nothing else, allowing Arthur to fill in what likely came next. He could imagine months of that poor woman, believing her clan dead and only having a disguised Umbarth as her company. She probably threw herself at him in gratitude for "saving her", over and over again. Knowing the vain reptile, he likely left as soon as she was pregnant with his child, having indulged his primal urges.
That was centuries ago, before his time. He could hold Umbarth accountable, but he'd be avenging a dead mother and descendants who never even knew the full story of their ancestor. He'd only be doing it to satisfy his sense of justice. Arthur decided the pain of who he was and what he'd done would be punishment enough for now.
After an uncomfortable silence, Arthur broke it. "Did I ever tell you about the war back home?"
Umbarth stared at him in confusion. "I recall some of your stories back in Yggdrasil, but I don't know much more than that. What does that have to do with now?"
"I'm not talking about Yggdrasil."
Understanding replaced his conversation partner's confusion. "Ah, I see. You mean when it comes to your Old World."
Arthur grunted in agreement. "My world was embroiled in a war, not unlike your Terminus. Every country and its allies on the planet striving to emerge victorious. Things stalemated, and countless lives were lost. My parents were among the casualties, victims of chemical attacks that melted them down to their very bones."
His eyes flicked to the dragon lord to gauge his reaction. Based on how he squirmed, Arthur was satisfied that his guilt seemed authentic. "I was saved by the quick thinking of my mother, who shoved me under some nearby rubble of a building with her gas mask so my lungs wouldn't liquefy. If I had the power I did now, I could have saved them from their horrific fate."
"Your parents would surely be satisfied to know that you lived," Umbarth said quickly, but Arthur kept speaking as if he didn't hear him.
"Unfortunately, the past can't be changed. Only the future can be influenced, and those of us who know better can work toward making things better. We cannot be sorry for what was, only for what we fail to be. Which means we should stop feeling sorry for ourselves."
Arthur rose from the sand, and Umbarth followed him. "Arthur, listen to me. The Black Dragon is making moves. The World Serpent is stirring. There's a third party involved, some Weeping King and his followers, who are conquering villages in Re-Estize. The Council believes that mutual assistance in the conflicts to come would be beneficial for both sides here."
"Go and speak with the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown if you dragons are so concerned. I do not need your help." Arthur grumbled.
"Do not be so certain, old friend."
Golden eyes wandered in the direction of the mansion that the player had built. His rage returned in full force. Umbarth would dare? "Is that a threat?!"
The dragon rapidly shook his head. "No, no! It's just an observation-"
In an instant, Arthur's right hand began to wrap around the neck of the Brightness Dragon Lord. His strength was otherworldly, matched by few others. Had the oversized reptile been in his true form, he might have been able to escape his grip and launch a counterattack or escape.
Fire shot through his veins as he stared into the Brightness Dragon Lord's eyes. He was wheezing, desperately clawing at his forearm. His puny nails couldn't so much as leave an impression of a scratch on him.
Dragons who shapeshifted generally became weaker as a rule, though those of the First Age did not suffer such drawbacks. A majority of their Wild Magic, and thus their strength in turn, was used to try and maintain their forms for as long as they dared. Thus, any other applications of Wild Magic were limited in their lesser forms.
This did not mean they were entirely defenseless though.
A bright, golden hammer materialized out of thin air, slamming into Arthur with considerable force. He grunted, a crackle of pain registering. He was forced to let go, creating distance between the two of them.
It would take time for the Brightness Dragon Lord to transform back to his true shape since he'd be at his most vulnerable while changing. It was why dragons usually found a safe space to shapeshift with wild magic, should their species not have the power inborn.
Arthur's opponent was powerful in his own right. A warm trickle traced its way down his eyebrow. When he reached up to touch where it was, his fingers came back with bright crimson.
So be it.
Reaching into the invisible space of his inventory, he pulled out an ornate odachi still in its sheath. It was his most powerful weapon, a traditional Japanese sword primarily wielded by the Samurai of old. It was called the Blade of Severance, the slayer of immortals, for its ability to prevent resurrection.
