Chapter 7

Hmm, the meeting's outside, which means the motherfuckers aren't letting me in.

Then… it's a trap!

But I'd be thinking that even more if I was allowed to enter Nazarick at this point.

If I could, I'd scratch my head!

Why am I even here? No way they'd let me join… or maybe yes and it's just a little ploy? Ah, I shouldn't get my hopes up.

Be ready for the best, but always expect the worst, that's what I always say.

Now more than ever I must be on guard. They're the best PKers in Yggdrasil, even in my World Champion armour I can't be safe if they choose to attack all of a sudden with NPCs as well. Though I have no clue what they're hiding down there besides the True Vampire everyone knows, I'm sure there's something way worse lurking in the dark tunnels below my feet. But I hope it doesn't come to that, having to fight those few people I admire…

Let's just see how this goes.

And he approached the large round table emerging from the perfectly cut green grass. Seems like they did a good job fixing everything. It was quite a sight when I left… Well, at least I don't have to apologise about it again. Up close, the huge table wasso black it seemed to suck in the light falling from above, while all around him the Grenbera Swamps were as misty as ever. The demon samurai gazed at the massive chairs, also of the same obsidian like material. Only one was still free, quite far from where the guildmates stood.

"Welcome back, Oshikuru-dono! Please take a sit, we're glad to see you again."

Somehow, I find it very hard to believe it, but let's play along… "Thank you, Momonga-dono, and all of you guys as well. Sorry for being the last one to arrive…"

"Well, that's how it was planned. After all, we're the ones who invited you here!"

He sounds honest. But most of them are staring at me like a pack of wolves would look at a sheep…

"We have come up with a proposal which would be beneficial to both you and to Ainz Ooal Gown. But first of all, I must apologise."

Wait, what?

"You see, unfortunately a lot many people tried to join us after we succeeded to claim the Grand Tomb of Nazarick as our base and became one of the top guilds of Yggdrasil. Of course, that's unacceptable. While my mates and I understand you're not here to take advantage of Ainz Ooal Gown, but rather to make it even stronger and be friends with us, we can't make any exception. No new members, we unanimously agreed upon that not long ago. Of course, some of us, including me, would like to change that. However, we barely even know you, so we'd like to make a temporary agreement between you and us. I like to think that in the future the 42nd seat at our table will be a true thing."

Momomga paused to let that sink in.

Oshikuru almost facepalmed.

"Now I understand, it was foolish of me to think you would let me in right away even in the best possible circumstances! While to be honest, after what had happened, I thought your response would be far worse, or nonexistent. So, I truly thank you for this opportunity, I'd be quite interested in a temporary alliance. But… what do you have in mind, exactly?"

Momonga didn't hesitate.

"Well, many among us were quite upset at first, but as you said before leaving, we needed some time to think about it. Now we think there's a possibility for you and us to have fun together. There are many of us who'd like to go out there questing with you, after having witnessed your power. However, to fight side by side with anyone, one must know what he can do. So, if you are willing to share with us what your full abilities are and what items you have, then we'll be thrilled to go out there adventuring together!"

Oshikuru didn't speak for longer than everyone thought. A bit unnerved, some were about to complain when he let out a sigh.

"Look, I agree you can't trust me yet and letting me in Nazarick is out of the question. But to be questing together, you don't need to know everything about me. Also, whatever a group of us may come to face, it won't stand a chance to the things you've already seen me do. I hope that's enough for you guys."

"Well, that's not exactly the reply we were expecting…" Grumbling and concern arose from around the table. The voice that stood out was Punitto Moe's.

"But of course, we can't expect you to completely trust us with full knowledge about all your items and skills while we tell you nothing about us. However, as you said before, the usual response from Ainz Ooal Gown to what you've done to one of our members would be… quite different. Not only are we going out of our way to be at peace with you without any retaliation, but we're proposing the friendliest possible terms. In light of this, I expect you to tell us about that left eye of yours. That's the least you can do, considering you're sitting at our table instead of facing our vengeful wrath…"

You dare threatening me!? obnoxious plant, I'll cut you in a thousand pieces! Pfft, min maxed magic casters, always thinking yourselves above us fighters. As if you could last 10 seconds against me!… after all, he must still be quite mad at me for beating the shit out of Touch Me, on top of destroying the ground above their base. Still, watch your mouth! not to mention, if I were to go all out, I'm positive I could even take down all of them. Unless they have prepared a perfect trap, which is most likely considering who I'm dealing with. Anyway, I'd rather not turn this into a fight…

"Please don't threaten me, it won't change a thing. After all, even if I wanted to tell you about that, I just can't."

The angry looks became dumbfounded.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Oshikuru sighed again. "Look, as you all agreed back in the days to not have a new guild member and your Guildmaster can't just break the rule for me or for anyone else without all of Ainz Ooal Gown agreeing about it, so I can't share any information about my… peculiar item."

"That doesn't make any sense, it's completely unrelated, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I can't say anything else about it because I'm not the only one involved with it. But there's no point discussing this any further."

He stood up, slowly and careful not to show any signs of hostility.

