Hello everyone, I am Sorreh—sadly the username is taken so I must settle for Soreay—and I have decided to finally try writing my own Overlord fanfiction. I have read quite a few and would always tell myself that I should attempt my own creative exploration in the world of writing based off my favorite series. One thing I will say right away is that I am attempting to keep this as close to canon as possible—this means little to no Original Characters, character personality changes, offhand dialect, trying to copy Maruyama's writing style as well as keeping to the history of the past novels—and if I begin to deviate at all please feel free to tell me; I am always open to valid criticisms to become a better writer. The timeline will begin directly after volume 14 and before volume 15. I will tell you all now, I WILL INCLUDE NO SMUT SCENES AS THIS IS NOT A PORNOGRAPHIC WORK!
The story will revolve heavily around the Draconic Kingdom as it has not yet been explored by Momonga which leaves a lot of room for stories to be told that are still relatively 'canon' to the story (That and I have been wishing for a novel around it for the past 5 books, dare I say even more then the Holy Kingdom; I know many will call out Heresy but that was when Book 12 came out and I did not start it yet so please forgive me). Without further ado, please enjoy my story!
"Spoken text"
'Thoughts'
[Magic]
Prologue
The sound of cries and screams were long etched into Bronahc Leto's mind and hearing. It's become almost a white noise to him, much like mothers find the constant sounds and yells in her bustling house full of children normal. Only when it stops does a good mother then become worried about the wellbeing of her children, or rather wonder what devious activities her most prized beings in existence are plotting and executing. So, when Bronahc's ears suddenly heard no whips cracking, mothers screaming for their children, husbands crying out in pain from both what horrors they witness upon their families and the torture they are being subjected to, the wails of youth over constant pain and suffering of being separated from the warm embrace of their parents and now learning the cold grasp of claws and teeth tearing away at their bodies; The searing hot feeling of thirty knifes resting in a fire only to be thrust deeply into you, while somehow making you as freezing as you would be by running around and playing in the snow with no clothes on, he knew all too well something was wrong.
'I didn't hear those monsters mention moving on yet, and they haven't even plundered everything they could... What in the world could they possibly be doing?'
Bronahc's brain was searching as hard as it could for a potential answer to the unwarranted silence.
'They might be going to sleep, but those rabid monsters are always still making noise from their partying and fights over who gets what spot and who's food is who's even while they're sleeping...' Bronahc asked himself to try to formulate a logical reason as to why everything went silent.
'There's no way they could have moved on already though, all the suffering and cries would die down, not go silent. Are they trying to lure people like me out of hiding?' This was the only plausible reason Bronahc was able to think of to the sudden silence that screamed far louder than any cry of pain. 'Aghh it's so cramped and the air way too stuffy in here. I think I made the sealing too tight as well, I can't even see my hand in front of me and the lack of light is really messing with my time perception.'
The cramped room that Bronahc was using as his home for refuge was a small cellar roughly one meter* in each direction for alcohol that he would use whenever guests—mainly his mother—would come over to hide his liquor and other pricey drinks. These unnamed guests always somehow managed to find their purses and bags filled with his fine wine, much to their own surprise. *(A/N One meter translates into roughly 3.3 feet)
'"Oh my, how did that find its way in there! I must have put that in there so we could drink it later after dinner and catching up but forgot about it, silly me!" It always sounded the same, almost like she rehearsed it one-hundred times in front of Father.' He mused to himself.
Bronahc couldn't help but grimace at the same excuse his mother used whenever he would catch her trying to sneak out with his most expensive drinks.
'I never thought I would think this, but I wish I could have heard that same half-hearted, fake surprised, excuse just one more time.'
The day the demi-humans fell upon his village was still vivid in his memory, it only happened about one week ago. Coming with all their raging power and gluttony the carnage they ensued was unstoppable, after all what could a measly little frontier village* even do to hinder the one-hundred strong demi-human army. *(AN as a reference for how populated these villages were, my research goes finds that a frontier village would have roughly 29 families or 150 people. Carn village originally had 25 families with 120 individuals.)