This was the world-class item that he brought with him into the New World. Those of it who knew what it did compare it to a more general Longinus, which could prevent resurrection as well. The difference between the two was that Longinus completely erased a player's account from existence, both the user's and the target's. The Blade of Severance merely negated high-tier resurrection in the middle of a fight, forcing a player to respawn naturally in Yggdrasil and take the loss in gear and levels.
If the Brightness Dragon Lord were to threaten his family, then he could not be allowed to leave the island alive to reveal its location. A hundred dragon lords of the First Age could come together to make a ritual to resurrect his opponent and it would mean nothing.
The secret of his family's home would die with him, Arthur was certain of that. Whatever he killed with his blade was assured to stay dead, should they not respawn naturally.
Just as the ominous, black cloud of his blade leaked out from its sheath, ready to be unleashed, the Brightness Dragon Lord threw up both hands in surrender, panting from adrenaline and fear. He recognized Arthur's blade.
"WAIT! I didn't mean it like that, I swear! Just listen to me real quick. If I can't stop you from killing me, just answer me this; Have you seen my sister lately? Did you get to speak recently at all, about what she's been going through?"
The Brightness Dragon Lord's words tumbled over each other frantically. Arthur paused, considering his question. "Eporris? Why would I? Our relationship ended long ago. Why bring this up now?"
"Because she's depressed, that's why! Someone managed to kill Akiyama!"
That immediately got Arthur to sheathe his weapon fully, but he didn't put it back into his inventory. "What? What do you mean Akiyama is dead?"
"That's another thing that's got the Argland Council riled up. Something out there defeated a True Dragon Lord and a player, at the same time! We're down reinforcements, man. What do you think will happen if that same entity discovers your little secluded island and your family, huh?"
The question was left unanswered, but both knew what the result would be if what he said was true.
"Ultimately, I'm here to ask for your help and to help you in turn. If you still want to kill me, then fine. My history is drenched in blood anyways. Just remember that you're cut off here, and no one else knows where you live."
Arthur contemplated what the dragon said, and finally exhaled in exasperation. He placed the odachi back in his inventory and fixed Umbarth with a steely glare.
"Follow me."
Deep in the jungles of the island, shrouded by a host of giant trees and vines, the unlikely duo traversed a stone path. The canopy was so dense that the sunlight barely peaked through. A variety of animals watched them pass, instinctually knowing that unless they were desperate, neither were to be harmed.
A lightning monkey swung from the branches, hooting for its brethren to join it. A winged serpent of onyx and gold coiled around the trunk of a tree, patiently waiting for unlucky prey. Rainbow-colored birds of paradise cawed a morning song, serenading the buzzing insects that flitted about.
All of this was meaningless to the current mission at hand. It would take far more to awe the well-traveled beings.
"Are we there yet?" Umbarth asked, annoyed at having to constantly hop over tree roots in his path. The thorns on the forest floor didn't hurt his soles, but they were a pest nonetheless.
"Quiet," Was his only reply from Arthur.
Together, they followed a flowing river deeper into the jungle, many animals stopping around here to get their daily drinks and take a dip if the day grew particularly hot. The river itself was merely a path that one took to reach their true destination.
A couple of minutes passed by until they reached a waterfall. It was a majestic sight, the spray from the water striking the sharp rocks creating a fine spray that misted them. It stood easily twenty meters, a ledge leading directly into the heart of its torrential fall.
The two of them used that edge to shimmy into the space between the waterfall and the rock face. They didn't have to go far before they reached an open area, polished smooth and housing a several-ton boulder near the back.
Arthur moved it with ease, tossing it aside as if it weighed no more than a pebble. Behind that was a doorway that led into the heart of the cliff where the waterfall flowed from. Umbarth raised an eyebrow but swiftly followed after the samurai player.
