Chapter 1: To Take a Paid Vacation

Part 1

Ainz had finished reading the contents of the large binder in front of him and had returned to the first page to stamp his personal seal. He pressed down firmly on the area marked for his approval after a brief moment of hesitation. That was all it took to approve this binder of documents containing records of political issues far beyond Ainz's comprehension and their respective solutions. All that remained was for Albedo to choose a suitable entourage and they could begin their journey. He handed the binder to Lumière, who had been standing nearby quietly. That was the end of his responsibilities for the day. Ainz adjusted his gaze to the timepiece. It said 22:30.

Ainz started work at 22:00. In other words, he had only worked for 30 minutes. This had been the situation for some time. Normally Ainz would have finished by midday, but this was far too fast. A wage slave like Satoru would never have started work so late, except on days when he was late. But from what Satoru knew, it wouldn't be unusual for those who worked for large companies to be late. If Ulbert were in his position, he would be extremely grateful for the existence of shifts.

So the working day which began and ended with the rising and setting of the sun should be taken as the norm for the inhabitants of this world (for example, villagers like Enri and Nfirea). Although the city dwellers of this world functioned in a similar way, their work days began and ended later than those of the villagers. The main reason for this difference in lifestyle was access to light. Those who were able to access magical lighting were most likely to belong to the nobility. The latter therefore started work at a later hour and tended to work late into the night.

So did all the Nazaricks start working at 22:00? Absolutely not. Especially the regular maids were divided into day and night shifts with long working hours. Cocytus' subordinates on the Ninth Floor were similarly situated. They rarely took a break, not even a snack or a smoke break, and it was difficult to tell when their breaks were. Despite this, there were no complaints about the way they were treated by almost 90% of those with such schedules. In his efforts to create a more humane working environment, Ainz listened to the feedback of the regular maids. But he could only think of one thing after hearing what they had said:

“What is wrong with their minds?“

No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that their devotion was unwavering. How could they say something like:

“It is common sense to use items that will reduce fatigue and allow work to continue indefinitely.”

Keep a straight face? Hearing these words, Ainz was shaken to his core. Those who were unhappy with their current placements were just begging:

“We want more duties.”

These discussions had taken place not long before. While it might be seen as abusing his power to force those under him to do as he wished, Ainz continued to increase the benefits they received. His first target was the regular maids. The main reason for this was that their level was not high enough. Another important factor was their attractive feminine appearance. Although Ainz didn't intend to be prejudiced based on looks, he couldn't help but draw parallels between them and Cocytus' subordinates. If it were a direct order from Ainz, there would undoubtedly be obedience from everyone in Nazarick. However, since his order might damage their morale, he had to be careful in his order. So he came up with the following justification:

“There is a possibility that, in the future, the regular maids will have to be in charge of the human maids. When that day comes, the regular maids will have to explain to the human maids the conditions under which they work. To avoid overworking future human maids, it is better to improve working conditions now.”

In this way, he was able to effectively reduce their working hours and give them extra holidays, despite their protests. It used to be that they would take a day off every 41 days. It was now more than twice as long. They also now had two days' rest.

(It feels like I haven't made a difference...)

Though the thought had crossed Ainz's mind before, his feeling was that any further thought would be met with too much resistance. Even if it meant compromise, progress was progress, no matter how small. For example, a comprehensive holiday plan, including paid time off and paid holidays, had yet to be successfully implemented. The reason why Ainz was determined to push through this holiday system despite the objections of the NPCs was perhaps a remnant of Satoru's desire for holidays he could never have. So Ainz had to consider other options. If Ainz, who sat at the top of Nazarick's command structure, wanted to change everyone's attitude towards working in Nazarick, he couldn't work too hard. So he wanted to instil the idea that:

“If my superiors don't work hard enough, I should relax too.”

Ainz's strategy was to convince everyone of this idea. The reasons were obvious. If he, a talentless jackass, were to actively manage Nazarick, it would not be difficult to predict the difficulties that awaited them.

(Of course, if a talentless jackass like me took command, Nazarick would crumble.)

In the end, however, this strategy failed. Instead, the Nazarickians argued:

“It is Ainz-sama's given right not to work, so the part of Ainz-sama's duties that Ainz-sama has postponed must be done by me.”

As a result, Ainz's only responsibility was to rubber-stamp his approval, which was becoming more and more rare. He should have been happy with that. Giving the incompetent jackass Ainz more responsibility would only make Nazarickians' life more difficult. Still, Ainz felt bad about the burden he was putting on the others.

(Ahh...)

Ainz squinted his eyes in the act of concentration (his eyesight was already excellent) and turned to the two maids who were on duty. For this shift, they were in charge of him and the room. If their eyes met, he would be asked immediately:

“Anything else I can help with?”

(You needn't be serious... Oh, how I wish they'd relax a bit... This tense atmosphere is giving me pain in my stomach...)

(How long had it been since the last time I had seen a smile from the maids?)

Ainz couldn't help but feel curious. He gave a mental sigh once more before he turned to the maid next to him and asked her:

“Err... Lumière.”

“Yes, Ainz-sama?”

“Just to be sure, was this all I was going to get to work on?”

“Yes, Ainz-sama. That was all for today.”

He turned to the maid who was on duty, as she acted as his secretary while Albedo was away. Unfortunately, nobody seemed to be scheduled to meet or negotiate with him today. He could not relax, however, as there was still a chance that more work might come to light. The reason for this extreme caution was that it was always something serious enough to make his imaginary stomach cramp, whenever Entoma used magic like 〈Message〉 to tell him about an urgent situation.

“Is that so...”

Ainz turned around to look at the other desk in the room. Even though Albedo's insistence had been that the desk be there, it was nowhere in sight. Normally, Albedo and Ainz would have been working side by side. It had only been a few days since the fall of the Kingdom's capital, but she had still been very busy. She was often seen wandering around Nazarick, dealing with matters face to face. After asking her about Albedo's situation while he was gone, he noticed that the maid was quite irritable. She must have been working too hard, or maybe it was because she didn't get to see Ainz very often.

(If the latter is the case, then I should probably try to meet up with her more often.)

There was no reason for him to refuse, if that was all it would take to lift her spirits.

“...”

The room fell silent as no one else would speak if Ainz did not. To be honest, Ainz would have preferred a more relaxed work environment where everyone was free to express themselves. However, Ainz had learned over the years that wishing for that was impossible to achieve.

(It's lonesome.)

(I'm afraid of being worshipped here for the rest of my life... There's nothing I can do about it, but a change of environment is necessary anyway.)

Ainz used to spend his free time in various places. He would pretend to read and understand academic articles, business information, and political literature. None of this information stayed with him because he only skimmed through it. It wasn't because Ainz's head was empty. He had also been experimenting with magic in a variety of ways. Recently, he had taken special training sessions with Pandora's Actor in addition to his combat training with Cocytus.

“Now then...”

Ainz pretended to mumble to himself, but in fact he was deliberately announcing it to the room. Everything should be ready. All that was left was the execution of his plan to help Aura and Mare find some friends. Everything he had done up to that point was a preparation for success. As for what kind of friends they were going to make, they were going to have to prioritize the Dark Elves. Related races like elves would be next in line. Although he was well aware of what this world had to offer, Ainz found it hard to swallow the idea of having the twins be befriended by Lizardmen or Goblins. They would have to start with those of the races that were most similar to them. Ainz shifted his gaze in the direction of Lumière.

“I will be on my way to the Sixth Floor, you should be with me.”

“As your wish.”

Though she would have followed even if he hadn't reminded her, he thought it more appropriate. Ainz used the magic of his ring to teleport to the Sixth Floor with Lumière. He could have just told Lumière to bring him whoever he was teleporting to see. That would have been more appropriate for him to do as the Overlord of Nazarick, but he chose to forgo such procedures in order to ensure that this task would be carried out flawlessly. Therefore, it would be better if he went personally. Rather than being perceived as rude, a personal visit might be perceived as more respectful and friendly. Having the ruler appear before them might also help to pressure them into going more smoothly than would otherwise happen. The people he wanted to see were the three elves who had been driven here by the Workers earlier.

(We should have been able to get some information from them when we put them on the Sixth Floor... but we couldn't do that at the time.)

Despite the years that had passed, the only information gathered from the three had been to answer a few basic questions. About the Elf Country, or even about themselves, they had never been asked. This was because Ainz wanted them to remember him as a magnanimous undead who fought against slavery. If he had questioned them relentlessly about the location of their home and information about the elves, they might have wondered if he had ulterior motives for saving them. Has there been any change since then? No doubt. The difference between the current state of Nazarick and its peaceful beginnings was as stark as night and day. The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick welcomed people from all kinds of backgrounds. It would not be surprising if the Sorcerous Kingdom of Ainz Ooal Gown wanted to establish diplomatic contact with the Elf Country and needed all kinds of information about them.

(Now I have an excuse for all the things I have wanted to ask them. They don't seem bullied by the twins... At best, they will open up to me completely, but I should temper my expectations. If I'd been able to foresee this back then, it would have made it much easier to order them now...)

While this thought was forming in his mind, he realized that it would have been wrong to order Aura and Mare to be nice to the elves. He wouldn't have had to think so hard if he had given that task to Demiurge or Albedo. By this time, he'd already figured out the deal with the regular maids and Cocytus.

Although it is often said that you should not judge a book by its cover, Ainz may not have been able to understand its thought processes. After all, he was just an ordinary man. Ainz and Lumière were on the way through a dark tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a massive latticed portcullis, through which the sun's light streamed. The circular arena on the Sixth Floor should be visible ahead. While the ring could have teleported them directly to the twins' home, he chose not to because—

Like a series of automatic doors, the latticed portcullis rose quickly. Ainz remembered how, on his first day in this world, he had walked the same way to visit this place. His eyes were drawn to the petite figure in the distance.

“Ainz-sama, welcome!”

The girl welcomed him with enthusiasm.

“I see. Aura, I have something to ask of you—and I thank you for all your hard work.”

As the Sorcerous Kingdom expanded, the Floor Guardians began to be assigned to varying tasks. Despite the fact that the majority of the action took place outside of Nazarick, they always made sure to keep at least two or three Floor Guardians—some combination of Albedo, Demiurge, Mare, Aura, Cocytus, and Shalltear—within the city.

Most of the time, this meant that Cocytus, Shalltear, and Albedo were in charge. Cocytus, on the other hand, occasionally had to deal with the Lizardmen, and Shalltear also had to deal with the Dragons. This meant that they were replaced by others when needed. This was not the idea of Ainz.

Ainz had considered appointing Cocytus as Chief Defense and Shalltear as Vice Chief, but the size of their domains was very different from each other. At the time, he thought it would be enough for one person to oversee Nazarick while the others worked outside. But he ended up being too embarrassed to propose that plan and volunteered to be that one and only. He was afraid that, as their superior, he would be a hindrance to the original plans of the Floor Guardians.

Ainz, however, wanted to respect their initiative. Anyway, Albedo and Demiurge were far more intelligent than him. As long as the two were in agreement, Ainz would be embarrassed to think otherwise. Their ideas must be superior to those of a mundane like him.

“Yes! I understand. Ainz-sama, what brings Ainz-sama here today?”

“—Umu.”

Faced with Aura's smile, Ainz assumed a majestic posture and replied. To be honest, he had no intention of being arrogant at first, but most of his problems could be solved with one:

“Umu.”

As befitted his stern personality. However, he unconsciously raised his tone when he was faced with doubts about his ability to complete the task at hand. It seemed to have an effect, as Aura immediately took on a more solemn expression.

(Oops, now I'm definitely being misunderstood.)

“Damn—”

His utterance was unintentional. If asked what was wrong, he would not be able to sustain the act. Instead, Ainz had faith in his ability to fumble his way to a satisfactory answer.

“"First... right, I'm here to visit the Elves.”

“Please let me confirm... Would you like to have a look at the elves we have in captivity, Ainz-sama?”

(Sorry, I shouldn't try to cover up my own mistakes with these strange explanations... Please don't look at me so solemnly; instead, have a smile like you always do...)

“That's right... I want to know what they've been up to, to ask them questions in preparation for what's to come.”

“I see, then I will get them right away.”