Demi-humans have always been naturally stronger than humans, even much so that humanity was almost driven to extinction 600 years ago, but with the Slain Theocracy being formed to provide humanity a safe place to reside—along with tier magic being spread by the Eight Greed Kings and the huge wars that eradicated many demi-human and heteromorph species—humanity managed to survive and even become a dominant force in the world today; Even so this all means nothing though if you live in a small village with seldom few self-taught battle worthy individuals pitted against a small army of blood thirsty, tried and true, demi-humans.
The massacre began at daybreak on another beautiful spring day. Bronahc was enjoying the sunrise outside of his shed that stored all his farming tools—which consisted of only basic hoes, plows, shovels, and one of his most prized possessions a seed spreader that his father made for him on his sixteenth birthday—while he waited for his day to officially begin.
He had lots to do in the future as the transition from winter refuge to spring labor begins. Afterall, you can't expect to survive the winter if you don't have enough food stockpiled. Bronahc knew that well enough as he had seen enough families not prepare as well as they should and had to get help from fellow neighbors and friends to not starve to death. These few had been quite lucky that they weren't long winters, or they may have succumbed to hunger.
As he was getting ready to take out his plow and till the ground, he heard a sound which everyone prayed they would never hear. The sound of the bell chimes five times each, one quarter note long.
Everyone knew what the chimes meant; it was nailed into them from the very moment they're born. Beastmen.
When the warning bells go off, the villagers are supposed to gather with their families, take their survival packs. and run off into the forest in separate groups and make their way to their designated resident town.
The survival pack was a concept devised by the capital to help all villages at risk of beastmen attacks escape as quick as possible. The messengers had explained that a survival pack should consist of enough fresh water for the family in question for five days, after all no one knew if they would be able to find available fresh water on their journey to the designated resident town, two tarps to use as a makeshift tent and blanket—though primitive, it couldn't be expected for families that live out from any town or city would have sophisticated survival gear, after all if they did then the villages would just use guerilla tactics to travel to avoid many dangers—some form of food or way to get food—a few hunting knifes or large sharp kitchen knives, and finally one meter of rope.
While it was called a survival pack, there was not just one but three bags. The bags had a storage of thirty liters* with two satchels across the long end of the bag to place your arms through secure to your back. The messengers described them as 'backpacks.' *(A/N: Thirty liters is translated to about 7.9 gallons. The equation is as follows: 1L = 0.26gal.)
The responsibility of hiking their family's lifeline fell to the father, the eldest son, and finally the mother. If said family had two sons both over the age of fourteen then the mother would not have to worry, though generally the mother would offer to take shifts with the second son. Under the circumstance that there is no son in a family, the father would take the other bag and secure it to the front resting on their chest and abdomen.
Bronahc's wife had been summoned to the capital city as her talent for knowing exactly how many people in an oncoming party had reached the ears of the knights of their resident town, with one word passed into a letter the next thing he knew she had been sent off to help in the war effort.
Bronahc had to admit that it was an extremely useful skill and would help in many on coming battles, he had to admit that he had a sense of pride that his beautiful wife Dabria was preventing many deaths with her talent, though he did miss her.
Bronahc decided he would have a better chance if he hid in the town while the demi-humans chased down the others and then slinked off by the river taking the long way to the town Dabria was staying at. Bronahc had to admit that he felt rather guilty about using his friends and neighbors as bait so he could live, but then again it was his life and it's not like he is causing a hinderance to the others.
So when everyone began to rush to grab their survival packs and take their families out into the thickets and bush as fast as they could, Bronahc made his way to his secret cellar.
'Well, I do need more food anyways. If there was any a time to restock it would be now when there seems to be nothing going on, I'll grab what I need and then immediately head back into my new little 'home'.'
Bronahc internally chuckled at how fast he'd become accustomed to this as his new home.
'After that if it's still this quiet after two days then I think it would be safe to check things out.'
With that Bronahc slowly opened the hatch that welcomed him into the world above. He peaked the crack just to make sure that there was no one directly Infront of his line of vision.
'Dang it, when I get through this, I need to make sure that I make a new closure for this cellar and make it one I can lift all at once. Only being able to see right in front for half a meter isn't exactly the safest peeking method though it looks like I'm clear...'
After mentally scolding himself, he built up the courage to very quietly lift the rest of his prison's door and climb out. As he did, he wished that he had never even opened it to begin with.