Inside there was a dark cave that received, in essence, a basic makeover. A wooden table and chairs were situated along a wall of polished cobblestone, and the floor was smooth marble. Wooden chests and lockers were scattered across the room, but all of them were closed.
Umbarth squinted, not fond of the darkness. He was the Brightness Dragon Lord, not the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord! That old fool would be delighted by a cave such as this. Holding out his hand, a ball of light flew out from his palm, shining upon the entire room.
"Why are we here, Arthur?" he asked.
"I wish to see if there's truth to what you're saying. We will teleport to E-Rantel, and then to the Forest of Tob to see what's going on," Arthur replied.
Umbarth chuckled. Was that it? "If it's teleportation, then I could have handled that! You know we Dragon Lords are capable of teleportation magic. It's a trivial matter for one such as myself."
"True. But if I were to allow you to teleport me, I would still have to trust that wherever you were teleporting me was the proper place. I don't want to end up in an ambush surrounded by a bunch of angry lizards. I'm sure you understand." Arthur replied as he made his way to a wooden chest, opening it and shuffling around in its contents. After a while, he retrieved an old map and a few traveling clothes.
"Fair." Umbarth scoffed before deciding to ask another question. "Why do you keep items here? Can't you carry things in your 'Inventory' system? Or does that not apply to every Player?"
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket. These things take up valuable slots and aren't worth it compared to other items. And besides, having things here is good because my kids can use them if necessary."
"How will your son lift a two-ton rock?"
"He'll find a way to get through it, I've already shown him a few…"
The samurai player threw the items onto the table, beckoning Umbarth over. He gestured to the assembled pile. "Get ready."
"No. You seem to be mistaken about why I'm here exactly."
His old friend stared him down, that terrible fire returning to try and burn Umbarth. "What game are you playing? You told me about things that are happening in the world, and now we are going to investigate. What's so difficult to understand about that?"
"Like I said. I-We want a partnership. We work together, even if things go poorly. And I need your help in not just verification, but extermination. Things cannot be allowed to continue on the course that they are."
Arthur visibly contemplated what he was saying. Umbarth took in stride and continued, confidence slowly building that he was truly being listened to.
"Furthermore, I need to explain things to you, in detail, before we move out, and that necessitates a longer conversation. I know you're a man of action, but when it comes to the Black Dragon, a mistake could mean the death of us."
With a sigh, Arthur braced his knuckles on the table. "What do you have in mind?"
"A World Pact," Umbarth replied grimly.
An uncomfortably long silence filled the gap between what Umbarth suggested and how Arthur would react. If it were any other circumstance, the dragon lord would have never even entertained the idea, let alone suggest it. Unfortunately, desperate times called for desperate measures. He needed to be sure that Arthur wouldn't skip out on their deal or, worse, turn on him and his fellow council members.
"Why would I ever agree to such a thing?" Arthur asked skeptically.
"By accepting, you'll ally with The Council. This will convey some benefits to you. And neither of us will be able to move against the other in any way as long as the World Pact is active. It would be protection for the both of us, to make sure your family stays safe and to ensure none of my kin is at risk."
Arthur scratched his chin "A World Pact requires a winner and a loser, am I correct?"
Umbarth nodded. It was a gross oversimplification of the Wild Magic used to create a World Pact, but it would work in this instance. The best way he could explain it himself was that it was similar to how some human merchants drafted up paperwork to protect themselves in a business partnership. The key difference was that there was no paper involved, only a verbal confirmation from both parties once the Wild Magic was invoked.
Each World Pact was unique to the dragon lord who decided to make it. Some were straightforward, while others involved treachery of some kind since engaging in a World Pact meant to bind the very souls of the parties involved to set circumstances. For Umbarth, he always wished to have some fun with it. Such was his motto, once upon a time.
"So… what is your plan?"
"Simple. We will compete. No matter if you win or lose, you will gain certain benefits, and we will ally. At the end of the competition, we will venture forth into Re-Estize together."
"I see. What are the conditions?"
