Chapter 8: Fateful Encounter (7)
All of the Guardians fell silent.
Kaiser had departed with Ainz, escorted by the Pleiades maids for a tour of Nazarick. The others remained behind—still too stunned by what they had just witnessed to immediately speak. What had happened was nothing short of absurd.
Yes, they had met strong humans before. But those people had always come in groups—bands of adventurers, soldiers, or heroes working together. Never had a single human entered Nazarick alone and stood toe-to-toe with Cocytus, one of the strongest warriors ever crafted by the Forty-One Supreme Beings.
"C-Cocytus… you held back, right?" Aura finally broke the silence.
A faint hiss escaped Cocytus's mandibles as he shook his head. The sensation of clashing blades still lingered in his hands. No—he had fought at full power.
"I fought… with all my strength," Cocytus rumbled.
"Kaiser… was simply… stronger."
He said it plainly, without shame.
The others stared. Cocytus—the immovable guardian of the Fifth Floor, whose martial skill was unparalleled—had admitted defeat. Officially, the match had ended in a draw because of the time limit. But every soul present knew the truth. The duel had been his loss.
Even without Shalltear's warning, Cocytus had failed to sense Kaiser's final approach. He had once believed that humans were only dangerous in groups—that individually they were fragile, weak, but together could produce strength through teamwork and coordination. Yet Kaiser alone had overturned that belief.
He had bested a warrior forged by the Supreme Beings themselves.
Time had expired, yes—but to call it a draw felt dishonest. None of them would.
....
"Albedo," Demiurge spoke first, regaining composure, "you were present when Lord Ainz first met this Kaiser, were you not? Do you know anything about him?"
Albedo folded her arms. "I know only that the soldiers who fought him referred to him as a 'legend.' Whatever he is, he's certainly no ordinary human."
"Y-yeah," Aura agreed. "No regular human could've beaten Cocytus!"
"Indeed," Demiurge added thoughtfully. "Lord Ainz himself expressed concern about such beings when he mentioned the unknown potential of this new world. He even joked that world domination might be preferable to letting unknown forces linger."
It now seemed clear—Ainz had already sensed that Kaiser was no common man.
....
"The question," Demiurge continued, "is not whether Kaiser is strong—but whether there are more like him. According to Albedo, Kaiser is a legendary figure even among humans, but legends are not always synonymous with supreme power."
"You mean there could be others just as strong… or stronger?" Aura asked.
"I cannot be sure," Demiurge replied. "But it's possible that there are individuals of similar—or slightly lesser—caliber. Until we gather proper intelligence, we can only speculate."
He adjusted his glasses, reflecting. Kaiser's mild expression had masked a terrifying force. The way he had read Cocytus's patterns, exploited weaknesses, and adapted mid-battle spoke not only of strength, but of intelligence.
"If he fought any of us one-on-one," Demiurge said quietly, "I suspect the outcome would not favor Nazarick. Two against one might suffice… perhaps. But even then, I doubt he showed his full power."
In the end, there was only one conclusion—they lacked information.
....
"Our deaths are meaningless," Demiurge went on, "but if our deaths place Lord Ainz at risk, that cannot be allowed."
Shalltear smiled sweetly. "Then how about we capture him and make him talk~? Torture can be quite persuasive, you know."
Thump!
Cocytus slammed his spear into the floor, a burst of frost spreading outward.
"That… I cannot allow. He is… a warrior. And… Lord Ainz's… guest."
"Of course, of course," Shalltear said lightly, waving a hand. "It was only a suggestion. Don't take it so seriously."
Still, her teasing was met with silence. Cocytus clearly respected Kaiser deeply—his honor as a warrior would not allow such treachery.
And truth be told, none of them had felt malice from the man.
....
"It seems this world contains techniques and disciplines we know nothing about," Demiurge mused. "He called it 'Martial Arts,' yes? And the magic he used differed from any system our world possesses. If we were to act rashly and fail to subdue him… we could very well turn an entire world's legendary hero into an enemy."
That, they all knew, would be disastrous.
If that was Ainz's will, they would fight regardless—but it was clear their master sought peace, or at least neutrality. Ainz wanted information, not unnecessary war. Kaiser represented both a potential ally and a potential catastrophe.
....
"Do you think he'll… attack Lord Ainz?" Mare asked timidly.
