A cloudy, rainy day descended upon the Gehenna District, leaving the streets nearly deserted as students and civilians retreated into their homes and shops. It poured relentlessly, streaming down the rooftops and across the empty roads.
For a fleeting moment, a sense of peace settled over the district. But in Gehenna, peace is an illusion.
Moments like this are a brief pause on the systems that reign over the district. And without those systems on the work opportunities are born for those in the right place and time to exploit them.
A small team moved through the district's impoverished streets, heavily armed and concealing their faces behind motorcycle helmets. Their mission was straightforward: break into any open shop, steal what they could, and leave before the Prefect Team could respond. So far, their plan is working. They had already robbed seven shops and were now huddled beneath a bus stop shelter, waiting out the rain. They knew their window of opportunity was closing, but there was time for one more hit.
Their eyes locked on a small kare-ya restaurant. The establishment, made entirely of wood, had clearly stood the test of time. It looked old but well-kept, a necessity for all businesses to survive in Gehenna. Most things left untended fell to ruin quickly either from the ongoing clashes between the Prefect Team and criminals or from the destructive actions of more dangerous groups, like the Hot Spring Development Department.
"You three keep watch. I'll handle this one," said one of the haloed bandits, her voice steady as she hefted her submachine gun. She raised her weapon and stepped into the rain, making her way toward the restaurant entrance.
Stopping just in front of the door, she took a deep breath and kicked it open, splintering the wood as the door fell to the ground. "This is a robbery!" she shouted, her gun trained on the restaurant's elderly owner.
The owner, a grizzled old man with a weathered face, barely reacted. He glanced at the damaged door with irritation. "You know, the door wasn't locked. No need to break it," he said, his voice carrying more annoyance than fear as he stood still at the counter.
"Now's not the time for jokes, old man. Hand over the money, and I promise you won't get shot," the bandit barked, advancing toward him, gun raised.
"Bandits in Gehenna never change, do they?" he muttered, clearly unimpressed. With a sigh, he opened the cash register and began filling a small plastic bag with money.
As the bag filled, the old man paused, his gaze returning to the bandit. She noticed the hesitation and snapped at him. "Why'd you stop? If you try anything funny, I'll put a bullet in you."
Before the old man could respond, a voice called out from behind the bandit. "This is the first time I've had lunch in ages, and now someone's already disturbing it."
The bandit spun around, trying to aim her weapon at the source of the voice, but she was too slow. In an instant, a young woman seized her by the collar and with a simple swing she was sent through the broken door with so much force a normal human would have their bones broken.
The criminal was flung out of the restaurant, landing upside down on the ground with a thud. "Ouch, that hurts," she groaned, struggling to get up after finally stopping.
"What happened there?" one of the bandit comrades asked, rushing over with the rest of the group.
"We've got company," the bandit muttered as her friends helped her to her feet.
The three bandits turned to face the entrance of the restaurant, their eyes widening as a small figure emerged through the raindrops. The newcomer wore a long, black academic dress adorned with golden highlights that looked way too big for her small structure. Her pitch-black hair, mostly hidden by her clothes, flowed down her back. Above her head floated a red halo shaped like a crown with a red menacing orb suspended in the center. In her hand, she held an imposing golden weapon, a cannon, intricately designed with snake-like decorations and colored jewels.
Each step she took brought the cannon closer, its aim fixed on the bandits.
Fear gripped them. They knew they had picked up a fight with the wrong person.
"Get out of here," the girl commanded, raising her arm. As her sleeve shifted, it revealed something that sent a shiver down the bandits' spines. Her hand was not made of flesh but of pure white bone. Her skeletal finger pointed away, like death itself was sending a message to them, and without hesitation, the bandits turned and fled, screaming in terror.
"It's done," the girl sighed, lowering her weapon as a weary breath escaped her lips. She glanced down at her hand, still gripping the cannon, and noticed her finger trembling on the trigger. 'I hesitated. How strange.'
"That was quite the show, Ms. Suzuki," the old dog-man, Chef Spitz, said as he approached her.
"Oh, Chef Spitz. It was nothing. I was simply repaying your kindness," Suzuki replied, bowing respectfully as the dog-man drew closer. 'Suzuki Satoru. It's been so long since I last heard that name. But I can't escape it. It's in my credentials in this world. How someone managed to uncover it is impressive. Then again, given how much I and the guardians have changed, I suppose it's not entirely surprising.'
"Ah, how many times do I have to tell you? Don't worry about repaying me. I don't like seeing people go hungry, that's all," Spitz said with a warm smile, gesturing for her to raise her head.
"Well, now that it's over, I'll finish my meal before it gets cold and leave," Suzuki said, turning her head back inside. But before she could take another step, Spitz blocked her path with his cane.