Ainz expected this, or rather, he expected the same reaction from all Nazarickians. So he'd prepared an answer—which was really just a lame excuse.

“No, no. You don't need to do that, because I'm going to come here for two reasons.”

“So there are two... would that be right? For a simple conversation with some captives, to have considered so many aspects...”

Her eyes alone could be an indication of what was in her mind:

“As expected of Ainz-sama.”

(No, this is something I'm saying to respond to you and Mare's "reasonable defenses".)

Of course, this was not something Ainz could say out loud, so he simply turned away.

“The first goal was to use my physical presence to try to psychologically coerce them. The second goal... has nothing to do with those Elves. We've brought all sorts of creatures to the Sixth Floor now that we rule the entire Great Forest of Tob. I'd rather have a look at the changes that have taken place here. I'd like you to take me to the places where the most significant changes have occurred, if possible, Aura. Is that alright?”

In summary, Ainz had done his best not to interfere with the Floors, as they were run directly by the Guardians; as a result, he had not personally witnessed the changes that had occurred. It showed how much he trusted them. A superior's interference would be annoying if a subordinate's work was going well. So, seeing that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Ainz decided to go see Aura. What he was not sure about was what Aura's interpretation of his words would be. The environment around them had changed all of a sudden. He felt an enormous pressure from her.

“—I understand. My master's orders will be carried out in accordance with his wishes.”

Aura replied with a solemn expression.

“There is no need for Ainz-sama to ask, "Is it all right?" Ainz-sama is Nazarick's Overlord, and wherever you go, the Floor Guardians' opinions are meaningless!”

“What...? Yu−Yup. I’m very grateful you said that.”

“To express how grateful Ainz-sama is... err, I think things have changed the most in the meadow, so I'll take Ainz-sama there.”

“The meadow—”

Ainz tried to remember what happened.

“—Where the plant-type monsters live.”

“Yes, you are correct. There's also a section for plant-type monsters that we can't identify, and another for intelligent plant-type monsters. In between, there is a village built for those who live like humans; should we go there as well?”

The village was built so that Humans could live in Nazarick. If they were to encounter a Player in the future, it might be necessary to show that Nazarick and the inhabitants of this world could coexist. That was why the village was built. There were a few small houses and a farm, but not large enough to call it a village. But there seemed to be no better term.

“Does Ainz-sama remember? The dryad name of Pinison?”

“Ah... I think so.”

That was a lie. He couldn't remember her face, just a vague figure. The battle against the massive Evil Tree was far more memorable than Pinison's. Pinison was forgotten compared to that. Remembering people's faces and names was terrible for Ainz. When given a business card, he was the type to scribble down his first impressions.

“I think one of them called itself Chief or something like that.”

Pinison's title of Chief was largely self-appointed, as Ainz found that many of the plant-type monsters lived freely. However, she was the first to arrive in Nazarick and helped unite the other plant-types. She had a certain amount of influence with the monsters from outside of Nazarick, and they looked up to her. They rarely agreed with each other because there were plant-type monsters stronger than Pinison. However, since she was backed by Aura and Mare, nothing major had happened.

It was common for the foreign plant-type monsters to be greeted by Aura and Mare. This greeting involved showing off the Twins' and the Summons' fighting prowess until the monsters surrendered. Every time the Twins gave an order, the power differential would hang over their heads, and as a result, they would make an effort to carry out the order to perfection. Furthermore, when the Cash Item summoned the Woodland Dragons to serve Mare, the monsters began to question whether or not Mare was a god at all. Their faith in him has remained strong to this day, especially after witnessing Mare's ability to summon a storm and increase the land's nutritional value to astonishing levels.

(But I doubt that all monsters see him as a god. Some monsters still worship him, even though they recognize these events as the result of druidic magic... What can I say...)

Aura let out an:

“Errr...”

And was lost in thought. Ainz understood the situation well. This was similar to Players worshipping superior equipment as gods, idols, or something in between.

“—I see, and I get the gist of it. As long as you keep everything under your control, everything should be fine. Use whatever methods or approaches you want, er... hmm, yeah. And that's that.”

Ainz was embarrassed by his choice of words. However, there was no need to interject any of his nonsense, given the excellent job these two had done managing the Floor. His best response would be to just say:

“Excellent!”

Aura's face caught Ainz's attention. She didn't seem to be affected by what he said, but it was hard to tell what she was really thinking.

(I shouldn't say things that will demoralize my subordinates, ahh, I've even read that in business management books...)

Ainz reminded himself that he had to be careful with his words. He also had to watch his tone and volume.

“Ahem...! Even though it would be nice to explore the village, I think we should limit ourselves to the meadow for the time being. After all, it was your idea. I'm sorry, Aura.”

Aura immediately began waving her arms in panic.

“P−Please don’t mind that! As I previously stated, Ainz-sama is the Overlord of Nazarick! Please feel free to move around the Floor as you please. I made a stupid suggestion, and I apologize profusely!”

“N−No...”

(Why is she apologizing? Or to be more precise, wasn't Aura's behavior suspicious from the beginning? Was it because I stumbled in the beginning? Does she think that I was planning something different?)

While Ainz pondered, Aura continued to ramble.

“Within Nazarick—No, there is no place in the world where Ainz-sama is not allowed!”

(Well, there are lots of places I can't go.)

Ainz thought, especially in women-only areas.

(There seem to be many places open only to women...)

Even in these cases, Aura might say something like:

“It's perfectly fine to enter.”

Ainz remained silent, for that would have been very embarrassing. He looked at Lumière, who was wearing the same expression on her face:

“Without a doubt.”

She nodded at him. It was getting tiresome, making up excuses all the time. But he had to be careful not to let on how he really felt. Ainz said gently to Aura:

“Then I must ask you to lead the way.”

“Great! Let me handle it.”

Aura said while beating her chest heavily.

“Then... what about transportation? Does Ainz-sama want to ride something?”

“Indeed, can I impose it on you?”

“Yes, please let me take care of it!”

Looking behind her, Aura raised an eyebrow in thought. A few seconds had passed.

“Even though there are other animals in the vicinity, I have summoned Fenn and Quadracile on the basis of my own judgment. Is that acceptable?”

“There's no need for you to ask my permission for this. I won't argue with Aura if she thinks it's acceptable.”

“Okay, thank you very much. Then may I ask Ainz-sama to please wait?”

“Ah, then I'll be in your care.”

Ainz ended his conversation and began to look around the arena. A walk through the Fifth and Sixth Floors of Nazarick's Great Underground Tomb brought a different kind of joy than the Ninth and Tenth Floors. Though extremely rare, at certain times of the year and day, the Aurora Borealis could be seen in this part of the domain, which was entirely contained within the Fifth Floor. Compared to that, the simple pleasure of walking around was more accessible on the Sixth Floor. Ainz laughed. His empty stomach felt somewhat better.

///

“Excuse me.”

Aura said as she stepped away from her master and Lumière to pick up a necklace. The twins wore legacy-class necklaces that allowed them to communicate in both directions. They weren't particularly powerful items, but the twins wore them constantly because it took two days after equipping for the necklaces to work. Items with such conditions were usually powerful, but this was an exception. In addition, the person speaking had to hold the necklace, which was inconvenient during fierce battles. Along with the strict limitations came the ability to communicate for an unlimited time. Whether such items were useful enough to merit an equipment slot was a never-ending debate.

“Mare... Ainz-sama is waiting for you.”

A moment later, Mare's voice echoed in her head.

【Eh, eh? Ainz-sama has come here by himself? Is something going on?】

“Isn't it obvious? It's an inspection, an inspection.”

【Huh, huh?】

“I have a feeling that Ainz-sama was checking that the Area Guardians and we are managing this Floor properly. Even though the inspection is only for the newly planted meadow this time, we still need to make sure that the Area Guardians are not letting down their guard.”

【So, because we had outsiders join us, do you think that Ainz-sama started the inspection from our Floor? Or was it one after another?】

“—Oh, maybe.”

Aura thought she was talking to someone else, but it was her imagination.

“Ainz-sama said he came here with two goals in mind. But it's Ainz-sama, so I doubt there are only two. Maybe putting some pressure on us was the third unspoken goal.”

【What? Even though the work outside of Nazarick has increased, it's still important to make sure that the most important and basic responsibilities are met, right?】

Though she was still stumped, she had some clues. The work of Albedo and the Demiurge used to be envied by people like Shalltear and Cocytus. But more and more, they were sent outside of Nazarick to begin their work there. Their military prowess had been a testament to their loyalty during the destruction of the Kingdom. Their master, on the other hand, might have noticed the festive mood among them. Regardless of their duties, Aura and Mare were Nazarick's Floor Guardians.

The responsibilities that came with the Floor were always defense, management, and leadership. Was their master wondering if their new duties had been a distraction from their original duties? If their master expressed concern about their work ethic, they would be an embarrassment to the Floor Guardians. If the other floor guards were to find out about it, especially Guardian Overseer Albedo, they would undoubtedly be subject to punishment. So it was possible that their master was being considerate.

【Perhaps, in order to raise everyone's alertness, Ainz-sama wanted us to inform the other Guardians of what had happened.】

“Very likely. That should be the fourth goal, right? But I still feel like there's something else going on.”

Aura and Mare were both unaware of this. The thought that Demiurge and Albedo might know something about it made her lament a little.

“Anyway, I need to get some things ready.”

【Hm? What do we need to get ready?】

“Sorry for not informing you. I said there were two goals, didn't I? The first was inspection. The second was a visit to the Elves who had been in charge of the empty rooms.”

【Oh, those people. They keep talking about royalty this and royalty that. Since they are so loud, can Ainz-sama take them away?】

Mare's tone indicated a real dislike for them. Mare was happy to spend the day curled up in his blanket. In the eyes of these three Elves, he was incapable of independent living, so they were far more concerned with him than they were with Aura. They hung his blanket out to dry, helped him dress, and even bathed him occasionally. Mare did not appreciate these actions; rather, he considered them annoying. On the other hand, it was his master's orders, so he couldn't refuse the "care" he was getting.

“—Ahh' Fenn and Quadracile are close by. I'm not sure how long it will take us to get there, but be prepared, Mare.”

【Mhm, leave it to me.】

Aura cut their connection and returned to her master.

///

Flowers of all colors bloomed in the meadow on the Sixth Floor of Nazarick. If any of the intruders who had passed through the hell above had seen them, they would have immediately suspected the presence of mimics and other deadly traps. But there was nothing of the sort. It felt like there should be traps here, but there were no countermeasures against invaders. In YGGDRASIL, there were plant and insect-type monsters that could imitate flowers, but none were used here. Also, no Area Guardians were positioned here. In a way, it was just a pretty meadow under the direct control of Aura and Mare. In the beginning, there was a plan to fill the place with traps.

Any invaders who made it to the Sixth Floor would be unlikely to accept the meadow for what it was. They'd be cautious, keep a safe distance, and then use burn-effect attacks to burn the place down. As a result, there was discussion about the planting of flowers that would react to fire and spread the deadly or paralyzing poison that was in use at the time. Due to the strong opposition of the three female members of the Guild, this plan was changed. The end result of this was a flat meadow. In the past, only Ainz knew about it, but not anymore. Unexpectedly, twelve flower buds, large enough to swallow an entire person, sprouted from the meadow. They looked strange, or rather, they looked like they were bad omens. Ainz began to remember what happened. Many creatures in this world were unfamiliar to Ainz. He also thought of similar-looking YGGDRASIL creatures.

“That’s an Alraune, right?”

“Yes!”

None were stationed in Nazarick or summoned upon their arrival, suggesting that they were a foreign species brought from the Great Forest of Tob. There was a shovel sticking out of the ground in the middle of the meadow. This was the divine class item, "Earth Recover." As a divine class weapon, it had an absurdly high durability but almost no offensive ability. This was because most of its data was used for secondary skills. There were also "Spear Needles" that looked like Angora Rabbits in the meadow. The way they were sitting in the meadow, chewing on giant carrots, gave the place an almost fairy-tale feel. But they might not be placed there just for display. Without Aura's help, he'd never have a clue, but it was most likely for surveillance purposes. Even so, their level was in the upper 60's. Whatever they tried, the Alraunes would be easily destroyed.