"From you, the following is expected: No Dragon Lord of the Argland Council State shall be harmed by your hand unless they attack you or your own first. Any allies of the council shall follow this rule as well unless they prove to be our enemy. All relevant information is to be shared during our alliance, and you will not betray us in any way, shape, or form. It is a shame to say, but this does mean you may have to commit… morally dubious duties against our enemies, but they will be limited to the scope of the Alliance."
Arthur grunted. "At least I'm not being used as a hammer for every nail that pops out."
"Of course not, that would be wasteful. In exchange, your family will be placed under the most secure protection programs we have, keeping them safe completely. No dragon lord or enemy of the council will be able to harass or harm them in any form. The Council will be unable to betray you in any way, and any enemy of yours will become a true enemy of the Council."
Umbarth watched his old friend carefully, waiting to see how he'd react. He knew what he was asking for would be harsh consequences if the terms of the World Pact were broken. He knew the Deep Sea Dragon Lord used many contracts in her service to the Emperor of the Ocean and witnessed firsthand some of the effects of a broken contract. He would not wish that upon anyone.
"That's fair. But you aren't done yet, are you?" Arthur eventually said.
The Brightness Dragon Lord shook his head. "Yeah. If you win the competition, I'll personally lift the edict of your banishment. You can ask any boon of me and I'll provide it. Knowledge, favors, an item, people, or wherever else will be yours. That being said, I cannot hurt or kill anyone on the Council, should you request it."
"And if I lose?"
"The day may come when the Council faces an enemy they cannot defeat. Someone who cannot stay dead. It could be the Black Dragon, but not necessarily. When that day comes, you and your blade will put them to rest. Even if it costs you your life."
This was uttered more coldly than Umbarth would have liked, but he needed to stress the importance of what was being asked here. There were lives on the line, possibly that of the entire planet. The World Spirit did not need to be born prematurely, only to then be devoured by forces beyond comprehension.
That nearly happened once. It could not be allowed to come to pass.
"Hmph. So be your mercenary, or be your assassin. I refuse." The reply was instant.
Umbarth pulled up a dirty chair, blew some dust out of it, and sat down. "Many would risk slavery to receive a boon from the Council. And you would not be a slave, merely a… sentient weapon, to be used and discarded. If you complete your task and survive, then the terms of the pact would be considered fulfilled, and you would have your freedom again. Like I said, a partnership, with some twists."
Arthur skeptically lifted an eyebrow. Since he was not being stopped, Umbarth kept speaking without worry.
"A partnership is really in everyone's best interest. We do not want hostilities with you. That would be a waste of time and resources." He waved his hands around as he vividly explained himself.
After a few tense moments of silence in which the pressure in the room seemingly increased, it returned to normal. The table that Arthur had put all the items on cracked from the force.
"How were you able to find me but not the others?" Arthur asked.
"It was simple. You recall the bond we shared via Wild Magic, right? Even though it was severed the day of your banishment, there were still threads that pulsed in the vague direction of where you were, so I just followed that until I came here. Don't worry, the Council still does not know you're here, just that I went looking for you."
"Good. If you had shared it, you would have been the fourth Dragon Lord I'd have to put down, and this partnership would have gone nowhere." The threat could not have been any more clear from the overly serious player.
"Why so hostile still? Do you not trust me?"
For the first time in their entire conversation, the stoic facade of Arthur's cracked, surprising Umbarth. "I don't trust that platinum hypocrite who talks about the 'greater good' but murders innocents when he feels like it. That holier-than-thou attitude he has is dangerous. I have no doubt he'd try something."
"Tsaindorcus Vaison? Why do you care if he does? It would be extraordinarily difficult, but you could beat him."
"I can, but can Damian, Diana, and Keyleth? No. I care about their safety more than anything. And the power he's capable of when he gets serious… He could sink this entire island in one fell swoop while I'm asleep if he wanted."
