Vesi quickly learned how to use her ring and the two promptly teleported to the Treasury. The massive chandelier swirling above bathed them and all the surrounding valuables in a bright golden light. They made their way to the center of the large room to the small waiting area, a dragon's skull rested on a table with a massive pile of gold and jewels spilling from its mouth. After taking in all the opulence surrounding them, Vesi made her way over to it. Slowly, she reached a hand through its maw, pulling a shimmering sapphire out of the pile. Vesi turned it over in her fingers. The golden light from above ignited the gem's depths, casting flickering blue reflections on her palm. She looked to be in awe of all that surrounded them. After so many years of just running in to grab whatever he needed, Ainz had forgotten how stunning it all was. A precious memory was displayed on every shelf and down the hall he could se the massive mountains of gold just beyond. Watching Vesi fawn over the treasures made him feel a sense of nostalgia himself.
"GOOD EVENING MY SUPREME ONES! Welcome to the domain I guard!"
Of course.
His shouting made Vesi jump, dropping the jewel back onto the table when she did. Its clatter startling her further as she quickly whipped around towards the source of the sound. She didn't have to look for long as Pandora bounded over to them, heavy boots slamming against the tile floor to announce himself. Once he deemed himself close enough (most would argue too close), he came to an abrupt halt. Stiffly saluting them both.
Before Ainz could acknowledge him, the doppelgänger jumped back into action. Not even properly greeting his creator, Pandora walked right past him. Rude. Ainz stifled a sigh and wondered, not for the first time, why he'd ever granted Pandora the privilege to be so casual. Perhaps excitement was a factor too. Everyone in the tomb is desperate to see her. Giving him just a moment to take it all in was the least he could do. Ainz watched from the side as Pandora plucked the same sapphire from the table and bowed deeply before her, his free hand sweeping wide in an exaggerated flourish. Extending the gem towards Vesi as though presenting her with a royal crown.
"Please, don't be shy, my lady! All the treasures are yours for the taking."
Vesi blinked, unsure whether to laugh or retreat, but the absurd sincerity in his gesture disarmed her. Tentatively, she accepted the gem. "Thank you?"
"Ach, but that is just the beginning!" Pandora straightened and stepped back. Hands grasping at the air, unable to contain his excitement as he ran about the room. Showing off all they'd acquired in the New World, and things Vesi had apparently given him years ago that were still in pristine condition. Ainz knew she hardly remembered the stories Pandora spoke of, but Vesi was already handling this 'extra-ness' well. Nodding along with all he said and smiling every time he looked to her. She'd walked into the role so naturally, and if she could deal with Pandora, most everyone else wouldn't be a problem.
Suddenly, he darted to a display case. Eagerly retrieving something he was sure would impress her. His hand reemerging with a glimmering strand of pearls. Before Vesi could object, Pandora gently lifted an intricate piece of jewelry, its nacre stones each shimmering with enchantments. He strode back to her with the confidence of a jeweler presenting his masterpiece.
"This—this belonged to none other than your collection, milady. A priceless treasure, just as you are! Allow me!"
Pandora reached forward, his hands poised to clasp the necklace around her neck. Vesi stiffened, her polite smile faltering as his enthusiasm edged closer to invading her personal space.
"I—uh—"
"Pandora's Actor."
The doppelgänger froze, his hands inches from her shoulders. He turned slowly, clutching the necklace like a child caught mid-mischief.
"Yes, my lord?" he asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.
"That will be enough of your theatrics," Ainz said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Vesi and I are here to see the Mausoleum. Watch our rings for us."
Swiftly, he removed his [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, Vesi following suit. Pandora's shoulders slumped, his pride visibly deflated for just a moment, as though his epic performance had been cut short. However he bounced back just as quickly. He gingerly took both rings from them, Carefully wrapping them in silken cloth before stowing them away. Finally, he gave a respectful bow, arm flourishing out towards the Mausoleum entrance.
"Of course, my lords. I shall guard them with my very life!"
Vesi finally seemed to be at ease at that, even giggling at the sight. The embarrassment was almost unbearable but at least she had calmed.
"Thank you, Pandora's Actor. I do appreciate it."
Her voice was so sweet, Pandora practically jumped out of his boots at the praise. Snapping into another rigid salute as the pair walked away.
"It will be my pleasure, Lady Vesi!"
[Philian Apolesai]
The air felt heavier as they descended. The warmth of the Treasury above gradually ebbed away, swallowed almost entirely by a thick blackness. With the only light being a faint purple filtering up from the baseboards, painting the red walls with an ominous glow. Once they reached the bottom, the darkness of the room naturally drew all eyes to the pillars towering above. Golden spotlights illuminating the pure black statues that proudly stood atop each one. All glaring down at the pair passing beneath them.
It took her a moment to realize it, but every one of the figures was familiar. Their visages stirred a deep sense of belonging. They weren't just statues—they were old friends, preserved with care. Her pace slowed, taking in the faces she had longed to see. A strange warmth settled in her chest, and for a moment, it felt like they were all together again.
