Chapitre 3: The Gift

Chapter 3: The Gift(Edited)

In the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the Ninth Floor's Royal Suite, sits the Supreme One, the leader of the Supreme Beings.

Supreme Beings are said to be beings that transcend race, becoming a new type of being in the process, Supreme Beings!

Legends spoke of Supreme Beings being able to control the universe with a wave of their hands-amongst them is the Supreme One, who while not the most powerful, is the most versatile.

The Ninth Floor, the residence of the Almighty Forty-One Supreme Beings, was once a crowded place full of laughter and debates; however today, only silence remains.

Of the many rooms, only one looked vibrant, as its owner unlike the rest stayed behind.

Inside one of the Royal Suites, stood an undead of approximately 2-meters[1]. The undead wore an elaborate black academic robe with purple and violet edges with a dark halo above his head, as if signaling his fall from grace. Inside his ribcage is a red orb that pulses like a heart and emanates an aura of dread.

Floating behind the undead is a golden staff with seven crowning snakes that had different powers, depending on the snake head.

If anyone in Ainzland[2], saw this undead, they all would be awe stricken and kneel down in reverence at the one who wore a hundred titles but only wore one with true pride, Ainz Ooal Gown!

A palpable sense of uncertainty accompanied each step as the Supreme One, Ainz Ooal Gown, walked around the room, lost in thought.

Memories of the past flickered through his mind as he mulled over the possibility of having overlooked some important detail.

As he pondered, realization slowly dawned on him - he had done this to himself.

A sudden recollection of his earlier conversation with Demiurge, the Demon Lord, washed over him, and he thought to himself, "Demiurge's flaw is so obvious. He fails to comprehend that I am not as intelligent as he believes me to be. Looking back at That conversation, I cannot fathom how anyone could have taken it seriously."

Reflecting on the events of the past few hours, Ainz Ooal Gown came to a sudden realization. "The more I try to play the part of a Supreme Being, the further I bury myself in a pit of my own making." He thought to himself with a tinge of regret.

———-

Excitement gleamed in Ainz's eyes as he exclaimed, "At last, the time has come to explore the Dragon Continent[4]! Rumor has it that the Dragon Emperor's residence is located there, and who knows what kind of treasures we might discover." He glanced at Gamma, who had been uncharacteristically quiet and inquired, "Is there something bothering you?" Ainz was dressed in red armor, with a katana sheathed on his back, ready for the adventure that lay ahead.

Gamma heaved a sigh of reluctance before speaking, "It's nothing, Ooal-dono. I was simply pondering whether our journey will ever come to an end. After masquerading as adventurers for a millennium, and with only the Dragon Continent left to explore, I can't help but wonder what lies beyond. What will be our next adventure, my Lord?"

Ainz became silent and pondered. It's just as Gamma said. What after the Dragon Contient? They had conquered the Demon [5] and Holy Continent [6] and it was fun but now that fun is almost over.

Ainz and Narberal Gamma had changed persona many times to blend in without drawing attention to themselves. Though even when they change names and costumes, it did draw attention.

Ainz has come across a couple of cults worshiping the 'Wandering Deities', gods who walk the world and stop evil once they emerge.

As Ainz was about to respond, he received a message from Nazarick.

Ainz frowned because he remembered he had made it clear not to contact him via <Message> because of the risk. This is even more so as there are Players in Ainzland. Though they have bent the knee, it's not known for how long they will remain submissive.

Even if one excluded the Players from the equation, Ainzland is not exactly the same after a millennium of progress. Martial Arts, magic and society have experienced drastic changes. The one behind all this change was Ainz himself, directly or indirectly.

Martial Arts prospered as a result of the Noble Tournaments. New Worlders are given the opportunity to become a part of the empire. Everything is fair and impartial.

Magic became more advanced because of Fluder Paradyne, the Abyss Seeker. However, Fluder gained his power because he is an Ainz student.