Greeting Bronahc to the truly unfair and sadistic world he lived in were three beastmen called Armatts*. Armatts were a type of demi-human that were closely related to the Quagoa, they resembled large bipedal rats that stood about 140cm*2 tall and had fur covering its whole-body tough as steel plate armour. They hunted in groups as their individual strength was not much relying mainly on their defensive hard fur, but for small villages where they didn't have to worry about a strong militia Armatts would have no issues taking on humans one-on-one. (A/N*: Armatts were a demi-human used in Jaldabaoth's army in the Holy Kingdom arc. A/N*2: About 4.6 feet.)
The three Armatts standing side by side in all their hideous rat featured glory cackling at the sight of Bronahc. Bronahc not wasting a second ripped out the knife from his belt that he had taken with him into his hiding hole and charged the one on the left and closest to the door.
"I've come this far, I'm not about to die to three ugly human-wannabe rats!" Bronahc yelled out in conviction more to give himself courage.
Just as he almost connected with the first Armatt, just as he was about to stab the disgusting scourge on the earth as hard as he could in the neck aiming right for where the jugular artery would be on a human, the Armatt tucked his head and covered his ear and temple with his forearm holding onto the back of his head. Bronahc's desperate attempt at a heroic blow was blocked with the Armatts tough metallic fur covering its shoulder and then grabbed him by the neck, with its crocodilian like teeth as hard as any metal Bronahc knew and as sharp as any blade he accidently cut himself with or gutted a fish, viciously sank deep into the front of his shoulder and tore a chunk the size of his fist out.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Like any sane person who had no experience in war, Bronahc yelled out in blood curdling pain. The other two Armatts just stood there laughing while looking at him up and down with their predatory eyes. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were thinking, and it took an even less amount of thought to understand that he would find himself with the others crying out in pain begging for the mercy of death.
"I guess it was a good thing we have Tesso with us, isn't it?" The second Armatt made a confident statement and laughed at his own question.
As Bronahc was struggling against the Armatt pining him to the wall, choking him viciously enough to cause immense pain that even manages to come through with all the adrenalin and half of a shoulder, he was listening to the other two Armatts talk to each other about some useful beastmen named Tesso.
"Yeah, him being able to cast the second tier spell [Silence] is really useful for baiting out humans hiding in small places like this guy was. How many times has this little trick worked? Eight now?" the third Armatt responded.
'So that's why everything went quiet'. Bronahc thought to himself as everything started to make sense. 'After I attacked and was stopped, I've noticed that the cries and screams have come back.'
"Well, if we count this then its nine." The first Armatt spat. "I love it when you guys cheer me on though so maybe I'll be generous and give you each a limb when were done with him". The assumed to be Tesso laughed at the thought of toying with the soon to be meal.
"Oy, well aren't you generous Tesso? Our gracious captain of the hide-and-go-seek team". The second Armatt gave a much sarcastic bow to Tesso followed by the third Armatt.
"Yes, Tesso really is the best at finding these moles. I guess that's what happens when you're blessed by skill and nature". The third Armatt continued bombarding Tesso with grief in response to the second.
'What are they even talking about'. Bronahc crying to himself. 'Well at least they aren't killing me just yet'. Bronahc silently gave thanks to Dragon Lords.
"Shut up all of you." Tesso grumbled at the other two Armatts jabbing at his position and snickering at their jokes. Overseeing finding the hiders and moles is frowned upon by beastmen thinking it's a cowardly and lazy job as you're not tracking down your prey, but it does come with its upsides of being able to do whatever you wanted with the prey you manage to find.
With the other two Armatts obeying Tesso and no longer jostling and joking around Bronahc realized that they were getting ready to finish things up. His deep brown eyes that once were filled with stories, joy, and all the love in the world for his wife were now empty of anything but sadness looking up into the sky.
With a tear starting to well up in his window to his soul he longed to see the beautiful face with light brown hair that seemed to be made of silk, and the chestnut-coloured eyes that always looked so softly on everything around her that his wife had just one last time.
"Dabria..." He whispered out as the scourge of the Draconic Kingdom began to massacre his body. Compared to the batsmen's dagger like claws reinforced like steel and mithril short swords as teeth, weak soft flesh served as nothing more than a hearty meal. It felt like ages before the darkness finally took over his vision and began his eternal deep slumber.