“By the way, the carrot the kid is munching on came from the farms. Plant-type monsters like Pinison used their abilities to provide an abundance of nutrients, turning carrots into giants.”

“Not growth, but transformation? Is it safe to consume? However for its level, a medium poison would have no effect on the Spear Needles.”

“It's not poisonous. We have checked with the Head Chef, and they do meet the minimum requirements for culinary materials. Unfortunately, they do not provide buffs like the existing materials in Nazarick—they just got bigger and sweeter.”

“Isn't that quite a successful food? Could it be grown by Sorcerous Kingdom farmers?”

“No way. Even with the help of plant-type monsters, the amount that can be grown is currently limited. Even with the power of Earth Recover, a single carrot like that would drain a considerable amount of nutrients from the soil. The land will not become a desert, but without the use of magic to recover nutrients, at least a year's rest is required.”

As they watched, the largest flower bud gradually opened up.

“The Alraune Lord is the leader of all 14 Alraunes present.”

A light introduction was given by Aura to the opening bud.

“Fourteen?”

Ainz asked after a quick count:

“Not... twelve?”

“Yes, the other two have been hiding in the meadow since they were born. Shall I get them out?”

“No... no need.”

Would monsters born in Nazarick count toward Nazarick's monster count? What kind of power could be expected of them? One by one, the questions came to mind. Before he could drop it on Aura, the flower bloomed completely. Inside was, as expected, a female-looking monster. It was similar to what he had seen in YGGDRASIL. It was called a Lord, but aside from its size, it was nothing special. Its hair and eyes were the same color as the flower. Its entire body was as green as her stem. It was naked, but its skin was made of tiny sprouts.

Overall, it was disgusting. It had slanting eyes that were as thin as a line. His expression was hostile, almost angry. Ainz felt a sudden flash of nostalgia as he remembered a girl from the Holy Kingdom who had a similar look in her eyes. Ainz had a terrible memory for faces, but this pair of eyes was in his mind. The monster's face twisted in a sly grimace.

“Good morning, Aura-sama. You have given us another beautiful ray of sunshine. On behalf of the Green Seeds, I express our gratitude.”

The voice was pure and free of hostility. Instead, there was reverence. Even though it seemed to be plotting something, the "smile" from before seemed sincere in its welcome. The individuals next to the Lord had numerous petal movements, but none bloomed. However, there was no cover on their heads, and their eyes were all in his direction. Since he had no understanding of their actions, it would be unreasonable to call them disrespectful. In Alraune culture, perhaps this was the most respectful way to behave.

“And...”

The Lord's eyes turned to Ainz.

“This is the ruler of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. In addition to the forest itself, this entire region is under his control as well. The founder of the Sorcerous Kingdom, which welcomes all species. His Majesty Ainz Ooal Gown, the king of all kings and the absolute monarch!”

Aura proudly introduced him. Ainz thought the Lord's face had become even more hideous. Other Alraune petals trembled as they covered their faces. Were they in fear or alarm? Or perhaps it was just another way of expressing their affection for him. Ainz believed it was the latter, though it was impossible to tell from their faces.

“Yo−Your Majesty Ainz Ooal Gown, I am pleased to meet you as the ruler of these lands, the ruler of the Sorcerous Kingdom, and most importantly, the master of Aura-sama and Mare-sama.”

It seemed to extend its arms in greeting.

“My name is Violet and I will be in your care.”

(Named after its hair color, right?)

Thought Ainz. It was a simple and straightforward name, but he could not pronounce it out loud. It wasn't wise to make fun of someone's name in front of them.

“Hm, I see. This area is under the control of Aura and Mare. I will not be a frequent visitor here, so please be in accordance with their instructions.”

Confusion between a department manager's instructions and the CEO's would be a recipe for disaster. Ainz knew this from his own experience. Since he did not know how the twins managed the Alraunes, it was best to maintain a sense of mystery. The duties assigned to the Alraunes and their treatment were something he had no knowledge of. As a result, he was at a loss for words.

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

(Its manners were quite proper even though it had lived in the forest.)

Thought Ainz. When had this female been introduced to him? Or was it because it'd been mentored by the Twins? Or perhaps—

(—Perhaps it is also speaking vague pleasantries while secretly thinking of Alraunes. Much as I imagine her to be a large flower bud.)

Although it was wonderful that they could communicate normally, it was obvious that they had encountered difficulties before.

(Ahh, if it were just a big flower bud, I would not worry about its intentions.)

Ainz had a look around the meadow. Although he had expected the Alraune to block his view, it was not much different from what he had seen at first. Ainz's expression changed to an imperceptible smile. However, no one would be able to read his expression anyway. As he turned, he swung his mantle around in a tasteful and appropriate manner. In front of him stood the Fenrir and Itzamna, as well as Lumière. As he took a step forward, Aura appeared at his side and asked:

“How was it? Was it acceptable? Would Ainz-sama like to see the other Alraunes?”

“No need, there's nothing else here that would pique my interest. I've seen everything I wanted to see. Will you take me to see the Elves?”

“Understood.”

Aura responded by climbing to the top of the Fenrir with Ainz. As they approached their destination, he could see the rather unattractive tree that housed Aura and Mare between the branches above him. In a matter of seconds, the trees seemed to have ducked out of the way. In front of them, there was a vast plain with a massive tree in the middle of it. A massive shadow was cast on the ground by its dense canopy. Standing in front of an opening in the trunk of the tree were Mare and the three Elves. They were there to welcome Ainz. He wasn't sure when Aura had talked to Mare. If it had not been so short, they could have waited a long time. This was due to Ainz's lack of advance planning, for which he was rather embarrassed. However:

“You don't need to wait for me.”

If a branch manager learned that the CEO of the parent company was arriving at the nearest bus stop, he would undoubtedly stand outside to greet him. It wasn't as if the branch manager would refuse to greet the CEO. Still, it was Ainz's fault for not informing them in advance. Ainz's mind was on the fact that there was nothing he could do about it because it had just been on his mind, but would he be right? How long they had waited for him, he had no idea.

Perhaps he would be chastised for hurting their feelings or for not considering the time and effort they had put into this. Mare was dressed in the clothing typical for him. The Elves, on the other hand, wore plain clothes. Perhaps some of them prefer it. But it was appropriate workwear.

(Maybe if it was... never mind, as long as Aura and they are happy, everything should be fine.)

(However... Lumière and the other regular maids may not like their maid uniforms.)

The maids assigned to Ainz seemed more proud than their colleagues. If they were going to import maid candidates, even if they weren't going to be bullied directly, they might be told the wrong things intentionally while training. Or so Sebas had told Ainz. Although the maids' Aura and Mare were in charge of might not be the ones Sebas had described, he couldn't rule out the possibility that they were dissatisfied. Maybe they would feel uncomfortable having to wear the same uniform as they wore. As far as he knew, the maids' outfits were combat attire. The Fenrir led them to the location of the four.

“Thank you all for coming to welcome us. I appreciate your loyalty.”

Ainz greeted them from the top of the Fenrir. Although he should have listened to what Mare had to say first, he felt that thanking them would make him look better.

“T−Thank you very much!”

Mare lowered his head and smiled. The Elves quickly did the same.

(Nice.)

Ainz mentally pumped his fist and congratulated himself on having communicated effectively. Everyone in the room seemed to be frozen in their posture as well as their facial expressions. They gulped when they felt Ainz's gaze on them. There seemed to be nervousness in everyone he looked at. The question was whether or not they were afraid, or if there was something else going on as well. Perhaps it was a combination of fear that any wrong move would result in their death and the nervousness of meeting a prominent person. Ainz did a double-check to see if his aura was active. They shouldn't be afraid of him since he showed no hostility or intention to kill them... right?

(A very tense situation. I thought I did pretty well...)

When someone of Ainz's caliber showed strong emotions, the people around him would become acutely aware of it and would be terrified by it. In other words, his surroundings would be aware of what was on his mind. He had asked Cocytus for advice on how to avoid this, but Ainz was still not very good at reading the hostile intentions of others.

Part 2

They first returned to the Sixth Floor entrance with 〈Gate〉. Then Ainz sent a 〈Message〉 to Aureole, asking her to open a gate to the Ninth Floor. Needless to say, the gate between the Eight and Ninth Floors worked perfectly. If that hadn't been the case, it was more likely that the Ariadne system would have been activated. There was no reason for him to take the long way around. While he couldn't teleport everyone there at once due to the ability limit of Ainz Ooal Gown's ring, he could have easily made the trip twice. Ainz's cautious nature drove him to go to such lengths just to give the Elves the wrong impression. In reality, he was extremely reluctant to demonstrate the ring's abilities to others. Upon Ainz's arrival, Cocytus' subordinates on guard duty bowed deeply.

“—Thank you for your efforts.”

With a simple, magnanimous greeting befitting a ruler, Ainz greeted them. The three Elves followed Aura and Lumière out of the Gate and huddled together. When they saw the monsters bowing to Ainz, they froze. It wasn't as if the servants of Cocytus had any hostility towards them. It was a natural reaction, just as an ordinary person on a walk through the forest would be frozen at the sight of a tiger appearing out of nowhere. One of the Elves received a slight push from the back. They were a bit of a stumbling block for Mare, who had been walking behind them. In spite of the light push (probably for self-control), the tense Elf lost her balance.

“Hiieeee...”

She collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony. The blood was draining from the faces of the other Elves, and in spite of their best efforts, the collapsed Elf was having difficulty getting back up. She seemed unable to move her legs.

“Don't be frightened... There is no one in Nazarick who would do you harm.”

“Y-Yes...”

They probably did not doubt Ainz's words, but their tension was palpable. The Elves at her side nodded their heads rapidly, their hair flying from the force of their movement. The Elf, who was still lying on the ground, seemed to be on the verge of tears. If this continued, Ainz could safely say that it would be problematic in the future. At least he had to make them feel better.

“Let’s head... somewhere to take a short rest before heading to the cafeteria...〈Gate〉. Aura, pick her up.

“Okay!”

“N-No need for Aura-sama to do something like t...”

“—It’s fine, it’s fine. Okay, let’s go.”

Ignoring her request, Aura quickly lifted the collapsed Elf over her shoulder. Of course, since she was wearing working pants, there was no skirt to look under. The dark area of the〈Gate〉led to Ainz's private room. Inside, three maids were bowing, carrying cleaning materials.

“Everyone has done an excellent job. After a short rest here, I'll be leaving soon. I don't mind if you continue to work.”

The maids nodded in agreement. They bowed again as the others came out of the 〈Gate〉. The Elves began to stare around with open mouths, peering like idiots. Everything around them seemed strange to them, different from where the twins used to live. They also seemed less tense than before, probably because the regular maids were far more pleasant to look at than Cocytus' monster-like servants.

“Aura. Have her sit in the chair over there.”

After Ainz pointed it out, Aura quickly placed the Elf on Albedo's chair. Albedo's desk, like hers, was immaculate. Ainz's desk was also immaculate, though in a different manner.

“Tha-Thank you very much...”

Ainz tried to speak softly to the sitting Elf, who bowed her head.

“No need, I can understand your surprise, but as I said before, you should relax. No one in Nazarick would hurt you, so I don't mind if you relax.”

Well, it wasn't as if they would suddenly feel at ease just by saying those words. Ainz turned his back on the Elves, walked over to one of the maids, and quietly gave her a command:

“We will soon be on our way to the cafeteria. Make sure we meet no one but you maids on our way there. Do the same thing in cafet...”

ーeria as well, he wanted to say but did not.

“No, never mind. Using the cafeteria as usual is not a problem. It would be better if the others used it as usual.”

“Yes, understood. I will then take my leave.”

“I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I'm relying on you.”

“Such phrases are unnecessary. Ainz-sama.”

He came to her because she was the closest maid to him, but judging by the way she looked at the other maids, she seemed to think otherwise. Her colleagues were irritated and frowned slightly. With the order in her hand, the maid turned away from her colleagues and walked out of the room with a spring in her step. Ainz could feel the eyes of the other maids on his back (which should have been unusual for an Undead). There was no doubt that their eyes were filled with the excitement of some kind of order.

