The Undead King

Chapter 6 Epilogue

Ainz's room was filled with elegant and high-class furniture, the floor was covered in bright red carpet. This room was usually covered in a thin veil of silence, but was even more quiet today. Even the maid that should be on standby was missing from the room. The only ones present were Ainz and a Death Knight who stood in a corner.

Wanting to keep the peace and quiet, a gentle voice as sweet as honey came out of Albedo's mouth:

"Reporting: The commander of the Slane Sunlight Scripture has been sent to the Frozen Prison. Intelligence will be extracted by the special intelligence officer from now on."

"Neuronist should be fine. But I plan to conduct experiments with the corpses… You’re aware of that?"

"I do. According to the reports, we are investigating the equipment stripped from the knights, no signs of special enchantments so far. After finishing the investigation, the equipment will be sent to the treasury."

"… Yes, that would be adequate."

"Finally, in order to protect and monitor that village, I plan to send 2 shadow demons over. How should we deal with Gazef Strolonoff?"

"Ignore the Knight-Captain for now. More importantly, that village will be the place where we build our good relations. We might need his help someday, so it would be best to not get on his bad side."

"Understood. I will instruct the underlings clearly. This concludes the report."

Answering "Thanks for your hard work", Ainz looked at Albedo’s face who finished her report. Her smile was slightly different from her usual gentle smile and she seemed to be in a good mood.

The reason was the ring on her left hand's ring finger which she was caressing with her right hand. It was a sparkling Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown.

It was her own decision which finger she wanted to wear her ring on, but the reason she decided on that finger was obvious.

If these were Albedo’s true feelings, he should be happy as a man. But her feelings were the result of Ainz’s casual editing, causing him to feel guilty.

“Albedo… Your feelings for me are just the result of me altering you, they are definitely not your true feelings. So…”

What should he say next? Was using magic to alter memories the right thing to do?

Ainz couldn’t continue on. Looking at Ainz, Albedo asked with a smile:

“What kind of person was I before you altered me?”

A slut.

Ainz didn’t know how to say something like that. Albedo stared at Ainz who appeared cool on the outside but was panicking on the inside, and said:

“I think the current me is great, so don’t feel sad Ainz-sama.”

“But…”

“But…? But what?”

He didn’t answer but still felt an unfathomable atmosphere from the smiling Albedo. Albedo continued talking to a silent Ainz:

“The most important thing will be…”

Ainz waited for her to continue, but she only mumbled with a depressed face:

“Will it bother you?”

He opened his mouth stupidly, looking at Albedo’s pretty face. Her words were branded deeply into his mind — although it was empty now — But Ainz knew what she was saying and replied in a hurry:

“N-no way, how would that ever bother me.”

He wasn’t dissatisfied with being loved by a beauty like Albedo. At least for now.

“Then it should be fine, right?”

“… Eh一”

It just didn’t feel right.

That’s what he thought, but Ainz couldn’t find a reason to contradict her.

“It should be fine, right?”

There was a mysterious air emitting from Albedo who repeated herself. Ainz attempted a last ditch struggle and asked:

“I modified Tabula Smaragdina-san’s settings, don’t you want to turn back to your old self?”

“If it was Tabula Smaragdina-sama, he would definitely give his blessing with the feelings of seeing his daughter off for marriage.”

“… Is, is that so?”

Was he such a guy? As Ainz thought about that, the sound of metal clanging rose.

Looking at the source, he found a long sword on the floor. The Death Knight holding the sword was gone. It was summoned not long ago.

“… It disappears after a period of time if it was summoned using normal methods… Since the sword from this world was left on the ground, it wouldn’t linger if equipment were used as a medium to link to the otherworld. Hence, they long for this world if it was summoned using their corpse and won’t disappear? If there were a huge number of corpse, it can be used to strengthen Nazarick.”

“Should we collect corpse en masse?”

“… But we can’t dig up the graves from that village alright?”

“Understood, but we would need to think of a new way to obtain fresh bodies. Okay, the Death Knight vanishing means everyone should be here. Please grace us with your presence at the throne hall with Sebas. I will go there first.”

“I see. Okay Albedo, see you later.”

Albedo left Ainz’s room quietly and saw Sebas who was walking that way.

“Sebas, you came at the right time.”

“Albedo-sama. Is Momonga-sama in the room?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Albedo felt a sense of superiority when she saw Sebas still addressing Ainz as Momonga. Upon seeing her expression, Sebas lift one eyebrow:

“You seemed to be in a great mood. Anything good happened?”

“That’s correct.”

The reason Albedo was happy wasn’t just because of the name, but also her conversation with Ainz. She told him she wanted to marry him, and he showed no sign of rejection or annoyance. This means…

Albedo’s expression changed instantly from elegance to an evil and slutty smile. That was a smile she never showed in the presence of Ainz.

“Fufufufu. it will work, it will definitely work. The one sitting beside the overlord will be me. Shalltear will have no choice but to give up.”

That was Albedo’s thoughts as a woman, not as the overseer. She clenched her fist:

“My succubus blood is boiling…”

Throne room.

Sebas silently followed behind Ainz who arrived after everyone.

The hall was full of people on their knees showing their fealty.

No one fidgeted in the hall, it was quiet enough to hear the sound of breathing. The only noise was from the master of this hall — Ainz, and his follower Sebas’s footsteps, as well as the sound of the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown hitting the ground.

Ainz ascended the steps and sat on the throne. Sebas kneeled behind Albedo at the base of the steps.

Ainz watched the scene below the steps on the throne.