- Chapter One: Part One – Everything is Normal in an Abnormal Life
'Huahhhhh, this doesn't even begin to help me in my situation, though it is something I can tell Cocytus to help him manage the Lizardmen.' Ainz internally sighed as he read one of his many books on how to be a better boss and employer.
The current book he was reading was called From Manager to CEO: How to Ensure Loyalty in Subordinates. He has begun this one in hopes that he could find tricks that would help the NPCs make freethinking choices that were still helpful to him and Nazarick, but Sir Author Amulius Scriver probably never had to manage fanatic beings who hated humanity and took everything he said as the law of the world.
'My resting time should be about done by now, today I think Albedo mentioned there were some important forums and bills that need my approval. Maybe I should actually read through them if she emphasized that they were a big deal?'
As Ainz was finishing his lament about his position and starting to make a mental map for his plans for the day he heard the normal knock on his door that meant it's finally time to start his day.
"Ainz-sama*, it is time to begin your day." *(A/N I don't know exactly which titles to use in English so I decided that it would be easiest to use the Japanese versions as that is what's used in the Fan Translations for the Light novels. That and I am used to reading/seeing it, so it just seems right.)
With the current maid from the forty-one homunculus maids on what they liked to call 'Ainz' duty, Etoile called out to her most beloved master—with all her professionalism that was instilled into her by the Supreme Being Whitebrim-sama—that the most merciful and magnanimous being there ever could be must now begin his daily routine.
"Umu." Ainz acknowledged Etoile in the most regal and proficient way he knew. He lifted himself out of his bed the size of a small bathroom you would find in many people's homes back in his original world in Japan 2138. 'Jeez what was I thinking when I designed this room? Who needs a bed big enough for more than five people!' Ainz couldn't help but chastise his former self at the ludicrous size of the room and everything in it.
After dusting himself off—even though there could be no dust found in the room or on his clothes—and clearing his imaginary throat he beckoned Etoile to enter befitting a supreme monarch.
"You may enter."
'I think that sounded good. nice and concise, but also powerful. It seems my practice is paying off.'
"Excuse me then."
As Ainz was telling himself that his answer was proficient, Etoile humbly opened the doors to his room and the future being beckoned to be searched out.
'She really is good at her job. Well, it's to be expected. The maids were programmed to be perfect servants, just look at how fluidly she moves to do her tasks with such perfect posture. Come to think of it have I ever seen any NPC temporarily relax? I give them time off so as not to overwork them, but I don't even know if they use it to rest.'
While Ainz was deep in thought about whether the maids even rest during the time off he's given them, Etoile began the rest of the morning speech explaining the plans for his day.
"Was Ainz-sama's rest good enough for his liking?"
"Yes, it was sufficient."
"That is very good to hear, everyone is pleased that the Supreme One was able to enjoy his well-deserved rest."
The light in Etoile's as light as ever when serving her lord shone even brighter at the idea that her most benevolent master was able to find appeasement with his rest.
"Today Albedo has asked that you review a select few letters and forums for review. After you finish your designated time for paperwork, we will prepare you with a presentable outfit for your walk in E-Rantel as..."
Ainz began to tune out the maid's agenda as he began to think about the first part.
'Letters? I thought that it was just bills that needed to be passed and the normal stamp of approval for the use of undead in certain areas. If it's letters, then they are probably just the normal check ins I receive from the Empire and Dwarf Kingdom. It sounds like there is heavy emphasis on me being the one to read them instead of Albedo just paraphrasing them to me so maybe it's more? Aghhh I don't want to have to deal with this political stuff, I just got back from the Elf Country, and they already want me for important things? Let me settle in first!
As Ainz was whining to himself about never catching a break he picked up the perfect maid's finishing her assessment for the rest of the day. He couldn't help but admire how easy it comes to the NPCs to do their jobs and silently wished that he could program himself to be the perfect ruler.
"Thank you, Etoile, you've done a good job. I'm counting on you to continue your services as well as you have."
The perfect maid's professional smiling face that every one of the forty-one maids wore broke into a look of astonishment.
