Demiurge's Outburst

Stepping out of the round conference room on the ninth floor, Momonga walked along the luxuriously carpeted red floor and slowly descended the grand staircase.

This was the junction between the ninth and tenth floors. Gazing at the majestic double doors, which stood over five meters tall and were adorned with exquisitely carved statues—a goddess on the right and a demon on the left—he found the craftsmanship so lifelike that they seemed ready to step out at any moment.

Momonga had never imagined that one day he would walk toward the Throne of Kings with such heavy steps. These two doors were the work of "Lucifer," a guy who lacked social skills and could never quite grasp the appropriate distance to keep from others.

Even Momonga had found him difficult to deal with, perhaps even a little annoying, yet at this moment, he desperately wished that person were by his side—even someone as unpopular as him would do.

During his call with Albedo, he had explained his resurrection in Nazarick and ordered them to return immediately, summoning all the Floor Guardians to the Throne of Kings.

But after ending the call, he suddenly felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have issued such an impulsive order; in his haste, he hadn't figured out how to explain his failure or how to face his subordinates.

Would his failure make these subordinates think he was nothing special, leading them to betray him or even seize control of Nazarick? If that happened, where would he go?

He had originally only been worried about an unknown enemy, but now the problem seemed even more complex.

Corporate leaders might be incompetent, but they certainly possessed exceptional skills in some area; to reach that position, a leader must have some sort of specialty.

Even if they made a wrong decision at work, they would smoothly shift the blame onto their subordinates with a suitable excuse to preserve their own authority.

As the supreme ruler of Nazarick, Momonga felt his only real strength was PvP, yet he had suffered a Waterloo in the very field he excelled in.

Although it was an assassination, a loss was a loss. Aside from death, nothing in the world was truly fair. During the YGGDRASIL era, "Ainz Ooal Gown" had once PKed a player via assassination, only to be killed in return.

In the end, his indignant companions had hunted that player down until he quit the game; perhaps what was happening to him now was simply karma.

Shifting the responsibility onto Albedo, Aura, or Mare was not something Momonga wanted to do. The incident itself had already dealt a heavy blow to his authority, and pushing the blame onto them would only make matters worse.

It might make them even more dissatisfied, and it would surely upset the other Guardians who served him as a Supreme Being. If this continued, one day, they would surely betray him.

Momonga couldn't think of how to explain the cause of his defeat, and he couldn't bring himself to blame his subordinates. Carrying this heavy, anxious heart, he stood before the doors of the Throne of Kings for a long time.

In the end, he pushed the doors open and entered. Some things had to be faced. If it truly came to it, he would bow his head to his subordinates and admit his failure.

If they were disappointed in him and wanted to leave Nazarick, he would have to try his best to persuade them to stay, and if they demanded conditions, he would have to meet them.

Regardless, these Guardians were like the children of his former companions; Momonga did not want to lose them after having already lost his friends.

As for that unknown enemy, if it turned out to be a player who held a grudge against "Ainz Ooal Gown" in YGGDRASIL, he had to at least prepare sufficient countermeasures. Perhaps the other party had arrived here along with their guild, just like him.

That would be troublesome. If it were truly a player who hated "Ainz Ooal Gown," there would likely be no possibility of reconciliation. If their positions were reversed, he wouldn't forgive the actions of "Ainz Ooal Gown" either.

Passing through the forty-two exquisite pillars, Momonga dared not look at the Guardians kneeling before him as he walked toward the throne. It was thanks to this undead body that he was able to walk toward the seat of power at all.

He sat gently upon the Throne of Kings, looking down at the Guardians who kept their heads bowed in expectation, each of their faces etched with a solemn expression.

"Please, I ask you not to be like this, everyone..."

Momonga groaned inwardly. It was already stressful enough sitting in this position, clumsily trying to imitate the behavior he imagined a ruler should have.

Now, the pressure was even greater, but remaining silent was not a solution. Momonga gave a light cough, and just as he was brewing his words in his mind, he was interrupted.

"Lord Momonga! Please forgive my rudeness, but there is something I believe you must agree to."

Demiurge's expression was cold. Kneeling on the ground, he looked up at Momonga, and in his eyes, one could see a determination that would not be swayed until his goal was met.

Damn it, just as I thought. They are dissatisfied with me as a ruler. Momonga cried out in his heart, but just as he was about to speak, another voice cut in.

"Demiurge, mind your address. Lord Momonga has changed his name to—Ainz Ooal Gown. As the unifier of the forty-one Supreme Beings, only Lord Ainz is worthy of such a name."

As the Overseer of the Floor Guardians, it was Albedo's duty to correct the improper behavior of the others.

"Oh?" Demiurge glanced at Albedo, then looked at Momonga and asked, "Lord Momonga, is it as Albedo says?"

"Uh... yes. I intend to let the name Ainz Ooal Gown spread throughout the entire world." Momonga nodded stiffly, stating the decision he had made back at Carne Village.

"I see. Truly worthy of a Supreme Being, to let all things in this world know of the greatness of Ainz Ooal Gown." The corners of Demiurge's mouth curled upward.

To conquer the world by unifying the names of the forty-one Supreme Beings—this was the spirit of the Supreme Being who ruled over them.

"It... it is nothing... um... cough, cough... Demiurge, what... what was the request you mentioned earlier? Speak it. I will grant anything. Also, everyone, please rise. There is no need for such formality."

The one truly feeling constrained was himself. Hearing Demiurge's praise, Momonga had almost habitually used a respectful honorific out of nervousness; it would be strange for a superior to use such language toward a subordinate, wouldn't it?

"As you command."

Demiurge and the other Guardians rose. Then, Demiurge looked at Albedo and said to Momonga, "Lord Ainz, please strip Albedo of her position as Overseer of the Floor Guardians and imprison her in the 'Frozen Prison' until she can recognize her own errors."

As his words fell, the Throne of Kings fell into an eerie silence. Cocytus stood there in silence, saying nothing. Shalltear wore a look of schadenfreude, while Aura and Mare looked surprised, yet seemed nervous, as if they themselves had committed a crime.

"..."