Chapter 19 - Volume 3 (1/2)

Overlord Volume 3 Chapter 4

Before the Death Match

Part 1

After teleporting into the Treasury, the first thing Ainz saas countless lights glittering in the air, like stars in the sky

The ceiling was so high that one would have to strain to see its heights, and its walls were so broad that they exceeded the range of one’s vision The vast roo treasures

In the center of the rooee Even the amount which could be seen to be counted was but a tiny fraction of the actual sum In addition, there were old

A quick glance revealed a golden emstones, a crystal pitcher, an animal pelt which emitted a platinum radiance, an exquisitely woven tapestry old, a pearl-colored ocarina, a fan made of rainbow-colored feathers, a mask made from animal hide, and many, many more

Needless to say, they were but the tip of the iceberg

There were hundreds antic heap of riches As his followers beheld this literal asps of awe from them It would seem the voices came from two people

Sixty six percent, huh…

Ainz looked behind hi for orders

Albedo had shed her ared back into her white dress There was a look of genuine admiration on her beautiful face as she looked around her surroundings A similar expression adorned the face of Yuri Alpha, theto Nazarick

Only one of theasp in awe, but instead watched Ainz in silence

Her face was a work of sculpted beauty Only one of her eyes — which radiated a cool glow like a cut e covered up by an eyepatch Her strawberry-blonde hair glea

She was a hetero, of the kind known as Automatons Her name was CZ2128 Delta, or shi+zu for short

As a Pleiades Battle Maid, she was dressed siest difference in her outfit from the others was that all her accessories were done up in an urban cae pattern, while her skirt had a cute “1-yen” sticker on it In addition, she had a firearm of some sort at her waist, attached to her belt like a sword

Incidentally, that un, the Automaton race, and shi+zu’s job class of Gunner had all been added to the gae-scale update called “Valkyrie’s Downfall”

Yuri adjusted her lensless black spectacle fraiven her sense of duty as a maid Then, she asked:

“Ainz-sama, may I ask why these treasures have not been tidied up? Even if there are protective spells in effect, this is hardly an ideal storage in tidying—”

“Look closely around you oneabout the tiized

“My sincerest apologies Please forgive ht”

“Pay it no heed However, the fact is that the iteold pieces are hardly valuable”

The places where Ainz had looked and where Yuri’s eyes had folloere the reason for her apology There were shelves everywhere, piled all the way up to the ceiling, and the treasures there were old

There was a wand socketed with bloodstones, a pair of hihiirokane gauntlets inlaid with garnets, a s adorned with black dia, a purple aer, a miniature altar with countless small white pearls elass-like ht in all the colors of the rainbow, a rose blossom which had been masterfully carved froon, a crown of platinuolden censers that were encrusted in gemstones, a mated pair of a male and female lion statuettes, carved from ruby and sapphire respectively, cufflinks which looked like flames and which had fire opals set into thear case olden beast’s pelt, a dozen plates erimoire whose cover was made of demantoids, a huold, a belt with imperial topazes sewn into its material, a chess set whose pieces were all topped in different gele piece of emerald, a black cloak that was decorated with countless s horn olden dais that held a crystal ball, and so on

This was but a fraction of the wonders therein

In addition, there were many mirrors of blue topaz, red crystals that were the size of a antic platinum statue of a warrior, a pillar covered in antic alexandrite which one would need both arave Yuri her anshich was that there was sio”

Albedo and Yuri answered Ainz in the affir in acknowledgement

Ainz cast 「Mass Fly」, and then the four of them took off

It was then that they realized that a faint purple poisonous gas hung in the air

Yuri looked around to find the source of the purple gas, but though she looked to the ceiling, the walls, and the corners, she could not pinpoint the source of the purple radiance

Just as confusion bloomed on Yuri’s face, a monotonous voice answered her:

“…Yuri-nee Powerful ic toxin in the air”

“Eh?”