"What do you mean Ainz-sama? It is our duty to serve you until we are nothing more than dust that must be cleaned by the others, anything else is less then heresy to the most exalted and merciful Supreme Being! There could never be a thank you needed!"
If Ainz had facial features he was sure they would be a painting of surprise, worry, and uncertainty. He knew that the maids—as well as every NPC in Nazarick—would gladly perish for him and sooner die then be any hinderance, but the forceful refusal to be acknowledged made him realize just how little they cared for themselves for they believe this is their only purpose.
"U-Umu... While it pleases me to see your loyalty is so strong, I still wish for my servants to be always at full potential." While originally caught off guard by the sudden exclamation of her fidelity, Ainz managed to regain the composure a true monarch would have and continue. "Have the maids been using the allotted time for rest to relax and do things they enjoy?"
'I refuse to become one of the horrible CEOs of the megacorporations back in the old world that caused horrible working conditions that lead to Herohero's ultimate health decline and forcing him to quit the game.' The thought of his old friend caused Ainz to lose himself to nostalgic times he had with his friends. Almost immediately his emotional suppression kicked in and left him feeling only the empty abyss he always harbours.
'Shoot sometimes I really hate my undead emotions, though they really have saved me a whole bunch of times I still wish I could enjoy my memories of my precious friends and all the adventures I had with them.' Ainz silently cursed his ailment of a blessing. 'If he wasn't lost to work, then maybe at least one of my dear friends could have joined me in this new adventure in this new world. How I wish that I could have at least one friend to help me shoulder the pressure of Nazarick.'
'Imagine all the new adventures we could have gone on. Why couldn't any of them stayed the full close! Life would have been so much better for them here where they wouldn't have to witness the daily horrors of children starving to death on the roads they took to work, they wouldn't have to wear high end gasmasks to breathe that horrible air that still managed to harm their lungs. I refuse to give up hope that at least one of my comrades came to this new world with me, and I will find them!'
Being lost in his thoughts and conviction he almost missed his loyal maid's response to a question that has been bothering him for quite some time.
"Yes Ainz-sama, with your decree and new policies for us maids we have been making sure that we rest as well as we can so we may serve you even better when we return. The general handbook that the leader of the maids, Pestonya-sama, created explains that to rest properly explains that we must rest for twelve hours that day, two hours bathing and cleaning ourselves, four hours ensuring our looks and hair are as pristine as can be. The last four hours we have are used for miscellaneous activities such as sewing, eating, reading the sacred text the Supreme Beings left for us, and exercises to prepare for cleaning."
'That sounds like more like work than rest!'
"Umu. So long as you enjoy the time spent then it is satisfactory." With the idea that the homunculus maids enjoy staying busy reminded him of some collogues he had back in the old world. '"I need to be doing something to stay comfortable."' He remembered those words spoken by a faceless worker he had conversed with once about free time and what they enjoyed. 'He was rather uninterested when I told him about YGGDRASIL... I guess that's why we never really talked.'
"Of course! Anything that I do that can aid Ainz-sama is the greatest joy that any of your servants can feel!"
"Umu. See to it then."
With the predicament of overworking his maids addressed and temporarily out of the way Ainz soon strided forward and took lead of his short travel to where he always finds himself mentally doing everything to stay focused on the mountaints of paperwork that must be signed and approved. The only real peace he found in his office was feeding and playing with his pet lip bug, Nurunuru.
Normally he would just have Pandora's Actor stand in for him and sign documents that have already been passed by Albedo as she is more versed in the world of politics and managing tasks and inventory. 'If it's something that Albedo specifically requested, she may be offended or think I'm not confident in my ability to rule, not that I really am but if I'm to play the role of a genius ruler then I can't make them distrust me...'
Thinking how he should navigate this predicament with Albedo, Ainz immediately found himself exhausted. 'Seriously, I just finished my rest time and I'm already wanting to disappear again? Back to same wishes again, aren't we? If only I could have the same skills as Albedo with managing things; No doubt the Sorcerer Kingdom's future would be far more secure than it currently is with my lack of knowledge and foresight.'