"You just saved my monthly earnings. I'll make another round for you," the old man said with a smile as he stood beside the new student.
"I'm sorry but I can't accept it would troubl…" Suzuki began to protest but was cut off when the dog-man poked her with his walking cane.
"I'm making the food. If you don't eat it, I'll throw it away," he said with a grin, shrugging as he walked back toward the kitchen.
"Huh... fine then," Suzuki relented, returning to her table to finish the rest of her curry, while Spitz disappeared into the kitchen to prepare more. She glanced at the now-broken entrance door. "Maybe I should help him fix that later," she mused.
'I missed being able to taste,' She thought as she devoured the curry. 'Watching others eat without being able to join was torture.'
As she ate, Suzuki Satoru, or the name she was more accustomed to by now Ainz Ooal Gown, began to reflect on recent events. 'I can't face the guardians like this. I'm losing control of my emotions. My poker face is gone. Being alive after being dead for so long is so strange.' Ainz thought to herself as she looked down to her own frame. While having her gender changed so abruptly was offputting to her at the start she didn't care much compared to everything else. 'Even worse, I'm weak. I can't protect anyone like this. It's best to keep them under Aura and Shalltear watch for now. Well, more Aura's watch than Shalltear. As long as they follow my instructions, they'll stay out of trouble,' she reassured herself, recalling the meticulous orders she had given them.
But even as she tried to stay calm, her persistent paranoia crept back in, the fear of failure, of letting down others, of unseen dangers lurking beyond her sight. And worst of all, the memory of past farewells haunted her. 'What would Punitto do? Or Tanya? or even Kazuma? It is so frustrating to always end up in a place where you have zero information and with changes in my mind.'
'Everything about this place is so strange,' Ainz thought, her unease growing. 'I've been turned into a little girl, Tier Magic and skills don't work, and my World Item is trapped within this halo. Even some of the Guardians have been transformed into demihumans, little poor Mare included. Maybe I should set my worries aside for now and stay close to them, just to ensure they're all okay.'
Just then, she recalled the unsettling looks from Shalltear and Albedo, causing a shiver to run down her spine. 'On second thought, perhaps I'll handle that later.'
'Could they be here, too? Anyone to be at my side again?' Her thoughts drifted to her former companions as a deep seeded loneliness started to grow on her heart. 'I have to find them, no matter what... But how?'
Suddenly, her introspection was interrupted by a voice. "Is someone here? I have some questions."
Ainz snapped out of her reverie, turning her gaze toward the source of the voice.
Standing at the entrance was a girl dressed in a white uniform with a red armband. Her long, twin-tailed silver hair cascaded down her back, and a grey halo floated above her head.
Ainz quickly finished her food and stood up to greet the newcomer, as Chef Spitz hadn't returned yet.
"Uh, hi. Do you need something?" she asked, waving awkwardly to what she thought was a police officer.
"This is an official matter," the girl said brusquely, her impatience clear. "I'm investigating a series of crimes committed by a group of criminals. Have you seen any suspicious activities recently in the area?"
"Criminals? Yeah, just a little while ago I scared off a small gang. They tried to rob this restaurant," She replied, gesturing toward the broken door.
"This is the fifth gang today going around stealing things, not to mention the other four locked in gunfights. Why is it always during my patrol that things like this happen?" the student muttered, clearly stressed by the mounting responsibilities. "I'm sorry, but to be more precise the group I'm searching for is driving a small car, they are made of four criminals plus a kidnapped student."
"I'm afraid I haven't seen them," the former undead overlord apologized, noticing the girl's distress.
"It's fine. I'm sorry for the trouble. If you spot them, make sure to report to the Prefect Team," the student replied before quickly going outside. "Nothing here, let's continue the search!" The girl shouted to her team who stood outside in the rain waiting for her orders.
"Yes, Ma'am!" The officers responded as they all started to follow their leader to continue their search for the criminals.
"Multiple gangs running wild, kidnappings, gunfights... It's a good thing I told the Guardians to stay hidden and act the same way they did at the last school," Ainz muttered as she turned her back to the door to return to her table.
"Hello? I'm here to pick up an order I placed," a new voice called from the entrance, followed by the sound of footsteps.
Ainz sighed, turning to face the newcomer. As she turned her gaze met yet another student. "Hi. I have never seen your face around here. I'm Haruna. Do you know if the old geezer is around? I have an order with him," the girl said, her clothes soaked from the rain. She flapped her wings to dry them off and twisted her hat in her hands.
"Huh. Yes, he's in the…" Ainz began, but before she could finish, the door to the kitchen burst open, taking her by surprise.
"I'm right here," the old dog-man, Chef Spitz, said as he stepped out, carrying four plastic bags of neatly packed food. "Here are your four special spicy tofu curries."