Yuri’s surprised ansas met by a cold, inscrutable look That look careen eye, which was devoid of any emotion

One would not be able to pick up any emotion from those eyes shi+zu had a beautiful face, but if one were to be ungenerous, one could call it an actor’s mask

After all, shi+zu was an automaton She would not show any eraandr?”

As shi+zu named that most potent of poisons, Ainz replied:

“Mm, that’s correct I didn’t tell you, but the air in the Treasury is toxic Anyone without poison i it will die within three steps”

“Would that be why you chose ive me, why you chose the three of us to accompany you?”

Indeed it was

Yuri — as adjusting her glasses — was a Dullahan, while the stiff-faced shi+zu was an Autos ere immune to poison as part of their racial features

Albedo was a demon and did not naturally possess a resistance to poisons, but she had another way to render herself iht in the reason for which I brought you here… However, I brought shi+zu for more than just that; she is also here for verification”

Ainz and his entourage crossed the old with the 「Mass Fly」 spell, and then they caht to call it a door? It was more of a bottomless black shadow in the shape of a door, affixed to a wall

As they arrived before this painting-like door, Ainz fell into thought

“This is the armory, so what is the password…”

“Ainz-sama, if there is an armory, does this mean that there are other treasures stored in other locations?”

…Eh? Does Albedo not know about the interior of the Treasury?

Ainz had no idea why Albedo would have such doubts However, it was understandable why she would not know about such things After all, the Treasury did not exist within the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick proper, but could only be reached via the use of the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown It was designed to be very difficult to infiltrate Thus, it was only natural why Albedo — who had only received the ring ten days ago — would not know of such things

He had many questions about what exactly the NPCs knew, but after thinking about it, Ainz dismissed those concerns as trivial, and answered her question

“Ah, yes I had a friend called Genjiro He liked sorting things out neatly, so he should have arranged the items by their intended purpose”

“Is he the Supre who ht, Yuri However, it seems there was an exception to his orderly tendencies If he was truly obsessed with cleanliness, then the treasures aed as well One would not want to say that one’s room was filthy, after all Coed in order of defensive gear, weapons, jewellery, wondrous ite supplies, and so on Also, there’s the rooement of Nazarick… and yes, there should be a room for data crystals”

As Ainz chattered on, he pointed to where a two-dimensional shado appeared on the wall

“However, they’re all located in the same place inside, and it doesn’t really ies I seerateful that you would answer our questions so readily, Ainz-sama”

The two battle maids bowed in thanks as Albedo made her reply

We’re al? It seelories of Nazarick…

Ainz shrugged, and then looked to the shadow before him

This was a door which required a certain password to open Perhaps one could force it open with ue skills, but Ainz did not know spells like that, not did he have such skills Thus, he had to speak the password—

Hot it

That was only to be expected

There were so immicks in Nazarick that he would probably only be able to remeiven that he did not come to the Treasury often, he did not remember the password to this door

He had only co for the upkeep costs of Nazarick with the o

Since he could not remember the password, Ainz spoke a lory to Ainz Ooal Gown”

In response, the jet-black door displayed a series of words: “Ascendit a terra in coelum, iterumque descendit in terram, et recipit vim superiorum et inferiorum”

(TL Note: This is an excerpt frodina)

“…Tabula Sdina-san really was a perfectionist”

Albedo reacted to those words which Ainz could not help but ht of one of the people who had designed the tricks and traps used by Ainz Ooal Gown

He had a hand in designing about twenty percent of the sround Tons consumed much of Nazarick’s free data capacity, which caused the other e themselves Thus, he took responsibility for his actions and paid for many cash items to expand said data capacity

Ainz studied the words which appeared This must be a hint for the password, but what could ithis time to plumb the depths of his mind for the answer

Soon, Ainz finally found the password, which slumbered within his memories

“It should be — By this lory of the whole world, / And so you shall drive away all shadows and blindness — am I correct?”

