Higashino Makoto raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You seem to have a good understanding of the geography of this world."
"Demiurge and his team compiled a report and arranged for monsters to monitor them."
Ainz's tone was flat.
"After all, Nazarick needs to know what's around him."
Do you know about the "giant Tatsumaki that occurs only once every thirty years"?
Ainz's red eyes flickered.
"That Tatsumaki is said to be several kilometers in diameter and its height is immeasurable. It occurs once every thirty years, on the same date and in the same location. No one who goes in has ever returned."
"Right."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
But do you know why?
"Why?"
Higashino Makoto stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. A cool morning breeze blew in, ruffling his long, silvery-white hair.
Because that's not a natural phenomenon.
He turned around and looked at Ainz, his golden eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the morning light.
"Those are the remnants of a failed magical ritual from the once-great Baharuth Empire of 'De Gwols.' The cities of that Baharuth Empire slumbered beneath the sand for centuries, and every thirty years, when Tatsumaki occurs, the ruins would emerge from beneath the sand."
Ainz's skeletal fingers tapped lightly on the table.
What's at the center of the Tatsumaki?
"Have no idea."
Higashino Makoto shook his head.
"But there's one thing that's very likely there."
"What?"
Higashino Makoto walked back to the table, sat down again, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.
"World Item - 'Sand Scepter'."
Ainz's red pupils suddenly contracted.
"The Sand Scepter? That World Item that's said to be able to control the desert, trigger sandstorms, and even alter the terrain?"
"Right."
Higashino Makoto put down his teacup.
"According to intelligence, the demise of the De Gevors Baharuth Empire is likely related to this item. They attempted to use the 'Sand Scepter' to do something—open a portal to another world or summon something—but the ritual failed. The entire Baharuth Empire was buried under the sand, and the 'Sand Scepter' remained deep within the ruins."
Ainz remained silent for a moment.
Is the intelligence source reliable?
"Reliable. The intelligence that Muninn sends me has never been wrong."
Higashino Makoto spoke firmly, after all, the information brought by Muninn, World Item, had never been wrong so far.
"Even if there are minor errors, and the giant Tatsumaki wasn't caused by the Sand Scepter, it definitely contains a similar treasure."
Ainz did not press further.
He looked at Higashino Makoto, his crimson eyes gleaming with contemplation.
You want to go?
I want to go.
Higashino Makoto did not deny it.
"But this isn't something that can be done easily. The power of that Tatsumaki is no joke, even for a level 100 player. Besides, nobody knows what's inside the ruins. There might be remnants of magic from the ritual, there might be some guardian, there might be—"
I'll go with you.
Ainz interrupted him.
Higashino Makoto looked at him.
"Are you sure your guardians won't get angry?"
You said last time that we were teammates.
Ainz's tone was calm.
"My teammates are starting a new dungeon and they're not taking me along. Is that a bit inappropriate?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him for two seconds, then smiled.
"Alright. Let's go together then. But let's make it clear first, if the Sand Scepter really is there, we'll each rely on our own abilities, and there's no need to settle scores later."
He reached out his hand.
Ainz looked down at the hand, then reached out his own.
No, it extended its bone claws and grasped it.
The cool bones touched the warm palm, just like every handshake before, yet different each time.
When do we depart?
Ainz asked.
"No rush."
Higashino Makoto released his grip and leaned back in his chair.
"The Tatsumaki won't happen for another three months. We have plenty of time to prepare."
"Three months..."
Ainz repeated it in a low voice.
"That's enough. I can make arrangements for Nazarick."
"I also need to go back to Novas Etier."
Higashino Makoto said.
"Prepare some things: World Item, magical artifacts, and manpower."
"Novas Etier?"
Higashino Makoto shrugged indifferently, not bothering to hide anything further.
"Novas Etier is the guild I brought here, just like your Nazarick. My guild is called 'Black Cross,' and I'm the only member."
Ainz nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
The two remained silent for a while, with only the soft sound of teacups clinking against the table and the occasional chirping of birds from outside the window.
"Higashino."
Ainz suddenly spoke.
"Um?"
You said the "Sand Scepter" is something that opens a gate to another world. Where do you think that "other world" is?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"Have no idea."
He said it calmly.
But I want to know.
Ainz looked at him, a complex light flickering in his crimson eyes.
"You want to go home?"
Higashino Makoto paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Go home? What's the point of going back to that wretched world? Go back to being a beast of burden?"
He shook his head.
"No, I don't want to go home. There's nothing to go back to in that world. I just want to know what's beyond this world."
Ainz remained silent.
He lowered his head, looking at his bony claws and his distinctly knuckled fingers.
"I want to too."
He finally said.
Higashino Makoto didn't ask, "What are you thinking?"
He simply picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold black tea.
The morning light outside the window grew brighter, the tolling of the bells gradually thinned, and the sounds of footsteps and vendors' cries began to appear on the streets.
Another morning in the Divine Capital, as usual, was peaceful and serene.
But Higashino Makoto knew that this peace was only temporary.
Three months later, on the edge of the Dolor Desert, that once-in-thirty-years Tatsumaki will strike again.
And he and Ainz will walk into that place where no one has ever returned.
Higashino Makoto has always believed that only when safety is guaranteed can it be called adventure and play; risking one's life to take risks is called being sick.
Therefore, we need to prepare well for this exploration during this period.
Having skipped breakfast, Higashino Makoto went to an egg pancake shop.
Certain Death are already there.
She sat on the steps at the shop entrance, her silver-white armor gleaming softly in the morning light, her helmet resting on her knees, and her long, black and white hair cascading over her shoulders.
Holding half an egg pancake in his hand, he took a bite, chewed it, swallowed it, and then stared blankly into the distance.
"You've arrived?"
She didn't turn around, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
Higashino Makoto sat down next to her, snatched the half-eaten pancake from her hand, and took a bite.
"You--!"
Certain Death turned his head, his heterochromatic black and white eyes staring at him.
Didn't you say you don't like sweets?
When did I say that?
"Yesterday."
"That was Ainz who said it. Not me."
Certain Death stared at him for two seconds, then snorted, took out another egg pancake from the paper bag, and took a big bite.
"You're really annoying."
"I know."