"I'm sorry things didn't work out and I apologise for wasting your time. I accept I'll never be an official member of Ainz Ooal Gown. Still, I'm not even an official Yggdrasil champion, but all those who count know the truth. If you can read between the lines, I guess I'll take my leave now before things escalate."

"Hold on, we…"

But he had already disappeared in a wave of colourful pixels before the eyes of the angry crowd.

"That damn bastard logged off again! The easiest way out, unless someone knows where your last saved location is. Do we have any information about it?

"Nothing at all, Peroroncino. He has all the best protection, we couldn't scry the place he teleported from. Not last time and not this time either…"

Most people exploded in rage, feeling outplayed by Oshikuru once again.

"Too bad, I had a lot of questions about that item. According to lore, anyone who goes for that quest should get it in the end, it's not like only the first man to complete it will obtain that thing.

Yet, it didn't appear when Take, Touch, Momo, Pero, Buku, Moe and I accomplished each task. All what we got were trash items, though the final bosses dropped lots of data crystals. Unless we missed another quest, or it was hidden in a chest we couldn't find…

But I seriously doubt that, we've been really thorough, careful not to leave behind even the tiniest scraps of metal. Something's wrong, I can feel it. I bet those shitty devs messed something up and he got away with it but now they won't let anyone else get their hands on it or get to know about it. Still, there's plenty of racial change items and revival items, I can't get what's so special about this one…"

"That's what we're trying to figure out, Ancient One. But I don't trust a single word he said. I trust him even less than earlier. An obscure secrets covered up by the shitty devs who forced him to shut up about it? It's much more likely he wants to keep his secrets. But why would he hide something if he wants to join us in the first place? This is giving me a headache!"

"Bah, let him keep his secrets, Punitto. Who cares about him anyway…"

The dark vines of the guild's strategist threatened to strangle Tabula, who seemed to be the most at ease, probably because he just wanted to go back to his lab. "Everyone should! He's the most powerful fighter in Yggdrasil!"

"Aye, but next time we see him, we'll make him regret this. I've had enough! he has to pay for humiliating us twice!"

Many approved Takemikazuchi's resolve.

"How could we even think of letting him join us! All he deserves is to get killed over and over again. Someday we'll find the hole where he's hiding in and that'll be the end of Oshikuru."

"Aye, he disrespected Ainz Ooal Gown once again. He won't do it ever again!"

Almost everyone seemed to agree. Then they divided in small groups as some went back to Nazarick, others logged off and not a few teleported away to look for Oshikuru's hideout.

The hunt had began, as Nazarick cried havoc let slip the dogs of war.

"Damn it all! Is this truly the price I have to pay?!"

Oshikuru punched the desk, which creaked.

"I can't believe the path I walked to reach the top would forbid me to make friends. Aaahhh!"

He almost tore off his hair.

"You know what, curse them! They don't need to know! To think I offered to help them after proving I'm the best in Yggdrasil. And what do they do? Question me? Threaten ME?!"

He started spinning on his chair to cool off. After all, he couldn't afford to break what was holding his precious high tech setup.

"They're lucky I didn't unleash my wrath… just 'cause I like them. Well, I used to. Now, I'm not sure. Why would I ever care about those who refused to have me by their side? Yes, I'm done with them. I hope they burn in hell!"

He angrily munched some tasteless cookies.

"Bleah, insect-flour. To think bugs are supposed to be a delicacy nowadays… how low has humanity fallen! But I shouldn't! Now, let's think this through: if I were in their shoes, what would I do…"

He mumbled unintelligible words.

"Hmmm, probably the way they handled it was the right thing to do. Shit! if only I could tell them… but no way those shitty devs would ever let it go. If I'm lucky, they'll remove my Hellking's Eye, so goodbye to being the strongest of the strongest! and if I'm not they'll erase my entire account! No way I'm gonna let any of that happen!"

He sulked, sounding defeated. For someone like him, it was the worst feeling. Oshikuru blabbered for a long while under the dim lights in his flat.

"In the end, I guess I can't blame those guys, even if Punitto Moe went a little too far. Also, I'm sure at least someone in Nazarick does like me… I can't just drop it, if ever I have a chance to make friends is with those people in Ainz Ooal Gown. They really care about each other, if only I could…"

He yawned and checked the time.

"Shit, why is it always later than I think when I'm home but sooner than expected at work? I swear it seems like the ones who invented time were the shitty devs! Alright, to bed now, I have an early meeting with that stupid guy who doesn't even know what we're doing in my department."

Oshikuru stood up and stretched out while his mind went back to the game.

"I'm sure I'll have a chance to earn their trust. After all, most players hate them and every once in a while someone attacks Nazarick, although lately people seem to have understood it's hard to get past even the first level. It's much more likely there'll be an ambush on them while they're wandering outside. I guess I'll have to tail them, especially Ulbert, since there's always someone after World Disaster classes. I myself have been planning to kill a member of the Mercenary Magicians, but I don't want to antagonise them too… anyway, back to business, I just have to be patient and ready to jump if something bad happens to Ainz Ooal Gown. And then I'll get rid of whoever dares to attack those under my protection!"