While Ainz was walking through the halls he noticed just how long the halls were and unrealistic it was to need it to be this big. He was proud of this perfect guild base he made with all of his friends, but it was still a bit outlandish. The red velvet carpets which felt like walking on a trail of roses piled upon each other in the thousands that made walking feel like wearing the most comfortable pear of slippers you could think of were nice, but to have hallways comprised of precious ores that resembled marble and the pillars spaced out in perfect unity seemed a bit overkill. So mesmerizing was the masterful architecture used to create such an impossible feat, exactly the reason why it was not needed, so spacious were the hallways that easily towered over twenty meters in height and could fit an entire living room he would find back in his old world. All of this was just unnecessary.
'I would never change anything me and my friends made in Nazarick, but this seems just a little overkill...'
He could always just use his Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to immediately teleport to his office, but the last time that occured that he was bombarded with concerns from the maids. that it was more befitting for the ruler of the Supreme Beings to show off his greatness and magnitude.Hethought it was quite silly and the maids only said that because they were unable to open doors for him and pull his seat back.
Finally, arriving at his destination, Etoile swiftly moved forward from her position behind Ainz and opened the doors for him.
If one with high enough level in perception investigated the room, they would be able to see the feint outlines of eight large spider insect creatures called Eight-Edge Assassins. They were scurrying around the roof and with Ainz' entry they immediately turned onto their defensive mode getting ready to protect him from anything and anyone.
'Everyone is always on edge around me, it's kind of depressing really. Though I definitely don't mind these guys being ready when I'm around Albedo...' Remembering what happened in the past Ainz could not help but mentally sigh from that embarrassing event. 'I should meet up with Jirvnich sometime so I can at least have a normal conversation with a friend.'
Remembering his fellow monarch in a distant land Ainz simply couldn't wish for anything more then to go on another adventure and maybe find someone he can find similarities with and talk about issues like friends.
'Maybe I can go check up on the Dwarven Kingdom and sneak off into that Great Rift, I heard that it's never had a successful adventure down there so there must be all sorts of things to find, if I'm lucky maybe even a magic item.'
The idea of finding something new and ditching all the issues he had right now was quite appealing, but he knew that he couldn't do that. He had important matters to deal with now, especially after being the lead cause to the fall of the Elf Kingdom.
During Ainz' stay in the Elf Kingdom he wasn't able to relax as much as he thought he was planning on, in fact it turned out to be more work than the initial vacation he was planning on with the twins, Aura and Mare. The plan was to take it easy while the twins made friends their age and hopefully found something else to be fond off. He didn't want his friends' precious children forced to become shut ins and eventually resent Ainz, and while they had played with the other dark elves, they had not asked about returning to meet with any of them.
'Was the whole trip a failure? They seemed to be having fun though... Maybe they think it's too soon after to ask for a leave from work. Yes, that must be it.' Denying the idea that maybe the two floor guardians didn't enjoy themselves with claiming a leave of absence too soon after time off is just not right. 'I will have to be sure to mention that they are free to visit whenever they desire. I should be sure to tell that to all the NPCs that have relations with others outside of Nazarick, I'm sure CZ in specific would be happy being able to visit her friend she made in the Holy Kingdom.'
"-nz-ama? Ainz-sama have I said something to bother you?
The being who brought Ainz back to his senses was none other than the beauty who's looks would cause for war over jealousy and desire between different kings and nations, Guardian Overseer, Albedo.
'Shoot! I completely missed what Albedo was saying! It was probably important considering she needed to tell me something directly, maybe she already said it! I can't make her think I am uninterested or don't understand either.' Cursing himself for zoning out again, Ainz tried to seem regal asking Albedo to repeat herself.
"No Albedo, what you said was more than satisfactory. I was pondering about Nazarick's potential plans in the future, and I seem to have lost focus on our topic."
The angelic devil arcuated her head and back in a deep and solemn bow. Her face showed absolute understanding and guilt.
"My deepest apologies Ainz-sama, I did not mean to interrupt your planning! I will do anything you ask to repay the inconvenience I may have caused you and all of Nazarick!"
'I shouldn't even be surprised that they act like this. How many times have I gotten the exact same reaction in the past two years being here. Still, the old Suzuki Satoru in me never gets used to it.'
"Pay it no heed Albedo, it wasn't that important. Now could you please repeat what you were saying so we may continue our meeting?"