By the way, he couldn't see anything of Lumière, probably because it was unusual for her to be his maid in waiting for the day. Ainz forced himself to look away from the maids and towards the elves, feeling as if he were sitting on pins (which, of course, was not the maids' intention). He was sure that the breathing of the elves had returned to normal.

“It seems like there are no more problems... then let us go.”

He didn't want to rush them, because that would seem forceful, but he couldn't stay here any longer. After confirming that the elves were able to walk again, Ainz took the lead and left the room. He was able to ignore the maids who were looking at him with a look of embarrassment. As he walked to the cafeteria, he could occasionally hear the elves behind him gasping in admiration, saying:

“Amazing.”

And:

“Beautiful.”

Ainz had the urge to show off, but he walked on without looking back. Without meeting any other NPCs on the way, they reached the cafeteria. Apart from the fact that it took longer than usual because of the slow gawking elves, and also because Ainz slowed down when they passed the places he was most proud of, nothing else happened. Nazarick's cafeteria was inspired by a company or school cafeteria (of course, Ainz's school or company didn't have one, so he didn't know if that was true), so the atmosphere was different from a restaurant. This was Ainz's first visit here since he had visited all of Nazarick's facilities shortly after his arrival in this world, and nothing seemed to have changed much. From inside, there was the sound of young ladies in animated conversation and the clatter of cutlery. It was most likely the home of the regular maids and others from the Ninth Floor.

Perhaps there were Area Guardians present as well. It was a little late for lunch, but the shift system made it seem lively. If the elves could see the maids eating their lunch in peace, they must have realized what kind of place this was. They might feel like outsiders, but this everyday environment should help them feel at home. That was why he hadn't told them to leave the cafeteria. There was an abrupt change in the atmosphere upon Ainz's entry into the cafeteria. At first, there was complete silence. The previous cheerful voices and the lively sounds of the cafeteria were completely gone. The atmosphere was icy; it was totally unsuitable for a cafeteria. Then everyone turned to face Ainz, their eyes wide open, and their movements froze. This was what it felt like to be an outsider, like a negative-karma heteromorph who had just arrived in Alfheim.

“ーDon’t mind us. Continue with your lunch.”

A few individuals, mostly the regular maids, resumed eating after hearing what Ainz had to say, but there was no sign that their conversations would resume. Everyone ate in silence. Ainz had no desire to be a disturbance to their meal. It was a bit of a lonely feeling, but on second thought, it wasn't as if he didn't understand their feelings. If a CEO who had never visited the cafeteria before were to show up, it would most likely be something like this. Under such circumstances, Suzuki Satoru would probably do the same. Maybe it would have been different if this company was much smaller, and the distance between the boss and the employees was much shorter.

(That’s probably impossible in this case though...)

It would be difficult to change his image from that of a respected absolute ruler, "Ainz-sama," to that of a liked, "Ainz-san." Perhaps if everyone discovered that he was a fool, such a change would be possible, but he could not bear it if he became despised instead (which was unlikely).

“Well then, let’s enter.”

Trying to watch the elves' reactions, he turned his attention back to the group. He didn't even have to look at them as they obviously shriveled up. Understandable. They should have been aware of the pleasant atmosphere in the cafeteria before Ainz's arrival. That was his meaning of "Alfheim's sudden heteromorph." He didn't know how to make this go away. Maybe they'll get used to it; that was how Ainz went into the cafeteria with such cheerful thoughts. He didn't want to annoy the maids anymore, so he went to a random table far away from them and pointed to the seat opposite his.

“You can sit there.”

The elves began to look at each other uneasily. It was as if they were having a debate about who would have the privilege of being in Ainz's presence. It seemed as if Ainz had guessed right about them.

“I see... maybe elven customs are different from ours, so let's keep this casual and not worry about those kinds of details.”

Pretending to understand their hesitation in a different way, he tried to give them a way out. It would be bad if they paused too long; he also worried about how the twins would react if they paused too long.

“You there. Sit across from me.”

Ainz pointed to the elf standing in the back. If he remembered correctly, she never stood in the middle of the elves, so he figured she should be the one who got stuck with him. To be honest, he didn't want to be treated like baggage. However, he decided to be pragmatic as someone who was aware of his emotions. A short time later, the seats next to the appointed elves were quickly taken. Aura and Mare sat next to Ainz. He wanted to say a lot of things about Lumière, who was standing behind him, but in the end, he decided to keep it to himself.

“Now then—I'm sorry, but this is my first time using the cafeteria, so please explain how it works at this time.”

Ainz asked Lumière because, as a regular maid, she should have used the cafeteria like her coworkers were doing now.

“First—right. I'd like to order some drinks; is there a menu?”

“Currently, there are free drinks and a buffet system. We are responsible for independently procuring drinks and a simple salad from over there.”

Looking in the direction Lumière was pointing, he noticed a row of pitchers that appeared to hold the drinks. There were numerous chafing dishes nearby.

“In addition, we could select one item from the lunch menu.”

“I see...”

“As the chef is currently in the kitchen, I believe he will prepare any dish requested by Ainz-sama.”

“Is this true? But there's no need for that. Let's just choose something from the fixed lunch menu.”

Lumière handed him a piece of paper. It had a Japanese menu printed on it. The elves are unlikely to be able to read this. Also—

“Ever heard of... katsudon?”

[TL’s Note: Katsudon is pork cutlet served on top of a bowl o rice.]

Elves shook their heads to express no.

“What do these elves usually eat, Aura... Mare? Is it just regular food?”

“Y-Yes. M-Most of the time, it’s the s-same as ours.”

Then, did the twins never have katsudon? No, they were usually served their meals by the courier, and they should be able to make it themselves as well.

“Have you tried katsudon before?”

“No, we've already had it. It's most likely just that they don't know what it's called.”

“Oh, so it’s something like that...”

There were no holograms attached to the menu, so they couldn't match the appearance with the name. Ainz considered asking for "the chef's recommendation," but decided against it because he was afraid of being told that everything was recommended.

“Now... that reminds me. Do you eat meat on a regular basis?”

Ainz chose an item from the menu after seeing the elves nod.

“Hamburger steak for everyone here.”

“You can choose between demi glace, Japanese-style sauce, and cream-mustard sauce for the sauces. You may also choose rice or bread as an accompaniment.”

“How about... bread and demi glace?”

He could understand the demi-glace and Japanese-style sauces, but he was curious about the cream mustard. It was unfortunate that he couldn't taste them because of his body.

“Okay!”

“Y-Yes. It’s also fine for m-me.”

The elves quickly nodded in response to the twins' energetic voices. There appeared to be no objections.

“Then, that will be my order.”

Ainz exhaled a sigh of relief. Lumière didn't appear to be going to the kitchen to hand over the order, which puzzled Ainz. Perhaps someone who was working here would come over to take their order.

“What about the beverages, Ainz-sama?”

“—Oh, I almost forgot about that. Everyone is free to go get whatever they want. That should be fine, right?”

“Yes. Then I would bring over Ainz-sama’s drink myself. What shall it be?”

“Something acceptable—ah, no, get me a hot cup of coffee.”

“Understood.”

Aura led the others to the table with the drinks. After Lumière went over there and said something, the kitchen became extremely noisy. Someone came out of the kitchen as he continued to peek. A massive cleaver hung around his waist. A wok on his back. A filthy, naked torso with the words "Fresh Meat!!" tattooed on it. And then, a gold chain around his neck. Though his face resembled that of an orc, he was actually an ork, a similar species that was much closer to wild beasts.

Shihotu Tokitu got down on his knees in front of Ainz.

[Note: It's actually written as "ork," with the kanji reading "wild ork," but it's just katakana here.]

He wore a pure white toque and a pure white apron around his waist. Shihoutu Tokitu was the cafeteria's Area Guardian and the head chef. Shihoutu Tokitu dashed over to Ainz and kneeled.

(Won’t the chef's clothes get dirty?)

That's what Ainz thought when he saw it.

“Ainz-sama! We extend a warm welcome to you!”

“Shihoutu Tokitu, it's been a while. I'm glad to see you're still the same.”

“YES!”

Though Ainz stated he recognized him, the last time he saw him was shortly after they were teleported here, when he visited all the NPCs. Because it had been so long, he was hesitant to notice any changes, if any existed.

“No, perhaps you've lost some weight?”

“If Ainz-sama thinks so, it must be true!”

(That’s not what I meant!)

Ainz swallowed his words.

“I noticed the absence of Ainz-sama’s order among the ones the maid relayed... I get it now!”

Shihoutu Tokitu's face flushed with a masculine smile (though he couldn't be sure because he didn't understand ork expressions).

(No, you don’t get it at all.)

Ainz thought. Was he ever truly understood in such circumstances? Unfortunately, he did not believe so.

“I must prepare food fit for a Supreme Being for Ainz-sama, the absolute ruler of Nazarick!”

During Ainz's mumbling:

“There he goes!”

Shihoutu Tokitu stood up and shouted in the direction of the kitchen in his mind.

“Now, it's do or perish! The perfect dish for Ainz-sama! Commence a food festival that will last at least a week!”

“Ohhhh!!!”

The maids who were listening responded with admiration.

“Hey, wait.”

“YES!”

Shihoutu Tokitu returned to Ainz and kneeled once more. It was difficult to say this to someone yelling:

“I am going to do it! I am going to do it!”

They used all of their strength. Ainz was used to going along with what the NPCs wanted, but this was too much for him.

“It it seems... that you are misinterpreting something. You do realize that I can't eat food as an undead, right?”

“Yes! Thus, we are to create something that can be appreciated visually and olfactorily! That is what Ainz-sama has in mind! Understood!”

Ainz responded to Shihoutu Tokitu while attempting to stand up.

“Hey, wait!”

“Yes!”

“Don't be in a hurry. I'm trying to convey that I'm unable to eat, so don't waste any ingredients.”

“What is your meaning, Ainz-sama! Ingredients utilized by Ainz-sama cannot be deemed wasted! Right!”

Shihoutu Tokitu stood up and walked over to the cafeteria. This elicited a round of applause. Not only the maids but also Aura and Mare, got in on the act. The elves panickedly followed the others.

(You don’t have to follow along, you know...)

Ainz grumbled within.

“Well, I will start immediately!”

“Hey, wait!”

“YES!”

Ainz spoke honestly to the kneeling Shihoutu Tokitu.

“I'm going to be honest. I didn't come here for food. I came here to have a pleasant—yes, a pleasant—conversation. To a suffocating degree, I understand your expression of welcome, but it does not sit well with me. Can I persuade you that all I want is a peaceful conversation?”

Shihoutu Tokitu was filled with zealous motivation, which Ainz could understand. Someone like Nazarick's ruler, who couldn't possibly visit such a place, came today. He probably just wanted to give the best welcome he could, but Ainz wasn't here for that.

“YES! Then let ourselves reserve the whole place!”

“Hey, wait!”

“YES!”

Don't worry about things that aren't important. I'll say it again: I came here for a quick chat. There's no need to go so far, you understand?”

Ainz cast a quick glance around and noticed that everyone, especially the elves, were looking at him with serious expressions. The maids were already half-way out of their seats, ready to leave at any moment. The twins pretended that this was nothing out of the ordinary, while the elves appeared concerned that the situation would spiral out of control. Even though he chose this location, primarily because he did not want the elves to feel that way—[board’s bookmark for proofing]

“—I'm not being modest; that's exactly why I came here. You are free to carry on as usual. Please treat me as you would any other visitor.”

“YES! But! To treat a Supreme Being like Ainz-sama similarly to others!”

If it came down to it, Ainz couldn't be blamed for using dishonest means. He cleared his throat and raised his voice to a more serious tone.

“ーShihoutu Tokitu”

“YES!”

“I'm saying that I'd like to see what this place looks like on a regular basis. If you've been doing your job well, you shouldn't have to do anything special now, right? Or are you attempting to show me something different than usual in order to conceal something?”

Shihoutu Tokitu gulped and made a determined expression (at least, that's what Ainz thought).

“Please say something, Ainz-san! This Shihoutu Tokitu, who had been entrusted with this position by the Supreme Being Amanomahitosu, never did anything that would cause him to be ashamed!”

“Of course.”

Shihoutu Tokitu was perplexed by Ainz's quick response.

