"Yes, Lord Ainz, thank you very much for your concern." Shalltear bowed to him.
Ainz opened his mouth, hesitated for a moment, then said, "If anything unexpected happens, make sure to notify me immediately."
"Of course. Please rest assured, Lord Ainz. I definitely won't disappoint you," Shalltear said confidently.
No, she would definitely disappoint Ainz. Tonight, Shalltear would unexpectedly clash with a powerful knight, then disregard Ainz's orders and act on her own.
Ainz had known this for a long time. It was predetermined "plot."
He could choose to prevent this conflict, but in the end, Ainz chose to make use of it.
Because the other party in this conflict was Artoria Tiamat, Aya's fourth daughter.
Given Ainz's original personality, he would never have chosen to alter the predetermined script.
But now, he was deeply worried about Aya—worried about this important friend who had accompanied him through two worlds—so worried that his heart felt like it was about to burn!
He had no heart, but Ainz now thoroughly understood what it meant to be "anxious as if on fire."
Because he was so worried, he had even set out early last night and directly killed Clementine and Khajiit Dale Badantel of Zurrernorn.
Originally, they had been experience packs for Ainz to farm merit and prestige. The two of them were supposed to trigger a major undead disaster tonight, then become adventurer Momon's first great achievement.
But because they had become an obstacle, Ainz killed them in advance. As the price, adventurer Momon only rose to platinum rank this time.
It didn't matter. Mithril, orichalcum, adamantite—none of it mattered. There would be plenty of chances to earn adventurer merit later. At worst, he could have Demiurge launch a city-destroying demon attack, then have Momon repel it.
Before his companions, everything else