The communication has ended.
Higashino Makoto sat up in bed, walked to the window, and opened it.
A night breeze blew in, carrying a hint of coolness.
Under the moonlight, the streets of the town were deserted, with only the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.
"Grown ups."
Kurumi's voice came from behind.
She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a hint of curiosity in her right eye.
"Is the Overlord coming?"
"Um."
How do you plan to entertain him?
"First, have tea; then, argue; finally—try to show him a way out."
Higashino Makoto turned around, his golden eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the moonlight.
"A path that frees him from being swept along."
The next day at noon.
Ainz has arrived.
He wasn't wearing the black armor that symbolized "Momon," but rather a simple gray robe with the hood pulled low, obscuring his skeletal face.
He was alone.
There was no Albedo, no Demiurge, no guardians.
He was alone.
At the entrance of the inn in the small town, Higashino Makoto leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, a half-smile playing on his lips.
"You've arrived?"
"Um."
"Come in."
Higashino Makoto stepped aside, and Ainz strode into the hotel.
Kurumi had already prepared tea and snacks. The black cat "Zafkiel" was perched on the windowsill, its golden eyes curiously watching this uninvited guest.
The two sat facing each other at the round table in the room.
Ainz removed his hood, revealing a skeletal face devoid of flesh and expression.
His scarlet eyes stared directly at Higashino Makoto.
"Higashino."
"Um."
"The Black Scripture, the Catastrophe Dragon Lord, the 'beauty that Downfall of Castle and Country' —I need an explanation."
"Explain?"
Higashino Makoto picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam.
What kind of explanation do you want?
"The truth."
Ainz's voice was deep and firm.
"You said this world has True Dragon Lords, other players, and World Item. You said Nazarick isn't the only one. Now, you say you stole the Slane Theocracy's World Item and destroyed that demonic tree. What are you doing? What do you really want?"
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup and looked at Ainz.
Remove the ring, revealing your true appearance.
"Why should I explain? Isn't that how we players are? We take what we like, we steal what we want. So what if it's the True Dragon Lords?"
Those golden eyes were as calm as a still pool, but something was churning within them.
"And, Ainz, have you ever thought about this?"
What's the problem?
"What you're planning to do—I've heard Demiurge and the others talk about it—is it something you want to do yourself, or something your guardians want you to do?"
Ainz's red pupils suddenly contracted.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is --"
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm, but every word was like a knife.
"You are no longer yourself. You are 'Ainz Ooal Gown,' the ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the embodiment of the Supreme Beings. But you are no longer Ainz. No longer that ordinary player playing games with friends in Yggdrasil."
What are you saying--
I said, you've been coerced.
Higashino Makoto interrupted him.
"By your guardians, by their expectations, by their loyalty, by their faith in the 'Supreme Beings,' you have become what they want you to be, not what you want to be."
The room fell silent.
Ainz's red eyes flickered, and his skeletal fingers tapped lightly on the table—a subtle gesture as he pondered.
You're wrong.
He finally spoke, his voice low.
"Everything I've done is for Nazarick. To protect the legacy left by my comrades. This is my own will."
"Yeah?"
Higashino Makoto tilted his head.
"And what about yourself? What do you want to do? What do you really want?"
When you think back to your happiest moments, was it when you were sitting on the throne?
Ainz fell silent.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but found that he couldn't say anything at all.
What does he want to do?
What does he really want?
In YGGDRASIL, he wanted to play with his friends.
After traveling through time, he wanted to find his companions.
But his companions were gone.
The guardians need him.
Nazarick needs him.
So he heeded their advice and prepared for—establishing a nation, expanding, and conquering.
But what does he himself want to do?
"See, you can't answer that."
Higashino Makoto's voice softened, tinged with a sigh.
"Ainz, you are not a qualified ruler. You are just an ordinary person crushed by responsibility. You dislike killing, you dislike conquest, you dislike the dirty politics. But you did it because you felt you 'should' do it. Because your guardians felt you should do it."