As Ainz said this, he looked to shi+zu with questioning eyes

shi+zu nodded in response to him

She had been made by one of his friends who had worked on different dina shi+zu’s backstory had been written so that she would be fa of Nazarick’s mechanisms This hy she could easily solve that password hint

However, Ainz had not asked her for help because he wanted to indulge the selfish desire to open the door through his own efforts

The Great Underground Toht to life when it came to this neorld Therefore, he wanted to be the first to set his feet here, much like how men wanted to leave their footprints on freshly-fallen snow It was that desire which drove Ainz to open the door on his own

As though in response to Ainz’s wishes, the shadow door collapsed into a single point Soon, the shadoas gone, leaving a fist-sized sphere of blackness floating in the air

Now that the shadow had vanished, one could see into the tunnel that had been left behind This was an orderly place, completely unlike the previous area The best way to describe it would be so like a display fro and stretched ever inward

The ceiling was about five ned with humans in mind, while it was about ten round was htly-fit, shi+ny black stone blocks, and it looked like a single gigantic stone slab

Neat rows of countless weapons were arrayed on the walls to Ainz’s left and right,in”

Ainz entered the Ar for his three followers to respond

What awaited the three of thees, scimitars, patas, shotels, kukris, claymores, short swords, sword breakers…

Of course, swords were not the only weapons here There were one-handed axes, two-handed axes, one-handed bludgeons, javelins, bows, crossbows…

Just the types alone were almost uncountable

In addition, there were many unrealistic weapons here that stretched the definition of actually being called weapons Those were the kind that could not possibly be sheathed, or which were more decorative than useful, and so on No, these weapons were in theas ordinary as mere steel

There was a sith a blade of blue crystal, a pure-white sith gold inlays and engravings, a black sith purple runes along its body, and even a bow that seeht

Then there were other weapons that looked dangerous even at a glance

There was a two-handed axe whose blade constantly dripped fresh blood Toranticeach other And then there were many

One could guess that ic weapons, but the exact effect each of theuess at the purpose of a shose blade flickered like a flame, but it was impossible to know the abilities of a shose blade looked like a whip and which wriggled like a centipede

The group looked at these weapons on either side as they silently walked through the Ar — about a hundred meters and thousands of weapons later — they reached their destination, which was a rectangular roouests, since there was a table and sofa set in the es visible to the left and right which looked sih which Ainz and company had entered

There was only one route which led further on, in contrast to the way they had entered The atmosphere of that as also dramatically different If the previous room had been like a ht of the room was about the same as the previous one, but the dim interior extended further in It was hard to tell due to the angles, but it looked like there was a large niche set into the wall, with so the sounds of surprise from behind him, Ainz said:

“Within lies the Mausoleum”

“The Mausoleum?”

“Hm? Albedo… do you not know the name of that room?”

Well, I did pick that naht not even know the name of the Treasury’s Guardian…

“Then, do you know of Pandora’s Actor?”

“Yes, I do As the Guardian Overseer, I am aware of his name and appearance… Pandora’s Actor is the Area Guardian of the Treasury, and his abilities are on par withthe Treasury, his purpose is also to prepare the currency needed to activate Nazarick’s defense network In other words, he is a treasurer”

“That’s pretty much it However, that is not all That fellow—”

Before Ainz could finish, he was interrupted — the three NPCs turned to look at one of the other passages and saw an entity there

That being had a bizarre appearance

While it had a ht side of its head was half-covered in a twisted, tattooed letters, which resembled the ones that had floated up on the door just now

Its skin was like that of a corpse, with purple blotches ahastly white color, and it was covered in soave off a bizarre sheen Webs of skin greeen the long digits of its four-fingered hands

Its body was covered in a shi+ny, for black leather outfit studded with silver jewelry Several belts wrapped around it Its black cape was closed in front of it, as if to conceal its body

It was the very picture of a hetero tentacles which sprouted frohs, and it turned its cloudy blue pupil-less eyes to survey the group

Albedo cried out in surprise:

“Tabula Sdina-sas As a ic caster, he was superior to Ainz in terms of attack power