"The chances are low," Demiurge said firmly. "He seems respectful, even friendly. A man like that wouldn't strike the host in his own home."
"I agree," Albedo added. "He seeks a connection with Lord Ainz, not conflict. Still… we must watch carefully. He's cautious too—he won't act recklessly without knowing more about us."
Demiurge smirked faintly. "So, both sides lack information. How ironic. In the end, all we can do is hope Lord Ainz gleans something valuable from him."
Albedo closed her eyes and smiled. "If it's Lord Ainz, I'm sure he will. He is the leader of the Forty-One Supreme Beings, after all. His strategies surpass anything we can imagine."
The Guardians nodded.
One thing was certain—
Kaiser's arrival had shaken Nazarick to its core.
Demiurge exhaled softly, eyes lifting toward the sky.
The horizon of Nazarick was calm, but in his mind, countless calculations swirled.
If Lord Ainz truly wished to conquer this new world, their tasks had suddenly multiplied.
No—perhaps this had always been the true level of difficulty.
The appearance of Kaiser was, in a sense, inevitable.
For Ainz to rule this world, the world itself needed to be worthy of conquest.
A feeble, unchallenging realm would bring no glory to his master's reign.
Adjusting his glasses and straightening his immaculate suit, Demiurge silently listed his next steps.
Then, with a smooth smile, he turned to the Guardians.
"Let us adjourn for now. Return to your duties. We all have much to prepare."
....
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Nazarick...
Cocytus had lost.
Technically, Ainz had declared the match a draw due to the five-minute time limit.
But anyone who had witnessed that duel knew the truth—the only person who might call it a "draw" was Kaiser himself.
Even Cocytus would call it what it truly was: a defeat.
The battle had been astounding.
Ainz now understood two things very clearly:
he would have to be cautious around Kaiser—and, perhaps even more importantly, he needed Kaiser on his side.
That man had just proven he could defeat a Floor Guardian in single combat.
Perhaps Shalltear or Gargantua could rival him, Ainz mused, but even then… he wasn't sure.
He doubted Kaiser had fought with his full strength.
A human, yes—but one called a legend among his kind.
Bringing him into Nazarick's fold could never be a mistake.
Even if it meant giving up some ground, Ainz needed to win this man's trust—for the sake of Nazarick's future.
....
Ainz was lost in thought when a gentle voice broke through.
"Care for a drink?"
Kaiser stood beside him, holding a bottle and two glasses.
Before Ainz could respond, the man had already poured one for him.
"Ah—thank you, but I must decline," Ainz said awkwardly. "My body… isn't capable of such things anymore."
Kaiser tilted his head slightly, then smiled.
"Oh, that's fine. I've got something for that."
He waved his hand—and a small crystal vial materialized from the air, shimmering like perfume.
Kaiser handed it to him.
"Try it," he said. "It won't harm you. And drop the formalities, please. You don't need to speak so stiffly."
"...Is that so?"
Ainz hesitated. He'd grown used to using honorifics with almost everyone—especially as a ruler.
But perhaps this was the right moment to reciprocate the trust Kaiser was offering.
And if the perfume was poisonous, well—he had more than enough anti-venom at his disposal.
He uncorked it and sprayed it lightly onto himself.
No reaction. No pain.
Kaiser smiled, poured again, and extended a full glass.
Reluctantly, Ainz accepted.
He couldn't taste anymore, of course. Undeath had stripped him of appetite, hunger, pleasure, even sleep.
Everything but his mind's will.
He lifted the glass and took a cautious sip.
"Wha—!? I— I can taste it!? Kaiser, what is this!?"
Kaiser chuckled softly. "A special item. I made it long ago with an old companion. How is it? Pleasant?"
"This is… incredible!"
For the first time in centuries, Ainz felt genuine surprise—and something dangerously close to joy.
The drink slid down his nonexistent throat, and though he had no organs to receive it, the sensation remained. The warmth. The flavor.
It didn't spill or leak through his skeletal frame—it simply was.
Soon, the two were drinking together, Pleiades attendants providing food and more bottles at Kaiser's request.
Ainz, who thought he'd forgotten the pleasure of taste, found himself oddly… content.
The undead nature of his mind kept him from feeling truly elated for long, but the faint trace of happiness lingered like a candle in the dark.