Almost all the NPCs were gathered here, it was a grand view of the crowd, and looked like the the Hyakki Yagyō, the Night-Parade of a Hundred Demons[2]. To create such a variety of characters, Ainz praised the imagination of the guild members in his heart. Glancing through the crowd, he realized some NPCs didn’t show up, but that couldn’t be helped. The colossally huge golem Gargantua and the 8th floor guardian Victim were unable to leave their posts.

Those gathered here weren't just NPCs. Although there were no replacements for the 2 who were not present, many high ranking servants handpicked by the Floor Guardians were also present in the hall.

But even so — the throne hall was vast and the scene didn’t seem too crowded. He understood why his subordinates were unwilling to let lowly servants into the heart of the Great Tomb of Nazarick — the Throne Hall, but Ainz thought there was no need to be so strict.

Never mind, this is not urgent. Ainz decided to discuss that on a later date and spoke slowly:

“I apologize for gathering all of you here.”

Ainz apologized in an unrepentant tone. This is just for show, but apologizing was still important. Gathering everyone was Ainz’s decision alone, but this was to let his underlings know that Ainz trusted them.

“As for why I summoned everyone here, Albedo will explain in a moment. There is something more pressing that I have to inform all members of the Great Tomb of Nazarick — 「High Level Item Destruction」.”

Ainz activated a spell that can destroy magical items of a certain level. A large banner dropped from the ceiling.

The sign on that banner symbolized ‘Momonga’.

“I have changed my name. When you address me from now on…” Ainz pointed somewhere and everyone’s gaze followed. “Call me Ainz Ooal Gown — Ainz will do.”

Ainz pointed to the banner behind the throne with the symbol of the guild Ainz Ooal Gown. Ainz picked up the staff and knocked on the ground, attracting the gaze of everyone present.

“All those who oppose state your piece.”

No one objected. Albedo went along with Ainz and smiled:

“We all now know the name of the Lord. Hail Ainz Ooal Gown-sama! Supreme Overlord Ainz Ooal Gown-sama, all members of the Great Tomb of Nazarick swears undying fealty to you.”

The guardians cried in unison:

“Hail Ainz Ooal Gown-sama! Supreme Overlord Ainz Ooal Gown-sama who leads us! We will dedicate our all to you and swear undying fealty to you!”

“Long live Ainz Ooal Gown-sama! Everyone knows the greatness of Ainz Ooal Gown-sama and the terrifying power he possess!”

NPCs and servants alike sing their praises. The Throne Hall erupted in cheers.

Immersed in the praise of his underlings, Ainz thought:

───My friends, what do you think about me hogging this glorious name? Will you be happy? Or displeased? Tell me if you have any feedback, tell me this name isn’t mine alone. I will change back and use Momonga without hesitation.

“Well then-”

Ainz looked at everyone before him.

“—I will announce the goal for everyone.” Ainz paused here, his subordinate’s expression turned serious. “Turn Ainz Ooal Gown into an eternal legend.”

The Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown in his right hand struck the ground. The staff seemed to respond to Ainz and the crystal on it shines colorfully.

“If there are many heroes, then we will replace them all, let the entire world know that Ainz Ooal Gown is the true hero! If there are people stronger than us in this world, I will find a way other than violence. If we see a mage with numerous subordinates, we will use a different method. This is just the preparation phase, in order to let everyone know Ainz Ooal Gown is the greatest, let’s strive hard together!”

To spread this name into the ears of everyone in this world. The old members of Ainz Ooal Gown should have left YGGDRASIL, but they might still exist in this world just like Ainz.

That’s why he wants the name of Ainz Ooal Gown to reach the realm of legends, a name all would know.

Be it the land air or sea, he wants all intelligent life forms to know.

So this name might reach the ears of his comrades if they were in this world.

Ainz’s majestic voice reached every corner of the throne hall.

Everyone in the throne hall made a sound and lowered their heads. A sublime sound known as prayers.

The throne was empty after the master left, but the air of excitement lingered in the Throne Hall.

Receiving the supreme overlord’s command and acting in unison motivated everyone, especially when they were bestowed an order.

“Everyone, lift your heads.”

Everyone who had lowered their head in prayer looked up when they heard Albedo’s steady voice.

“Everyone will do as Ainz-sama commands. Next there are still important announcements to make.”

Albedo’s gaze stopped on the banner of Ainz Ooal Gown behind the throne. The NPCs and servants behind her are also staring at that banner.

“Demiurge, share what Ainz-sama told to you.”

“Understood.”

Demiurge and everyone present were kneeling. But his voice was clear for all to hear.

“Ainz-sama said to me as he looked up in the night sky, ‘I might exist in this place to obtain that box of jewels that belongs to no one.’ He then said: ‘No, this isn’t something that I alone should have. Perhaps it should be used to decorate the Great Tomb of Nazarick — the Ainz Ooal Gown of me and my friends’ The jewel box refers to this world. Ainz-sama’s true wish is this.”

Demiurge smiled, but that wasn’t a gentle smile:

“And Ainz-sama continued ‘conquering the world is a very interesting idea.’ So the conclusion is…”

Everyone’s eyes turned sharp. These are eyes that showed strong resolve.

Albedo got up slowly and looked at the face of everyone.

Everyone stared at Albedo in response. At the same time, they were looking at the banner of Ainz Ooal Gown behind her.

“Understanding Ainz-sama’s true intention and making preparations is the way loyal and outstanding subordinates should act. Everyone must understand the final objective of the Great Tomb of Nazarick is to take that jewelry box — this world for Ainz-sama.”

Albedo smiled as she turned and faced the banner.

“Ainz-sama, we will definitely give this world to you.”

Their voices reverberates in the throne hall.

“Giving everything in this world to the true Overlord Ainz-sama.”