(Before we get started, my co-author and I want to thank you all for 150 follows and favourites on this story. We really appreciate the love and support you've shown for this humble story of ours and we can't wait to bring you more of it in the future!)
Welcome to chapter 12 of the Nazarick Triumvirate! Hope you are all doing well. Once again apologies for the gap between the last chapter and this one, but I think I've decided for the future to give myself a maximum 2-week window between chapters and have that deadline be every second Friday to allow myself any days where I don't feel motivated to write. I know it's a downgrade from every week and a half like it used to be in my Shield-Hero stories, but at this point in my life, it's best for my all-around health. But if I can get a chapter done in less than 14 days then I will release it in advance as a bonus!
I know I haven't talked about my anime viewing much in these notes, but honestly this season has been quite quiet for me. The only shows I've been watching are Season 2 of Eden's Zero, Mushoku Tensei and The Misfit of Demon King Academy. But the fall season is looking much more exciting with the final part of Attack on Titan's final season, Season 3 of The Rising of the Shield Hero, Season 2 of Spy x Family and The Eminence in Shadow and Part 2 of Season 3 of Dr Stone along with any new shows that I pick up. Hope you're all looking forward to these shows as much as I am!
(daniel: Hey guys! Great to see you again as always! This interlude was really fun to do and it'll allow us for a breather before season 2 starts! Hope you enjoy!)
As my co-author said, it's time to crack on with this interlude chapter where we bring season 1 of Overlord to an end and start to bridge the gap towards Season 2 and welcome one or two new members to the fold. As always, the usual disclaimer that neither I nor daniel own Overlord or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime, manga or Light Novels. The only things we own are our OCs, Henry and Fengxian. ENJOY!
(The title of this part of the story, along with the chapter itself, are dedicated to the memory of Windham Rotunda, best known as WWE performer Bray Wyatt, a uniquely creative soul and loving family man taken from this world far too soon just over 2 weeks ago at just 36 years old. 'Welcome to the Family' is a reference to the Wyatt Family stable that he was best known for during his WWE run. May he rest in power and peace.)
Chapter 12 – Welcome to the Family
The first thing Jemima felt after passing through the portal was how cold her new surroundings were. Compared to the quiet hustle and bustle of the Theocracy's capital or even the gentle, cool breeze of the forest she and her former comrades had camped in the last few days, this place was drab, dreary even, and possessed none of the vibrancy that she was used to, which was all compounded by the very thin layers she was wearing. Despite doing her best to maintain her composure for those around her, she couldn't help but let out a shudder as her teeth started to chatter.
"Cold?" The dull echo of her new master's voice asked from next to her. Was it her imagination, or was there a hint of concern in his words? Given her previous allegiance and how human she was compared to those around her, she'd honestly expected coldness and perhaps some rough treatment, but instead the giant warrior's question sounded genuine enough even as he watched her through the unsettling red lights of his helm.
"J-just a l-little, my lord," she replied haltingly through her trembling teeth, trying to sound brave and composed even if she felt anything but. "Nothing for you to concern yourself with I'm sure."
"It's not your place to decide what bothers me or not, Jemima," Fengxian replied sharply, yet despite the harshness of his tone Jemima couldn't help a slight surge of comfort run through her. "Even though we've only just met, he's showing more respect for me than some of the others did throughout all our time together…" she thought to herself somewhat giddily as the giant warrior pressed a hand to the side of his helmet for a few seconds. Somewhat curious over this strange motion, she was about to ask what he was doing when his hand dropped back to his side. "There'll be a warmer layer waiting for you at our destination. For now, follow me." He then turned to the vampire and her Brides as they waited patiently for him to address them alongside their prisoner. "Take our new guest to the Frozen Prison and inform Neuronist of their arrival," he told them sternly. "Make sure to tell her that the prisoner's body and mind are to be kept intact throughout their interrogation and that I will be coming regularly to check on her progress. Shalltear, once she is secure, you are to join us in the Throne Room whilst we wait for the others."
"As you command, Grand Marshal," the three ladies replied with a deep bow. Shalltear then proceeded to make another gate which she then passed through, with the Brides hustling the bound 4th Seat after her leaving Fengxian and Jemima alone.
"F-Frozen Prison, my lord Grand Marshal?" Jemima asked hesitatingly. Even though she now served another, she couldn't help but feel a touch of concern for her former comrade. Aside from Vali, Mitzi had been the only one to treat her with some semblance of respect.
"Our maximum-security prison on the 5th Floor. Somewhere you needn't worry about for the time being," Fengxian told her shortly as she motioned for her to follow him. "If you are worried about what will happen to her, my words to the others earlier were no bluff. She will be kept alive and in relative comfort so long as she satisfies our interrogator." He decided it would be best to keep from her what sort of being Neuronist was along with the joy she would take during the interrogation. It wouldn't do to scare the new arrival within her first hour here.
"I-I understand…" Jemima trailed off. She had so many questions running through her mind right now from the minute amount of information he'd conveyed to her so far, but given her current status as a surrendered prisoner, she decided it wasn't worth her safety asking them right now. "If you don't mind me asking, Lord Fengxian…where are we going?"
"To the Throne Room on the 10th floor." Once again, his answer was short and to the point. "Once there, we shall wait for my comrades to arrive. Once they have been informed of the situation and your circumstances, we will then discuss how you can be of use to me and them."
Jemima suddenly felt the urge to vomit again at his words. There was no mistaking who he meant when he said 'comrades'. "Just being in the presence of one of them was enough to make me cower in terror…how will I manage being in the vicinity of all three?" The Mark on her neck pulsed slightly, causing these worries to vanish just as quickly as they arose and replaced instead by a calm wave of reassurance. Somehow she knew, even though she wasn't sure how she knew, that her new master would ensure things would be alright in the meeting to come.
~TNT~
Rather than creating a portal or teleporting them to their location, Lord Fengxian had decided instead to give her what he dubbed 'the grand tour' of their base of operations. She had been prepared for a floor or two of cold stone patrolled by all manner of undead creatures when she'd first arrived, but after he had spoken of both a 5th and 10th floor, her curiosity had been piqued, and as she was led through each floor she couldn't help but be awed and overwhelmed by what she encountered. Nothing she'd seen or read about before could have possibly prepared her for this.
Each floor was like its own separate small country with their unique layouts, climate and architecture, except for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors which had been just as she'd expected: dark, dreary subterranean burial chambers wholly devoid of life except for random pockets of skeletal warriors and vampire brides whose job it was to guard these levels. She also learnt that the 2nd floor housed the residence of the vampire girl from earlier, Shalltear Bloodfallen. Given how coldly efficient and brutal she and her servants had been, Jemima made a note to avoid this area as much as she could.
The 4th floor housed a massive underground lake located within a cavern complex and was home to the biggest monstrosity that Jemima had ever laid eyes on. Fortunately for her, the towering Guardian Gargantua was currently dormant, but even the mere sight of it had nearly caused her to pass out again.
They didn't stay long on the 5th floor as the bitingly cold winds, frozen terrain and mounds of snow would surely have caused her to freeze to death should they have stayed out in the open for too long. According to the Grand Marshal, this was where his residence was located which he assured her was much warmer than the rest of the floor. His words were of great comfort as she couldn't have imagined herself surviving long in such icy conditions.
The 6th floor was by far the most beautiful, with a beautiful blue sky and constant sunlight that beamed down on the lush jungles and various other types of woodland that covered its entire area apart from the amphitheatre in the middle. Despite this gorgeous setting, Fengxian warned her to be careful when coming here. Even though the Guardians, a pair of small Dark Elf twins who had greeted her master happily, were friendly enough, the floor also housed all of the beasts the pair had tamed who would not be as welcoming. Just as he had been explaining this, however, they had both been surprised by a pair of what appeared to be skeletal dragons flying directly over their heads. When quizzed by the Grand Marshal, the older of the twins quickly explained that the Crown Prince had sent them here and that was all she knew right now, which in turn had made Fengxian mutter that this was something else he'd have to ask Henry about when he next saw him.