"Quite the sight, yeah? They could be better, I know. I tried to do them justice, but... well, you'll see. What I want to show you is just a bit further ahead."
Pulled from her trance, Vesi left her old friends behind and ran to catch up. The farther they went, the more concerned she became. They were all statues of the guild members, so many of them. At the beginning were people Vesi had watched leave, she already knew they were gone. But this hallway seemed to go one forever. Was there no one left?
Ainz finally stopped. Staring up at one particular statue. The first thing Vesi noticed was the sigil. There was one at the base of every pillar—the signs of each member—and this one had hers carved at its base. Her breath caught in her throat as she raised her gaze. Resting on the pedestal was a mirror image of her, in her best armor, sword poised for action.
For a moment, it felt surreal. Here, in a mausoleum, a place for those long gone, was a monument to her.
"Wow..." It was all she could say as she moved closer. The conflicting mixture of awe and sadness overtaking her. Her eyes traced the familiar curves of the sigil, the details she'd etched into her memory ages ago. But to see it here, preserved in stone, made her feel more like a memory herself.
Ainz stepped beside her, wringing his hands together. Left feeling awkward in her silence.
"I... well, I started making these a few months after you disappeared. It felt... necessary, somehow. A way to remember them. To hold onto something when people started leaving."
Vesi didn't speak. Her eyes remained fixed on the stone figure, her own face staring down at her with that same fierce determination she used to feel.
"They're not perfect, I know," Ainz continued, his tone shifting to something more self-conscious while still desperate to fill this quiet. "I've thought about remaking them, actually. Some of the details are wrong, and they just... they don't capture it—what we had, what you all meant. But I thought it was important that—"
He hesitated, his hollow voice carrying an unexpected weight.
"That we would—I would—never forget you. Not any of you."
Vesi's eyes softened as the words sank in. Slowly, she turned back to him, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a slow exhale, she stepped back from the statue.
"I love it." she said softly, her voice steadying as she found her resolve. "They're perfect, really. Keeping everyone alive, even when we weren't here."
Her gaze moved back to the statue, now with a small smile on her lips.
"I was wondering where that armor got to."
Ainz tilted his head slightly. "The armor?"
She gestured to her stone doppelgänger. "Yeah... There's an empty stand in my room. I only noticed earlier today. I'm glad it got some use."
He let himself chuckle, relieved by the change in mood. "Yes, I did borrow it. It was a nice set and, if it was just to collect dust I figured it would look better here."
Ainz reached for the sigil, magic crackling from his fingertips and flowing into it. There was a loud rumble as the pillar started to lower, her statue coming down to ground level.
"Sorry for not asking, but, well, you weren't here. If you want it back all you have to do is ask."
She giggled. "Nah, she deserves it. Looks better in it than I ever did anyway, so heroic."
"Not more heroic, just... quieter." Ainz offered a faint smile beneath his mask of bone, the slight self-deprecation softening his voice.
Vesi laughed again, more confidently this time as she shook her head. Eyes roaming to the other statues now. "But so many of them are really gone? One for every member?"
Her voice grew quiet again while she stared at all who surrounded them. So many familiar faces, ones she'd been secretly hoping to see when she first heard that sailor utter the name Ainz Ooal Gown.
Ainz sighed, posture slumping as he looked around.
"Most of them did leave," he admitted softly. "They gave me their stuff when they decided to quit. Others just left one day, like I thought you did. I couldn't convince any of them to stay. I thought..." He trailed off for a moment, voice taking on a melancholic edge. "Maybe I could hold it all together, until they all came back. That didn't happen, as you probably noticed."
He fell silent, turning slowly to admire his old work. The sting at the loss of his friends always became sharper here. But today, the pain wasn't nearly as sharp.
For a moment, the air between them was thick with that shared grief. Vesi's gaze softening as he spoke, trying to imagine what it was like for Ainz—staying here, alone, waiting for people who would never return.
"You came here alone?"
Ainz scratched at his skull for a moment. "No, not alone. All of Nazarick came with me. It's been a blessing to have them but—" Ainz started walking down the hall again, taking in every detail. "I was always worried about leading the guild. Ever since you all elected me to do it."
Vesi followed quietly beside him. She remembered that about him—the way he doubted himself, even back then. He had been chosen as the leader, not because he sought the role, but because everyone trusted him. He cared about everyone's input, made sure everyone had a say. But now... it seemed like that wasn't how things worked anymore.
"So how are you ruling things now?" she asked, her curiosity mixed with a hint of concern.
A loud sigh came from him. Bony fingers raking across his skull once more. He didn't answer her immediately, just stared up at the ceiling as if the answer was up there for him to find. They paused at the bottom of the stairs. Vesi didn't know why this had struck a nerve, but she would wait for him to be ready. If she wanted to help him, she needed to know the things that troubled him after all. Finally, after a while of muttering to himself and grabbing his temples, Ainz spoke.
"I feel like I don't."
His voice was so heavy, he almost sounded choked up. The air was so heavy between them. Vesi only stared in shock while Ainz's gaze shifted to the floor. Unsure if she should press or wait for him to open up at his own pace, Vesi just moved closer. Hoping to give a little support through whatever had caused him to say that.