Ainz has not spared effort to help Fluder even going so far as to make him a demon, which although made him forever struck at level 67, Fluder could reach higher levels in the field of magic.

Of course, Ainz did not do this for free. Fluder assumes Ainz is the God of Magic, so whenever he makes a discovery, he will discuss it with Ainz, making Ainz advance leaps and bounds. This is how Ainz discovered the flaws in certain spells.

As for society? This is a combination of many things. The NPCs and the leaders of Ainzland work together to create the world he envisioned.

In this utopia, everyone is given opportunities and no one is put in danger. No one could understand why a perfect world emerges under the leadership of an undead.

"Forgive me, Nabe. I will ask Pandora's Actor to take my place. I must return to Nazarick, but I will answer your question when I return."Ainz announced before opening a <Gate>. Within seconds, he found himself back in his Royal Suite, where he quickly equipped his usual array of divine-tier items.

Narberal Gamma looked at the place Lord Ainz was and sighed with complicated feelings. She had traveled with her master and should be happy but she felt empty in her heart. She can never express this feeling because of fear and uncertainty.

Normally teleporting inside Nazarick is impossible without the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown but Ainz is the ruler of Nazarick and Aureole Omega already knew of his arrival, so his teleportation was not blocked.

Walking towards the mirror in the corner, Ainz made sure everything was in order.

Sigh!

Calming his tense nerves, Ainz teleported to the door outside the Throne Room.

The Gate of Judgment is something he and his friends created to give the invading Players the feeling of facing off against final bosses. On the left gate, there was an angel in battle gear, and the right gate had a devil casting demonic spells.

Sadly, none had managed to reach this place, so the Gate of Judgement never had the opportunity to judge anyone.

The gate opened when Ainz moved forward, not daring to block his path.

Entering the Throne Room, Ainz stopped in his tracks with his mouth open in surprise. In front of him are rows of subordinates kneeling, waiting patiently for him to walk by.

In the Throne Room, the subordinates ranged from devils, demons, dragons, and immortals.

Every time he sees this he would feel pressured to maintain his Supreme One persona. He should be gratified by this, however, living for others and not himself is very draining. If he was not someone who loved Nazarick, he would have crumbled long ago.

Walking with grace, Ainz moved through the path his subordinates left open for him and walked towards the Throne of Kings - a throne made for the Supreme One.

Sitting upon the throne, Ainz cast his gaze down, bringing pressure upon those present.

With Ainz current strength, while he is still no match for Rebedo, he was undoubtedly the strongest being of Nazarick. Not even the combined might of the Floor Guardians were a match for him.

In front of the throne, the Floor Guardians arrange themselves in order of their floors. The faces of the Guardian showed excitement and reverence. However, the faces of the female Guardians were a bit different, being flushed pink.

The Floor Guardians were dressed in their usual attire. Notably, Albedo's one-piece dress was white, with a frill adorning the chest region. The form-fitting garment emphasized her figure, giving an impression to viewers that her ample bosom might burst out of her dress and assail them.

Albedo's appearance in her garments is akin to that of a divine being, seemingly gentle and benevolent, despite her true nature as a demon who would not hesitate to slaughter entire races without remorse.

Positioned to the left of Albedo is Shalltear Bloodfallen, who appeared regal and elegant with her purple dress, giving off the impression of a royal princess.

Despite emitting a mature and feminine air, Shalltear's outward appearance remained largely the same, which clashed strangely with her youthful features.

Standing next to Shalltear is Cocytus, still possessing a greenish-blue hue and with the God-Slaying Emperor Blade lying carefully in front of him on the ground.

Ainz was able to discern that Cocytus had aged significantly in the passing of years. Unlike Ainz's own race with their immortality, Cocytus and his kind lacked this ability, making his eventual mortality and subsequent resurrection an inescapable fate.

On the left-hand side of Cocytus knelt Aura Bella Fiora, whose appearance boasted a mature countenance, appearing as though she were eighteen years of age.

