Probing 2

"Just a spar. Stop at the right point."

Higashino Makoto withdrew his spear, took two steps back, and smiled calmly.

"Your level completely outclasses mine, and my class build isn't specialized for combat. It's only natural that I couldn't beat you."

"So I could only gamble that you would obey Ainz's orders and be unable to kill me, a guest. It was indeed despicable of me to risk my life based on that. So, my apologies."

Cocytus remained silent for a long time. Then, he suddenly sheathed all four of his blades and gave a deep bow.

"I have learned much."

In the spectator stands, Demiurge, who had been observing in secret, adjusted his glasses. A thoughtful gleam reflected off the lenses.

"Interesting."

The third round had ended in a draw?

No. Higashino Makoto considered himself the victor.

Demiurge stood behind Ainz and adjusted his glasses.

"Lord Ainz, Higashino Makoto's strength fell far short of expectations. Cocytus told me just now that if it had been a fight to the death, he should have been able to kill him quite easily. However, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that he was concealing his true strength."

"I understand."

No emotion could be heard in Ainz's voice.

"Then your plan is—"

"Continue observing."

Ainz turned around, his crimson eyes gleaming in the darkness. "If he truly is an enemy, we will find out sooner or later. If he is not..."

He paused.

"Then perhaps Nazarick can gain another friend."

"Also, the intelligence Higashino Makoto gave me must be verified as soon as possible, especially the parts concerning the True Dragon Lords and other players. And for the time being, Nazarick will remain silent. Any Guardians leaving must carry World-Class Items."

Demiurge fell silent for a moment, then bowed deeply.

"As you wish, Lord Ainz."

The night deepened.

Higashino Makoto returned to his room, shut the door, and placed his spear beside the bed.

Only the artificial starlight outside the window spilled down in silence.

And somewhere beyond his knowledge, a bat hung upside down beneath the eaves outside his window, its tiny crimson eyes staring at him without blinking.

Shalltear's voice came through magical communication, carrying a trace of confusion.

"Suspicious... but I can't say exactly what's suspicious..."

The probing continued.

And Higashino Makoto was only just getting started.

When Higashino Makoto returned to his room at dusk, he found an extra bottle of wine and a letter on the table.

There was no signature on the letter, only a single line:

"Eight tonight. Ninth Floor terrace. I want to talk to you. —Y"

Higashino Makoto looked at the bottle of wine, then at the "Y" on the letter, and raised an eyebrow.

Albedo.

He picked up the bottle, pulled out the stopper, and gave it a sniff—richly fruity. Good wine.

"A trap or a honey trap?"

He muttered to himself, then set down the bottle and walked to the window.

Outside, the artificial sunset was slowly descending, dyeing the entire Ninth Floor of Nazarick gold and crimson.

"Or... both?"

At eight that night, on the Ninth Floor terrace.

Albedo had changed out of her pitch-black armor and into a long black dress. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her appear especially soft and beautiful beneath the moonlight.

She leaned against the terrace railing, a glass of red wine in hand, her posture lazy yet elegant.

"You're here?"

She turned to look at Higashino Makoto, her golden slit pupils faintly glowing in the night.

Higashino Makoto walked to her side, propped his spear against the railing, and rested both hands on it as he gazed toward the artificial starry sky in the distance.

"What did you want to see me for?"

"Can't I see you if I don't have a reason?"

Albedo gave a soft laugh and handed him another glass of wine.

"Try it. I took it from the treasury."

Higashino Makoto took the wineglass but did not drink. He merely swirled it, watching the wine spin within the glass.

"Are you afraid I poisoned it?"

Albedo tilted her head at him.

"If you really wanted to kill me, there'd be no need to go through the trouble of poisoning me."

Higashino Makoto spoke calmly and drained the wine in one gulp.

"You're Nazarick's Overseer of the Guardians, aren't you? You should be level one hundred, right? I don't know your class build, but killing a minor level-sixty character like me would be beneath you."

Albedo's smile faltered slightly.

"You understand your situation well enough."

"I don't have many talents. I just know my own limits."

The two fell silent for a while, with only the night wind blowing across the terrace.

Albedo suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.

"Do you really know Lady Bukubukuchagama and Lord Peroroncino?"

Higashino Makoto did not answer immediately.

Holding his glass, he fixed his gaze upon the largest artificial star in the distance.

"I know Peroroncino. As for Bukubukuchagama, I only learned a little about her from him."

He said.

"And that was quite a long time ago."

"What kind of people were they?"

Higashino Makoto turned to look at her, seemingly somewhat surprised by the question.

"Why do you ask?"

Albedo lowered her head, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through her golden eyes.

"I... simply want to know. What kind of people were the Supreme Beings who created us? Lord Ainz rarely speaks of them."

Higashino Makoto was silent for a long time.

"Peroroncino..."

He slowly began, his voice carrying an indescribable nostalgia.

"He was a very awkward person. He laughed and joked around all day, and he liked playing pranks. Sometimes he took them too far and could piss people off to death. But he had one good quality—he would never truly hurt his friends."

"As for Bukubukuchagama... according to Peroroncino, I can only guess that she actually liked Ainz quite a bit."

Albedo listened quietly without interrupting.

"Anyway, she was a pretty good person."

Higashino Makoto finally said, raising the glass to his lips and taking another sip.

Albedo looked at him. The scrutiny in her eyes had diminished somewhat, replaced by something difficult to put into words.

She hesitated for a moment.

"If they could still return, do you... think they would?"

Higashino Makoto set down his glass, turned around, leaned against the railing, and looked up at the artificial night sky.

Could Albedo possibly hope for the Supreme Beings to return?

Ha, don't make Albedo laugh!

If she had the chance, she'd definitely send every last one of them to hell with a single slash.

Unfortunately, Higashino Makoto couldn't say anything bad.

"Though I'd like to say they would, but—"

"I don't know... Who could say for sure about something like that?"

Albedo said nothing more.

The two simply stood on the terrace, silently drinking, each lost in their own thoughts.

In the distance, Ainz stood before a window in the throne room, watching the scene through a magic crystal ball.

"Bukubukuchagama, Peroroncino..."