“No, that’s not him!” she immediately continued

The two maids watched Albedo’s reaction and swiftly un and braced its stock against her shoulder, levelling her muzzle at the person before her

Yuri clenched her fists in front of her chest, and punched her gauntlets together, which

Then, she slid next to Albedo’s side, in front of Ainz and shi+zu Ainz was a unner, neither of whom did well in close combat Thus, this was the ideal position for her to be in order to cover for theuise yourself and your presence as a Supre, I would not mistakewho looked like Tabula Sdina merely inclined its head at Albedo’s question, but did not make any reply

“—Really now Kill it”

As that cold voice rang forth, the two battle h this was an unknown opponent, they were still a little reluctant to attack someone who resembled one of their creators

Under these circumstances, one could not fault the battle ement was impeccable

Their top priority was the safety of their ward, Ainz

Albedo clicked her tongue as the other two failed to act Just as she was about to charge, a distinctly unhappy Ainz said:

“That’s enough Return to your true fordina’s body distorted

In the space of a heartbeat, another heterodina had been, though it was so else entirely

Its face was flat, with no nose or other facial features Its mouth and eyes were replaced by three eue; just three black holes which looked like they had been drawn on by a child with a black -like head was sle hair to e character — and Narberal — were both Doppelgangers

His name was Pandora’s Actor, and he was a level one hundred NPC personally designed by Ainz and placed in charge of the Treasury His talents lay in disguise, and he could copy forty five separate forhty percent of the original’s potency

His hat bore the crest of Ainz Ooal Gohile the uniform he as very si the Euro-Arcology Wars twenty years ago

After forcefully clicking his heels together, he raised his right hand to his cap in a grossly overacted salute

“I bid you a fond welcoa-sama!”

“…You seey every day! Speaking of which, may I know the purpose for which you have come? And to think you would have in your train these fair maidens, the Guardian Overseer and the Pleiades Battle Maids!”

Yuri and Albedo returned to their positions behind Ainz after the Area Guardian revealed hih the three of them had different looks on their faces

Yuri — who took pride in her position as one of the Pleiades — adjusted her glasses and see called a “fair , though ultimately she did not

Albedo, who stood beside Ainz, seemed to be jealous of the fact that Pandora’s Actor had been created by Ainz and pursed her lips where Ainz could not see her

shi+zu, on the other hand, showed no change in her expression and sioing into the innermost vaults to retrieve World Class Items”

“Of what do you speak!? Has the time come to unleash their power!?”

Pandora’s Actor put on an exaggerated look of shock This act made Ainz furrow his nonexistent eyebrows

His clothes were one thing, but why did he have to overreact to everything? No, Ainz knew the answer to that

Ainz was the creator of Pandora’s Actor; in other words, his every ht they were stylish Thus, he had happily worked theh, this is really…”

In the past, he had thought ofvery cool, and he believed that actors ought to be draent like him make such showy motions was—

“Uwah~ how lame~”

Those quiet words slipped free of Ainz’s heart, so softly that nobody heard

This was his black history

His living, breathing black history (Pandora’s Actor)

If anyone else in the guild were around to witness this NPC’s conversion into an actual person, they would probably be rolling around on the floor, laughing out loud Well, that was how he felt; he was not pointing fingers at anyone

“…Forget it, I need to pull ether As one of the undead, I don’t have tiical blows,” Ainz quietly said to hiht I intend to withdraw 「Greed and Generosity」, 「Hygieia’s Chalice」, 「Billion Blades」, and 「Depiction of Mountains and Rivers」”

“…And what of the other two?”