"I suppose you're right. Mortal ethics have warped his draconic sense of duty, same as me I suppose. At least he's not like his father, the bastard that he was. We can be thankful he inherited the Empress's sense of honor, as decayed as it can be at times."
They both sat there in silence, staring at the dusty wooden table, which was not nearly as interesting as it seemed. Umbarth breathed in deeply, trying to collect his thoughts.
"Listen Arthur. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it. Things are bad, and we need your help. And I have a bad feeling about the future. I do genuinely think that if you and I don't work together, it's only a matter of time 'till we both end up dead. You, I, and everyone we know are dead and eaten by the worms, assuming anything is left of our corpses. The Pact is the best thing you can do for your family at this time. They're kept safe, while you go out there and actively get rid of any threats to them instead of waiting for those threats to come to your family. Surely you see the logic." he pleaded.
"I'll need to think about it." He muttered.
Umbarth stood up before finishing his sales pitch. "You do that. But remember this, as strong as you are, at the end of the day, you are not a god. Neither are the Dragon Lords or the Six. There's no such thing as gods. The closest thing we got is the World Spirit, and it's been silent to the Dragon Lords since Terminus. We can't afford the time to sit around and twiddle our thumbs all day. You'll become a spectator, forced to watch the world crumble around you and unable to impact events as needed."
"I'd like to say we can make it without you… but I'm not certain. Victory is not assured…" He trailed off.
"But hesitation is defeat," Arthur finished.
"Think about it." He got the last word in before he smiled and walked outside.
He then created another ball of light, this time smaller in diameter, and gently moved it toward the waterfall, making sure the angle was just right.
A few seconds of manipulation later, he could see a rainbow on the other side. Success.
Nature's beauty was always impressive, and he tried to use natural laws rather than break them.
He admired this sight for a while until he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned around to see a determined Arthur.
"Alright."
Umbarth couldn't help but grin. "Alright?"
"You convinced me. I'll do your competition. I don't have anything I want but agreeing to this pact helps me secure the safety of my family."
"Great! You won't regret this, I can promise you that!"
Meanwhile in Nazarick
Albedo couldn't help but grit her teeth in frustration after watching the tender moment between Lord Momonga and Lady Bukubukuchagama. She was hiding behind one of the pillars in the Throne Room of Nazarick, wishing to watch him address the new batch of bug soldiers.
A picnic date! And the twins would be present as well! Shalltear had warned her of this, she remembered, but to see their closeness ignited a fire in her that couldn't be put out. As a servant of the Supreme Beings, she should have been delighted to see two of them displaying such touching displays, but as a woman…
Shalltear was right to question my ability to handle this! To think about it hypothetically is one thing, but to bear witness is another! Not to mention I spied on this while Lord Momonga only wanted her to watch. If my love ever found out I did this, would he be furious with me?
It was sad to say but Lord Momonga was refusing her advances as of late. What she and Shalltear discussed in their room motivated her to act and secure a place as second wife at least.
Thus it was over the last couple of months she tried to do everything she could to prove that she was worthy of being one of Lord Momonga's wives. She began painting more furiously beautiful artwork that captured even the attention of Lord Whitebrim, hoping to encompass the essence of the King of Nazarick.
When that failed, she tried cooking him a feast that could fill even an undead's nonexistent belly, enough to make the mouths of ravenous eaters like Lord Suratan and Lord Tigris Euphrates water with delight. The head chef, Shihoutu Tokitu, watched with eyes wide and mouth agape while she did so.
Afterward, she tried indulging in the near-infinite knowledge of the Library of Ashurbanipal, so that she could prove the most exceptional conversational partner one could ask for. She learned academics that made Lord Grievous Sin nod with approval, with Titus taking notes of her capabilities!
And when those efforts came to naught, her final push was to try and seduce her lord by waiting for him in his private quarters, laid out bare with rose petals strewn about. This was a move that Lady Small Cuttlefish suggested to her, advice learned from her arcane scriptures known as "Hentai".
Not. One. Method. Worked!