....
"So," Ainz asked between sips, "you mentioned once that you had… apprentices?"
Kaiser nodded. "Two, actually. One has already passed away—old age. The other's still alive, but I haven't taught them much yet. Just the basics. I'm… conflicted about teaching further."
He looked down into his glass, expression softening.
"Power beyond humanity… it tends to lead to division and envy. It's easy to become the target of hatred.
I've wondered whether giving someone that kind of strength is really a kindness—or a curse."
Ainz regarded him in silence.
In that moment, he saw something rare—a man burdened by eternity, haunted not by ambition, but by responsibility.
And somewhere, deep within the empty chest of the Overlord, the faintest echo of empathy stirred.
"Discrimination, huh… so it exists in this world too," Ainz murmured.
Kaiser nodded slowly. "I wish it didn't. But if I asked myself whether I have never discriminated… honestly, I couldn't answer with confidence. Even people who discriminate often don't know why they do. Ask them, and they'll probably just stare back, unable to explain."
"That may be true," Ainz admitted. "I've experienced discrimination myself, as a heteromorphic being. It's why I formed a guild of my own kind—Ainz Ooal Gown. We called ourselves 'evil,' not out of malice, but… solidarity."
For a brief moment, the Overlord fell silent, the faint glint in his crimson eyes softening. He remembered those days—the laughter of guildmates, the thrill of creation, the joy of simply belonging. It was almost funny now, how something born of frustration and rebellion had become one of his happiest memories.
Kaiser smiled faintly. "That tone of yours—it changed just now. Is that your real voice?"
"Ah—! I must have… slipped," Ainz replied awkwardly.
In his excitement over tasting for the first time in centuries, he had forgotten himself—forgotten the role of Ainz Ooal Gown, and spoken as Suzuki Satoru, the man he once was. He hadn't meant to, but… it had felt good. The conversation was comfortable, and Kaiser's calm curiosity made it easy to forget his undead restraint.
"Ehem. Well," Ainz coughed, "I am, after all, a highly respected figure."
Kaiser chuckled. "It suits you. Anyway, I imagine you'll be needing information about this world, won't you? If you want accurate intel, start with the adventurer guilds. They're good sources for local rumors, trade routes, political shifts… And you could even disguise a few of your people as humans and send them to gather firsthand data."
"You could just tell me yourself," Ainz said, half-joking.
Kaiser's eyes glimmered. "Direct knowledge is always the most trustworthy, isn't it? I'll share what I can—but as the leader of your own people, can you really afford to rely on someone else's information completely?"
Ainz fell quiet. He smiled faintly beneath his mask of bone.
"No… I suppose not."
He took another sip of the wine—but the flavor was gone. The perfume's magic had worn off.
Kaiser noticed immediately and slid the vial toward him.
"Here. Keep it. You'll need it next time," he said, rising from his seat.
"You're leaving already?" Ainz asked. "You're welcome to stay the night, if you wish."
Kaiser shook his head. "Not this time. You, Ainz… you're not like the other undead I've met. You possess reason—and something that almost feels like emotion. You may not fully grasp my meaning, since your feelings are… controlled, but still."
From the air, Kaiser produced a crystalline stone and tossed it gently to Ainz.
"I am humanity's guardian. So long as you do not harm mankind, I have no intention of interfering with you. In fact, I'd prefer if we maintained a friendly relationship."
Despite their easy conversation, the wariness between them hadn't entirely vanished. Both understood that trust was a delicate thing—built, but never absolute.
Kaiser smiled warmly. "I hope that when we meet again, we can share another drink together."
"I look forward to it," Ainz replied, extending his hand.
The two clasped hands firmly—Overlord and Guardian, a handshake between power and purpose.
"That crystal," Kaiser explained, "is a communication stone linked to me. If you ever need to speak—or ask something—use it."
Then he turned, waving lightly as he began to walk away.
Ainz watched him go, a faint sigh escaping his hollow chest.
Kaiser walked confidently… in the wrong direction.
"Um—Kaiser, the exit's to the left, actually."
The man froze mid-step, awkwardly scratching his head before pivoting the other way.
"No, I meant left—your left! Not—where are you going now!?"
Ainz groaned, hand against his skull.
He truly couldn't tell whether this man was brilliant… or utterly hopeless.
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