Chapter 44: Nazarick and the Otherworld (6)
As he ended the transmission with Nabeal, Ainz let out a breath.
Although, being a skeleton, no real breath could come out. If Albedo or any of the other Guardians were present, such a relaxed attitude would have been inappropriate—but because this was about Kaiser, Albedo and Demiurge had even included Cocytus and were holding a meeting. Ostensibly, it was to find a way to counter him, but that was probably impossible.
Kaiser had shown them far too little. Everything he displayed in the battle with Shalltear was to advertise himself to Nazarick—to say, "I possess this level of power, and even without using my full strength, I can defeat Shalltear, hailed as the strongest Guardian." More importantly, he had used martial arts, a technique that did not exist in Yggdrasil. That "Thunderclap" looked like magic, but it might also have been martial arts. Ainz knew very little about this world's martial arts or talents.
Martial arts grew stronger the more one trained them. It could even be said they evolved. If that was the case, then what about talents—things one was born with? Were they incapable of evolving? Ainz had his doubts. Kaiser, being a figure of legend, might well possess a talent. Considering that possibility was despair-inducing. In the worst-case scenario, Kaiser alone might be capable of invading and destroying Nazarick.
"Six-Path Divine Blade."
A World-Class Weapon: Six-Path Divine Blade.
It belonged to the final story boss of Yggdrasil—the World Enemy. There were many settings and lore, but in short, it was strong. Extremely strong—requiring multiple guilds to cooperate in order to raid and defeat it. It was meant to be defeated, so of course it had been defeated before. However, the World-Class Weapon it wielded—the Six-Path Divine Blade—was not a drop item. Perhaps there were special conditions needed to obtain it, but Ainz simply did not know.
Information held enormous value in Yggdrasil. Ordinarily, information obtained would be posted sites, but in Yggdrasil the more valuable the information, the more desperately players hid it. Thus, Ainz knew information others did not—and conversely, information existed in Yggdrasil that Ainz himself never learned.
Perhaps there really was a method to obtain the Six-Path Divine Blade, one Ainz simply did not know.
No… I just don't want to think about it. That's right.
Ainz simply didn't want to imagine it.
The possibility that Kaiser had defeated the World Enemy—Old World Formula—purely with brute strength. And that, unlike in the game, the Six-Path Divine Blade had not vanished and instead had fallen into Kaiser's hands. At first, Ainz had denied it. He thought it impossible. No matter how strong Kaiser was, there was no way he could defeat something comparable to a raid boss alone. But perhaps he had help. Even so, if Kaiser had the blade, then he must have been the one who contributed the most in the battle.
But if he really did defeat it one-on-one, then we must absolutely never make him our enemy.
He still believed the possibility was extremely low.
But one must always consider the worst-case scenario. If Kaiser had truly defeated the Old World Formula one-on-one with pure strength, then Ainz could not defeat Kaiser in perfect condition. In fact, even if he mobilized all of Nazarick, he doubted they could win. If Kaiser invaded Nazarick directly, fighting on home ground might raise their chances a little, but…
Kaiser's disciple, huh.
According to Yuri's report, she was still weak.
Strong by the standards of this world, perhaps, but not strong enough to be considered a threat. Still, she must have talent if Kaiser accepted her as his disciple. The thought of cutting her down before she grew stronger did cross his mind—but only for a moment before he erased it. If he were emotionally unstable, he might have considered such a foolish option, but as an undead, Ainz concluded that would be idiotic.
Rather, this might be an opportunity. Kaiser—who had severed most ties with the mortal world—had a definite connection. He had lived a long life, yet the number of humans he held real ties with was few. Many nations knew of Kaiser, but almost none truly knew him. It meant he had cut ties with the mundane world.
In that sense, Kaiser's disciple—Arche, was it?—might be a stroke of luck for us. If we maintain a good relationship with her, Kaiser will surely consider his disciple before acting recklessly. The likelihood of him attacking us, already low, can be reduced even closer to zero.
As long as Nazarick did not commit a major blunder, Kaiser would have no reason to invade. Furthermore, Kaiser was not completely opposed to killing. He acknowledged that self-defense was unavoidable, and even forgave Shalltear's massacre even though she'd killed criminals. No—perhaps he simply tolerated it. Regardless, it had passed smoothly.
Speaking of which, Shalltear's mind control… Kaiser's explanation is convincing, but we mustn't trust it blindly.
Caution was necessary.
A being capable of destroying Nazarick could appear at any time. And in that sense, Kaiser was essential. Even if the world turned hostile toward Nazarick because they were undead or non-humans, the existence of Kaiser would serve as a deterrent. Anyone strong enough to harm Nazarick would surely know of Kaiser.
...That's all fine, but… will Nabeal be okay?
There was no guarantee Kaiser's disciple would even come to E-Rantel, but he was still worried. If she came, could Nabeal handle it alone? She always acted arrogantly toward humans, calling them inferior creatures and spewing insults. The reason he left Nabeal alone now was partly due to the Lizardman matter, but more importantly—if Kaiser's speculation was wrong, then the vampire who defeated Shalltear, "Momon," would almost certainly try to approach.