In contrast to the coldness and beauty of the two floors below, the 7th floor could only be described as a 'hell world' full of lava rivers and small mountains constantly producing large quantities of steam. They didn't stay here long either, only pausing to greet the Guardian of this floor, a snake-tailed humanoid demon clad in an orange suit and spectacles, and update him on what had happened. In contrast to his evil appearance, the Guardian, whom Fengxian called Demiurge, seemed to conduct himself politely and eloquently when he wasn't gushing over his superior's deeds.
They gave the 8th floor a miss, with Fengxian telling her in a voice that brooked no disobedience to not even think of setting foot there and headed straight to the 9th floor. And as they'd walked through its corridors and passages, Jemima had been astounded and blown away by the size, opulence and just how many rooms this single floor contained. When she asked the Grand Marshal, he simply replied that it contained not only the private quarters for him and his friends but also the rooms of the Guardians, a spa, a bar, a conference room, guest rooms and many other rooms that each had their own purpose. From there they made their way to the 10th floor, passing by the rooms of the Pleiades Combat Maids before heading into an opulent antechamber where a set of massive doors were located. As they approached, these massive doors opened up to reveal the centrepiece of the Great Tomb of Nazarick: The exquisite and awe-inspiring Throne Room containing a massive throne at its centre, a long crimson rug that ran from the doorway to the Throne itself and a whole slew of red banners that hang from its ceiling.
"So, what do you think?" Fengxian asked almost casually as he led her towards the steps that led up the throne.
"I-I'm not sure how I can put what I have just seen into adequate words," she replied hesitantly, trying her best not to offend the Grand Marshal. "All that I have seen in the past hour or so shouldn't be possible, but I cannot deny what I have seen with my own eyes. Every floor is its own separate world, each more varied than the one before, and to have that all be corralled in one location is a wonder I could never have imagined ever bearing witness to until now." Everything about this place broke all the rules of magic she'd been taught during her time in the Theocracy, and it was only the fact that she was still a surrendered prisoner for the moment that stilled her tongue from bombarding Lord Fengxian with the endless questions on her mind.
"I know what you mean," he said whilst waving over to a corner of the room. Seemingly in response, a maid came forward with a thick garment in her arms which she proceeded to offer to the giant warrior with a deep bow. Once she'd left Fengxian personally wrapped the shawl around Jemima's body, warming her up instantly. "Even though we have dwelt in this place for some time, my comrades and I are still unlocking the secrets that lie within its hidden depths, so there may yet be a possibility of it becoming even grander than what you have witnessed just now."
"H-how did you and your friends come about this place, my lord?" she asked as she bundled herself into the shawl, its thick coat providing both warmth and reassurance.
"We scouted all over the world for a suitable base of operations. Whilst we had a pick of a few decent locations, the size and potential of the Tomb made it the optimal choice," he explained as he took a seat on the steps and motioned for her to stand beside him. "We had to act quickly though. Not only were we one of several groups interested in it, but it was also full of powerful creatures that put up quite the fight. The prize upon fighting our way to the end was worth the struggle, however. Even though it had six floors initially, we came across the magic that would allow it to expand and set ourselves to that task straight away, and it's a good thing we did. The other groups weren't happy we got here first and launched many an invasion to try and take it for their own, but by the time of their assault, we were more than ready to defeat them. And to this day, not a single invader has managed to step foot into this throne room. This is our home, and every denizen in this place would give their lives to safeguard it."
"That's incredible…" Jemima breathed, somewhat awed. But before she could ask another question, Fengxian raised a hand to stop her as he once again pressed a hand to the side of his helmet.
(Grand Marshal, Lord Ainz, Crown Prince Henry, Overseer Albedo and Narberal Gamma have returned) Demiurge told him (Do you wish for me to convey anything to them right now?)
(No, Demiurge. Tell Lord Ainz and the Crown Prince to meet me up here, and Albedo too if she wants to come. It's best we talk in private for now) He replied shortly. (And make sure Shalltear knows that her presence is needed as well)
(As you say, Lord Fengxian. I've already sent Shalltear on up so she should be with you promptly) Demiurge answered before cutting the Message communication.
"Forgive me for speaking up, Lord Fengxian, but that's twice now I've seen you go silent and press your hand to your helmet like that, so I can't help but be curious as to what you are doing when that happens…" Jemima spoke up cautiously.
"No need to apologise, Jemima," he told her kindly, his politeness once again catching her off guard. "Here in the Great Tomb, we have our own private communication that allows us to direct our thoughts to one another from a distance as though we were speaking face to face. We call it 'Message', and it's very handy when wanting to talk to someone on a different floor urgently without the need to get there on foot. Once you are all settled in, we will make sure to teach it to you as well."
"You mean like…Telepathy?" Jemima asked almost in disbelief. When she'd been in the process of setting up her Observation magic, she'd tried her best to extend that to spy upon thoughts as well. However, she'd be unable to do so as it required knowledge of some of the upper tiers of magic that were well beyond her current skill level, so to hear that it was being used by a whole network of people merely as a tool of communication…it made her shudder slightly as the thought of just what else her new master and those around him were capable of it. But before she could dwell more on such thoughts, the doors to the Throne Room swung open revealing the petite vampire girl from before. Was it Jemima's imagination, or did she look incredibly nervous as she approached them?
"My sincerest apologies for my tardiness, Lord Fengxian," Shalltear addressed the giant warrior as she approached the pair. "The prisoner was more resistant than we anticipated, but she is secure and Neuronist has been given her instructions on how to deal with her."
"Good. I'm sure whatever she has to tell us will prove…illuminating." Fengxian then cocked his gaze over to Jemima who for the first time this day didn't flinch under his piercing gaze. "And we'll be able to prove if what she's saying is true by corroborating it with what you'll be telling us…isn't that right, Jemima?"
"I-" She stammered before recomposing herself. She should have expected that would be part of why they'd bought her here, to gather information on her former employers. "I understand, my lord, and shall of course provide you with everything I know…but…"
"But?" Fengxian repeated in a tone that warned Jemima that her follow-up had better be worthwhile whilst Shalltear bristled at her apparent lack of respect.
"I-I want to be of use to you as more than a source of information, Lord Grand Marshal," Jemima spoke hurriedly, lowering her head in submission. But as she continued to speak, her words began coming out more passionately. "T-the Black Scripture, and the Theocracy as a whole, o-only found use for me because of my magic, b-but they treated me like dirt otherwise due to my personality and lower-class status. I always knew I could and wanted to be more than that, a-and I want to help you in your vision of a world led by those with talent and knowledge instead of wealth and status, so please…allow me to be of use in any way you desire!"
Fengxian couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by her declaration, given how she'd only been here for less than a few hours and was a human surrounded by non-humans who could kill her with a flick of their fingers. "Either she really was treated poorly by her former comrades or this show of devotion is a side-effect of my Mark. Or it could be a mixture of both. Whatever it is, she certainly is passionate about what she hopes to achieve here…" Out of the corner of his eye, Fengxian noticed the faintest flicker of surprise on Shalltear's face at Jemima's words. "No doubt she didn't expect such a display from a lowly human, or maybe she's just trying not to anger me further…" "I will consider your request, Jemima, but the final decision won't just be up to me. You'll have to convince both my lord Ainz and Crown Prince Henry that you can be of use to our cause, and you'll get the chance to do that very shortly. Let's hope you have that same ardor when you are face-to-face with them." Getting to his feet, he made his way back down to the bottom of the stairs and off to the side slightly and motioned for both Shalltear and Jemima to join him. "Now, I want you to remember very carefully what I am about to say to you because I'm only going to tell you once: I might be your new master, but both Lord Ainz and Crown Prince Henry are my superiors. So you must, at all times, show them as much deference and respect as you do to me, if not even more so, and answer all of their questions truthfully or to the best of your ability. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly, my lord," Jemima answered with a small incline of her head.