Aura's untamed aspect added to her allure and enhanced her natural beauty. Although she still wore the same attire as she did in her childhood, the clothes managed to emphasize her curves attractively, adjusting to her growth despite her size.

Positioned beside Aura was her brother Mare Bello Fiore, sporting masculine garments that contrasted with his delicate features. Despite this, Mare's striking beauty surpassed even his sister's, with his long, flowing hair cascading behind him like a waterfall.

Demiurge stood on the left side of the twins, adorned in his signature orange tuxedo and sporting his signature glasses, giving off an air of refinement and sophistication that befitted a true gentleman. However, Demiurge was in reality an Archdevil, a being of the highest demonic rank.

The phrase, Appearances can be deceiving. Was a fitting description of Demiurge, for although he exuded elegance and refinement, his true nature as an Archdevil was one of malevolent evil lurking beneath the facade of a charming gentleman.

Both Victim and Gargantua were absent from the gathering, as Ainz had not issued them an order to appear. The two did not seem to mind, with Victim finding contentment in remaining on his floor within the confines of his Heavenly Palace.

Victim, being both an angel and a Floor Guardian, naturally had a living space that suited his status, which was situated in none other than his Heavenly Palace.

Gargantua, being a golem, was devoid of sentient thought and existed solely as a tool of destruction. As such, it was unlikely that he would take issue with not being present, for he lacked the capacity for emotion or personal desire.

"Dispense all the formalities and get to the point. I know I was not called here for no reason.."Ainz said impatiently as he told the Guardians to stop, as they were about to pledge their loyalty to him, but before he could finish, he was interrupted.

"I'm the one who called for this meeting, Lord Ainz." A familiar voice chimed in. Ainz scanned the room to find Demiurge kneeling before him.

Ainz's heightened senses detected the hostile gazes locked onto Demiurge, he spoke calmly. "Please, continue Demiurge." He urged, his gaze sweeping over the rest of the room.

Sensing the simmering tension in the air, Ainz allowed his aura to radiate out, causing the light in the room to dim and the temperature to drop - a subtle show of his immense power.

The sudden change in atmosphere silenced the room as none dared to speak, their eyes fixed on Ainz and Demiurge.

Demiurge received his Lord's words and spoke, his composed demeanor giving way to excitement. "My apologies for my previous behavior, Lord Ainz. I could have informed you through <Message>, but we wanted to surprise you. Now, I am pleased to announce that the task you assigned to us has been successfully completed." Demiurge bowed deeply before raising his head, eagerly anticipating Lord Ainz's praise.

The others in the room were excited as well, especially Albedo. She was so excited that she didn't mind that Demiurge took over her role of reporting to Ainz.

Ainz remained silent, recognizing that he had assigned his Guardians countless tasks throughout the millennium they had spent in Ainzland. These jobs varied greatly, ranging from the collection of herbs and beasts to assassinations and other endeavors. The sheer number of tasks was so vast that even Ainz, with his undead mind, found it nearly impossible to recollect them all. Even with his newly-obtained spells, it would be nearly impossible to sort through a thousand years worth of memories.

Despite his confusion, Ainz tried to maintain his composure as he desperately attempted to recall the task he had previously assigned to them. Eventually, he realized he couldn't remain silent any longer and resorted to using one of his specialties, the artful dodge. "Impressive work, Demiurge. Tell me, how did you manage to accomplish this so quickly?" There were audible gasps of admiration and respect from those gathered as Ainz spoke.

The NPCs, as always, presumed that he comprehended the situation at hand, but this couldn't have been further from the truth. This blind allegiance from his followers had often led to various challenges and predicaments for him.

Demiurge proceeded to explain how he and the other Guardians undertook various campaigns across the globe, with the intent of eliminating any potential threats to Nazarick's safety.

Hearing Demiurge, Ainz became startled as he had not realized their movements. Thinking about it logically, he wondered if it was because of his experiments that he failed to notice? It could be the reason, he silently hopes, as it would be shameful if he did not see the movement of the Guardians, as he imagined they were not hiding their actions from him.