Am I undeserving of his love? The other Supreme Beings would not have opened my eyes to my feelings if that was true, right?
She sighed sadly, watching as the King and possible future Queen of Nazarick walked out of the Throne Room after having made their plans. With it just being her now, she walked up to the Throne of Kings.
Out of all the World Items that the Supreme Beings had, she considered the Throne of Kings the most sacred treasure. It was a symbol of the indomitable might of Nazarick, where its most capable ruler sat. It was hard won through the conquering of the dual attack dungeon, as the place was once called.
Though she was not there to experience it, she overheard over the years what a challenge taking Nazarick for themselves had been, a six-floor meat grinder that would shatter lesser gods. The bosses which once served as its floor guardians were now minions of the Supreme Beings themselves.
To do as she dared by trying to make herself available as a potential bride, Albedo would be making herself a greater part of that history, for that meant she could rule beside the one Supreme Being that all others considered the most powerful, the one worthy enough to lead them all.
She saw how the other NPCs of Nazarick got along with their creators to differing degrees. Some were treated as the children of the grand tomb, while a few were taken on as consorts all their own. She wanted more of the latter rather than the former since Lord Tabula already considered her a daughter.
"Is there something I am missing here?" She asked herself, ascending the steps to stand directly in front of the throne. "Perhaps there is a clearer truth I am blind to that could explain why I am the way I am."
"Why, Miss Albedo! The truth is a fickle mistress, one which tempts all its followers with cruel rewards!"
The sudden voice behind her made her jump, whirling around. "Pandora?! How long have you been standing there for?"
The creation of Lord Momonga bowed flourishingly. "About the same amount of time as you were! I had hoped to capture a moment alone with you so that I might confess to you important information!"
Albedo's eyes narrowed slightly. "I see. Is the security of Nazarick at risk? You did well in coming to me first."
"Fear not, Miss Albedo! What I wish to speak about is not quite so dire. Rather, they are matters of the heart, your heart specifically as I have noticed it."
"Oh… Is it that obvious?"
She tried not to show it, but she did deflate somewhat. Pandora's Actor sat down with a dramatic swish of his coat, patting the spot next to him on the top-most step. She joined him reluctantly.
"Do not worry Miss Albedo, I know that the truth of the matter is that my father does care for you. You do not need to worry about that,"
"You're kind, Pandora, but you know as well as I do that's not the type of 'care' I want from your father. If I just knew for sure what he wanted, then I could do it and finally win some affection from him."
"Have you considered, perhaps, that what occurred to you was a whim of humor rather than the machinations of fate itself?"
Albedo's eyes narrowed. "Are you suggesting that my feelings are the result of a cruel joke, Pandora's Actor? The Supreme Beings would never do such a thing, though I am their servant to do with as they please."
"Not intentionally cruel, Miss Albedo. A great truth about the Supreme Beings eats away at me, one about their origins and who they were. It does tie in with the way you are now, a fair maiden whose heart beats madly for the King of Nazarick!"
"We already considered their origins. Their homeworld was an apocalyptic landscape that they lived in. They ruled as gods among the mortals, mingling with them for their amusement. That does not exactly cause pain for yourself."
To her surprise, Pandora took off his hat, showing his bare head. "I ask that you listen very carefully to me, Miss Albedo. Do you recall what Miss Solution said at our last meeting? Think on it and consider all possibilities that may exist."
It was rather cryptic, but she did as he asked and thought back to that meeting. It seemed absurd at the time, but Solution began telling all the NPCs about the sort of life that Lord HeroHero led while in the Old World. She claimed that he was not a Supreme Being, but a mortal man himself.
She brushed the notion aside immediately. One of her masters, a mortal! Solution could not be so desperate to be equal to her creator that she made up a story like that! It was an insult of the highest order to conjure such a thought!
However, Albedo did notice over the last couple of months that Solution became somewhat withdrawn at times. She did still speak with her sisters in the Pleiades, but there were moments where Solution would spend time with area guardians like Grant or the living forge Gore. She also recalled that someone else she saw with Solution was-
"...What ideas has Solution filled your head with, Pandora?" Albedo asked slowly.