"I know my words may sound stern, but they may just save your life in both this meeting and the days to come," he told her gently, giving her shoulder a gentle pat of reassurance. "All of us who serve our lord and Crown Prince do so with the utmost reverence and devotion. If any of the other denizens saw you conducting yourself before them without the proper amount of decorum…let's just say they wouldn't be as nice as I am in terms of the language they'd use…" He left those words hanging as one final reminder as the doors of the Throne Room opened once again, admitting Ainz, Henry, Albedo and a small group of the Homunculus maids carrying what appeared to be…body bags?
"Suzi…Ise…just what in the name of Kami have you two been up to?" He couldn't help but wonder to himself as he watched his friends approach.
~TNT~
As the new arrivals approached it became readily apparent for Jemima, if she hadn't already suspected as such, that these were the rest of the powerful beings that she'd observed back at Carne Village, the ones whose very appearance and with only the faintest glimpses of their power had caused her untold amounts of terror even from a distance. It was taking all she had, along with the previous reassurance provided by Lord Fengxian, to not keel over in the same state of fright now that these all-powerful figures were actually standing before her.
As Ainz, Henry, Albedo and the maids approached the throne, the terrified girl was quick to emulate both the towering warrior and the vampire girl in falling to a knee and bowing their head before them. Even if her new master hadn't told her this was required, she still would have done so just from the auras the two at the front possessed. The robed skeletal figure at the very front radiated overwhelming magical power along with a palpable aura of dread and undeath that wasn't too similar to her master's. Unlike Fengxian's however, whose aura provoked terror and caused those who looked upon it to instantly look away, the undead's aura overflowed with power and command that one ought to obey should they value their continued existence. As for his blonde-haired armoured compatriot, his aura radiated its own sense of authority and command on par with his robed companion, yet instead of dread it was tinged by majesty, grace and…kindness? As he drew closer, Jemima was also able to detect the undercurrents of an ancient power that currently lay dormant within him, but even that undercurrent was enough to unsettle her just a little bit. Such a power…she could sense it would upheave and change the world irrevocably should it be fully unleashed.
"Rise, my loyal friend, servant and…guest," the undead spoke regally, his hand outstretched. "If I possessed a heart, it would be warmed at seeing you all once again after our time apart."
"I seem to recall we sent you and Shalltear on an extermination mission, did we not?" The blonde-haired man added, though despite the seriousness of the question it was spoken in good faith and jest. "In that case, I am hoping we can get an explanation for the girl you have brought back to the Tomb?"
"That depends…are you going to explain the body bags you bought back when you were meant to be posing undercover as adventurers?" Fengxian quipped back straight away as he got to his feet. There was a slight pause before the undead and his compatriot let out simultaneous bouts of laughter and proceeded to slap their hands across the warrior's shoulder blades gently.
"I see your penchant for one-off witty remarks hasn't changed a bit during our time here," the golden-armoured warrior said, a warm smile gracing his kind and heroic features which Jemima may ordinarily have been swooned by if she wasn't still trying to get her terror under control, although given the way the horned woman standing behind him was smiling fondly it would appear it was having the right effect. "It's good to see you again my friend."
"You as well. I'm looking forward to hearing about what sort of adventures you and Ainz got up to, but there's a matter I want to address before that." Fengxian turned his head and beckoned to the vampire who proceeded to walk towards them. "I believe Shalltear has something she'd like to say first."
"My eternal beloved Lord Ainz, Crown Prince Augustus, this humble servant comes before you in shame and humiliation for the wrongs I have unwillingly inflicted on your great names," Shalltear stated with full contriteness as she got on her hands and knees and prostrated herself fully before Ainz and Henry. "Despite your warnings to the contrary beforehand, I allowed my arrogance and anger to get the best of me, and during the task you set for me I lost control and almost gave into my bloodlust which would have resulted in the failure of my mission had the Grand Marshal not physically been there to stop me. My actions have brought shame to all of the Supreme Beings and the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and I hereby surrender myself to whatever punishment you see fit to inflict upon me."
It was quite something for Ainz and Henry to see the normally proud and confident Shalltear on her hands and knees begging for forgiveness. Whatever she had done, it must have been something fairly major to bring out this level of contriteness from her and the pair looked to Fengxian for an explanation. "Whilst Shalltear was exterminating the bandits in their mountain base, she came across a skilled Martial Artist who challenged her to one-on-one combat," he explained, piquing his friends' interest. "According to what she told me, she bested him easily and broke the arrogant and cocky demeanour he had been putting on up until that point. But before she could capture him, the human managed to give her the slip and fled, causing her to feel humiliated and angry which led to her almost losing herself to a blood rage. She was just about to kill a human you'd encountered on your travels in the midst of her frenzy when I had to physically restrain her and get her to calm down. And it was a good thing I did as well. If she had flown off the handle any more and gone charging off half-cocked, she would have fallen into the trap I'd planned to set for our quarry and put our mission in grave danger."
"I see…" Henry couldn't help but feel a touch of sadness and disappointment at Shalltear's actions. Though his magnanimous heart was broken a little upon seeing her in such a dejected state, and as much as he loathed the idea of punishing the creation of his 'eroge brother' Peroroncino, he knew it would have to be done to help her learn from this and grow in the future. "I'm just glad Ki was there to stop her in time…both for our sake and for Brita's. Sucks that she got caught up in that mess, but at least she's still alive…" "Though it displeases us that you acted in such a manner, by owning up to it straight away you have already taken the first steps to learn from it," he told her kindly.
"You are most gracious, my Crown Prince. I am unworthy of your kind words…" Shalltear answered, her head still bowed.
"You dare to speak against my beloved's generosity, lamprey?!" Albedo fumed, levelling her fellow Guardian with a piercing glare. She looked poised to rant further but was stopped by a warning glance from Henry.
Ainz's main emotions were ones of relief and curiosity. He was relieved that his and the others' carefully constructed plans had managed to avoid any setbacks despite Shalltear's reckless behaviour, but most importantly his curiosity was piqued by what Fengxian had reported about another who could use Martial Arts. "We shall discuss the nature of your transgressions and a suitable punishment for you when we are done here, Shalltear," he added sternly. "But for now, were either you or the Grand Marshal able to discover the name of this Martial Artist?"
"Yes…he told Shalltear that his name was Brain Unglaus," Fengxian replied, producing gasps of recognition from both Ainz and Jemima. It was the latter's gasp that caught the Nephilim's attention and caused him to turn his head slightly to look at her. "I'm guessing by your reaction that the name is familiar to you?"
"O-only from unintended eavesdropping, my lord," she answered quickly. "F-from what I gathered, he was believed to be the strongest fighter in Re-Estize until he was defeated by Gazef Stronoff, at which point he mysteriously vanished."
"Hmm…I can see where this is going…" Henry considered thoughtfully, having taken what Fengxian had told him and matched it up to what Ainz had told him after the graveyard skirmish. "A warrior who believes he is the strongest and therefore unbeatable until he eventually suffers defeat, at which point he vanishes off the face of the earth where no one can find him. If I had to guess, he probably went on a journey of self-improvement and was only at that bandit camp to make a living."
"He obviously had a fearsome reputation though if someone like Clementine named him as one of the few who could beat her…it's definitely worth some effort to investigate further should he reappear…" Ainz pondered.