Something was shattering in Ainz's red eyes.
What do you want me to say?
His voice was hoarse.
"They say I'm a coward? They say I've been sidelined by my subordinates? They say I've become a joke?"
"No."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
I want you to admit—you're tired.
Ainz's skeleton froze.
"You're tired, Ainz."
Higashino Makoto repeated it.
"You don't want to play that 'great, Supreme Beings,' you want to stop. You want to go back to Ainz. An ordinary, selfish, ordinary person who likes to play games with his friends."
Ainz remained silent.
He simply sat there, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the table, his fingers no longer tapping.
Silence.
A long silence.
Kurumi stood by the window, with the black cat "Zafkiel" crouching at her feet. Neither of them made a sound.
The only sound in the room was the wind rustling the curtains.
Even if you're right.
Ainz finally spoke, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.
"What can I do? They are NPCs left behind by my companions, they are my family. I can't let them down."
So you're going to disappoint yourself?
Higashino Makoto countered with a question.
"Ainz, have you ever considered that your belief that the Guardians will be happy because you act like a ruler, that you will be happy because you rule the world, is all an illusion?"
Is it possible that as long as you don't abandon Nazarick, no matter what kind of life you lead or what you want to do, they will be happy?
Ainz raised his head, his crimson eyes flashing with complex emotions.
"Then tell me, what should I do?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him and remained silent for a moment.
Then he stood up, walked to the window, and opened it.
Sunlight streamed in, falling between the two of them.
"Ainz, as the Black Warrior Momon, come with me to the Slane Theocracy."
Ainz was stunned.
"Go to the Slane Theocracy? What for?"
"Rediscover the joy of exploring dungeons and building guilds with friends in the game."
Higashino Makoto turned around, his golden eyes staring directly at Ainz.
"Put Nazarick aside for now, put aside the expectations of the Guardians for now. Just be yourself. Ainz. Or Momon. An ordinary adventurer."
"But--"
"Are you worried about Nazarick?"
Higashino Makoto interrupted him.
"Tell your guardians to keep an eye on the house. It's not like you're never coming back. You're just going out for a stroll. A month, two months, six months. As an undead, you have plenty of time, don't you?"
"Besides, teleportation magic is so convenient, you can actually go back anytime, can't you?"
Ainz fell silent.
He looked down at his bone claws.
Those well-defined fingers once unleashed countless spells in YGGDRASIL, once wielded the scepter on the throne of Nazarick, and once slew enemies on the battlefield.
But they never... lived for themselves.
"Higashino."
Ainz's voice was very soft.
Why did you help me?
Higashino Makoto paused for a moment, then found a suitable excuse.
"Because you are Peroroncino's friend."
He finally said.
"Because you shouldn't live like this."
Also because--
He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"I need a friend I can talk to. There are so few people in this world who can talk to me as an equal. You are one of them."
Ainz stared at Higashino Makoto for a long time.
Then he slowly stood up.
"Good."
He said.
"As Momon, I'll go to the Slane Theocracy with you."
Higashino Makoto smiled.
"Let's go then. We'll treat the Slane Theocracy as the first labyrinth we need to explore."
He reached out his hand.
Ainz looked down at the hand, then reached out—no, reached out his bone claw—and grasped it.
The cold bones touched the warm palm.
The exact same pose as when we first met.
But this time, it has a completely different meaning.
Let's go.
"Ainz said."
Go see the world.
On the windowsill, the black cat "Zafkiel" meowed and held its tail high.
Kurumi leaned against the window frame, her right eye curving into a crescent moon.
"Grown ups."
She said softly.
"You really are..."
Higashino Makoto did not answer.
He simply looked at Ainz, at the faint but real light that had rekindled in those crimson eyes.
Then he turned around and walked towards the door.
"Kurumi, pack your things."
"Yes, sir."
"Ainz, put on your armor. The Black Warrior, Momon, needs to look presentable."
"Good."
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting the three people's shadows on the floor.
They overlapped.
They went their separate ways again.
A new journey has begun.