Chapter 8

Ainz's room was filled with many noble and luxurious pieces of furniture, and the floor was covered with a bright red carpet. In this spacious room, a veil of silence usually enveloped it, and today it was even more silent. Even the maids who usually stood by in the room were nowhere to be seen, leaving only Ainz and the Death Knight standing motionless in the corner of the room.

As if not to disrupt the room's tranquility, a honey-sweet, gentle voice flowed from Yae Bede's mouth:

"Report. The commander of the Slane Theocracy's Sunlight Scripture, captured in the village, has been confined in the frozen prison. Future intelligence gathering will be conducted by a special intelligence officer."

"Nilrost should be fine. However, I plan to use the bodies for experiments... Are you aware of this?"

"Yes. According to the report, the armor stripped from the knight does not seem to have any special magic applied. After the investigation is complete, the items will be sent to the treasure hall."

"…Hmm, that is appropriate."

"Lastly, to guard and protect that village, I plan to dispatch two Shadow Demons. What should we do about Gjeel Strolnov?"

"Leave the Warrior Leader alone for now. More importantly, that village is a place where we successfully established good relations. We might need his assistance in the future, so we should avoid antagonizing him."

"Understood. I will make sure to convey this thoroughly. That concludes the report."

Saying "Thank you for your hard work," Ainz looked at Yae Bede, who had finished her report. The smile on his face was different from his usual gentle smile, and he seemed very pleased.

The reason was the Ainz Uls Ungur ring, which was shining on his left ring finger, which he was touching with his right hand.

Although where to wear the ring given to her was a personal choice, the reason for wearing it on that finger was obvious.

If this was Yae Bede's true feelings, a man should feel happy. However, her feelings were the result of Ainz's casual modification, which made him feel somewhat guilty.

"Yae Bede… Your affection for me is just the result of my changes, not your true feelings. So…"

What should he say next? Was it right to use magic to alter memories?

Ainz couldn't continue. At this moment, Yae Bede, looking at Ainz, smiled and asked:

"What kind of person was I before Ainz-sama changed me?"

A bitch.

Ainz couldn't say it and didn't know how to explain. Staring at Ainz, who was calm on the outside but panicking on the inside, Yae Bede spoke again:

"I think the current me is also good, so there's no need for Ainz-sama to feel sad."

"But…"

"But…? But what?"

Ainz didn't answer and felt a mysterious aura from the smiling Yae Bede. Yae Bede continued to speak to the silent Ainz:

"There is only one thing that matters."

Ainz waited for her to continue, and Yae Bede, with a melancholic expression, murmured:

"Will it cause you any trouble?"

Ainz opened his mouth in surprise and stared at Yae Bede's face. Her words were deeply etched in his mind—though his mind was empty—but Ainz understood what she meant and hurriedly replied:

"No, no, it won't cause any trouble."

Being loved by a beautiful woman like Yae Bede, he had no complaints. At least for now.

"Then it should be fine, right?"

"…Huh?"

Something felt off. Despite this, Ainz couldn't find a reason to refuse.

"Then it should be fine, right?"

Feeling a mysterious aura from Yae Bede, who repeated herself, Ainz tried to resist one last time:

"I did modify the settings of the Crystalline Record. Don't you want to return to your former self?"

"If it were the Crystalline Record, he would certainly approve with the heart of a father sending his daughter off in marriage."

"…Is that so?"

Is he that kind of person? As Ainz thought, a metallic clanging sound suddenly rang out.

Looking at the source of the sound, he saw a longsword on the floor. The Death Knight, who should have been holding the sword, was nowhere to be seen. The Death Knight, who had just been summoned, had disappeared.

"…When summoned normally, they disappear after a certain period of time… From the fact that the sword from this world is on the floor, it doesn't seem to be left as a bridge to this world. So, is it because it was summoned using a corpse that it is reluctant to disappear? If there are a large number of corpses, they could be used to strengthen Nazarick."

"Then should we collect a large number of corpses?"

"…But don't dig up the graves in that village, okay?"

"Understood, but we need to think of a way to obtain fresh corpses. Well, the disappearance of the Death Knight means everyone should be gathered. Please join Ainz-sama and Sebas in the Throne Room. I will go ahead."

"Is that so. Alright, Yae Bede, see you later."

Yae Bede quietly left Ainz's room and saw Sebas approaching.

"Sebas, you came just in time."

"Yae Bede-sama. Is Ainz-sama in the room?"

"Yes, he is."

Feeling a sense of superiority towards Sebas, who still called Ainz "Flymouse," Yae Bede couldn't help but feel smug. Seeing her expression, Sebas raised an eyebrow:

"You look very happy. Is something good happening?"

"Yes."

Yae Bede's happiness wasn't just about the name; it also included the conversation she had just had with Ainz. Because she had expressed her desire to marry Ainz, and he hadn't shown any signs of rejection or disgust. In other words…

Yae Bede's expression instantly changed from elegant to evil and lascivious, a smile she would never show Ainz.

"Hehehe, it will succeed. No, it must succeed. The one sitting next to that great person will be me. Shatia, step aside obediently."

Yae Bede, unable to contain her inner thoughts as a woman rather than the Guardian of the Guardians, clenched her fists.

"The blood of a Succubus is boiling…"

In the Throne Room.

Sebas slowly followed Ainz, who arrived a bit later.

The room was filled with many people kneeling, showing their loyalty.

No one moved around casually, and it was so quiet that even breathing could be heard. The only sounds were the footsteps of the owner of the room, Ainz, and his follower, Sebas, and the sound of Ainz Uls Ungur's staff tapping the ground.

Ainz climbed the stairs and sat on the throne. Sebas, of course, remained at the bottom of the stairs, kneeling behind Yae Bede.