"W-Wait…did you say…C-Clementine? As in…'Windstride' Clementine?" Jemima ventured again with a shudder of fear and revulsion, recalling her mercifully few encounters with the unhinged and sadistic assassin. These unpleasant memories turned quickly to panic as she realised she'd spoken out of turn and interrupted who she presumed was the lord of this place, causing her to bow her head quickly as the three all turned to regard her.
"I take it you also know of her, Miss…?" Ainz looked questioningly at Fengxian, but before the massive warrior could speak Jemima rushed forward and bowed at both Ainz and Henry's feet.
"Jemima Arneberg, former Seventh Seat of the Black Scripture at your service my lords," she offered respectfully, eyes fixed on the floor. "You saw through and broke my Observation spell in Carne Village, and even from that glimpse I was both in terror and awe at your power, and so to preserve my own worthless life I surrendered myself to Lord Fengxian during our encounter. As his superiors, I would like to reaffirm my submission and offer all of my being to do with as you please."
"Sounds too genuine to be a ploy…plus she bears Ki's mark so she can't betray him even if she wanted to. Even as a former member of our enemies, I am inclined to believe her surrender…" Henry pondered as he closely examined the girl. From her manner of speech she seemed well educated, but her whole poise and the tremble behind her words exuded low self-esteem, a timid personality and a fear of being looked down on and shunned simply for being herself. "Her self-confidence will need some work, but given the right guidance and patience she could find a place here, plus she seems to have no regrets over her decision which is another mark in her favour."
"I see…that was some impressive magic to be able to observe us from so far, and if our Grand Marshal vouches for you then I am inclined to believe your words," Ainz told her magnanimously. "Let me ask you a question then, young Jemima. If I were to accept your service, would you be able to give everything of yourself to our endeavours, even if it meant going against your former employers?"
"My…' former employers', as you call them, held no love for me, my lord," Jemima answered, her head still bowed. "They and my comrades only had use for me because of my magic which I was constantly reminded of at every spare moment when I wasn't being belittled or insulted. I wasn't even given a choice in the matter initially…either I had to join the Scripture or be killed, and since I didn't want to die the choice was made for me. I'm not a fighter, and I hate the idea of war unless there is no other choice especially when used as a tool of religious persecution as the Theocracy. I want to exist in a world where there is no war and where everyone can get along, which I know is a naïve dream but it's better than seeing countless innocents die in the name of some zealous crusade…." Even though she was aware of just how much she was rambling she pressed on, emboldened by how passionate she was getting plus the fact that she was actually being listened to. "When my lord Fengxian spoke of your cause about uniting all the world under one banner in the name of justice and equality…I knew that was what I wanted to be a part of as well, and so when I was again offered the choice between life and death, it was an easier decision to make this time around. As for what I can do…my magic would be yours to do with as you see fit, and I enjoy reading and research and taking notes, so if that can be of any help to you then I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly to whatever task you set for me..."
"Enough, young Jemima. Your passion and desire to be of use for a cause you believe in is enough proof of your sincerity," Ainz interrupted her with a raised hand as he looked between two fellow Supreme Beings. Their respective nods were enough to seal the deal. "Both my son, the Crown Prince, and my Grand Marshal are convinced as well, but first you must pledge your undying loyalty and obedience to myself, Ainz Ooal Gown, my adopted son and heir Crown Prince Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar…" He indicated the golden-armoured warrior at his side "…and Grand Marshal Fengxian as a loyal servant of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Are you prepared to make such an oath? For once you give it, there is no going back to your old life."
"The fact you are giving me a choice in the matter once again affirms how easy a decision this is for me," Jemima said as she lowered herself onto her hands and knees, her face flat to the Throne Room floor, in a posture of total submission that caught everyone present, especially Albedo and Shalltear who'd been watching silently all this time, by surprise. "I, Jemima Arneberg, do hereby pledge my eternal loyalty and obedience to the service of the Lord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown, his adopted son and heir Crown Prince Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar, and Grand Marshal Fengxian as their loyal servant for as long as I shall live. With this pledge, I hereby dedicate all of my being and efforts to whatever may be their will and swear to give my all to see their causes and goals fulfilled."
"As Master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, I, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, hear your pledge and accept it, Jemima Arneberg. Now rise, and be welcome among us," Ainz stated kindly. Henry smiled and Fengxian nodded approvingly as Jemima got to her feet with a warm and determined smile on her face now that she had a real purpose to live for instead of one she'd been forcefully coerced into joining. "I have just the task that would suit your talents, but before I assign you…you were about to tell us about your former associate Clementine?"
"Yes, Lord Ainz," she replied promptly. "She was a sadist of the highest degree who loved inflicting pain and torture on others. She would often go into great and excruciating details about what she did to her victims which made me highly uncomfortable, so I did my best to stay away from her as much as I could until she suddenly went rogue and left the Theocracy. From what I heard, she stole a powerful magical artifact from one of our Miko Princesses and as a result was targeted for capture by both the Black and Windflower Scriptures, but managed to evade them and escape. Given how nothing was heard from her after that, I assume she managed to leave the country successfully."
"I wonder if the artifact she took was the same one that was used on Nfirea…even if it wasn't, and as despicable an act that it was, it was still gutsy of her to both betray and steal from such a powerful kingdom…" "Well then you'll be pleased to know that she is dead, Jemima," Henry told their newest subordinate. "She made the mistake of interfering with our plans and killing a group of people we'd gotten close to, so we made sure that she paid for her crimes."
"Good. The world is a better place without the likes of her in it. Just like the others, she would mock and insult me for my perceived weakness…" She shook her head as if to clear away the bad memories of her past. "My apologies for speaking so brazenly and out of turn. That part of my life is behind me, and I stand ready to carry out whatever task you have for me, my lords."
"I am glad to see you are so eager to start, but I imagine you'll want to take some time to recover from recent events. Why don't you do that whilst we attend to other matters here? Once you are rested, we shall discuss your assignment," Ainz told her genially.
"I have instructed one of our maids, Lumière, to come and escort you to my dwelling and look after you for the time being," Fengxian added, having contacted the maid via Message. "I have also instructed her to answer any questions you may have regarding us and the Tomb when not attending to her duties, so please ensure you do not distract her unnecessarily."
"Of course, my lords, and I thank you for your kindness," Jemima replied with a respectful bow. "When you need me, I stand ready to assist in whatever capacity I am able."
"We shall discuss the details and nature of your punishment in time Shalltear, but for now you are to return to your dwelling and stay there until we summon you. Is that clear?" Henry asked.
"Yes, Crown Prince Augustus," Shalltear replied meekly before vanishing through a Gate. A minute or two later Lumière, who was attending to Fengxian's dwelling and needs during Shinozaki's absence, arrived and, after being given a rapid accounting of who Jemima was and how she was to be treated, gently escorted the former Seventh Seat of the Black Scripture out of the Throne Room leaving the three Supreme Beings and Albedo behind to debrief each other on the events of the past few days.
~TNT~
"Our newest recruit seems very eager…you did well in getting to join us willingly," Ainz noted once they were alone (aside from Albedo, but she was standing off to the side waiting to be addressed).
"I don't think I gave her much of a choice, but she was the only one who had the sense to give up," Fengxian noted. "I also sensed no hint of deception when she told us about wanting a world of equality where those with talent are in charge, so we'll wait and see just how far she'll go to achieve that."
"We ought to work on her self-confidence and worth first off. From what she told us about how she was treated, I doubt she has any self-esteem at all and will need a lot of encouragement and praise in order to get her to believe in herself," Henry added before turning his gaze to Albedo. "That means no looking down on her or insults simply because she is a human, understood? And that goes for the rest of the Guardians, Pleaides and everyone else so I expect you to address them accordingly."