Getting back to reality, Ainz asks a question that had been on his mind for a millennium, "Did you find my friends ?" Ainz was hoping to receive a 'Yes', but he was disappointed.

"About that, Lord Ainz, not to make you feel disappointed, but we did not find the other Supreme Beings." The one that answered was Albedo, who seemed oddly pleased with herself.

It was evident to anyone that Albedo was averse to the notion of the other Supreme Being making an appearance, however, Ainz, lost in thought, failed to notice the expression on her face. Had he perceived Albedo's sentiments, he would have been incensed.

"I had a feeling it was impossible for them to be here, but giving up has never been one of my strengths."Ainz remarked with a determined gleam in his eyes, but his expression quickly turned gloomy. "It seems that I am alone in this endeavor." He said dispiritedly, his voice filled with palpable disappointment.

Aura, sensing the palpable aura of desolation around Ainz, spoke up reassuringly. "Lord Ainz, please know that we are here beside you. You don't have to feel lonely." She said with a concerned expression, her heart heavy with worry.

Hearing Auras' voice, Ainz looked at her for a moment and then looked at the others in the room and felt a warm feeling deep inside of him.

Ainz pondered if the sense of camaraderie he was feeling was akin to that of a family. Chuckling inwardly and shaking his head, Ainz assumed he was allowing himself to become too emotional. It left him wondering why his passive skills had not activated, to pull him out of the somber mood.

"Thank you, Aura. I fear I may have let my guard down."Ainz said with a small bow of gratitude. His gaze then shifted over to Albedo, and he couldn't help but wonder if he had made a mistake in tampering with her settings. Despite the fact that others were oblivious to her changes, he couldn't help but sense that something was amiss. Ainz hoped that she hadn't taken any unwarranted actions against his friends.

Before his thoughts could spiral out of control, Ainz quickly forced himself to stop thinking about it.

Ainz managed to calm his racing thoughts and asked with a hint of skepticism, "Regarding what you said earlier, is it true?"

Demiurge nodded in affirmation and elaborated, "Yes, Ainz-sama. We have successfully conquered the world and, as a result, stumbled upon several invaluable treasures. We have entrusted them to Pandora's Actor to determine their effects."

Ainz nodded, displaying a keen interest. "Excellent. However, I am more curious about how you handled the citizens' discontent." He inquired. While he was curious about the treasure they had discovered, Ainz is more intrigued by how well the Guardians had handled themselves independently, without his guidance. He wondered if they had grown in his absence.

Albedo spoke up this time, her tone confident and firm. "We adopted a strategy that involved both incentives and warnings. By allowing all races to compete in the Noble Tournament, we provided them with a chance to integrate into our society. Simultaneously, we took strict measures against those who posed a threat to us. During our conquest of the world, we eliminated all those whom we deemed as potential threats to our cause."

"The Noble Tournament is a remarkable coliseum built by Nazarick. It provides every race with an equal opportunity to compete and gain prominence and recognition. The tournament's ultimate prize is the coveted status of Area Guardian of the Sorceress Empire - the highest rank attainable." Ainz explained, providing some context to Albedo's previous statement. Ainz added, "Contrary to what one might assume, the Noble Tournament is not a barbaric festival. The contestants are not subjected to permanent deaths or injuries as our Mages work towards restoring them to their original state. This approach allows the participants to heal and train themselves better for their next attempt."

After contemplating for a while, Ainz acknowledged Albedo's strategy as a brilliant one. As he was deep in thought, he heard Albedo add, "Furthermore, we have come across several distinctive items during our conquest of the world that have no counterparts in Yggdrasil. We have dispatched our subordinates to seek out their creation methods. Who knows, we might even be able to train a group of talented blacksmiths in the process."