"Thank you so much, Master Spitz. What happened to your door?" Haruna asked with a playful grin, gesturing toward the broken entrance.
"Some pitiful bandits tried to rob me, but Ms. Suzuki right here took care of them without any trouble," the chef said with a smile, glancing gratefully at Ainz. Embarrassed by the praise, Ainz averted her gaze, her mind flashing back to the Guardians' constant admiration, which always made her recoil shyly.
"Oh, she did? Thank you so much!" Haruna said in a polite yet playful manner, bowing her head with a kind, lively smile. "It's rare to find someone who goes to such great lengths to protect the integrity of gourmet cuisine here in Gehenna."
"He's exaggerating. I just scared them off," Ainz said, turning her gaze back to Haruna as she managed to shake off her embarrassment, hoping that her words would prevent any misunderstandings.
"Well, that's kinda impressive still. I wanted to speak some more but I'm in a bit of a rush, so I've got to go now," Haruna replied, quickly making her way towards Master Spitz, who handed her the bags. "I sent the payment before I got here. Now I have to go. I'm not missing a chance at a new breakthrough in gourmet," she added before turning to leave. As she stepped outside, a car pulled up with four students inside, one of whom was tied up.
'UWAH. She was the kidnapper!' Ainz stood there, dumbfounded with her mouth agape, much like she had been in her undead Overlord days. Before Ainz could even react to the situation in front of her the car drove away.
"You seem a bit concerned about Haruna's activities. But you don't need to worry, she does this kind of thing with Fuuka every so often," Chef Spitz said calmly, seemingly unfazed by the scene that had just unfolded.
"But shouldn't we call…?" Ainz began, only to be cut off as the chef pinched her leg, just as the car sped away.
"I told you, no need to worry. What you should focus on is learning to accept compliments," Spitz said, giving Ainz a gentle slap on the back before turning toward the kitchen. "Now, I'm going back to cook the rest."
As the chef headed back, Ainz noticed the rain had finally let up, and sunlight was beginning to break through the dark clouds. Ainz couldn't help herself but to admire the view. "Make it to-go, please. I think I'll take a walk," she said, watching the light with a faint smile forming on her face.
"A walk, huh? Makes sense for a new student. Next time you come back, bring some friends." The dog-man noted, pausing to observe the sunlight alongside her.
"How did you...?" Ainz asked, surprised.
"I've been in this business and this city for 65 years. I can spot a new student as easily as I breathe. You were just wandering around aimlessly and very unsure of the place or its costumes," he said, stepping closer with his cane in hand, studying her carefully. "And the strangest part? You walk alone." He poked Ainz gently on the back of her head with his cane.
"This city isn't one for loners. Go out, make some friends, and come back here with them to enjoy a full-course meal. Get it?"
Ainz opened her mouth to respond but remained silent. 'Friends, huh...' Her expression grew serious as memories of her past guildmates and her classmates from the previous year flooded her mind. 'I need to find them. But could they really be here? Or am I just chasing false hope again?' She thought about her former guildmates, a deep longing stirring within her. She yearned for their presence, to talk with them again, seek their guidance, and embark on new adventures together like old times.
'Although Peroroncino would definitely act weird with me looking like this, she mused with a faint smile.' Then her thoughts shifted to a more puzzling memory. 'Speaking of Peroroncino, why did Shalltear cry when she saw my new form? That was strange,' Ainz pondered, recalling the tears her comrade had shed.
"Hey, are you alright?" the chef asked, snapping her back to the present as he poked her again, noticing how distant she had become, lost in her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"You just went quiet. What were you thinking about?" the old dog-man asked again as Ainz snapped back to reality.
"I'm sorry I was… I was just thinking about something important," she said, waving one hand dismissively while scratching her head with the other. "Mister, do you know of any other schools around here? I want to visit them. I need to confirm something."
"Visiting another school alone? Didn't you hear a word I said earlier?" Spitz asked, his voice filled with frustration, feeling like his advice had been ignored.
"I did, but... I have to know. I need to see if I can find some people who are very important to me." Ainz lowered her head, her long black hair falling forward as she bowed, her tone serious.
The chef's expression softened. "Important to you, huh? So, you didn't come to Kivotos just to study, did you?" He paused, considering her request. "Well, there's a school not far from here. I've heard from a friend that the girls there are good people, and they've recently had some new students join."
Ainz's eyes lit up at his words, a faint but genuine smile crossing her face. "There's a chance…"
"Yes, yes," the chef said, turning back towards the kitchen. "Now take a seat, I'll get your food ready."
Before he could step away, Ainz moved forward and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "One last question. Where exactly do I need to go?"