"I…understand, my beloved Crown Prince," Albedo said with only a moment of hesitation. She no longer completely despised humans thanks to both her beloved's influence and her brief encounters with the more honourable of their race such as Gazef, Nfirea, Ninya and the rest of the Swords of Darkness, and a direct order from her love far outstripped whatever feelings she had regarding the rest of them. And though she'd be loathe to admit it, the human girl's passionate declaration and pledge of loyalty had impressed her a little. For that, she'd give her the benefit of the doubt for now to allow her to prove herself.
"Shall we get down to business then? I want to hear all about what happened with your group in the past few days…" In response to their friend's statement, Ainz and Henry took turns telling the story of their adventures in E-Rantel: Their initial entry, meeting the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea, their journey to Carne Village including the skirmish with the goblins and ogres and bonding with the Swords, meeting Enri again and how Nfirea managed to figure out their true identities followed by their encounter and brief clash with Hamsuke which resulted in the giant beast surrendering to them.
"By the way, he mentioned wanting to become a stronger fighter so I agreed to let him be trained by our Grand Marshal, so he's your responsibility for now…" Henry said with a teasing lilt. All Fengxian did in reply was give his friend an empty stare through his helm whilst muttering sarcastically that he couldn't wait. After a brief round of laughter, Ainz and Henry resumed their story with their return to E-Rantel, discovering the bodies of the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea's capture, the charge to the cemetery and their encounters with Khajiit, his skeletal dragons and Clementine which resulted in Henry showing off his hybrid human/dragonoid form, swaying the undead dragons to his cause and having them utterly obliterate their former master whilst Ainz toyed with and eventually crushed Clementine to death given what she'd done to their comrades.
Once they'd finished their tale, Fengxian launched into his own, and much briefer, tale as he described the ambush on Sebas and Solution's carriage, Shalltear's mission inside the bandit's lair including her meeting with Brain and her discovery that he knew Martial Arts, having to get her back in line after she almost lost control and the ambush on the Black Scripture resulting in their near wipeout apart from Jemima who had surrendered, the Fourth Seat who they'd managed to capture and the Captain who'd managed to flee.
"…and once we'd finished piling up the bodies, Shalltear conjured a Gate to bring us back here," Fengxian concluded. "Once we returned, I had Shalltear take the prisoner to the Frozen Prison whilst I gave Jemima a tour of the Tomb. We hadn't been back here long before Demiurge informed us you had returned as well." He then looked past his friends to the four body bags they'd bought along with them. "Now that we have finished recapping our stories…am I going to get an explanation for what appear to be four corpses that you've bought back with you?"
"Those bodies are those of the Swords of Darkness we mentioned earlier," Ainz was the first to speak. "Given the fledgling bond we'd forged with them and how their services allowed our plans to come to fruition, we thought they deserved a more proper burial rather than being left to rot after what Khajiit and that crazy bitch Clementine did to them."
"Not to mention we plan to raise Ninya back from the dead," Henry added. "We can't do anything for the others given how they were turned to zombies, nor can we resurrect her normally given the poison we found on their bodies, so bringing her back as an undead is the only way we can save her soul."
"Normally I wouldn't question either of your judgements, but what makes her more special than the countless other innocents we've encountered so far that we chose not to save?" Fengxian asked, frowning beneath his helm.
The other Supreme beings shared a look and a nod before presenting their reasoning. "Although our time together was brief, their camaraderie and sense of unity reminded me of how we and some of the others used to be back in YGGDRASIL," Ainz began. "And even though we'd only just met them, they made us feel welcome as if we'd been part of their group for much longer, especially Ninya who possessed an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning that reminded me a lot of how I used to be back when I was learning how to play my class." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "Not only that, but her story about the formation of their group struck a chord deep within both of us so much that even with my emotional suppressor, deathly aura and my ever-lowering love for humanity I couldn't help but grow fond of her. She especially did not deserve the end they all suffered."
"They all still had so much to live for, only to be cut down because we got them involved in our business to begin with, which Ainz and I both feel responsible for," Henry added gravely, his words moving everyone present. Even Albedo, as cruel a being as she was, couldn't help but feel touched by the heart her beloved was showing. "Ninya especially deserved more. She was young and should've had the chance to live a full life, where she could have explored the full depths of her magic that she was so talented with and passionate about. By bringing her back, even into undeath, we can not only give her a second chance but also allow her to give her comrades a proper send-off and give her a new purpose in life through our cause." He couldn't help but smile at the memories his next words produced. "And that's without mentioning the bond she was forming with my beloved Narberal who was starting to care for her as one would a little sister. However slow and fledgling that bond was, it proved what we've been trying to get them to understand about not all humans being bad. More than that, it was proof that everyone here in Nazarick has the capacity to change for the better, and allowing that bond to keep growing will show the others that it's indeed possible."
Fengxian didn't need much more convincing after hearing their well-thought-out and reasoned arguments, and it was also a testament to how his heart wasn't yet as cold and cut-off as he'd originally designed his character to be back when he'd first created it. "Very well then, I have no objection to this course of action," he conceded after a brief moment of consideration. "Let's figure out what we need to prepare and get to it. As the closest thing to a necromancer among us, you probably ought to take the lead on this my lord."
"Agreed. I'll go to the library and see if there's any material on how this will work," Ainz said before turning to Henry. "Whilst I do that, I want you to visit the Treasury and ask Pandora's Actor just how much gold we have on hand. I imagine we'll need a sizeable amount for this."
"It shall be done, father," Henry answered with a bow.
"As for where we shall bury their comrades, the Sixth Floor is by far the most scenic and fitting location for a gravesite throughout the Tomb," Ainz continued. "Fengxian, I want you to go and pick out a suitable plot of land and then consult with Aura and Mare about setting it up."
"I understand, my lord," Fengxian responded.
"Albedo, I want you to bring Narberal back here when we reconvene. Getting brought back into undeath will no doubt be a traumatic experience, so I want as many familiar faces around to help Ninya get acclimatized."
"I will obey, my lord father," Albedo replied promptly. With the orders given, the three Supreme Beings and the Guardian Overseer got to work on their respective tasks.
~TNT~
Whilst the library didn't provide as much knowledge as he'd hoped for what they were intending to do, Ainz was still able to find a couple of books involving rituals, necromancy and studies on the soul that a few of the others had written and stockpiled over the years. Ulbert in particular had had a passing interest in these fields, mostly necromancy, whilst one or two of the other members had pieced together what they knew regarding religious and occult practices, beliefs and other pop culture references that had anything to do with the soul, limbo and reaching those who had passed on. Whilst it wasn't much, it had been during his hunt through the library that Ainz had hit upon another brainwave regarding another source of information they had in the Tomb. With the aid of Shalltear's [Eyes of Attraction], Ainz was able to procure some of the knowledge that their Theocracy prisoners had on ritual magic which, combined with the information he'd already gleaned in the library, gave him a good starting point on how to set up and conduct the ritual as well as how expensive it might be. Armed with this knowledge, Ainz consulted Henry and told him to have Pandora's Actor withdraw at least 100,000,000 YGGDRASIL gold from the treasury and bring it to the Throne Room.
As this was going on, Fengxian relayed Ainz's request to Aura and Mare who were more than happy to help. Between the three of them, they chose a suitable location in one of the Sixth Floor's forests and proceeded to set up a grove-like burial site where they would bury the Swords of Darkness and set up a series of wards around it that would not only keep the burial plots and corpses well-preserved but would also prevent any of the creatures that roamed the Sixth Floor from unintentionally wrecking it. Once this was done, they had some of the Homunculus maids bring the bodies of Peter, Lukrut and Dyne down from the throne room so that they could prepare them for committal.