“Leave them They’re one-use items The fact that they’re so powerful ht time and place to use them Then, there’s also the ain”

“Indeed, it is so For these legendary treasures, socalled trump cards, which can e the face of the entire world—”

“—Pandora’s Actor, I’d like to test your knowledge; there are two hundred World Class Items, but how ive a-sama, but I only know of eleven of theement Those were the World Class Items which Ainz Ooal Gown possessed He did not know that there was one more, 「Atlas」, which had been stolen froe was affected by their settings, but they could ignore any contradictions in their backstories

Ainz had observed the NPCs for several days now He had learned that the NPCs seeuildmates in the parts of the their personalities which were not covered by their character details, as well as in the interpersonal relationshi+ps with other NPCs For instance, the relationshi+p between Shalltear and Aura, or that between Deh his expression did not change

So basically, they’re like everyone’s children

It felt like his friends froladdened Ainz’s heart, but at the same time he felt terribly alone

Ainz shook his head to disperse his hurt feelings

“Is that so, Pandora’s Actor? I seem to have asked you a pointless question”

“Certainly not; I e”

With that, he bowed Everyridiculous

“…Neverhappened here?”

“Of course not, everything within this doues, Mo happen?”

With a theatrical flourish, he gestured all around hih, it is with a heavy heart that I confess that I was hoping you intended to a-sa up this heteroht; at one point Ainz had indeed intended tothat ranked a the pinnacle of Nazarick’s denizens While he usually applied said intelligence toward strange purposes, it was very difficult to cast aside his wisdoreat need

In addition, Pandora’s Actor possessed very flexible abilities, to the point where he could replace all the other Guardians

However, Ainz had not made him for combat or administrative duties, but to preserve the forms of “Ainz Ooal Gown” and the memories of his comrades

“…You are my final ace in the hole, so I do not intend to use you for petty tasks”

“…I arateful for that”

With a look on his face which suggested that he was hesitant to speak (probably), Pandora’s Actor once more took a deep bow

“Understood Then, I shall continue to e the Treasury from now on”

“Mm, make me proud Also, from noards, call me Ainz, Ainz Ooal Gown”

“Ohhhh! I hear and obey, my creator, Ainz-sama!”

After Pandora’s Actor saluted him, Ainz turned away, as if to show that the conversation was over Just then, a voice cah this ht offend you, I submit that since a situation has arisen that requires the use of World Class Iteht be better for you to permit me to leave the Treasury and move around on other floors”

“…”

He had a point there

Pandora’s Actor was a treasure, but it would be foolish to lose more important treasures because all he did was display hiiven that this was an eold to the Throne Roo his decision, Ainz turned around, just in ti a hand on his chest, as if to recommend himself

Ainz also heard a quiet “uwah~” from the otherwise expressionless shi+zu

That sound carved a grievous wound into Ainz’s soul — although his emotional suppression immediately calmed him down

Pandora’s Actor was indeed far too drale ned to scream “I am cool”

Perhaps such actions would fit hihead, whichIt even made Ainz feel uneasy when he saw him

Ainz quietly studied Pandora’s Actor for a while, and then he plucked a ring from his pocket di traced an arc through the air, landing neatly in the hand of Pandora’s Actor

“This… is the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown, and it possesses the ability to…”

Ainz held up a hand, as though to tell Pandora’s Actor not to go on Although he seemed quite disappointed, Ainz decided to pay him no heed

“This is just in case Albedo, inform the vassals of Nazarick about Pandora’s Actor Before that, you are only to travel between the Throne Room and the Treasury, Pandora’s Actor”

“Understood”

The two of them responded at the sareat force, tossing out his arers and saluted with great pomp and circu it up

Ainz looked at his egghead, and gently shook his head

He was not a bad sort, and he was quite capable, but regretfully—

“Uwah~”

Why did I design hi was so cool No, actually, I still think his uniform is kind of cool…

If Ainz could have blushed, his face would be bright red

“Oi, Pandora’s Actor”

Ainz grabbed Pandora’s Actor by the shoulders and pulled him aside, as if to say, Come with me Of course, he told Albedo and the maids to stay where they were

“I have an important question for you I aht?”

“Indubitably so, Ainz-sama! For as I was made by you, if you desire e into the fray without hesitation!”

“I see… then, I have a request for you as a hu… no, a man… no, as your creator… Could you please not salute any more?”

