Chapter 5
Even at night, the Supreme Leader of the Great Tomb of Nazarick never rested.
For Ainz, who used to be an average person, acting like a leader was difficult. Thus, he repeatedly practiced playing that role just in case a situation called for it. Practicing poses and writing down sentences to deal with all sorts of problems were his two main activities.
Even though an hour had passed since Ainz started practicing, he did not require any sleep, being undead. But even if he'd ask Oshikuru to temporarily switch to a living being, he still would not be tired. Ainz was the supreme overlord, but in reality, he barely did a thing. Unless there were some important decisions or emergency situation that required his leadership, he had nothing to do.
Albedo took care of all the details and all Ainz had to do was reading her reports. Sometimes he managed to drag Oshikuru to help him, but that proved difficult. But if there was something in the reports that required his attention, Albedo would have let him know, so he just skimmed through them all. It was not an attitude befitting a ruler, but as long as Albedo was around and there was no emergency, there would be no problem.
But after meeting the Emperor he was starting to change his mind. I should give up the adventurer business and gather knowledge to deal with emergency situations… I have to train my mind well, but what should I do? Who's going to be the teacher...? How can I not ruin the image of Ainz Ooal Gown that everybody believes in…
Everyone inside Nazarick respected Ainz as the supreme leader and kneeled before him, his best friend included. Just like how a father could not betray his children's admiration, he just could not betray them. That was why he practiced acting, in the hope that he could at least appear to play the part.
Ainz was fully aware that it was embarrassing. Of course Oshikuru would not spread word of it, but he would tease him endlessly.
"My actions must be fitting to my role... A figure that's respected..."
Ainz flipped the page while feeling like he was coughing up blood. There were plenty more lines he came up with in his spare time, and it felt like the finish line was still somewhere beyond the horizon.
Ainz Ooal Gown was undead and emotions over a certain threshold were suppressed. But —
"—I need a break..." The consciousness of Suzuki Satoru was weary from mental fatigue and screamed out loud. He shouted that he did not want it anymore.
But from Ainz's tightly clenched jaws came a different sound.
"What are you doing? I need to work harder." Ainz flagellated himself for wanting to avoid all this, and his eyes regained their strength. He looked into the mirror.
Suddenly, a digital "pipipipipi" noise rang out.
The source was the bracelet on his left arm. It was a heavenly sound to Ainz. He turned off the sudden beeping and let out a big sigh.
"If time's up, then it can't be helped. Albedo and the maid will be here soon."
Ainz returned the memo pad to a box. When he closed the lid, he could hear the sound of several locks engaging. If someone tried to forcefully open the box, it would trigger an extensive array of attack spells, all of which would be centered on the box to destroy it. Unless it was someone with a level 90 with a rogue class job or a character over level 80 with full specialization as a rogue, it was near impossible to open it. He had specifically chosen it so that Oshikuru could not read his notes and mock him. It was that secure of a box.
Only after sealing the memo pad with such secure item, he put the box in the pocket space which had countless other rare items. However, a high level thief would be able to steal items from it. Yet, just because a rogue could, did not mean said rogue could just immobilize his opponents and rob them dry. The limit would have been one or two items per player. Still, the possibility of being robbed even once or twice made Ainz —who should experience no fear as he was undead— shudder in terror.
In this New World, there were unknown factors such as talents as well. That was why he placed the box in such a way so that others would go for the rare items instead of the box. After storing it, he checked again repeatedly, like a housewife making sure the door was locked before leaving on a trip. Only after he satisfied himself that it was there did he allow himself to sigh in relief.
Ainz finally left his bedroom. The place he was headed to was the room he regularly used as the study. The ones who bowed deeply to him there were the regular maid, plus Albedo and Mare.
There was nothing surprising about the maid or Albedo being there, but he was surprised that Mare, who very rarely came around, was there. Ainz cut across the room, turned around at the table and sat in a motion that he had practiced for over thirty times. The key point was not to step on the robe and not push the chair out of the way.
The next pose he took was one that had him lean back in the chair. It would not look good if he leaned back too near or too far. Do kings have a kingly way of sitting down? I guess they do, but what is it? ... I could visit Jircniv and give a close at him...
It was recommended for company men to lightly sit in the middle of the chair without leaning on the backrest. But Ainz Ooal Gown was no longer a company man.