But someone that strong might hesitate to approach Momon directly. With Momon absent, Nabeal was a perfect bait. Though he disliked using her that way, there was no helping it. They had already proven NPC resurrection was possible, so even if she died, they would spare no cost resurrecting her.
To be honest, I want to watch Kaiser directly.
But there was no guarantee Kaiser wouldn't detect any detection spells. On the contrary, with the power he had already displayed, he likely had countermeasures—or even items that could detect detection spells. If caught, Ainz would have no excuse. "We were secretly observing you out of caution"—Ainz could already hear Kaiser's goodwill dropping sharply.
The thought alone made his nonexistent stomach ache.
Since Kaiser was leaving his disciple elsewhere… perhaps monitoring the disciple instead? He quickly discarded that idea as well. She was Kaiser's disciple. Even if weak, Kaiser may have prepared countermeasures against detection spells for her. It was best not to provoke suspicion. Instead, he hoped that Nabeal would get along with Kaiser's disciple and that Nazarick would continue building goodwill with humans—Carne Village, Nfirea, and others.
"Pardon me, Ainz-sama."
"Enter."
It was Albedo's voice.
So the meeting had ended. Through the recent events with the Lizardmen, Ainz realized the Guardians could also grow. Not in raw strength, but in situational judgment—something that could allow them to defeat foes otherwise impossible. Indeed, watching Shalltear's battle with Kaiser, Ainz believed that if he were in Shalltear's place, he would have attacked differently. Whether he could win was uncertain, but he might have pressured Kaiser a bit more.
"After gathering information from various sources, it appears advisable for you to visit the Elf village."
"Elves? …Hmm. They fought the Theocracy a few decades ago, did they not? I recall the details were unclear?"
"Yes. The nation known as the Holy Kingdom of Law—self-proclaimed protectors of humanity—likely has ties with Kaiser. However, judging from his words when you first met, Kaiser himself does not seem to hold favorable feelings toward them."
"True."
Kaiser had said so while fighting the Theocracy's soldiers—the Sunlight Scripture. He stated openly that he did not personally like the Theocracy. What had happened in the past? Ainz and Kaiser were not close enough yet for such personal discussions. Ainz wanted to reach that level quickly, as it would bring peace of mind. But just as Ainz could not fully trust Kaiser, Kaiser could not fully trust him either. Especially since Kaiser had far more to protect than Ainz did.
"I do not know the full details, but it is said that the Elven nation began diplomatic relations after ending their war with the Theocracy. Their relationship is not particularly good, yet they still engage with the Theocracy."
"Hmmm… I fail to understand. Shouldn't the Theocracy be the side connected to Kaiser? If I were to go anywhere, it ought to be the Theocracy… but as you know, they are likely hiding something. Now that we have confirmed the existence of a World Item, it is possible they possess one as well."
Ainz had considered the possibility that the Theocracy used a World Item to mind-control Shalltear. But there was only suspicion and no evidence—and if Kaiser's explanation was correct, then the Theocracy had been falsely accused. Approaching them without proper knowledge of this world was not a wise choice.
"According to Kaiser's legend, long ago… someone who fought alongside Kaiser resides in the Elven kingdom. Furthermore, it is said that Kaiser's actions also played a role in ending the war between the Elves and the Theocracy. There may be substantial information to gain by going there."
"I see. Then who should go? No one in Nazarick knows the Elves well… No, perhaps sending Mare or Aura, being Elves themselves, might be best."
They were Dark Elves, but that was still better than sending other heteromorphic races. Besides, considering their age, Ainz thought it might be good for them to meet peers their own age. In that sense, visiting the Elven nation had no downside. If it were an isolated, forest-bound nation, that would be different—but since they had diplomatic contact with the Kingdom and the Theocracy, humans might be present as well.
"Ainz-sama, I humbly request that you entrust this matter to me."
"Albedo? …Hmm. As the overseer of Nazarick, sending you out personally is not something I welcome."
"While I am away, I intend to leave everything in Demiurge's hands. Additionally, I will speak with Pandora's Actor and temporarily transfer part of my authority to the two of them. Among all the creations of the Supreme Beings, these two stand at the top even in terms of intellect. I believe it will suffice."
"Albedo… This is the first time you've insisted so strongly. May I ask why? Was there anything in the Elven nation that interested you so greatly?"
Albedo had never complained about not being allowed outside. On the contrary, she always seemed eager to work. So why was she volunteering now, when there were many other Guardians who could go?
"I wish to obtain information on Kaiser—whom Ainz-sama regards with caution. There are ruins said to have once worshiped Kaiser long ago. Investigating such places might reveal information we could never normally acquire. Of course, this is my personal desire. But since the information you require most at present is about Kaiser, I, as the Guardian Overseer, wish to go personally. If you do not permit me, then I will entrust it to Mare and Aura."
