Nazarick

The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Tenth Floor—the Throne Room.

The vast hall was dimly lit, its air steeped in a solemn, oppressive atmosphere.

Nazarick's most powerful guardians stood in orderly rows on either side. From the Pleiades to the Floor Guardians, not one was absent.

Ainz Ooal Gown sat upon the Throne of Kings, his skeletal face concealed in shadow. Only two crimson points of light gazed down upon those below.

Beside him stood Higashino Makoto, casually leaning his spear at his side, looking as relaxed as if he were sunning himself in his own backyard.

"I summoned you all because there is something I must announce."

Ainz's voice echoed through the empty hall, low and unquestionable.

"This is Higashino Makoto. From today onward, he will remain in Nazarick as a guest. No one is to treat him with disrespect."

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Every guardian's gaze fell upon Higashino Makoto at once—scrutiny, hostility, curiosity, disdain, and countless other emotions intertwined.

Albedo was the first to speak. Her voice was as sweet as honey, yet there was not the slightest hint of amusement in her golden slit pupils.

"Supreme One, may I boldly ask—what exactly is the background of this 'guest'?"

She put particular emphasis on the word "guest."

Before Ainz could answer, Higashino Makoto spoke first.

"No background to speak of."

He shrugged, his tone excessively casual. "Just someone passing by. Your boss insisted on inviting me for tea."

Albedo's smile froze for a moment.

Demiurge adjusted his glasses. The glare on the lenses obscured his eyes, but the corners of his mouth curled slightly upward.

"Oh? Lord Ainz personally invited you? That truly is a rare occurrence."

His voice was gentle, as gentle as a warm spring breeze. But Higashino Makoto noticed that those eyes had been assessing every detail of him—his weapon, armor, stance, and breathing rhythm.

Like a shrewd merchant appraising merchandise.

Standing among the ranks, Shalltear stared fixedly at Higashino Makoto with her scarlet eyes. Her lips moved faintly, as though she were suppressing something. Her fingers curled lightly at her side, then loosened, then curled again.

"Boring."

In the end, she only uttered those two words before turning her head away.

Aura, on the other hand, made no effort to hide her reaction. She looked Higashino Makoto up and down several times, then wrinkled her nose.

"He looks pretty ordinary."

Mare hid behind her, revealing only a pair of eyes as he watched timidly.

Cocytus remained silent, his many arms crossed over his chest. No emotion could be discerned in his enormous insectoid eyes.

The atmosphere subtly stiffened.

Ainz sighed inwardly. He had known this would happen.

The guardians' loyalty to him was beyond question, but that loyalty came with a minor side effect—an extreme distrust of outsiders.

Especially an unknown human whom he had personally brought back to Nazarick.

"He is an old friend of someone I once knew."

Ainz finally spoke, his tone calm yet beyond dispute.

"I owe someone a favor from my time outside. During his stay in Nazarick, you need only treat him as a guest. This is not a request. It is an order."

"Yes."

All the guardians answered in unison.

But Higashino Makoto noticed Albedo's wings twitch slightly behind her.

That was not a sign of obedience.

After the audience in the Throne Room ended, Higashino Makoto was assigned a guest room on the Ninth Floor.

The room was enormous—large enough that even speaking produced an echo. Its furnishings were not overly extravagant, yet every detail spoke of refinement. The carpet was woven from the fur of some unknown magical beast, the tea set on the table radiated faint magic, and even the bed sheets were made of premium silk.

Novas Aetir's accommodations were no worse, but the styles were ultimately completely different.

Higashino Makoto propped his spear beside the bed, looked around, and whistled.

"Damn, this treatment is far more extravagant than a five-star hotel."

The moment he finished speaking, a gentle knock sounded from outside the door.

"Lord Higashino, Lord Ainz has instructed me to bring you some tea and refreshments."

The door opened, and one of the Pleiades maids entered—Yuri Alpha.

Holding a tray, she gracefully placed the tea and snacks on the table, then stepped back and gave a slight bow.

"If you need anything, please feel free to ask."

Higashino Makoto glanced at the items on the tray: black tea, pastries, fruit, all arranged with the exquisite care of artworks.

"Thanks."

He lifted the teacup and took a sip. (It actually went into Huginn's mouth; Grem did not need to eat.) Then he suddenly asked, "Is this how you usually treat guests?"

Yuri Alpha's expression did not change, and her voice remained gentle and polite.

"Nazarick rarely receives guests. You are the first."

Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow.

"Then I'm quite honored."

Yuri Alpha did not reply. She merely maintained her perfect smile and withdrew from the room.

The instant the door closed, the relaxed smile on Higashino Makoto's face faded somewhat.

He set down his teacup, walked to the window, and gazed at the artificial starry sky created by magic outside.

The first guest...

He silently weighed things in his mind.

Ainz had brought him back for far more than just those few remarks about Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino.

Ainz was not actually a very good ruler, but the caution he had developed over years as a salesman was indeed an excellent trait.

Keeping him in Nazarick was both a display of trust and a test.

A test of his true purpose, a test of his strength, a test of whether he was truly an enemy.

And the Guardians' attitudes were interesting as well—outwardly, they obeyed orders, but behind the scenes, they were probably already sharpening their blades.

"Interesting."

Higashino Makoto murmured, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

He turned and returned to the bedside, picked up his spear, and spun it deftly in his hand.

"Then let's see how long this play can go on."

At the same time, in the Throne Room.

The Guardians had not left.

Ainz sat upright upon the throne, while everyone below stood in neat ranks.

Albedo stood at the very front. The smile on her face had long vanished, replaced by rare solemnity.

"Lord Ainz,"

Her voice was very low. "Could you tell us exactly who that 'guest' is?"

Ainz fell silent for a moment.

"He said he was an old friend of Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino."

The moment those words were spoken, every Guardian was shaken.

Bukubukuchagama. Peroroncino.

To the Guardians of Nazarick, those two names were equivalent to gods.

"That's impossible."

Shalltear was the first to speak, her voice shrill.

"How could an old friend of those two Supreme Beings possibly be that kind of—"

"Shalltear."

Ainz's tone was calm, yet it carried unquestionable pressure.

Shalltear immediately fell silent and lowered her head.

Demiurge adjusted his glasses and slowly said, "Lord Ainz, I have no intention of questioning your judgment. But you also understand that Nazarick's safety takes precedence over all else. We need to learn more about this 'Higashino Makoto.'"

"I know."

Ainz rose to his feet and descended from the throne, his crimson eyes sweeping across every face.

"That is why I need you to do something."

"Observe him, approach him, test him."

His voice was low and powerful.

"But remember—do not get serious. I want to know his background, not take his life."

Albedo narrowed her eyes slightly.

"What if he has ill intentions?"

Ainz halted, his back to the others, and remained silent for a long time.

"Then..."

His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

"We'll talk about it when the time comes."

The Guardians exchanged glances and bowed in unison.

"By your command."

Meanwhile, in a guest room on the ninth floor, Higashino Makoto sat on the bed with one leg crossed over the other, flipping through a copy of Nazarick Sightseeing Guide he had found in the room.

"Ninth floor... Supreme Suite... magical hot springs... indoor pool..."

He turned a page, and his eyes lit up.

"There's even a game room?"

Outside the window, the artificial starry sky shimmered in tranquil silence, reflecting the meaningful smile on his face.

This place was far more interesting than he had imagined.