Sitting on the throne, Ainz quietly surveyed the scene at the bottom of the stairs.

Almost all the NPCs were gathered below, and looking down at them all gave a grand and imposing feeling, like a parade of demons. Ainz marveled again at the imagination of the guild members who had created such a diverse cast of characters. A few NPCs were missing, but this was unavoidable. The large golem Gargantua and the overseer of the eighth floor, Wictym, could not leave their posts.

However, not only NPCs were gathered here. Although they didn't replace the two, the room also contained many high-ranking servants selected by the guardians of each floor, who were considered elite in the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

Even so, the Throne Room was so vast that the scene didn't look crowded. While Ainz understood the subordinates' reluctance to let lower-ranking servants enter the heart of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—the Throne Room—he still felt it could be less strict.

Well, that's not an urgent matter. Deciding to discuss it later, Ainz slowly spoke:

"I apologize for gathering everyone here."

Ainz apologized without any sense of guilt. It was just a formality, but apologizing was very important. Although gathering everyone was Ainz's unilateral decision, it was to show his subordinates that he trusted them deeply.

"As for why I gathered everyone, Yae Bede will explain later. But there is something urgent I need to tell all the members of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—'High-Level Item Destruction.'"

Ainz activated a magic that could destroy magic items of a certain level. A large banner hanging from the ceiling fell to the ground.

The emblem on the banner represented "Flymouse."

"I have changed my name. From now on, when addressing me…"

Ainz pointed to a spot, and everyone's gaze followed. "Call me Ainz Uls Ungur—Ainz for short."

Ainz pointed to the banner hanging behind the throne, which bore the emblem of the Ainz Uls Ungur guild. He tapped the ground with his staff, drawing everyone's attention.

"Anyone who objects, please stand and inform me now."

No one spoke up. Yae Bede immediately smiled and chimed in:

"We have learned your true name. Long live Ainz Uls Ungur! Supreme Ruler Ainz Uls Ungur, all members of the Great Tomb of Nazarick swear to serve you to the death!"

Then the guardians also shouted in unison:

"Long live Ainz Uls Ungur! Supreme Ruler Ainz Uls Ungur, who leads us! We will dedicate everything and serve you to the death!"

"Long live Ainz Uls Ungur! Everyone should know how great Ainz Uls Ungur is, who possesses terrifying power!"

The NPCs and servants' shouts of "long live" and praise echoed throughout the Throne Room.

Immersed in the praise of his subordinates, Ainz thought:

—Friends, what do you think about me monopolizing this proud name? Are you happy? Or displeased? If you have any objections, come and tell me that this name is not just mine. Then I will gladly change it back to Flymouse.

"Then—"

Ainz looked at everyone in front of him.

"—I will announce our goal. To make Ainz Uls Ungur an eternal legend."

Ainz, gripping the Ainz Uls Ungur staff in his right hand, tapped the ground. The staff, as if responding to Ainz, emitted a colorful light from the crystal embedded in it, and the surroundings trembled.

"If there are many heroes, we will replace them all and make everyone in this world know that Ainz Uls Ungur is the true hero! If there are stronger beings in this world, we will use methods other than force. When we encounter a magician with many followers, we will find another way to achieve our goal. This is just the preparation stage. To make everyone know that Ainz Uls Ungur is the greatest, let's work together for such a future!"

To spread this name to everyone in this world. The former members of the Ainz Uls Ungur guild may have left YGGDRASIL, but some might exist in this world like Ainz.

Therefore, we must elevate the name of Ainz Uls Ungur to the realm of legend, making it known to all.

Whether on land, sea, or air, all intelligent beings must know.

To spread this name to our companions who might also be in this world.

Ainz's commanding voice was powerful, audible in every corner of the Throne Room.

At this moment, everyone in the Throne Room bowed their heads and spoke in unison, a voice that could be called a prayer.

The throne, though empty after the owner left, was filled with a sense of excitement and fervor.

Receiving orders from the supreme ruler, everyone was filled with boundless enthusiasm, especially those given specific tasks.

"Everyone, raise your heads."

Hearing Yae Bede's calm voice, everyone who had been bowing in prayer raised their heads.

"Please follow Ainz-sama's orders. I have an important announcement."

Yae Bede's gaze remained fixed on the Ainz Uls Ungur banner behind the throne. The NPCs and servants behind her also looked at the banner.

"Demiurgos, tell everyone what Ainz-sama said to you."

"Understood."

Demiurgos, like everyone else, was kneeling. However, his voice was clear and audible to all.

"Ainz-sama, while gazing at the night sky, said to me: 'I am here perhaps to obtain this treasure chest that belongs to no one. He also said: 'This is not something I can monopolize. Perhaps it is meant to adorn the Great Tomb of Nazarick—Ainz Uls Ungur, which I and my friends created. The treasure chest refers to this world. Ainz-sama's true wish is here.'"

Demiurgos smiled, but it was not a gentle smile.

"Finally, Ainz-sama said: 'Conquering the world might be a very interesting thing. The conclusion is…'"

Everyone's eyes instantly became sharp, filled with determination.

Yae Bede slowly stood up and looked around at everyone's faces.

Everyone gazed at Yae Bede, as if responding, and also at the Ainz Uls Ungur banner behind her.

"Understanding Ainz-sama's true wish and preparing accordingly is a symbol of loyalty and a proof of being an excellent subordinate. Everyone must know that the ultimate goal of the Great Tomb of Nazarick is to dedicate the treasure chest—the world—to Ainz-sama."

Yae Bede smiled broadly and turned to the banner, smiling gently:

"Ainz-sama, we will dedicate this world to you."

Then, a chorus of voices echoed through the Throne Room:

"We will dedicate everything in this world to the rightful ruler, Ainz-sama."