Thus, Ainz practiced the postures of the ideal king in his mind.
"Raise your heads."
The three raised their heads. The fact they would not raise their heads without a command felt like a waste of time, but he could not ignore their intention of wanting to display their utmost loyalty every time. That was why Ainz controlled himself and went through the same ritual every time.
"Then I shall ask you first, Mare. What is your business?"
"Ah, yes!"
Whether it was because he was nervous, Mare let out a squeaky voice. Ainz smiled, but since there were no muscles on his face, nothing moved. However, it still made the atmosphere seem warmer. As if sensing this, Mare breathed easier. He seemed less tense as well.
"I, uh, brought that, uh, thing."
Ainz did not go "What are you talking about?" like a boss with a bad personality. Instead, he simply took it from Mare. It was because of the possibility that he could have forgotten what he had ordered.
"Is that so — No, it's fine."
Ainz stopped the maid who was preparing to receive the object from Mare with a wave of his hand.
"Mare, bring it directly to me."
"Yes!"
Mare straightened his back, approached Ainz and presented a folder to him. Ainz slowly opened the folder.
Ah, yes, it's the memo folder.
All male Guardians had taken up Ainz's offer and circled the "Participating" box.
"Considering the order of names, it would've been fine if Cocytus' subordinate came instead. You worked hard, Mare."
"No, no. I'm happy to serve! Besides, since Cocytus-san was busy the Toadmen, so I came here instead…"
"Hmm… What's wrong, Mare? What are you looking at? Is there something funny on my face?"
Ainz took the greatest of pains to make sure those words did not come out in a mean manner.
"N-no. Nothing like that. I just thought Ainz-sama was cool..."
"I'm... cool?"
Ainz unconsciously stroked his skeletal face.
"Ahhahah... Mare, you're quite good with flattery."
"It's not flattery!"
It was a loud voice that nobody would have thought would have come from Mare.
"I-I apologize. But, I really thought Ainz-sama was cool. Even when you were sitting down, it was a movement truly befitting the Supreme Overlord of Nazarick."
Ainz looked at the maid in a questioning manner, and the homunculus nodded in agreement as if she understood what Ainz was asking. Albedo vigorously nodded up and down as well, despite not being asked. In fact, her wings flapped up and down too.
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that."
After Ainz's short answer, he stood and walked up to Mare. As he stood in front of the boy who was petrified and wondering if he would be scolded, Ainz instead gently caressed his head. It was a rough, but gentle gesture.
"A-Ainz-sama..."
"Thank you, Mare. Your words always make me happy."
He did not reveal Suzuki Satoru's embarrassment and kneeled to look Mare eye-to-eye.
"I have always felt that I need to thank my comrades."
"The other Supreme Beings?"
"That's right. I'm thankful that they created this Great Tomb of Nazarick and that they created you, Mare and everybody else. All of you… obviously including you, Albedo and Sixth."
Albedo's wings spread wide, as if she was about to climax. Also, the maid who had so suddenly been addressed by name looked as if she did not know what to do. She was usually calm and collected, but this side of her made Ainz laugh heartily.
"All of you are my treasures."
Ainz lifted up Mare as if letting him ride on the shoulders.
"I don't even want to hand you over to Bukubukuchagama-san."
"I am honoured, Ainz-sama."
Sixth, had tears of joy flowing down her face.
"On behalf of Nazarick, I thank you for remaining here to rule us. I know there are many instances where we have displeased you and you have found us lacking. I know it is rude to ask this of you, but please allow us to serve you loyally!"
"I will allow this. I said something like this to Albedo and Demiurge in the past. I am the master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and your liege, Ainz Ooal Gown."
Ainz was surprised that he was so comfortable saying these things that he had not prepared for. Though in a way, it was not that surprising, because all he had done was to vocalize how he truly felt.
Mare hugged Ainz and buried his face in Ainz's shoulder. A calm voice in Ainz's mind said that it was a good thing he was not in his usual attire. A warm, wet sensation came from the shoulder of his robes, but Ainz let Mare cry. After the sniffling noise died down a little, he lowered Mare to the ground while softly petting him on the head.
Ainz took out a handkerchief from his pocket to clean Mare's face. Since he had never done this for someone else before, he ended up being a bit rougher than he expected, but Mare stood still and let Ainz do as he pleased.