Once all of these preparations had been made, Ainz, Henry, Fengxian, Albedo and Narberal all gathered back in the Throne Room along with Ninya's corpse and the massive pile of gold that Henry had brought from the treasury and started making the preparations to set up the ritual. Since they did not possess as much magic power as the other three, Fengxian and Albedo wouldn't take direct parts in the ritual but would still have key roles to play. As the most physically imposing among them here, Fengxian would act as a literal shield against any magical or external forces that would seek to disrupt the ritual, whilst Albedo would keep a watch over their money and the ritual itself to ensure that nothing went wrong. With any external disturbances taken care of, Ainz carefully started to set up and inscribe the required patterns, shapes and symbols of the floor. He made sure to take as much time as necessary to ensure every detail was correct, and thanks to the information he'd gleaned from their Theocracy he knew they had the time. According to the teachings of the Six Gods, a soul would remain in limbo for a set number of days depending on how many decades they'd lived, so the older you were when you died the more time you would spend before reaching your final destination given that the Gods had more of your life to study. It reminded Ainz and the others of the Ancient Egyptians and their rites and beliefs regarding the souls of the dead. And since Ninya had reached her 20s before she'd died, it meant her soul, according to those beliefs, would be in the state of limbo for at least two more days.
Given that there would be three of them anchoring the ritual, they set up in an equidistant triangle with words of power that translated into 'Death, 'Life' and 'Soul inscribed around the circles that marked their position with Ninya's body, which had been washed and purified and was now wrapped in an exquisite white cloth, lying in the centre of the triangle astride an arcane sigil and surrounded by various scrolls and other artifacts of power that would serve as conduits for the power that would be on display. With everything now prepared, Ainz took his place at the head of the triangle in the circle marked as 'Death', with Henry and Narberal serving as the anchors for 'Life' and 'Soul' respectively.
All the components and patterns were ready, and the Throne Room was set to be suffused as a chamber of rebirth. The chamber was heavy with slight foreboding and anticipation as Ainz began to chant the incantation in an unknown tongue whose every word, spoken in a sepulchral whisper, carried a heavy thrum of power that conveyed his necromantic mastery. As he chanted, the arcane sigil under Ninya's body as well as the scrolls and artifacts surrounding it began to glow with a sickly luminescence as Ainz's necromantic power, bolstered by the supplemental power that both Henry and Narberal were providing to the ritual, flowed through them. A surprisingly sparse sum of the gold they'd procured, a symbol of the sacrifice they were willing to pay to bring back someone who had become dear to them, rose into the air in one giant lump before vanishing in a big flash of light, a sign that for as talented as Ninya was, she was still a human and therefore much cheaper to bring back compared to a hypothetical case such as one of the Floor Guardians.
As the ritual moved into its next phase, Ainz's almost-infinite pool of magic began to work in two parts: maintaining the magical power of the spell as well as serving as the anchor for 'Death', reaching into the void between the realms of the living and the dead and piercing into the realm of limbo where Ninya's soul was currently residing, awaiting judgement. He used his magic to reach out for it, and the soul, perhaps registering a flicker of recognition from their time together under his Momon alias, responded and moved towards him. Once her soul was within his magical grasp, he began to guide it towards the realm of the living even as he continued to power the next phases of the ceremony.
As Ninya's soul left limbo and passed back through into the mortal plane, Henry's role as the anchor of 'Life' took over. Calling upon the heritage of his kind to further his connection to the living and natural world, he proceeded to start strengthening the bond between Ninya's soul and the mortal plane. With his profound connection to the earth, Henry's presence became a conduit, a lifeline that extended from Ninya's soul to her waiting body. His eyes, once filled with the awe-inspiring power of transformation, now radiated a gentle, reassuring light as the bond between the soul and the body grew stronger, the tug of limbo weakening as Ninya's essence responded to his familiar presence as well.
As Ninya's soul drew ever closer, it came time for Narberal's role as the anchor of 'Soul'. Despite her initial reluctance, she had grown fond of Ninya during their brief but impactful adventures together. The young girl had looked up to Narberal as a mentor-like figure, and now the maid was determined to fulfil her role in the ritual in order to bring her back. With a sense of purpose that belied her usual stoicism, Narberal tapped into her considerable magical abilities, drawing upon her own connection to the arcane as she used its power alongside the strength of the bond she'd formed with Ninya to guide her essence on the final length of its journey. Her eyes, usually cool and indifferent, now glowed with a warmth that mirrored the fledgling connection she had formed with Ninya as the soul of her 'pupil' glowed in response, using the strength of the ties that bonded them to hasten its final sprint back towards her body.
Fengxian and Albedo watched on with awe as, with the trio working in perfect harmony, the Throne Room around them became a crucible of power, a convergence of magical forces that defied and broke all the rules of the natural order. The very fabric of reality seemed to warp and bend as Ninya's soul, guided by Ainz, strengthened by Henry, and led by Narberal, moved inexorably closer to the realm of the living and rebirth into the living undead. With one final surge of power, the soul returned to the body in another blinding flash that forced those with eyes to shield themselves. Only Ainz stood tall, keeping the ritual going until he was sure of its completion. Eventually, the glow faded, and the three anchors along with the two observers waited with almost bated breath to see if their efforts had borne fruit.
Aside from the pallor of Ninya's skin turning a sickly pale complexion, there was no obvious evidence that the ritual had worked as her body remained unmoving. But then, to everyone's joy/satisfaction, Ninya's body quivered beneath the sheet as she took her first shuddering breath in her new life as a living undead. As soon as she spotted Ninya's eyes starting to open along with the rise and fall of her chest, Narberal broke all decorum and rushed forward, falling to her knees as she gently guided Ninya's head onto her lap as both Ainz's and Henry's bodies, temporarily exhausted by the drain on their power caused by manipulating the very fabric of life and death, sagged in relief.
They had done it. They had defied the rules of magic that governed the world they were in and had found a solution that was a mixture of the powers of resurrection, ritualism and necromancy that overcame the icy grip of death and the vile [Kiss of Death] poison in Ninya's bloodstream to bring her back to the realm of the living. Whilst she hadn't come back to life fully and was now, for all intents and purposes, an undead, her consciousness was intact and her memories and talents preserved. They had conquered death itself, with their power, determination and sacrifice resulting in a resurrection that defied what had once been considered possible in this world
~TNT~
As Ninya's consciousness stirred and her senses began to reawaken, the first thing that registered was…just how very cold she felt. This was quickly followed by a recognition of the absence of the pain that she remembered had brought her life to a sudden end…but if that had happened…then how was she alive? Without opening her eyes, she moved her hand down to her chest to try and feel a heartbeat, only to discover there wasn't one. Just what was going on? And why did her head feel like it was currently pillowed in someone's lap?
Taking a quick second to brace herself for what she might see, she blinked her eyes open. But instead of the back alleys and streets of E-Rantel, she found herself looking up at a rather ornate ceiling from which hung a flurry of red flags bearing curious symbols. As she tilted her head to try and discover more of her bearings, she found herself looking into a very familiar set of eyes. "M-Miss Nabe?" she asked in a voice that was both familiar and unfamiliar to her as her words were spoken with a strange echo.
"Welcome back, young Ninya," Nabe told her with a soft smile, and for a brief moment Ninya allowed herself to feel comfort at being in a safe pair of arms, a beacon of recognition amidst the haze of uncertainty clouding her mind. But with this recognition came a slight pang of confusion. Why was Nabe clad in a maid's outfit instead of her usual adventurer's attire?
"W-what happened to me, M-Miss Nabe? And w-where am I? The l-last thing I remember were the others…t-they all died to try and keep me and Nfirea safe. I remember running, and then s-something hit me in the back and…and…" As she spoke, the memories of her final moments before death flooded back like a tidal wave…the faces of her dear comrades…Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, their faces all etched in agony in terror as they were mercilessly cut down by that strange hooded woman who laughed maniacally at the suffering she was causing. The sadness and despair of these all-too-fresh memories were threatening to overwhelm her as her eyes attempted to shed tears…but strangely enough, the tears never came even as she tried to weep for her fallen friends.