Observing that Albedo had given more thought to the matter than he had, Ainz nodded in agreement and granted her the freedom to execute her plan as she saw fit. He added, "As long as it furthers the goals of Nazarick and brings benefits to our empire, you have my full support."

"Your loyalty is commendable, and I am pleased with your exceptional performance. As a token of my appreciation, I shall reward each of you accordingly." Ainz declared, feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected turn of events. He had not anticipated that a mere slip of the tongue would result in him gaining control of an entire world. Reflecting on the situation, Ainz couldn't help but blame Demiurge for instilling in him the habit of believing everything he said.

Upon reflecting on Narberal's earlier comments, Ainz had an epiphany that she was correct. With Ainzland now a tangible reality, the question remained; what was his next move? As an eternal being, he pondered if he would inevitably become fatigue, despite his current contentedness with his achievements.

Ainz shifted his gaze upwards, where he was met with a multitude of glittering stars, reminiscent of a field of blooming flowers. He swiftly shook his head, dismissing any whimsical notions that might have arisen.

Feeling mentally exhausted, Ainz rose from his seat and addressed the group, "I am aware that there are several pressing matters that require discussion. However, I have complete faith in Demiurge to make decisions on my behalf. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I must take my leave for a while."Resignedly slumping into his chair, Ainz let out a despondent sigh before teleporting outside the confines of Nazarick. Surveying his surroundings, he couldn't help but feel somewhat adrift, now that the entire world was under his dominion. The question of what to do next loomed ominously in his mind.

Ainz used his magic to fly in the sky; he starts to head towards Carne Village as it is the first place he went since coming to this world. As he gazed downwards, memories of the village where he'd started his journey overlaid upon the sprawling city beneath him, highlighting the vast distance he had traversed.

"A thousand years without a friend to share this world with me…." The Guardians were too loyal and could not accept a casual relationship with him. Ainz had tried to make friends with other Players but he faced the same problem. He was too powerful, they felt fear and dread at the thought of angering him, making him realize it was impossible to be both a Supreme Being and a friend.

Ainz paused and glanced behind himself, seeing a black vortex trying to suck him in.

Ainz noted that such a tactic might have succeeded if it were when he first arrived in this world, but after centuries of cultivating his power, the strength of a pulling force like this was trivial in comparison and proved useless against him.

Upon closer inspection, Ainz discerned that the vortex was weakening under his scrutiny. His confidence bolstered by his immense strength, he strode towards the tumultuous vortex, secure in his belief that nothing could harm him.

As Ainz drifted closer towards the vortex, he found himself being inexorably pulled in, yet remained curiously unresistant to the sudden surge.

Indeed, rather than struggling, Ainz allowed himself to be enveloped, intrigued by what lay within.

———-

Hetermorpics Race:

Name: Fluder Paradyne

Title: Abyss Seeker, Sage of Magic, Strongest Wizard, Triad Magic Caster, Disciple of Supreme One

Job: Magic Researcher

Alignment: Neutral Sense of Justice 90

Residence: Great Tomb of Nazarick- Ashurbanipal

Racial Level:

Imp 10 lvl

Great Demon 10 lvl

Demon Sage 5 lvl

Job Level:

Wizard 10 lvl

Forbidden Arts Magic Caster 10 lvl

Bishop 5 lvl

Seeker of Magic 5 lvl

Other 7 lvl

[1] Ainz is said to be 177 cm in the light novels but in the anime he is depicted as being taller than everyone else. Unless the people in the Overlord series are just short as compared to Ainz, it would not make sense for him to be 177 cm.

[2] Ainzland is the name given to the New World after being dominated by Nazarick.

[3] Dragon Continent is a new continent created to increase the diversity of the world and give some context.

[4] The Dragon Emperor is undoubtedly the strongest being in the Overlord series. He is the reason that Players are present in the New World.

[5] Demon Continent is a new continent created to create world building experience.

[6] Holy Continent is the continent where the entire Overlord series took place. It's unknown if this continent was ever given a name in the light novel.