"Then, go wash your face, Mare."
"W-what about Ainz-sama?"
"Hmm. I need to go to E-Rantel now. Oshikuru, Brain and I have a meeting with the Guild Master. We rejected it so far because it was annoying, but I can't put it off any more. If not…"
Ainz looked at Albedo, who was standing in silence. It was difficult to tell what expression she was making because her long hair was covering the face. But the fact she was trembling ever so slightly made him afraid. It resembled a volcano brimming with rage right before the eruption.
"What is it, Albedo?"
She let out a strange sound and in that very moment Ainz's field of vision suddenly shifted. He also felt something hit his back. It did not hurt as Ainz would only take damage from something with magical properties. It was just a shock light enough to tell him that he hit something in the back, but nothing that was close to being painful. However, the reaction of Ainz's human side made him blink his lidless eyes for a second.
The situation was so sudden that Ainz could not think clearly for a moment. Since his undead mind was immune to confusion, it must have been Suzuki Satoru who was flustered. When he opened his eyes, the Eight Edge Assassins came into view. Ainz understood that he was lying on the floor and tried to get up, but he could barely move due to something soft and mysterious holding him down.
How is this possible? I have restrain resistance and other movement hindrance resistance items. The moment I was completely immobilized, I should have been freed... This means the opponent has high level restrain skill!
Ainz looked at the creature that was trying to restrain him and confirmed that it was Albedo, as he had suspected.
"Ainz-samaaaaa!" After straddling Ainz with both legs and firmly mounting him she raised her upper body.
"W-what is it? What's the matter?!"
"… I need to... I can't hold it in anymore!"
Albedo opened her eyes wide. Her pupils that seemed to split her golden irises apart gave Ainz a chilling sensation down his back.
"W-what are you talking about?!"
Ainz panicked, but Albedo ignored him and put her hands on her dress, closing her fingers around the slit of her cleavage. With a grunted "Hmph!" she tried to rip it apart, but the material did not budge.
"Magical clothing is annoying. I should use an item destruction skill or just take it off normally."
"Get a hold of yourself, Albedo. Get down from me right this instant!"
He tried to push her off by force, but the opponent was a level 100 warrior. Plus, he could not use his full strength because he was grabbing something extremely soft while trying to push her off.
Albedo's hands closed in and tried to open up Ainz's robe.
"Don't try to take off my clothes! Don't move your hips! Oi!"
"Ah. Awawawawawawa... It's your fault, Ainz-sama! I held it in so far, but you started saying things that I can't hold myself anymore! It's all Ainz-sama's fault! I just need a little bit! Just a little bit! Really, a little bit! Please, give me some of your favour! It'll be over by the time you're finished counting the number of the Eight Edge Assassins on the ceiling!"
If she had mentioned that it was Ainz's fault for changing her settings, he would have lost all will to resist. However, Albedo looked like she was about to devour Ainz whole and the fear of being eaten, like that of prey being cornered by a predator, overrode Ainz's guilt and he struggled against her.
"Albedo, get off me at once!"
She completely ignored that and went on to her goal. "Oh, what do we have here, Ainz-sama? A gift for me?"
Finally the subordinates, who were confused at this sudden situation, sprang into action.
"Albedo-sama has lost her mind!"
And the Eight Edge Assassins jumped off the ceiling simultaneously.
"Get her off Ainz-sama! No, no! Don't try to restrain her with skills! It's just going to get cancelled! Use your strength!"
"It's too much! To be this strong, she is indeed the Overseer of Guardians! Mare-sama, help us!"
"A-ah! Y-yes!"
Ainz fixed his clothing after being finally liberated and pointed to Albedo, who was being held by all four limbs.
"Albedo shall be grounded for three days," He declared.
The Eight Edged Assassins dragged a moaning Albedo out of the room.
"U-uh, Ainz-sama... Are you alright?"
"I'm fine… But when did Albedo turn so weird?"
Mare looked away as Ainz asked the question.
"Well… I guess, uh, mmm, there would have been this and that happening for her. She must have been under a lot of work-related stress."
Ainz stood up from his place and called over the maid. To regain his dignity, he spoke in the most regal voice he could manage.
"...Tell Oshikuru, Brain and Hamsuke to prepare. It's time to head to E-Rantel."