"Try not to think too much about that horrific night, young Ninya. You're in a safe place now and surrounded by people who care for you," Nabe said gently as she took one of Ninya's hands in her own and squeezed it. But as she did so, Ninya was able to get a quick glimpse of her hand and noticed, to her horror, that instead of its usual vibrant tinge, it was now coloured a sickly pale blue. Perhaps noticing her reaction, Nabe moved quickly to try and reassure her but was beaten to it by another familiar voice.
"Easy, Narberal. It's not every day that someone is brought back from the dead. Just give her a few moments to get used to her new situation." That voice…that was Mr. Momon's voice! But as she looked around for the dark-armoured warrior, she discovered to her horror that Momon's voice had emanated from a robed skeletal figure who was looming over her, his glowing red eyes seeming to pierce her very being. Ninya's first instinct was to recoil and shrink back from the unfamiliar figure, but her brief moment of fear was quickly replaced by a strange feeling of familiarity as if she knew who this was. Perhaps sensing her momentary discomfort, the undead raised a placating hand. "You're reacting far better than I thought you would to my true appearance, young Ninya. If I still possessed a heart, it would be glad to see you returned to us."
"W-who are you? You speak with Mr. Momon's voice, but I've never seen you before in my life," Ninya replied cautiously. How was she managing to remain so calm through the shock of hearing that she'd been brought back to life, finding her skin all pale and cold and then conversing with an undead who bore the voice of one of her recent comrades?
"First, let me answer the questions you posed to Narberal here," the undead answered. "The short answer is that yes, you died alongside the rest of your comrades. My subjects and I then brought you back here to our home, the Great Tomb of Nazarick where we enacted a ritual to bring you back from death. Unfortunately we couldn't fully bring you back to life due to the poison you were struck down with so we did the next best thing. It would take a long time to fully explain your new state of being and I promise you'll get it, but for now…you are technically both living and dead, a 'living undead' if you will."
"'Living undead?'" Ninya thought to herself with dread as the realisation of her new state fully fit her. It would explain how she couldn't feel her own heartbeat or how cold she felt. Even though she was alive, she was technically no longer among the living. The undead had described it perfectly…she was now a 'living undead', an aberration of the natural order. Just how had this strange undead and Miss Nabe managed this? The feeling of dread was suddenly intertwined with relief as she realised a few other things: her clothes were still in one piece, albeit bloodied, and her body hadn't been disfigured or mutilated in any way. Most importantly she could still feel her magic pulsing through her body along with the knowledge of all the spells she'd learnt and how to cast them. This was somewhat reassuring as she realised her memories and the essence of who she was were still intact.
"As for my identity…you would know me by my adventurer persona Momon, but my true name is Ainz Ooal Gown, ruler of the tomb you find yourself in," the undead, Ainz, further explained before indicating to Nabe who was still smiling gently at her. "And the woman you came to know as Nabe is named Narberal Gamma, one of my Pleiades Combat maids. We apologise for the deception, but it wasn't as if we could…"
"N-no, you don't have to explain Mr Ainz," Ninya found herself croaking, her logical mind able to quickly formulate an answer to the question she'd just been about to ask. It made sense that an undead like him would have to disguise himself in order to pass through E-Rantel since his true form would have had the populace, including Ninya and her comrades, screaming in terror. "So that's Momon…no, Ainz, and Nabe…but what about the others?" "What about Mr Alfred and Miss Eleanor? Are they the same as you, or were they actually human?"
Ainz would have smiled if he'd been able to at her inquisitive and sharp mind being able to put the pieces together so fast. "They are here as well, Ninya, though like myself and Narberal not in the forms you'd have known them as." With a wave of his hand, two other strange figures appeared in Ninya's sight: a muscled, gold-armoured man with long golden hair, green eyes, a chiselled jaw and the faintest shadows of a beard who was looking down at her with a kindly smile, and a beautiful, black-haired woman with pale skin, golden eyes and out of whose temples grew two thick horns who was watching things unfold with a slight smile. "You might know them as Alfred and Eleanor, but their true identities are Crown Prince Henry, my adopted son and heir, and his primary consort and Guardian Overseer Albedo."
"Crown Prince? Guardian Overseer? Just where and what have I been reborn into?" Ninya wondered.
"I know this is all confusing and overwhelming to you, young Ninya, but please be assured that you are among friends here and we're all here to look out for you," Alfred…no, Henry…told her as he knelt on her other side and took hold of her other hand in his own. His kind and protective aura, along with the gentleness and warmth of his strong, calloused hands as they grasped her pale one, was currently filling Ninya with the same reassurance and feeling of safety that she'd gotten from being around both Alfred and Momon. "As my father said, we'll explain things fully later on, but for now let me give you a summary of this place and the events leading up to this point." He then launched into a quick recounting of everything that had transpired so far from their arrival into this world, orientating themselves in their new surroundings, the events at Carne Village, the battle against the Sunlight Scripture and their encounter with Gazef Stronoff, the reasons why they chose to disguise themselves as adventurers, all that happened before they met the Swords of Darkness along with everything that happened after her and the others' deaths including their discovery of Nfirea's disappearance and the showdown in the cemetery with Khajiit and Clementine, the ones who had orchestrated their murder. Henry then also introduced their other comrade, a towering black-armoured warrior named Fengxian who served as the Grand Marshal of Nazarick and gave a quick recounting of what he'd been up to whilst they'd been in E-Rantel.
It was a lot for Ninya to take in, but her prevailing feelings were that of sorrow and relief. Sorrow that her comrades had been slain so needlessly and then raised as zombies, thereby preventing them from being brought back like she was, yet relief that they had been avenged and that Nfirea was safe. She also appreciated everyone's honesty by being up front with their non-human identities and their reasoning for undertaking the adventures they'd just told her about, thereby answering all of her lingering questions…except one. "W-what will happen to me now?" She asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Everyone around her exchanged quick glances as they silently communicated with each other on how best to answer her, and it was Henry who spoke first, albeit a bit abashedly. "If we're being honest Ninya, we've…kind of taken the choice out of your hands by bringing you back as you are," he admitted. "In the state of being you're in now, you can't go back to your old life as an adventurer. You'd be feared, scorned and probably even hunted just for being an undead, so like it not…Nazarick is your home now. But I promise…even though you're in a strange place, the four of us, alongside our comrade Fengxian here, will be here for you."
"Even though we've taken away your choice of home, what you do here is entirely up to you," Ainz continued as he knelt in front of Ninya. "Continuing in the same vein of honesty we've been treating with so far, both Henry and I will admit to our acts of selfishness in regards to bringing you back. We, along with Narberal and Albedo, grew fond of you and the rest of the Swords of Darkness. You and the others made us feel welcome and treated us like old comrades even though we'd just met, and as a result we felt guilty for your untimely demise. We were the ones who got you involved in our business with Nfirea after all…" Ninya was on the verge of objecting to this notion vehemently but was stalled by Ainz's raised hand as he continued. "You all deserved more in this life, and if we could've we would've saved you all. You especially, since you were so young and gifted, deserved the chance to live a full life where you could have explored the full depths of your magical talents. We not only wanted to give you that second chance and allow you the chance to give your comrades a proper send-off, but also the opportunity to reach your true potential. Myself and Narberal can teach you all of the magic at our disposal, all the way up the Tenth Tier, even Super-tier once we arrive at that threshold, and we will all help you complete the dream you strived for when forming the Swords of Darkness whilst at the same time helping you discover a fresh purpose in your new existence through our cause."
"Even though my beloved Henry encouraged me to be more open-minded with my views on humans, I did not believe I would ever form a meaningful bond with one…until I met you," Narberal admitted. "Your kind and gentle nature along with your genuine interest and eagerness to learn more about magic…made me grow quite fond of you to the point I was beginning to enjoy your company. If you join our cause, I swear on the name of my Lord Ainz Ooal Gown and my beloved Crown Prince Henry that not only will I always look out for you and help you adjust to your new existence, but I will also take you on as my apprentice and teach you everything I know about magic."