"You're heading to a mostly abandoned district. Abydos. Good place, just going through tough times," Spitz replied, a hint of sadness creeping into his voice. Seeing his change in mood, Ainz quietly removed her hand from his shoulder, letting him return to the kitchen without another word.
Millennium
A small blonde girl dashed through the bustling streets of the Millennium District, clutching her Peroro backpack tightly. Her eyes scanned her surroundings as she navigated the maze of skyscrapers and crowded sidewalks.
She was Ajitani Hifumi, a student from Trinity Academy, and she was on a mission. A mission to find something incredibly important, an item she knew all too well and was willing to go to great lengths to acquire.
"Excuse me, coming through!" Hifumi called out as she squeezed past a group of people blocking her way. "Please, I just…" She pushed through the crowd and finally reached her destination: a Peroro Friends store.
Peroro Friends was one of the biggest franchises in Kivotos, and Hifumi's heart leaped with joy as she gazed at the colorful display of plushies in the window. Her eyes sparkled, a wide smile spread across her face as she scanned the shelves.
Pressing her face just inches from the glass, she studied the rows of toys, searching intently for one very rare plushie. 'He's got an orange helmet, protective goggles, and a single orange glove on his right hand,' she reminded herself, recalling every detail.
Hifumi scanned every toy in the window until her eyes finally locked on her target. "Engineer Peroro!" she spoke as a great smile formed on her face.
"Uwaaah!" a sudden voice cried out beside Hifume.
Startled, she turned to the source of the voice and saw a student standing next to her. The girl had long, silky red-golden hair, and a green, aim-shaped halo floating above her head. She wore a white and black shirt alongside a black skirt and a camo scarf around her neck. On her back she had a rifle Hifume couldn't recognize but she knew it was probably a weapon made by Millennium as she had heard of their crafting skills from Nagisa. But what caught Hifumi's attention the most was the girl's face. She had an emotionless expression, her right eye was emerald-colored with a target-shaped pupil meanwhile her left eye was hidden beneath an eyepatch.
Hifumi hesitated, feeling a bit uneasy until she realized the other girl was also staring at the Peroro plushie. Gathering her courage, Hifumi spoke up. "Huh, hello."
The girl's face turned slowly toward Hifumi. For a brief moment, Hifumi could have sworn she saw a flicker of surprise in the girl's expression before it returned to its usual blankness. "Cute," the girl said, reaching into her pocket.
To Hifumi's surprise, the girl pulled out a small one-yen sticker and gently placed it on Hifumi's hand. Hifumi blinked in confusion, staring at the sticker in her hand and then back at the girl, who remained eerily silent, her gaze fixed on her.
After what felt like an eternity, the girl finally spoke again. "Hello, I'm Shizu." She raised her hand and waved three times before letting it fall back to her side.
"H-Hi, I'm Hifumi," Hifumi responded, snapping out of her daze. She remembered why she had spoken in the first place. "I noticed you were interested in Peroro-Sama. Are you a fan too?"
"Peroro-Sama? You mean the cute plushie?" Shizu asked, tilting her head curiously before turning back to stare at the toy.
"You don't know about Peroro Friends? Everyone in Kivotos knows about it!" Hifumi said, surprised. Peroro Friends was one of the most popular brands in Kivotos. While not everyone was obsessed, it was almost impossible not to have heard of it.
"I'm new to this city. Can you tell me more about Peroro Friends? I am very interested in it." Shizu asked, her voice still emotionless, but her curiosity was evident.
Author's Notes.
Hello again.
This chapter marks the beginning of a small arc set in Abydos. This first one I feel will be rather small like 2 chapters but I don't know. Initially this fic was gonna be very small and now I have plans for a bunch of stuff, so yeah. I have plans to introduce future arcs at other schools as well.
Ainz has undergone some changes of mentality since the second race change he went through. I've developed quite a few ideas for his character moving forward, especially considering how Blue Archive emphasizes themes of friendship while Ainz considers friendship as the most important thing in the world. And please tell me if it was confusing the constant change between Ainz and Satoru.
Also going back at the chapter Ainz here even passing somedays he hasn't come to understand much of how Gehenna works and will understand it more in the future because of a certain group.
Another thing this was the last chapter I had like 90% done everything else I will have to do from scratch so the updates will considerably slow down but I in no way plan to drop this fic.
Gamer2002: As for the inclusion of Shield Hero and Cautious Hero, they will appear primarily in side stories later on. Their absence from Chapter One will be explained when they're introduced further down the line.
In response to your second question: yes, I plan to write an omake for the character's initial moments in Kivotos in the future. This will likely be posted alongside the next chapter, either by the end of October or the beginning of November but it might end up getting delayed depending a lot on the free time I have.