Pandora’s Actor locked his vacant eyes with Ainz’s own, his confusion at Ainz’s words evident within the is pretty weird, so please don’t salute any , so we’ll leave that be… but please, really, don’t salute any more”

“Wenn es meines Gottes Wille!”

(TL Note: If this is my God’s will!)

“Is that German? Don’t speak like that either No, you ging you”

“Y-Yes…”

This was the first time Pandora’s Actor had such a look of shock on his face, and his answer see their faces were close enough for a kiss, Ainz backed off and asked weakly:

“Please, I’er over soiant hah I’d like to discuss the ent, so we’ll leave it at this for now”

♦ ♦ ♦

“Then, there’s so the Mausoleuave you with Pandora’s Actor”

Ainz explained the reason for that to a confused Albedo

“This is the final trap era, even if that person is you or et here Thus, they would trigger that final trap”

“Evil, don’t you think?”

“Of, of course not!”

Albedo reluctantly plucked the Ring fro it into a silk handkerchief before handing it to Pandora’s Actor As he saw this, Ainz re as well, and placed it into a box that he had produced from thin air

“Ah!” Ainz exclai He placed the ring with the box which contained all the other rings that he had not yet decided to gift to people

This was because he would still be considered to have the ring on even if it were in his pocket di him if he entered the Mausoleuo?”

As he heard that vaguely annoyed voice, Ainz turned to see Albedo and Pandora’s Actor playing tug-of-ith the silk handkerchief

“My, my precious…”

“Ainz-sa, you’ll be attacked It’s just taking it off for a while…”

“What are you saying? This is the Ring which Ainz-saave me! How could I—!”

“…Albedo, there’s no ti to leave it with hiies, I’ Pandora’s Actor lose his balance and stumble back with a cry

“Is that so… then enter Pandora’s Actor, you will direct Yuri and shi+zu to ht be troubleso Instead, use the one I gave you”

“Thank you verythe Ring that you personally gifted to ency, it is not that I a I just wish to let you kno h I am sure that you already know that even without the need for me to—”

“—Understood! …Then, who shall stay here and receive Ainz-saant beauty crossed Albedo’s face as Pandora’s Actor interrupted her self-promotion Ainz decided to look away froe of the beautiful maiden in his mind

“We should be soe」 and you can return to us then After all, we cannot leave this place without a Ring”

“Understood”

Ainz and Albedo entered the Mausoleum, under the eyes of Pandora’s Actor and the two maids

This dimly-lit place was deathly silent, and it seemed like a suitable place for the spirits of the departed to rest Ainz felt so the silence here, but nevertheless, he opened hisbeside hiht, Albedo: what do you know about World Class Items?”

“From what I can tell, they are the s have collected They are deeply cherished and one of them is in my possession… but that is all”

“I see Then, on some other day, I shall commit what I know about the World Class Items to paper It will be safer to let more people know about that information Before that, however, I shall inforan talking about them as he walked

♦ ♦ ♦

World Class Iteadrasil had countless leaves, but then a giganticthem to fall one after the other, until only nine were left These nine leaves were the previous incarnations of the Nine Worlds: Asgard, Alfheiard, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Helheileaves This was the backstory upon which the players adventured into unknoorlds in order to protect their oorld

What did those World Class Items represent? They were equivalent to those other leaves — in other words, a single World Class Iten principle of World Class Items was that they possessed enormous power, and indeed, many World Class Items were extremely powerful

Many players had even expressed the opinion that these items were too imbalanced, but the developers simply replied, “The possibilities of the world are not that s these balance breakers

The developers seemed to have a soft spot for the word “World,” and so any class or er than normal

To the developers, the incredibly powerful last boss of the n storyline — known as the “World Eater” — was the signature World Class Enemy In addition, only the winners of a tournament held in each world could become a “World Chaot to that part, the two of the rows of niches, each filled with a statue dressed in battle gear

This place reseic arrays and the eton were not arear, and their potency rivalled Ainz’s primary battle equipment

“Ai-Ainz-sas…”

“So you noticed That’s right — the Avataras are statues e of my for, they look ugly, don’t they? I don’t think I ed to capture even ten percent of their coolness…”

“As one as created by the Supres, there is no way I could not notice”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, just so However, Ainz-sama… from the name of this place, and these statues… Could it be that the other Supres have passed away?”