"You can count on my aid in that endeavour as well," Ainz added. "Should there be times when Narberal isn't available or when she can't teach you any more, I will take over your magical education. Not only that, but I vow on the name of Ainz Ooal Gown to help keep you safe and protected and ensure that you are accepted and made welcome through Nazarick." Henry and Fengxian made similar vows of protection and security in response.
"You have the talents and drive to be more than you are now," Albedo spoke up, surprising everyone. "And I have every confidence, should you accept, that you will prove worthy of the second chance my father, beloved, sister and our Grand Marshal have granted you."
As to be expected, these offers and reassurances were a bit too much for Ninya to fully think about right now given her new circumstances. As much as she didn't want to admit it, she accepted Henry's begrudging reasoning as to why she couldn't go back to her old life, and if she was honest with herself the thought of learning all of the magic that Ainz and Narberal had at their disposal was extremely tempting, as were their offers of protection. What was reassuring though for the young undead girl were their promises to look out for her and to ensure that she was fully acquainted in her new home no matter what she chose.
In the end, she asked for time to think about their offer, along with an opportunity to say goodbye to her fallen comrades. They'd expected as much and agreed to her conditions whilst also offering to join her so that they too could offer their final respects to the Swords of Darkness.
~TNT~
As it turned out, it wasn't just Ainz, Henry, Fengxian, Narberal and Albedo who joined her on the Sixth Floor at the burial service. The undead had evidently spread the word about his intent to help Ninya feel welcome among them which resulted in quite a number of the Guardians, including Cocytus, the dark elf twins and Pandora's Actor, along with Yuri Alpha, Entoma, some of the Homunculus maids and some of the other dwellers of the Tomb joining them in the freshly constructed burial plot. Even Jemima, though she'd only been part of the group for barely a few hours at this point, was moved enough to come and pay her own respects. This show of loyalty and acceptance, along with the kind and respectful words and fond recollections of the other Swords spoken by both Ainz and Henry, was enough to make Ninya's mind up. And so, in full view of everyone present, she humbly expressed her desire to join the ranks of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and become the official apprentice of Narberal Gamma in exchange for keeping the dreams of the Swords of Darkness alive alongside a request to search for her older sister who she believed had been sold into slavery somewhere within the Re-Estize Kingdom
Ainz happily accepted her pledge of loyalty and promised to pass on a message to Sebas and Solution to have them look out for her. The endeavours of the past few days had all resulted in success, and the Great Tomb of Nazarick was now in a much stronger position of strength and knowledge to begin making their mark on this New World as well as adding two new members to its ranks in Jemima Arneberg, the former Seventh Seat of the Slane Theocracy, and Ninya Veyron, former silver-ranked adventurer, magic caster and member of the Swords of Darkness, who would have their own vital roles to play in the events to come.
~TNT~
Once the burial service was over and after welcoming Ninya into their ranks, Henry, Albedo and Narberal eagerly retired to Henry's chambers on the Ninth Floor. As it turned out, several days of not being able to engage in any sexual encounters had left both girls feeling desperately needy to have their beloved claim them once more, a task which the Crown Prince was more than happy to satisfy. Even though it wasn't the same without Solution and Lupusregina present, the pleasured screams and moans that could be heard through the locked doors of the room in the days to come were more than enough proof that their passion of their orgies hadn't ebbed one bit.
In order to spare their respective blushes, Fengxian and Ainz advised their new charges to avoid the Ninth Floor completely at night. Thankfully, their respective duties as part of the Tomb's hierarchy were enough to keep them busy and prevented them from thinking about just what was going on behind those doors. Jemima's first responsibility was to give a more comprehensive write-up of the notes that the Supreme Beings had originally gathered from Carne Village whilst adding her own knowledge to them, whilst Ninya spent her first few days alternating between learning from Narberal and studying tomes and scrolls of magic within Nazarick's vast library. Seeing both girls finding fulfilment in their tasks was of great relief to the three Supreme Beings.
~TNT~
After Nfirea had recovered from his ordeal at the hands of Khajiit, he and his grandmother left the running of their store in the hands of trusted friends and employees and moved permanently to Carne Village where they were eagerly welcomed by Enri Emmot, her little sister Nemu and their friend Brita as well as Lupusregina who introduced herself properly as a servant of Ainz Ooal Gown and who from that point on served as the go-between between the village and Nazarick.
After another day of travelling from when they'd separated from Fengxian and Shalltear, Sebas and Solution arrived in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom and took residence in one of its mansions which would serve as their base of operations for their task. At the same time, Gazef Stronoff, having recently returned to the Royal Capital, discovered a demoralized and almost suicidal Brain Unglaus languishing in one of its back alleys. Surprised and disheartened to see his former rival in the depths of such despair, Gazef offered to take him into his home, an offer the blue-haired warrior grudgingly accepted.
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Slane Theocracy, Captain Vali of the Black Scripture gave his report to the Six Cardinals of the events that had resulted in the almost-complete decimation of his squad, Mitzi's capture and Jemima's surrender at the hands of a powerful warrior and his vampire accomplice. Vali's tale caused great alarm among the Six, prompting discussions of how these developments would compromise their organisation and the steps they would need to take to minimise the damage. Little did they know that parts of their meeting had been overheard by a certain heterochromatic young girl who relished the thought of there being someone out there who was as strong as her.
Though they had averted disaster by preventing the Black Scripture from using [Downfall of Castle and Country] against them, all three of the Supreme Beings recognised that the Theocracy at least was an organisation that had the potential to threaten Nazarick and decided that the need to strengthen their power and the forces at their command was now more imperative than ever in order to prepare for them.
They were going to need an army, one that was comprised of both living and undead forces. And with CZ scouting out the Great Lake where the lizardmen dwelt, along with their acquisition of the Jewel of Death, they were prepared to start acting on both fronts in the weeks and months to come.
(daniel: Well, that was a good send-off to season 1! Now onto season 2 and I'll tell ya that I can't wait to meet everyone's favourite honourable, badass, ice blade wielder and lady-killer lizardman warrior!)
Just as my co-author said, I hope you all enjoyed how we wrapped up season 1. Gotta say I've really been enjoying what we've done so far, the changes we've made, the impact of our OCs and how they've impacted both the plot and other characters so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing that continue into the events of Season 2 and beyond.
I hope you all enjoyed our unique take on Ninya's fate and her role to come. When my co-author and I were discussing which of the characters who died in canon we wanted to keep alive in our story, Ninya's name was at the top of the list because she's such a pure sweet girl and deserves the chance to reach her true potential and, as we attested to in this chapter, potentially reunite with her sister. There'll be a few others whose fates we've decided to change, but you'll have to see for yourself when we reach those parts of the story.
As I attested to in the last chapter, Jemima's surrender and pledge to serve Nazarick was inspired by the Overlord fanfic 'The Antichrist Cometh' by GoodguysRoverated. She will serve a unique role as the (for the moment) only human within the Tomb, but her bearing Fengxian's mark will surely ease her transition into the fold and, as I attested, she and Ninya both will have their parts to play in the events to come.
Once more I will take the weekend off before getting started with chapter 13, which will serve as another small interlude to explain what happens in the time skip between the events of seasons 1 and 2, introduce a couple more key characters from outside the Tomb and then set the stage for the Lizardmen Heroes arc where, as my co-author attested to with his note, we'll meet Zarayusu, one of my favourite Overlord characters, and the rest of the Lizardmen leaders. Until then, on behalf of myself and my co-author daniel, thank you all once again for all the love and support you've all shown this story, it really means the world to us, and we'll see you all again in the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!