“Even though I have only interacted with you for a short while, I can see that you are devoted to your job and are truly loyal to the ones you call Supreme Beings. My words just now were quite reckless. I take them back and offer my apologies.”

Ainz bowed his head.

“Ohh! Ainz-sama! Please don’t do that! A Supreme Being such as your bowing to me! Please lift your noble face!”

Ainz slowly raised his head and looked straight at Shihoutu Tokitu.

“Shihoutu Tokitu. I am glad that you accepted my apology. But I want you to know and understand. I just want to have a look at how you and this place are normally whilst holding a relaxed conversation. Just treat me like a normal guest.”

Shihoutu Tokitu grumbled a bit, but he seemingly reached a compromise and nodded.

“Understood.”

“Is that so, that’s great. A day may come when we will invite VIPs — important people from other places — to Nazarick. You may display your full talent at that time, I will be relying on you then.”

“YES! —b-but something like bowing to the someone like us...”

“My regret at deriding you was a big part of why I did it, but you can also think of it as my apology to Amanoma-san, who believed in you and entrusted you with this place.”

Shihoutu Tokitu gave a bitter smile, a defeated expression on the face of such an explanation. But he quickly returned to his duty expression. Of course, all of this was just what it appeared to be from Ainz's perspective.

“—In that case, Ainz-sama, I will request time off to complete the order.”

As Shihoutu Tokitu walked away, Ainz raised his voice to address everyone in the cafeteria.

“Everyone, please accept my apologies for the inconvenience. So, please continue eating without concern.”

Aura and the others returned to the table as if they were Shihoutu Tokitu's replacement. The maids started eating again at a few tables here and there. The atmosphere appeared to be less tense now. The encounter with Shihoutu Tokitu helped to alleviate some of the tension. While Lumière placed Ainz's coffee in front of him, Aura and the others held their preferred drinks. He could smell the rich fragrance of the coffee, a mysterious scent with hints of some kind of berry in it.

YGGDRASIL never had any brand cross-promotions, but it did have a lot of content, including foodstuffs. Regular games would probably end with a simple [Coffee-bean], but YGGDRASIL had several varieties. They were also graded differently, with the highest grades bringing out the best effects from the food. As a result, the beans in Nazarick's inventory were of high quality, and this coffee should be delicious.

(This is most likely how high-quality coffee smells. Would it also have a berry flavor?)

Ainz waited until everyone had taken their seats before speaking, feeling sad that his body couldn't taste it.

“Let's talk while we sip our drinks.”

Two of the elves drank melon soda, while the other drank green tea with ice. They took a sip after hearing Ainz's words. The melon soda group blinked, pressing their hands to their mouths in surprise. Their reaction was not at all negative.

The elves are having a good time with their drinks.

“Oh my, so tasty.”

“Sweet.”

The two who said those words quickly emptied their glasses. Ainz was expecting this to happen. He addressed them gently:

“—How about a replenish?”

“Ah, yes, please let us do so.”

The two elves nodded and walked over to the drinks section. There was a spring in their step.

“It's great that they enjoyed it.”

“Err, yes.”

Ainz addressed the remaining elf. She was probably also interested in their drinks because she finished her tea quickly and stood up. By the way, both twins chose cola, and their expressions indicated that it was nothing special for them. Many unexpected events had occurred along the way, but it appeared that the elves had mostly calmed down. They no longer appeared to be skeptical of everything he said simply because he was undead.

(Sweet things are, as expected, effective. There are no women who despise sweets. There is no such thing as a woman who can resist sweet things... So Mochimochi-san was correct the whole time. I assumed it was just an excuse for her poor eating habits...)

The other two female members of Ainz Ooal Gown had tilted their heads at that statement — despite the fact that slimes didn't have necks — but they hadn't rejected it either. The elves' behavior by now counted as two things that could probably fit as proof she wasn't completely wrong. He still had his reservations.

(At long last. I've run a lot of mental simulations, but I'm wondering if I can get a discussion about the Elven country going smoothly...)

He remembered what they had heard from the elves the first time they met. There was no name for the elven country said to be in the great forest of the south. Albedo reasoned that it was because they never needed to establish diplomatic relations with other races; the other nations were already far away from it. Because they didn't need to distinguish their land from the rest, simply calling it a country sufficed. However, it appeared that after being ruled for so long by a king, it was now being referred to as a kingdom. This king was said to be powerful. They didn't manage to find out what his strengths and classes were. At that point, the elves probably looked at the twins, wondering why they didn't know about this.

This country of elves was currently at odds with the Theocracy, and these elves were sold as slaves after being captured by the Theocracy. What the war was for and when it started were questions that these elves couldn't answer. It was most likely due to the lack of a standardized education system in this elf country. These elves were also uninterested in learning about such things. Despite what they said, it appeared that they were at least instructed on more critical skills and knowledge (mainly consisting of stuff about monsters). Maybe they thought history and other subjects were too useless to teach.

When asked about the dark elves in their country, they said that they existed but that they had never seen them. Indeed, Aura and Mare were the first dark elves they had ever encountered. Dark elves are most likely a minority in the Elven country, but they did not appear to be persecuted, according to these elves. However, given the elves' lack of knowledge, it was entirely possible that they simply didn't know about it. And that was the end of it. That was all the information Ainz could get out of them at the time. He had to be content with such scant details just to keep them from becoming suspicious. But he had a good reason for being proactive in asking them now. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue.

(So, first and foremost, I must make a decision. Should I bring up the possibility of our countries establishing diplomatic relations? Or how about I say I'm going to a dark elf village to make friends for Aura and Mare?)

They would be wary if the conversation turned to national-level relations. It was easier to get them to talk if the reason was one that the average person could understand. Furthermore, Ainz does not need to lie because he was really aiming for the second reason, making it easier for him. Ainz was the type of person who could lie as much as he wanted, but he didn't enjoy doing so. It was just that he wouldn't hesitate to lie if there was something to gain from it. It was also preferable not to lie if they later discovered the truth.

(That should be the easier way... but I'm not sure what would happen if I brought reason up in front of Aura and Mare.)

He was afraid they'd feel obligated to make friends. In his honest opinion, a friendship developed gradually with people who shared similar interests. When someone was ordered to do something, he wouldn't call it friendship. Ainz remembered his YGGDRASIL friends—his former guildmates. Those friends he made through chance encounters and fate's machinations.

He just wasn't sure if children needed to make friends or not. Suzuki Satoru, in his opinion, did not have any during his childhood, which did not cause him any problems. Being that type of person, the fact that Ainz was even thinking about making friends was because Yamaiko said something to him a long time ago that affected him. At the same time, he remembered Ulbert's response:

“That is the fantasy of people who live in a different world than us.”

Her words made Ainz sarcastically laugh. Ainz had no idea which was correct in this situation. In any case, having friends meant there was nothing to lose.

(So, instead of thinking about it in terms of them making friends, how about I tell them it's about making dark elf friends? It is up to them whether they become friends or not. Of course, it's even better if they can make some new friends.)

With that said, wouldn't a significant disparity in power and standing between two parties impede the development of friendships? In YGGDRASIL, everyone was treated equally.

— Ainz frowned slightly as some of his friends flashed through his mind, but he quickly shook his head, erasing those memories. If they had met in the real world, with all of its inequalities, they probably would not have become friends. With that in mind, the first step should be to approach the dark elves in Elven country on as equal footing as possible. Dark elves from the top tier of the Sorcerous Kingdom and dark elves who are a minority in the Elven country would not be a good match.

(Apart from trying to keep our situation as hidden as possible... hmmmm. Do all fathers in the world have to think about these things this much? I'm curious how Touch-me san did it; perhaps I should have asked him for more information.)

The elves returned to their seats while Ainz worried about the upcoming conversation. They all opted for cola.

(Oh no, I haven't sorted out my thoughts yet... I shouldn't improvise everything.)

But there was no more time. He could only say that this was about establishing diplomatic relations as long as the twins were present. If things didn't go as planned, he could always bring up the idea of making new friends as a side topic. Or, as part of micro-level diplomacy, he could spin it as his desire to deepen relationships with the dark elves..

“Well then — let’s go ahead to the main topic.”

The elves, who had been guzzling their drinks as if it were their last, came to a halt.

“We have now established a nation known as the Sorcerous Kingdom. The plan is for various races to coexist peacefully. Some humans, dwarves, goblins, orcs, and lizardmen have already joined our kingdom. Leaving aside whether or not the Elves will accept this, I want to establish diplomatic and trade relations with the Elven country. As a result, I'd like to visit your country. Will you not work with us?”

Even if it was just an excuse for the time being, having diplomatic and trade relations with the Elven country was not a bad thing. However, there was a critical issue. Ainz cannot be the emissary in this situation. Ainz's ability to negotiate with another country's foreign affairs and sign a treaty to establish diplomatic relations was limited. Although things went well with the dwarves, he doubted he could repeat the feat. Instead, it was more likely to have the opposite effect of what he had intended. As a result, he desired to send wise people to his place if they were to engage in diplomacy. Albedo was the best choice for this, but he didn't want to give her any extra work because she would be too busy managing the Kingdom's occupied territories for a while. She'd most likely say:

“It’s fine.”

If he ordered her, she would most likely be correct. But that meant she'd have to pull herself together to make it work, so Ainz had to keep his subordinates' mental health in mind to avoid overworking them. Ainz would have been overjoyed if they had simply discussed making personal acquaintances with the Dark Elves instead of discussing something important.

“Eh, Ah, Ainz Ooal Gown-sama? What exactly does this cooperation entail?”

Ainz shrugged slightly in response to her cautious response.

“First, I want to hear some details from you. Also, just ‘Ainz’ is fine, you know?”

“If it is something we know, we'd be happy to helpー”

The elf responded with a determined expression.

“B-But please accept our apologies for not being able to address you as such...”

Aura, Mare, and the maids who were secretly listening in on them were perplexed. If elves addressed him as Ainz, they would be told:

“Over-familiar.”

And should:

“Understand their position.”

However, if they did not, they would be told:

“How dare they defy Ainz-sama's command.”

They were probably conflicted because they knew exactly how they would react. He had no intention of reprimanding the maids who were listening in. It's not like they were acting maliciously or simply out of curiosity. He predicted that they would:

“Me, me.”

To be available if he required them during this conversation.

“Is that so... that’s unfortunate. So, returning to the subject... How is the Elven homeland? Given that you live in the woods, how do you deal with monsters?”

The elves were perplexed as if they had been asked a strange question.

“Because it is dangerous on the ground, we live in the forest and build our homes above the trees.”

“Using druid magic, we transform trees into homes.”

“Magic is also used to grow trees suitable for such magic. Elf Trees are what we call them.”

According to what they said, the Elves could use druid magic to change the shape of trees, such as creating cavities inside trees or forming bridges between trees. An Elf village was simply a collection of tens of those structures crammed together. This method of crafting items from Elf Trees appeared to be at the heart of Elven culture.

They could make weapons and armor out of anything, not just houses or furniture. It was possible to make the hunting arrows as hard as iron. Ainz wanted them to show this magic because it didn't exist in YGGDRASIL. They were surprised by the request because, in their opinion, the tree in which the twins lived was an example right there. They appeared to believe it was a mutated Elf Tree (due to its appearance) that could only be transformed by those two.

Furthermore, because that magic can only be used on Elf Trees, it did not work on other trees. Because the Elves lived in such harsh conditions, monsters capable of climbing trees, such as snakes and spiders, were natural enemies. Despite having things like a night watcher, those monsters were also good at hiding; there were still victims every now and then. On the other hand, because it was easier to fight off monsters that couldn't climb, they weren't as frequently attacked. The Elven capital (the only place the Elves could call a city because they were not a crowded race) appeared to be the only settlement built in an area free of forest cover, on the shore of a crescent-shaped lake. Because these elves had never visited the capital and had only heard about it from others, the phrase "seemed like" was added. They were able to build that city on a plain because there was a giant monster in the lake who captured and ate any large monsters that came close.

(I see...)

Living on the trees was advantageous for them because druid magic could also provide water. In the case of flying monsters, the canopy of the Elf Trees could serve as a shield while also concealing them. Living in such conditions, it was natural for most Elves to develop skills as rangers or druids. In other words, they would perish if they did not learn such skills.