"No ideas at all! One such as myself merely perceives things as they are! As an actor myself, I would be able to tell fiction from reality, particularly when it regards this great truth."
The doppelganger put his hat back on, his empty eyes alight. "I swore that no one else would join my group, but seeing you in pain like this distraught the heart! I will not induct you, so I will instead leave you a trail to discover the truth yourself."
He rose to leave, having said his piece to her. Albedo was not satisfied with what he told her at all, so her hand shot out to grasp his forearm. She did not grip too tightly, just enough to show that he would not so easily depart.
"You can't just come here and say such things! As the head overseer, I could just order you to tell me."
"Perhaps you could, but I am the treasurer, not a floor guardian, Miss Albedo. The knowledge I wish you to discover can be as devastating as one of the World Items! You should find out for yourself slowly, over time, then have me tell you outright."
He gently extricated himself from her grip. "You say we have investigated their origins. I say you have not fully! I beseech you to go into the library again and look into the knowledge of the Old World. Lord Grievous Sin will help you, for no one else knows better than he!"
Pandora's Actor marched out of the Throne Room then, likely to spend his free time as he pleased. Albedo was left alone to ponder the meaning of his words.
The "great truth"? What is so terrible about this knowledge that Pandora would compare it to utilizing one of Nazarick's World Items?
World Items were unique and terrifyingly potent items that were the desire of every guild back in Yggdrasil. To have even one would elevate the holder to the upper echelons of their peers. Most rival guilds were lucky to claim one or two of these items, but Nazarick was the proud owner of eleven-no, twelve World Items.
To guard them was a high honor, and no one knew better what sort of power they held than Pandora's Actor as the guardian of the Treasury. If he would make a comparison like that, it would be wise to proceed with caution moving forward.
Her mind made up, she decided she would heed his advice and visit Lord Grievous Sin. In trying to win Lord Momonga's affection, she earned the admiration of the mgalekgolo. He would surely help her once she explained the situation.
She held up her hand, looking at the ring of Ainz Ooal Gown. It hadn't been long ago that the NPCs of Nazarick were allowed to start wearing those rings, to help with transporting around Nazarick without having to use the Gates on each floor.
This one was special as her father had given it to her himself. Her sisters received their own as well, of course, but she took it as a sign of Lord Tabula fully accepting her as his child instead of just a servant or tool. Either one of those she wouldn't have minded, but being called "daughter" had a more pleasant ring to it.
Its beautiful gem glowed, teleporting her to where she wanted to go. The doors of the Library of Ashurbanipal were a welcome sight as always while they opened on their own. Inside was a flurry of activity as the librarians were hard at work. Titus sat next to Lord Grievous Sin behind the main desk of the library.
As per usual, the four-armed insectoid hivemind was writing four books at once. They didn't look like any titles in particular, but rather catalogs of work he already finished. A sizable stack of similar books was right next to him. His bony armor rattled with each movement.
The undead keeper looked up, spotting her. "Ah, Mistress Albedo! Thou art backeth so soon. How might I and l'rd Grievous Sin help thee?"
Walking inside and clasping her hands together at her waist, she replied. "I need as many relevant books as you can give me about the Old World, the homeworld of our masters."
Titus drummed his fingers against the desk, glancing nervously at the mgalekgolo. The other servants stopped what they were doing as well, watching curiously. Albedo was confused at their reaction until Grievous Sin snapped all four books closed.
"The Old World is a dead place to us. No, no, you are curious because something has sparked your curiosity. Yes, I can see the gleam in your eye. Your consciousness seems to be developing nicely. If you wish to learn more about where we came from, I will help you, though the answers you seek will come at a cost. All knowledge does."
Lord Grievous Sin reached under his desk, pulling out a set of freshly bound books. The spines were made of twine. Each one was thicker than Albedo's arm, tomes of knowledge that had much to share.