Sending the conversation back to the beginning like the trained salary man he was, the virgin succubus immediately began repeating herself.
Causing her master any inconvenience or stress would make her an absolute failure as a servant, especially more so as Guardian Overseer. A servant created by the Supreme Beings' only purpose is to aid their masters, doing anything to increase their master's burden is unacceptable and grounds for death.
Albedo prided herself in being a perfect servant to her master and hoped that he would accept her feelings of love to him, alas he has yet to call her to his room or anything of the sorts. She can only work harder in attempt to have her beloved master take her for himself.
She could not help but feel thankful that her master was not ailed by her ramblings, after all he was just planning for the future and the whole Sorcerer's Kingdom depended on his unfathomable scheming and foresight.
Suddenly a surge in pride came about Albedo when she remembered the time Demiurge had told her that Ainz had planned out the next ten-thousand years. It would be impossible to believe for anyone else to think this far ahead, but when it came to her master it was merely trivial for this sort of feat. 'How amazing he was. No body could ever come close to his level of genius and intellect, not even the other Supreme Beings.' The internal praises for her master kept coming while she looked at her undead beloved.
"As I had explained while you were deep in thought, with the destruction of the Re-Estize Kingdom the spies of both the Council State as well as Slain Theocracy will attempt to gather intelligence revolving around our country's power structure more intently."
With the Theocracy and Council State now both neighboring—though technically nothing is there to cause a threat or even resemble inhabitation—the Sorcerer Kingdom, you could expect that both countries would be far more worried about a potential attack from what seemed to be a conquesting nation; Increasing their intelligence circles around the Sorcerer Kingdom was a given. It would be stupid of any nation afraid of invasion to not gain an understanding of the force that would close in onto their land.
Not trying to figure out how your enemy worked or what their plans were was suicide for a country, and Ainz knew that both the Theocracy and Council State were not filled with idiots.
'Our counter measures are set up, no? All our documents in E-Rantel are fakes with false information in them to feed anyone who tries to steal plans or anything about our country's inner workings with misguided info. Thinking about the potential harm of anyone somehow getting information from the people of E-Rantel is also unsettling...'
After thinking about it briefly Ainz decided to give the next order revolving around state security.
"Hide a small number of documents with partial truths, but more misleading facts, within the offices in E-Rantel. That way if any spy does somehow get information about us, it will do them more harm than good."
It was better to set up safety precautions assuming their assailants had a hidden talent they did not know about that allowed them to infiltrate areas undetectable even with the most security Nazarick could provide, after all they could then figure out nothing that has been displayed is true and search elsewhere finding something vitally important to them.
"As you wish Ainz-sama, but aren't the anti-spy precautions we already have set in place enough? I highly doubt either the Slain Theocracy or Council State has any means strong enough to find anything important about us."
The puzzled face that replaced her normal calm and perfect smile amused Ainz.
"We must always assume that our adversaries have a way to outperform us in some way or another, losing an important battle or critical information because you assume that you don't need to bother is the best way to find the rug pulled out from under you. Look at what happened with Shalltear when we first arrived here in the New World."
The bitter memory of Shalltear being brainwashed was still fresh in everyone's memory, especially in Ainz' as it was his idea to send her out in the first place. Never again will he be so naive as to think that they are safe to do something just because it was different in YGGDRASIL.
Learning the hard way to be even more meticulous in planning so early on was a hidden blessing. Who knows how many losses they could have suffered in the past because they acted foolishly under the guise it was 'safe'. You can never be too prepared was a phrase Ainz lived by even as his time as Suzuki Satoru.
"As expected of the leader of the Supreme Beings. Your insight is truly unmatched by anyone, you even consider the smallest things that could build up into one of the biggest problems we could face. I am in awe with your intelligence once again and you've shown me that I still have so much to learn."
Even being one of the three most intelligent Floor Guardians was still not enough to come close to her master's level of genius. If anyone could claim the feat of being able to perfectly predict the future of even idiots, then it would surely be him, though he is far too modest claims to be less then capable after proving himself as said person.
She recalled the many times when her overlord's devilish plans succeeded in complete perfection many a times. The forced hand the Empire to subjugate themselves to the Sorcerer Kingdom to a vassal-state in just one day. The perfect planner had easily obtained the center piece to becoming an official nation with no casualties keeping their appearances as high as possible; Demiurge himself stated that such a thing was impossible by his standards and was amazed that their master outshone them once again in such a spectacular fashion.
