The origins Ainz Ooal Gown spoke of weren't unknown to Kai.
The Overlord, also known as Lord Momonga, was the Prime Character of the Overlord Bubble. Originally, Momonga was just a guy named Suzuki, who used to play a Virtual Reality Game called Yggdrasil.
The entire plot of Overlord timelines was based on this Game-setting-turned-Reality over time.
In many senses, the Overlord Bubble was no different from numerous others like it.
However, there was one unique thing about it — the identity of its Deep One was unknown.
Some believed that this Deep One was none other than Ainz Ooal Gown, and all other Ainz Ooal Gowns were just his copies.
Some believed Touch Me, another Storyline Character, to be the real Deep One.
A third contender was also there — an NPC of the Yggdrasil game called Rubedo.
Kai wasn't overly interested in the Overlord Bubble, especially after obtaining the Ancient Magic Script. All Magic Spells, regardless of their origin, were just an application of Mana.
As a scientist, Kai deemed it beneath him to overly rely on the Spells of others.
The best way was still to refer, explore, research, and then carve one's own path.
Yet, because of Ainz Ooal Gown's presence in front of him, one thing was clear — this Elder Lich could be the strongest entity under the Deep One in Overlord Bubble.
Otherwise, it didn't make sense for a Pillar Timeline to let go of the Storyline Character.
That's why Kai had been remaining wary of Ainz Ooal Gown, despite the Character obviously suffering from The Root's restrictions, apparent by the two black cruciforms embedded deep in his eye sockets.
If he wasn't wrong about it, then the Overlord might not even be at its 50% power when the Character had arrived to the Fate timeline, Kai felt.
Then, during the Zouken's Inheritance Incident, Ainz Ooal Gown had sacrificed many levels to keep himself from dividing into good and evil. It was an unimaginable feat, Kai believed, given even Gilgamesh had succumbed to it… or let himself succumb to get stronger?
Kai still had doubts regarding Gilgamesh letting his evil self separate when he could have prevented it from happening.
So, as he heard what Ainz Ooal Gown truly wanted, Kai couldn't help but thoroughly evaluate who would come out to be the winner between them in case things went south.
I will lose… Kai concluded through the Ad Infinitum and Lucky Intuitions. Unless I have my true Luck…
…
Meanwhile, Momonga was also going through similar thoughts as he looked at the white-haired Contestant.
If he was being honest with himself, he regretted it. No, not coming here… He regretted judging this Contestant wrongly when he arrived in this timeline.
If he had used the Identify Spell with the same zeal on this man as he had used it on Betty Shaw, then perhaps…
There was no time for ifs and buts, though.
Ainz Ooal Gown needed the Jeweled Sword, and he would have it — one way or another.
…
"I know you are interested in Betty Shaw," the Overlord chatted casually… in a very long time, he realized. Unknowingly, he was already talking to this Contestant as an equal. "I also know the significance of these Glitches for your kind."
"… The gesture of goodwill is accepted, Lord Momonga," Kai said, reigning in his shock, the smile resurfacing on his lips. If he couldn't kill the Storyline Character here, then he could use him in other ways, too. Better ways, perhaps? "Let me reciprocate. My Master is helping Shirou Emiya create the Sword you desire as we speak."
Silence.
"Hahaha…"
"Hahahaha…"
Both Ainz Ooal Gown and Kai laughed after openly threatening each other.
For Ainz, nothing was more important than a Glitch for a Contestant. Even the information itself could bring tremendous benefits, surpassing all gains in this timeline. And as only he could verify this information, Ainz threatened not to let Kai have those benefits.
Of course, Ainz Ooal Gown didn't know that Kai himself had a Glitch, making his move pointless.
Kai wouldn't let the Character know that, though.
So, he threatened Ainz back, suggesting not to let the Jeweled Sword come into being at all.
"Alright," Ainz Ooal Gown raised his hands in faux defeat. "Back to being frank, then… See, you cannot have the Jeweled Sword of Zelretch. As far as I am aware, it has never become an Item."
Kai nodded.
The Jeweled Sword had always remained a Storyline Artifact.
Contestants over millions of years had tried their best, using all means possible, trying all routes, but it never became an Item.
It was perhaps related to Zelretch having no timeline of Himself, Kai now believed.
Despite having almost zero probability for the Jeweled Sword to become an Item in this timeline as well, Kai still wanted to try it.
"Why not go after something that gives a guaranteed result?" Ainz asked.
"Like what?" Kai asked, amused.
"The Azoth Sword."
Kai chuckled. "A Top Level Uncommon Named Item, Low Level Rare Item, and Top Level Rare Consumable Item. That's the only three possibilities for Azoth Sword. And that too when I give up on the Jeweled Sword. Not worth…"
"… I know a way to make it an Epic Item," Ainz Ooal Gown said.
Kai paused. "Continue."
"You might not be aware of this theory," the Overlord said, raising his golden Staff, "but the Jeweled Sword is considered a Staff… like this one. That's why I am seeking the Jeweled Sword. To merge it with this Staff and make it surpass its World Grade. In the same way, Rin's Azoth Sword is a Wand… but, if you know Harry Potter Bubble's Wandlore, this Wand lacks a core."
A storm raged in Kai's heart, taking Ad Infinitum's EVERYTHING to bury it.
"I know the core it lacks," Ainz claimed. "And I will tell you… once I get my hands on the Jeweled Sword. Trust is not the key here. Respect is. Just like how Lancer respected your will to fight to the very end… despite knowing that you are weak against Sound."
Then, leaving a purely gobsmacked Contestant on the field, Ainz disappeared.
Kai kept standing at his place for a while, Lancer's face flashing across his eyes. It didn't surprise him that the Order's Contestant had told his enemies about Venom's weakness. What did surprise him was that Lancer knew of it and didn't use it.
"Rengoku… Akaza… and now Lancer…" Kai uttered the names that had left the deepest impressions on him. "Respect? No. Ainz Ooal Gown doesn't understand… It's just how we are…"
Smirking a little, Kai vanished as well —
— an insect recording everything from hundreds of meters away exploding under his silent wrath.
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