“That… is not exactly correct”

No, perhaps that was the right answer

Ainz halted in his tracks, and quietly looked over the statues as that thought ran through his head

Albedo had no idea what to make of Ainz’s silence, and a look of unease spread over her face

No man could possibly be unmoved by a sad look on a world class beauty like her In addition, she was the loving handiwork of one of his past coh Ainz was undead, his heart still filled up with guilt and anxiety

However, Ainz had never had a girlfriend, or even friends in real life, so he had no idea what he could say to co, Ainz looked desperately around, trying to think of so, and he reflexively spoke

“You, you see, those four e sure that Albedo’s eyes were turned in that direction, Ainz explained why there were no statues in there

“I shall put my own Avatara in one of these niches”

Of course not

The fact was, Ainz was the one who had built and eame, there would be nobody to put Ainz’s Avatara there for hiuild

His Guild a their equipment and cash items to hiolems, in order to put their equipment to use, and to serve as a aly

When uild members on hand, but Ainz did not possess the ability or skills needed to uild members from scratch

Thus, he used purchased visual data and installed it into a goleht or too short, or whose heads were overly enlarged

However, that mismatched hideousness lent them a sinister air and induced intense unease in people Therefore, frouardians, Ainz considered thely well

How should I say this… they look like puppets I …

Besides embarrassment, however, there was another emotion which Ainz felt

That was loneliness

When his coame one after the other, Ainz made the Avataras to store their equipame had once asked him why he had made the Avataras, and this was how he had answered:

He uardians

However, as the number of members steadily decreased, the motivation behind the creation of the Avataras was simply because he was lonely After all, he had fewer and fewer friends who could play the game with hiles he and his friends had shared in the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, and to compensate for their absence

This was also the reason why this place was called the Mausoleum Initially, it was known as the Innered its name in memory of those friends who had left — or rather, vanished fro place for his comrades

—That said, I still want to believe that ht here as well For all I know, everyone ht be in some corner of this world…

Just as Ainz sank into deep thought, a pained cry echoed through the passage

“Please don’t — please do not say that!”

The loneliness he had felt vanished in an instant, and as Ainz hurriedly turned to look at Albedo, an even more powerful sense of surprise assaulted him Albedo’s eyes brimmed with tears, and it seemed like they would flow freely if she just blinked a little

“…Ainz-sama Our merciful, compassionate s who stayed with us to the end, the one to e our ultimate loyalty — please do not say that It is my sincerest wish that you will be our lord and master for all eternity!”

Albedo fell to her knees before Ainz

Her voice was choked as she hoarsely repeated “Please… please” It sounded like a prayer and a cry of pain — as though she were coughing up blood — at the same time

Ainz had never seen anyone plead so earnestly in the course of his entire life

He had not expected his jest to have such an effect on Albedo, and Ainz was filled with guilt as he reached down to help up the kneeling Albedo

“Forgive ht that his own friends had abandoned him?

Had he not felt despair every day he was alone in the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, because nobody else was around?

Had he not felt anger fro this misery and bitterness, why had he not understood Albedo’s feelings? Why had he subjected Albedo to this pain?

After helping her up, Ainz saw that Albedo’s face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were still moist

Ainz produced a handkerchief, and clumsily tried to wipe away her tears

“…”

He wanted to apologize again — but in the end he said nothing, for want of suitable words

He lacked experience with interpersonal relationshi+ps, and did not kno to comfort her and stop her tears

At her wit’s end, the sniffling Albedo pleaded with Ainz:

“Ai-Ainz-sama, p-please promise me, promise me you will not abandon us and leave!”