When her love had enthralled the Dwarf Kingdom into unofficial enslavement to himself and his Kingdom due to his role as their saviour from the Quagoa and easily handing them back their long-lost capital from the frost dragons. No one could ever begin to repay the debt they accumulated to the Sorcerer Kingdom and her master, they could only bow their heads and happily accept anything he asked of them.
There were too many times to list of when the only perfect being fit for leading had eclipsed everyone with ease. Being able to serve him and love him was what she had the most pride for. 'This is the man that I love, nobody else could even come close to his greatness. The other Supreme Beings are nothing to him.'
"Umu. I'm glad you think so Albedo. Now what else must we discuss?"
Hearing all this praise always made Ainz feel weird. Suzuki Satoru never received anything close to this, and him still holding onto his personality always made him uncomfortable and not knowing how to continue.
"Yes, we've received an official letter from the Draconic Kingdom addressed to you. I have not yet read the contents as it is for you, but rest assured it has been checked and deemed clean from any magic or traps that may occur when opened."
In the world of servitude and slaves it was taboo for a servant to read mail directly addressed to the master—of course if it was matters that only concerned the master and was not a personal conversation, someone with the designated position of reading and summarizing the contents would then do so and relay the information as well as the letter to the master—there is are exceptions to the matter, as even ensuring there was no attack with poison or any harm possible to the master did not entail reading the letter.
It goes without saying that if anyone was found reading the master's personal affairs that termination of employment was immediate, and in extreme cases, death. Many rebellious or unfortunate maids have met their end due to accidentally reading a personal message, or even being given one by another servant who held disdain for them.
The world was one of power and order, if someone without sufficient power was out of order, the world would remove them; the nail that sticks out gets hammered down as they say.
"Umu, thank you Albedo, where is the letter?"
It was weird that she hadn't already handed it over to him while she was giving her explanation. 'Normally she would have already given it to me by now, is there something else that she wants to say, or she doesn't want me to do something?'
Albedo's face always had a resting pleasant smile that would make you lose yourself in the beauty and subtlety which made you want to listen to what she had to say, not to mention sporting a calm demeanour which gave the illusion that she was always under control of the situation. She never let her emotions control her actions—at least when in a professional setting—but this time there seemed to be a bit of concern in her eyes that only made the undead feel uneasy.
"Yes, it's right here Ainz-sama."
Presenting the letter to magic caster, Albedo bowed and bit her lip.
"Ainz-sama, if you would be so kind to me as to allow me to ask you something?"
'Uh oh, is this going to be about how I conducted myself in the Re-Estize Kingdom? I thought that everything I preformed was to satisfaction... Could it be about the third princess Renner and her servant Climb?' Remembering how enraged she was over him playing the role of a villain. 'I really enjoyed roleplaying though, it was the first time I was able to in a long while.
'Maybe she has concerns she wants to bring up with me. I really don't know how to answer anything she might ask though; I don't want to deal with this right now!' In the few milliseconds Ainz tried to piece together what barrage of hard questions coming his way.
"I permit your request. What is the issue Albedo?"
Taking a deep breath and mustering up all her strength, the innocent succubus said what had been bothering her for the longest time.
"Are you planning on going on another trip and are you planning on bringing anyone? If so, may I ask whom?"
Shifting her weight from side to side and eyes darting from side to side cast down, rubbing her hands together uncomfortably like a child would when stressed out or anxious, Albedo asked her master a loaded question.
'Eh?'
Author's Note:
If you made it this far then I would like to thank you for reading to the end of the chapter, I decided to include the first part of chapter one as I didn't know if anyone would be interested by just the prologue. With this you will hopefully understand the feel the mood of the story and decide if you liked it or not, if you did than I hope to see you read the next part when I put it out, if not then I'm sorry to waste your time.
Please leave a comment about how you felt about the story so far and or any speculations. If you have any criticisms, please do voice them; As I said before I am always willing to listen to valid criticism as I want to become a better writer.
Until next time please do enjoy yourself and stay safe,
Sorreh