"You will want to know of the wars that plagued us. Hmmm, I shall give you another book that speaks on world history, with smaller books for individual countries. Japan. Russia. Poland. Germany. Greece. Spain. France. Italy. Britain. China. India. The United States. Australia. Hong Kong. Different books for different guildmates."
With each listing of a country, he wrote down a list of names on a single piece of paper. He beckoned Albedo over, to which she rushed to see what he was creating for her.
It was the name of every single Supreme Being. The countries that Lord Grievous Sin rattled off were stated next to them, giving her an idea of where each Supreme Being went after they left Nazarick every single day back then.
The stack of books became a mountain. There were books on globalization, economy, political intricacies, mythology, world wars, and more. Though Albedo had put forward a sizable attempt to educate herself, this pile before her was daunting.
"These are a small selection. The Old World was complex and filled with many secrets. I had sacrificed a lifetime to preserve them after the fall of the Old Net."
The scholar paused, considering something. He pulled out one more book for her to read titled "The Rise and Fall of Freedom! The New Net and its Consequences Upon Mankind".
"That shall suffice," Lord Grievous Sin said, satisfied. "You will spend a few hours a day reading one book at a time. No, you will not try to read more to hasten your acquisition of knowledge. What I have here needs time to be digested, and you will respect this fact. As to your question, I think I understand it somewhat better now. Someone has posed it to you and now you lack clarity, correct?"
Albedo was always stupified by how he seemed to know so much. His mind was a database of probability, able to accurately predict events and what caused them. She wondered if it was a form of clairvoyance like what Lord Ancient One had.
"That would be right, my lord," She confirmed, "Lately I've been filled with more questions than answers. Pandora's Actor came to me to try and help me make sense of it all."
"Ah. The Treasurer came to see you. You have been busy, trying to curry favor. He is an observant and intelligent one. He has noticed this and wished to offer assurances of your hard work. He posed the question, and you came here seeking an answer."
Albedo swallowed her saliva in fear at how accurate that assessment was.
"That is frighteningly perceptive, my lord."
For the first time since they arrived in the New World, he let out a hollow laugh, full of pain. Titus shot her a scathing glare while he tried to keep the scholar happy. Lord Grievous Sin held up a hand to stop him.
"No no, she could not have known. Knowledge is the greatest weapon in the world, Albedo. You know this well, which is why you wish to uncover the truth. Not all knowledge comes freely like this, not where I came from."
He tapped the side of his head like he was showing off an impressive scar. "I surrendered my life for this knowledge and preserved it. I paid too high a price. Now I have no one. No one but these books and the knowledge in my head."
"That is not true, Lord Grievous Sin. You have the other Supreme Beings. You have Titus and the Overlords of this library. We care for your well-being."
"Hmmm… The love of friends is acceptable. The love of subordinates is acceptable. Nevertheless, this love cannot replace the love of family. That is now lost to me, and no knowledge will ever bring them back. It is my fault."
And with that, the mgalekgolo returned to the books he was writing before she came in. Titus snapped his fingers, summoning the other servants of the library to help her carry her load. As they were leaving, Albedo heard a clicking noise from Nazarick's head librarian.
"Apologies, Mistress Albedo. Thee couldst not has't known, but l'rd Grievous Sin can nay longeth'r beeth with his family because of his knowledge. T'wast not right of me to glaze as I didst."
She had to turn her body slightly to see him because of the stack she carried. "You are forgiven, Titus. But what do you mean he can't be with his family? We shall search for them as we search for Lord Touch Me's family. There is no place inaccessible for us."
"Tis not possible. His family is dead, slain by the m'rtals of his homew'rld longeth ago."
That was the last thing she heard before she was practically shoved out of the library. The last thing she saw was Lord Grievous Sin hunched over his books, holding his head in his upper set of hands. He looked to have aged a millennium just after that last conversation.
Then the door shut fully, and she was left to wonder what exactly she had gotten herself into.