(I'm not sure how class selection works in this world, but it appears that Elves are more likely to be better fighters than humans without jobs like farmers among them.)

He continued by asking about the Elves' lifespans and population. They were obviously unconcerned about how long they lived because they didn't know their own. The oldest person there was thought to be more than 300 years old. By the way, these elves had no idea how old they were. They most likely did not understand the concept of a birthday. Perhaps because of their long lifespan, they did not give birth as frequently as humans, resulting in much smaller populations. However, after learning more, Ainz realized that the number of children they had was far from small.

(An elf's lifespan in YGGDRASIL's environment was a thousand years... they aged quickly in the first ten years and then slowly in the last ten years, I think? I don't recall the specifics, but I believe it was something along those lines. Or am I mistaken? Also, if they supposedly had 20 children every decade... if we consider 200 years old to be the start of adulthood and 400 years old to be when infertility sets in... In the future, I'd like to learn more about this.)

“Then—Where would I take you if I returned you to your former village?”

Elves began to exchange glances.

(I see, of course they will not talk about it. It’s important information after all.)

After a while, one of the elves hesitantly asked.

“E-Excuse me... But will we be returned to our homes?”

“Hmm...?”

Ainz realized his mistake when he noticed their unusual choice of words.

“That’s right... I forgot that your village was attacked by the Theocracy.”

These elves were not warriors, but rather residents of the village that had been captured during the Theocracy's attack. Returning to that location was painful from their perspective. Furthermore, their safety could not be guaranteed.

“Let’s do this. Instead of returning you to your village, we will transport you to a safe location. Do you have a specific location in mind? A village with your relatives, or the capital if none are available?”

“The capital...”

“Please accept our apologies. We don't know any other places besides our village's surroundings...”

“I'm curious what places can be considered safe...”

These elves were unfamiliar with information outside of their village, but this was not unusual for these young women. The same is true for villagers from the Kingdom or the Empire.

People in this world, especially those without an education, spend the majority of their lives in their birthplace. Though they may be unfamiliar with their neighboring cities, the other cities in their country may as well be foreign lands. The elves spoke again while Ainz was thinking about it.

“Please excuse us... but are we really going back outside?”

“That's exactly what I intended to do. If we are to engage in diplomacy with the Elven country, keeping you here will irritate the other party. You get it, don't you? I kept you here as an emergency measure until now, but it will be difficult to keep you here indefinitely. However, I am not cruel enough to abandon you in a land ruled by the Slaine Theocracy. That is why I asked a safe location from you—”

Although Ainz had no intention of acting as an emissary, returning these three safely would most likely aid future diplomacy. When Ainz noticed that the elves wanted to say something, he asked them:

“What’s the matter?”

“Is it possible for us to stay here indefinitely?”

“Mmmmmm...”

Ainz's gaze was drawn to the drinks in front of the elves. That couldn't be the reason, could it?

“Why...? I understand if you don't want to tell me, but please do so if at all possible.”

“About that—”

The elf who represented them gave the twins a quick glance.

“Mare, Aura... Your drinks appear to be nearly finished. Why don't you go get yourself some more?”

“Eh!?”

“Okay! Understood Ainz-sama—let’s go Mare.”

Awesome. Aura's quick wit impressed Ainz. If he had been in Aura's shoes, he would not have realized so quickly that he was being told to leave for a while. Or perhaps his "working adult senses" would have picked it up right away. It stands to reason that Aura was better at reading moods than Albedo or Demiurge. Ainz imagined Demiurge grinning and saying:

“So there you have it, Ainz-sama.”

(Those two would completely misinterpret my intentions... to the point where I sometimes wondered if they were doing it on purpose. Or are they really doing it on purpose??)

“Eh, eh?”

Aura dragged the still befuddled Mare by his arms. After they were sufficiently separated, Ainz spoke:

“Can you say it right now?”

“Y-Yes.”

The elf replied with a quick glance after confirming that the twins were far enough away. A Dark Elf's hearing was superior to that of a human, and rangers like Aura was even better. The elf in front of him was probably whispering with that in mind, but Aura could almost certainly still hear them.

“We're already accustomed to our lives here, and we can't go back... This is the best place... Aura-sama and Mare-sama's house.”

“Eh?”

Ainz initially lowered his voice to match the elves, but when he was surprised, he let out his familiar voice. For a moment, he thought they were joking, but when he saw the other two nodding seriously, he realized they were serious. At first, it appeared that the food in Nazarick was of a higher caliber. Elves consumed fruits, meats, and vegetables by roasting or boiling them. The amount of passion put into Nazarick's food is completely different. The elves were certain that they would never be able to adjust to their former lives after becoming accustomed to the food here. Pizza, by the way, appeared to be their favorite.

(I see... Culinary diplomacy does not appear to be a bad idea. Having access to such fine cuisine should be appealing.... are they dwarves or what!?)

The elves had other reasons as well. The level of safety was also drastically different here. Even if they lived in a relatively safe location, such as a druid-created village, it was impossible for a year to pass without any casualties from monsters. In contrast, even without a night guard, one could sleep peacefully in Nazarick. They had a lot to say, but if it was this, there was no need to get the twins out of here. Ainz felt there should be more reasons, so he added:

“It's a pleasure to be able to serve those two.”

“Aah...”

Ainz gave a sympathetic nod. Those two were of the same race as the elves, and they were adorable children to boot. They were probably hesitant to serve children, but Aura and Mare's personalities had most likely won them over. If asked which of the Floor Guardians he would like to serve, Ainz would choose the twins. No, if you asked him, he'd probably say something like:

“I can't pick because everyone is fantastic.”

But, if he's being honest, it's those two. Cocytus could be next in line. He had no desire to serve others. Nonetheless, he believed this could be said in the presence of the twins. Although he thought they had something else to say, this appeared to be the end of their conversation.

(To be honest, I don't understand. Isn't it fine that the twins heard this? Was there anything in the previous conversation that would cause the twins to chastise them? So, whatever.)

“Alright. Then I want you to keep working in Nazarick as you have been.”

There was no reason to deny their request. When they heard Ainz's response, the elves smiled. They didn't seem to be trying to flatter Ainz.

“However, if we are serious about hiring you, we will need to talk about salary and benefits first. I'll have someone look into it.”

The elves didn't seem to understand what Ainz was saying, but this was a critical issue to him. How these elves were treated would be critical when they established friendly relations with the Dark Elves in the Elven country. They could argue that by freeing the elves from slavery and caring for them, the elves were simply repaying what they had received. Such excuses, however, had a limit. Their current situation of unpaid labor mirrored that of a black company. He didn't want any future Dark Elves who came here to get the wrong impression. In that case, he only needed to use these three to establish Nazarick's reputation as a white company. Ainz cast a quick glance around at the maids. They were cupping their hands behind their ears as if to better hear them while appearing to rest their chins in their palms. They were unconcerned about their appearance. He didn't want to criticize them because he thought it was just a show of their loyalty, but he did want them to hide it a little better.

(I need to make a deal with these elves as soon as possible. Should I try to extend the white company treatment from these elves to the regular maids as well?)

He could try, but he was afraid that the maids, who just wanted to work more, would act irrationally out at the elves, who were the cause of the increase in their leisure time. Of course, he didn't expect them to kill the elves, but he needed to be cautious if he decided to extend the treatment to the maids.

“Leaving that aside, I'd like to enlist your assistance in our trip to Elven territory. If at all possible, I'd like you to serve as guides. Of course, Aura and Mare will accompany us. It's just that we're unfamiliar with Elven etiquette, so you could serve as our go-between.”

The elves exchanged glances and shook their heads.

“Please forgive us, but we lack confidence in our ability to serve as guides. As for being intermediaries, while we have traveled around our village, we are also unsure about etiquette...”

“Is that so...”

“We sincerely apologize!”

“Oh, you don't have to bow.”

It would be bothersome to visit an unknown location without a guide, but he wasn't sure these elves couldn't be used. If he was going into the unknown anyway, it would be better not to force them to accompany him. They may even prove to be a hindrance. Ainz turned around and motioned Lumière to come over. Ainz said quietly as she drew her face closer to him:

“Just a bit more.”

And he raised his cup. Of course, the contents of the cup were not at all touched. He looked in the direction of the twins just to be sure. He thought he was being a little dense, but she seemed to get it quickly and left with a simple:

“Please excuse me.”

“And—how do you Elves feel about Dark Elves in general?”

“They are magnificent beings.”

Ainz wrinkled his brows at the sudden, suspicious response. He'd be pleased if the dark elves agreed, but their response was inaccurate. Ainz immediately recognized the reason. It had something to do with Aura and Mare.

“—No, that’s not it. I am asking about the relations between the Dark Elf race and your race of the Elves.”

“They are superb creatures.”

“That’s not...”

He probably couldn't do anything about this kind of fawning. After being treated as subordinates of the twins’ for so long, they couldn’t possibly say something like:

“Dark Elves are an inferior race after all.”

It would be scarier if they could say something like that instead.

“As previously stated, I wish to establish diplomatic relations with the Elf country. I'd like to entrust this to the twins as well. That's why I'm curious about how Elves in general perceive Dark Elves. I don't want them to be mistreated if Elven society views Dark Elves negatively. So, what are your thoughts? I need an honest response.”

The elves exchanged glances.

“To be honest, we've only met dark elves here for the first time because our village didn't have any. That's why we didn't have any thoughts on them. We only know that they moved from the north to the great forest.”

“We'd heard about their dark skin and were surprised to find out it was true.”

“I don't recall any of the villagers saying anything negative about the Dark Elves, but please keep in mind that this is only about our village.”

They didn't seem to be trying to flatter or mislead him anymore. So the younger (maybe calling them young was stretching it a little) Elves had no negative feelings toward Dark Elves. Even though they were a minority, they did not appear to be persecuted. Perhaps it was because the Elves didn't have room for such things when they were threatened by an external force, the Theocracy. Or perhaps the forest was simply that difficult to live in.

“What about the undead, by the way?”

“Enemies who contaminate the forest.”

“Disgusting creatures.”

“We rarely come across any.”

“Ah, yes.”

Quick replies. While Ainz wondered why they weren't considering the twins' master's feelings, he couldn't say it aloud. He had asked them to speak freely just now, but this was far too candid. These were the type of girls who would be fired because they genuinely believed the CEO's words when they asked them to be casual. Having established that, he was now certain that he could not be the representative. Perhaps it was for the best. This could be used as an excuse for him not to be the representative. It wasn't because Ainz wasn't talented enough, or should he take the steps in the correct order—dispatch diplomats, establish diplomatic relations, and then travel to the Elven country?

(But we lack such diplomats. A flaw is that we cannot trust the human officials in charge of internal affairs... Or maybe there are some and I'm just not aware of them. In that case, how about requesting that Albedo dispatch adventurers? No, that method isn't yet stable enough to send them out to represent the country... or am I mistaken? After all, we're talking about me.)

If he told Albedo about it, she'd probably say that the adventurers would be fine. But—

(—The main issue here is a lack of time.)

The Elven country was pushed into a corner due to hostilities with the Theocracy. This was the case prior to the capture of these elves. It was entirely possible that the Elven country would be destroyed soon if things went wrong. The Elven country's demise was not a setback for Ainz because they would be far more effective in establishing diplomatic relations if the Sorcerous Kingdom could extend their assistance in that scenario. Is it better if they just waited for the fall? That was not true. They didn't have the luxury of standing on the sidelines, owing to his high regard for the rarity of the Dark Elf's lives.

(Maybe I should just send the two of them ahead—no, that's not an option. I don't feel comfortable leaving them alone in an unknown location. Although I understand that they are level 100 NPCs and not children, we should ignore the international relations stuff and focus on getting them buddies instead. I should also follow through on my plans.)

He had no intention of joining the war against the Theocracy and saving the Elven country at this time. Ainz didn't want his independent action to turn the Theocracy against the Sorcerous Kingdom. He wanted to know what Albedo and Demiurge thought about it, but he was afraid they'd discover his skull was empty if he did. If Ainz couldn't hold the conversation together, his silly utterances might be taken seriously and cause Nazarick harm in the future.

(After visiting the Elven country, it's not a bad idea to tell them to evacuate only the dark elves. In that case, is it necessary to bring someone other than the twins?)