Seeing the worry in her eyes, Ainz was quick to add, "They view me so highly. This whole time I've been getting better, but it still feels like I'm not good enough for them. Like they deserve the ruler they think I am."
Vesi couldn't help it—she laughed. It wasn't mocking, just a burst of disbelief at how absurd his worries sounded. After all, she had seen how the guardians revered him.
Ainz's eyes shot up to glare at her, startled by the reaction.
"Sorry, sorry!" she quickly apologized, holding her hands up defensively. "It's just... Demiurge has been talking about how great you are all day! He practically worships the ground you walk on."
Ainz's stern expression softened as he shook his head, a faint sigh escaping him. "Demiurge always says things like that, doesn't he?"
Vesi smiled, seeing the tension leave him, if only for a moment. "I guess he does, but you should believe it. Everyone here does."
The weight between them lingered for a moment longer before Ainz nodded, a silent agreement to let things rest for now. They turned together, walking back through the statues. Ainz's earlier mood lifting as they neared the familiar, more comfortable, areas of Nazarick.
[Philian Apolesai]
Her voice carried a weight of finality as she rose from her seat. "Then it's decided. I will gather everything together and we shall regroup tomorrow night for setup." Her golden eyes swept the room, daring anyone to object. It hadn't been a hard meeting, everyone had enjoyed creating the perfect celebration for their lords, piling on ideas, refining their plan into something that should be perfect. Yet Albedo's patience seemed exceptionally weak today. Her lips pressed to a thin line as she looked over every guardian, gaze lingering on Demiurge a beat longer than the rest.
"Thank you, Albedo," Demiurge said smoothly, inclining his head. "This is certainly an excellent foundation for what promises to be a grand celebration. I look forward to refining the details further with everyone. I'm certain our lords will enjoy it."
Before she respond, Mare's hesitant voice broke the silence.
"D-Do you think Lady Vesi will really like it? Our party, I mean."
Aura gave her brother a reassuring nudge. "She'll love it. You got to hear straight from her, didn't you? She said anything we do would make her happy."
Mare's nervous smile eased into something more genuine, and the twins left together, quietly discussing the celebration. Albedo's expression remained impassive, but Demiurge noticed the faintest flicker of doubt in her eyes before she composed herself and made her exit, her footsteps echoing down the grand halls of Nazarick. Demiurge lingered behind, watching them go before turning his attention to Shalltear. She met his gaze with a dismissive huff before stalking out. His lips curved into a small, knowing smile as he adjusted his glasses.
Albedo's figure had disappeared ahead of him, but he knew where she'd gone. Following after the Supreme Ones—or, more specifically, Lady Vesi. He quickened his pace, curiosity sparking at how this night might unfold.
[Philian Apolesai]
Vesi's footsteps were light against the polished floors of Nazarick as she walked beside Ainz. Despite the imposing presence the Sorcerer King and her own daunting form, their conversation carried a quiet, personal tone. Both seemed almost giddy as they reminisced about the past, exchanging stories of the lives they had lived while apart.
"Ah, there is something I should mention," Ainz said, breaking the flow of their conversation.
"What is it?"
"Demiurge has taken it upon himself to assist you with reacclimating to Nazarick. He is, as you've seen, very eager. I just want to tell you to be careful."
Vesi's brow furrowed slightly. "He's been wonderful so far. Is there something I should be worried about?"
Ainz let out a dry rattle of a sigh. Unintentionally scaring her as he tried to find the right words. "Not worried, per se. Just cautious. Demiurge has a tendency to… take things very literally. Whatever you say, he will treat as law. It can be a lot but I think you can handle it. Just don't talking about well, taking over the world, or something like that."
The weight of his words settled on her, but Vesi nodded firmly. "Got it, be careful."
As they approached her room, the ornate door came into view—and so did Demiurge. He stood poised, hands clasped behind his back, and bowed deeply the moment he saw them.
"Lord Ainz. Lady Vesi," he greeted, his voice as polished as ever. "A pleasure to see you both this evening."
Ainz's gaze lingered on him briefly. "Did Vesi summon you?"
Vesi glanced up in surprise. "How would I even do that?"
Demiurge's lips curved into a faint smile. "It is simply my duty to be where my masters need me."
Ainz gave a slight nod. "Then perhaps it is time for her to (re)learn how to use [Message]."
Demiurge straightened slightly, the faintest hint of satisfaction glinting in his eyes. "A most prudent suggestion, my lord. I would be happy to assist."
"Well," Vesi interjected, glancing between the two of them, "this has been a long evening. I think I'll retire for the night. Demiurge, thank you for all your help."
"The pleasure is mine, Lady Vesi," he said with another bow.
Ainz gave him a measured look before turning back to Vesi. "Enjoy your night. We'll speak again soon."
Vesi nodded, stepping into her room. As the sound of her footsteps faded, Ainz turned to Demiurge.
"You've been very diligent," Ainz said, his tone a mix of approval and warning. "Continue to serve her well."
Demiurge bowed low. "Of course, my lord. It is my highest honor."
[Philian Apolesai]