The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ninth Level, Throne Room.
Ainz sat on the high throne, his skeletal fingers crossed on his knees, his crimson eyes sweeping over the neatly lined-up guardians below.
Albedo stood at the very front, a barely perceptible tension lurking in her golden, vertical pupils.
Demiurge stood beside her, his hands behind his back, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with thoughtful intent.
Shalltear, Cocytus, Aura, Mare... all the guardians of all ranks were present, even Sebas, who rarely showed his face, was standing in the queue.
The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Ainz could sense the heaviness in the air, because—there was unease.
His guardians sensed something unusual.
"I have summoned you here because I have something to announce."
Ainz spoke, his voice deep and steady, carrying the majesty befitting the Overlord.
"I will be leaving Nazarick for the time being."
The air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
Albedo's wings spread slightly behind her, then retracted.
"Lord Ainz..."
Her voice trembled slightly, a hint of suppressed emotion.
"Where are you going? Do you need me to accompany you?"
"Unnecessary."
Ainz's answer was concise and direct.
"I will travel to the Slane Theocracy as 'Momon Black Warrior' alongside Higashino Makoto."
A soft murmur rippled through the hall.
Demiurge pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a cold light.
"Lord Ainz, please forgive my bluntness. The Slane Theocracy is a nation left behind by the Six Great Gods, and there may still be some dangerous artifacts there, so it might be somewhat dangerous. Moreover, which nation adheres to the foolish belief of human supremacy? Would you rashly go there...?"
"I will wear items that conceal my race."
Ainz interrupted him.
To outsiders, I'm just an ordinary adventurer.
"But--"
Demiurge.
Ainz lowered his voice slightly, carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"This is my decision."
Demiurge lowered his head.
"I apologize for my rudeness."
Albedo stepped forward, her golden vertical pupils flashing with complex emotions.
"Lord Ainz, I have no intention of questioning your decision. But I would like to know—why? Why are you going to the Slane Theocracy in person? If you require intelligence, I can dispatch someone—"
Because I want to see it with my own eyes.
Ainz stood up and stepped down from the throne.
The skeleton's footsteps echoed in the hall, each step carrying a steady power.
"This world. Those humans. Those lives not made up of YGGDRASIL data. I want to see it with my own eyes, hear it with my own ears, and feel it with my own hands."
He stopped, his crimson eyes sweeping across the faces of each guardian.
"I've been in Nazarick for too long. So long that I'm almost forgetting what the outside world is like."
Silence.
A long silence.
Then, Demiurge spoke.
"Lord Ainz... is wise."
His voice was calm, but his tone carried a deep respect.
"Your subordinate understands. You risked your life to gain a deeper understanding of this world and for the strategic planning of Nazarick's future. You are not satisfied with secondhand intelligence; you want to witness it firsthand, hear it firsthand, and experience it firsthand—this is the demeanor of a true ruler!"
Ainz: "...?"
"As expected of Lord Ainz!"
Shalltear's voice was filled with fervor.
"To personally travel to an enemy country and infiltrate as an ordinary adventurer—what courage and Wisdom that requires!"
"Lord Ainz's foresight and wisdom are beyond my reach."
Cocytus's deep voice rang out.
"The Slane Theocracy is the Strongest Human, and the intelligence it possesses is invaluable. Ainz's purpose in this trip must be to assess the Slane Theocracy's true strength and prepare for potential future conflicts!"
Ainz: "..."
Aura blinked and muttered to herself.
"I knew Lord Ainz must have had deeper considerations..."
Mare hid behind his sister and nodded timidly.
Albedo clasped her hands to her chest, her golden eyes filled with reverence.
"Lord Ainz, for the sake of Nazarick, you willingly relinquished your Supreme Beings status and walked the world as a mortal—I am deeply grateful for this sacrifice!"
Ainz's skeletal jaw opened slightly, then closed again.
He wanted to say: No, I really just want to go for a walk.
He wanted to say: It was Higashino Makoto who dragged me there.
He wanted to say: You're overthinking it.
But he couldn't bring himself to say it.
The light in the guardians' eyes was so intense that he couldn't bear to extinguish it.
"Well... I'm glad you understand."
Ainz finally spoke, his tone so calm it seemed as if he had everything under control.
"During my absence, Albedo, Nazarick Demiurge assisting her. Contact me via the communication crystal if you encounter any indecisive situations."
"Yes, sir!"
All the guardians responded in unison.
Albedo raised her head, a hint of reluctance in her golden eyes.
"Lord Ainz, who do you plan to bring along?"
Ainz remained silent for a moment.
Narberal.
He said.
"She once accompanied me as an adventurer and is familiar with how the 'Momon' identity works. And..."
He paused.
"Won't cause trouble."
Albedo pursed her lips slightly.
She wanted to say, "Let me go," but she knew this wasn't the time to be impulsive.
"Understood."
She bowed slightly.
"Lord Ainz, please be careful."
"Um."
Ainz turned around and walked towards the entrance to the Throne Room.
He took a few steps and then stopped.
Albedo.
"Exist."
"While I'm away... you'll be in charge of overseeing the Great Tomb of Nazarick."
Albedo's expression froze for a moment.
"... Your subordinate obeys."
Ainz said nothing more and strode out of the hall.
Behind him, the guardians watched his retreating figure, their eyes filled with reverence and reluctance.
Demiurge adjusted his glasses and muttered something under his breath.
"Lord Ainz... he's truly amazing."
Albedo did not respond.
She simply stared at the closed door, her golden eyes flashing with complex emotions.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Level 9, Ainz's private room.
Narberal stood in the center of the room, listening to Ainz's explanation with a blank expression.
That concludes the entire situation.
Ainz sat on the sofa, his skull fingers crossed on his knees.
"Nabe, would you like to come with me?"
"Your subordinate obeys."
Narberal answered without hesitation.
"Wherever Lord Ainz goes, I will follow."
"It's not 'Yes, sir.'"
Ainz shook his head.
"Yes, I'm willing. This time, you're not following me as a battle maid, but as the adventurer 'Nabe.' We're partners, not master and servant."
Narberal was silent for a moment.
"Your subordinate... is willing."
Her voice remained calm, but a soft light flickered in her purple eyes.
"Very good."