It was preferable to bring stealthy guards like Hanzos rather than leading an army in case he did decide to bring someone along. Like when he was in the Dwarf Kingdom.

“I see...”

Ainz fixed his gaze on the three elves. This time, they'd be in the shoes of the lizardman.

“I-Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing, I chatting me up.”

He could take one of the three and leave the other two behind. The lone elf probably wouldn't do anything bad to Ainz as long as he held them hostage. That's not bad at all. Even if they were aware they were being held hostage, he could maintain that this was not the case. Ainz turned to face the twins. They were immediately aware of his intentions. Aura, Mare, and Lumière returned to their seats at the table.

“What kinds of gifts, by the way, would make elves happy? What about gold and gemstones?”

“We don't use metal currency, so I doubt gold would be useful...”

“I believe our village would be most pleased with the food and possibly rare herbs. Minor scrapes and bruises can be healed with magic, but poison and disease must be treated by a skilled druid. As a result, portable herbs are highly valued.”

“Not clothes, because we make them from Elf Trees as well.”

“Homes, arrows... even clothing Elven druid magic appears to be very useful. Mare, you can't do that, can you?”

“Huh? Oh, y-yes. I'm not capable of using such magic.”

Perhaps this unusual form of druid magic was a sign of Elven's advancement. He desired those methods if possible, but Nazarick's residents would most likely be unable to use them. This confirms that the main factor that could tip the scales of victory in a hypothetical guild war would be making the residents of this world prostrate before Nazarick and bringing them under its reign. But—

(I'm guessing guilds—those who have been teleported in the past—have already done this. I should inform Albedo of this and request that she reconsider our national war strategy.)

It stood to reason that if Ainz could think of it, then other Players could as well. Only idiots would regard themselves as unique. Perhaps transporting large amounts of food through 〈Gate〉 upon reaching the Elven villages was a good idea to make them more friendly to the Sorcerous Kingdom. He remembered it working well in the Dwarf Kingdom. Things would be much easier if he could just remember and build on his experiences in the Dwarf Kingdom.

(I had the same desire to flee back then, didn't I...)

“The best way to do this is... first to find the Crescent Lake, visit the royal capital that was said to be on its shore to gather information, and then proceed to Dark Elves’ village.”

“We are going to a Dark Elf village?”

Aura appeared to want to say something, but she probably couldn't in front of the three elves. Ainz avoided telling them they were going to the Dark Elves' village to make new friends. He didn't want them to make friends simply because he said so.

“That's correct. That is exactly what I intend to do. I'm going to need your assistance there.”

He purposefully ignored Aura's demeanor, but he still received the pair of energetic affirmations in return.

“What should I do next is... persuade the others? I can't use the same justification I used for the dwarven expedition...”

He wasn't sure he could solve the next problem, but he needed to act because he wanted to use this as a foundation to introduce the concept of paid vacations to Nazarick. The dishes were brought over at that point, perhaps while they waited for the conversation to die down.

“So, have a good time.”

With Ainz's encouragement, the elves savored the food.

Part 3

What would a person do in the face of adversity? There were numerous methods for defeating one; this time, Ainz took advantage of numbers and location. Ainz sat on the throne in the audience hall prepared by the guardians, flanked by Aura and Mare. After a long time, he was finally able to grasp the original Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown. So to speak, the ultimate form of Nazarick's absolute ruler and guild leader Ainz Ooal Gown. Nonetheless, his victory over the opponent who would appear soon was far from certain.

The opponent was the real last boss. Ainz gulped with his non-existent throat, thinking of the boss more terrifying than the Devourer of the Nine Worlds. He'd gone through the simulations several times before, but Ainz was just an ordinary person. He may not even make it to the base of the mountain that was his opponent's intellect. So—

(There’s nothing else to do... except leaving it all to luck!!)

He was banking on his ability to improvise. He was confident that his future self would prevail. Lumière, who was standing near the entrance, announced the arrival of the opponent.

“—Very good. Allow them to enter.”

“Understood, Ainz-sama.”

By now, everyone should have figured out who the opponent was. It was none other than Albedo, the last boss and Guardian Overseer. Albedo's usual smile was replaced by a solemn expression when she noticed Ainz.

“Please accept my apologies for keeping you waiting.”

When Ainz noticed Albedo bowing deeply near the entrance, he told her to raise her head.

“Don’t worry about it, Albedo. I was already aware that you were going to be late. So you can even claim to be on time.”

Albedo informed him via [Message] that her appearance might not be appropriate for an audience because she was doing something in the Freezing Prison. As a result, she requested some time to dress. With no reason to refuse her request, Ainz set this time (30 minutes longer than Albedo had requested) to meet him here. The fact that Albedo arrived ten minutes early was most likely due to her personality. Maybe it was just an unbreakable rule for working adults to always be on time. Albedo finally lifted her head, walked up to the throne, and kneeled. Ainz immediately informed her.

“Albedo. I'm going on a paid vacation that starts right now.”

He could make excuses, but it always led to strange conversations. As a result, he felt it was better to state his goal directly here. Demiurge was not present this time, so strange developments are unlikely. Albedo raised her head to look at Ainz, her brow furrowed slightly. She then looked to his left and right, most likely to see how Aura and Mare reacted to those words. Ainz kept an eye on Albedo, worried about her reaction. She responded with a solemn expression.

“Everything in the Sorcerous Kingdom, including Nazarick, belongs to Ainz-sama.”

(—What?)

He couldn't understand a word she was saying. Not at all. How could such a response be possible? What logic leaps and trains of thought would lead to such a conclusion? What should Ainz do? He could immediately come up with two responses.

“Just what the heck are you saying?”

Is one, while the other is:

“Yes, exactly as you suspected.”

Of course, he would coat those words in varnish to make them sound regal. Ainz began working on his mental processes at full speed, but there wasn't enough time. The ball had already been thrown into Albedo's court. He needed to return it as soon as possible.

“Albedo, it appears that you are misinterpreting something. That is not what I am attempting to convey.”

He made the decision to be truthful. Would it have been better if he had put on his usual act?—probably. In any case, he managed to keep the image of Ainz Ooal Gown, the absolute ruler of Nazarick, safe for the time being... by sacrificing Suzuki Satoru's heart. Albedo made a puzzled expression as if she had realized something.

“P-Please accept my apologies for my error. Ainz-sama.”

She bowed again in panic.

“No, I'm not angry at all. You are not required to bow.”

Only scum would enjoy someone bowing their heads for no reason.

“It appears that the term "paid vacation" caused some confusion.”

Nazarick did not have a salary or a day off. It was the pinnacle of black businesses. As a result, it was highly likely that she mistook the term "paid vacation" for something else. You could argue that this was Ainz's fault because he had yet to implement such a system in Nazarick. Of course, Ainz would want to justify himself by pointing to the NPCs' stubbornness and demand for more work. The following is only Suzuki Satoru's personal experience, but no matter how bad a company gets, employees can usually tolerate a lot if their interpersonal relationships are good. On the other hand, if these relationships were bad, it didn't matter how well the company treated its employees; they broke down quickly. Perhaps Nazarick was running smoothly because its inhabitants had excellent interpersonal relationships.

“It was an oversight on my part. Please forgive me.”

Ainz also lowered his head.

“A-Ainz-sama! Please raise your head!”

Ainz raised his head in response to Albedo's agitated words.

“Anyway, now that we've both bowed, can I be considered forgiven?”

“There’s no need for Ainz-sama to...”

“—If there comes a time when I can't bow to you, that will be the end of me. That individual will no longer be me.”

Albedo bowed deeply after gasping with her eyes wide open. The twins' surprise at Albedo's reaction most likely caused the disturbance by Ainz's side. Albedo raised her head before Ainz could ask her what was wrong.

“Ainz-sama stated that it is a paid vacation, but is there any intention of going somewhere with the two of them?”

Albedo, as expected. Albedo was quite frightening to have realized Ainz was planning to travel based solely on the phrase "paid vacation." If Ainz had been in her shoes, he would have said something like:

“Since they are both present, do you intend to spend some time on the Sixth Floor?”

“I intend to accompany these two to the Elven country in the south.”

“So it’s the Elven country...”

Albedo paused for a moment before continuing:

“I see...”

What do you see? Maybe she thought Ainz was going over there for diplomacy. He needed to be certain.

“Don't be too hasty. For diplomatic reasons, I will not be going there. I just want to observe their current situation.”

“Understood.”

A straightforward response. Ainz expected her to say more, but this was far scarier. He had the impression that a critical misunderstanding was forming.

“So I'll be traveling to the Elven Country with these two. If there is an emergency, please contact me via [Message]. I'll be right back... that's all there is to it, okay? I don't intend to do anything else, okay? I really, truly do not. Understood?”

“Understood. So, will you be departing soon?”

“Y-Yes, That’s right.”

He hadn't planned that far ahead, but given the Theocracy's progress, it would be better if they started sooner.

“I intend to, but Aura and Mare must prepare first, right?”

“I don't think those two will have any problems. If Ainz-sama decided to leave right away, it would be natural for them to finish their preparations right away.”

Ainz wanted to chastise her for saying such things, but the twins agreed.

“Mmmmmm—”

It wasn't Ainz's place to object if those two said it wasn't a problem.

“—I need to be certain of something. Not only Albedo, but also Aura and Mare. I have a question for everyone. The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick founded the Sorcerous Kingdom, made the Empire its vassal, expanded its control over the wildlands' demihumans, and had recently destroyed the Re-Estize Kingdom. You could say that the organization grew in size as its territory expanded. Then I have some reservations. Our organization has grown, but has there been a corresponding increase in personnel?”

An organization wasn't going to stop working just because one or two people were taking a break. Aura and Mare were unquestionably among the high command. They would be the executives of Nazarick if it were a company. Regular employees could delegate their duties to coworkers, but executives did not have that option. As a result, it would be unfortunate if the organization came to a halt simply because the two of them took a break. In that case, the plan would have to be put on hold and possibly altered.

“—I am worried about that. If that's the case, we may need to take some drastic measures.”

“I don't believe there will be any issues. And, if all else fails, there's always me and Demiurge. There will be no problems if we also have Pandora's Actor's cooperation.”

“I see. Albedo, as expected. So there is already a solution to my concerns. Outstanding work, deserving of the title of Guardian Overseer and one of the Nazarick's most intelligent beings. Totally brilliant. I'm very impressed.”

He praised Albedo wholeheartedly. She, unlike Ainz, was meticulously managing the organization. Nobody deserved such praise if she didn't.

“—I am truly appreciative of your kind words.”

After a deep bow, Albedo regained her posture, but her expression was slightly stiff. As this was happening, Ainz had another thought.

“This time it's Aura and Mare... but would everything go smoothly if you and Demiurge took a vacation?”

Albedo hesitated briefly before responding.

“I believe that even if we were absent, the others would be able to fill in without difficulty. They would do everything they could to meet Ainz-sama's expectations.”

“Hmmm... Albedo. It has nothing to do with what you believe. What I'm curious about is whether or not they could handle it without issue... Of course, it's difficult for you to express doubt about the abilities of your comrades, the Floor Guardians, and I understand how painful it is for you. But, could you tell me if they can do it without your emotions interfering? If the answer is no, we will have to train them and restructure the organization when we have the opportunity. Well, if even I could predict this, Albedo has most likely already investigated it.”

“E-Excuse me, Ainz-sama... sorry for interrupting... but...”

“What's the problem, Mare?”

“Eh, errr, s-sorry but, I'm not sure I'll be able to do the a-amazing work that Albedo-san does...”

Albedo's scratchy voice echoed in the hall after a brief silence.

“—Is that all you've got to say?”

What exactly is this? He didn't think any of Mare's words right now deserved Albedo's rage. In fact, Ainz agreed with him completely.

“Mare!”

As Albedo yelled, Mare flinched. She was enraged. Albedo continued before Ainz could stop her.

“Did I hear a Floor Guardian, an elite among elites, say that he can't do the work that a Supreme Being expects of him?”

“Albedo!—Don't be so blaring. What's the big deal about someone saying they can't do something when it's true? In fact, it would be more problematic if they said they could when they couldn't.”

“Please excuse my arrogance, but please allow me to continue.”