Hmm… Ainz fell into thought.
Had a Guardian ever expressed their will so clearly before? The feeling stirring inside him was similar to when Cocytus had asked him to spare the Lizardmen. It felt like watching a child grow, and Ainz felt pleased.
"I grant permission. However, Albedo… considering your appearance, there is considerable risk. Do not reveal your true form under any circumstance. Bring an item capable of changing your appearance. And remember—Elves are still a humanoid race; they might fall under Kaiser's protection. Unless the situation is truly dangerous or an emergency, you are forbidden from using force or killing."
"I understand! I, Albedo, will never disappoint Ainz-sama!"
"Very well. I trust you."
Ainz watched her leave and let out a sigh. The Elven kingdom, huh. He believed Albedo would manage fine. More than that, Nabeal was the real concern. No… everything was a concern. He had so many worries that he felt he might die from stress. Though he wasn't sure if an undead could die from stress.
Ahhh… I used to be just an ordinary salaryman. Surely there should be someone more suited for this? Someone like Touch-san or Pongshilmoe—people like that would probably do this much better than me. Come to think of it… ideologically speaking, are Touch-san and Kaiser similar? Maybe not exactly, though…
Ainz sighed and sank once more into deep contemplation.
Here is the full English translation, smooth, accurate, and consistent with Overlord's tone:
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"I do not know the full details, but it is said that the Elven nation began diplomatic relations after ending their war with the Theocracy. Their relationship is not particularly good, yet they still engage with the Theocracy."
"Hmmm… I fail to understand. Shouldn't the Theocracy be the side connected to Kaiser? If I were to go anywhere, it ought to be the Theocracy… but as you know, they are likely hiding something. Now that we have confirmed the existence of a World Item, it is possible they possess one as well."
Ainz had considered the possibility that the Theocracy used a World Item to mind-control Shalltear. But there was only suspicion and no evidence—and if Kaiser's explanation was correct, then the Theocracy had been falsely accused. Approaching them without proper knowledge of this world was not a wise choice.
"According to Kaiser's legend, long ago… someone who fought alongside Kaiser resides in the Elven kingdom. Furthermore, it is said that Kaiser's actions also played a role in ending the war between the Elves and the Theocracy. There may be substantial information to gain by going there."
"I see. Then who should go? No one in Nazarick knows the Elves well… No, perhaps sending Mare or Aura, being Elves themselves, might be best."
They were Dark Elves, but that was still better than sending other heteromorphic races. Besides, considering their age, Ainz thought it might be good for them to meet peers their own age. In that sense, visiting the Elven nation had no downside. If it were an isolated, forest-bound nation, that would be different—but since they had diplomatic contact with the Kingdom and the Theocracy, humans might be present as well.
"Ainz-sama, I humbly request that you entrust this matter to me."
"Albedo? …Hmm. As the overseer of Nazarick, sending you out personally is not something I welcome."
"While I am away, I intend to leave everything in Demiurge's hands. Additionally, I will speak with Pandora's Actor and temporarily transfer part of my authority to the two of them. Among all the creations of the Supreme Beings, these two stand at the top even in terms of intellect. I believe it will suffice."
"Albedo… This is the first time you've insisted so strongly. May I ask why? Was there anything in the Elven nation that interested you so greatly?"
Albedo had never complained about not being allowed outside. On the contrary, she always seemed eager to work. So why was she volunteering now, when there were many other Guardians who could go?
"I wish to obtain information on Kaiser—whom Ainz-sama regards with caution. There are ruins said to have once worshiped Kaiser long ago. Investigating such places might reveal information we could never normally acquire. Of course, this is my personal desire. But since the information you require most at present is about Kaiser, I, as the Guardian Overseer, wish to go personally. If you do not permit me, then I will entrust it to Mare and Aura."
Hmm… Ainz fell into thought.
Had a Guardian ever expressed their will so clearly before? The feeling stirring inside him was similar to when Cocytus had asked him to spare the Lizardmen. It felt like watching a child grow, and Ainz felt pleased.
"I grant permission. However, Albedo… considering your appearance, there is considerable risk. Do not reveal your true form under any circumstance. Bring an item capable of changing your appearance. And remember—Elves are still a humanoid race; they might fall under Kaiser's protection. Unless the situation is truly dangerous or an emergency, you are forbidden from using force or killing."
"I understand! I, Albedo, will never disappoint Ainz-sama!"
"Very well. I trust you."
Ainz watched her leave and let out a sigh. The Elven kingdom, huh. He believed Albedo would manage fine. More than that, Nabeal was the real concern. No… everything was a concern. He had so many worries that he felt he might die from stress. Though he wasn't sure if an undead could die from stress.
Ahhh… I used to be just an ordinary salaryman. Surely there should be someone more suited for this? Someone like Touch-san or Pongshilmoe—people like that would probably do this much better than me. Come to think of it… ideologically speaking, are Touch-san and Kaiser similar? Maybe not exactly, though…
Ainz sighed and sank once more into deep contemplation.
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