Despite Ainz's reprimand, Albedo continued to speak louder. Ainz let her go because it appeared she was no longer directing her rage at Mare.

“It's fine for someone to say they can't do something, but they should also suggest how they can work towards being able to do it! A Floor Guardian cannot end their words by saying that they are unable to do something that a Supreme Being expects of them.”

(Duhー)

Ainz groaned on the inside. He couldn't say Albedo was incorrect. Mare's remarks were undoubtedly unpleasant in that regard.

“Ainz-sama, I believe Albedo is correct. Mare should retract his statement.”

Aura stated coolly. Mare made some pitiful sounds as he was scolded by his own big sister.

“As a Floor Guardian—”

“Stop!”

Ainz yelled angrily to stop Albedo from going any further. But, of course, it was all a ruse. He wasn't truly angry. That his emotional suppression did not kick in was evidence of this. Along with his voice, Ainz let out his aura. He'd only used the aura's visual effect to seize control of the conversation, not to debuff others. He chose it because he knew Aura, Mare, Albedo, and even Lumière had items that granted immunity to mental status effects. He had no idea what Albedo would have said if he had let her go on. Maybe she would have gently explained it to Mare later, but as long as it could lead to their relationship failing, Ainz couldn't stand back.

“Mare. What Albedo said makes sense. When you express your inability to do something, you should also suggest solutions.”

“P-Please accept my apologies.”

“Whatever the case may be, Albedo. Do you think there's something wrong with a superior who forces their subordinates to do something they can't?”

“I can't say there aren't any issues.”

“I believe you were both at fault this time. I appreciate your loyalty, but anyone can make a mistake. You must be gentle when correcting them the first time so that they do not hide or repeat their errors.”

Since Albedo was so competent and loyal, it's no wonder that she sometimes treated people harshly. He thought it didn't cause any major issues until this point because he rejected the majority of her suggestions for dealing with others. If Albedo ever gained complete control, it would almost certainly result in widespread purges.

(Although I believe that is an unfounded fear... maybe...)

“Yes. I, too, felt a little too enraged. Please forgive me, Mare.”

“Eh, ah, there is no need. Albedo-san was correct. I made a mistake. I sincerely apologize.”

This incident may have been resolved for the time being after they bowed to each other (with Mare taking a more profound bow from the waist).

“So, where had we been? Ah, that's correct. Because I'll be traveling to Elven country for a paid vacation with these two, I'd like the twins to confirm that their replacements will be available. First and foremost, you must transfer your work to the substitutes within three days. If possible, delegate it to the Area Guardians beneath you rather than the Floor Guardians. If this isn't possible—”

Ainz expected Albedo to struggle because it had only been a short time since the Kingdom's destruction.

“Discuss it with Pandora's Actor, okay?”

They responded enthusiastically.

“How about the escort for Ainz-sama? Would it be Hanzos?”

That's not a bad idea; Hanzos was simply too easy to use. To be honest, if money and data weren't an issue, he would have summoned more. The data for the Hanzo mercenaries had been depleted, but there was data for other ninja-type monsters in the library. Still, it would be ideal if he could make use of them, but—

(—I'd prefer not to use the treasury assets if at all possible, so I'll have to put up with this until I can accumulate enough personal wealth. Or should I start by fortifying Nazarick's defenses? I should think about it on the way to Elven country. Aaah, I want money... money that I can spend however I want... I'm curious if anyone has any treasure hidden away, the type of person who wouldn't complain if I stole something belong to them.)

“Ainz-sama?”

“Hmm...? Ah, sorry about that. I seem to have been lost in thought for quite some time. Concerning the retinue—”

Ainz came to a halt before saying:

“Hanzos will do that.”

It was widely assumed that all excellent employees could read people's moods. Ainz was a mediocre employee, but perhaps he rolled a crit just for this moment because his intuition told him to keep his mouth shut for a moment. It's because he was able to detect some slightly different emotions in Albedo's tone than usual.

“—No, I didn't intend to bring Hanzos, but was there anything specific you wanted the Hanzos to do?”

“Ah, no, as you do not intend to take Hanzos this time, I have no right to object to Ainz-sama's decision...”

Albedo paused for a moment as she tried to read Ainz's mood from his expression.

“Some have complained that the Hanzos are the only ones who are called upon so frequently... there are many people who want to work for Ainz-sama, so I wanted to ask if they could be given a chance.”

As Ainz began to think about it, Albedo flusteredly shook her hands.

“It is sufficient that Ainz-sama is now aware that there are individuals eager to serve if given the opportunity.”

Ainz mentally smirked while responding with:

“Umu.”

Ainz—Suzuki Satoru was an ordinary person who had no idea such a problem existed. He used the Hanzos a lot, but giving others that impression was a bad idea. Favoritism would always exist in a company. It was natural that people liked by their superiors would be promoted more easily, even if their talent was slightly inferior to their colleagues. Favoritism, on the other hand, would exacerbate social relations within the company. That was not a good sign. Was he not thinking that, despite being a black company, Nazarick was running smoothly because of the strength of its internal social relations? He was unable to say:

“I'll just go with the Hanzos.”

In this situation.

“Let's just decide on the retinue later—no, we should at least notify them right away. Don't you think it'll be interesting to see who I choose and how you prepare so that my choice doesn't matter?”

Ainz smiled while feeling completely different in his heart. Albedo bowed her head with the expression:

“I see. As expected of Ainz-sama.”

“Understood. I will immediately notify all Nazarick residents.”

“Umu. I'm counting on you.”

Ainz stood up and exited the room, leaving only Lumière behind. He then sighed heavily, as if he had just finished his workday.

///

Albedo raised her head as the door closed, and her gaze met the other two, who had also raised their heads at the same time.

“I have a question for you regarding that Albedo.”

“What exactly is it?”

Albedo responded as she stood up.

“Although Ainz-sama stated that he is visiting the Elven country on paid vacation... what do you believe his purpose is? There's no way he's just thinking about having fun, right?”

“—Of course.”

“Eh? I-Is that so?”

Ainz Ooal Gown, the supreme ruler of Nazarick, was a wise king whose every move could have multiple meanings. One would think that each of them had at least three goals. The position of king was not to be taken lightly. It's not like a coat that you can put on and take off depending on your mood. Even if he claimed to be on vacation, and even if the other countries believed him, he was still the illustrious king of the Sorcerous Kingdom. As a result, his every move could be interpreted as having the Sorcerous Kingdom's agenda behind it. That's something even a m*ron could understand. As a result, it stood to reason that another meaning was concealed in his act of taking a paid vacation to Elven country.

“So, what do you believe Ainz-sama's goal is?”

“As he mentioned, improving the organization was most likely a goal, but gathering intelligence was most likely the primary goal.”

As she pondered, Albedo said:

“Demiurge could probably give a better answer... the Theocracy should be launching a large-scale offensive against the Elven country right now.”

“Y-You mean that T-Theocracy?”

There was no need to explain the basics of the Theocracy because it was widely known throughout Nazarick.

“Yes. When they learn that their hypothetical enemy, the Sorcerous Kingdom, has entered into conflict with the Kingdom, they will naturally try to end their war with the Elves once and for all.”

“Because fighting on two fronts is bad, right?”

“That's correct. Although the Theocracy is not at war with us right now, it is best not to divide their forces between the northern and southern fronts in light of the future situation. In that case, it's highly likely that they're preparing to launch an attack on the Elven country. It's difficult to believe they'll hold peace talks at this point, but I'm not sure.”

It didn't matter to Albedo if the Theocracy destroyed the Elven country. On the contrary, it was even better for them if the Theocracy enslaved the Elves in order for them to obtain the great Casus Belli to liberate the Elves. That could broaden their options against the Theocracy, but it appears that their master had a different perspective on the situation..

Perhaps he was going there to gather more information before making a decision. If Demiurge had been present, he would have answered confidently. Albedo had an advantage over Demiurge in internal affairs, but she had to concede to him in military matters. Demiurge had always beaten her in that subject. She tilted her head as this thought formed in her mind, wondering why Demiurge was so silent on the subject.

(Is Demiurge making moves that we don't know about? Is he planning something by gathering information about the situation in the Elven country in secret? I don't believe that is the case, but...)

Demiurge was given more discretionary powers than the other Floor Guardians because he frequently worked outside of Nazarick. Or, more accurately, the other guardians didn't make as much use of their powers. Having said that, he always described the information gathered and his actions in detailed reports (which always ended up being hefty and difficult to read) to their master, who went through her. Because she hadn't received any reports about the Elven country, Albedo reasoned that he couldn't be up to anything without her noticing.

Demiurge's personality suggests that he was not concealing anything. He probably just hasn't gotten around to it yet. However, the truth was that she couldn't be certain. She should probably go meet him right after she leaves this place. No, she should summon him. She shouldn't have the conversation in his domain, but if she had her subordinates wait at their side during their conversation, Demiurge would almost certainly try to figure out her intentions.

(But if he brought his demons along... would he even take such rash actions? Is he questioning me? He hasn't moved yet, so the issue is—)

“D-Do we plan to fight against the Theocracy?”

“Eh? Ah, yes, regarding that. We're not sure if it will happen. Maybe even Ainz-sama isn't sure, which is why he's taking a paid vacation.”

Albedo responded quickly, jolted out of her thoughts by Mare's question. Despite her long pondering, the twins' eyes were devoid of suspicion. So she decided to put her thoughts on Demiurge aside for now. Perhaps their master was thinking of traveling not as the ruler of Nazarick, but as undead on a paid vacation this time. Even if the worst were to happen, Nazarick's losses would be minimized.

“Maybe it’s just this time, but there were some elements that even Ainz-sama wasn’t sure about, so he’s trying to move independently of Nazarick.”

“No way!”

“Eeeh? You are t-talking about that Ainz-sama, y-you know?”

The two elves raised their voices in surprise and looked at Albedo with disbelief in their eyes. Until now, their master’s wisdom had been able to read and control everything. They witnessed numerous occasions when one of his unremarkable moves proved to be the fatal strike for the opponent. According to what they’ve heard, he already had a general idea of what would happen in the next thousand years and was planning accordingly. It was natural to be skeptical of Albedo, who had stated that their master could be uncertain about something.

“Even Albedo, as expected, couldn’t decipher our master’s intentions—”

Albedo gave Aura a bitter smile as she spoke, her hands crossed behind her head.

“To begin with, no one can see the depths of Ainz-sama’s grand schemes. That is something I have experienced on numerous occasions... to be honest, I still don’t understand why Ainz-sama used the phrase “paid vacation.” Just keep in mind that if you go to the Elven country, you will almost certainly have to deal with the Theocracy.”

The two Guardians exchanged serious nods.

"A-Are we permitted to bring our own subordinates..."

"You mean other than those chosen by Ainz-sama..."

Albedo thought about Mare’s suggestion. While it may be an affront to their master, he may be pleased that they prepared some on their own.

“If Ainz sama wants a small elite force... no, waitー”

Albedo began to think about the situation more deeply.

“Select a group for the smaller retinue and another for the larger one, tentatively... on my side, I will discuss Ainz-sama’s goal with Demiurge and inform you later.”

(The way Ainz-sama was concerned about Nazarick’s organizational capacity deterioration. Is that a factor this time as well?)

After informing him that there was nothing to worry about, she was met with sarcastic praise. It was most likely due to her failure to comprehend the full extent of his concern and her inability to respond to the trust placed in her.

(He was particularly concerned at that point...)

For the time being, they had employed someone with comparable intelligence to work under them. But did he mean to say that even that is insufficient? Was it something else? After hearing the twins acknowledge her suggestions, Albedo spoke up.

“I believe his choice of retinue personnel will give me a hint of Ainz-sama’s intentions... but I predict the work this time to be of an extremely high level. Take in everything without letting your guard down, and keep your wits about you at all times.”

The two Guardians responded enthusiastically to Albedo. She was confident that, given their combat strength, they would be able to protect their master, but one should never be careless. She should consult with Demiurge and prepare for Nazarick’s total mobilization, just in case.

(Even though it will slow down dealing with the Kingdom’s remnants, we should prepare for it just in case.)

Albedo left the room with the other two while mentally organizing the order of her responsibilities.